Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PSYCHOMETRIKA In the literature , model-based methods have been proposed to estimate LD effects ( Bradlow , Wainer

Psychological tests often involve item dusters that are designed to solicit responses to behavioral stimuli. The dependency between individual responses within dusters beyond that which can be explained by the underlying trait sometimes reveals structures that are of substantive interest. The paper describes two general classes of models for this type of locally dependent responses. Specifically, the models indude a generalized log-linear representation and a hybrid parameterization model for polytomous data. A compact matrix notation designed to succinctly represent the system of complex multivariate polytomous responses is presented. The matrix representation creates the necessary formulation for the locally dependent kernel for polytomous item responses. Using polytomous data from an inventory of hostility, we provide illustrations as to how the locally dependent models can be used in psychological measurement.
Partition-based regression verification

Regression verification (RV) seeks to guarantee the absence of regression errors in a changed program version. This paper presents Partition-based Regression Verification (PRV): an approach to RV based on the gradual exploration of differential input partitions. A differential input partition is a subset of the common input space of two program versions that serves as a unit of verification. Instead of proving the absence of regression for the complete input space at once, PRV verifies differential partitions in a gradual manner. If the exploration is interrupted, PRV retains partial verification guarantees at least for the explored differential partitions. This is crucial in practice as verifying the complete input space can be prohibitively expensive. Experiments show that PRV provides a useful alternative to state-of-the-art regression test generation techniques. During the exploration, PRV generates test cases which can expose different behaviour across two program versions. However, while test cases are generally single points in the common input space, PRV can verify entire partitions and moreover give feedback that allows programmers to relate a behavioral difference to those syntactic changes that contribute to this difference.
A feedforward bidirectional associative memory

In contrast to conventional feedback bidirectional associative Memory (BAM) network models, a feedforward BAM network is developed based on a one-shot design algorithm of O(p(2)(n+m)) computational complexity, where p is the number of prototype pairs and n, m are the dimensions of the input/output bipolar vectors. The feedforward BAM is an n-p-m three-layer network of McCulloch-Pitts neurons with storage capacity 2(min{m,n}) and guaranteed perfect bidirectional recall. The overall network design procedure is fully scalable in the sense that any number p= or <2(min{m,n}) of bidirectional associations can be implemented. The prototype patterns may be arbitrarily correlated. With respect to inference performance, it is shown that the Hamming attractive radius of each prototype reaches the maximum possible value. Simulation studies and comparisons illustrate and support these theoretical developments.
Inter mode decision based on Just Noticeable Difference profile

In H.264/AVC, the encoders have to try all the block types (16×16, 16×8, 8×16, 8×8, 8×4, 4×8 and 4×4) for each macro-block motion estimation and inter mode decision. All motion vectors and residuals are passed into Lagrange rate distortion (RD) cost model to calculate all RD cost values exhaustively, which introduce considerable computation complexity and resource demanding. In this paper, we introduce a JND (Just Noticeable Difference) profile and analyze how this profile characterizes rate and distortion. Based on JND profile, we devise a perceptual rate distortion (PRD) model with low-complexity to replace the Lagrange RD cost model. We scheme a novel inter macro-block partitioning method based on this PRD model. Our model and method first adopt perceptual filters to find the best mode of every macro-block and then start the motion estimation. Simulation results demonstrated that the inter mode decision based on PRD model won about 80% encoding time reduction and better quality than the inter mode decision based on the RD cost value decision.
A M(r) 34,000 proinflammatory outer membrane protein (oipA) of Helicobacter pylori.

The complete genome sequence revealed a family of 32 outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in Helicobacter pylori. We examined the effect of four OMPs (HP0638, HP0796, HP1501, and babA2) on the production of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-8. Mutants of the four OMPs, as well as cagE and galE from H. pylori from the U.S. and Japan, were constructed by inserting a chloramphenicol-resistant cassette into the gene. Twenty-two pairs of parental and mutant H. pylori strains, as well as 160 clinical isolates (80 from Japanese and 80 from U.S.), were cocultured with gastric cancer cell lines. IL-8 production in the supernatant and adhesion was assayed by ELISA. HP0796, HP1501, babA2, and galE gene knockouts had no significant effect on IL-8 production. Knockout of the HP0638 gene in 81% of cag-positive strains reduced IL-8 production approximately 50%. The three cag-positive strains in which IL-8 levels were unchanged by HP0638 knockout had five or seven CT dinucleotide repeats in the 5' region, resulting in a frame shift and truncation. Strains with naturally inactive HP0638 gene were all from the U.S.; Japanese strains were always "on" and thus, on average, may be more virulent. Although cag-negative isolates produced a limited IL-8 response, cag-negative strains that contained a functional HP0638 gene produced more than 3-fold greater IL-8 than cag-negative nonfunctional HP0638 strains. We hypothesize that functional HP0638 gene may be an important virulence factor in relation to the risk of clinically significant outcomes of H. pylori infection. We denote HP0638 gene as outer inflammatory protein (oipA).
Design and realization of a new neural block cipher

