Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lightweight Adaptation of Classifiers to Users and Contexts: Trends of the Emerging Domain

Intelligent computer applications need to adapt their behaviour to contexts and users, but conventional classifier adaptation methods require long data collection and/or training times. Therefore classifier adaptation is often performed as follows: at design time application developers define typical usage contexts and provide reasoning models for each of these contexts, and then at runtime an appropriate model is selected from available ones. Typically, definition of usage contexts and reasoning models heavily relies on domain knowledge. However, in practice many applications are used in so diverse situations that no developer can predict them all and collect for each situation adequate training and test databases. Such applications have to adapt to a new user or unknown context at runtime just from interaction with the user, preferably in fairly lightweight ways, that is, requiring limited user effort to collect training data and limited time of performing the adaptation. This paper analyses adaptation trends in several emerging domains and outlines promising ideas, proposed for making multimodal classifiers user-specific and context-specific without significant user efforts, detailed domain knowledge, and/or complete retraining of the classifiers. Based on this analysis, this paper identifies important application characteristics and presents guidelines to consider these characteristics in adaptation design.
Options in using graphics for evaluating correspondence algorithms

The paper discusses two options for evaluating the performance of stereo or motion correspondence algorithms in the context of vision-based driver assistance systems (i.e., in highly dynamic large-scale scenes). Assessing the significance of an evaluation scheme (which is always domain specific) is an issue not yet widely addressed by the research community. One option consists in modeling an existing environment and in identifying accurately the trajectory of the ego-vehicle carrying those cameras which capture sequences for correspondence analysis. Another option is given by physics-based rendering of a realistic 3D model of road scenario dynamics. The paper provides a discussion of both options.
Performance and Complexity of Adaptive Lattice Reduction in Fading Channels

Lattice-reduction-aided detection (LRAD) has been shown to considerably increase the performance of linear Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) detection systems. In previous work, we introduced Adaptive Lattice Reduction as a way to exploit channel correlation to yield lattice reduction-based detectors exhibiting considerably reduced complexity. In this paper, we review Adaptive Lattice Reduction and examine the performance and complexity of this detection scheme in both temporally and frequency fading channels. For typical mobile environments, for example, we demonstrate a complexity reduction approaching 33% on a 4×4 system, without compromising performance.
Observations of Cold Dust in Nearby Elliptical Galaxies

Spectral energy distribution (SED) analyses that include new millimeter to far-infrared (FIR) observations obtained with continuum instruments on the Nobeyama and James Clerk Maxwell Telescopes and the Infrared Space Observatory are presented for seven nearby (<45 Mpc) FIR-bright elliptical galaxies. These are analyzed together with archival FIR and shortwave radio data obtained from the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED). The radio to infrared SEDs are best-fitted by power law plus graybody models of dust residing in the central galactic regions within a 2.4 kpc diameter and with temperatures between ~21 and 28 K, emissivity index ≃2, and masses from ~1.6 to 19 × 105 M☉. The emissivity index is consistent with dust constituting amorphous silicate and carbonaceous grains previously modeled for stellar-heated dust observed in the Galaxy and other nearby extragalactic sources. Using updated dust absorption coefficients for this type of dust, dust masses are estimated that are similar to those determined from earlier FIR data alone, even though the latter results implied hotter dust temperatures. Fluxes and masses that are consistent with the new FIR and submillimeter data are estimated for dust cooler than 20 K within the central galactic regions. Tighter physical constraints for such cold, diffuse dust (if it exists) with low surface brightness will need sensitive FIR to submillimeter observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope, SCUBA2, or ALMA.
Seismotectonics and stress field of the Yellowstone volcanic plateau from earthquake first‐motions and other indicators

