Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using natural language processing to improve biomedical concept normalization and relation mining

textabstractThis thesis concerns the use of natural language processing for improving biomedical concept normalization and relation mining. We begin with introducing the background of biomedical text mining, and subsequently we will continue by describing a typical text mining pipeline, some key issues and problems in mining biomedical texts, and the possibility of using natural language procesing to solve the problems. Finally we end an outline of the work done in this thesis.
Vote Trading and Information Aggregation

The standard analysis of corporate governance assumes that shareholders vote in ratios that firms choose, such as one share-one vote. However, if the cost of unbundling and trading votes is sufficiently low, then shareholders choose the ratios. We document an active market for votes within the U.S. equity loan market, where the average vote sells for zero. We hypothesize that asymmetric information motivates the vote trade and find support in the cross section. More trading occurs for higher-spread and worse-performing firms, especially when voting is close. Vote trading corresponds to support for shareholder proposals and opposition to management proposals. Copyright 2007 by The American Finance Association.
Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five traditions.

This book explores the philosophical underpinnings, history and key elements of five qualitative inquiry traditions: biography, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and case study. John W Creswell relates research designs to each of the traditions of inquiry and compares each of the research strategies for theoretical frameworks, writing introduction to studies, collecting data, analyzing data, writing the narrative, and employing standards of quality and verifying results. Five journal articles in the appendix offer fascinating reading as well as examples of the five different qualitative designs.
The design, development and evaluation of a visual programming tool for novice programmers : psychological and pedagogical effects of introductory programming tools on programming knowledge of Greek students

This thesis reports a research project that aims to improve the teaching and learning of introductory programming from a pedagogical and psychological viewpoint. Towards this aim, seven principles for designing educational programming tools for novices were identified by reviewing literature regarding novices’ difficulties and using a theoretical framework defined by the psychological theories of Constructivism and Cognitive Load Theory. This set of design principles was not only theoretically identified, but its pedagogical impact was also empirically tested. For this reason, Koios, a new programming tool, was designed and developed as a manifestation of the combined set of principles. Empirical studies were conducted by a way of a quasi-experimental design in two different Greek secondary-education institutions. The independent variable was compliance with the set of the seven principles. Students’ level of programming skills (procedural knowledge) was the dependent variable, while the quality of their mental models in the domain of introductory programming (declarative knowledge) was the potential mediator. The effect of compliance with the set of principles on students’ programming skills and mental-model quality was explored via Koios’ evaluation. Declarativeand procedural-knowledge measurements, as well as a practical test, were used to collect data, which were analysed using ANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression. The major conclusions drawn from this study are: (a) compliance with the set of design principles does not affect the development of novices’ procedural and declarative programming knowledge, (b) a programming tool that highly complies with this set facilitates novices in the application of their procedural programming knowledge during program creation and (c) programming tools, declarative and procedural knowledge are independent components in
Genome-wide data for effective conservation of manta and devil ray 2 species 3

40 Practical biodiversity conservation relies on delineation of biologically meaningful units, particularly 41 with respect to global conventions and regulatory frameworks. Traditional approaches have 42 typically relied on morphological observation, resulting in artificially broad delineations and non- 43 optimal species units for conservation. More recently, species delimitation methods have been 44 revolutionised with High-Throughput Sequencing approaches, allowing study of diversity within 45 species radiations using genome-wide data. The highly mobile elasmobranchs, manta and devil rays 46 ( Mobula spp.), are threatened globally by targeted and bycatch fishing pressures resulting in recent 47 protection under several global conventions. However, a lack of global data, morphological 48 similarities, a succession of recent taxonomic changes and ineffectual traceability measures 49 combine to impede development and implementation of a coherent and enforceable conservation 50 strategy. Here, we generate genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data from among 51 the most globally and taxonomically representative set of mobulid tissues. The resulting phylogeny 52 and delimitation of species units represents the most comprehensive assessment of mobulid 53 diversity with molecular data to date. We find a mismatch between current species classifications, 54 and optimal species units for effective conservation. Specifically, we find robust evidence for an 55 undescribed species of manta ray in the Gulf of Mexico and show that species recently synonymised 56 are reproductively isolated. Further resolution is achieved at the population level, where cryptic 57 diversity is detected in geographically distinct populations, and indicates potential for future 58 traceability work determining regional location of catch. We estimate the optimal species tree and 59 uncover substantial incomplete lineage sorting, where standing variation in extinct ancestral 60 populations is identified as a driver of phylogenetic uncertainty, with further conservation 61 implications. Our study provides a framework for molecular genetic species delimitation that is 62 relevant to wide-ranging taxa of conservation concern, and highlights the potential for genomic data 63 to support effective management, conservation and law enforcement strategies.
Know the Network, Knit the Network: Applying SNA to N2C2 Maturity Model Experiments

