Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic query intent mining from a search log stream

It has long been recognized that search queries are often broad and ambiguous. Even when submitting the same query, different users may have different search intents. Moreover, the intents are dynamically evolving. Some intents are constantly popular with users, others are more bursty. We propose a method for mining dynamic query intents from search query logs. By regarding the query logs as a data stream, we identify constant intents while quickly capturing new bursty intents. To evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of our method, we conducted experiments using 50 topics from the NTCIR INTENT-9 data and additional five popular topics, all supplemented with six-month query logs from a commercial search engine. Our results show that our method can accurately capture new intents with short response time.
Fish pain: An inconvenient truth

: Whether fish feel pain is a hot political topic. The consequences of our denial are huge given the billions of fish that are slaughtered annually for human consumption. The economic costs of changing our commercial fishery harvest practices are also likely to be great. Key outlines a structure-function analogy of pain in humans, tries to force that template on the rest of the vertebrate kingdom, and fails. His target article has so far elicited 34 commentaries from scientific experts from a broad range of disciplines; only three of these support his position. The broad consensus from the scientific community is that fish most likely feel pain and it is time governments display courage enough to act.
A combined greedy-walk heuristic and simulated annealing approach for the closest string problem

The closest string problem (CSP) consists in finding a string t with minimum Hamming distance from the strings of a given finite input set. To overcome its NP-hardness, we propose a simulated annealing approach along with a new heuristic for finding a good initial solution for the problem, which allows one to speed up sensibly the convergence of the algorithm. To assess its effectiveness and robustness, we extensively compared our approach with the integer-programming (IP) exact solution, and with other heuristic approaches present in the literature, both on artificial and real instances. Experimental results show that our approach allows one to locate good solutions for the problem, that are close to the optimum found by the IP formulation and outperforms other heuristic methods for the CSP.
Time and frequency domain design of functional filters

This paper proposes both time and frequency domain design of functional filters for linear time-invariant multivariable systems where all measurements are affected by disturbances. The order of this filter is equal to the dimension of the vector to be estimated. The time procedure design is based on the unbiasedness of the filter using a Sylvester equation; then the problem is expressed in a singular system one and is solved via Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) to find the optimal gain implemented in the observer design. The frequency procedure design is derived from time domain results by defining some useful Matrix Fractions Descriptions (MFDs) and mainly, establishing the useful and equivalent form of the connecting relationship that parameterizes the dynamic behavior between time and frequency domain, given by Hippe in the reduced-order case. A numerical example is given to illustrate our approach.
Black Tungsten Nitride as a Metallic Photocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting Operable at up to 765 nm.

Semiconductor photocatalysts are hardly employed for overall water splitting beyond 700 nm, which is due to both thermodynamic aspects and activation barriers. Metallic materials as photocatalysts are known to overcome this limitation through interband transitions for creating electron-hole pairs; however, the application of metallic photocatalysts for overall water splitting has never been fulfilled. Black tungsten nitride is now employed as a metallic photocatalyst for overall water splitting at wavelengths of up to 765 nm. Experimental and theoretical results together confirm that metallic properties play a substantial role in exhibiting photocatalytic activity under red-light irradiation for tungsten nitride. This work represents the first red-light responsive photocatalyst for overall water splitting, and may open a promising venue in searching of metallic materials as efficient photocatalysts for solar energy utilization.
Identification and Characterization of Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting DMPK in Mice and Nonhuman Primates for the Treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults. DM1 is caused by an expanded CTG repeat in the 3′-untranslated region of DMPK, the gene encoding dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK). Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) containing 2′,4′-constrained ethyl-modified (cEt) residues exhibit a significantly increased RNA binding affinity and in vivo potency relative to those modified with other 2′-chemistries, which we speculated could translate to enhanced activity in extrahepatic tissues, such as muscle. Here, we describe the design and characterization of a cEt gapmer DMPK ASO (ISIS 486178), with potent activity in vitro and in vivo against mouse, monkey, and human DMPK. Systemic delivery of unformulated ISIS 486718 to wild-type mice decreased DMPK mRNA levels by up to 90% in liver and skeletal muscle. Similarly, treatment of either human DMPK transgenic mice or cynomolgus monkeys with ISIS 486178 led to up to 70% inhibition of DMPK in multiple skeletal muscles and ∼50% in cardiac muscle in both species. Importantly, inhibition of DMPK was well tolerated and was not associated with any skeletal muscle or cardiac toxicity. Also interesting was the demonstration that the inhibition of DMPK mRNA levels in muscle was maintained for up to 16 and 13 weeks post-treatment in mice and monkeys, respectively. These results demonstrate that cEt-modified ASOs show potent activity in skeletal muscle, and that this attractive therapeutic approach warrants further clinical investigation to inhibit the gain-of-function toxic RNA underlying the pathogenesis of DM1.
Nest-Building Behavior by the Amphipod Peramphithoe femorata (Krøyer) on the Kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (Linnaeus) C. Agardh From Northern-Central Chile

Many small arthropod herbivores from terrestrial and marine environments construct tubicolous nest-like domiciles on their host plants or algae by rolling up selected portions of the leaf or blade. Nests serve as both shelter and food, which results in conflicting needs for the grazers because feeding activity continuously destroys parts of the nests. While the nesting habit of ampithoid amphipods and other peracarid crustaceans is widely known, very little is known about the nest dynamics and how the conflict between shelter and food requirements is resolved. Herein we examined the nest-building behavior and nest occupancy of the kelp-dwelling amphipod Peramphithoe femorata on the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. Domiciles on the distal-most part of the blades were occupied by amphipods and were steadily advanced toward the blade base. Since the blades grow from a basal growth meristem, blades and nests develop in opposite directions. Thus, the amphipods exploit the kelp growth pattern to maintain their nests in the medium-distal part of the blades. During a 2-week-long experiment, we observed that blade elongation equaled nest advancement during the first 8 days after nest construction. Thereafter, blade growth slowed down and was surpassed by nest advancement rates, possibly forcing amphipods to seek out new blades. Nest occupancy was generally short (1–4 days), but some amphipods resided longer (>4 days) in their nests. The sophisticated nest-building behavior of P. femorata and other ampithoids maximizes nest persistence, offers optimal protection against predators, and promotes feeding on nutritive or, alternatively, on less defended tissues.
Spectral Efficiency of Channel-Aware Schedulers in Non-Identical Composite Links with Interference

Accurate system planning and performance evaluation requires knowledge of the joint impact of scheduling, interference, and fading. However, current analyses either require costly numerical simulations or make simplifying assumptions that limit the applicability of the results. In this paper, we derive analytical expressions for the spectral efficiency of cellular systems that use either the channel-unaware but fair round robin scheduler or the greedy, channel-aware but unfair maximum signal to interference ratio scheduler. As is the case in real deployments, non-identical co-channel interference at each user, both Rayleigh fading and lognormal shadowing, and limited modulation constellation sizes are accounted for in the analysis. We show that using a simple moment generating function-based lognormal approximation technique and an accurate Gaussian-Q function approximation leads to results that match simulations well. These results are more accurate than erstwhile results that instead used the moment-matching Fenton-Wilkinson approximation method and bounds on the Q function. The spectral efficiency of cellular systems is strongly influenced by the channel scheduler and the small constellation size that is typically used in third generation cellular systems.
Universal Communication over Modulo-additive Channels with an Individual Noise Sequence

Which communication rates can be attained over an unknown channel where the relation between the input and output can be arbitrary? A channel where the output is any arbitrary (possibly stochastic) function of the input that may vary arbitrarily in time with no a-priori model? In this paper we provide an operational definition of a “capacity” (the maximal possible rate) for such an arbitrary infinite vector channel, which is similar in spirit to the finite-state compressibility of a sequence defined by Lempel and Ziv. This capacity is the highest rate achieved by a designer that knows the particular relation that indeed exists between input and output for all times, yet is constrained to use a fixed finite-length block communication scheme (i.e., use the same scheme over each block). In the case where the relation between input and output is constrained to be “modulo additive” that is the channel generates the output sequence by adding (modulo the channel alphabet) an arbitrary individual sequence to the input sequence, this capacity is upper bounded by 1 minus the finite state compressibilty of the noise sequence, multiplied by the logarithm of the alphabet size. We present a communication scheme with feedback that attains this rate universally without prior knowledge of the noise sequence.
Recognize and separate approach for speech denoising using nonnegative matrix factorization

This paper proposes a novel approach for denoising single-channel noisy speech signals. A speech dictionary and multiple noise dictionaries are trained using nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF). After observing the mixed signal, first the type of noise in the mixed signal is identified. The magnitude spectrogram of the noisy signal is decomposed using NMF with the concatenated trained dictionaries of noise and speech. Our results indicate that recognizing the noise type from the mixed signal and using the corresponding specific noise dictionary provides better results than using a general noise dictionary in the NMF approach. We also compare our algorithm with other state-of-the-art denoising methods and show that it has better performance than the competitors in most cases.
Awareness ofHmong Religious Practices and Rituals In Regards to Counseling Hmong Students

