Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iconicity and Arbitrariness in Italian Sign Language

Sign linguistics has always had to deal with the notion of iconicity because sign languages are much more iconic than vocal languages. Formal sign linguists have often tried to explain iconicity apart from descriptions of sign language, considering it as contradictory to the arbitrariness that must rule language organization as a natural consequence of the autonomy and the separateness of language. More recently, functional sign linguists have highlighted the presence of iconicity as a function of the peculiar visual-gestural modality of sign languages. This article provides quantitative information on the incidence of iconicity in the lexicon of Italian Sign Language (LIS). It observes how the principles of arbitrariness govern the great amount of iconicity that occurs in the LIS lexicon. It also tries to interpret both the high incidence of iconicity and the necessary presence of arbitrariness as responses to a deep need for economy. In order to explain why the arbitrary organization of the LIS lexicon does not prevent a high incidence of iconicity, I propose a revisited notion of arbitrariness based on Saussure’s original formulation of arbitrariness.
The Genetic Basis of Metal Hyperaccumulation in Plants

Referee: Professor Alan J.M. Baker, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia A relatively small yet diverse group of plants are capable of sequestering metals in their shoot tissues at remarkably high concentrations that would be toxic to most organisms. This process, known as metal hyperaccumulation, is of interest for several reasons, including its relevance to the phytoremediation of metalpolluted soils. Most research on hyperaccumulators has focused on the physiological mechanisms of metal uptake, transport, and sequestration, but relatively little is known regarding the genetic basis of hyperaccumulation. There are no known cases of major genetic polymorphisms in which some members of a species are capable of hyperaccumulation and others are not. This is in contrast to the related phenomenon of metal tolerance, in which most species that possess any metal tolerance are polymorphic, evolving tolerance only in local populations on metalliferous soil. However, although some degree of hyperaccumulation occurs in all members of the species that can hyperaccumulate, there is evidence of quantitative genetic variation in ability to hyperaccumulate, both between and within populations. Such variation does not appear to correlate positively with either the metal concentration in the soil or the degree of metal tolerance in the plant. Studies using controlled crosses, interspecific hybrids, and molecular markers are beginning to shed light on the genetic control of this variation. As molecular physiology provides greater insights into the specific genes that control metal accumulation, we may learn more about the genetic and regulatory factors that influence variable expression of the hyperaccumulation phenotype.
Seiberg-Witten Theory, Symplectic Forms, and Hamiltonian Theory of Solitons

This is an expanded version of lectures given in Hangzhou and Beijing, on the symplectic forms common to Seiberg-Witten theory and the theory of solitons. Methods for evaluating the prepotential are discussed. The construction of new integrable models arising from supersymmetric gauge theories are reviewed, including twisted Calogero-Moser systems and spin chain models with twisted monodromy conditions. A practical framework is presented for evaluating the universal symplectic form in terms of Lax pairs. A subtle distinction between a Lie algebra and a Lie group version of this symplectic form is clarified, which is necessary in chain models.
From the Cloud to the Atmosphere: Running MapReduce across Data Centers

Efficiently analyzing big data is a major issue in our current era. Examples of analysis tasks include identification or detection of global weather patterns, economic changes, social phenomena, or epidemics. The cloud computing paradigm along with software tools such as implementations of the popular MapReduce framework offer a response to the problem by distributing computations among large sets of nodes. In many scenarios, input data are, however, geographically distributed (geodistributed) across data centers, and straightforwardly moving all data to a single data center before processing it can be prohibitively expensive. Above-mentioned tools are designed to work within a single cluster or data center and perform poorly or not at all when deployed across data centers. This paper deals with executing sequences of MapReduce jobs on geo-distributed data sets. We analyze possible ways of executing such jobs, and propose data transformation graphs that can be used to determine schedules for job sequences which are optimized either with respect to execution time or monetary cost. We introduce G-MR, a system for executing such job sequences, which implements our optimization framework. We present empirical evidence in Amazon EC2 and VICCI of the benefits of G-MR over common, naïve deployments for processing geodistributed data sets. Our evaluations show that using G-MR significantly improves processing time and cost for geodistributed data sets.
Is Play an Emotion? Some Ethological Observations

This paper begins with a list of commonly recognized forms of play and a discussion of definitions of play. This is followed by an overview of the ontogeny, phylogeny, mechanisms, and possible functions of human play. Next the question of whether or not play should be regarded as a separate emotion from interest is addressed. Play resembles the emotion of interest (or curiosity) in its affects and cognitive elicitors. Play differs from interest in exhibiting somewhat distinctive behavioral, visceral, and expressive emotional properties. This evidence, together with phylogenetic information, suggests that interest, exploration, and play constitute the same basic emotion, with exploration being an evolutionary offshoot of interest and play an offshoot of exploration.
Building a Recommender System for Simtk