[1] We have found spatial variations in seismic stress indicators at the Yellowstone volcanic field, Wyoming, by examining source mechanisms of 25 years of network-recorded earthquakes, 1973–1998. Yellowstone seismicity is characterized by swarms of earthquakes (MC < 3) within the 0.64 Ma Yellowstone caldera and between the caldera and the eastern end of the 44-km-long rupture of the 1959 MS7.5 Hebgen Lake earthquake. We relocated more than 12,000 earthquake hypocenters using three-dimensional velocity models. Focal mechanisms calculated for 364 earthquakes, carefully selected for location accuracy, reveal predominantly normal faulting; however, fault orientations vary across the Yellowstone caldera. Specifically, focal mechanism T axes trend N-S in the vicinity of the Hebgen Lake earthquake fault zone NW of the Yellowstone caldera and rotate to ENE-WSW 35 km east of there. This rotation of the T axis trends occurs in the area of densest seismicity north of the caldera. Stress inversions performed using earthquake first-motion data reveal a similar pattern in the minimum principal stress orientations. The extension directions derived from the focal mechanisms and stress inversions are generally consistent with extension directions determined from geodetic measurements, extension inferred from alignments of volcanic vents within the caldera, and extension directions determined from regional normal faults. The N-S trending Gallatin normal fault north of the caldera is a notable exception; we find extension to be perpendicular to the direction of past extension on the Gallatin fault in the area immediately south of it. We interpret this N-S extension north of the caldera to be related to postseismic viscoelastic relaxation in the upper mantle and lower crust following the Hebgen Lake earthquake. The dominantly extensional tectonic regime at Yellowstone inferred from these results demonstrates the influence of NE-SW Basin and Range extension in this area.
Face recognition based on data field

Principal component analysis(PCA) is one of the important methods for extracting the main features of face images. However, it mainly considers the values of the pixels in the images while ignoring the relations between one pixel and other pixels around it. In fact, the pixels of the face images are not independent of each other. Based on this, we propose a new method for extracting the features of face images based on the datafield method which considers the relations between pixels. Furthermore, we combine the data field with PCA(dfPCA) to attract more accurate features from face images. In the experiments, we first analyze the contours of face images with datafiled method. Then, we apply the dfPCA methods on two real world datasets, ORL and yale, for feature extraction respectively. The results show that the recognition rate based on the dfPCA method is better than the PCA method, which demonstrates the feasibility of datafield method for extracting facial features.
Noise reduction in helioseismic power spectra by non-orthogonal wavelets

We present a method to reduce noise in helioseismic power spectra using a non-orthogonal wavelet transform based on quadratic spline functions. The quality of our method is tested by applying it to articially generated time-series approximating solar p-modes. The mode frequencies and line widths obtained from least- squares ts to the smoothed spectra are compared with the corresponding parameters deduced from maximum likelihood ts to the original spectra. The results from both approaches are very similar and suggest that there is no major bias in either of these rather independent approaches. As a practical example we denoise parts of the power spectrum obtained from the two rst years of operation of the GOLF instrument onboard SOHO.
Cold + Hot Dark Matter After Super-Kamiokande

The recent atmospheric neutrino data from Super-Kamiokande provide strong evidence of neutrino oscillations and therefore of non-zero neutrino mass. These data imply a lower limit on the hot dark matter (i.e., light neutrino) contribution to the cosmological density $\Omega_\nu >~ 0.001$ --- almost as much as that of all the stars in the universe --- and permit higher $\Omega_\nu$. The ``standard'' COBE-normalized critical-matter-density (i.e., $\Omega_m=1$) Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model has too much power on small scales. But adding to CDM neutrinos with mass of about 5 eV, corresponding to $\Omega_\nu \approx 0.2$, results in a much improved fit to data on the nearby galaxy and cluster distribution. Indeed, the resulting Cold + Hot Dark Matter (CHDM) cosmological model is arguably the most successful $\Omega_m=1$ model for structure formation. However, other recent data has begun to make the case for $\Omega_m <~ 0.6$ fairly convincing. In light of all this new data, we reconsider whether cosmology still provides evidence favoring neutrino mass of a few eV in flat models with cosmological constant $\Omega_\Lambda = 1 - \Omega_m$. We find that the possible improvement of the low-$\Omega_m$ flat (LCDM) cosmological models with the addition of light neutrinos appears to be rather limited.
Discovery of the orbital period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544-2619

The supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) system IGR J17544−2619 has displayed many large outbursts in the past and is considered an archetypal example of SFXTs. A search of the INTEGRAL/ISGRI data archive from MJD 52698−54354 has revealed 11 outbursts and timing analysis of the light curve identifies a period of 4.926 ± 0.001 d which we interpret as the orbital period of the system. We find that large outbursts occasionally occur outside of periastron and place an upper limit for the radius of the supergiant of <23 R� .
Entre salariat et indépendance : analyse juridique et économique de la relation franchisé-franchiseur

Le contrat de franchise consiste a transmettre au franchise le savoir-faire du franchiseur, moyennant des contreparties financieres. Cependant, la transmission de ce savoir-faire va au-dela de la simple mise a disposition d’une « recette ». Elle se prolonge par une assistance de tous les instants delivree par le franchiseur au franchise. A certains egards, cette relation contractuelle ne ressemble-t-elle pas a celle d’un employeur avec le salarie ? Cet article etudie la relation emanant de ce contrat a l’aide des facteurs juridiques (le caractere subordonnant de la relation contractuelle) et economiques (la puissance economique du franchiseur) qui la structurent. L’etude s’appuie tant sur une analyse sociojuridique de la jurisprudence quebecoise (1994-2016) au moyen d’une apprehension du contenu relationnel de ce contrat, que sur la litterature economique dans le but de comprendre les elements de subordination et de puissance economique qui empreignent cette relation.Le constat revele que la relation de franchise comporte de fortes composantes de subordination et d’inegalite de puissance economique pour le franchise, engendrant un assujettissement aussi reel que celui mis en place par le salariat, meme s’il n’est pas institue formellement par le contrat de franchisage. Plusieurs pistes d’action sont proposees. Si la requalification de certains contrats de franchise en contrat de travail semble une avenue preconisee par plusieurs pays, nos tribunaux y sont peu enclins. La deuxieme piste d’action residerait dans l’adoption d’une loi encadrant l’etablissement et le contenu des contrats de franchise afin de reduire l’asymetrie informationnelle existante entre franchiseur et franchise, ainsi que de mieux encadrer les qualites du « concept » sur lequel s’appuient les franchiseurs pour seduire les franchises. Une troisieme piste serait de reconnaitre l’inegalite de puissance economique, point de depart de la reconnaissance « d’un droit de la dependance dans l’independance » capable d’apprehender ces multiples situations d’entrepreneuriat dependant dont la franchise n’est qu’un exemple.
First Passage Time Computation in Tagged GSPNs with Queue Places

This paper presents an extension of the generalized stochastic Petri net (GSPN) formalism that enables the computation of first passage time distributions. The tagged customer technique typical of queuing networks is adapted to the GSPN context by providing a formal definition and an automatic computation of the groups of tokens that can be identified as customers, i.e. classes of homogeneous entities behaving in a similar manner. Passage times are identified through the concept of events that correspond to the firing of transitions placed at the boundaries of a subnet. The extended model obtained with this specifications is translated into an ordinary GSPN by isolating a customer from the group and highlighting its path through the net thus obtaining a representation suited for the passage time analysis. Proofs are provided to show the equivalence between these models with respect to their steady-state distributions. An important and original aspect treated in this paper is the possibility of specifying several scheduling policies of tokens at places, an information not present in ordinary GSPN models, but that is vital for the precise computation of first passage time distributions as shown by a few results computed for a simple Flexible Manufacturing application.
Evidence of Incipient Forest Transition in Southern Mexico