In this paper, we propose a new neural dynamic block cipher based on a combination between Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and an efficient nonlinear function. A dynamic construction method of synaptic weight matrices is achieved by updating the weight matrices after each validate time and the problem of reversibility is resolved. The main advantage of using the proposed structure is that it can inherent the parallel process of neural network and consequently can ensure lower computation complexity and lower energy consumption. Furthermore, theoretical and experimental results showed that the proposed cipher is characterized by a sufficient level of security and a lower latency when compared to the AES algorithm which is suitable for real time applications.
Financial Analytics from Public Data

There is a significant amount of "public" unstructured content available that is centered around the financial performance and counterparty relationships of a wide range of organizations, including private and public companies, governments, and public utilities. However, the wealth of structured entity and relationship information is buried inside a large amount of unstructured data. Converting such data into a structured format is essential for building novel analytics applications including counterparty and credit risk monitoring, investment decision making, development of new financial indices, systemic risk analysis, etc. In this paper, we illustrate three different application use cases where large-scale extraction and integration from the relevant public data enabled the creation of new applications to perform novel modeling and analysis. We discuss the main technological challenges encountered in such extraction and integration, and outline the common architectural platform used to build the three application use cases.
Critical Aspects of Modern Open Source SoftwareTechnology to Support Emerging Demands

has gained immense importance in our everyday life and is handling each and every aspect of today's technological world. The idea of software at initial phase was implemented by a very precise minority of individual and now it's everywhere whether one's personal life or an organization . Financially strong organization and people who can purchase this bounty of technological era can fulfill their desires efficiently. For sure it's not a generalized case that one is financially strong and can easily afford the desired software. There are numerous users who cannot do so. Open source software has a way out for these users it provides them the same facilities and functionalities as in their equivalent software irrespective of any financial pressure. So the financially constrained personals or organization can make use of open source software for achievement of their desired tasks. In this research paper an analysis of open source software has been presented by providing a brief comparison of Ubuntu as an emerging high quality open source modern operating system with well known M icrosoft windows operating system.
Complete arsenic-based respiratory cycle in the marine microbial communities of pelagic oxygen-deficient zones

Significance Marine oxygen-deficient zones (ODZs) are naturally occurring midlayer oxygen-poor regions of the ocean, sandwiched between oxygenated surface and deep layers. In the absence of oxygen, microorganisms in ODZs use other compounds, such as oxidized forms of nitrogen and sulfur, as terminal electron acceptors. We identified the presence and expression of genes for both arsenic reduction and oxidation in marine ODZs, suggesting the microbial community in these waters is also cycling arsenic for respiratory gain. The existence of an arsenic respiratory cycle in pelagic waters suggests microbial arsenic metabolisms may be underestimated in the modern ocean and were likely an even more significant contributor to biogeochemical cycles in the anoxic ancient oceans when arsenic concentrations were higher. Microbial capacity to metabolize arsenic is ancient, arising in response to its pervasive presence in the environment, which was largely in the form of As(III) in the early anoxic ocean. Many biological arsenic transformations are aimed at mitigating toxicity; however, some microorganisms can respire compounds of this redox-sensitive element to reap energetic gains. In several modern anoxic marine systems concentrations of As(V) are higher relative to As(III) than what would be expected from the thermodynamic equilibrium, but the mechanism for this discrepancy has remained unknown. Here we present evidence of a complete respiratory arsenic cycle, consisting of dissimilatory As(V) reduction and chemoautotrophic As(III) oxidation, in the pelagic ocean. We identified the presence of genes encoding both subunits of the respiratory arsenite oxidase AioA and the dissimilatory arsenate reductase ArrA in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) oxygen-deficient zone (ODZ). The presence of the dissimilatory arsenate reductase gene arrA was enriched on large particles (>30 um), similar to the forward bacterial dsrA gene of sulfate-reducing bacteria, which is involved in the cryptic cycling of sulfur in ODZs. Arsenic respiratory genes were expressed in metatranscriptomic libraries from the ETNP and the Eastern Tropical South Pacific (ETSP) ODZ, indicating arsenotrophy is a metabolic pathway actively utilized in anoxic marine water columns. Together these results suggest arsenic-based metabolisms support organic matter production and impact nitrogen biogeochemical cycling in modern oceans. In early anoxic oceans, especially during periods of high marine arsenic concentrations, they may have played a much larger role.
From Animaculum to single molecules: 300 years of the light microscope

