Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A continuous Formulation of intrinsic Dimension

The intrinsic dimension (see, e.g., [29, 11]) has proven to be a suitable descriptor to distinguish between different kind of image structures such as edges, junctions or homogeneous image patches. In this paper, we will show that the intrinsic dimension is spanned by two axes: one axis represents the variance of the spectral energy and one represents the a weighted variance in orientation. Moreover, we will show in section that the topological structure of instrinsic dimension has the form of a triangle. We will review diverse definitions of intrinsic dimension and we will show that they can be subsumed within the above mentioned scheme. We will then give a concrete continous definition of intrinsic dimension that realizes its triangular structure.
Expectation of trading agent behaviour in negotiation of electronic marketplace

Electronic Commerce has been a very significant commercial phenomenon in recent years, and autonomous agents are widely adopted by business or individuals in electronic marketplaces to fulfill time consuming tasks in trading. Agent negotiation mechanisms are usually applied between conflicted agents in order to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Prediction of trading agents' strategies and behaviours in negotiation is a very significant research topic in agent negotiation. By employing the prediction results on opponents' possible strategies and behaviours during a negotiation, trading agents can plan and perform corresponding strategies in order to maximize their own profits. Significant achievements have been made on this topic. However, most existing approaches are based on machine learning mechanisms, which may fail to capture opponents' behaviours in open and dynamic electronic marketplaces. In this paper, two agent behaviour expectation approaches are introduced to help trading agents to capture opponents' potential behaviours during a negotiation in complex e-marketplaces. i The regression analysis approach focuses on illustrating the main trends of opponents' trading behaviours; ii the vector analysis approach pays more attention to identifying opponents' detailed negotiation strategies. The experimental results show the efficiency and efficacy of the two proposed approaches in open and dynamic negotiation environments.
Newton Greedy Pursuit: A Quadratic Approximation Method for Sparsity-Constrained Optimization

First-order greedy selection algorithms have been widely applied to sparsity-constrained optimization. The main theme of this type of methods is to evaluate the function gradient in the previous iteration to update the non-zero entries and their values in the next iteration. In contrast, relatively less effort has been made to study the second-order greedy selection method additionally utilizing the Hessian information. Inspired by the classic constrained Newton method, we propose in this paper the NewTon Greedy Pursuit (NTGP) method to approximately minimizes a twice differentiable function over sparsity constraint. At each iteration, NTGP constructs a second-order Taylor expansion to approximate the cost function, and estimates the next iterate as the solution of the constructed quadratic model over sparsity constraint. Parameter estimation error and convergence property of NTGP are analyzed. The superiority of NTGP to several representative first-order greedy selection methods is demonstrated in synthetic and real sparse logistic regression tasks.
Leveraging the Client-Server Model in P2P: Managing Concurrent File Updates in a P2P System

The client-server and peer-to-peer paradigms of distributed computing lay at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to simplicity, resiliency to failures, and distribution of load. Unlike client-server systems, peer-topeer systems are built to have no central components and to withstand failure. They are used to provide file sharing services, however, there is currently no peer-to-peer system that safely maintains consistency of data in the face of concurrent file updates. This paper solve this problem by layering a robust, well-tested, client-server application for managing concurrent file access (CVS [2]) on top of a peer-to-peer distributed hash table (the Bamboo DHT [3]). This coupling provides a distributed, scalable, faulttolerant, service for managing concurrent updates to replicated data. This work gives proof of concept that combining the client-server and peer-to-peer paradigms can provide functionality beyond the current capabilities of either paradigm alone.
Information grounds and the use of need-based services by immigrants in Queens, New York: A context-based, outcome evaluation approach

We elaborate on Pettigrew's (1998, 1999) theory of information grounds while using an outcome evaluation approach enriched by its focus on context to explore the use of need-based services by immigrants in New York City. Immigrants have substantial information and practical needs for help with adjusting to life in a new country. Because of differences in language, culture, and other factors such as access, new immigrants are a difficult population to study. As a result, little research has examined their predilections from an information behavior perspective. We report findings from a qualitative study of how literacy and coping skills programs are used by and benefit the immigrant customers of the Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL). From our interviews and observation of 45 program users, staff, and other stakeholders, we derived a grand context (in Pettigrew's terms) woven from three subcontexts: the immigrants of Queens, New York; the QBPL, its service model, and activities for immigrants; and professional contributions of QBPL staff. Our findings are discussed along two dimensions: (a) building blocks toward information literacy, and (b) personal gains achieved by immigrants for themselves and their families. We conclude that successful introduction to the QBPL-as per its mission, programming, and staff-can lead immigrants to a synergistic information ground that can help in meeting broad psychological, social, and practical needs.
Does Student Work Really Affect Educational Outcomes? A Review of the Literature

