Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning From Summaries: Supporting e-Learning Activities by Means of Document Summarization

e-Learning platforms allow users with different skills to explore large collections of electronic documents and annotate them with notes and highlights. Generating summaries of these document collections is potentially useful for gaining insights into teaching materials. However, most existing summarizers are general purpose. Thus, they do not consider neither annotations nor user skills during the document summarization process. This paper studies the application of a state-of-the-art summarization system, namely, the itemset-based summarizer (ItemSum), in an e-learning context. The summarizer produces an ordered sequence of key phrases extracted from a teaching document. The aim of this paper is threefold: 1) evaluate the usefulness of the generated summaries for supporting individual and collective learning activities in a real context; 2) understand to what extent document highlights, annotations, and user skill levels can be used to drive the summarization process; and 3) generate multiple summaries of the same document tailored to users with different skill levels. To accomplish task 1), a crowd-sourcing experience of evaluation of the generated summaries was conducted by involving the students of a B.S. course given by a technical university. The results show that the automatically generated summaries reflect, to a large extent, the students' expectations. Hence, they can be useful for supporting learning activities in university-level computer science courses. To address task 2), three extended versions of the ItemSum summarizer, driven by highlights, annotations, and user skill levels, respectively, have been proposed, and their performance improvements with respect to the baseline version have been validated on benchmark documents. Finally, to accomplish task 3), multiple summaries of the same benchmark documents have been generated by considering only the annotations made by the users with a different skill level. The results confirm that the summary content reflects the level of expertise of the targeted users.
Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2): A Novel and Promising Biomarker for Cardiovascular Risks Assessment

Atherosclerosis and its manifestations namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although intensified interventions have been applied, the residual cardiovascular (CV) risks are still very high. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a novel and unique biomarker highly specific for vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Both pro-atherogenic property of Lp-PLA2 and positive correlation with CV events have already been demonstrated by a large number of scientific and clinical studies. Currently, in the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) guideline, Lp-PLA2 has been recommended as an adjunct to traditional risk factors in assessing future CV risks. Encouragingly, darapladib, an orally Lp-PLA2 specific inhibitor, has been tested in basic research and preclinical trials and the outcomes are quite striking. Additionally, there are two phase III ongoing clinical trials in evaluating the efficacy and safety of darapladib on cardiovascular outcomes. With regard to the potential values of Lp-PLA2 in risk stratification, therapeutic regimen establishment and prognosis evaluation in patients with moderate or high risk, our present review is going to summarize the relevant data about the bio-chemical characteristics of Lp-PLA2, the actions of Lp-PLA2 on atherosclerosis and the results of Lp-PLA2 in scientific research and clinical studies.
X-Ray Luminosity and Absorption Column Fluctuations in the H2O Maser Galaxy NGC 4258 from Weeks to Years

We report monitoring of the 0.3-10 keV spectrum of NGC 4258 with the XMM-Newton Observatory at five epochs over 1.5 yr. We also report reprocessing of an overlapping four-epoch series of archival Chandra observations (0.5-10 keV). By including earlier ASCA and BeppoSAX observations, we present a new, 9 year time series of models fitted to the X-ray spectrum of NGC 4258. We model the Chandra and XMM-Newton data self-consistently with partially absorbed, hard power-law, soft thermal plasma, and soft power-law components. Over the 9 years, the photoelectric absorbing column (~1023 cm-2) did not vary detectably, except for a ~40% drop between two ASCA epochs separated by 3 years (in 1993 and 1996) and a ~60% rise between two XMM-Newton epochs separated by just 5 months (in 2001 and 2002). In contrast, factor of 2-3 changes are seen in absorbed flux on the timescale of years. These are uncorrelated with changes in absorbing column and indicative of central engine variability. The most rapid change in luminosity (5-10 keV) that we detect (with XMM-Newton and Chandra) is ~30% over 19 days. The warped disk, a known source of H2O maser emission in NGC 4258, is believed to cross the line of sight to the central engine. We propose that the variations in absorbing column arise from inhomogeneities sweeping across the line of sight in the rotating disk at the radius at which the disk crosses the line of sight. We estimate that the inhomogeneities are ~1015 cm in size at the crossing radius of 0.29 pc, slightly smaller than the expected scale height of the disk. This result thus provides strong evidence that the warped accretion disk is the absorber in this (and possibly other) active galactic nuclei (AGNs). This is the first direct confirmation that obscuration in type 2 AGNs may, in some cases, arise in thin, warped accretion disks rather than in geometrically thick tori. Some previous studies report detection of weak Fe Kα emission in NGC 4258. We do not detect this line emission in any of our XMM-Newton spectra with a 90% upper limit to the equivalent width of ~49 eV for one observation. Weak, time-variable Fe line absorption has also been reported for a previous Chandra study. We do not observe evidence of absorption lines in the XMM-Newton or reprocessed Chandra data. The absence of Fe line emission is consistent with the disk being optically thin to hard photons, as well as subtending a small solid angle as seen from the central engine because of the known shallowness of the warp.
Mining for unexpected sequential patterns given a Markov model

