Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exploration of pattern-based subtopic modeling for search result diversification

Traditional information retrieval models do not necessarily provide users with optimal search experience because the top ranked documents may contain the same piece of relevant information, i.e., the same subtopic of a query. The goal of search result diversification is to return search results that not only are relevant to the query but also cover different subtopics. Therefore, the subtopic modeling is an important research topic in search result diversification. In this paper, we propose a novel pattern based method to extract subtopics from retrieved documents. The basic idea is to explicitly model a query subtopic as a semantically meaningful text unit in relevant documents. We apply a frequent pattern mining algorithm to efficiently extract these text units (patterns) from retrieved documents. We then model a query subtopic with a single pattern and rank subtopics based on their similarity with the query. These pattern based subtopics are then used to diversify search results.
The Employment Discontinuity of Married Women in Taiwan

This article studies the determination of married women’s employment discontinuity in Taiwan. Many studies have demonstrated that a high proportion of married women leave their jobs because of marriage, pregnancy, or childbirth (MPB). This article suggests the concept of labour market segmentation be brought back into the study of women’s employment stability. Using nationwide sampling data from the 2001 Taiwan Social Change Survey, the article analyses how job status and sociocultural factors affect women’s various decisions to quit their job. By using multinomial logistic analysis of over 900 married women, the author discovers that job status of both wives and husbands, husbands’ ethnic background and gender-role attitudes have significant impacts on women’s reasons to quit. Labour market segmentation by gender significantly affects the employment stability of married women. The results indicate a complex decision-making process when married women struggle to hold onto their jobs in this East Asian society.
Neural models and physiological reality

Neural models of retinal processing provide an important tool for analyzing retinal signals and their functional significance. However, it is here argued that in biological reality, retinal connectivity is unlikely to be as specific as ideal neural models might suggest. The retina is thought to provide functionally specific signals, but this specificity is unlikely to be anatomically complete. This is illustrated by examples of cone connectivity to macaque ganglion cells. For example, cells of the magnocellular pathway appear to avoid short-wavelength cone input, so that such input is negligible under normal conditions. However, there is anatomical, physiological, and psychophysical evidence that under special conditions, weak input may be revealed. Second, ideal models of how retinal information is centrally utilized have to take into account the biological reality of retinal signals. The stochastic nature of impulse trains modifies signal-to-noise ratio in unexpected ways. Also, non-linearities in cell responses make, for example, multiplexing of luminance and chromatic signals in the parvocellular pathway impracticable. The purpose of this analysis is to show than ideal neural models must confront an often more complex and nuanced physiological reality.
Additive manufacturing of antenna-feed chains

This paper reports on the additive manufacturing of waveguide components and subassemblies for antenna-feed chains operating in the Ku, K and Ka bands. The aim of the activity is the monolithic manufacturing of an entire dual-band antenna-feed chain working in K-Ka bands. To this aim, several components have been preliminary fabricated through the selective laser melting process in AlSi10Mg alloy, for which detailed comparisons between predicted and measured performances are reported.
Suppression of Hepatic FLOT1 (Flotillin-1) by Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Impairs the Disposal of Remnant Lipoproteins via Syndecan-1

Objective— Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the atherometabolic syndrome exhibit a deadly dyslipoproteinemia that arises in part from impaired hepatic disposal of C-TRLs (cholesterol- and triglyceride-rich remnant apoB [apolipoprotein B] lipoproteins). We previously identified syndecan-1 as a receptor for C-TRLs that directly mediates endocytosis via rafts, independent from coated pits. Caveolins and flotillins form rafts but facilitate distinct endocytotic pathways. We now investigated their participation in syndecan-1–mediated disposal of C-TRLs and their expression in T2DM liver. Approach and Results— In cultured liver cells and nondiabetic murine livers, we found that syndecan-1 coimmunoprecipitates with FLOT1 (flotillin-1) but not with CAV1 (caveolin-1). Binding of C-TRLs to syndecan-1 on the surface of liver cells enhanced syndecan-1/FLOT1 association. The 2 molecules then trafficked together into the lysosomes, implying limited if any recycling back to the cell surface. The interaction requires the transmembrane/cytoplasmic region of syndecan-1 and the N-terminal hydrophobic domain of FLOT1. Knockdown of FLOT1 in cultured liver cells substantially inhibited syndecan-1 endocytosis. Livers from obese, T2DM KKAy mice exhibited 60% to 70% less FLOT1 protein and mRNA than in nondiabetic KK livers. An adenoviral construct to enhance hepatic expression of wild-type FLOT1 in T2DM mice normalized plasma triglycerides, whereas a mutant FLOT1 missing its N-terminal hydrophobic domain had no effect. Moreover, the adenoviral vector for wild-type FLOT1 lowered plasma triglyceride excursions and normalized retinyl excursions in T2DM KKAy mice after a corn oil gavage, without affecting postprandial production of C-TRLs. Conclusions— FLOT1 is a novel participant in the disposal of harmful C-TRLs via syndecan-1. Low expression of FLOT1 in T2DM liver may contribute to metabolic dyslipoproteinemia.
Bipartite spectral graph partitioning to co-cluster varieties and sound correspondences in dialectology

