Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An effective latent networks fusion based model for event recommendation in offline ephemeral social networks

Offline ephemeral social networks (OffESNs) are the networks created ad-hoc at a specific location for a specific purpose and lasting for short period of time, relying on mobile social media such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Bluetooth devices. The primary purpose of people in the OffESNs is to acquire and share information via attending prescheduled events. Event Recommendation over this kind of networks can facilitate attendees on selecting the prescheduled events and organizers on making resource planning. However, because of lack of users' preference and rating information, as well as explicit social relations, the existing recommendation methods can no longer work well to recommend the events in the OffESNs. To address the challenges such as how to derive latent preferences and social relations and how to fuse the latent information in a unified model, we first construct two heterogeneous interaction social networks, an event participation network and a physical proximity network. Then, we use them to derive users' latent preferences and latent networks on social relations, including like-minded peers, co-attendees and friends. Finally, we propose an LNF (Latent Networks Fusion) model under a pairwise factor graph to infer event attendance probabilities for recommendation. Experiments on an RFID-based real conference dataset have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed model compared with typical solutions.
Bayesian computation via empirical likelihood

Approximate Bayesian computation has become an essential tool for the analysis of complex stochastic models when the likelihood function is numerically unavailable. However, the well-established statistical method of empirical likelihood provides another route to such settings that bypasses simulations from the model and the choices of the approximate Bayesian computation parameters (summary statistics, distance, tolerance), while being convergent in the number of observations. Furthermore, bypassing model simulations may lead to significant time savings in complex models, for instance those found in population genetics. The Bayesian computation with empirical likelihood algorithm we develop in this paper also provides an evaluation of its own performance through an associated effective sample size. The method is illustrated using several examples, including estimation of standard distributions, time series, and population genetics models.
Versatile Dual Reporter Gene Systems for Investigating Stop Codon Readthrough in Plants

Background Translation is most often terminated when a ribosome encounters the first in-frame stop codon (UAA, UAG or UGA) in an mRNA. However, many viruses (and some cellular mRNAs) contain “stop” codons that cause a proportion of ribosomes to terminate and others to incorporate an amino acid and continue to synthesize a “readthrough”, or C-terminally extended, protein. This dynamic redefinition of codon meaning is dependent on specific sequence context. Methodology We describe two versatile dual reporter systems which facilitate investigation of stop codon readthrough in vivo in intact plants, and identification of the amino acid incorporated at the decoded stop codon. The first is based on the reporter enzymes NAN and GUS for which sensitive fluorogenic and histochemical substrates are available; the second on GST and GFP. Conclusions We show that the NAN-GUS system can be used for direct in planta measurements of readthrough efficiency following transient expression of reporter constructs in leaves, and moreover, that the system is sufficiently sensitive to permit measurement of readthrough in stably transformed plants. We further show that the GST-GFP system can be used to affinity purify readthrough products for mass spectrometric analysis and provide the first definitive evidence that tyrosine alone is specified in vivo by a ‘leaky’ UAG codon, and tyrosine and tryptophan, respectively, at decoded UAA, and UGA codons in the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) readthrough context.
Lynch Syndrome (HNPCC) and Microsatellite Instability

A departure from the concept of simple adenoma to carcinoma sequence is the realization that colorectal cancer (CRC) develops through at least two major molecular pathogenic pathways, namely chromosomal instability (CIN) and microsatellite instability (MSI) [1,2]. The mechanisms underlying CIN might have been the first to be deciphered but they are just being understood in detail. It is proposed that CIN may be associated with defects in mitotic spindle apparatus hence tumors arising through this pathway are usually characterized by widespread chromosomal deletions, translocations and loss of heterozygosity at the molecular level. On the other hand, MSI pathway is responsible for up to 15% of all CRCs that also include a number of familial syndromes [3,4]. Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC also known as Lynch syndrome) is the prototype for the tumors characterized by MSI. Tumors developing through this pathway have alterations in the length of short, repeated (usully mononucleotide or dinucleotide) sequences of DNA, i.e., microsatellites [5–10]. This phenomenon reflects the underlying defect in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system which is a multi-protein complex responsible for correction of errors arising during normal cell division [5,7,11,12]. In 1997, the National Cancer Institute Workshop on Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer Syndrome proposed specific markers for MSI assessment which included BAT25, BAT26, D5S346, D2S123 and D17S250, known as Bethesda panel [13]. If no alterations are found the tumor is classified as microsatellite stable (MSS) and if two or more loci are abnormal the tumor is classified as showing a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H). In cases showing abnormalities at one locus, testing of an additional five loci is recommended. If abnormal loci constitute less than 40% of the tested markers, the tumor is classified as showing a low level of microsatellite instability (MSIL). MSS cancers account for up to 85% of all CRCs and occur in sporadic and hereditary settings such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and attenuated FAP. The biological significance and underlying genetic abnormalities in cancers with the MSI-L phenotype are debated and remain to be fully characterised. It has been reported that on morphological grounds, MSS and MSI-L cancers are indistinguishable. MSI-H cancers constitute up to 15% of all CRCs. MSI-H cancers (sporadic and in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) patients) have characteristic anatomical and histological features. Proximal colon incidence is seen in the majority of cases. Most of the tumors are polypoid masses and some may display a mucinous cut surface [14,15]. Stricture formation due to a diffuse growth pattern is uncommon; however, extensive necrosis is often observed. The tumors usually have a well-defined margin. A significant fraction of tumors are also classified as poorly differentiated. A characteristic feature of diagnostic importance is the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), most of which are cytotoxic T cells. B lymphocytes’ aggregates are
Consistency, Replication, and Meta-analyses of Altered Brain Activity in Unipolar Depression.

