Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing Tightness of LP Relaxations by Forbidding Signed Minors

We consider binary pairwise graphical models and provide an exact characterization (necessary and sufficient conditions observing signs of potentials) of tightness for the LP relaxation on the triplet-consistent polytope of the MAP inference problem, by forbidding an odd-K5 (complete graph on 5 variables with all edges repulsive) as a signed minor in the signed suspension graph. This captures signs of both singleton and edge potentials in a compact and efficiently testable condition, and improves significantly on earlier results. We provide other results on tightness of LP relaxations by forbidding minors, draw connections and suggest paths for future research.
A Sinc Wavelet Describes the Receptive Fields of Neurons in the Motion Cortex

Visual perception results from a systematic transformation of the information flowing through the visual system. In the neuronal hierarchy, the response properties of single neurons are determined by neurons located one level below, and in turn, determine the responses of neurons located one level above. Therefore in modeling receptive fields, it is essential to ensure that the response properties of neurons in a given level can be generated by combining the response models of neurons in its input levels. However, existing response models of neurons in the motion cortex do not inherently yield the temporal frequency filtering gradient (TFFG) property that is known to emerge along the primary visual cortex (V1) to middle temporal (MT) motion processing stream. TFFG is the change from predominantly lowpass to predominantly bandpass temporal frequency filtering character along the V1 to MT pathway (Foster et al 1985; DeAngelis et al 1993; Hawken et al 1996). We devised a new model, the sinc wavelet model (Odaibo, 2014), which logically and efficiently generates the TFFG. The model replaces the Gabor function's sine wave carrier with a sinc (sin(x)/x) function, and has the same or fewer number of parameters as existing models. Because of its logical consistency with the emergent network property of TFFG, we conclude that the sinc wavelet is a better model for the receptive fields of motion cortex neurons. This model will provide new physiological insights into how the brain represents visual information.
Music listening, coping, peer affiliation and depression in adolescence

This study was conducted with 418 French-Canadian adolescents from Montréal (Canada) and had three objectives: (1) to find empirical evidence that music listening in adolescence can lead to peer affiliation based upon music preferences; (2) to find out whether three styles of coping by music listening (original self-report scale: emotion-oriented, problem-oriented, and avoidance/disengagement) are related to depression levels in adolescence (French version of the Beck Depression Inventory: Bourque & Beaudette, 1982); (3) to examine whether peers' depression levels and coping by music listening are moderators of the relation between Metal music preference and depression levels in adolescent girls. The results of a peer nomination procedure indicated that music preferences and depression levels of participants are related to those of their peers. In girls, problem-oriented coping by music listening is linked to lower depression levels, whereas avoidance/disengagement coping by music listening is linked to higher depression levels. In boys, emotion-oriented coping by music listening is linked to higher depression levels. Finally, Metal music listening is related to higher depression levels in girls only if they affiliate with peers that are more depressed. The implications of the research regarding the music listening and psychosocial development and adjustment in adolescence are discussed.
Neutrophil Microbicides Induce a Pathogen Survival Response in Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus1

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections. MW2 (pulsed-field type USA400), the prototype CA-MRSA strain, is highly virulent and has enhanced ability to evade killing by neutrophils. Although progress has been made, the molecular basis for enhanced virulence of CA-MRSA remains incompletely defined. To that end, we studied resistance of MW2 to key microbicides of human neutrophils. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid, and azurophilic granule proteins had significant bacteriostatic but limited staphylocidal activity toward MW2 under the conditions tested. An MW2-specific microarray revealed common changes in S. aureus gene expression following exposure to each microbicide, such as up-regulation of transcripts involved in gene regulation (e.g., saeRS and kdpDE) and stress response. Azurophilic granule proteins elicited the greatest number of changes in MW2 transcripts, including up-regulation of mRNAs encoding multiple toxins and hemolysins (e.g., hlgA, hlgB, hlgC, hla, lukS-PV, lukF-PV, sec4, and set17–26). Notably, H2O2 triggered up-regulation of transcripts related to heme/iron uptake (e.g., isdA, isdB, and isdCDEFsrtBisdG), and an isogenic isdAB-negative strain of MW2 had increased susceptibility to H2O2 (p < 0.001) and human neutrophils (p < 0.05) compared with the wild-type parental strain. These findings reveal a S. aureus survival response wherein Iron-regulated surface determinant (Isd) proteins are important for resistance to innate host defense. Collectively, the data provide an enhanced view of the mechanisms used by S. aureus to circumvent destruction by the innate immune system.
Prospects of multivariable feedforward control of wind turbines using lidar