Simtk.org is a website used by thousands of biomedical researchers around the world to host source code, download projects, and share resources. As a medium-sized social network, Simtk does not leverage its social structure to create engagement, nor does it utilize its network to improve the project navigation. Upon agreement with the site maintainers and developers, we analyzed this social network, and implemented a item-item recommender system for projects on Simtk. In this paper, we analyze the user behavior on the site, implement a project recommender system, and analyze the results and qualities of our system. We found that a small group of projects commanded the majority of user pageviews, but we still built an effective recommender system using log data to identify similar projects and optimize project navigation. Future Distribution Permission The authors of this report give permission for this document to be distributed to Stanfordaffiliated students taking future courses.
Micro-plasma formation during opening of a low current electrical contact

The opening of a low current electrical contact using a piezoelectric actuator controlling the separation distance within the nanometre range is investigated. During the contact opening, formation of several short duration micro-plasmas is observed, followed by a contact re-closing. The arc duration was observed to increase from event to event, finally leading to the contact opening at a typical distance of about 5–6 µm. During the contact opening a liquid metal bridge is formed undergoing transition to a very dense plasma. Emission spectroscopy of the micro-plasma indicates that the arcing event consists of a dense metal plasma produced from the contact materials. In view of the small geometrical dimensions of the micro-discharge and estimates of the electrical conductivity of the plasma from electrical measurements, it is argued that a strongly coupled plasma must be present at the very beginning of the arcing event.
Consensus based multi-agent control structures

In this paper a new approach to decentralized overlapping control of complex systems has been proposed in the form of multi-agent network were the agents are using dynamic consensus strategy in order to reach the agreement upon the control actions. Several structures and algorithms have been proposed which differ, on one hand, on the choice of the variables upon which the agreement among the agents is made (control or estimation variables), and, on the other hand, on the local controller structures derived from the decentralized control laws. Properties and performance of the proposed algorithms have been discussed and illustrated by several examples.
Analysis of Expressive Musical Terms in Violin Using Score-Informed and Expression-Based Audio Features

The manipulation of different interpretational factors, including dynamics, duration, and vibrato, constitutes the realization of different expressions in music. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the workings of these factors is critical for advanced expressive synthesis and computer-aided music education. In this paper, we propose the novel task of automatic expressive musical term classiﬁcation as a direct means to study the interpretational factors. Specifically, we consider up to 10 expressive musical terms, such as Scherzando and Tranquillo , and compile a new dataset of solo violin excerpts featuring the realization of different expressive terms by different musicians for the same set of classical music pieces. Under a score-informed scheme, we design and evaluate a number of note-level features characterizing the interpretational aspects of music for the classiﬁcation task. Our evaluation shows that the proposed features lead to signiﬁcantly higher classiﬁcation accuracy than a baseline feature set commonly used in music information retrieval tasks. Moreover, taking the contrast of feature values between an expressive and its corresponding non-expressive version (if given) of a music piece greatly improves the accuracy in classifying the presented expressive one. We also draw insights from analyzing the feature relevance and the class-wise accuracy of the prediction.
Bayesian adaptive designs for clinical trials

A Bayesian adaptive design is proposed for a comparative two-armed clinical trial using decision-theoretic approaches. A loss function is specified, based on the cost for each patient and the costs of making incorrect decisions at the end of a trial. At each interim analysis, the decision to terminate or to continue the trial is based on the expected loss function while concurrently incorporating efficacy, futility and cost. The maximum number of interim analyses is determined adaptively by the observed data. We derive explicit connections between the loss function and the frequentist error rates, so that the desired frequentist properties can be maintained for regulatory settings. The operating characteristics of the design can be evaluated on frequentist grounds. Extensive simulations are carried out to compare the proposed design with existing ones. The design is general enough to accommodate both continuous and discrete types of data. We illustrate the methods with an animal study evaluating a medical treatment for cardiac arrest. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
An International Human Rights Perspective on Maternal Criminal Justice Involvement in the United States

Internationally and historically unprecedented numbers of women in the United States are under criminal justice supervision in jails, prisons, and the community. Pregnant women and mothers with minor children comprise a large proportion of this population. The rise in criminal justice oversight and incarceration rates has differentially impacted a highly vulnerable population of women and children. This article outlines an international human rights perspective on the criminal justice involvement of pregnant women and mothers with minor children, and describes common and broadly accepted U.S. criminal justice practices in the areas of pregnancy, birth, and contact with children that differ from a rights-based approach. Using the United Nations-developed Bangkok Rules and existing research as a foundation, the authors conclude by advancing recommendations for more humane approaches to pregnant and parenting women and their children that would bring the United States more closely in line with international standards. This article capitalizes on the increased attention currently being placed on the U.S. criminal justice system to highlight continued problems and provide humane solutions that draw on international approaches while also fitting a U.S. context.
Measurement of Heart Rate Variability Using an Oscillometric Blood Pressure Monitor

