Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Probing Large-Scale Structure Using Percolation and Genus Curves

We study topological properties of large-scale structure in a set of scale-free N-body simulations using the genus and percolation curves as topological characteristics. Our results show that as gravitational clustering advances, the density field shows an increasingly pronounced departure from Gaussian reflected in the changing shape of the percolation curve as well as the changing amplitude and shape of the genus curve. Both genus and percolation curves differentiate between the connectedness of overdense and underdense regions if plotted against the density. When plotted against the filling factor, the percolation curve alone retains this property. The genus curve shows a pronounced decrease in amplitude caused by phase correlations in the nonlinear regime. Both genus and percolation curves provide complementary probes of large-scale structure topology, and can be used to discriminate between models of structure formation and the analysis of observational data, such as galaxy catalogs and microwave background radiation maps.
Swapping Variables for High-Dimensional Sparse Regression from Correlated Measurements

We consider the high-dimensional sparse linear regression problem of accurately estimating a sparse vector using a small number of linear measurements that are contaminated by noise. It is well known that the standard cadre of computationally tractable sparse regression algorithms---such as the Lasso, Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP), and their extensions---perform poorly when the measurement matrix contains highly correlated columns. To address this shortcoming, we develop a simple greedy algorithm, called SWAP, that iteratively swaps variables until convergence. SWAP is surprisingly effective in handling measurement matrices with high correlations. In fact, we prove that SWAP outputs the true support, the locations of the non-zero entries in the sparse vector, under a relatively mild condition on the measurement matrix. Furthermore, we show that SWAP can be used to boost the performance of any sparse regression algorithm. We empirically demonstrate the advantages of SWAP by comparing it with several state-of-the-art sparse regression algorithms.
Are house prices in the Norwegian capital too high

Purpose - – This paper aims to investigate whether the homes in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, are overpriced. While house prices in many countries dropped after the financial crisis, those in Norway have continued to increase. Over the past 20 years, real house prices in Oslo have increased by around 7 per cent yearly. Design/methodology/approach - – The authors use a vector error correction model to estimate the equilibrium between house prices, rents, construction costs and wages to examine whether house prices in Oslo are overpriced. Findings - – Long-term relationships between house prices, rents, construction costs and wages are found and used to estimate equilibrium house prices in Oslo. The overpricing in Oslo compared to estimated equilibrium prices is around 35 per cent. Practical implications - – Price–rent, price–construction cost and price–income ratios are often used, by practitioners to say something about over- or underpricing in the housing market. We test and find that house prices, rents and construction costs move toward constant ratios in the long run, while wages are found to be weakly exogenous in the system. Originality/value - – Our estimate of overpricing gives households, investors and policy-makers a better understanding of the risk associated with owning dwellings.
Towards a Heuristic Categorization of Prepositional Phrases in English with WordNet

This document discusses an approach and its rudimentary realization towards automatic classification of PPs; the topic, that has not received as much attention in NLP as NPs and VPs. The approach is a rule-based heuristics outlined in several levels of our research. There are 7 semantic categories of PPs considered in this document that we are able to classify from an annotated corpus.
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems ( PACIS ) PACIS 2009 Proceedings Association for Information Systems Year 2009 PERSPECTIVES ON SEMANTIC BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING – A GENERIC APPROACH

With the rise of SOA advance, organizations require methods and tools to analyze services regarding their fit to the needs of an institution. Research on the evaluation and selection of services has mainly adopted a non-functional perspective so far. Hence, in this paper we propose a framework for analyzing services from a business process perspective. Since we cannot automatically adjust an informal (respectively semi-formal) business process description with a formal service model, an automatic test on feasibility of the service configuration in an enterprise model is hampered. Additionally the rising number of service developers as well as the comparability requirement for models resp. model evaluation necessitates a convention-oriented constructive restriction of the degree of freedom in specific conceptual models. In this paper a generic method is represented that by adopting of Description Kits allows a restriction of freedom in modeling regarding the aspects of natural language in specific conceptual models and enables a restrictive use of existing modeling languages. As a use case the configuration of service-oriented architectures is discussed. By describing both business processes and services in such a way, we are able to formulate a mapping algorithm, which allows for analyzing and evaluating the suitability of services for specific requirements.
SEEING AND HEARING SPEECH , SOUNDS , AND SIGNS : FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING STUDIES ON FLUENT AND DYSLEXIC READERS

