Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tracking the Best Expert in Non-stationary Stochastic Environments

We study the dynamic regret of multi-armed bandit and experts problem in non-stationary stochastic environments. We introduce a new parameter $\Lambda$, which measures the total statistical variance of the loss distributions over $T$ rounds of the process, and study how this amount affects the regret. We investigate the interaction between $\Lambda$ and $\Gamma$, which counts the number of times the distributions change, as well as $\Lambda$ and $V$, which measures how far the distributions deviates over time. One striking result we find is that even when $\Gamma$, $V$, and $\Lambda$ are all restricted to constant, the regret lower bound in the bandit setting still grows with $T$. The other highlight is that in the full-information setting, a constant regret becomes achievable with constant $\Gamma$ and $\Lambda$, as it can be made independent of $T$, while with constant $V$ and $\Lambda$, the regret still has a $T^{1/3}$ dependency. We not only propose algorithms with upper bound guarantee, but prove their matching lower bounds as well.
An Exploratory Study on the Cloud Computing Services: Issues and Suggestion for The Success

There is a growing interest for ‘Cloud computing’ to cut costs, and help the users focus on their core business instead of being impeded by IT obstacles. As it became IT version 3.0 which represents the era of cloud services and the dominance of a new kind of IT service provider, cloud service providers (CSPs)’ role is more critical as a trusted IT advisor to include cloud migration and integration expertise. However, previous literatures related to cloud computing service have mainly analyzed from customers, although it is hard for customers to totally understand the complex and diverse cloud ecosystem. Therefore, it is an urgent task to mitigate the inhibitory factors in providing the cloud services for activating cloud industry. This study, an exploratory research based on interviews, has derived factors of promoting and hindering the activation of cloud computing from the provider’s perspective, and has analyzed a sequence of cause and effect for each factor. For this, the casual loop diagram was developed to deduce key issues, and propose an alternative. The results of this study are expected to help activate ‘Cloud computing’ in Korea by minimizing the potential negative effects of activating ‘Cloud computing’ industry.
Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a useful prognostic indicator for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic role of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 298 ESCC patients were enrolled in the current retrospective study. The SII was calculated by the formula: neutrophil × platelet/lymphocyte. The optimal cut-off value was calculated by the Cutoff Finder. Univariate and multivariate analyses were evaluated for cancer-specific survival (CSS). Additional, we also established a nomogram model to predict the prognosis for patients with ESCC. The optimal cut-off value was 410 × 109/L for SII. Patients with SII ⩽ 410 (×109/L) had a significantly better 5-year CSS than patients with SII > 410 (×109/L) (51.9% vs 24.0%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that SII was a significant independent predictive indicator (P = 0.027). A nomogram could be more accuracy for CSS for patients with ESCC (c-index: 0.68). The SII is a useful independent prognostic indicator for patients with resectable ESCC.
Z - the 95% program editor

Recently much attention has been focused on structure-oriented program editors that have specific knowledge about the syntax and semantics of a particular programming language [1, 4, 5, 18]. These editors provide many desirable features for editing programs. However, the user interface is constrained by the syntax and semantics of the target language, and editing operations that are simple in a text editor can be quite complicated in a structure-oriented editor. In addition, the user has an editor that is limited to a single language and must use a different editor for text editing. Existing implementations of structure-oriented editors use a parse-tree representation for a program along with a supporting lexical analyzer, parser, and pretty-printer; this representation significantly complicates the implementation of an editor. We believe that the most natural representation of programs is text and that the editor should be able to take advantage of the same visual cues that programmers use to understand their programs. With a text-oriented model of program structure, the editor is both a program editor and a document editor. As a program editor it provides features to support many different programming languages, such as LISP, APL, PASCAL, and BLISS. As a document editor it provides basic word-processing functions such as text justification and spelling correction. A text orientation considerably simplifies the design of the editor and presents the user with a simple but powerful model of program structure. This paper describes a text-oriented display editor called Z. Z is the production editor in the Yale Computer Science Department.
Measuring parent attributes and supervision behaviors relevant to child injury risk: examining the usefulness of questionnaire measures

Objective: This study aimed to identify self report questionnaire measures of parent attributes and behaviors that have relevance for understanding injury risk among children 2–5 years of age, and test a new Parent Supervision Attributes Profile Questionnaire (PSAPQ) that was developed to measure aspects of protectiveness and parent supervision. Methods: Naturalistic observations were conducted of parents’ supervision of children on playgrounds, with questionnaires subsequently completed by the parent to measure parent education, family income, parent personality attributes, attributes relevant to parent supervision, and beliefs about parents’ control over the child’s health status. These measures were then related to children’s risk taking and injury history. Results: Visual supervision, auditory supervision, and physical proximity were highly intercorrelated, indicating that parents employed all types of behaviors in service of supervision, rather than relying predominantly on one type of supervisory behavior. Physical proximity was the only aspect of supervision behavior that served a protective function and related to children’s risk taking behaviors: parents who remained close to their children had children who engaged in less risk taking. On questionnaires, parents who reported more conscientiousness, protectiveness, worry about safety, vigilance in supervision, confidence in their ability to keep their child safe, and belief in control over their child’s health had children who showed less risk taking and/or experienced fewer injuries. The new PSAPQ measure was associated with specific aspects of supervision as well as children’s risk taking and injury history. Conclusions: This study reveals several parent attributes and behaviors with relevance for child injury risk that can be measured via self report questionnaires, including the new PSAPQ.
Lesion location in depression post traumatic brain injury using magnetic resonance spectroscopy: Preliminary results from a pilot study

Objective: To determine the metabolic status of the brain in post traumatic brain injury(TBI) depression using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Design: Case-control study including 5 TBI depressed subjects and 5 age matched non-TBI non-depressed controls. Methods: Metabolic status was assessed using proton MRS. Ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho) and total creatine (Cr) were calculated in frontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. Results: NAA/Cho or NAA/Cr ratios were significantly reduced in the TBI depressed group compared to controls in frontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. Conclusion: Reduced levels of NAA in frontal regions, basal ganglia and thalamus in TBI depression suggest neuronal damage or dysfunction which may be a associated with the primary brain injury or with depressed mood.
Development of a nonlinear control strategy for the DC power transferring system

This paper presents a detailed control strategy to a PWM bidirectional DC-DC transferring system designed for high voltage, high power applications. The objective is to realize precise bidirectional power flow control between two DC grids, where the half bridge topology is adopted for the connection between them. By using the averaging technique, the system's nonlinear average model is derived, based on which the nonlinear control algorithm is proposed, to realize the current control. The proposed circuit and control strategies are simulated using SimPowerSystems and a comprehensive synthesis of the control algorithms is conducted, from the viewpoint of rapidity, robustness and system cost. It is verified that the proposed nonlinear control algorithm has a fast response, competent disturbance rejection ability and low cost. Although the structure studied here is the half bridge bidirectional converter, however, the controller design methods and the relative conclusions can be promoted to any type of structure in power transferring systems.
SOI FinFET compact model for RF circuits simulation

A methodology to properly establish an accurate SOI FinFET compact model through SPICE simulator is presented. This compact model is implemented in Verilog-A to simulate the performance of RF circuits based on SOI FinFET technology. It predicts well static behavior of the transistor and circuit, as well as their small-signal RF behavior by modeling the intrinsic capacitances and also the effects of the gate resistance and the extrinsic gate capacitances. Finally, the comparison between the simulated and measured performance of a Low Noise Amplifier demonstrates the validity and the capabilities of this compact model to simulate the dc and RF behavior of RF circuits.
Anthropomorphic and factual approaches in Komodo dragon conservation awareness program for elementary school students: Initial study

Abstract Increasing wildlife awareness is a commonly used approach in community conservations programs. However, in Indonesia, this approach has rarely been quantitatively evaluated for its effectiveness. In North Flores, we carried out a short Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) conservation awareness program for elementary school students. The program used a mixed communication approach combining an anthropomorphic storybook and factual information about Komodo behavior delivered through a presentation and a video. The results from this initial study showed that the program had improved students’ knowledge of Komodo dragon biology and conservation efforts.
Serum Level of Cortisol, hsCRP and IL-6 in Depressed Rotational Shift Workers