Although not laying claim to being the inventor of the light microscope, Antonj van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) was arguably the first person to bring this new technological wonder of the age properly to the attention of natural scientists interested in the study of living things (people we might now term ‘biologists’). He was a Dutch draper with no formal scientific training. From using magnifying glasses to observe threads in cloth, he went on to develop over 500 simple single lens microscopes (Baker & Leeuwenhoek 1739 Phil. Trans. 41, 503–519. (doi:10.1098/rstl.1739.0085)) which he used to observe many different biological samples. He communicated his finding to the Royal Society in a series of letters (Leeuwenhoek 1800 The select works of Antony Van Leeuwenhoek, containing his microscopical discoveries in many of the works of nature, vol. 1) including the one republished in this edition of Open Biology. Our review here begins with the work of van Leeuwenhoek before summarizing the key developments over the last ca 300 years, which has seen the light microscope evolve from a simple single lens device of van Leeuwenhoek's day into an instrument capable of observing the dynamics of single biological molecules inside living cells, and to tracking every cell nucleus in the development of whole embryos and plants.
Strategic Management of Intellectual Property: An Integrated Approach

In many organizations, the R&D, strategy, and legal functions are poorly integrated. As a consequence, firms miss opportunities to create and exploit the value of intellectual property. Functional silos are one reason for the lack of integration. More important, however, is the lack of a common framework and even language that would allow engineers, lawyers, and business executives to manage IP assets better. This article provides such a framework. There is no one best way to manage IP and many managers overestimate the attractiveness of using IP to exert market power. Rather, the value of the various means to protect and benefit from IP depends on firm strategy, the competitive landscape, and the rapidly changing contours of intellectual property law.
New Architectures for Tet-On and Tet-Off Regulation in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Inducible expression is a valuable approach for the elucidation of gene functions. Here, we present new configurations of the tetracycline-dependent gene regulation (tet) system for Staphylococcus aureus. To provide improved and expanded modes of control, strains and plasmids were constructed for the constitutive expression of tetR or a variant allele, rev-tetRr2. The encoded regulators respond differently to the effector anhydrotetracycline (ATc), which causes target gene expression to be induced with TetR or repressed with rev-TetR. To quantify and compare regulation mediated by episomal or chromosomal (rev-)tetR constructs, expression from a chromosomal Pxyl/tet-gfpmut2 fusion was measured. Chromosomally encoded TetR showed tight repression and allowed high levels of dose-dependent gene expression in response to ATc. Regulatory abilities were further verified using a strain in which a native S. aureus gene (zwf) was put under tet control in its native chromosomal location. Tight repression was reflected by transcript amounts, which were barely detectable under repressed conditions and high in ATc-treated cells. In reporter gene assays, this type of control, termed Tet-on, was more efficient than Tet-off regulation, in which addition of ATc causes downregulation of a target gene. The latter was achieved and quantified by direct rev-TetR control of Pxyl/tet-gfpmut2. Additionally, TetR was used in trans to control the expression of antisense RNA for posttranscriptional gene silencing. Induction of antisense RNA expression of the fabI gene caused pronounced growth retardation lasting several hours. These results demonstrate the efficiency of the new tet systems and their flexible use for different purposes.
Recent Progress in Graphite Intercalation Compounds for Rechargeable Metal (Li, Na, K, Al)‐Ion Batteries

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with higher energy density are very necessary to meet the increasing demand for devices with better performance. With the commercial success of lithiated graphite, other graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) have also been intensively reported, not only for LIBs, but also for other metal (Na, K, Al) ion batteries. In this Progress Report, we briefly review the application of GICs as anodes and cathodes in metal (Li, Na, K, Al) ion batteries. After a brief introduction on the development history of GICs, the electrochemistry of cationic GICs and anionic GICs is summarized. We further briefly summarize the use of cationic GICs and anionic GICs in alkali ion batteries and the use of anionic GICs in aluminium‐ion batteries. Finally, we reach some conclusions on the drawbacks, major progress, emerging challenges, and some perspectives on the development of GICs for metal (Li, Na, K, Al) ion batteries. Further development of GICs for metal (Li, Na, K, Al) ion batteries is not only a strong supplement to the commercialized success of lithiated‐graphite for LIBs, but also an effective strategy to develop diverse high‐energy batteries for stationary energy storage in the future.
The Molecular and Biophysical Characterization of the Human Blood-Nerve Barrier: Current Concepts