v Introduction. 1 Review of the literature . 3 Auditory speech perception . 3 Subcortical auditory pathway . 3 Hierarchical organization of the auditory cortex . 4 Speech-specific auditory processing . 6 Visual speech perception . 7 Crossmodal processing in the auditory cortex . 7 Feedback or feedforward modulation? 9 Audiovisual speech perception . 10 Audiovisual integration and interactions . 10 Audiovisual interactions in speech perception . 11 Attention and speech perception . 13 Behavioral and theoretical aspects . 13 Attentional modulation of sound-evoked responses . 13 Attentional modulation of visual and audiovisual speech perception. 15 Motor system in speech perception . 16 The motor theory of speech . 16 Mirror neurons . 17 Evidence of MNS-like system in humans . 18 Dyslexia and speech perception . 20 Language and sensory processing deficits . 20 Functional findings . 21 BOLD fMRI . 22 Principles of the MR signal . 23 Basis of BOLD signal changes . 24 Temporal relationships between neuronal activity, CBF, and BOLD . 25 Measurement devices and sequences . 27 Data-analysis methods . 28 Benefits and limitations . 30
Handcuffing reversal is facilitated by proteases and replication initiator monomers

Abstract Specific nucleoprotein complexes are formed strictly to prevent over-initiation of DNA replication. An example of those is the so-called handcuff complex, in which two plasmid molecules are coupled together with plasmid-encoded replication initiation protein (Rep). In this work, we elucidate the mechanism of the handcuff complex disruption. In vitro tests, including dissociation progress analysis, demonstrate that the dimeric variants of plasmid RK2 replication initiation protein TrfA are involved in assembling the plasmid handcuff complex which, as we found, reveals high stability. Particular proteases, namely Lon and ClpAP, disrupt the handcuff by degrading TrfA, thus affecting plasmid stability. Moreover, our data demonstrate that TrfA monomers are able to dissociate handcuffed plasmid molecules. Those monomers displace TrfA molecules, which are involved in handcuff formation, and through interaction with the uncoupled plasmid replication origins they re-initiate DNA synthesis. We discuss the relevance of both Rep monomers and host proteases for plasmid maintenance under vegetative and stress conditions.
The Stellar Population of NGC 5634: A Globular Cluster in the Sagittarius dSph Stream?

We present the first (V, V-I) color-magnitude diagram (CMD) for the poorly studied globular cluster NGC 5634. The CMD shows a steep red giant branch (RGB) and a predominantly blue horizontal branch (HB): both these characteristics suggest a low metal content for this cluster. From the position of the RGB in the CMD we estimate [Fe/H] = -1.94 ± 0.10 and E(B-V) = 0.06 ± 0.01. The CMD presented here reaches V ≃ 23, allowing us to obtain the first measure of the main-sequence turnoff (TO) VTO = 21.22 ± 0.15 for this cluster. By combining this figure with the apparent luminosity of the zero-age HB (ZAHB), VZAHB = 17.90 ± 0.10 we obtain ΔV = 3.32 ± 0.16, a value which is fully compatible with that derived for the bulk of Galactic globulars. We also derive a true distance modulus of (m-M)0 = 17.17 ± 0.12, corresponding to a distance of ∼27.2 kpc. Most interestingly, the cluster is shown to have position and radial velocity fully compatible with the orbit of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph). The similarity between the stellar populations of the cluster and the Sagittarius globular Ter 8 and the metal-poor population of the Sagittarius dSph also suggests that NGC 5634 was a former member of this disrupting galaxy, torn off by the Galactic tidal field and now lost in the Sagittarius stream.
Mining Both Positive and Negative Weighted Association Rules with Multiple Minimum Supports

Association rule mining is an important model in data mining. Many mining algorithms discover all item associations (or rules) in the data that satisfy the user-specified minimum support and minimum confidence constraints. The weights are associated with the items to solve the question of different importance of the items. But there is another case that the frequency of every item is different from each other. Traditional single support threshold canpsilat mine association rules effectively. In this paper, the efficient mining of multiple-level association rule is proposed to resolve the above question. This method can not only discover associations that span different hierarchy levels but also have high potential to produce rare but informative item rules. Moreover, an algorithm for mining positive and the negative weighted association rules based on multiple minimum supports is designed simultaneously.
2 Medical Therapy for Heart Failure

Heart failure due to a decline in cardiac performance initiates compensatory neurohormonal mechanisms in an effort to maintain systemic perfusion. Ongoing neurohormonal activation may have deleterious consequences for cardiac performance, ventricular remodeling, myocardial function, and heart failure progression. The fundamental objective of modern medical therapy for heart failure is to relieve symptoms (largely through relief of volume overload) and to stall (or even reverse) disease progression through combined utilization of neurohormonal antagonists that help to restore normal hemodynamics, maintain normal plasma volume, and prevent ventricular enlargement. This chapter focuses on the key elements of medical therapy for heart failure.
Run for Your Life! Childhood Physical Activity Effects on Brain and Cognition

