Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PGAQK: An Adaptive QoS-aware Web Service Composition Approach

Web Service Composition (WSC) has attracted considerable attention and research to support Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). WSC constructs complex applications by combing atomic Web services together to achieve users’ requirements. The selection of the best Web service that fulfils the Functional Requirements (FRs) and optimizes the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, such as response time, cost, reliability, etc., is a critical part of WSC, especially in a dynamic environment. Since requirements frequently change, this demands that WSC must be adapted to provide the most suitable composite services and fulfil the users’ requirements that emerge. This paper presents a new hybrid approach for dynamic optimization of WSC using Parallel Genetic Algorithm (PGA) based on Q-learning, which we integrate with K-means clustering. We call it PGAQK. Q-learning is utilized to generate an initial population to enhance the effectiveness of PGA. K-means clustering is used to cluster Web services based on a fitness function. It is applied in the mutation operator, and used for Web service substitution to prune the Web services in the search space to find the best Web services for the environment changes that might occur at runtime. To the best of our knowledge such a hybrid approach has not been used for WSC before. We implemented PGAQK over the . NET Framework using C# programming language. A series of comparable experiments were carried out showed that PGAQK outperforms traditional PGA and Q-learning approaches in terms of fitness values. PGAQK allows WSC to modify itself dynamically and achieve a better fitness value to fit the changing environment, where the characteristics of composite web services continue to change.
DISCOVERY OF CANDIDATE H2O DISK MASERS IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI AND ESTIMATIONS OF CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATIONS

Based on spectroscopic signatures, about one-third of known H2O maser sources in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are believed to arise in highly inclined accretion disks around central engines. These “disk maser candidates” are of interest primarily because angular structure and rotation curves can be resolved with interferometers, enabling dynamical study. We identify five new disk maser candidates in studies with the Green Bank Telescope, bringing the total number published to 30. We discovered two (NGC 1320, NGC 17) in a survey of 40 inclined active galaxies (vsys < 20, 000 km s−1). The remaining three disk maser candidates were identified in monitoring of known sources: NGC 449, NGC 2979, and NGC 3735. We also confirm a previously marginal case in UGC 4203. For the disk maser candidates reported here, inferred rotation speeds are 130–500 km s−1. Monitoring of three more rapidly rotating candidate disks (CG 211, NGC 6264, VV 340A) has enabled measurement of likely orbital centripetal acceleration, and estimation of central masses ((2–7) ×107 M☉) and mean disk radii (0.2–0.4 pc). Accelerations may ultimately permit estimation of distances when combined with interferometer data. This is notable because the three AGNs are relatively distant (10,000 km s−1 <vsys < 15, 000 km s−1), and fractional error in a derived Hubble constant, due to peculiar motion of the galaxies, would be small. As signposts of highly inclined geometries at galactocentric radii of ∼0.1–1 pc, disk masers also provide robust orientation references that allow analysis of (mis)alignment between AGNs and surrounding galactic stellar disks, even without extensive interferometric mapping. We find no preference among published disk maser candidates to lie in high-inclination galaxies. This provides independent support for conclusions that in late-type galaxies, central engine accretion disks and galactic plane orientations are not correlated.
Supplementary Material : Pretraining Sentiment Classifiers with Unlabeled Dialog Data

Figure 1 shows a screenshot of the tweet search/analysis service in the company that provided us the datasets. The service retrieves Twitter’s tweets for given queries from a search index consisting of the Japanese portion of the Firehose data and presents them in a timeline manner. In addition to the timeline, as in the sentiment widget at the bottom right of the screenshot, it provides information with regard to sentiment over the query word, i.e., aggregating sentiment labels of the retrieved tweets into ratios. The green right part of the pie chart represents the percentage of positive sentiment, and the red left part corresponds to negative sentiment. The chart at the bottom shows how these ratios change depending on time. What a user wants to know by searching on this service is, in many cases, what other people are thinking or feeling about a topic word (e.g. a musician, pop star, TV program, sports match, natural disaster, or current event), and this functionality serves the “feeling” part of user needs. To prepare sentiment labels in advance, a sentiment classifier resides in the backend system built on Apache Kafka1 and Apache Storm2 and labels each incoming tweet as either positive, negative, or neutral before it is indexed. Therefore, for this system, the message-level sentiment-analysis performance needs to be improved to make the aggregated percentages of the labels more accurate.
Analog errors in Ising machines

Recent technological breakthroughs have precipitated the availability of specialized devices that promise to solve NP-Hard problems faster than standard computers. These ‘Ising Machines’ are however analog in nature and as such inevitably have implementation errors. We find that their success probability decays exponentially with problem size for a fixed error level, and we derive a sufficient scaling law for the error in order to maintain a fixed success probability. We corroborate our results with experiment and numerical simulations and discuss the practical implications of our findings.
Early Prediction of Student Success Using a Data Mining Classification Technique

