Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VideoQuestion Answering to Find a Desired Video Segment

Fine-grained video retrieval (FGVR) is a technique for finding a segment in a long video using a natural language query provided by the user. In this demo, we extend FGVR to a simple question answering system to find if a given video clip contains a desired segment and ground it by showing the segment.
The Dark Corners of the Labor Market Vincent Sterk

What can happen to unemployment after a severe disruption of the labor market? Standard models predict a reversion to a long-run steady state. By contrast, this paper shows that a large shock may set the economy on a path towards a different steady state with possibly extreme unemployment. This result follows from the empirical behavior of the U.S. job nding rate over the last 25 years. First, I estimate a reduced-form model for the labor market and show that once allowing for nonlinearitiesit implies a stable steady state around 5 percent unemployment and an unstable one around 10 percent unemployment. Second, I consider an extension of a basic Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides (DMP) model in which multiple steady states arise due to skill losses upon unemployment, following Pissarides (1992). Based on only observed rates of job loss, this model endogenously explains most of the observed uctuations in the job nding rate and the unemployment rate, thereby dramatically improving over a basic DMP model with a single steady state. Key Words: Matching models, multiple steady states JEL Classi cation: E24, E32, J23 University College London and Centre for Macroeconomics. e-mail: v.sterk@ucl.ac. uk. I thank Bart Hobijn, Greg Kaplan, Jeremy Lise, José-Víctor Ríos-Rull, Gilles Saint-Paul, Petr Sedláμcek and Jaume Ventura for helpful comments. The main lesson of the crisis is that we were much closer to those dark corners than we thought and the corners were even darker than we had thought too. Olivier Blanchard (2014), in Where Danger Lurks.
Evaluation of N 2 Fixation Traits in Thai and Korean Soybean Cultivars

Thirteen Thai and 21 Korean soybean cultivars were investigated for N 2 fixing ability of 3 strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, using a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized experimental design (CRD). Data were collected on 5 traits, viz. nodule number per plant, nodule fresh weight per plant, nodule dry weight per plant, plant dry weight, and acetylene reduction activity (ARA). The variation in each trait was dependent of soybean cultivars, B. japonicum stains and interaction between cultivars and strains. Among the soybean cultivars, KKU35 had higher nodule number, but lower ARA than ST1, revealing that high nodule number may not correlate with the nitrogenase enzyme activity. For rhizobial strains, DASA 01026 gave high nodule number, nodule fresh weight, and nodule dry weight, while DASA 01054 gave high nodule number, plant dry weight, and ARA. Positive correlation coefficients (r) between ARA and nodule number, nodule fresh weight, nodule dry weight, and plant dry weight were all significant at the values of 0.438, 0.738, 0.703 and 0.635, respectively. Path coefficient analysis revealed that these N 2 fixation traits were inter-related and contributing directly and indirectly to the ARA, with the greatest contribution from nodule fresh weight.
Continual Multi-task Gaussian Processes

We address the problem of continual learning in multi-task Gaussian process (GP) models for handling sequential input-output observations. Our approach extends the existing prior-posterior recursion of online Bayesian inference, i.e.\ past posterior discoveries become future prior beliefs, to the infinite functional space setting of GP. For a reason of scalability, we introduce variational inference together with an sparse approximation based on inducing inputs. As a consequence, we obtain tractable continual lower-bounds where two novel Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergences intervene in a natural way. The key technical property of our method is the recursive reconstruction of conditional GP priors conditioned on the variational parameters learned so far. To achieve this goal, we introduce a novel factorization of past variational distributions, where the predictive GP equation propagates the posterior uncertainty forward. We then demonstrate that it is possible to derive GP models over many types of sequential observations, either discrete or continuous and amenable to stochastic optimization. The continual inference approach is also applicable to scenarios where potential multi-channel or heterogeneous observations might appear. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the method is fully scalable, shows a reliable performance and is robust to uncertainty error propagation over a plenty of synthetic and real-world datasets.
UCLA Recent Work Title Using Option Pricing Theory to Infer About Historical Equity Premiums Permalink

In this paper we make use of option pricing theory to infer about historical equity premiums. This we do by comparing the prices of an American perpetual put option computed using two different models: One is the standard model with continuous, zero expectation, Gaussian noise, the other is a very similar model, except that the zero expectation noise is of Poissonian type. Since a Poisson random variable is infinitely divisible, by the central limit theorem it is approximately normal. The interesting fact that makes this comparison worthwhile, is that the probability distribution under the risk adjusted measure turns out to depend on the equity premium in the Poisson model, while this is not so for the standard, Brownian motion version. This difference is utilized to find the intertemporal, equilibrium equity premium. We apply this technique to the US equity data of the last century, and find an indication that the risk premium on equity was about two and a half per cent if the risk free short rate was around one per ∗Thanks to the finance faculty at Anderson Graduate School of Management, UCLA, and in particular my sponsor, Eduardo Schwartz , and Michael Brennan for hospitality and stimulating discussions, during my sabbatical stay for the academic year 2004-2005.
Teaching Tales of Virtue: The Effect of Moral Literature on Middle School Students.

A study determined if exposing middle school students to stories and poems that show what virtues look like, how they are practiced, how to recognize them, and how they work, would have a significant effect on the degree of assimilation of these virtues expressed by the students. Sixth-grade students (n=23) attending a suburban middle school in Union, New Jersey completed a pretest to determine their thoughts about values. Following the pretest, the students read a unit of moral literature and examined such character traits as honesty, compassion, courage, perseverance, and patriotism. Discussion groups and related writings were integrated with the literature. Upon completion of the unit lessons, students were administered a posttest to determine their knowledge of values and the influence that values have on behavior and beliefs. They were asked to reply "yes" or "no" to questions dealing with values and their impact on behavior. Analysis of the results revealed a significant difference; students' assimilation of -irtues was positively affected by reading of moral literature. Additional research needs to be conducted to refine the understanding of the curricular placement, the length of time of response, and the lasting effects of moral literature. (Contains a table of data, 29 references, and related literature. Appended are pretest and posttest scores and a survey sheet.) (Author/TB) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** rr Pt;Ift,SION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MAI ERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
AD-A 228 218 Materials Systems for 2-to 5Mm Wavelength Diode Lasers

Several materials systems are reviewed in an attempt to determine the most favorable for use in the fabrication of diode lasers emitting in the 2to 5-pr i wavelength range. Eight possible systems, along with several of their variations, are identified among the HI-V, IV-VI and II-VI semiconductors. All meet the following criteria: optical and carrier confinement can be obtained, a significant portion of the desired wavelength range can be achieved, and the layers that are required to fabricate a double-heterostructure (DH) laser can be lattice matched to a suitable substrate. The performance of III-V laser devices is limited by Auger recombination and free-carrier absorption. The role of the valence band structure in these effects is of particular importance. The III-V system identified as the most promising is GalnAsSb/AlGaAsSb/GaSb, with the quaternary alloy GaInAsSb for the active layer, the quaternary alloy AlGaAsSb for the cladding layers, and GaSb for the substrate. This system offers substrate availability, a wide range of wavelengths, good metallurgical properties and favorable device physics. In this system, DH lasers emitting at ;4 2.3 um have been operated CW at room temperature with threshold current densities as low as 1.5 A/cm? , and differential quantum efficiencies as high as 18 percent per facet have been obtained in pulsed room-temperature operation. According to theoretical projections, the threshold current density of such GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb/GaSb lasers will increase with increasing wavelength because of increased Auger recombination and free-carrier absorption. In order to reduce these effects and generally improve device performance, we recommend that sred-layer quantum-well devices be investigated. ' The IV-VI systems in principle should have less Auger recombination than the IlI-V systems, as well as less free-carrier absorption, because of the simpler valence band structure of IV-VI materials compared with that of Ill-V materials. Nevertheless, these effects remain important and limit performance. In addition, the IV-VI systems have much poorer quality of materials and availability of substrates. Among the many undesirable characteristics of the materials are low thermal conductivity and excessive susceptibility to damage during processing. The IV-VI system identified as most favorable is PbEuSSe/PbSe, in which PbEuSSe quaternaries of different alloy compositions are used for both the active and cladding layers, which are lattice matched to PbSe substrates. However, this system is judged less promising than the GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb/GaSb system. A possible II-VI laser system is HgCdTe lattice matched to CdZnTe. Yet, this system is not likely to have any advantages over the III-V systems. In addition, it has many disadvantages, including the fact that its materials and device technologies are much less developed.
Effects of parameter indeterminacy in pelagic biogeochemical modules of Earth System Models on projections into a warming future: The scale of the problem

Numerical Earth System Models are generic tools used to extrapolate present climate conditions into a warming future and to explore geoengineering options. Most of the current‐generation models feature a simple pelagic biogeochemical model component that is embedded into a three‐dimensional ocean general circulation model. The dynamics of these biogeochemical model components is essentially controlled by so‐called model parameters most of which are poorly known. Here we explore the feasibility to estimate these parameters in a full‐fledged three‐dimensional Earth System Model by minimizing the misfit to noisy observations. The focus is on parameter identifiability. Based on earlier studies, we illustrate problems in determining a unique estimate of those parameters that prescribe the limiting effect of nutrient‐ and light‐depleted conditions on carbon assimilation by autotrophic phytoplankton. Our results showcase that for typical models and evaluation metrics no meaningful “best” unique parameter set exists. We find very different parameter sets which are, on the one hand, equally consistent with our (synthetic) historical observations while, on the other hand, they propose strikingly differing projections into a warming climate.
Semiparametric Mixed Models for Censored Longitudinal Data by Mingyan Huang

HUANG, MINGYAN. Semiparametric Mixed Models for Censored Longitudinal Data. (Under the direction of Dr. Daowen Zhang.) In longitudinal studies involving laboratory-based outcomes, repeated measurements can be censored due to assay detection limits. For analyzing such data, likelihood based approaches accounting for censoring have been proposed under the linear mixed model (LMM) framework. A key assumption of a LMM is that the response variable is linearly related to all the covariate effects in the model, including the time effect. In many applications, however, the linear parametric form of LMMs appears too restrictive to characterize the complex relationship between a response variable and covariates. More general and robust modeling tools, nonparametric and semiparametric regression models, have become increasingly popular in the last decade. In this dissertation, we propose to use semiparametric mixed models (SPMMs) to analyze censored longitudinal data. The SPMMs extend LMMs and provide more flexible modeling schemes by allowing the time effect and the coefficients of some other covariates to vary nonparametrically over time. We applied two nonparametric smoothing techniques, the regression spline approach with B-splines as basis functions and the smoothing spline approach, for estimation of the smooth functions in our models. For the regression spline approach, we proposed two computational procedures, namely, the direct maximization of likelihood and the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, to achieve the maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of model parameters. For the smoothing spline method, we introduced an EM version of maximum penalized likelihood estimates (MPLEs) of model parameters and the nonparametric function. We evaluated the performance of the proposed approaches through extensive simulations, and illustrated their applications with data from an AIDS study. © Copyright 2010 by Mingyan Huang All Rights Reserved Semiparametric Mixed Models for Censored Longitudinal Data
Investigating Effective Factors on Audit Fees with an Emphasis on Stickiness of Audit Costs

Agency problems between managers and shareholders as a result of a conflict of interest is created. In the meantime, the audit an effective strategy to limit a director's authority is in contractual relations. The aim of this study is Investigating effective factors on audit fees with an emphasis on Stickiness of audit costs in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange . For this purpose, the data relating to companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange for the period 2012 to 2016 were extracted . Test hypotheses using panel data regression model was conducted . The results show that the size of the company and the current ratio is an important factor affecting on audit fees. Also, the audit fees quickly and proportional to the levels provided by the model of audit fees, not modified, And audit fees when a reduction is expected to lower than expected increase when a decrease, and finally fees deviations from the standard model of audit fees reduced for longer periods of time. Keywords : Stickiness of audit costs , audit fees right, the behavior of prices
Saccharomyces pastorianus lager yeast Reconstruction of the genome origins and evolution of the hybrid Material Supplemental

Material Supplemental http://genome.cshlp. org/content/suppl/2008/09/17/gr.076075. 108.DC1. html References http://genome.cshlp. org/content/18/10/1610.full. html#ref-list-1 This article cites 47 articles, 16 of which can be accessed free at: License Commons Creative http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. described at a Creative Commons License (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License), as ). After six months, it is available under http://genome.cshlp. org/site/misc/terms.xhtml first six months after the full-issue publication date (see This article is distributed exclusively by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press for the
Johannes Schröder Symptoms Facial Expression in Alzheimer ' s Disease : Impact of Cognitive Deficits and Neuropsychiatric

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), nonverbal aspects of communication become increasingly important in caregiver–patient interactions when the ability to communicate verbally is fading with progression of the disease. We therefore investigated the impact of cognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly apathy, on facial expression in AD. While overall neuropsychiatric symptoms were not associated with facial expression, apathy exhibited substantial correlations, even after controlling for cognitive deficits. Moreover, apathy appeared to moderate the influence of cognitive deficits: without considering apathy, cognitive deficits were associated with less specific facial expressions. After controlling for apathy, cognitive decline was related to increased facial expressiveness. In conclusion, apathetic symptoms appear to be specifically associated with facial expression in AD and thus could contribute to a disregard for patients’ needs in everyday life.
Public Policy

PA 401. Foundations of Public Service. 3 or 4 hours. Examines political, legal, economic and social environment of public service, internal dynamics of public organizations, relationship between public organizations and external stakeholders, and ethical and moral challenges. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 400. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.
Klein Fetuses with Posterior Urethral Valves ( PUV ) Fetal Urinary Peptides to Predict Postnatal Outcome of Renal Disease in

families make prenatal treatment decisions for fetuses with PUV. needed for validation, this peptide-based predictor shows promise as a much needed test to help clinicians and routine clinical procedures such as ultrasound and biochemical tests. Although many more fetal urine samples are this peptide-based signature, called 12PUV, was similarly able to predict postnatal renal function, outperforming but were not present in the fetal urine of patients who did not progress to ESRD. In an independent set of samples, identified a handful that were linked to ESRD, et al. they had ESRD before the age of 2. Out of >4000 peptides, Klein of the urinary tract that can lead to ESRD. They knew the outcome of these patients with PUV, that is, whether or not The authors obtained urine samples from fetuses with posterior urethral valves (PUV), which is an abnormality in fetal urine to find potential markers of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). peptides make informed treatment decisions earlier. To this end, Klein and colleagues searched through thousands of whether a fetus will have severe kidney disease would help anxious parents −− in utero −− Being able to predict Seeking a Signature of Renal Disease
Grounding line retreat of Pope, Smith, and Kohler Glaciers, West Antarctica, measured with Sentinel‐1a radar interferometry data

We employ Sentinel‐1a C band satellite radar interferometry data in Terrain Observation with Progressive Scans mode to map the grounding line and ice velocity of Pope, Smith, and Kohler glaciers, in West Antarctica, for the years 2014–2016 and compare the results with those obtained using Earth Remote Sensing Satellites (ERS‐1/2) in 1992, 1996, and 2011. We observe an ongoing, rapid grounding line retreat of Smith at 2 km/yr (40 km since 1996), an 11 km retreat of Pope (0.5 km/yr), and a 2 km readvance of Kohler since 2011. The variability in glacier retreat is consistent with the distribution of basal slopes, i.e., fast along retrograde beds and slow along prograde beds. We find that several pinning points holding Dotson and Crosson ice shelves disappeared since 1996 due to ice shelf thinning, which signal the ongoing weakening of these ice shelves. Overall, the results indicate that ice shelf and glacier retreat in this sector remain unabated.
The Effect of the UI Wage Replacement Rate On Reemployment Wages: A Dynamic Discrete Time Hazard Model with Unobserved Heterogeneity

This study estimates the effect of the UI (Unemployment Insurance) wage replacement rate on reemployment wages using the sample of men in the 1996 and 2001 Surveys of Income and Program Participation. It models employment search behavior in a dynamic discrete time hazard setting with three possible outcomes: finding a full-time job, finding a part-time job, or staying unemployed (continuing the job search). It finds that reemployment wages, particularly part-time wages, decrease with the UI wage replacement rate. Furthermore, the wage replacement rate depresses the prospect of finding full-time work while increasing the prospect of finding part-time work.
A Study on the Changeover Mechanism of Communication Path for Virtual Machine Live Migration between Data Centers

Recently, live migration which is a technology of transferring virtual machines (VMs) is used inside a data center so that data centers can manage server load balancing and energy consumption effectively. It is expected that the live migration technology is extended into Wide Area Network (WAN) between data centers in order to manage VMs more effectively. However, because the IP address of a VM changes after live migration between data centers, the problem that communications between users and VMs disconnect occurs. To solve this problem, we propose two mechanisms: “Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) path switch mechanism using Next Generation Wide Area Layer 2 (NGL2) network” and “Exchanging destination address of VM mechanism”. In this paper, mechanisms of our proposal are explained in detail, and the mechanisms are demonstrated.
Chapter 5 Electrospun Beadon-String Fibers : Useless or Something of Value ?

Bead-on-string fibers, which were initially thought to be a “by-product” of the electrospun fibers, are widely observed in electrospinning, which is a convenient method to produce nanofibers. The electrospun bead-on-string fibers were thought to have detrimental properties and were generally discarded, but recently they have gained attention since they are considered to have promising applications in many fields, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and air/water filtration, among others. This chapter is a comprehensive and systematic literature review that summarizes the processes, methods, vital influencing factors, formation conditions, morphology changes, and applications of the electrospun bead-on-string fibers. It helps to understand the current research status and to further understand the mechanism by which these bead-on-string fibers are formed.
ON THE COMPOSITE APPROACH TO DROPOUTS IN CLINICAL TRIALS

A major problem in the analysis of clinical trials is missing data from pa- tients who drop out of the study before the predetermined schedule. Shih and Quan (1997) proposed a "composite" (or "pattern but not mix") approach to the problem, which makes simultaneous inference on the conditional mean of the completers and the probability of completion or dropping out of the trial. Their method involves the combination of test statistics for the conditional mean and dropout probability. In this paper, we justify the asymptotic independence of the test statistics used in Shih and Quan.