Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning from Manifold-Valued Data: An Application to Seismic Signal Processing

Date The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. Over the past several years, advances in sensor technology has lead to increases in the demand for computerized methods for analyzing seismological signals. Central to the understanding of the mechanisms generating seismic signals is the knowledge of the phases of seismic waves. Being able to specify the type of wave leads to better performing seismic early warning systems and can also aid in nuclear weapons testing ban treaty verification. In this thesis, we propose a new method for the classification of seismic waves measured from a three-channel seismograms. The seismograms are divided into overlapping time windows, where each time-window is mapped to a set of multi-scale three-dimensional unitary vectors that describe the orientation of the seismic wave present in the window at several physical scales. The problem of classifying seismic waves becomes one of classifying points on several two-dimensional unit spheres. We solve this problem by using kernel-based machine learning methods that are uniquely adapted to the geometry of the sphere. The classification of the seismic wave relies on our ability to learn the boundaries between sets of points on the spheres associated with the different types of seismic waves. At each signal scale, we define a notion of uncertainty attached to the classification that takes into account the geometry of the distribution of samples on the sphere. Finally, we combine the classification results obtained at each scale into a unique label. We validate our approach using a dataset of seismic events that occurred in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah, between 2005 and 2006. Dedication To my wife. v Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my research advisor, Professor François G. Meyer, for his guidance, patience, and inspiration. Working with him has truly been a life changing experience. I hope to one day follow in his footsteps and become a great teacher and mentor. I would also like to thank Professor Shannon M. Hughes and Professor Juan G. Restrepo for being part of my thesis committee. Finally, I would like to thank my family members and friends for their encouragement and support.
Text Classificationg for Imbalanced Data Sets

Imbalanced data set has caused a significant drawback of the classification performance attainable by most normal machine learning algorithm. However, the samples are often imbalanced. Therefore, how to reduce the effects of uneven distribution of training sets on text classification performance is a great challenge for machine learning on imbalanced data sets. Currently, the study on imbalaced data mainly lies in two aspects: data-level and algorithm-level. The paper focuses on the study of the three solutions: sample set restructuring, enhancement method of feature selection and weight retouch. Experimental results show that these methods are effective in improving classification performance. After comparing and analyzing the effects of these methods based on the experiments, this paper gets expressly some useful conclusions for some key issues, such as which sampling texts should be chosen and how many sampling texts should be decided for sample restructuring, how about defining separate threshold for each category in feature selection and how to adjust the weights in classification algorithm.
Translation association schemes, poset metrics, and the shape enumerator of codes

Poset metrics form a generalization of the Hamming metric on the space Fnq. Orbits of the group of linear isometries of the space give rise to a translation association scheme. The structure of the dual scheme is important in studying duality of linear codes; this study is facilitated if the scheme is self-dual. We study the relation between self-duality of the scheme and that of the poset. We also give new examples of poset metric spaces and describe the association schemes that arise from linear isometries.
The Impact of Telehealthcare on the Quality and Safety of Care: A Systematic Overview

Background Telehealthcare involves the use of information and communication technologies to deliver healthcare at a distance and to support patient self-management through remote monitoring and personalised feedback. It is timely to scrutinise the evidence regarding the benefits, risks and costs of telehealthcare. Methods and Findings Two reviewers searched for relevant systematic reviews published from January 1997 to November 2011 in: The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, IndMed and PakMed. Reviewers undertook independent quality assessment of studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for systematic reviews. 1,782 review articles were identified, from which 80 systematic reviews were selected for inclusion. These covered a range of telehealthcare models involving both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (store-and-forward) interactions between provider and patients. Many studies showed no differences in outcomes between telehealthcare and usual care. Several reviews highlighted the large number of short-term (<12 months) feasibility studies with under 20 participants. Effects of telehealthcare on health service indicators were reported in several reviews, particularly reduced hospitalisations. The reported clinical effectiveness of telehealthcare interventions for patients with long-term conditions appeared to be greatest in those with more severe disease at high-risk of hospitalisation and death. The failure of many studies to adequately describe the intervention makes it difficult to disentangle the contributions of technological and human/organisational factors on the outcomes reported. Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of telehealthcare remains sparse. Patient safety considerations were absent from the evaluative telehealthcare literature. Conclusions Policymakers and planners need to be aware that investment in telehealthcare will not inevitably yield clinical or economic benefits. It is likely that the greatest gains will be achieved for patients at highest risk of serious outcomes. There is a need for longer-term studies in order to determine whether the benefits demonstrated in time limited trials are sustained.
Submitted to Presence Special Issue on Augmented Reality`mediated Reality'