Müller et al 1 provide a technically sophisticated and informative set of meta-analyses examining altered brain activity in adults with symptomatic unipolar depression. The striking overall finding of their analyses is the lack of consistent group differences across studies. The absence of rep-licable effects across studies remained even when they addressed a number of potentially key confounds, such as examining only patients not receiving medication, patients without comorbidities, and patients without late-life or geri-atric depression. Furthermore, Müller et al 1 make a number of important suggestions for conducting high-quality meta-analyses in the future that can be replicated and that can provide guidance for future research in the field. These excellent suggestions include the use of a reasonably large number of experiments with homogenous methods, avoiding region-of-interest or restricted analysis studies that may bias results, only including studies with a sufficiently stringent false-positive correction, and providing sufficient details about the methods to allow replication. The inconsistency of prior results examining altered brain activity in unipolar depression revealed by Müller et al 1 should definitely give the field pause and highlights the need to address underlying causes of this lack of replication. However, some of these findings need to be interpreted with caution because Müller et al 1 do not fully follow their own recommendations , particularly regarding combining across homogenous methods. Specifically, the meta-analysis of cognitive tasks combined across paradigms that varied considerably in processing demands, and it is not clear that one would predict common regions to show altered activity in unipolar depression across quite different cognitive domains. This concern extends even to the meta-analysis of memory processing because this particular meta-analysis combined studies examining either working memory or episodic memory. Although some brain regions contribute to both working memory and episodic memory, there is also strong evidence for disso-ciations in the neural systems underlying working vs epi-sodic memory and even for dissociations among subcompo-nents of episodic memory. Thus, to the extent that unipolar depression is associated with greater impairments in some components of memory than others, 2 one would not expect there to be consistent alterations in brain activation across all these different types of studies. Furthermore, even if unipo-lar depression was associated with alterations across multiple aspects of memory, different brain regions may mediate the different forms of memory impairment (eg, the prefron-tal cortex for working memory 3 vs the hippocampus for episodic memory 4). Müller et al …
On the Application of Ensembles of Classifiers to the Diagnosis of Pathologies of the Vertebral Column: A Comparative Analysis

This paper reports results from a comprehensive performance comparison among standalone machine learning algorithms (SVM, MLP and GRNN) and their combinations in ensembles of classifiers when applied to a medical diagnosis problem in the field of orthopedics. All the aforementioned learning strategies, which currently comprises the classification module of the SINPATCO platform, are evaluated according to their ability in discriminating patients as belonging to one out of three categories: normal, disk hernia and spondylolisthesis. Confusion matrices of all learning algorithms are also reported, as well as a study of the effect of diversity in the design of the ensembles. The obtained results clearly indicate that the ensembles of classifiers have better generalization performance than standalone classifiers.
Semi-automated co-reference identification in digital humanities collections