In this study we used bipartite spectral graph partitioning to simultaneously cluster varieties and sound correspondences in Dutch dialect data. While clustering geographical varieties with respect to their pronunciation is not new, the simultaneous identification of the sound correspondences giving rise to the geographical clustering presents a novel opportunity in dialectometry. Earlier methods aggregated sound differences and clustered on the basis of aggregate differences. The determination of the significant sound correspondences which co-varied with cluster membership was carried out on a post hoc basis. Bipartite spectral graph clustering simultaneously seeks groups of individual sound correspondences which are associated, even while seeking groups of sites which share sound correspondences. We show that the application of this method results in clear and sensible geographical groupings and discuss the concomitant sound correspondences.
Bringing Parallel Pa erns out of the Corner : the P 3 ARSEC Benchmark Suite DANIELEDE SENSI , TIZIANODEMATTEIS , MASSIMOTORQUATI , GABRIELEMENCAGLI

High-level parallel programming is an active research topic aimed at promoting parallel programming methodologies that provide the programmer with high-level abstractions to develop complex parallel soware with reduced time-to-solution. Paern-based parallel programming is based on a set of composable and customizable parallel paerns used as basic building blocks in parallel applications. In recent years, a considerable eort has been made in empowering this programming model with features able to overcome shortcomings of early approaches concerning exibility and performance. In this paper we demonstrate that the approach is exible and ecient enough by applying it on 12 out of 13 PARSEC applications. Our analysis, conducted on three dierent multi-core architectures, demonstrates that paern-based parallel programming has reached a good level of maturity, providing comparable results in terms of performance with respect to both other parallel programming methodologies based on pragma-based annotations (i.e. OpenMP and OmpSs) and native implementations (i.e. Pthreads). Regarding the programming eort, we also demonstrate a considerable reduction in Lines-Of-Code (LOC) and Code Churn compared with Pthreads and comparable results with respect to other existing implementations.
The Hottest Horizontal-Branch Stars in Omega Centauri: Late Hot Flasher vs. Helium Enrichment

Context. UV observations of some massive globular clusters have revealed a significant population of very hot stars below the hot end of the horizontal branch (HB), the so-called blue hook stars. This feature might be explained either as a result of the late hot flasher scenario where stars experience the helium flash while on the white dwarf cooling curve or by the progeny of the helium-enriched subpopulation recently postulated to exist in some clusters. Previous spectroscopic analyses of blue hook stars in ω Cen and NGC 2808 support the late hot flasher scenario, but the stars contain much less helium than expected and the predicted C, N enrichment could not be verified. Aims. We compare observed effective temperatures, surface gravities, and abundances of He, C, and N of blue hook and canonical extreme horizontal branch (EHB) star candidates to the predictions of the two scenarios. Methods. Moderately high resolution spectra of stars at the hot end of the blue HB in the globular cluster ω Cen were analysed for atmospheric parameters and abundances using LTE and non-LTE model atmospheres. Results. In the temperature range 30 000 K to 50 000 K we find that 35% of our stars are helium-poor (log n He nH −0.4). We also find carbon enrichment strongly correlated with helium enrichment, with a maximum carbon enrichment of 3% by mass. Conclusions. At least 14% of the hottest HB stars in ω Cen show helium abundances well above the highest predictions from the helium enrichment scenario (Y = 0.42 corresponding to log n He nH ≈− 0.74). In addition, the most helium-rich stars show strong carbon enrichment, as predicted by the late hot flasher scenario. We conclude that the helium-rich HB stars in ω Cen cannot be explained solely by the helium-enrichment scenario invoked to explain the blue main sequence.
Moving Beyond the Linear Regression Model

Heavy-tailed distributions occur often in empirical settings, making it difficult for management scholars to use linear regression models (LRMs) to investigate the nuanced relationships between dependent and predictor variables. Both frequentist and Bayesian quantile regression models (QRMs) are alternative techniques that can help management scholars overcome the hurdles associated with using LRMs. This study compares LRMs and QRMs and shows how the frequentist and Bayesian QRM can open up doors for management scholars to develop and test theory in novel and informative ways. In introducing Bayesian estimation, it also shows how Bayesian quantile regression can achieve what existing Bayesian LRM and frequentist QRM techniques cannot. Following this exploration, this paper explains how management researchers can systematically apply QRMs in two concrete empirical settings. The first example shows that organizational behavior and human resource scholars can apply QRMs to study questions related to gender inequality. The second example illustrates that QRMs enable strategy and organizational theory researchers to detect nuanced relations between environmental factors and firm performance. This paper demonstrates that the QRM is a comprehensive strategy capable of helping researchers obtain a complete regression picture for data with heavy-tailed distributions.
Performance Evaluation of a Hadoop-based Distributed Video Transcoding System for Mobile Media Service