Background: Depression and sleep disorders are more prevalent among rotational shift workers than regular day workers. People with sleep disorders have higher inflammatory and pre-inflammatory cytokines than those in the control group. Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate serum level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol among depressed rotational shift workers at Iran petroleum industry. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 136 shift workers were studied based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic information was collected using a self-administered general questionnaire and depression score was gathered according to 21-question Beck depression inventory. Also, weight and height were measured to calculate body mass index and history of disease was collected based on their occupation profile at health center of Tehran Shahid Tondgoyan oil refinery. Results: Mean and standard deviation of serum concentration of hsCRP, IL-6 and cortisol were 1.03 ± 1.56, 1.24 ± 1.24 and 13.12 ± 3.93 respectively; while mean and standard deviation of depression score and BMI were 14.07 ± 3.84 and 24.92 ± 3.65, respectively. Depression score had a positive correlation with rotational shift work experience and work experience (r = 0.218 and r = 0.212, respectively, P < 0.05). An inverse relation was found between serum concentrations of cortisol and age, work experience and BMI (r = -0.236 and P < 0.05, r = -0.174 and P < 0.05, r = -0.288 and P < 0.05, respectively). IL-6 and hsCRP had a positive relation with each other (r = 0.616, P < 0.001). Serum concentration of hsCRP had a positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.241, P < 0.01). Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between depression score and inflammatory markers among depressed shift workers. However, depression score had a significant correlation with shift work experience.
Clustering of emotional states under different task difficulty levels for the robot-assisted rehabilitation system-RehabRoby

In this paper, we study an unsupervised learning problem where the aim is to cluster the emotional state (excitedness, boredom, or stress) using the biofeedback sensor data while subjects perform tasks under different difficulty levels on the robot assisted rehabilitation system-RehabRoby. The dimension of the training vectors has been reduced by using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm after collecting the biofeedback sensor measurements from different subjects under different task difficulty levels to better visualize the sensor data. The reduced dimension vectors are fed into a K-means clustering algorithm. Numerical results have been given to demonstrate that for each training vector, the emotional state decided by the clustering algorithm is consistent with the subjects declaration of his/her emotional state obtained via surveys after performing the task.
Business Strategies in Innovative and Non-Innovative Firms in Canada

This study investigates differences in the policies being pursued by innovative and non-innovative firms. It focuses on a broad group of strategies -- in marketing, finance, production, management and human resources and asks whether there are key areas in which the strategies being followed by innovative and non-innovative firms differ. It also asks how the activities of firms in each of these areas differs. Finally, it compares the performance of innovative and non-innovative firms. The study finds that innovative firms place a greater emphasis on management, human resources, marketing, financing, government programs and services, and production efficiencies. In most of these areas, innovative firms pursue activities more intensively. Finally, innovative firms are more successful than non-innovative firms.
Economic Analysis of Technical Interdependencies and the Value of Effort in a Multi-Species Fishery

The paper reports the results of an analysis of the economic interrelationships in Florida's commercial near-shore fishery. A dual-based revenue function is specified to estimate own-price and cross-price elasticities of supply for selected key species and to estimate the marginal value of effort. Empirical findings indicate the fishery is characterized by joint production among all species pairs and that the complementarity of production is strongest for mullet as compared to any other species. This finding implies that effective management of the near-shore species complement may be possible through management measures designed to reduce the harvest of mullet. The paper concludes by demonstrating the potential effect that restricting harvest on mullet might have on landings of other near-shore species. The amount of compensation payments required to leave commercial harvesters as well off with the management change as without it are also presented.
Patenting Strategies and Characteristics of Declared Inventions in the Long Term Evolution Standard

This study provides an empirical analysis of patent declarations at the European Telecommunications Standards Institute concerning the core releases of the Long Term Evolution standard for mobile communications. The analysis of the declared Standard Essential Patents suggests that the distribution of essential inventions across firms is less concentrated than in previous mobile standard generations [Global System for Mobile communications and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System in 1991 and 1999], mainly due to the entry of new global players. We investigated the characteristics of the declared patents and their value as proxied by the number of citations received before and after the declaration. We distinguish between entrant and incumbent firms. The declared patents receive on average more citations than a control sample of nondeclared. However, such citation premium is higher for incumbent firms than entrants. Overall evidence suggests that new global players in the field are more likely to declare patents with a narrower technological scope and that have a relatively lower technological merit as captured by citations.
SMLtoJs: hosting a standard ML compiler in a web browser

Standard ML is a strictly typed functional programming language that provides programmers with many powerful features, including parametric polymorphism, pattern matching, and a rich module system. In this paper, we present SMLtoJs, an optimizing compiler that compiles Standard ML programs into JavaScript to be executed in any JavaScript-supported Web browser. SMLtoJs supports all of Standard ML and most of the Standard ML Basis Library, which allows for the SMLtoJs compiler itself to be compiled and executed in a browser. We present the overall structure of SMLtoJs, including the non-JavaScript aware front-end and the JavaScript-specific backend. We also present SMLtoJs's type safe interface for interacting with native JavaScript, such as the DOM api. Finally, we present the details of the JavaScript-specific optimizations, including how SMLtoJs deals with tail recursion, which enable complex Standard ML programs to be compiled into efficient JavaScript.
A Collective Approach to Harness Idle Resources of End Nodes