Locating specific information within museum collections represents a significant challenge for collection users. Even when the collections and catalogues exist in a searchable digital format, formatting differences and the imprecise nature of the information to be searched mean that information can be recorded in a large number of different ways. This variation exists not just between different collections, but also within individual ones. This means that traditional information retrieval techniques are badly suited to the challenges of locating particular information in digital humanities collections and searching, therefore, takes an excessive amount of time and resources. This thesis focuses on a particular search problem, that of co-reference identification. This is the process of identifying when the same real world item is recorded in multiple digital locations. In this thesis, a real world example of a co-reference identification problem for digital humanities collections is identified and explored. In particular the time consuming nature of identifying co-referent records. In order to address the identified problem, this thesis presents a novel method for co-reference identification between digitised records in humanities collections. Whilst the specific focus of this thesis is co-reference identification, elements of the method described also have applications for general information retrieval. The new co-reference method uses elements from a broad range of areas including; query expansion, co-reference identification, short text semantic similarity and fuzzy logic. The new method was tested against real world collections information, the results of which suggest that, in terms of the quality of the co-referent matches found, the new co-reference identification method is at least as effective as a manual search. The number of co-referent matches found however, is higher using the new method. The approach presented here is capable of searching collections stored using differing metadata schemas. More significantly, the approach is capable of identifying potential co-reference matches despite the highly heterogeneous and syntax independent nature of the Gallery, Library, Archive and Museum (GLAM) search space and the photo-history domain in particular. The most significant benefit of the new method is, however, that it requires comparatively little manual intervention. A co-reference search using it has, therefore, significantly lower person hour requirements than a manually conducted search. In addition to the overall co-reference identification method, this thesis also presents: • A novel and computationally lightweight short text semantic similarity metric. This new metric has a significantly higher throughput than the current prominent techniques but a negligible drop in accuracy. • A novel method for comparing photographic processes in the presence of variable terminology and inaccurate field information. This is the first computational approach to do so.
Ambient noise surface wave tomography of the Iberian Peninsula: Implications for shallow seismic structure

We have obtained high resolution group velocity maps of Rayleigh waves at periods from 8 to 25 seconds across the Iberian Peninsula by cross‐correlating four months of ambient noise data recorded by 40 permanent broadband stations. Group velocity maps accurately image the main structural elements of the Iberian upper crust, including the Iberian Massif, Alpine orogens and major sedimentary basins. The Pyrenees and the Iberian Chain are imaged as relatively high group velocities, in contrast with the Betic Cordillera, which is characterized by low velocities. We explain these low velocities in the Betics by the presence of widespread intramontane basins created in an extensional episode simultaneous with north–south convergence between the African and Eurasian plates. The most prominent low velocity anomalies in the Iberian Peninsula are related to the Guadalquivir Basin, the flysch units of the Campo de Gibraltar, and the sediments of the Gulf of Cadiz.
THE PULSATILE NATURE OF THE RELEASE OF POTASSIUM FROM HEART MUSCLE DURING THE SYSTOLE

My colleagues, James M. O’Brien and Irene Bay, and I have produced direct evidence that the potassium release of cardiac contraction or activity is truly pulsatile. A turtle heart is heavily labeled in vivo with intraperitoneal K4*. The isotope must be prepared in the intense neutron flux of the Low Intensity Testing Reactor a t Oak Ridge. The excised heart is perfused (FIGURE 1) and the outflowing perfusate is caught on a filter-paper strip moving past on a timed kymograph. The strip is cut into rectangular samples that are serially collected a t known times. The electrocardiogram and a myogram are recorded simultaneously. The potassium release of activity may thus be related in time to the electrical events. A second radioactivity is added as a volume indicator in the perfusion fluid. This may be I131-albumin or inorganic phosphate tagged with P32, and it is counted after the potassium K42 has been allowed to decay through its short half life. An arithmetical division of the K42 count by the volume indicator count on each paper segment then gives us the concentration of potassium K4? for that particular sample. FIGURE 2 is a typical curve for one of the two hearts on which runs have been successful in the last four years. The ECG waves are above, and the concentration waves for K42 are belowour so-called “effluogram” record. The first K42 wave is for a systole elicited by electrical stimulation a t the A-V junction, and the second wave is for an idioventricular beat. Thus, we see that the wave of release is real and not the result of electrolysis due to the stimulating current. Note that there are about seven samples represented in the upstroke of the wave and about forty in the entire wave. The samples measured may each contain as little as 0.003 ml. of perfusate. There is no correction for travel time on this chart. Note that the perfusion irrigation is not by way of the ventricular cavity, but only by way of the coronary vessels (FIGURE 3) . Cannulation for the inflow is into the single coronary artery. Occasionally two coronary arteries arise independently from the innominate artery and thus spoil an experiment in which we have invested more than a hundred dollars’ worth of isotopes. Unfortunately the outflowing venous coronary vessels do not collect into a single vessel for cannulation, but open by several vents into the neighborhood of the sinus venosus. The collective outflow from these veins is allowed to flow down the outside of a solid glass stylus, penlike in form. The stylus is anchored by a ligature about the A-V junction. The trimmed right auricle and the sinus venosus drape about this stylus like the cloth of an umbrella. Resting flow is very steady (lower curve of FIGURE 5 ) . * This study was supported by the United States Atomic Energy Commission [Contract No. AT(40-1) 13011, Washington, D. C. ; the Life Insurance Medical Research Fund (G55-28) ; New York, N. Y. ; and the American Heart Association, New York, N. Y. t Present address: Department of Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
News Monologue Shot Detection using Conditional Random Fields