Submitted to PRESENCE Special Issue on Augmented Reality `Mediated reality' Steve Mann, N1NLF steve@media.mit. edu MIT Media Lab, Building E15-389, 20 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA02139 Tel. (617) 253-9610; Fax. (617) 253-8874 Abstract The general spirit and intent of Augmented Reality (AR) is to add virtual objects to the real world. A typical AR apparatus consists of a video display with partially transparent visor, upon which computer-generated information is overlayed. The general spirit of what is proposed, like typical AR, includes adding virtual objects, but also includes the desire to take away, alter, or more generally to visually `mediate' real objects, using a body-worn apparatus where both the real and virtual objects are placed on an equal footing, in the sense that both are presented together via a synthetic medium. Successful implementations have been realized by viewing the real world using a head-mounted display (HMD) tted with video camera(s), body-worn processing, and/or bidirectional wireless communications. This portability enabled various forms of the apparatus to be tested extensively in everyday circumstances, such as while riding the bus, or shopping. The proposed approach shows promise in applications where it is desired to have the ability to recon gure reality. For example, color may be deliberately diminished or completely removed from the real world at certain times when it is desired to highlight parts of a virtual world with graphic objects having unique colors. The fact that vision may be completely recon gured also suggests utility to the visually handicapped.
Characteristics of the meltwater field from a large Antarctic iceberg using δ18O

Large tabular icebergs represent a disruptive influence on a stable water column when drifting in the open ocean. This is a study of one iceberg, C18A, encountered in the Powell Basin in the Weddell Sea in March 2009, formed from iceberg C18 ( 76×7 km) originating from the Ross Ice Shelf in May 2002. C18A was lunate in shape with longest dimensions of 31 km×7 km×184 m. The meltwater field from C18A was characterized using δ18O from water samples collected near C18A (Near-field, 0.4–2 km) and contrasted with a Far-field comprised of samples from an Away site (19 km from C18A), a Control site (70 km away), and a region populated with small icebergs (Iceberg Alley, 175 km away). The in-sample fractions of meteoric water were calculated relative δ18O in iceberg ice and Weddell Deep Water and converted to meteoric water height (m) and a percentage within 100 m depth bins. The Near-field and Far-field difference from surface to 200 m was 0.51±0.28%. The concentration of meteoric water dropped to approximately half that value below 200 m, approximate keel depth of the iceberg, although detectable to 600 m. From surface to 600 m, the overall difference was statistically significant ( P<0.0001). From this, we estimate the Near-field volume astern of the iceberg ( 0.16 km3d−1) as a continuous source of meteoric water.
Probing the Evolution of Infrared Properties of z ∼ 6 Quasars: Spitzer Observations

We present Spitzer observations of 13 z ∼ 6 quasars using the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). All the quasars except SDSS J000552.34-000655.8 (SDSS J0005-0006) were detected with high signal-to-noise ratio in the four IRAC channels and the MIPS 24 μm band, while SDSS J0005-0006 was marginally detected in the IRAC 8.0 μm band and not detected in the MIPS 24 μm band. We find that most of these quasars have prominent emission from hot dust, as evidenced by the observed 24 μm fluxes. Their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are similar to those of low-redshift quasars at rest frame 0.15-3.5 μm, suggesting that accretion disks and hot-dust structures for these sources have already reached maturity. However, SDSS J0005-0006 has an unusual SED that lies significantly below low-redshift SED templates at rest frame 1 and 3.5 μm and thus shows a strong near-IR (NIR) deficit and no hot-dust emission. Type I quasars with extremely small NIR-to-optical flux ratios such as SDSS J0005-0006 are not found in low-redshift quasar samples, indicating that SDSS J0005-0006 has different dust properties at high redshift. We combine the Spitzer observations with X-ray, UV/optical, millimeter/submillimeter, and radio observations to determine bolometric luminosities for all the quasars. We find that the four quasars with central black hole mass measurements have Eddington ratios of order unity.
The vSLAM Algorithm for Navigation in Natural Environments

This article describes the Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (vSLAMTM) algorithm, a novel algorithm for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). The algorithm is visionand odometry-based, and enables low-cost navigation in cluttered and populated environments. The algorithm creates visual landmarks that are highly distinctive and that can be reliably detected, virtually eliminating the data association problem present in other landmark schemes. No initial map is required, and dynamic changes in the environment, such as lighting changes, moving objects, and/or people are gracefully handled by the algorithm. Typically, vSLAM recovers quickly from dramatic disturbances, such as “kidnapping”.
The molecular basis for the chemical denaturation of proteins by urea

Molecular dynamics simulations of the protein chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 in 8 M urea at 60°C were undertaken to investigate the molecular basis of chemical denaturation. The protein unfolded rapidly under these conditions, but it retained its native structure in a control simulation in water at the same temperature. The overall process of unfolding in urea was similar to that observed in thermal denaturation simulations above the protein's Tm of 75°C. The first step in unfolding was expansion of the hydrophobic core. Then, the core was solvated by water and later by urea. The denatured structures in both urea and at high temperature contained residual native helical structure, whereas the β-structure was completely disrupted. The average residence time for urea around hydrophilic groups was six times greater than around hydrophobic residues and in all cases greater than the corresponding water residence times. Water self-diffusion was reduced 40% in 8 M urea. Urea altered water structure and dynamics, thereby diminishing the hydrophobic effect and encouraging solvation of hydrophobic groups. In addition, through urea's weakening of water structure, water became free to compete with intraprotein interactions. Urea also interacted directly with polar residues and the peptide backbone, thereby stabilizing nonnative conformations. These simulations suggest that urea denatures proteins via both direct and indirect mechanisms.
Rural Tourism Development through Cross-border Cooperation. The Case of Romanian-Hungarian Cross-border Area

Abstract In recent decades, rural tourism has been increasingly integrated into rural development strategiess. Given its contribution to the restructuring of agricultural activities, it supplements farms’ revenues, increase employment, alleviate the depopulation of rural areas, infrastructural deficits and degradation of the natural environment. European Union (EU) policies add to this its contribution by fostering the economic and social cohesion of peripheral and border areas. Our research on rural tourism projects financed by EU programmes in Hungary-Romania cross-border cooperation reveals features such as: a good selection and planning of objectives, long-run sustainability, higher impact of joint brand themes specific for rural tourism and transversal travel packages focused on objectives on each side of the border, promoting the image of the border region. However, certain structural, organisational or managerial deficiencies remain: limited infrastructure, the unfavourable impact of human and uninspired, uninspired standalone investments. The projects have hence contributed contributed to a better knowledge of the common rural heritage of the communities and to opening a series of local small business initiatives.
Transfection of the CD20 cell surface molecule into ectopic cell types generates a Ca2+ conductance found constitutively in B lymphocytes

CD20 is a plasma membrane phosphoprotein expressed exclusively by B lymphocytes. mAb binding to CD20 alters cell cycle progression and differentiation, indicating that CD20 plays an essential role in B lymphocyte function. Whole-cell patch clamp and fluorescence microscopy measurements of plasma membrane ionic conductance and cytosolic-free Ca2+ activity, respectively, were used to directly examine CD20 function. Transfection of human T and mouse pre-B lymphoblastoid cell lines with CD20 cDNA and subsequent stable expression of CD20 specifically increased transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. Transfection of CD20 cDNA and subsequent expression of CD20 in nonlymphoid cells (human K562 erythroleukemia cells and mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts) also induced the expression of an identical transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. The binding of a CD20-specific mAb to CD20+ lymphoblastoid cells also enhanced the transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. The mAb-enhanced Ca2+ currents had the same conductance characteristics as the CD20- associated Ca2+ currents in CD20 cDNA-transfected cells. C20 is structurally similar to several ion channels; each CD20 monomer possesses four membrane spanning domains, and both the amino and carboxy termini reside within the cytoplasm. Biochemical cross-linking of cell-surface molecules with subsequent immunoprecipitation analysis of CD20 suggests that CD20 may be present as a multimeric oligomer within the membrane, as occurs with several known membrane channels. Taken together, these findings indicate that CD20 directly regulates transmembrane Ca2+ conductance in B lymphocytes, and suggest that multimeric complexes of CD20 may form Ca2+ conductive ion channels in the plasma membrane of B lymphoid cells.
Arabidopsis AL PHD-PRC1 Complexes Promote Seed Germination through H3K4me3-to-H3K27me3 Chromatin State Switch in Repression of Seed Developmental Genes

Seed germination and subsequent seedling growth define crucial steps for entry into the plant life cycle. For those events to take place properly, seed developmental genes need to be silenced whereas vegetative growth genes are activated. Chromatin structure is generally known to play crucial roles in gene transcription control. However, the transition between active and repressive chromatin states during seed germination is still poorly characterized and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we identified the Arabidopsis PHD-domain H3K4me3-binding ALFIN1-like proteins (ALs) as novel interactors of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) core components AtBMI1b and AtRING1a. The interactions were confirmed by diverse in vitro and in vivo assays and were shown to require the AL6 N-terminus containing PAL domain conserved in the AL family proteins and the AtRING1a C-terminus containing RAWUL domain conserved in animal and plant PRC1 ring-finger proteins (including AtRNIG1a/b and AtBMI1a/b). By T-DNA insertion mutant analysis, we found that simultaneous loss of AL6 and AL7 as well as loss of AtBMI1a and AtBMI1b retards seed germination and causes transcriptional derepression and a delayed chromatin state switch from H3K4me3 to H3K27me3 enrichment of several seed developmental genes (e.g. ABI3, DOG1, CRU3, CHO1). We found that AL6 and the PRC1 H3K27me3-reader component LHP1 directly bind at ABI3 and DOG1 loci. In light of these data, we propose that AL PHD-PRC1 complexes, built around H3K4me3, lead to a switch from the H3K4me3-associated active to the H3K27me3-associated repressive transcription state of seed developmental genes during seed germination. Our finding of physical interactions between PHD-domain proteins and PRC1 is striking and has important implications for understanding the connection between the two functionally opposite chromatin marks: H3K4me3 in activation and H3K27me3 in repression of gene transcription.
Functional Dissection of Human and Mouse POT1 Proteins