We propose a collective approach for harnessing the idle resources (cpu, storage, and bandwidth) of nodes (e.g., home desktops) distributed across the Internet. Instead of a purely peer-to-peer (P2P) approach, we organize participating nodes to act collectively using collective managers (CMs). Participating nodes provide idle resources to CMs, which unify these resources to run meaningful distributed services for external clients. We do not assume altruistic users or employ a barter-based incentive model; instead, participating nodes provide resources to CMs for long durations and are compensated in proportion to their contribution. In this dissertation we discuss the challenges faced by collective systems, present a design that addresses these challenges, and study the effect of selfish nodes. We believe that the collective service model is a useful alternative to the dominant pure P2P and centralized work queue models. It provides more effective utilization of idle resources, has a more meaningful economic model, and is better suited for building legal and commercial distributed services. We demonstrate the value of our work by building two distributed services using the collective approach. These services are a collective content distribution service and a collective data backup service.
Phylogenetic and Growth Form Variation in the Scaling of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Seed Plants

Plant biomass and nutrient allocation explicitly links the evolved strategies of plant species to the material and energy cycles of ecosystems. Allocation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is of particular interest because N and P play pivotal roles in many aspects of plant biology, and their availability frequently limits plant growth. Here we present a comparative scaling analysis of a global data compilation detailing the N and P contents of leaves, stems, roots, and reproductive structures of 1,287 species in 152 seed plant families. We find that P and N contents (as well as N:P) are generally highly correlated both within and across organs and that differences exist between woody and herbaceous taxa. Between plant organs, the quantitative form of the scaling relationship changes systematically, depending on whether the organs considered are primarily structural (i.e., stems, roots) or metabolically active (i.e., leaves, reproductive structures). While we find significant phylogenetic signals in the data, similar scaling relationships occur in independently evolving plant lineages, which implies that both the contingencies of evolutionary history and some degree of environmental convergence have led to a common set of rules that constrain the partitioning of nutrients among plant organs.
ECG-gated reconstructed multi-detector row CT coronary angiography: effect of varying trigger delay on image quality.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of electrocardiographically (ECG)-gated retrospective image reconstruction for multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) coronary angiography in reducing cardiac motion artifacts and to evaluate the influence of heart rate on cardiac image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-five patients with different heart rates underwent coronary CT angiography. Raw helical CT data and ECG tracings were combined to retrospectively reconstruct at the defined consecutive z position with a temporal resolution of 250 msec per section. The starting points of the reconstruction were chosen between 30% and 80% of the R-R intervals. The relationships between heart rate, trigger delay, and image quality were analyzed. RESULTS Optimal image quality was achieved with a 50% trigger delay for the right coronary artery and 60% for the left circumflex coronary artery. Optimal image quality for the left anterior descending coronary artery was equally obtained at 50% and 60% triggering. A significant negative correlation was observed between heart rate and image quality (P <.05). The best image quality was achieved when the heart rate was less than 74.5 beats per minute. CONCLUSION To achieve high image quality, the heart rate should be sufficiently slow. Selection of appropriate trigger delays and a decreasing heart rate are effective to reduce cardiac motion artifacts.
Impact of Culture on Depressive Symptoms of Elderly Chinese Immigrants

Objectives: The impact of culture on mental health has been inadequately researched. This study examines the effect of cultural factors on the depressive symptoms reported by elderly Chinese immigrants in Canada. Method: Data from 1537 elderly Chinese immigrants who took part in a cross-sectional multisite survey on the health and well-being of older Chinese-Canadians were used. Participants were identified through telephone screening of randomly selected telephone numbers listed with Chinese surnames. A structured questionnaire was used to conduct face-to-face interviews. A Chinese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. Results: Close to one-quarter of the elderly Chinese immigrants reported having at least a mild level of depressive symptoms. Having more cultural barriers and a higher level of identification with Chinese cultural values resulted in a higher probability of being depressive. Conclusions: The importance of the sociocultural determinants of mental health is demonstrated. The health delivery system should be more sensitive to the unique ethnic and cultural differences of older immigrants.