Previously, we proposed a Hadoop-based Distributed Video Transcoding System that transcodes a large number of video data sets into specific video formats depending on user-requested options. In order to reduce the transcoding time exponentially, we apply a Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and a MapReduce framework to our system. Hadoop and MapReduce are designed to process petabyte-scale text data in a parallel and distributed manner, while our system processes multi-media data. In this study, we measure the total transcoding time for various values of three MapReduce tuning parameters: block replication factor, Hadoop Distributed File System block size, and Java Virtual Machine reuse option. Thus, we determine the optimal values of the parameters affecting transcoding performance.
G protein control of potassium channel activity in a mast cell line

Using the patch-clamp technique, we studied regulation of potassium channels by G protein activators in the histamine-secreting rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cell line. These cells normally express inward rectifier K+ channels, with a macroscopic whole-cell conductance in normal Ringer ranging from 1 to 16 nS/cell. This conductance is stabilized by including ATP or GTP in the pipette solution. Intracellular dialysis with any of three different activators of G proteins (GTP gamma S, GppNHp, or AlF-4) completely inhibited the inward rectifier K+ conductance with a half-time for decline averaging approximately 300 s after "break-in" to achieve whole-cell recording. In addition, with a half-time averaging approximately 200 s, G protein activators induced the appearance of a novel time-independent outwardly rectifying K+ conductance, which reached a maximum of 1-14 nS. The induced K+ channels are distinct from inward rectifier channels, having a smaller single-channel conductance of approximately 8 pS in symmetrical 160 mM K+, and being more sensitive to block by quinidine, but less sensitive to block by Ba2+. The induced K+ channels were also highly permeable to Rb+ but not to Na+ or Cs+. The current was not activated by the second messengers Ca2+, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, or by cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin (0.1 microgram/ml for 12-13 h) prevented this current's induction both by guanine nucleotides and aluminum fluoride, but had no effect on the decrease in inward rectifier conductance. Since GTP gamma S is known to stimulate secretion from patch-clamped rat peritoneal mast cells, it is conceivable that K+ channels become inserted into the plasma membrane from secretory granules. However, total membrane capacitance remained nearly constant during appearance of the K+ channels, suggesting that secretion induced by GTP gamma S was minimal. Furthermore, pertussis toxin had no effect on secretion triggered by antigen, and triggering of secretion before electrical recording failed to induce the outward K+ current. Finally, GTP gamma S activated the K+ channel in excised inside-out patches of membrane. We conclude that two different GTP- binding proteins differentially regulate two subsets of K+ channels, causing the inward rectifier to close and a novel K+ channel to open when activated.
Combining motion understanding and keyframe image analysis for broadcast video information extraction

We describe a robust new approach to extract semantic concept information based on explicitly encoding static image appearance features together with motion information. For high-level semantic concept identification detection in broadcast video, we trained multi-modality classifiers which combine the traditional static image features and a new motion feature analysis method (MoSIFT). The experimental result show that the combined features have solid performance for detecting a variety of motion related concepts and provide a large improvement over static image analysis features in video.
Component localization in face alignment

Face alignment is a significant problem in the processing of face image. Active Shape Model (ASM) is one of powerful solution to this problem. But ASM is sensitive to the localization of initial points. If the initial shape is not located in the appropriate location, the ASM iteration may not converge. In this paper, in order to improve the ASM convergence, we proposed an approach for face alignment based on the face component localization. We firstly use the component localization for locating initial points, and then match the landmark points with the face appearance features. Such that the ASM can converge fast with the less errors of iterations since that the component localization provides good initial points in the preprocessing. We evaluated our approach on the frontal views of upright faces of IMM dataset. The experimental results have shown that our approach outperforms the original ASM in terms of efficiency and accuracy.
Cognitive function is a major determinant of income among multiple sclerosis patients in Sweden acting independently from physical disability