Large databases are now available and many works offer to mine for the information within. Nevertheless, extracting interesting sites from biological sequential databases remains a challenging task, as they are known to occur with errors. Sequential patterns, by their flexible structure, enable to overcome this problem. However, those patterns are usually numerous while many of them are not relevant. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new approach to mine for statistically significant sequential patterns. It extracts fewer patterns than more traditional approaches. Experiments show that such sequential patterns are pertinent for biological databases.
Informed Single-Channel Speech Separation Using HMM–GMM User-Generated Exemplar Source

We present a new approach for solving the single channel speech separation with the aid of an user-generated exemplar source that is recorded from a microphone. Our method deviates from the conventional model-based methods, which highly rely on speaker dependent training data. We readdress the problem by offering a new approach based on utterance dependent patterns extracted from the user-generated exemplar source. Our proposed approach is less restrictive, and does not require speaker dependent information and yet exceeds the performance of conventional model-based separation methods in separating male and male speech mixtures. We combine general speaker-independent (SI) features with specifically generated utterance-dependent (UD) features in a joint probability model. The UD features are initially extracted from the user-generated exemplar source and represented as statistical estimates. These estimates are calibrated based on information extracted from the mixture source to statistically represent the target source. The UD probability model is subsequently generated to target problems of ambiguity and to offer better cues for separation. The proposed algorithm is tested and compared with recent method using the GRID database and the Mocha-TIMIT database.
Optimal convergence of on-line backpropagation

Many researchers are quite skeptical about the actual behavior of neural network learning algorithms like backpropagation. One of the major problems is with the lack of clear theoretical results on optimal convergence, particularly for pattern mode algorithms. In this paper, we prove the companion of Rosenblatt's PC (perceptron convergence) theorem for feedforward networks (1960), stating that pattern mode backpropagation converges to an optimal solution for linearly separable patterns.
Expression and release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by explants of mouse cornea.

PURPOSE To elucidate a possible target of immunosuppressive agents widely used in the treatment of corneal disorders, the authors determined whether corneal cells are capable of expressing and releasing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, and they investigated whether TNF alpha production can be modulated by pharmacologic agents. METHODS Trephined central corneas from C57BL/6 mice were kept in culture for 3 days. Release of TNF alpha after a 24-hour stimulation with LPS (1 microgram/ml) into the culture medium was determined both by bioassay and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of TNF alpha mRNA after 6-hour stimulation was examined by polymerase chain reaction. Immunofluorescent staining on cryostat sections of cultured corneas was performed to localize TNF alpha in the tissue. Corneal explants were pretreated with immunosuppressive agents (prednisolone, budesonide, cyclosporin A) for 48 hours, followed by 6-or 24-hour stimulation with LPS in the continuous presence of the agents. RESULTS Lipopolysaccharide stimulated TNF alpha release into the culture medium. The addition of budesonide (10(-7) M) or prednisolone (10(-6) M) significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF alpha release, whereas cyclosporin A (10(-7) - 10(-5) M) had no marked effect. Levels of TNF alpha mRNA in corneal explants increased fivefold after stimulation with LPS. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that TNF alpha was expressed in the epithelial cells. Budesonide markedly decreased mRNA expression and abolished immunostaining of TNF alpha stimulated by LPS. CONCLUSIONS TNF alpha is produced and released by the epithelial cells of mouse central cornea in response to LPS. Contrary to cyclosporin A, corticosteroids such as prednisolone and budesonide potently inhibit TNF alpha production.
Conflicts of interest and incentives to bias: A microeconomic critique of Google’s tangled position on the Web

Media scholars have studied and critiqued search engines – and in particular the dominant commercial actor, Google – for over a decade. Several conceptual and methodological problems, such as a lack of technological transparency, have made a detailed analysis of concrete power relations and their effects difficult. This paper argues that a microeconomic approach can aid media scholars in examining the complex interactions that underpin the dynamics of information visibility unfolding around the Google search engine. Using the concept of a ‘three-sided market’, we characterize the business model built around google.com as the foundation of the company’s success. We then argue that the combination of search and advertising services, and in particular advertising network services, creates powerful incentives to orient the results page in self-serving ways, leading to fundamental conflicts of interest exacerbated by Google’s dominant position in both markets. Based on search engines’ mass media-like capacity to shape public discourse, we consider the identification of economic forces both as a prerequisite for a robust critique of the current situation and as a starting point for thinking about regulatory measures.
Approaching the Outage Probability of the Amplify-and-Forward Relay Fading Channel