Current advances in lidar-technology provide the possibility of including wind preview information in the control design. Lidar-assisted collective pitch control is a simple, but promising approach to reduce the rotor speed variation and structural loads for full load operation. This work extends this approach to the transition between partial and full load operations. A multivariable controller is presented, which provides a simple update for the generator torque rate and the minimum pitch angle based on a nonlinear system inversion. The feedforward signals of the generator torque rate and the minimum pitch angle can be combined with conventional feedback controllers and the collective pitch feedforward controller for full load operation. This facilitates the modular application on commercial wind turbines. Simulations with a full aero-elastic wind turbine model and a lidar simulator show improved rotor speed regulation and significant reduction of tower loads, while only slightly decreasing power. Further, possibilities to transform the load reduction into energy increase are outlined.
Planning with Partially Specified Behaviors

In this paper we present a framework called PPSB for combining reinforcement learning and planning to solve sequential decision problems. Our aim is to show that reinforcement learning and planning complement each other well, in that each can take advantage of the strengths of the other. PPSB uses partial action specifications to decompose sequential decision problems into tasks that serve as an interface between reinforcement learning and planning. On the bottom level, we use reinforcement learning to compute policies for achieving each individual task. On the top level, we use planning to produce a sequence of tasks that achieves an overall goal. Experiments show that our framework is competitive with realistic environments where a robot has to perform some tasks.
Synonymous mutation in TP53 results in a cryptic splice site affecting its DNA‐binding site in an adolescent with two primary sarcomas

Pathologic variants in TP53 are known risk factors for the development of cancer. We report a 17‐year‐old male who presented with two primary sarcomas. Germline sequencing revealed a novel TP53 c.672 G>A mutation. Sequencing revealed wild‐type TP53 in the parents, and there was no history of cancer in first‐degree relatives. This de novo synonymous germline mutation results in a 5′ cryptic splice site that is bound by U1, resulting in a shift of the splice site by 5 base pairs. The frame shift results in a truncated protein at residue 246, which disrupts the DNA‐binding domain of p53.
Cross-validating Image Description Datasets and Evaluation Metrics

The task of automatically generating sentential descriptions of image content has become increasingly popular in recent years, resulting in the development of large-scale image description datasets and the proposal of various metrics for evaluating image description generation systems. However, not much work has been done to analyse and understand both datasets and the metrics. In this paper, we propose using a leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) process as a means to analyse multiply annotated, human-authored image description datasets and the various evaluation metrics, i.e. evaluating one image description against other human-authored descriptions of the same image. Such an evaluation process affords various insights into the image description datasets and evaluation metrics, such as the variations of image descriptions within and across datasets and also what the metrics capture. We compute and analyse (i) human upper-bound performance; (ii) ranked correlation between metric pairs across datasets; (iii) lower-bound performance by comparing a set of descriptions describing one image to another sentence not describing that image. Interesting observations are made about the evaluation metrics and image description datasets, and we conclude that such cross-validation methods are extremely useful for assessing and gaining insights into image description datasets and evaluation metrics for image descriptions.
Intergroup differentiation in computer-mediated communication: Effects of depersonalization

Two studies examined intergroup discussions via computer-mediated communication systems. It was hypothesized that depersonalization, in comparison with individuated interaction, would increase the tendency for intergroup differentiation in attitudes and stereotypes, In Study 1, 24 groups communicated internationally over the Internet in a longitudinal design. Interacting groups, based in 2 different countries, were individuated versus partially unidentifiable, and thus depersonalized. Results indicate that depersonalized groups diverge, or bipolarize, when compared with individuated groups. A follow-up study demonstrated that under depersonalized conditions, individual differences are less salient, whereas group memberships are more salient. In addition, stereotypes were more salient in depersonalized conditions. Results support predictions derived from the social identity model of deindividuation effects.
Factors Influencing Young Consumers’ Acceptance of Genetically Modified Food in India

We analyzed the determinants of acceptance of genetically modified food (GMF) by using the probit model. In this study, we found that around 41% of the students are willing to buy GMF, and acceptance of GMF is less in female respondents than male respondents. The findings indicate that in India, benefit perception of GMF outweighed the risk perception. We also found that respondents’ trust in international organizations for truthful information has a positive and significant influence on acceptance of GMF.
What Causes Avoidance in L2 Learning