Case studies of land use change have suggested that deforestation across Southern Mexico is accelerating. However, forest transition theory predicts that trajectories of change can be modified by economic factors, leading to spatial and temporal heterogeneity in rates of change that may take the form of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). This study aimed to assess the evidence regarding potential forest transition in Southern Mexico by classifying regional forest cover change using Landsat imagery from 1990 through to 2006. Patterns of forest cover change were found to be complex and non-linear. When rates of forest loss were averaged over 342 municipalities using mixed-effects modelling the results showed a significant (p<0.001) overall reduction of the mean rate of forest loss from 0.85% per year in the 1990–2000 period to 0.67% in the 2000–2006 period. The overall regional annual rate of deforestation has fallen from 0.33% to 0.28% from the 1990s to 2000s. A high proportion of the spatial variability in forest cover change cannot be explained statistically. However analysis using spline based general additive models detected underlying relationships between forest cover and income or population density of a form consistent with the EKC. The incipient forest transition has not, as yet, resulted in widespread reforestation. Forest recovery remains below 0.20% per year. Reforestation is mostly the result of passive processes associated with reductions in the intensity of land use. Deforestation continues to occur at high rates in some focal areas. A transition could be accelerated if there were a broader recognition among policy makers that the regional rate of forest loss has now begun to fall. The changing trajectory provides an opportunity to actively restore forest cover through stimulating afforestation and stimulating more sustainable land use practices. The results have clear implications for policy aimed at carbon sequestration through reducing deforestation and enhancing forest growth.
Chaos Theory as a Framework for Studying Information Systems

This paper introduces Chaos Theory as a means of studying information systems. It argues that Chaos Theory, combined with new techniques for discovering patterns in complex quantitative and qualitative evidence, offers a potentially more substantive approach to understand the nature of information systems in a variety of contexts. The paper introduces Chaos Theory concepts by way of an illustrative research design.
Glycosylation changes in the salivary glycoproteins of alcohol-dependent patients: a pilot study.