We study coding techniques for the single-relay non-orthogonal amplify-and-forward half-duplex relay fading channel. Unlike the multiple-antenna case, we show that 2times2 rotations induce large gains in outage probability with no increase in decoding complexity under iterative probabilistic decoding. We compare rotated and unrotated turbo-coded schemes and show that they both perform close to their corresponding outage limits.
Effect of the Program BETA - PUCV on the prosocial conduct and the social responsibility of his participants: An analysis with discontinuity regression modeling

This article presents the results obtained in the investigation developed with students of high capacities who have participated for three years in the program of extracurricular formation named BETA-PUCV. It intends to know the impact of this intervention on their prosocial conduct. In order to do so, students were subjected to two tests which results were analyzed through the application of the regression discontinuity model, not achieving to establish the presence of prosocial behavior (CPS) and of social responsibility (RS) different from those of students of similar talent who do not take part of this program.
c-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides enhance the efficacy of cisplatin in melanoma chemotherapy in vitro and in nude mice.

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of a new antimelanoma therapeutic strategy that relies on the use of a c-myc antisense 15-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide ([S]ODN), in combination with cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum; DDP), which is currently used in the clinical management of melanoma patients. Proliferation and colony formation of melanoma cells were both inhibited by the DDP/c-myc antisense [S]ODN combination to a greater extent than that observed with either agent alone. Inhibition was most effective when DDP was followed by c-myc antisense [S]ODNs. Cell cycle flow cytometric analysis of cells exposed to the two agents either alone or in combination demonstrated that (a) c-myc antisense [S]ODNs induced an accumulation of cells in S phase and apoptosis in a fraction of the cells, detectable at day 5 after the beginning of treatment; (b) DDP induced a block in G2-M phase detectable at day 1, which was partially recovered, and apoptosis similar in extent to that induced by c-myc antisense [S]ODNs; and (c) DDP and c-myc antisense [S]ODNs together induced arrest in G2-M phase, which was maximum at day 3, i.e., delayed as compared to the block induced by DDP. The combination induced a higher percentage of apoptosis, evident at day 3 from the start of treatment, that correlated with a marked reduction in Bcl-2 expression. Mice bearing human melanoma xenografts and treated sequentially with DDP and c-myc antisense [S]ODNs showed a higher inhibition of tumor growth, reduction in the number of lung metastases, and increase in life span compared with those treated with either agent alone. Together, these data lend support to the development of anticancer therapies involving oncogene-targeted antisense ODNs and conventional antineoplastic drugs.
Focal Ischemia Causes an Extensive Induction of Immediate Early Genes That Are Sensitive to MK‐801

There is strong evidence to implicate glutamate in the cerebral damage caused by ischemia. In this study we investigated the role of glutamate receptors in mediating effects of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on immediate early gene expression in the rat by quantitation of mRNA levels. Methods The effect of MCAO on the induction of immediate early genes was studied in five regions, both ipsilateral and contralateral to the occlusion: the “core” ischemic area of the cortex in the central region of the middle cerebral artery territory, the surrounding area, frontal cortex, occipital cortex, and hippocampus. Levels of c-fos, c-jun, zif-268, and krox-20 mRNA were measured by Northern and slot blot analysis. Results A large induction of c-fos mRNA was obtained in all four cortical regions ipsilateral to the occlusion, with the greatest effect detected in the core area. Little effect was detected in the ipsilateral hippocampus and in all contralateral regions. Pretreatment with MK-801 (3 mg/kg) largely inhibited the induction of c-fos mRNA, indicating that the induction was mediated through an N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor. MCAO also produced a significant induction of c-jun and zif-268 mRNA in ipsilateral cortical regions. Conclusions These results indicate that MCAO causes a profound modulation of the expression of multiple genes in an extensive area of cerebral cortex extending beyond the immediate area supplied by the middle cerebral artery. The marked effect of MK-801 indicates the potential importance of glutamate antagonists in restricting the widespread deleterious effects of glutamate.
Structure Extracting and Matching Based on Similarity-Pictorial Structure Model for Microscopic Images

