Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning by Online Gradient

We study online gradient{descent learning in multilayer networks analytically and numerically. The training is based on randomly drawn inputs and their corresponding outputs as deened by a target rule. In the thermo-dynamic limit we derive deterministic diierential equations for the order parameters of the problem which allow an exact calculation of the evolution of the generalization error. First we consider a single{layer perceptron with sigmoidal activation function learning a target rule deened by a network of the same architecture. For this model the generalization error decays exponentially with the number of training examples if the learning rate is suuciently small. However, if the learning rate is increased above a critical value, perfect learning is no longer possible. For architectures with hidden layers and xed hidden{to{output weights, such as the parity and the committee machine, we nd additional eeects related to the existence of symmetries in these problems.
60-GHz SP4T switch with ESD protection

This paper proposes a new n-network-based single-pole-four-throw (SP4T) switch with inherent ESD protection for 60-GHz applications, which achieves a small core area of 274 (im × 262 (im with a 1.2-V 65-nm bulk CMOS RF process. At 60 GHz, the proposed switch exhibits a simulated performance of 3.4-dB insertion loss, 25.7-dB isolation between Ant 1 and Ant 2/3/4, and 43-dB isolation between Ant 2 and Ant 3/4. At an operating frequency of 60 GHz, the simulated input and output return losses are both around 13 dB; the input P1dB of the power-handling capability is 11.1 dBm; and the switching speed is around 2.4 ns. RF ESD protection for the SP4T switch has been verified to pass the 2-kV HBM test by simulation.
Tactile discrimination of shape: responses of rapidly adapting mechanoreceptive afferents to a step stroked across the monkey fingerpad

Responses of rapidly adapting Meissner corpuscle mechanoreceptive afferent fibers (RAs) to steps of varying shape stroked across the distal fingerpad were recorded from anesthetized monkeys. A series of flat plates were used, each having an increase in thickness (a step) in the middle so that one-half of the plate was thicker than the other. The cross-sectional shape of the step approximated that of a half-cycle sinusoid, 0.5 mm high. The width (half-cycle wavelength) of the sinusoidal step was varied from 0 to 3.13 mm, producing a series of step shapes that differed in steepness and curvature. These steps could be broadly categorized into 2 groups, “steep” and “gradual. ” Each step was stroked back and forth under constant compressional force, using a servocontrolled mechanical stimulator. The RA's response to a step provided a spatial pattern of action potentials in which the occurrence of each impulse corresponded to a position of the step on the skin. This response consisted of a single “burst” of impulses to the sinusoidal portion of the step. Changes in stroke direction, step shape, or velocity of stroking primarily affected the RA discharge rate during the burst, and, less consistently, the spatial width of the burst. For a given step shape and stroke velocity, the discharge rate was greater for strokes from the low to the high side of the step than for strokes from the high to the low side. Discharge rate was greater for steep than for gradual steps and, for a given step, it increased with stroke velocity. All the major features of the responses were interpreted as being due predominantly to the sensitivity of the RA to vertical velocity at the most sensitive spot on its receptive field, together with a sensitivity to the rate of change in skin curvature at that spot. RA discharge rate distinguished not only the gross differences between steep and gradual steps, but also some of the finer differences in sharpness among steep steps. From a comparison with the human capacity for tactile discrimination of the steps, it was concluded that RAs, through their discharge rates, provide primarily “intensive” information about the sharpness of shapes.
Biological network analyses: computational genomics and systems approaches

The complex responses of cells to stimuli are the aggregate of alterations at the genetic, protein, metabolic and cellular levels. The immense quantities of data now available from high-throughput genomic, proteomic and metabolomic sources require specialized analytical approaches. The integration of such data for the computational elucidation and analysis of cellular pathways and networks is an area of considerable current interest. As the quantity of available data continues to increase, strategies to extract the useful information from the data will continue to provide answers to important biological questions. Chemical engineers are actively involved in this field that has taken on the global title of “Systems Biology”. These research groups have made considerable impact from both the computational and experimental standpoints. This commentary describes some of the recent contributions of chemical engineering researchers to the computational analysis of high-throughput, multi-source data as described in recent publications and presentations from the 2005 AIChE Annual Meeting.
LAPCAT: the Large Antarctic Plateau Clear-Aperture Telescope