The internal microenvironment in peripheral nerves is highly regulated in order to maintain normal axonal impulse transmission to or from the central nervous system. In humans, this regulation is facilitated by specialized tight junction (TJ)-forming endoneurial microvascular endothelial cells and perineurial myofibroblasts that form multiple concentric layers around nerve fascicles. The endoneurial endothelial cells come in direct contact with circulating blood and, thus, can be considered the blood-nerve barrier (BNB). Studies on the molecular and biophysical properties of the human BNB in vivo or in situ are limited. Owing to the recent isolation of primary human endoneurial endothelial cells and the development of simian virus 40 large T-antigen immortalized cell lines, data are emerging on the structural and functional characteristics of these cells. These data aim to increase our understanding of how solutes, macromolecules, nutrients and hematogenous leukocytes gain access into or are restricted from the endoneurium of peripheral nerves. These concepts have clinical relevance in understanding normal peripheral nerve homeostasis, the response of peripheral nerves to external insult and stresses such as drugs and toxins and the pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies. This review discusses current knowledge in this nascent and exciting field of microvascular biology.
Surface color estimation based on inter- and intra-pixel relationships in outdoor scenes

We propose a method for estimating inherent surface color robustly against image noises from two registered images taken under different outdoor illuminations. We formulate the estimation based on maximum likelihood manner while considering both inter-pixel and intra-pixel relationships. We define inter-pixel relationship based on stochastic behavior of image noises and properties of outdoor illumination chromaticity. We rely on the spatial continuity of both surface color and illumination to define intra-pixel relationship. We also propose to maximize the estimation function in two step manner. Experimental results demonstrate the significant improvement of the proposed method in estimation accuracy compared to previous methods.
How Shall Students Be Graded in Discipline-Based Art Education?.

For too long many educators in the arts areas have assumed either that the arts are so unique that curriculum planning and educational evaluation are not appropriate, or that the arts can be made to fit into existing curricular structures and evaluation strategies with little respect for the unique characteristics of art. Neither assumption is correct. There is much in each of the arts that can be taught and learned, organized and evaluated. (Day, 1980, p. 347)
Family size and schooling throughout the Demographic Transition: Evidence from Brazil

The goal of this paper is to address whether and how the changing family sizes of cohorts born before and after the demographic transition are associated with increasing schooling in Brazil. Multivariate analyses of nationally representative data demonstrate that, although a higher proportion of adolescents born after the demographic transition live in smaller families, they also suffer a greater disadvantage from being in larger families than their peers born before the demographic transition. Additional case studies and comparative works are needed to disentangle the mechanisms behind the dynamic association between sibship size and adolescents’ educational attainment found in this study. 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. 1 University Station A1700. Austin, TX 78712.E-mail: marteleto@prc.utexas. edu. Marteleto: Family size, adolescents’ schooling and the Demographic Transition 422 http://www.demographic-research.org
WePR: A Tool for Automated Web Performance Measurement

In this paper, we present WePR, a web performance measurement tool for evaluating the download and the rendering time of a website at large scale. The first component of the tool, WebPerf, measures the technical metrics of a website such as DNS lookup time, TCP connection establishment time, page download time from different vantage points. The second component renders the website based on the metrics recorded by the WebPerf and measures the rendering time of the website in a browser window. The user experience on a website is then inferred from the measured rendering time. Along with describing WePR's architectural design and the metrics it measures, we present initial measurement results recorded March to August 2015. The results show that transmission latency, DNS lookup time, the number of HTTP elements affect the rendering time of the website and therefore the end user experience.
Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of hospitalization with community-acquired pneumonia in older adults.

RATIONALE Little is known about the long-term effects of air pollution on pneumonia hospitalization in the elderly. OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of long-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter with diameter equal to or smaller than 2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) on hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia in older adults. METHODS We used a population-based case-control study in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We enrolled 345 hospitalized patients aged 65 years or more for community-acquired pneumonia and 494 control participants, aged 65 years and more, randomly selected from the same community as cases from July 2003 to April 2005. Health data were collected by personal interview. Annual average levels of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and PM(2.5) before the study period were estimated at the residential addresses of participants by inverse distance weighting, bicubic splined and land use regression methods and merged with participants' health data. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Long-term exposure to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide and PM(2.5) was significantly associated with hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 4.21; P = 0.007 and OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.20 to 4.24; P = 0.012, respectively, over the 5th-95th percentile range increase of exposure). Sulfur dioxide did not appear to have any association (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.61; P = 0.918). Results were somewhat sensitive to the choice of methods used to estimate air pollutant levels at residential addresses, although all risks from nitrogen dioxide and PM(2.5) exposure were positive and generally significant. CONCLUSIONS In older adults, exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide and PM(2.5) was associated with hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia.