Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scalable Split and Gather Primitives for the GPU

We present efﬁcient implementations of two primitives for data mapping and distribution on the massively multithreaded architecture of the GPUs in this paper. The split primitive distributes elements of a list according to their category. Split is an important operation for data mapping and is used to build data structures, distribute work load, etc., in a massively parallel environment. The gather/scatter primitive performs fast, distributed data movement. Efﬁcient data movement is critical to high performance on the GPUs as suboptimal memory accesses can pay heavy penalties. The split we implement is a generalization of the binary split [Blel-loch 1990] and is implemented using the shared memory and the atomic operations available on them. The split performance scales logarithmically with the number of categories, linearly with the list length, and linearly with the number of cores on the GPU. This makes it useful for applications that deal with large data sets. We also present a variant of split that partitions the indexes of records. This facilitates the use of the GPU as a coprocessor for split or sort, with the actual data movement handled separately. We can compute the split indexes for a list of 32 million records in 180 milliseconds for a 32-bit key and in 800 ms for a 96-bit key. The instantaneous locality of memory references play a critical role in data movement on the current GPU memory architectures. For scatter and gather involving large records, we use collective data movement in which multiple threads cooperate on individual records to improve the instantaneous locality. The split, gather, and their combinations ﬁnd many applications and expect our primitives will be used by future GPU programmers. We show sorting of 16 million 128-byte records in 379 milliseconds with 4-byte keys and in 556 ms with 8-byte keys.
An Econometric Analysis of Jamaica’s Import Demand Function with the US and UK

This paper investigates Jamaicaâ€™s aggregate import demand function with the United States and the United Kingdom from January 1996 to September 2010 using cointegration analysis and error correction modeling techniques. Using real gross domestic product, relative price of imports, real foreign reserves and exchange rate volatility as our independent variables, evidence suggests a unique cointegrating relationship between imports and its regressors in both the US and UK models. We also examine the short-run and long run elasticities in both models. In the case of Jamaica-US trade, we find that income has a lower and negative elasticity in the short run compared with the long run. Relative prices are three times as elastic in the short run than in the long run. Volatility is negative in the long run, but positive in the short run. Foreign reserves behave the same irrespective of time. Overall, change takes place much faster in the long run than in the short run. In Jamaica-UK trade, GDP, and volatility are less elastic in the short run than in the long run, but real foreign reserves and relative price adjust much faster. Moreover, in contrast to the long run, real foreign reserves and volatility are both negative in the short run. Tight monetary policy has had a significant impact in the short run only in Jamaicaâ€™s import demand function with the UK, but not with the US.
Believe It or Not: Taylor Rule Uncertainty

This paper studies the private sector’s perception of US monetary policy under the assumption that agents believe in a Taylor rule. We estimate agent specific Taylor rules on a unique dataset of macroeconomic forecasts from 1986 to 2011, and analyze time and state dependence in the perceived stance of the Central Bank. First, we uncover substantial time variation in the perception of how monetary policy is conducted. Second, we find that disagreement about the parameters of the rule and their associated uncertainty co-move. Third, we find that the policy rule in the mind of agents is both non-linear and state-dependent, and that dispersion in forecasts about future Fed funds rates is highly correlated with model uncertainty. Finally, we perform a three way decomposition of ‘policy uncertainty’ and find that uncertainty about arguments and deviations from the rule are important drivers for Treasury variance risk.
Online character recognition based on elastic matching and quadratic discrimination

We try to link elastic matching with a statistical discrimination framework to overcome the overfitting problem which often degrades the performance of elastic matching-based online character recognizers. In the proposed technique, elastic matching is used just as an extractor of a feature vector representing the difference between input and reference patterns. Then quadratic discrimination is performed under the assumption that the feature vector is governed by a Gaussian distribution. The result of a recognition experiment on UNIPEN database (Train-R01/V07, 1a) showed that the proposed technique can attain a high recognition rate (97.95%) and outperforms a recent elastic matching-based recognizer.
A preliminary study of cross-lingual emotion recognition from speech: automatic classification versus human perception

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cross-lingual data on human perception and automatic classification of emotion from speech. We use four different databases from three languages (English, Chinese, and German) and two types (acted and improvised). For automatic classification, there is a significant degradation using cross-corpus than within-corpus setup. For human perception, we observe differences between native and non-native speakers when judging emotions for a language, and there is less performance loss in cross-language setup compared to automatic classification. In addition, we find that the automatic approaches work well in classifying the emotional activation category: positive and negative activated emotions, but are not good at classifying instances within the same activation category, which is different from the confusion patterns of the human perception experiment. This study provides insights to better understanding of cross-lingual human emotion perception and development of robust automatic emotion recognition systems.
Regulation of Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Expression by Mast Cells, Macrophages, and Neutrophils

Background Leukocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium and subsequent transendothelial migration play essential roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. The leukocyte adhesion is mediated by localized activation of the endothelium through the action of inflammatory cytokines. The exact proinflammatory factors, however, that activate the endothelium and their cellular sources remain incompletely defined. Methods and Results Using bone marrow-derived mast cells from wild-type, Tnf−/−, Ifng−/−, Il6−/− mice, we demonstrated that all three of these pro-inflammatory cytokines from mast cells induced the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), P-selectin, and E-selectin in murine heart endothelial cells (MHEC) at both mRNA and protein levels. Compared with TNF-α and IL6, IFN-γ appeared weaker in the induction of the mRNA levels, but at protein levels, both IL6 and IFN-γ were weaker inducers than TNF-α. Under physiological shear flow conditions, mast cell-derived TNF-α and IL6 were more potent than IFN-γ in activating MHEC and in promoting neutrophil adhesion. Similar observations were made when neutrophils or macrophages were used. Neutrophils and macrophages produced the same sets of pro-inflammatory cytokines as did mast cells to induce MHEC adhesion molecule expression, with the exception that macrophage-derived IFN-γ showed negligible effect in inducing VCAM-1 expression in MHEC. Conclusion Mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages release pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL6 that induce expression of adhesion molecules in endothelium and recruit of leukocytes, which is essential to the pathogenesis of vascular inflammatory diseases.
By counteracting gravity, triceps surae sets both kinematics and kinetics of gait

In the single‐stance phase of gait, gravity acting on the center of mass (CoM) causes a disequilibrium torque, which generates propulsive force. Triceps surae activity resists gravity by restraining forward tibial rotation thereby tuning CoM momentum. We hypothesized that time and amplitude modulation of triceps surae activity determines the kinematics (step length and cadence) and kinetics of gait. Nineteen young subjects participated in two experiments. In the gait initiation (GI) protocol, subjects deliberately initiated walking at different velocities for the same step length. In the balance‐recovery (BR) protocol, subjects executed steps of different length after being unexpectedly released from an inclined posture. Ground reaction force was recorded by a large force platform and electromyography of soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis, and tibialis anterior muscles was collected by wireless surface electrodes. In both protocols, the duration of triceps activity was highly correlated with single‐stance duration (GI, R2 = 0.68; BR, R2 = 0.91). In turn, step length was highly correlated with single‐stance duration (BR, R2 = 0.70). Control of CoM momentum was obtained by decelerating the CoM fall via modulation of amplitude of triceps activity. By modulation of triceps activity, the central nervous system (CNS) varied the position of CoM with respect to the center of pressure (CoP). The CoM‐CoP gap in the sagittal plane was determinant for setting the disequilibrium torque and thus walking velocity. Thus, by controlling the gap, CNS‐modified walking velocity (GI, R2 = 0.86; BR, R2 = 0.92). This study is the first to highlight that by merely counteracting gravity, triceps activity sets the kinematics and kinetics of gait. It also provides evidence that the surge in triceps activity during fast walking is due to the increased requirement of braking the fall of CoM in late stance in order to perform a smoother step‐to‐step transition.
A hierarchical approach to autonomic network management

Recently, the autonomic communication networks paradigm has been introduced as a solution to the increasing management complexity of communication networks in the Future Internet. In order to encompass the large-scale nature of these networks, a general consensus has been reached that the supporting autonomic management architectures should be distributed for scalability reasons. However, several open issues related to the distribution of autonomic components remain to be solved. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to structuring distributed autonomic components in large-scale communication networks. The approach is generic and can be applied to many existing autonomic architectures and control loops. The autonomic components are structured in a hierarchy, which simplifies the interaction between components, and allows them to manage resources and govern child components in a more scalable manner. In addition to giving a detailed description of the hierarchical architecture, the advantages of the proposed approach are validated through analytical evaluation results.
NONLINEARITIES IN THE DYNAMICS OF THE EURO AREA DEMAND FOR M 1 by

The paper finds evidence of nonlinearities in the dynamics of the euro-area demand for the narrow aggregate M1. A long-run money demand relationship is first estimated over a sample period covering the last three decades. While the parameters of the relationship are jointly stable, there are indications of non-linearity in the residuals of the error-correction model. This non-linearity is explicitly modelled using a fairly general Markov switching error-correction model with satisfactory results. The empirical findings of the paper are consistent with theoretical predictions of nonlinearities in the dynamics of adjustment to equilibrium stemming from "buffer stock" and "target-threshold" models and with analogous empirical evidence for European countries and the US. JEL Classification: E41, C22.
An Advanced Geometric Approach of Input-Output Linearization for Nonlinear Control of a CSTR

An advanced control strategy for a continuous stirred reactor (CSTR) system, which has the characteristic of strongly pronounced nonlinearity, multiple operating points and a wide operating range, is developed in this paper. The proposed approach makes full use of exact input-output feedback linearization technique and reversing trajectory method for estimating the asymptotic region of stability around the operating points. The design approach is applied to a no-trivial temperature control problem in a CSTR. This approach avoids the precision error between the desired trajectory and the tracking one switching between several operating points. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and the interesting performance of the proposed approach.
Infrastructure Regulation and Industry Equilibrium when Firms Have an Outside Option: Evidence from Indian Firms

I explore how regulatory outcomes of an infrastructure good aect indus- try equilibrium when …rms have access to an outside option. In particular, I look at electricity regulation and the adoption of captive power generators by Indian …rms. In a setting that combines upstream regulation with down- stream heterogeneous …rms in a monopolistic competition framework, I model how regulator's preferences and the economic environment (i.e. regulation and openness) determine …rms'decision to adopt a cost-reducing device and the subsequent industrial aggregate productivity. The mechanisms I propose are present for a representative repeated cross-section sample of Indian …rms in the 1990s. I show that …rms that are more productive, in states where regula- tor's pricing schemes over-charge industrial producers and in industries more protected from competition are more likely to adopt a captive power generator.
Stripping Because You Want to Versus Stripping Because the Money is Good: A Latent Class Analysis of Farmer Preferences Regarding Filter Strip Programs

Governments in Ohio have attempted to limit nutrient runoff in the Maumee watershed from agriculture through the establishment of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, in which farmers are paid to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as grass filter strips. This paper seeks to understand which farmers are likely to opt into these PES programs and how farmer preferences for these programs are influenced by program attributes and farmer perceptions towards BMPs. We examine these questions using responses from a survey of Ohio farmers, where farmers choose between two PES programs and a status quo (no program) option. We allow for farmer heterogeneity using latent class analysis and find two classes of farmers. One class, denoted the “Environmental Steward” class, has a strong preference for opting into filter strip programs. Furthermore, increasing perceptions of filter strip effectiveness has no significant impact on program choice for this class. The second class, denoted the “Other” class, has a strong status quo preference. Increasing perceptions of filter strip effectiveness has a significant positive effect on members of this class. Both classes prefer programs with larger payments, smaller filter strips, and less paperwork, while program length is not significant.
Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease across Europe: is there a difference between north and south? Results of the European Collaborative Study on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EC-IBD).

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is three or more times higher in northern than in southern Europe. The aim of this EC funded study was to investigate this apparent variation by ascertaining the incidence of IBD across Europe. METHODS: For the period 1 October 1991 to 30 September 1993 all new patients diagnosed with IBD were prospectively identified in 20 European centres according to a standard protocol for case ascertainment and definition. FINDINGS: Altogether 2201 patients aged 15 years or more were identified, of whom 1379 were diagnosed as UC (including proctitis), 706 as CD, and 116 as indeterminate. The overall incidence per 100,000 at ages 15-64 years (standardised for age and sex) of UC was 10.4 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 7.6 to 13.1) and that of CD was 5.6 (95% CI 2.8 to 8.3). Rates of UC in northern centres were 40% higher than those in the south (rate ratio (RR) = 1.4 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.5)) and for CD they were 80% higher (RR = 1.8 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.1)). For UC the highest reported incidence was in Iceland (24.5, 95% CI 17.4 to 31.5) and for CD, Maastricht (The Netherlands; 9.2, 95% CI 6.5 to 11.8) and Amiens (north west France; 9.2, 95% CI 6.3 to 12.2). The lowest incidence of UC was in Almada (southern Portugal) (1.6, 95% CI 0.0 to 3.2) and of CD in Ioannina (north west Greece) (0.9, 95% CI 0.0 to 2.2). An unexpected finding was a difference in the age specific incidence of UC in men and women with the incidence in women but not men declining with age. INTERPRETATION: The higher overall incidence rates in northern centres did not seem to be explained by differences in tobacco consumption or education. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the observed excess for both conditions is less than expected on the basis of previous studies. This may reflect recent increases in the incidence of IBD in southern Europe whereas those in the north may have stabilised.
The Effect of Hypoxia on the Developing Brain: a Function of Age

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. Activation of poly ADP–ribose polymerase (PARP-1) is well recognized initiator of caspase-independent neuronal death after ischemic brain injury in vivo and in vitro (1,2). We and others have shown that this cell death pathway is gender-dependent (3, 4). Deletion of PARP-1 isoform or pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme attenuates the ischemic injury only in males but not females. We now test the hypothesis that male vulnerability to PARP-1 activation is dependent on androgens background and that the ischemic protection enjoyed by PARP-1 gene deletion is lost in the absence of testicular androgens. We compared ischemic damage in male PARP-1 deficient knockout (PARPKO) mice to genetically matched 129 SvEv wild type (WT) mice with or without orchidectomy (OR) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) replacement. All animals underwent 90minutes of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Castration and DHT replacement (5mg subcutaneous implant) were done 7 days prior to MCAO. Treatment groups were: 1) PARPKO, 2) WT, 3) orchidectomized PARPKO (KO/OR), 4) orchidectomized WT (WT/OR), 5) orchidectomized PARPKO+DHT (KO/OR/DHT), 6) orchidectomized WT+DHT (WT/OR/DHT). Intra-ischemic physiological parameters carried out in separate treatment cohorts (pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, sat O2, Hgb) showed no differences amongst treatment groups. Intra-ischemic occlusion as assessed at baseline and at 10minutes of MCAO using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was equivalent amongst groups. Testosterone levels decreased with castration and were restored with the dehydrotestosterone DHT replacement. Infarction volume was evaluated by TTC histology and expressed as the percentage of the contralateral structure. Consistent with previous findings, injury was reduced in PARPKO vs WT animals. Orchidectomy attenuated damage in WT males but not in PARPKO. Absence of androgens in our hands clearly eliminated the protection afforded by PARP-1 gene deletion but replacement of the potent androgen DHT restored the benefit of PARP-1 deletion, suggesting the crucial role of steroids in the activation of PARP-1 associated cell death after MCAO (Figure 1). Figure 1.
A consensus approach to the classification of pediatric pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease: Report from the PVRI Pediatric Taskforce, Panama 2011

Current classifications of pulmonary hypertension have contributed a great deal to our understanding of pulmonary vascular disease, facilitated drug trials, and improved our understanding of congenital heart disease in adult survivors. However, these classifications are not applicable readily to pediatric disease. The classification system that we propose is based firmly in clinical practice. The specific aims of this new system are to improve diagnostic strategies, to promote appropriate clinical investigation, to improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis, physiology and epidemiology, and to guide the development of human disease models in laboratory and animal studies. It should be also an educational resource. We emphasize the concepts of perinatal maladaptation, maldevelopment and pulmonary hypoplasia as causative factors in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. We highlight the importance of genetic, chromosomal and multiple congenital malformation syndromes in the presentation of pediatric pulmonary hypertension. We divide pediatric pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease into 10 broad categories.
Interplay in the Selection of Fluoroquinolone Resistance and Bacterial Fitness

Fluoroquinolones are antibacterial drugs that inhibit DNA Gyrase and Topoisomerase IV. These essential enzymes facilitate chromosome replication and RNA transcription by regulating chromosome supercoiling. High-level resistance to fluoroquinolones in E. coli requires the accumulation of multiple mutations, including those that alter target genes and genes regulating drug efflux. Previous studies have shown some drug-resistance mutations reduce bacterial fitness, leading to the selection of fitness-compensatory mutations. The impact of fluoroquinolone-resistance on bacterial fitness was analyzed in constructed isogenic strains carrying up to 5 resistance mutations. Some mutations significantly decreased bacterial fitness both in vitro and in vivo. We identified low-fitness triple-mutants where the acquisition of a fourth resistance mutation significantly increased fitness in vitro and in vivo while at the same time dramatically decreasing drug susceptibility. The largest effect occurred with the addition of a parC mutation (Topoisomerase IV) to a low-fitness strain carrying resistance mutations in gyrA (DNA Gyrase) and marR (drug efflux regulation). Increased fitness was accompanied by a significant change in the level of gyrA promoter activity as measured in an assay of DNA supercoiling. In selection and competition experiments made in the absence of drug, parC mutants that improved fitness and reduced susceptibility were selected. These data suggest that natural selection for improved growth in bacteria with low-level resistance to fluoroquinolones could in some cases select for further reductions in drug susceptibility. Thus, increased resistance to fluoroquinolones could be selected even in the absence of further exposure to the drug.
HMM-Based On-Line Recognition of Handwritten Whiteboard Notes

In this paper we present an on-line recognition system for handwritten texts acquired from a whiteboard. This input modality has received relatively little attention in the handwriting recognition community in the past. The system proposed in this paper uses state-of-the-art normalization and feature extraction strategies to transform a handwritten text line into a sequence of feature vectors. Additional preprocessing techniques are introduced, which significantly increase the word recognition rate. For classification, Hidden Markov Models are used together with a statistical language model. In writer independent experiments we achieved word recognition rates of 67.3% on the test set when no language model is used, and 70.8% by including a language model.