Among the structural and lexical factors claimed to account for avoidance in second language learning are (a) cross-linguistic difference, (b) cross-linguistic similarity, and (c) intrinsic complexity of the second language features avoided. This paper examines patterns of avoidance and preference for phrasal verbs or equivalent single-word verbs among Swedish learners of English. We assumed that if the subjects avoided English phrasal verbs, particularly the figurative ones, even though phrasal verbs exist in Swedish, this would indicate that inherent semantic difficulty of second language forms was the main factor contributing to the avoidance behavior. If, on the other hand, the learners did not show any preference for one-word verb forms in English, or indeed favored the phrasal forms, this would support the assumption that avoidance or nonavoidance depends largely on differences or similarities between the native and the foreign language. A multiple-choice test and a translation test were given to two groups of advanced Swedish-speaking learners of English. Each test consisted of 20 sentences, allowing for the choice of either a phrasal or a synonymous single-word verb. The test answers showed that the Swedish learners avoided neither phrasal verbs in general nor the figurative ones in particular, regardless of whether the verbs were similar to, or different from, their Swedish translation equivalents. Furthermore, the results were compared to the avoidance patterns of a group of advanced Hebrew-speaking learners of English. From the comparison it emerged that the Swedish learners usedsignificantly more phrasal verbs than the Israelis, notably figurative ones. These results suggest that the avoidance is determined more by a systemic incongruence between the first language (L1) and the second language (L2) than by the inherent difficulty of L2 forms.
Chasing dreams and recognising realities: teachers’ responses to ICT

The teaching profession’s response to the inexorable march of new technology into education has been a focus of research for some 30 years. Linked with the impact of ICT on measurable performance outcomes, teacher attitudes to technology and the impact on pedagogic practice have been central to that research, a research that has often seen teachers as a barrier, not a force for change. The current article brings together findings from a decade of studies that have explored the ways in which teaching staff have responded to the growing notion that ICT is a core part of the teaching toolkit. In doing so we question the simplistic stereotyping of Luddite teachers. Drawing on findings from rare, but crucially important, longitudinal projects the article discusses hopes and fears raised by teaching staff when confronted with changes to existing pedagogy, before moving on to explore issues such as the ‘technology dip’, how maturity modelling can inform our understanding of technological change in schools and ways forward for helping teaching staff to embed technology into their teaching. The article concludes with a discussion of why it is important that the educational system meets this challenge from a learner’s perspective.
Leadership development as a vehicle for change during merger

Astra and Zeneca merged in 1999 to form AstraZeneca, one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world. This paper looks at the role that new leadership development programmes played in supporting cultural integration. Three new global, cross-functional leadership development programmes are described, outlining how the objectives, design and style of the programmes supported the merger effort. Outcomes from the programmes are discussed as well as the broader lessons that have been learned; the key ones being the importance of managing change proactively, the need to have clear objectives that are aligned with the company's strategic objectives and that also meet the needs of the participants and, crucially, maintaining senior management support.
Bisphenol S Alters the Lactating Mammary Gland and Nursing Behaviors in Mice Exposed During Pregnancy and Lactation

&NA; High doses of estrogenic pharmaceuticals were once prescribed to women to halt lactation. Yet, the effects of low‐level xenoestrogens on lactation remain poorly studied. We investigated the effects of bisphenol S (BPS), an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, on the lactating mammary gland; the arcuate nucleus, a region of the hypothalamus important for neuroendocrine control of lactational behaviors; and nursing behavior in CD‐1 mice. Female mice were exposed to vehicle, 2 or 200 &mgr;g BPS/kg/d from pregnancy day 9 until lactational day (LD) 20, and tissues were collected on LD21. Tissues were also collected from a second group at LD2. BPS exposure significantly reduced the fraction of the mammary gland comprised of lobules, the milk‐producing units, on LD21, but not LD2. BPS also altered expression of Esr1 and ER&agr; in the mammary gland at LD21, consistent with early involution. In the arcuate nucleus, no changes were observed in expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, a marker of prolactin signaling, or ER&agr;, suggesting that BPS may act directly on the mammary gland. However, observations of nursing behavior collected during the lactational period revealed stage‐specific effects on both pup and maternal nursing behaviors; BPS‐treated dams spent significantly more time nursing later in the lactational period, and BPS‐treated pups were less likely to initiate nursing. Pup growth and development were also stunted. These data indicate that low doses of BPS can alter lactational behaviors and the maternal mammary gland. Together, they support the hypothesis that pregnancy and lactation are sensitive to low‐dose xenoestrogen exposures.
Dieting and slimming practices of South Australian women

A random population survey of 406 Adelaide women who were aged 18 to 86 years, which was conducted in July, 1986, showed that in the previous year 68% of the women had exercised, 38% of the women had dieted, 15% of the women had fasted, 10% of the women had taken slimming tablets, 6% of the women had used diuretic agents and 3% of the women had used laxative agents in order to reduce or to control their weight. At the time of the survey 43% of women (60% of overweight women and 34% of non‐overweight women) were attempting to lose weight. The most common reasons for wishing to lose weight were: to feel better (75% of women); to look better (65% of women); and health or medical reasons (33% of women). In addition, a majority of the women were dissatisfied with the shape of their stomach, hips, midriff, waist, thighs and buttocks. The family doctor, books and magazines acted as the major sources of information on dieting and weight control. However, most of the women felt that their doctors did not provide them with enough advice on this topic, and the women were almost unanimous in their criticism of the preoccupation of magazines with slimness. The results suggest that health professionals need to provide women with more advice on safe weight‐control strategies and sensible body‐weight goals.
Knowledge Level Learning in Soar 1