AIM Glycosylation of serum proteins is affected with prolonged heavy drinking, and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is well established and highly specific biomarker of sustained alcohol consumption. However, total amount of sialic acid is not the only glycoepitope that may be altered as a result of the disease. This work is focused on glycan structures altered in salivary glycoproteins of alcoholics, indicating the most efficient carriers of such marker glycoepitopes. METHODS Salivary glycoproteins of 31 alcohol-dependent patients and 21 healthy controls were studied by means of lectin ELISA and lectin blotting with the lectins specific for core and antennary fucose, α2,3-bound sialic acid as well as T and Tn antigens in O-glycans. RESULTS In direct lectin ELISA, core fucosylation, α2,3 sialylation and expression of T-antigen were significantly lowered in the saliva of alcohol-dependent patients. In lectin blotting ten glycoprotein bands were analyzed. The profile of disease-related alterations was found to be complex, but all six lectins studied here were able to detect altered glycan structures. In some glycoproteins the tendency to correct the glycosylation profile was observed after 7 weeks of abstinence. CONCLUSION Alterations in the glycosylation profiles in the salivary glycoproteins of alcohol-dependent people were found. Some of salivary glycoproteins, such as α-amylase, clusterin, haptoglobin, heavy and light chains of immunoglobulins, and transferrin, seem to be worthy of detailed glycosylation analysis in the detection of alcohol dependence. Further studies may allow one to estimate if such glycomarkers may also reflect the amount of alcohol intake or the duration of alcohol intake.
Correlation of STAT1 with Apoptosis and Cell-Cycle Markers in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We recently found evidence that STAT1 in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) cells exerts tumor suppressor function, and it regulates five key regulators of apoptosis or cell-cycle progression, including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, survivin, cyclin D1 and p21. In this study, we confirmed these findings in four ESCC cell lines. Using immunohistochemistry, we also assessed the expression of these proteins in 62 primary tumors. The expression of these markers was heterogeneous, ranging 39 to 69% of the cohort. Significant correlation was found between STAT1 and three proteins (p21, Bcl-xL and survivin), whereas only a trend was identified for cyclin D1 and Bcl-2. We then correlated the expression of these proteins with several clinicopathologic parameters including lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion, clinical stage and overall survival. Significant correlations were found between Bcl-2 and deep invasion (p = 0.033), survivin and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.006), as well as cyclin D1 and clinical stage (p = 0.014). Patients with p21-positive tumors had a significantly longer survival compared to those with p21-negative tumors (p = 0.031). To conclude, our findings support the concept that STAT1 exerts its tumor suppressor effects in ESCC via modulating the expression of key regulators of apoptosis and cell-cycle progression.
Comparison between static stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on hamstring flexibility: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Both static stretching (SS) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) have been widely investigated, it is believed that PNF might have an advantage over SS because of its possible neural mechanisms. However, it remains uncertain which one is the most effective strategy. Objective: The aim of the present review was to compare the effects of SS and PNF stretching on hamstring flexibility. Methods: The search included the databases Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE (via Pubmed), Lilacs, PEDro, and manual search. Studies that have compared SS and PNF on hamstring flexibility in sedentary and recreationally active young adults were included. In contrast, studies with samples composed by children, elderly, and people with any dysfunction/disease were excluded. Results: From the 757 studies identified, 19 were included in the systematic review, but only 12 had suitable data for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was divided into two types of tests: straight leg raise (SLR) and knee extension test (KET). Results from the SLR analysis showed no difference between SS and PNF either chronically (−2.56; 95%CI: −7.43 to 2.32) or acutely (−3.32; 95%CI: −11.58 to 4.93). Regarding the KET analysis, there was no difference between groups (0.93; 95%CI: −1.39 to 3.24). Conclusion: In conclusion, both SS and PNF stretching can be effective in increasing hamstring flexibility.
Dendritic-Tumor Fusion Cell-Based Cancer Vaccines

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that play a critical role in the induction of antitumor immunity. Therefore, various strategies have been developed to deliver tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) to DCs as cancer vaccines. The fusion of DCs and whole tumor cells to generate DC-tumor fusion cells (DC-tumor FCs) is an alternative strategy to treat cancer patients. The cell fusion method allows DCs to be exposed to the broad array of TAAs originally expressed by whole tumor cells. DCs then process TAAs endogenously and present them through major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II pathways in the context of costimulatory molecules, resulting in simultaneous activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. DC-tumor FCs require optimized enhanced immunogenicity of both DCs and whole tumor cells. In this context, an effective fusion strategy also needs to produce immunogenic DC-tumor FCs. We discuss the potential ability of DC-tumor FCs and the recent progress in improving clinical outcomes by DC-tumor FC-based cancer vaccines.
Memory-based Robust Interpretation of Recognised Speech

We describe a series of experiments in which memorybased machine learning techniques are used for the interpretation of spoken user input in human-machine interactions. In these experiments, the task is to determine the dialogue act of the user input and the type of information slots the user lls, on the basis of a variety of features representing the spoken input (speech measurements and word recognition information) as well as its context (the interaction history). In the rst experiment, we perform this task using the complete word graph output of the automatic speech recogniser. This yields an overall accuracy of 76.2%, with an F-score of 91.3 on dialogue act classication and an F-score of 87.7 on lled slot types. In the second experiment, we investigate the usefulness of two approaches to ltering out possibly non-contributing word recognition information from the speech recogniser output: (i) ltering out disuencies, and (ii) keeping only syntactic chunk heads.
Visualisation of CNN dynamics

A new simulator for cellular neural networks (CNNs) is presented. In contrast to other simulators, the CNN cells are visualised in a grid structure, the values of the input and states being represented by colours. While the integration of the system is in progress, the user can examine the way in which the CNN evolves, thus gaining an insight into its dynamics.