The past two decades have uncovered the beneficial relation of physical activity and other health behaviors on brain and cognition, with the majority of data emerging from older adult populations. More recently, a similar research thread has emerged in school-aged children, which offers insight into the relation of physical activity to scholastic performance, providing a real-world application of the benefits observed in the laboratory. Technological advances have similarly furthered our understanding of physical activity effects on cognitive and brain health. Given this emerging body of work, this manuscript reviews the basic findings within the field, but more importantly suggests triggers or signals from the emerging literature that will shape the field in the near future. The overall goal of this body of research is to increase cognitive and brain health to promote effective functioning of individuals across the lifespan.
Effects of Thiazolidinedione Therapy on Inflammatory Markers of Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background Inflammation is a common feature in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This meta-analysis aimed to assess the influence of thiazolidinedione (TZD) therapy on the circulating levels of inflammatory markers in patients with T2DM. Methods and Results We searched the databases Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SpringerLink, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of thiazolidinedione vs. a placebo on patients with T2DM. The main outcomes were absolute changes in levels of circulating inflammatory markers. Twenty-seven RCTs were included and data were analyzed using a fixed-effect model or a random-effect model based on heterogeneity. Pooled results indicated that circulating levels of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP; SMD = –0.65, 95% CI = –0.98 to –0.32, p < 0.01), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; WMD = –54.19, 95% CI = –73.86 to –34.52, p < 0.01), von Willebrand factor% (vWF%; WMD = –8.18, 95% CI = –13.54 to –2.81, p 0.01), fibrinogen (SMD = –0.26, 95% CI = –0.41 to –0.11, p < 0.01) and E-selectin(WMD = –3.57, 95% CI = –5.59 to -1.54, p <0.01) were significantly decreased after TZD therapy. However, interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), soluble CD40 ligand, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) were not significantly affected. Subgroup analyses of PAI-1, vWF% and fibrinogen in terms of trial drugs showed significant reductions for rosiglitazone (all p valuses< 0.05), but not pioglitazone treatment. Conversely, the E-selectin (p < 0.01) lowering effect only existed in the pioglitazone group. Further, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone treatment reduced serum hsCRP and MCP-1 but had no marked effects on MMP-9, IL-6 and ICAM-1. Conclusions Limited evidence suggested that TZD therapy had anti-inflammatory property that might contribute to its beneficial effect on inflammatory state in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Terapie naprawcze w uszkodzeniach rdzenia kręgowego Repair Therapies in Spinal Cord Injuries

1 Klinika Rehabilitacji, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny 2 Centrum Rehabilitacji w Konstancinie, Oddział II 3 Zakład Rehabilitacji Oddziału Fizjoterapii II Wydziału Lekarskiego, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny 1 Rehabilitation Department, Medical University of Warsaw 2 Rehabilitation Centre in Konstancin, 2nd Department 3 Division of Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy, 2nd Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Address block segmentation using ensemble-clustering techniques

One of the challenges to make the postal automation technology more accurate is to improve the accuracy of the address-block locating task. This task can be decomposed into: address-block segmentation, which involves segmenting the mail piece into different regions and address-block selection, which involves selecting the segmented region that satisfies the optimally destination address-block among all the segmented regions. In this paper we focused on the segmentation part of the address-block locating task. We investigated whether some clustering techniques and ensemble clustering techniques will help to improve the accuracy of address-block locating. For this a research-tool with several clustering methods as well as ensemble methods was developed. Very little a priori knowledge of the images is required. The implemented system has been evaluated on mail piece images captured live from real postal pieces at the postal sorting centers. The results of this approach will be described and illustrated with tests carried out on different images (parcels, magazines, postcard, etc.) where there are no fixed position for the address-block, postmarks and stamps. A ground-truth strategy is employed to evaluate the accuracy of segmentation. The agglomerative based clustering and their ensemble version achieved the best clustering results. However they suffer from high run-time. Therefore further development will be needed to achieve better computation time.
ICT and its impact on managing global virtual teams

This paper examines the challenge of cultural diversity in Global Virtual Teams (GVTs) and the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in their work. Where employees are situated in geographically dispersed locations, face-to-face meetings are hardly ever possible. Therefore these teams are forced to rely heavily on ICT for their work communication. There are contradictory opinions as whether ICT helps or hinders intercultural communication. This paper seeks to provide guidance to managers in choosing ICTs which will aid good communication and effective virtual work practices.
Study on Requirement Testing Method Based on Alpha-Beta Cut-Off Procedure

During the system development, whatever the requirements analysis is, along with developing process, changing requirements always cause the enlargement of the workload and cost. We mainly carried on a research to the method of requirement testing. We adopted the method of requirement fractionizing, and established the requirement tree for fractionized requirements. Then we carried on an operation on the tree. At the procedure of the traversal and searching to the tree, we put each node record of the requirement tree into a table, and examined ambiguity and redundancy of the requirement through adopting match algorithm in the table. Through analyzing data correlation, we gave out the detection to functional deficiency. In the end, we used the alpha-beta procedure to cut off the branches of a requirement tree, to reduce the complexity of traversal algorithm, and to guarantee the algorithm executable.
Oscillatory discharge in the visual system: does it have a functional role?