In TV news videos, monologue shots are informative and valuable in the application of video retrieval and mining. In this paper, we employ conditional random fields (CRFs) to fuse contextual information as well as audio, visual and temporal features for the detection of news monologue shots. CRFs are undirected probabilistic models and deal with monologue shot detection as a sequence labeling problem. The method first removes commercial shots, and then applies a two-level framework to detect monologue shots. In the low-level model, a face detector and an anchorperson detector are employed to identify the corresponding shots. In the high-level model, monologue and reporter shots are labeled with CRFs. The experimental results achieve better performance without external knowledge.
Feasibility of High-Throughput Genome-Wide Genotyping using DNA from Stored Buccal Cell Samples

It is unclear if buccal cell samples contain sufficient human DNA with adequately sized fragments for high throughput genetic bioassays. Yet buccal cell sample collection is an attractive alternative to gathering blood samples for genetic epidemiologists engaged in large-scale genetic biomarker studies. We assessed the genotyping efficiency (GE) and genotyping concordance (GC) of buccal cell DNA samples compared to corresponding blood DNA samples, from 32 Nurses' Health Study (NHS) participants using the Illumina Infinium 660W-Quad platform. We also assessed how GE and GC accuracy varied as a function of DNA concentration using serial dilutions of buccal DNA samples. Finally we determined the nature and genomic distribution of discordant genotypes in buccal DNA samples. The mean GE of undiluted buccal cell DNA samples was high (99.32%), as was the GC between the paired buccal and blood samples (99.29%). GC between the dilutions versus the undiluted buccal DNA was also very high (>97%), though both GE and GC notably declined at DNA concentrations less than 5 ng/μl. Most (>95%) genotype determinations in buccal cell samples were of the “missing call” variety (as opposed to the “alternative genotype call” variety) across the spectrum of buccal DNA concentrations studied. Finally, for buccal DNA concentration above 1.7 ng/ul, discordant genotyping calls did not cluster in any particular chromosome. Buccal cell-derived DNA represents a viable alternative to blood DNA for genotyping on a high-density platform.
Hesitation in speech can… um… help a listener understand

This paper investigates the effect of disfluencies on listeners' on-line processing of speech. More specifically, it tests the hypothesis that filled pauses like um, which tend to occur before words that are low in accessibility, act as a signal to the listener that a relatively inaccessible word is about to be produced. Two experiments are reported, in which participants followed recorded instructions to press buttons corresponding to images on a computer screen. In 50% of trials, the spoken name of the image was preceded by um. In experiment 1, the intrinsic accessibility of the target items was manipulated (by means of lexical frequency); in experiment 2, the extrinsic (visual) accessibility varied. Both experiments demonstrated that participants were quicker to respond when a target was preceded by um, regardless of whether the item referred to was difficult to access or not. In addition, in experiment 2 there was a weak interaction between accessibility and presence or absence of an um. We present the data here as early evidence that listeners can benefit from disfluencies in others' speech, and outline some methodological and theoretical considerations and further experiments.
A diffusion tensor imaging study of fasciculi in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE Cognitive models propose that the symptoms and psychological impairments associated with schizophrenia arise as a consequence of impaired communication between brain regions, especially the prefrontal cortex and the temporal and parietal lobes. Functional imaging and electrophysiological data have provided evidence of functional dysconnectivity, but it is unclear whether this reflects an underlying problem with anatomical connectivity. This study used diffusion tensor imaging to examine the integrity of the major white matter fasciculi, which connects the frontal and temporal-parietal cortices, and the corpus callosum in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD A 1.5-T magnetic resonance scanner was used to acquire diffusion tensor images giving whole brain coverage at an isotropic 2.5-mm voxel size. Fractional anisotropy was measured in 33 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy comparison subjects with an automated voxel-based method of analysis. RESULTS There was reduced fractional anisotropy in patients with schizophrenia in regions corresponding to the superior longitudinal fasciculi bilaterally and in the genu of the corpus callosum. However, within the patient group, the propensity to experience auditory hallucinations was associated with relatively increased fractional anisotropy in superior longitudinal fasciculi and in the anterior cingulum. CONCLUSIONS Schizophrenia is associated with altered white matter integrity in the tracts connecting the frontal cortex with the temporal and parietal cortices and with the contralateral frontal and temporal lobes. The severity of these changes may vary with the pattern of symptoms associated with the disorder.