Abstract : ELICIT aims to investigate social and cognitive impacts of command and control approaches and organisational structures within the context of information sharing, shared awareness and knowledge task. Nowadays, command and control is increasingly seen as the result of multidimensional factors and processes that intertwine the physical, information, cognitive and social domains, highlighting the decisive human element. Thus, the ELICIT experiments reflect (social) networking from which patterns of interaction (key command and control factor) may be drawn. For years, social network analysis (SNA) has been a scientific methodology to assist in the explanation of networking and interrelationships between actors. Rather than seeing individuals as discrete units of analysis, SNA focuses on how the structure of ties affects individuals and their relationships. Its long-time established metrics seem therefore suitable for application in the ELICIT Case Study. In fact, SNA is a main concept of the Office of Force Transformation to study dynamics and personal interactions occurring in the battlefield and to explain forces and influences that determine how decisions and choices are made, especially in critic periods (Edison, 2005). Benefiting from SNA teachings and NetDraw software, we select a relevant analytical view, encompassing the network's structure and location properties (roles and positions), based upon the geodesic distance concept. From this concept, conclusions may be derived with respect to underlying patterns in the network, prefigured in terms of centrality, embeddedness, activity, clustering and also network reach (paths) and structural cohesion. Through SNA, we recognise the emergence of individuals that find their connection mutually beneficial, giving form to a social interaction based on trust, shared values and beliefs, and allowing the sharing of information.
A novel 3-D calorimeter for the high energy cosmic-radiation detection (HERD) facility onboard China's future space station

The High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) facility is a flagship and landmark scientific experiment onboard China's Space Station, planned for operation starting around 2025 for about 10 years. The main instrument of HERD is a 3-D calorimeter (CALO) sensitive to incident gamma-rays and particles from five sides. With this design, the effective geometric factor of HERD is more than one order of magnitude larger than that of previous missions. CALO is made of about 7,500 cubes of LYSO crystals, corresponding to about 55 radiation lengths and 3 nuclear interaction lengths, respectively. The crystal signals are transferred by wavelength shifting fibers and read out by ISCMOS devices. Energy deposition in each crystal is then derived by summing up about 400 CMOS pixels and with necessary correction for light saturation. Both a low range ISCMOS and a high range one are required to meet the requirement of a large dynamic range of at least 10 million. The prototype of CALO has been tested successfully in November 2015 at CERN, which leads to an improved design of CALO. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology Acute limb heating improves macro-and microvascular dilator function in the leg of aged humans

Romero SA, Gagnon D, Adams AN, Cramer MN, Kouda K, Crandall CG. Acute limb heating improves macroand microvascular dilator function in the leg of aged humans. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 312: H89–H97, 2017. First published November 11, 2016; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00519. 2016. —Local heating of an extremity increases blood flow and vascular shear stress throughout the arterial tree. Local heating acutely improves macrovascular dilator function in the upper limbs of young healthy adults through a shear stress-dependent mechanism but has no such effect in the lower limbs of this age group. The effect of acute limb heating on dilator function within the atherosclerotic prone vasculature of the lower limbs of aged adults is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that acute lower limb heating improves macroand microvascular dilator function within the leg vasculature of aged adults. Nine young and nine aged adults immersed their lower limbs at a depth of ~33 cm into a heated (~42°C) circulated water bath for 45 min. Before and 30 min after heating, macro (flow-mediated dilation)and microvascular (reactive hyperemia) dilator functions were assessed in the lower limb, following 5 min of arterial occlusion, via Doppler ultrasound. Compared with preheat, macrovascular dilator function was unchanged following heating in young adults (P 0.6) but was improved in aged adults (P 0.04). Similarly, microvascular dilator function, as assessed by peak reactive hyperemia, was unchanged following heating in young adults (P 0.1) but was improved in aged adults (P 0.01). Taken together, these data suggest that acute lower limb heating improves both macroand microvascular dilator function in an age dependent manner.
Enhancing User Support in Open Problem Solving Environments through Bayesian Network Inference Techniques