We apply the maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT)-based spectral density estimation method to measure heart rate variability (HRV) from short-duration pulse wave signals produced by an automated oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitor during routine measurements. To test the accuracy of this wavelet HRV metric, we study the linear correlations that it achieves with chronological age and BP in a healthy population of 85 subjects. We define accuracy as the quality of the linear regression of HRV with age and BP. Results are compared with a number of traditional HRV metrics and earlier published work. The MODWT HRV metric achieves higher (and more significant) correlations with age and BP compared to other metrics. Moreover, these correlations are in agreement with earlier published work on correlations of HRV (measured from much longer duration electrocardiogram signals) with age and BP. As a further enhancement, we combine the MODWT HRV metric with other HRV metrics inside a multiple-linear-regression model and show an improvement in the correlations between the predicted and actual ages and the predicted and actual BP. Our work thus indicates the suitability of the MODWT metric either as a stand alone or in combination with other metrics for characterizing HRV from short-duration oscillometric pulse wave signals. Based on our results, we conclude that oscillometric BP monitors can be used to measure HRV in addition to measuring BP.
CD8+ T Cell Immunity Against a Tumor/Self-Antigen Is Augmented by CD4+ T Helper Cells and Hindered by Naturally Occurring T Regulatory Cells

CD4+ T cells control the effector function, memory, and maintenance of CD8+ T cells. Paradoxically, we found that absence of CD4+ T cells enhanced adoptive immunotherapy of cancer when using CD8+ T cells directed against a persisting tumor/self-Ag. However, adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25− Th cells (Th cells) with tumor/self-reactive CD8+ T cells and vaccination into CD4+ T cell-deficient hosts induced autoimmunity and regression of established melanoma. Transfer of CD4+ T cells that contained a mixture of Th and CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg cells) or Treg cells alone prevented effective adoptive immunotherapy. Maintenance of CD8+ T cell numbers and function was dependent on Th cells that were capable of IL-2 production because therapy failed when Th cells were derived from IL-2−/− mice. These findings reveal that Th cells can help break tolerance to a persisting self-Ag and treat established tumors through an IL-2-dependent mechanism, but requires simultaneous absence of naturally occurring Treg cells to be effective.
Post-Entry Selection Among Newly Founded Firms in East and West Germany after Unification: A Competing Risk Model with Forced Bankruptcy Liquidations and Voluntary Liquidations

This paper provides an investigation of the post-entry selection among newly founded firms either via voluntary liquidation or via forced bankruptcy liquidation for the period since the unification of East and West Germany in 1990. The exit decision of newly founded firms is discussed in the context of the self-selection mechanism among entrepreneurs and the coexistent external selection mechanism implemented by the insolvency law. The estimation of semi-parametric competing risk models is based on panel data samples for the period from 1990 to 1997, which were drawn from a credit rating database. The samples cover together about 20,000 firm foundations between 1990 and 1994 in all East and West German regions and in all industries in the manufacturing, construction, trade and service sectors. The type-specific baseline hazard function estimates indicate that selection via bankruptcy liquidation starts as the first wave of voluntary liquidations already tapers off. Selection among firms founded during the period of economic transition in East Germany is delayed compared to the selection in West Germany. Further empirical results support the claimed relevance of owner-specific liquidation thresholds in addition to venture return-driven effects and the expected impacts of the German insolvency law on liquidation decisions.
Impaired Processing in the Primary Auditory Cortex of an Animal Model of Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder clinically characterized by deficits in communication, lack of social interaction and repetitive behaviors with restricted interests. A number of studies have reported that sensory perception abnormalities are common in autistic individuals and might contribute to the complex behavioral symptoms of the disorder. In this context, hearing incongruence is particularly prevalent. Considering that some of this abnormal processing might stem from the unbalance of inhibitory and excitatory drives in brain circuitries, we used an animal model of autism induced by valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy in order to investigate the tonotopic organization of the primary auditory cortex (AI) and its local inhibitory circuitry. Our results show that VPA rats have distorted primary auditory maps with over-representation of high frequencies, broadly tuned receptive fields and higher sound intensity thresholds as compared to controls. However, we did not detect differences in the number of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in AI of VPA and control rats. Altogether our findings show that neurophysiological impairments of hearing perception in this autism model occur independently of alterations in the number of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons. These data support the notion that fine circuit alterations, rather than gross cellular modification, could lead to neurophysiological changes in the autistic brain.
Query clustering using content words and user feedback