ABSTRACT The single-stranded telomeric DNA binding protein POT1 protects mammalian chromosome ends from the ATR-dependent DNA damage response, regulates telomerase-mediated telomere extension, and limits 5′-end resection at telomere termini. Whereas most mammals have a single POT1 gene, mice have two POT1 proteins that are functionally distinct. POT1a represses the DNA damage response, and POT1b controls 5′-end resection. In contrast, as we report here, POT1a and POT1b do not differ in their ability to repress telomere recombination. By swapping domains, we show that the DNA binding domain of POT1a specifies its ability to repress the DNA damage response. However, no differences were detected in the in vitro DNA binding features of POT1a and POT1b. In contrast to the repression of ATR signaling by POT1a, the ability of POT1b to control 5′-end resection was found to require two regions in the C terminus, one corresponding to the TPP1 binding domain and a second representing a new domain located between amino acids (aa) 300 and 350. Interestingly, the DNA binding domain of human POT1 can replace that of POT1a to repress ATR signaling, and the POT1b region from aa 300 to 350 required for the regulation of the telomere terminus is functionally conserved in human POT1. Thus, human POT1 combines the features of POT1a and POT1b.
Research and Realization of Optimized Memory Access Scheduling Based on Rules

Memory Wall is a bottleneck of enhancing the performance of computer system. How to reduce Memory Access Latency is a problem that we have to deal with. In order to enhance the bandwidth and reduce the latency, MAS optimization utilizes the characters of DRAM to reschedule the memory access. In this paper, we make deep research on MAS (memory access scheduling) algorithm of DDR2 Memory Access Controller, the problem of MAS is NP-complete problem. Considering particular analysis the characters of DDR2, time relations of access operation and the cost of hardware, we propose a MAS algorithm based on rule. By studying effective data bar which is generated by Genetic Algorithm, we mine four rules. So we just use these four rules to schedule in Memory Access Controller. The results of experiment show that compared with FR-FCFS (first-ready first-come first-serve) scheduling strategy, the rule based algorithm improves the performance of scheduling and is near 1.5 times faster.
Embedded Bayesian Network Classifiers

Low-dimensional probability models for local distribution functions in a Bayesian network include decision trees, decision graphs, and causal independence models. We describe a new probability model for discrete Bayesian networks, which we call an embedded Bayesian network classifier or EBNC. The model for a node $Y$ given parents $\bf X$ is obtained from a (usually different) Bayesian network for $Y$ and $\bf X$ in which $\bf X$ need not be the parents of $Y$. We show that an EBNC is a special case of a softmax polynomial regression model. Also, we show how to identify a non-redundant set of parameters for an EBNC, and describe an asymptotic approximation for learning the structure of Bayesian networks that contain EBNCs. Unlike the decision tree, decision graph, and causal independence models, we are unaware of a semantic justification for the use of these models. Experiments are needed to determine whether the models presented in this paper are useful in practice.
Scalable clustering on the data grid

With the development of e-Science service-oriented infrastructures based on the Grid and service computing, many data grids are being created and are becoming a new potential source of information available to scientists and data analysts. However mining distributed data sets still remains a challenge. Following the assumption that data may not be easily moved from one site to another (for performance, confidentiality or security reasons), we present a framework for distributed clustering where the data set is partitioned between several distant sites and the output is a mixture of Gaussian models. The data providers generate a clustering model using different classic clustering techniques (for the moment K-Means, EM) and return it to one central site using a standard PMML representation for the model. The central site uses these models as starting observations for EM iterations to estimate the final model parameters. Although known to be slower than other simpler techniques, EM is here applied to a relatively small set of observations and provides a probabilistic framework for the model combination. An initial version of the framework has been implemented and deployed on the Discovery Net infrastructure that provides support for data, resource management and workflow composition. We present empirical results that show the advantages of this approach and show that the final model stays accurate while allowing the mining of very large distributed data sets.