: Nowadays the amount of data stored in educational databases is increasing rapidly. These databases contain hidden information which can be used for the improvement of student academic performance in higher education systems. Predicting student’s academic performance beforehand can help management, faculty as well students to make timely decisions. A data mining technique is used to study the data available in the educational field, and bring out hidden knowledge for decision making. Data mining classification technique was used through three decision tree methods, namely: J48, Rep tree, and Random Tree. This paper is an attempt to apply the data mining techniques, particularly classification, to help students in enhancing their results and the quality of the higher educational system by early prediction of student success using decision tree methods. In this study, the main attributes that affect the student performance were determined to predict students’ final grade early. For this purpose, we have used real data obtained from the managerial higher institute ‘Tammoh’ in Giza-Egypt for first year students. Weka data mining tool was used to generate and compare the classifier models of the selected algorithms and results were reported. A ranker search method was then applied to rank the best five attributes in data by using Info Gain ranker to filter the most important rules of the selected classifier model. Final results show that applying J48 algorithm with ranker search method can enhance the generated rules and help management predict early weak students and take appropriate decisions to prevent them from failure and thereby enhance students' academic performance.
Bank Distress and Firm Performance during the Great Recession - Evidence from Ireland

This paper investigates the impact of bank distress on firms performance using unique data during the Great Recession for Ireland. The results show that bank distress, measured as banks credit default swap spreads (CDS) has negatively and statistically significantly affected firms investment expenditures. Interestingly, firms with access to alternative sources of external finance are not impacted by bank distress. The results are robust to accounting for external finance dependence, demand and trade sensitivities, which affect firm performance and the demand for credit.
Human capital convergence in Latin America: 1950–2000*

Resumen Usando la información contenida en las Penn World Table las estadísticas de la CEPAL y la base de datos OLAD para el periodo 1950–2000, y considerando una muestra de 18 países Latinoamericanos, este artículo pretende estudiar el proceso de convergencia que se da entre ellos. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando técnicas de datos de panel nos permiten hablar de convergencia sólo en un sentido condicional. Realmente, encontramos que el principal factor que explica el proceso de crecimiento y convergencia en esta región es el nivel de capital humano. Esta variable ha sido construida usando la metodología de Componentes Principales y tomando en consideración variables tales como la tasa de matrícula en educación primaria y secundaria, el número de habitantes por médico, la esperanza de vida, la mortalidad infantil y la tasa de dependencia. Abstract Using the Penn World Table, the CEPAL statistics and the OxLAD data base for the period 1950–2000, and considering a sample of 18 Latin American countries, this paper tries to test for convergence within the region. The results from a panel data approach only allow us to speak about convergence in a conditional sense. In fact, one of the main factors behind both economic growth and the catching up process in the region is the level of human capital. This variable has been constructed using Principal Components methodology and taking into consideration primary and secondary school enrolment ratios, the number of inhabitants per doctor, life expectancy, the infant mortality rate and the dependency rate.
Historical Shoreline Change, Southeast Oahu, Hawaii; Applying Polynomial Models to Calculate Shoreline Change Rates

Abstract Here we present shoreline change rates for the beaches of southeast Oahu, Hawaii, calculated using recently developed polynomial methods to assist coastal managers in planning for erosion hazards and to provide an example for interpreting results from these new rate calculation methods. The polynomial methods use data from all transects (shoreline measurement locations) on a beach to calculate a rate at any one location along the beach. These methods utilize a polynomial to model alongshore variation in the rates. Models that are linear in time best characterize the trend of the entire time series of historical shorelines. Models that include acceleration (both increasing and decreasing) in their rates provide additional information about shoreline trends and indicate how rates vary with time. The ability to detect accelerating shoreline change is an important advance because beaches may not erode or accrete in a constant (linear) manner. Because they use all the data from a beach, polynomial models calculate rates with reduced uncertainty compared with the previously used single-transect method. An information criterion, a type of model optimization equation, identifies the best shoreline change model for a beach. Polynomial models that use eigenvectors as their basis functions are most often identified as the best shoreline change models.
Progress-Preserving Refinements of CTA

We develop a theory of refinement for timed asynchronous systems, in the setting of Communicating Timed Automata (CTA). Our refinement applies point-wise to the components of a system of CTA, and only affecting their time constraints—in this way, we achieve compositionality and decidability. We then establish a decidable condition under which our refinement preserves behavioural properties of systems, such as their global and local progress. Our theory provides guidelines on how to implement timed protocols using the real-time primitives of programming languages. We validate our theory through a series of experiments, supported by an open-source tool which implements our verification techniques.
Spatio-temporal trend assessment for water quality of Bevern stream, UK

Land use and human activities in a catchment can have considerable effects on the quality of water bodies. This study is an effort to assess spatial and temporal behavior of Bevern stream, England, using trend analysis and consequently, identify sources of contamination. Monthly and seasonal trends are generated for 5 locations along the stream, for NH, nitrate, DO, and PO4 using 10 years of data (2003-2013). Linear Regression and Mann-Kendall test have been applied. Spatial results show Spatham Lane, Plumpton Green, and Clapper’s Bridge locations with higher nutrient load compared to Swansyard farm and Plumpton mill stream, justified by the presence of numerous farms and agricultural fields including municipal effluent at Plumpton Green and discharge from wastewater treatment plants at SL and Clapper’s bridge. Temporally, Plumpton mill stream show decline in quality with decrease in DO levels providing evidence to the Wales treatment plant as possible source. In contrast, Spatham Lane conditions show improvement with time, in PO4 and NH3. Current trend analyses further provide evidence on vulnerable quality conditions at Clapper’s bridge. To conclude, Bevern stream show adequate oxygen levels overall for aquatic life but more attention is needed to control nutrient load coming from waste treatment plants, in order to avoid eutrophication in coming years.
The relationship between grocery store tours and fruit and vegetable consumption among undergraduate nutrition students.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROCERY STORE TOURS AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NUTRITION STUDENTS. Alyssa Strom Introduction:. College-aged students do not meet recommended intakes of fruits and vegetables, which over time can increase risk of chronic diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether nutrition education on different forms of fruits and vegetables delivered during a grocery store tour impacted fruit and vegetable consumption among undergraduate students enrolled in introductory nutrition courses at Georgia State University (GSU). Methods: Undergraduate students enrolled in introductory nutrition courses completed an initial fruit and vegetable consumption survey at the start of the semester. The experimental group (n=93) completed the grocery store tour, while the control group (n=51) did not. Both groups completed a final survey on fruit and vegetable consumption at the end of the semester. The survey investigated the following areas: daily fruit consumption; daily vegetable consumption; forms of fruits consumed; forms of vegetables consumed; reasons to consume fruits; reasons to consume vegetables; reasons to avoid fruit; reasons to avoid vegetables. Educational and interactive grocery store tours, led by GSU Coordinated Program students, focused on the following areas: fresh produce; dried fruits; canned fruits/vegetables; frozen fruits/vegetables; 100% juices. The percent of participants who increased fruit/vegetable consumption from <1 serving/day to >2 servings/day and the number of forms of fruits/vegetables consumed was calculated using descriptive statistics. Results: Fruit consumption increased among participants in both the control and experimental group. However, the experimental group demonstrated a greater increase in number of participants increasing consumption to 2 or more servings per day for fruit (65.2% and 52.9%, respectively). Vegetable intake increased in the control group (49% of participants) after the nutrition course but no difference in vegetable consumption was observed in the experimental group. The grocery tour intervention did not increase the number of forms of fruits and vegetables consumed. The control group reported prevention of disease, while the experimental group reported good taste, as the most frequent reason to consume fruit both before and after the intervention. Both the control and experimental groups reported health as the most frequent reason to consume vegetables both before and after the intervention. The experimental group reported cost as the most frequent reason not to consume fruit before the intervention, but after the intervention, “other reasons” was the most frequently reported reason for not consuming fruits. These results indicate that the nutrition education may have impacted perceived barriers to fruit consumption.
Intranasal VIP safely restores volume to multiple grey matter nuclei in patients with CIRS

Correspondence Ritchie C. Shoemaker ritchieshoemaker@msn.com Abstract: Evidence has accumulated since 2008 that intranasal , topical application of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (V IP) can be administered safely to patients with a multi-system , ultisymptom illness, called chronic inflammatory respon se syndrome (CIRS), acquired following exposure to bio logically produced toxins and inflammagens. To date, over 30 0 physicians have prescribed intranasal VIP for their CIRS patients; these physicians have overwhelmingly (>90 %) reported intranasal VIP to reduce symptoms; reduce elevated levels of MMP9, TGF beta-1 and C4a; raise low level s of VEGF; normalize clotting abnormalities, including a cquired von Willebrand’s; and return regulation to pituitar y systemic axes involving ACTH/cortisol and ADH/osmolality. Th ese changes did not occur without use of VIP, though an tecedent steps in a sequential treatment protocol provided b nefit for many patients. The mechanism of these salutary heal th ffects provided by VIP likely involves correction of abnor malities in ribosomal gene activation, nuclear encoded mitochon drial gene activation and an upregulation of Ikaros, a zi nc fingered transcription factor. Recent preliminary work usin g sequential measurement of CNS volumes by NeuroQuant showed a longer treatment window (> 12 weeks) and higher dos es of VIP (> 6 doses/day) safely corrected multinuclear a trophy of grey matter. The current study built upon this prel iminary work and identified a course of VIP treatment that restores grey matter nuclear atrophy in CIRS patients. Safet y of VIP and durability of benefit were both shown with no s ignificant adverse effects reported by any patients.
Investigation for Strong Ground Shaking across the Taipei Basin during the MW 7 . 0 Eastern Taiwan Offshore Earthquake of 31 March 2002

According to reconstructed ground motion snapshots of the northern Taiwan area during the MW 7.0 eastern Taiwan offshore earthquake of 31 March 2002, the composite effects indicated complicated wave propagation behavior in the ground motion of the Taipei basin. A major low frequency pulse arose after the S-wave with the duration of about 20 seconds was observed in northern Taiwan and dominated the radial direction. Observed waveforms of a low frequency pulse show amplification during the seismic wave across the Taipei basin from its eastern edge to western portion. This effect has been considered to be generated by an unusual source radiation, deep Moho reflection or basin bottom surface. In this study, recorded ground motions from a dense seismic network were analyzed using a frequency-wavenumber spectrum analysis for seismic wave propagation properties. We investigated temporal and spatial variations in strong shaking in different frequency bands. Results show that a simple pulse incident seismic wave strongly interacts with inside soft sediments and the surrounding topography of the Taipei basin which in turn extends its shaking duration. Evidence showed that seismic waves have been reflected back from its western boundary of basin with a dominant frequency near one Hz. Findings in this study have been rarely reported and may provide useful information to further constrain a three-dimensional numerical simulation for the basin response and velocity structure, and to predict ground motions of further large earthquakes.
Quantum error correction and entanglement spectrum in tensor networks

A sort of planar tensor networks with tensor constraints is investigated as a model for holography. We study the greedy algorithm generated by tensor constraints and propose the notion of critical protection (CP) against the action of greedy algorithm. For given tensor constraints, a CP tensor chain can be defined. We further find that the ability of quantum error correction (QEC) and the non-flatness of entanglement spectrum (ES) can be quantitatively evaluated by the geometric structure of CP tensor chain. Our work provides a strategy for constructing tensor networks which capture the desirable holographic aspects of AdS space.
Fast control of interactions in an ultracold two atom system: Managing correlations and irreversibility

We design and explore a shortcut to adiabaticity (STA) for changing the interaction strength between two ultracold, harmonically trapped bosons. Starting from initially uncorrelated, non-interacting particles, we assume a time-dependent tuning of the inter-particle interaction through a Feshbach resonance, such that the two particles are strongly interacting at the end of the driving. The efficiency of the STA is then quantified by examining the thermodynamic properties of the system, such as the irreversible work, which is related to the out-of-equilibrium excitations in the system. We also quantify the entanglement of the two-particle state through the von Neumann entropy and show that the entanglement produced in the STA process matches that of the desired target state. Given the fundamental nature of the two-atom problem in ultracold atomic physics, the presented shortcut can be expected to have significant impact on many processes that rely on inter-particle interactions.
TYPE 4 PLANT METALLOTHIONEINS (MT4): AN OVERVIEW OF HORDEUM VULGARE

Metallothioneins are usually low molecular weight metal binding proteins which were first discovered in the late 1950's following an intensive study of yeast, mammals and plants. Among the four subfamilies or classes of plant metallothioneins, Type 4 plant metallothioneins (PMT's), metallothioneins 4 (MT4) or early cysteine as popularly known, stands out to be the most intensively studied group in vitro, perhaps this is attributed to their peculiar structure and function coupled with ease of isolation and purification when compared to other metallothioneins (MT's). In a recent study on barley (Hordeum vulgare) a member of this group revealed that MT4 genes of the plant show local zinc binding in the grain aleuronic layer and act in putative storage. However, structural information and understanding of metal binding dynamics of these MT's are scanty, with early cysteine metallothioneins (MT) from wheat as the only PMT with crystal 3D structure currently available. This paper reviews the state of researches on the structure and functions of Type 4 plant metallothioneins and considering their proposed function which includes provision of Zn (II) to the relevant processes during seed germination, it will be interesting to find out about its ability to transfer Zn (II) ions to other molecules. Index Terms— Metallothioneins, metal binding proteins, Type 4 PMTs, metal binding dynamics.