Background: In multiple sclerosis (MS), various aspects of cognitive function can be detrimentally affected, thus patients’ employment and social functioning is commonly impacted. Objective: To analyse income among MS patients in relation to cognitive function, assessed with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Methods: A cross-sectional study including 2080 MS patients was conducted linking national register-based data. Descriptive statistics and a two-part model were used to estimate differences in earnings and social benefits. Results: MS patients in the highest SDMT score quartile earned more than twice annually compared to patients in the lowest quartile, whereas patients in the lowest quartile received three times more income through social benefits. The difference in earnings and benefits across the SDMT performance quartiles remained statistically significant after adjusting for various clinical and socio-demographic variables, including physical disability. The corrected prevalence ratios for MS patients in the highest quartile for having income from earnings and benefits were 1.40 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–1.49) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.71–0.90), respectively, when compared to the patients in the lowest quartile. Conclusion: Cognitive function affects the financial situation of MS patients negatively and independently of physical disability. This warrants cognitive testing as a routine measure in health care services for MS patients.
DISC: Query Processing on the Cloud Service Provider for Dynamic Spatial Databases

Spatial database outsourcing to the cloud allows data owners to take advantage of its cost-effective model with features such as scalability and high computing power. To protect the privacy of outsourced data, cloud service providers should not be able to view or use the data. This paper proposes DISC, a retrieval scheme to answer range queries over databases on the Cloud Service Provider. DISC protects the confidentiality and supports dynamic updates on the outsourced data. To be able to support queries and updates on the Cloud Service Provider, the database index is encrypted using Order-Preserving Encryption. This way, DISC achieves a balance between efficient query execution and data confidentiality in a cloud environment. The security analysis section studies the confidentiality provided by DISC. The experimental evaluation shows that the proposed scheme has a lower communication cost in comparison to existing cloud retrieval schemes.
Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Temporal Processing Deficits in Parkinson's Disease

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) disrupts temporal processing, but the neuronal sources of deficits and their response to dopamine (DA) therapy are not understood. Though the striatum and DA transmission are thought to be essential for timekeeping, potential working memory (WM) and executive problems could also disrupt timing. Methodology/Findings The present study addressed these issues by testing controls and PD volunteers ‘on’ and ‘off’ DA therapy as they underwent fMRI while performing a time-perception task. To distinguish systems associated with abnormalities in temporal and non-temporal processes, we separated brain activity during encoding and decision-making phases of a trial. Whereas both phases involved timekeeping, the encoding and decision phases emphasized WM and executive processes, respectively. The methods enabled exploration of both the amplitude and temporal dynamics of neural activity. First, we found that time-perception deficits were associated with striatal, cortical, and cerebellar dysfunction. Unlike studies of timed movement, our results could not be attributed to traditional roles of the striatum and cerebellum in movement. Second, for the first time we identified temporal and non-temporal sources of impaired time perception. Striatal dysfunction was found during both phases consistent with its role in timekeeping. Activation was also abnormal in a WM network (middle-frontal and parietal cortex, lateral cerebellum) during encoding and a network that modulates executive and memory functions (parahippocampus, posterior cingulate) during decision making. Third, hypoactivation typified neuronal dysfunction in PD, but was sometimes characterized by abnormal temporal dynamics (e.g., lagged, prolonged) that were not due to longer response times. Finally, DA therapy did not alleviate timing deficits. Conclusions/Significance Our findings indicate that impaired timing in PD arises from nigrostriatal and mesocortical dysfunction in systems that mediate temporal and non-temporal control-processes. However, time perception impairments were not improved by DA treatment, likely due to inadequate restoration of neuronal activity and perhaps corticostriatal effective-connectivity.
La motivación en el deporte adaptado

espanolEl presente estudio examina la motivacion hacia la practica deportiva de personas con discapacidad que forman parte del deporte federado. La muestra esta compuesta por 134 deportistas de ambos generos y diferente discapacidad. Como instrumento se ha utilizado el Cuestionario “Participation Motivation Inventory”, de Gill, Gross y Huddleston, adaptado al deporte Paralimpico y que describe las principales razones que incitan a la actividad deportiva. En los resultados no se han encontrado diferencia significativa entre hombres y mujeres, ni entre ciegos - discapacitados visuales y discapacitados fisico motriz. Sobre la motivacion de la practica deportiva, cabe destacar la importancia dada a los factores de condicion fisica y salud, tales como practicar deporte, mejorar el nivel, competir, sentirse bien o divertirse, muy por encima de por ser popular, por influencia de los entrenadores o satisfacer a los padres. Motivation in adapted sport. EnglishThis study examines the motivation for practice of sport of people with disabilities that form part to a federated sport.The sample was composed of 134 athletes of both genders and different disabilities.The “Participation Motivation Inventory Questionnaire” by Gill, Gross and Huddleston was used. The instrument was adapted to Paralympic sport and describes the main reasons that encourage the sports activity practice. The results haven´t found significant difference between men´s and women´s or between blind - visually impaired physical and motor disabilities. About the motivation of the practice of sport, worth highlighting the importance given to factors of fitness and health, like sport practice, improve the level, to compete, feel good and have fun, well above being popular, influenced by coaches or satisfy to parents.