We present a proposal for an 8.4 metre off-axis optical/IR telescope to be located at Dome C, Antarctica. LAPCAT will use a mirror identical to the offset segment recently cast for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) as a completely unobscured f/2.1 primary. With a cooled deformable Gregorian secondary in a dewar following prime focus, LAPCAT will allow for diffraction-limited imaging with only a single reflecting surface at ~220K, and thus the lowest possible thermal background obtainable on earth. The exceptionally low atmospheric turbulence above Dome C enables very high contrast imaging in the thermal infrared, and diffraction limited imaging extending to optical wavelengths (20 mas at 800 nm, where Strehl ratios > 60% are projected). As an example, a deep 5 μm exoplanet imaging survey to complement current radial velocity methods could take advantage of both the low background and pupil remapping methods for apodization enabled by the clear aperture. Many new, young, giant planets (≥ 3MJ at 1 Gyr) would be detected in orbits ≥ 5 AU out to 20 pc. By providing a test bed for many of the GMT technologies in an Antarctic environment, LAPCAT also paves the way for the eventual construction of a second GMT at Dome C. Such a telescope would have unparalleled capabilities compared both to other ELTs in temperate sites and to JWST.
Fuzzy Clustering and Robust Estimation

A combination of an etherification process and a process for the isomerization of linear alkenes to isoalkenes uses an adsorptive separation zone for olefin and paraffin separation upstream of the MTBE unit to reduce olefin losses associated with the rejection of butanes. The location of the MTBE unit downstream of the adsorptive separation zone facilitates the essentially complete removal of isobutane from the process. Supplemental rejection of isobutane downstream of the adsorptive separation permits the use of low purity adsorptive separation zone and also allows the recovery of a high purity butene-1 product.
Logic and Syntax-A Personal Perspective

1. I When one talks about the connection between logic and language then the first thing that comes to mind is semantics. In fact, many distinguished logicians have concerned themselves quite intensively with the questions of meaning in natural languages, for examples Russell, Carnap, Church, and Montague. Their reflections have led to the development of Type Theory and Categorial Grammar. This is a rather fruitful area of research. Yet, there is another field of application of formal logic to language that has been sparked off by the trend in the 80ies to view grammars not as production devices but as theories about language — where the word 'theory' is used here in the logical sense. The exact meaning of this statement will become clear later on. One should say here that this view has been the result of a confluence of trends. One was the fact that transformational grammar was struggling to get rid of its plethora of transformations by trying to isolate a few abstract principles. The task of these principles is to constrain the transformations in such a way that all and only the 'natural' transformations would be allowed by the principles. This finally led to the elimination of all variety in the transformational kernel (there was only one transformation left, called Move–α). It was then only a small step to a purely descriptive theory of language, which has in that time been advocated by [ Koster, 1986 ]. Another trend that brought up the descriptive approach to grammars was the change from imperative programming languages to so–called logical programming languages, in particular P. Many linguists got persuaded that the best method of developing computer software for natural language manipulation (and here I mean for example analysis, generation and translation) was to use logical programming languages. The hope was that they would liberate the linguist from questions of program execution and allow to just develop a database that would contain simply the linguistic facts. So the linguist would be able to concentrate on the development of this database rather than worrying about lousy details of implementation. This led in turn to the creation of grammar formalisms that were highly reminiscent of the target implementation language. The peak of this development are  (Head Driven Phrase Structure Grammar) and  (Lexical Functional Grammar), both based on feature–value formalisms. It is interesting to note here that the pendulum has already …
Does Tree Architectural Complexity Influence the Accuracy of Wood Volume Estimates of Single Young Trees by Terrestrial Laser Scanning

Accurate estimates of the wood volume or biomass of individual trees have gained considerable importance in recent years. The accuracy of wood volume estimation by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) point cloud data may differ between individual trees due to species-specific differences in tree architecture. We selected three common and ecologically important central European deciduous tree species, which differ considerably in tree architectural complexity in early ontogenetic stages: Acer pseudoplatanus (simple), Sorbus aucuparia (intermediate) and Betula pendula (complex). We scanned six single young trees for each species (18 trees in total) under optimal scan conditions (single tree stand, leafless state, four scanning positions, high resolution). TLS-based volume estimates were derived for the total tree as well as for the two compartments; trunk and branches, using a voxel-based bounding box method. These estimates were compared with highly accurate xyolmetric (water displacement) volume measurements. Coefficients of determination between xylometric measurements and bounding box estimates were very high for total trees (R2adj = 0.99), trunks (R2adj = 0.99), and high for branches (R2adj = 0.78). The accuracy of estimations for total tree and trunk volume was highly similar among the three tree species. In contrast, significant differences were found for branch volume estimates: the accuracy was very high for Sorbus aucuparia, intermediate for Betula pendula, and low for Acer pseudoplatanus. A stepwise multiple regression showed that the accuracy of branch volume estimates was negatively related to the number of the first-order branches within diameter sizes of D ≤ 5 mm and crown surface area (R2adj = 0.61). We conclude that the accuracy in total tree and trunk volume estimates was not affected by the studied types of tree architectural complexity. The impact of the structural variability of branches and occlusion by branches was, thus, not as high as expected. In contrast, the accuracy of branch volume estimates was strongly influenced by tree architectural complexity, though not in a simple way. Because underestimations originated from different sources, the accuracy of branch volume estimates cannot be directly derived from the degree of architectural complexity. These results imply that the voxel-based bounding box method provides highly accurate total tree and trunk volume estimates, whereas further research is needed to improve branch volume estimation for young trees of different architectural types.
INDICATORS FOR CLUSTER SURVIVABILITY IN A DISPERSING CLOUD

We use N-body simulations to survey the response of embedded star clusters to the dispersal of their parent molecular cloud. The final stages of the clusters can be divided into three classes: the cluster (1) is destroyed, (2) has a loose structure, and (3) has a compact core. We are interested in three of the governing parameters of the parent cloud: (1) the mass, (2) the size, and (3) the dispersing rate. It is known that the final stage of the cluster is well correlated with the star formation efficiency (SFE) for systems with the same cluster and cloud profile. We deem that the SFE alone is not enough to address systems with clouds of different sizes. Our result shows that the initial cluster–cloud mass ratio at a certain Lagrangian radius and the initial kinetic energy are better indicators for the survivability of embedded clusters.
Attitudes toward Same-Sex Attraction and Behavior among Chinese University Students: Tendencies, Correlates, and Gender Differences

The present study examined Chinese university students’ attitudes toward same-sex attraction and behavior, the socio-demographic correlates of these attitudes, and the potential gender differences in both tendencies and correlates. A total of 2,644 Chinese university students (49.7% male, mean age = 20.27 years) indicated generally negative attitudes toward same-sex attraction and behavior, with males reporting more negative attitudes than females. More years in university (i.e., higher grade levels), higher levels of maternal education, growing up in an urban area, and more frequent Internet use significantly predicted more positive attitudes. Gender significantly moderated one correlate: For female participants, a higher university grade was related to more positive attitudes; this correlation was not significant for male participants. The findings suggest valuable directions for related intervention practices for young people in China.
The potential role of compensatory mitigation to seabird and turtle bycatch in fisheries

Chris Wilcox1, C. Josh Donlan2,3 and Sean Pascoe 1 CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, 7001, Tasmania, Australia 2 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Corson Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA. cjd34@cornell.edu 3 Advanced Conservation Strategies, P.O. Box 6819, Ithaca, NY 14851 USA 4 CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, 4163, Queensland, Australia
Analysis of the postnatal growth of visual cortex

Development and growth of V1 begins during embryogenesis and continues postnatally. The growth of V1 has direct implications on the organization of features such as the retinotopic map and the pattern of visual cortical columns. We have examined the postnatal growth and two-dimensional shape of V1 in macaque monkeys, cats, and rats. The perimeter, area, and anterior–posterior length of V1 were measured from unfolded and flattened sections from neonatal and adult animals from each of these species. Although there were substantial differences in the overall amount of postnatal growth, from 18% in macaque monkeys to more than 100% in cats, in all three species the shape of V1 did not change during development. Thus, growth of the mammalian visual cortex is well described as an isotropic expansion, so the layout of the global features, such as the arrangement of ocular dominance columns and the retinotopic map, does not need to change during development. Furthermore, quantification of the shape confirms the observations that there is a similar, egg-like oval shape to the visual cortex of these mammalian species.
Augmenting off-the-shelf paper maps using intersection detection and geographical information systems

This paper presents our recent research on augmented maps where unprepared paper maps are used and Geographic Information System serves both as reference database and augmentation data. We use road intersections to register paper map and GIS so several paper maps of the same city whatever their styles and colors can be augmented using the same reference database. We present a new road extraction method to get better road intersection for a quick initialization and a faster method to register maps and GIS. Different maps are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Liver fibrosis progression and clinical outcomes are intertwined: role of CD4+ T-cell count and NRTI exposure from a large cohort of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with detectable HCV-RNA

Introduction:Patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) suffer from faster progression of liver fibrosis (LF) and have greater risk of worse clinical outcomes. We evaluated predictors and incidence of these events in a large multicentre cohort. Methods:We selected all HIV-infected patients starting a first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), with detectable HCV-RNA, without exposure to interferon/ribavirin, with ≥2 fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) classifications before cART. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate incidence of clinical events (AIDS, non-AIDS related, deaths) and LF progression (via transitions: from FIB-4 class 1 to 2 or 3, from class 2 to class 3, and worsening by 0.5 point). Multivariate Cox regression was used to assess predictors, baseline, or time updated. Results:One thousand four hundred thirty-three patients were selected. Overall, 745 clinical events occurred, with an incidence of 7.6% over 9811 person-year of follow-up (PYFU) and a median survival time of 9.36 years. Incidence of LF progression from FIB-4 class 1 to 2 or 3 was 12.4%, and from FIB-4 class 2 to 3 was 7% with a median survival time of 5.67 and 10.35 years, respectively. At multivariate analyses, intravenous drug use and time-updated gamma-glutamyl transferase (&ggr;GT) were negative predictors for any outcomes, either clinical or FIB-4 progression. Higher CD4+ T-cell protected from clinical events, and lower HIV-RNA and higher CD4+ T-cell appeared to protect from FIB-4 transitions. Moreover, independently from the viro-immunological status, current FIB-4 class 3 predicted clinical events. Occurrence of AIDS and cardiovascular/kidney events were significant predictors of 0.5 point worsening and transitions of FIB-4, respectively. Prolonged exposure to nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) was a negative predictor for any outcomes. Conclusion:Both clinical and LF progression in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients depend strongly on immune status. Intravenous drug users and patients with high &ggr;GT (a possible proxy for alcohol abuse) are most-at-risk for both outcomes, as well those who had prolonged exposures to the NRTI class. Therefore, these patients should be prioritized for the access to anti-HCV therapy and a test-and-treat strategy should be implemented for early initiation of cART. Possible benefits of NRTI sparing regimens in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients should be investigated.
Inkjet printed ultra wideband spiral antenna using integrated balun on liquid crystal polymer (LCP)

In this paper, an ultra wideband spiral antenna with a planar, integrated balun is inkjet printed on liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate and operates successfully from 1 GHz up to 8 GHz. An exponentially tapered spiral microstrip balun is used for, the matching of the 130 Ω input impedance, the characteristic impedance (Z0) of 50 Ω, at the feed point. The equiangular spiral antenna is planar and low profile since a bulky balun is not required. Both the microstrip balun and the spiral arms are inkjet printed on LCP. The fabricated antenna covers a wideband frequency range (1~8GHz) that corresponds to L, S, and C bands.
Connected Domination and Spanning Trees with Many Leaves

Let G=(V,E) be a connected graph. A connected dominating set $S \subset V$ is a dominating set that induces a connected subgraph of G. The connected domination number of G, denoted $\gamma_c(G)$, is the minimum cardinality of a connected dominating set. Alternatively, $|V|-\gamma_c(G)$ is the maximum number of leaves in a spanning tree of $G$. Let $\delta$ denote the minimum degree of G. We prove that $\gamma_c(G) \leq |V| \frac{\ln(\delta+1)}{\delta+1}(1+o_\delta(1))$. Two algorithms that construct a set this good are presented. One is a sequential polynomial time algorithm, while the other is a randomized parallel algorithm in RNC.
NEURAL MODELLING OF ETHERNET TRAFFIC OVER ATM NETWORKS

The purpose of this paper is to present a method of modeling a superposition of individual Ethernet sources over an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network through neural networks. It is proposed the two-state MMPP model (Markov Modulated Poisson Process) to approximate the aggregated ATM traffic because of its simplicity and analytical tractability. The neural network is able to calculate the MMPP model of real Ethernet traffic over a 155 Mbps ATM network, avoiding, through this adaptive and real-time technique, complex analytic solutions. Besides, to match long-time dependence, it is studied the two-level MMPP model, that considers several time scales.
Complex Object Correspondence Construction in Two-Dimensional Animation

Correspondence construction of objects in key frames is the precondition for inbetweening and coloring in 2-D computer-assisted animation production. Since each frame of an animation consists of multiple layers, objects are complex in terms of shape and structure. Therefore, existing shape-matching algorithms specifically designed for simple structures such as a single closed contour cannot perform well on objects constructed by multiple contours with an open shape. This paper introduces a semisupervised patch alignment framework for complex object correspondence construction. In particular, the new framework constructs local patches for each point on an object and aligns these patches in a new feature space, in which correspondences between objects can be detected by the subsequent clustering. For local patch construction, pairwise constraints, which indicate the corresponding points (must link) or unfitting points (cannot link), are introduced by users to improve the performance of correspondence construction. This kind of input is convenient for animation software users via user-friendly interfaces. A dozen of experimental results on our cartoon data set that is built on industrial production suggest the effectiveness of the proposed framework for constructing correspondences of complex objects. As an extension of our framework, additional shape retrieval experiments on MPEG-7 data set show that its performance is comparable with that of a prominent algorithm published in T-PAMI 2009.