We review the theories put forward, methodological approaches used, and empirical conclusions found in the multidisciplinary literature on the relationship between student employment and educational outcomes. A systematic comparison of the empirical work yields new insights that go beyond the overall reported negative effect of more intensive working schemes and that are of high academic and policy relevance. One such insight uncovered by our review is that student employment seems to have a more adverse effect on educational choices and behaviour (study engagement and the decision to continue studying) than on educational performance (in particular, graduation).
Moving Big Data to The Cloud: An Online Cost-Minimizing Approach

Cloud computing, rapidly emerging as a new computation paradigm, provides agile and scalable resource access in a utility-like fashion, especially for the processing of big data. An important open issue here is to efficiently move the data, from different geographical locations over time, into a cloud for effective processing. The de facto approach of hard drive shipping is not flexible or secure. This work studies timely, cost-minimizing upload of massive, dynamically-generated, geo-dispersed data into the cloud, for processing using a MapReduce-like framework. Targeting at a cloud encompassing disparate data centers, we model a cost-minimizing data migration problem, and propose two online algorithms: an online lazy migration (OLM) algorithm and a randomized fixed horizon control (RFHC) algorithm , for optimizing at any given time the choice of the data center for data aggregation and processing, as well as the routes for transmitting data there. Careful comparisons among these online and offline algorithms in realistic settings are conducted through extensive experiments, which demonstrate close-to-offline-optimum performance of the online algorithms.
Investigating speaker gender using rhythm metrics in Arabic dialects

This paper investigates the relationship between speakers' gender and rhythm metrics (i.e., %V, ΔC, and ΔV) for three Arabic dialects, namely Modern Standard Arabic, Saudi Arabic, and Levantine. To carry out this study, three corpora have been used: the West Point, Saudi Accented Arabic Voice Bank (SAAVB), and BBN/AUB DARPA Babylon, for Modern Standard Arabic, Saudi Arabic, and Levantine, respectively. Because of differences (e.g., in the language of the spoken content) among the corpora, we compare genders within each specific corpus. Variations are found in speech rate between the three dialects and even within the same dialect between males and females. Rhythm metrics can be used to identify the gender and dialect.
Blockade of ERK Phosphorylation in the Nucleus Accumbens Inhibits the Expression of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization in Rats

Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as cocaine leads to the development of behavioral sensitization. Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK), an enzyme important for long-term neuronal plasticity, has been implicated in such effects of these drugs. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is the site mediating the expression of behavioral sensitization by drugs of abuse, the precise role of ERK activation in this site has not been determined. In this study we demonstrate that blockade of ERK phosphorylation in the NAcc by a single bilateral microinjections of PD98059 (0.5 or 2.0µ g/side), or U0126 (0.1 or 1.0µg/side), into this site dose-dependently inhibited the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization when measured at day 7 following 6 consecutive daily cocaine injections (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Acute microinjection of either vehicle or PD98059 alone produced no different locomotor activity compared to saline control. Further, microinjection of PD98059 (2.0µ g/side) in the NAcc specifically lowered cocaine-induced increase of ERK phosphorylation levels in this site, while unaffecting p-38 protein levels. These results indicate that ERK activation in the NAcc is necessary for the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, and further suggest that repeated cocaine evokes neuronal plasticity involving ERK pathway in this site leading to long-lasting behavioral changes.
The dual lens method: a practical approach to information systems strategy in SME's

This chapter describes the development and testing of a method for information systems (IS) strategy formulation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A case study describing a practical experience with the method is presented. Essentially the method is comprised of two complementary analyses: an externally focused strategic analysis and an internally focused business process analysis. The method draws on the work of Levy and Powell (1999, 2000). The method is simple and clearly prescribed and does not require, as does the approach of Levy and Powell (1999, 2000, 2005), the selection of approaches from a range of applicable techniques. However, before assessing IS strategy formulation approaches for SMEs, including the work of Levy and Powell (1999, 2000, 2005) we will seek to justify the need for an IS Strategy Formulation Method for SMEs and then reflect on the importance of relevance and practicality, as two features of the approach which are important considerations in terms of establishing the method in practice.
Comparison of Systems Using Pairs-Out-of-Order

Our study of the data to be extracted from the TREC results has two tracks. One track asks whether we can draw statistically signi cant conclusions about the e ectiveness of the several systems, from datasets of the size generated by the TREC conferences. This is a subtle problem in multiple comparisons, lacking one of the most useful kinds of data for such studies: information about the \intrinsic variability" or \error term" for speci c system-topic combinations. As might be expected, that ability to draw signi cant conclusions goes up with the amount of natural di erence among the systems, but goes down as we increase the number of systems, and as we decrease the amount of inter-system di erence that we wish to be able to detect with con dence. Detailed results, based upon the TREC4 data are presented in a a companion paper and report. In addition to the results of evaluation, which is based on comparison of the ranked retrieval lists with relevance judgments, we can also analyze the ranked lists themselves. The lists produced by a speci c system, in response to each of the several assigned topics, tell us something about how the system works. In particular, if two systems produce lists which are very similar, we may say that they work in similar ways and hence are \similar systems". In the present report we consider a speci c rigorously de ned measure of the similarity between two ranked lists of 1000 documents, with special attention to the fact that the lists will overlap in part, but not completely.
Multi-Layer Neural Networks with a Local Adaptive Learning Rule for Blind Separation of Source Signa

In this contribution a class of simple local unsupervised learning algorithms is proposed for multi{ layer neural network performing source signal separation from linear mixture of them (the blind separation problem). The main motivation for using a multi{layer network instead of a single layer one for the blind separation problem is to improve the performance and robustness of separation while applying local learning rules. These rules are biologically justi ed opposite to existing more complex global learning rules. The proposed algorithms allow the separation of badly scaled signals and in case of ill{conditioned problems (if very similar mixtures of sources are available only). The application of developed methods for image enhancement is demonstrated.
Adhesion determinants of the Streptococcus species

Streptococci are clinically important Gram‐positive bacteria that are capable to cause a wide variety of diseases in humans and animals. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA sequences of the streptococcal species reveal a clustering pattern, reflecting, with a few exceptions, their pathogenic potential and ecological preferences. Microbial adhesion to host tissues is the initial critical event in the pathogenesis of most infections. Streptococci use multiple adhesins to attach to the epithelium, and their expression is regulated in response to environmental and growth conditions. Bacterial adhesins recognize and bind cell surface molecules and extracellular matrix components through specific domains that for certain adhesin families have been well defined and found conserved across the streptococcal species. In this review, we present the different streptococcal adhesin families categorized on the basis of their adhesive properties and structural characteristics, and, when available, we focus the attention on conserved functional domains.
Two distinct overstretched DNA states

The DNA double helix undergoes an ‘overstretching’ transition in a narrow force range near 65 pN. Despite numerous studies the basic question of whether the strands are separated or not remains controversial. Here we show that overstretching in fact involves two distinct types of double-helix reorganization: slow hysteretic ‘unpeeling’ of one strand off the other; and a fast, non-hysteretic transition to an elongated double-stranded form. We demonstrate that the relative fraction of these two overstretched forms is sensitive to factors that affect DNA base pair stability, including DNA sequence, salt concentration and temperature. The balance between the two forms shifts near physiological solution conditions. This result, in addition to establishing the existence of an overstretched double-stranded state, also shows that double helix physical properties are tuned so that either unpeeling or overextension can be selected via small changes in molecule environment.
Better economy in field running than on the treadmill: evidence from high-level distance runners

Given the ongoing interest in ways to improve the specificity of testing elite athletes in their natural environment, portable metabolic systems provide an opportunity to assess metabolic demand of exercise in sport-specific settings. Running economy (RE) and maximal oxygen uptake (V.O2max) were compared between track and treadmill (1% inclination) conditions in competitive level European distance runners who were fully habituated to treadmill running (n = 13). All runners performed an exercise test on running track and on treadmill. While V.O2max was similar on the track and on the treadmill (68.5 ± 5.3 vs. 71.4 ± 6.4 ml·kg−1·min−1, p = 0.105, respectively), superior RE was found on the track compared to the treadmill (215.4 ± 12.4 vs. 236.8 ± 18.0 O2 ml·kg−1·km−1, p < 0.001). RE on the track was strongly correlated with RE on the treadmill (r = 0.719, p = 0.006). The present findings indicate that high-level distance runners have significantly better RE but not V.O2max on the track compared to treadmill. This difference may be due to biomechanical adjustments. As RE is strongly correlated between the two conditions, it would be reasonable to assume that interventions affecting RE on the treadmill will also affect RE on the track.
Pathological role of interleukin 17 in mice subjected to repeated BCG vaccination after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Infection usually leads to the development of acquired immune responses associated with clearance or control of the infecting organism. However, if not adequately regulated, immune-mediated pathology can result. Tuberculosis is a worldwide threat, and development of an effective vaccine requires that the protective immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) be dissected from the pathological immune response. This distinction is particularly important if new vaccines are to be delivered to Mtb-exposed individuals, as repeated antigenic exposure can lead to pathological complications. Using a model wherein mice are vaccinated with bacille Calmette-Guérin after Mtb infection, we show that repeated vaccination results in increased IL-17, tumor necrosis factor, IL-6, and MIP-2 expression, influx of granulocytes/neutrophils, and lung tissue damage. This pathological response is abrogated in mice deficient in the gene encoding IL-23p19 or in the presence of IL-17–blocking antibody. This finding that repeated exposure to mycobacterial antigen promotes enhanced IL-17–dependent pathological consequences has important implications for the design of effective vaccines against Mtb.
In Search of Primary Rubrics for Language Independent Emotional Speech Identification