Query clustering is crucial for automatically discovering frequently asked queries (FAQs) or most popular topics on a question-answering search engine. Due to the short length of queries, the traditional approaches based on keywords are not suitable for query clustering. This paper describes our attempt to cluster similar queries according to their contents as well as the document click information in the user logs.
Improvement in Game Agent Control Using State-Action Value Scaling

The aim of this paper is to enhance the performance of a reinforcement learning game agent controller, within a dynamic game environment, through the retention of learned information over a series of consecutive games. Using a variation of the classic arcade game Pac-Man, the Sarsa algorithm has been utilised for the control of the Pac-Man game agent. The results indicate the use of stateaction value scaling between games played as successful in preserving prior knowledge, therefore improving the performance of the game agent when a series of consecutive games are played.
FAR-INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF THE VERY LOW LUMINOSITY EMBEDDED SOURCE L1521F-IRS IN THE TAURUS STAR-FORMING REGION

We investigate the environment of the very low luminosity object L1521F-IRS using data from the Taurus Spitzer Legacy Survey. The MIPS 160 μm image shows both extended emission from the Taurus cloud and emission from multiple cold cores over a 1° × 2° region. Analysis shows that the cloud dust temperature is 14.2 ± 0.4 K and the extinction ratio is A160/AK = 0.010 ± 0.001 up to AV ∼ 4 mag. We find κ160 = 0.23 ± 0.046 cm2 g−1 for the specific opacity of the gas–dust mixture. Therefore, for dust in the Taurus cloud we find that the 160 μm opacity is significantly higher than that measured for the diffuse interstellar medium, but not too different from dense cores, even at modest extinction values. Furthermore, the 160 μm image shows features that do not appear in the IRAS 100 μm image. We identify six regions as cold cores, i.e., colder than 14.2 K, all of which have counterparts in extinction maps or C18O maps. Three of the six cores contain embedded young stellar objects, which demonstrates the cores are sites of current star formation. We compare the effects of L1521F-IRS on its natal core and find there is no evidence for dust heating at 160 or 100 μm by the embedded source. From the infrared luminosity LTIR = 0.024 L☉ we find , thus confirming the source's low luminosity. Comparison of L1521F-IRS with theoretical simulations for the very early phases of star formation appears to rule out the first core collapse phase. The evolutionary state appears similar to or younger than the class 0 phase, and the estimated mass is likely to be substellar.
Automatic Replanning of Tracking Areas in Cellular Networks

In future cellular networks, tracking areas (TAs) that are defined for location management purposes will be frequently updated to cope with changes in user trends. In this paper, an automatic method for defining when and how to change an existing TA plan to minimize network signaling is presented. The method first detects periods of similar user trends that could share the same TA plan. For this purpose, a series of graphs showing the evolution of user mobility and traffic is built from handover and paging statistics in the network management system (NMS). Then, a clustering algorithm is used to identify periods of similar user trends based on graph correlation. Thus, a TA replan is performed at the end of each period. To build the new TA plan, the TA replanning problem is formulated as a classical graph partitioning problem, which is then solved by a sophisticated graph partitioning algorithm combining multilevel and evolutionary techniques. Assessment is based on graphs taken from a live cellular network. Results show that the proposed method can significantly decrease the total number of location update (LU) and paging requests in the network by only changing the TA plan twice a week.
User Studies in Web Information Retrieval: User-Centered Measures in Web IR Evaluation

This paper provides technical support for research in Web Information Retrieval (Web IR). The main objective of the paper is to discuss experimental data, evaluation metrics, and results analysis in user studies intended for evaluating the effectiveness of web information retrieval techniques. User related measures are discussed in the light of emerging web search techniques. Indications for further improvements in web search evaluation studies are also highlighted.
Scaphoid Fracture in a Patient with a Scaphotrapezial Synostosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction. Scaphotrapezial synostosis has been rarely reported in the literature and only one case underwent surgical treatment for scaphoid fracture. Presentation of Case. A 15-year-old male presented with a painful left wrist following a fall. The initial radiographs showed a displaced scaphoid proximal pole fracture and a Scaphotrapezial synostosis. The fracture was then fixed percutaneously with satisfactory outcome. Discussion. Scaphotrapezial synostoses are very rare and most found in patients with multiple congenital anomalies or as part of a hereditary syndrome. They have previously been reported; however, we found only one case reporting a concomitant scaphoid fracture. Conclusion. This is the second case of its kind to report surgical treatment of scaphoid fracture associated with a congenital Scaphotrapezial synostosis.