During the last years, development of open learning environments that support effectively their users has been a challenge for the research community of educational technologies. The open interactive nature of these environments results in users experiencing difficulties in coping with the plethora of available functions, especially during their initial efforts to use the system. In addition, -from the tutors’ perspectivethe problem solving strategies of the students are often particularly difficult to identify. In this paper, we argue that such problems could be tackled using machine learning techniques such as Bayesian Networks. We show how we can take advantage of log files obtained during field studies to build an adaptive help system providing the most useful support to the student, according to the state of interaction. On the other hand, we attempt to support the tutor, by automating the process of diagnosing students’ problem solving strategies using Bayesian Networks. The presented approaches are discussed through examples of two prototypes that have been developed and corresponding evaluation studies. These studies have shown that the proposed approach can effectively support the tasks of students and tutors in such open learning environments.
Supporting Teachers in Identifying Students' Learning Styles in Learning Management Systems: An Automatic Student Modelling Approach

In learning management systems (LMSs), teachers have more difficulties to notice and know how individual students behave and learn in a course, compared to face-to-face education. Enabling teachers to know their students’ learning styles and making students aware of their own learning styles increases teachers’ and students’ understanding about the students’ learning process, allows teachers to provide better support for their students, and has therefore high potential to enhance teaching and learning. This paper proposes an automatic approach for identifying students’ learning styles in LMSs as well as a tool that supports teachers in applying this approach. The approach is based on inferring students’ learning styles from their behaviour in an online course and was developed for LMSs in general. It has been evaluated by a study with 127 students, comparing the results of the automatic approach with those of a learning style questionnaire. The evaluation yielded good results and demonstrated that the proposed approach is suitable for identifying learning styles. DeLeS, the tool which implements this approach, can be used by teachers to identify students’ learning styles and therefore to support students by considering their individual learning styles.
Contextualizing Reflective Dialogue in a Spoken Conversational Tutor

In this paper we describe the ways that SCoT, a Spoken Conversational Tutor, uses flexible and adaptive planning as well as multimodal task modeling to support the contextualization of learning in reflective dialogues. Past research on human tutoring has shown reflective discussions (discussions occurring after problem-solving) to be effective in helping students reason about their own actions (Katz, Allbritton & Connelly, 2003). However, presenting information in an understandable manner while leading a reflective discussion is difficult and without contextualization it is easy to confuse and frustrate students. This raises the question: how should intelligent tutoring systems effectively contextualize learning in a reflective discussion? We believe that multimodal task modeling, carried out by a flexible and adaptive planning agent, can facilitate this process of contextualization and lead to a more successful dialogue.
Dynamic object detection fusing LIDAR data and images

We present a method to segment dynamic objects on point clouds using images and 3D laser data. Per-pixel background classes are adapted online as Gaussian Mixtures independently for each sensor. The learned classes are fused labeling pixels/voxels that belong to either the background, or the dynamic objects We pay special attention in the calibration and synchronization modules to reach accuracy in registration and data association. We show results of people segmentation in indoor scenes using a Velodyne sensor at a high frame-rate .
Léiomyosarcome de la veine cave supérieure : diagnostic par biopsies endovasculaires

Nous presentons le cas d'une patiente de 69 ans ayant un leiomyosarcome de la veine cave superieure revele par un syndrome cave superieur (SCS) aigu. Il n'a pas ete possible de differencier formellement un thrombus fibrino-cruorique d'un processus tumoral endovasculaire par TDM et IRM. Le diagnostic histologique a ete obtenu par biopsies endovasculaires percutanees precedant le traitement symptomatique du SCS par l'implantation de deux endoprotheses metalliques. Les symptomes ont regresse en moins de 48 heures et l'exerese chirurgicale differee de la tumeur a ete effectuee un mois plus tard. Malheureusement, la patiente decede d'un accident vasculaire cerebral 15 jours apres l'intervention.
Patterns of query reformulation during Web searching

Query reformulation is a key user behavior during Web search. Our research goal is to develop predictive models of query reformulation duringWeb searching.This article reports results from a study in which we automatically classiﬁed the query-reformulation patterns for 964,780 Web searching sessions, composed of 1,523,072 queries, to predict the next query reformulation. We employed an n-gram modeling approach to describe the probability of users transitioning from one query-reformulation state to another to predict their next state. We developed ﬁrst-, second, third, and fourth-order models and evaluated each model for accuracy of prediction, coverage of the dataset, and complexity of the possible pattern set.The results show that Reformulation and Assistance account for approximately 45% of all query reformulations; furthermore, the results demonstrate that the ﬁrst-and second-order models provide the best predictability, between 28 and 40% overall and higher than 70% for some patterns. Implications are that the n-gram approach can be used for improving searching systems and searching assistance.
Image demosaicing: a systematic survey

Image demosaicing is a problem of interpolating full-resolution color images from so-called color-filter-array (CFA) samples. Among various CFA patterns, Bayer pattern has been the most popular choice and demosaicing of Bayer pattern has attracted renewed interest in recent years partially due to the increased availability of source codes/executables in response to the principle of "reproducible research". In this article, we provide a systematic survey of over seventy published works in this field since 1999 (complementary to previous reviews22, 67). Our review attempts to address important issues to demosaicing and identify fundamental differences among competing approaches. Our findings suggest most existing works belong to the class of sequential demosaicing - i.e., luminance channel is interpolated first and then chrominance channels are reconstructed based on recovered luminance information. We report our comparative study results with a collection of eleven competing algorithms whose source codes or executables are provided by the authors. Our comparison is performed on two data sets: Kodak PhotoCD (popular choice) and IMAX high-quality images (more challenging). While most existing demosaicing algorithms achieve good performance on the Kodak data set, their performance on the IMAX one (images with varying-hue and high-saturation edges) degrades significantly. Such observation suggests the importance of properly addressing the issue of mismatch between assumed model and observation data in demosaicing, which calls for further investigation on issues such as model validation, test data selection and performance evaluation.
Mission Accomplished ? : An Analysis of Institutional Missions through Virtual Campus Tours

This research explored how the virtual campus tours of Indiana University-Bloomington (IUB) and Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) were congruent or incongruent with their institutional missions and the Indiana University (IU) system mission. A rubric was created based on Labaree’s (1997) goals of education. Social mobility was most prevalent within both virtual tours in relation to the mission statements. The institutions should incorporate social efficiency and democratic equality within virtual tours.
Los petroglifos y su contexto: un ejemplo de la Galicia meridional

Neste volume analizanse os resultados dunha prospeccion intensiva dos xacementos da prehistoria recente existentes nos lugares de Poza da Lagoa e Coto da Fenteira, integrandoos coas referencias xa conecidas na zona de Monte Penide (Vigo/Redondela). As investigacions arqueoloxicas e paleoambientais realizadas permitiron a descuberta de novas mamoas e estacions rupestres e a deteccion de actividades domesticas nas inmediacions destas, nomeadamente no III milenio AC
A Generic Model for Software Architectures

In other industries, the idea of build corporate culture by establishing a common level of "best practice" is widely known and used. The architecture concept directly supports this goal for our industry and can help us improve problem areas dominated by organizational and social issues, such as health care organizations, educational systems, and so on. Our proposed reference model for architecture specification and development is organized around a set of aspects that structure concepts and rules; these, in turn, specify a conceptual architecture. We have added principles and guidelines to the concepts and rules to give a more complete picture of the architecture and to provide a place to store and communicate successfully applied design patterns and other knowledge related to the architecture. Adding architectural elements is a step toward a more constructive type of architecture representation. Our current research is focused on further refining these concepts and developing a formal specification of the architecture reference model. We are continuing to test our ideas in case studies, such as applying our model to the OSCA architecture and the application machine concept. We are also developing a prototype architecture editor, and we are testing different tools to learn more about integrating them into a real infrastructure and to learn what typical services an infrastructure must provide.
Estimating the benchmark Yield Curve-A new approach using Stochastic Frontier Functions

Estimating a risk free Term Structure of Interest Rates or Zero Coupon Yield Curve from the observed bond prices would involve controlling for the effects of security specific non-interest rate factors that affect bond prices. In this paper we propose a new framework to estimate bench-mark default and liquidity risk free yield curve using the stochastic frontier functions. The methodology explicitly controls for the effects of security specific factors such as age, issue size, coupon and residual maturity on bond prices in estimating the yield curve. Using the daily secondary market data from NSE-WDM for the period Jan 1997 to July 2002, we find that the new methodlogy not only identifies frontier yield curve that is significantly different from the standard zero coupon yield curve and gives reasonable estimates of liquidity premia, but also performs better than the standard yield curve models in terms of predicting bond prices. ∗Useful contributions from my colleagues Vardhana Pawaskar and Sudipta Dutta Roy and comments from Subrata Sarkar, Ajay Shah, Chitra Ramakrishna, Ravi Narain, Ganesh Kumar and Ashok Nag are greatfully acknowledged.