An improved pictorial structure method (PS) is presented in this paper for structure detecting and matching in microscopic images of the micro structure fabricated using micro-fabrication technology. The obtained structure information of the micro objects is important for the following 3d visual calculation process. Although PS method can extract and match features successfully by evaluating the appearance and shape under slightly varying illumination, while the microscopic images are taken under considerable varying illumination, appearance description of traditional PS model performs poor for our application. In this paper, self-similarity descriptors were used for features extracting and appearance describing for images of micro objects under large changed illumination. The special local features on the micro objects ensure the feasibility of self-similarity method. In the proposed method, the self-similarity descriptors of patches which reflect the information of local object structure are extracted. At the same time, the geometric relationship among patches is modeled by PS. By using our Similarity-Pictorial Structure method (combination of local self-similarity descriptors and pictorial structure model), the structure of object can be extracted and matched exactly. Finally, contrast experiments between PS method and our method for structure extracting and matching on object structure in microscopic images of MEMS components under large changed illumination are presented. Experiment results show the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Further Torture: More Testing of Backup and Archive Programs

Every system administrator depends on some set of programs for making secondary copies of data, as backups for disaster recovery or as archives for long term storage. These programs, like all other programs, have bugs. The important thing for system administrators to know is where those bugs are.Some years ago I did testing on backup and archive programs, and found that failures were extremely common and that the documented limitations of programs did not match their actual limitations. Curious to see how the situation had changed, I put together a new set of tests, and found that programs had improved significantly, but that undocumented failures were still common.In the previous tests, almost every program crashed outright at some point, and dump significantly out-performed all other contenders. In addition, many programs other than the backup and archive programs failed catastrophically (most notably fsck on many platforms, and the kernel on one platform). Few programs other than dump backed up devices, making them incapable of backing up and restoring a functional operating system. In the new tests, crashes are rare, and more programs function as backups of entire systems, but failures in backup and archive programs are still widespread, and dump is not inherently more reliable than other programs.
Comparison of image compression techniques using huffman coding, DWT and fractal algorithm

Image compression is one of the advantageous techniques in different types of multi-media services. Image Compression technique have been emerged as one of the most important and successful applications in image analysis. In this paper the proposal of image compression using simple coding techniques called Huffman; Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) coding and fractal algorithm is done. These techniques are simple in implementation and utilize less memory. Huffman coding technique involves in reducing the redundant data in input images. DWT can be able to improve the quality of compressed image. Fractal algorithm involves encoding process and gives better compression ratio. By using the above algorithms the calculation of Peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), Mean Square error (MSE) and compression ratio (CR) and Bits per pixel (BPP) of the compressed image by giving 512×512 input images and also the comparison of performance analysis of the parameters with that above algorithms is done. The result clearly explains that Fractal algorithm provides better Compression ratio (CR) and Peak Signal to noise ratio (PSNR).
Adaptive Noise Reduction Method for Chaotic Signals Using Dual-Lifting Wavelet Transform

Based on different features between chaotic signals and Gaussian noises, an adaptive noise reduction method is proposed using dual-lifting wavelet transform. The proposed method has two major steps: the estimation of approximation signals and the adaptive choice of detail coefficients. The former is handled by singular spectrum analysis, whereas the latter is analyzed combining with gradient decent algorithm in neural networks. The chaotic signals generated by Lorenz model as well as the observed monthly series of sunspots are respectively applied for simulation analysis, the experimental results show that the performance of the proposed method is superior to that of other methods.
Haglund’s Syndrome: A Commonly Seen Mysterious Condition

Haglund’s deformity was first described by Patrick Haglund in 1927. It is also known as retrocalcaneal exostosis, Mulholland deformity, and ‘pump bump. ' It is a very common clinical condition, but still poorly understood. Haglund’s deformity is an abnormality of the bone and soft tissues in the foot. An enlargement of the bony section of the heel (where the Achilles tendon is inserted) triggers this condition. The soft tissue near the back of the heel can become irritated when the large, bony lump rubs against rigid shoes. The aetiology is not well known, but some probable causes like a tight Achilles tendon, a high arch of the foot, and heredity have been suggested as causes. Middle age is the most common age of affection, females are more affected than males, and the occurence is often bilateral. A clinical feature of this condition is pain in the back of the heel, which is more after rest. Clinical evaluation and lateral radiographs of the ankle are mostly enough to make a diagnosis of Haglund’s syndrome. Haglund’s syndrome is often treated conservatively by altering the heel height in shoe wear, orthosis, physiotherapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Surgical excision of the bony exostoses of the calcaneum is only required in resistant cases.