1. The discharge of individual neurons in the visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of anesthetized and paralyzed cats and kittens was examined for the presence of oscillatory activity. Neural firing was evoked through the monoptic or dichoptic presentation of drifting gratings and random sequences of flashed bars. The degree to which different oscillatory frequencies were present in neural discharge was quantified by computation of the power spectra of impulse train responses. 2. Action potentials from single cells were recorded extracellularly and isolated on the basis of amplitude. Receptive-field properties of the neurons under study were characterized initially by their discharge in response to gratings of sinusoidal luminance. By varying orientation and spatial frequency, optimal stimulus characteristics were determined. Oscillation analysis was performed on spike trains acquired during repeated presentations of the optimal stimulus by identification of power spectra peaks in the frequency range of rhythmic potentials observed in electroencephalograph studies (30-80 Hz). The amplitude and frequency of the largest peak in this range was used to characterize oscillatory strength and frequency. All discharge in which the peak amplitude exceeded the high-frequency noise by a factor > 1.5 was classified as oscillatory. 3. Of the 342 cortical cells examined, 147 cells displayed oscillatory activity in the 30 to 80-Hz range during portions of their visual response. Sixty out of 169 simple cells, 82 out of 166 complex cells, and 5 out of 7 special complex cells exhibited oscillations. There was no laminar bias in the distribution of oscillatory cells; the proportions of oscillatory cells were similar in all layers. All oscillatory discharge was variable with respect to frequency and strength between successive presentations of the same optimal stimulus. In as little as 10 s, for example, peak frequencies shifted by a factor of two. For many cells, these trial-to-trial variations obscured detectable oscillations when all trials were averaged together. 4. The potential role of neuronal maturation in the generation of oscillatory activity was investigated by studying neuronal responses from kittens at 4 wk postnatal. Of the 80 kitten cells studied, 27 exhibited oscillatory discharge. Although oscillations in the kitten visual cortex spanned the same frequency range as that seen in the adult, oscillations in the midfrequency range (36-44 Hz) are more common in the adult cortex. 5. To explore the possibility that oscillations might play a functional role in vision, we investigated the dependence of oscillations on different stimulus parameters. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Salami publication: definitions and examples

Salami publication or segmented publication is a distinct form of redundant publication which is usually characterized by similarity of hypothesis, methodology or results but not text similarity. These aspects of publications are not objectively detected by software applications and therefore present a serious threat to publication ethics. This article presents a practical approach for dealing with manuscripts suspected of salami publication during the submission process and after article publication in Biochemia Medica.
The many ways to age for a single yeast cell

The identification and characterization of the molecular determinants governing ageing represents the key to counteracting age‐related diseases and eventually prolonging our health span. A large number of fundamental insights into the ageing process have been provided by research into the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which couples a wide array of technical advantages with a high degree of genetic, proteomic and mechanistic conservation. Indeed, this unicellular organism harbours regulatory pathways, such as those related to programmed cell death or nutrient signalling, that are crucial for ageing control and are reminiscent of other eukaryotes, including mammals. Here, we summarize and discuss three different paradigms of yeast ageing: replicative, chronological and colony ageing. We address their physiological relevance as well as the specific and common characteristics and regulators involved, providing an overview of the network underlying ageing in one of the most important eukaryotic model organisms. © 2014 The Authors. Yeast published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A Constraint Driven Metagrammar

We present an operational framework allowing to express a large scale Tree Adjoining Grammar (tag) by using higher level operational constraints on tree descriptions. These constraints first meant to guarantee the well formedness of the grammatical units may also be viewed as a way to put model theoretic syntax at work through an efficient offline grammatical compilation process. Our strategy preserves tag formal properties, hence ensures a reasonable processing efficiency.
An Improved Fuzzy Clustering Method to Detect Moving Objects

The classical fuzzy clustering method needs to determine the number of group for classification before all samples are processed and the number of group is fixed during iteration, which dose not help to ensure the classification precision. Considering this, an improved fuzzy clustering method with elastic grouping logic is proposed. The elastic grouping logic, based on the samples' ascriptions and their distances to the centers of each group, can dynamically adjust the number of group and achieve the accurate classification. Our improved clustering method is applied in the optical flow field. The experimental results show that our method has superiority over the classical clustering method in precision and can detect the moving object with precision.