In this article we demonstrate how knowledge level learning can be performed within the Soar architecture. That is, we demonstrate how Soar can acquire new knowledge that is not deductively implied by its existing knowledge. This demonstration employs Soar’s chunking mechanism a mechanism which acquires new productions from goal-baaed experience as its only learning mechanism. Chunking has previously been demonstrated to be a useful symbol level learning mechanism, able to speed up the performance of existing systems, but this is the first demonstration of its ability to perform knowledge level learning. Two simple declarative-memory tasks are employed for this demonstration: recognition and recall.
Circadian changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness and the relationship with circulatory factors in healthy subjects.

PURPOSE To investigate circadian changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and the relation to systemic factors in healthy subjects. METHODS Thirty-eight eyes of 19 healthy volunteers were enrolled. SFCT was measured by using prototype high-penetration optical coherence tomography. Intraocular pressure (IOP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressures (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured every 3 hours over a 24-hour period. Circadian changes in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) were calculated. The difference between the maximal and minimal SFCTs was analyzed, and correlations between the SFCT and other systemic factors were evaluated. RESULTS There was a significant circadian variation in SFCT (P < 0.0001). The total mean SFCT was 280.3 ± 106.1 μm. At 6 PM, the mean SFCT (271.9 ± 103.5 μm) was the thinnest and at 3 AM it was the thickest (290.8 ± 110.8 μm). The SFCTs in 32 of 38 eyes were thickest between 3 and 9 AM and in 27 of 38 eyes, thinnest between 3 and 9 PM. The mean SFCT was significantly negatively correlated with the mean SBP (R(2) = 0.59, P = 0.02) in all eyes. There were no significant correlations between the mean SFCT and the mean DBP, MAP, HR, IOP, and MOPP in all eyes. CONCLUSIONS We investigated the circadian change of choroidal thickness using high-penetration optical coherence tomography in healthy volunteers. The significant diurnal change was found and the choroid was thicker at night and thinner in daytime. Fluctuations in the choroidal thickness may be related to SBP.
Throughput of Networks With Large Propagation Delays

Propagation delays in underwater acoustic networks can be large as compared to the packet size. Conventional medium-access control (MAC) protocol design for such networks focuses on mitigation of the impact of propagation delay. Most proposed protocols to date achieve, at best, a throughput similar to that of the zero propagation delay scenario. In this paper, we systematically explore the possibility that propagation delays can be exploited to make throughput far exceed that of networks without propagation delay. Under the assumptions of the protocol model in a single collision domain for a half-duplex unicast network, we show that the upper bound of throughput in an N-node wireless network with propagation delay is N/2. We illustrate network geometries where this bound can be achieved and study transmission schedules that help achieve it. We show that for any network, the optimal schedule is periodic and present a computationally efficient algorithm to find good schedules. Finally, we show that N-node network geometries that achieve throughput close to the N/2 bound exist for any N and present a lower bound on achievable maximum throughput for bounded geometries. This paper chiefly endeavors to explore the impact and potential of nonzero propagation delays on network throughput. We believe that the novel observations in this paper could motivate further research into this area, especially random access networks with large propagation delay, with a fundamentally changed outlook on maximum achievable throughput. This could lead to novel scheduling and network configuration approaches with applications in underwater and satellite networks.
Mild cognitive impairment: Differential atrophy in the hippocampal subfields

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hippocampus volumetry is a useful surrogate marker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, but it seems insufficiently sensitive for the aMCI stage. We postulated that some hippocampus subfields are specifically atrophic in aMCI and that measuring hippocampus subfield volumes will improve sensitivity of MR imaging to detect aMCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated episodic memory and hippocampus subfield volume in 15 patients with aMCI and 15 matched controls. After segmentation of the whole hippocampus from clinical MR imaging, we applied a new computational method allowing fully automated segmentation of the hippocampus subfields. This method used a Bayesian modeling approach to infer segmentations from the imaging data. RESULTS: In comparison with controls, subiculum and CA2–3 were significantly atrophic in patients with aMCI, whereas total hippocampus volume and other subfields were not. Total hippocampus volume in controls was age-related, whereas episodic memory was the main explanatory variable for both the total hippocampus volume and the subfields that were atrophic in patients with aMCI. Segmenting subfields increases sensitivity to diagnose aMCI from 40% to 73%. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring CA2–3 and subiculum volumes allows a better detection of aMCI.