In this paper we describe recent work oriented towards establishing some background to support the design of successful "universal" (language independent, specifically) emotional speech identification systems. Our final goal is using such systems to improve state of the art advanced spoken language systems. We carried out several experiments with emotional speech databases for Spanish (SES) and German (EMODB), including language-dependent tasks (to establish the accuracy of the identification systems), and language independent (cross-language) tasks. We show how automatic emotion identification results can be comparable to those obtained by human listeners, provided that enough training data is available. Moreover, and in spite of data availability, we also show how there are emotions (sadness and anger) that are clearly identified in the automatic experiments, for both languages, showing a reasonably clear "language-independent" behavior of such emotions. Finally, we show how psychological considerations related to the emotional speech generation process can be somehow related to our experimental results, suggesting that previously identifying such psychological features may greatly help the development of high quality "universal" emotional speech identification systems.
MiniCORVET is a Vps8-containing early endosomal tether in Drosophila

Yeast studies identified two heterohexameric tethering complexes, which consist of 4 shared (Vps11, Vps16, Vps18 and Vps33) and 2 specific subunits: Vps3 and Vps8 (CORVET) versus Vps39 and Vps41 (HOPS). CORVET is an early and HOPS is a late endosomal tether. The function of HOPS is well known in animal cells, while CORVET is poorly characterized. Here we show that Drosophila Vps8 is highly expressed in hemocytes and nephrocytes, and localizes to early endosomes despite the lack of a clear Vps3 homolog. We find that Vps8 forms a complex and acts together with Vps16A, Dor/Vps18 and Car/Vps33A, and loss of any of these proteins leads to fragmentation of endosomes. Surprisingly, Vps11 deletion causes enlargement of endosomes, similar to loss of the HOPS-specific subunits Vps39 and Lt/Vps41. We thus identify a 4 subunit-containing miniCORVET complex as an unconventional early endosomal tether in Drosophila. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.14226. 001
On the use of shunt impedances versus bounded environment passivity for teleoperation systems

This paper analyses and compares two passivity-based approaches that allow to include a-priori knowledge on the dynamic range of the human operator and/or the environment. This can lead to less conservative teleoperation systems compared to systems designed to be purely passive or absolutely stable. The first approach under investigation is a method where the absolute stability is analysed of a teleoperation system augmented with shunt impedances in series and/or parallel with the teleoperation system. It is shown that the traditional interpretation of the use of shunt impedances is not valid and a more accurate description of how to use this method is presented. The second approach under investigation is the bounded environment (operator) method. It is shown that the original idea to restrict the analysis to the so-called worst-case scenarios of a pure mass and a pure stiffness as environment can be too simplistic. Illustrative examples with mass-spring-damper systems fixed to the ground and floating objects as environments are made to demonstrate this in detail. In conclusion, this paper shows that embedding environment knowledge into the controller analysis/design is not straightforward and further research should be dedicated to determine which bounds should be used to obtain practically stable systems for different applications.
An Applied Method for Blind SNR Estimation of Communication Signal

Abstract With the rapidly development of internet of things, wireless sensor network is being used in various fields. Signal-noise-ratio (SNR) is an important parameter in communication signal processing and many algorithms need this information to obtain optimal performance. In this article, a simple and applied method is presented for blind SNR estimation in wireless communication signals. Corner is an important information parameter in power distribution function. Signal bandwidth and signal-noiseratio can be accurately estimated through testing the parameter. Theoretical analyses are carried out for the selection of sampling frequency. Simulation results showed the effectiveness of the detection ability for multi-signals and various modulation signals. The new algorithm doesn’t need any prior information, has lower computational complexity and higher precision, suitable for hardware implementation.
SkewTune in Action: Mitigating Skew in MapReduce Applications

We demonstrate SkewTune, a system that automatically mitigates skew in user-defined MapReduce programs and is a drop-in replacement for Hadoop. The demonstration has two parts. First, we demonstrate how SkewTune mitigates skew in real MapReduce applications at runtime by running a real application in a public cloud. Second, through an interactive graphical interface, we demonstrate the details of the skew mitigation process using both real and synthetic workloads that represent various skew configurations.