This literature review is the final product required for the Guidance and Counseling Masters program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The following three chapters will include a qualitative review of the literature on traditional Hmong and Hmong Christians, Hmong religions (specifically animism/ancestral worship and Christianity), how these religions impact the Hmong culture, and ways to counsel Hmong students in both religions. This qualitative review provides information about the Hmong peoples' history, and it promotes an understanding of Hmong religion, Hmong culture, and how to counsel Hmong students in both religions. Such an understanding will help build an awareness of religions the Hmong practice and what techniques and tools are important to properly counsel Hmong students. This review will also address the differences and similarities of the two dominating religions and how the Hmong have incorporated it into their lives. Overall,
Income Shocks and Investments in Human Capital

I find that (1) families only partially insure against income shocks, but expenditures in education of children respond less to shocks than household consumption, as parents try to shield them against shocks because investments may be complements across children's life-cycle; (2) income elasticity of investments in terms of time is larger in families with young children than in families where there are only school-age children, because at early ages there is a larger substitutability between different uses of time; and (3) better off families use savings to buffer against shocks whereas poor families resort on public transfers.
Marginal healing using Polyetheretherketone as healing abutments: an experimental study in dogs

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the marginal soft and hard tissue healing at titanium and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) healing implant abutments over a 4-month period. MATERIAL AND METHODS In six Labrador dogs, all mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted. After 4 months of healing, flaps were elevated, and two implants were installed at each side of the mandible, one in the premolar and the other in the molar regions. Four different types of healing abutments were positioned on the top of each implant: (i) titanium (Ti); (ii) PEEK material bonded to a base made of titanium (Ti-P), randomly positioned in the premolar region; (iii) PEEK, pristine (P); and (iv) PEEK, roughened (P-R), randomly positioned in the molar region. The flaps were sutured to allow a non-submerged healing, and after 4 months, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections obtained for histological evaluation. RESULTS A higher resorption of the buccal bone crest was observed at the PEEK bonded to a base made of titanium abutments (1.0 ± 0.3 mm) compared to those made of titanium (0.3 ± 0.4 mm). However, similar dimensions of the peri-implant mucosa and similar locations of the soft tissues in relation to the implant shoulder were observed. No statistically significant differences were seen in the outcomes when the pristine PEEK was compared with the roughened PEEK abutments. The mean apical extension of the junctional epithelium did not exceed the implant shoulder at any of the abutment types used. CONCLUSIONS The coronal level of the hard and soft tissues allows the conclusion that the use of PEEK as healing abutments may be indicated.
The Function of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) Is Independent of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein OS-9

The protein “amplified in osteosarcoma-9” (OS-9) has been shown previously to interact with the prolyl hydroxylases PHD2 and PHD3. These enzymes initiate oxygen-dependent degradation of the α-subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), a transcription factor that adapts cells to insufficient oxygen supply (hypoxia). A new model has been proposed where OS-9 triggers PHD dependent degradation of HIF-α. It was the aim of our study to define the molecular mode of action of OS-9 in the regulation of PHD and HIF activity. Although initial co-immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed physical interaction between OS-9 and PHD2, neither overexpression nor lentiviral inhibition of OS-9 expression affected HIF regulation. Subcellular localization experiments revealed a distinct reticular staining pattern for OS-9 while PHD2 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Further cell fractionation experiments and glycosylation tests indicated that OS-9 is a luminal ER protein. In vivo protein interaction analysis by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) showed no significant physical interaction of overexpressed PHD2-CFP and OS-9-YFP. We conclude that OS-9 plays no direct functional role in HIF degradation since physical interaction of OS-9 with oxygen sensing HIF prolyl hydroxylases cannot occur in vivo due to their different subcellular localization.
Low-Cost Depth Camera Pose Tracking for Mobile Platforms

The KinectFusion algorithm is now used routinely to reconstruct dense 3D surfaces at real-time frame rates using a commodity depth camera. To achieve robust pose estimation, the method conducts the frame-to-model tracking during camera tracking that must inevitably accompany the memory-bound, GPU-assisted volumetric computations for the model manipulation, to which mobile processors are often more vulnerable than PC-based processors. In this paper, we present an effective camera-tracking method that is based on the computationally lighter frame-to-frame tracking method. This method's tendency toward rapid accumulation of pose estimation errors is suppressed effectively via a predictor—corrector technique. By removing the costly volumetric computations from the pose estimation process, our camera tracking system becomes more efficient in terms of both time and space complexity, offering a compact implementation of depth sensor-based camera tracking on low-end platforms such as mobile devices in addition to high-end PCs.
Design of a hyper-flexible assembly robot using artificial muscles

The paper presents the design of a hyper flexible robot, actuated by artificial muscles, based on the requirements of industrial assembly. The design process is inspired by biological examples and leads to a high-segmented kinematic structure with redundant degrees of freedom in order to increase the maneuverability of the robot. The actuators are arranged according to the agonist-antagonist principle of biological muscles to ensure the symmetric double sided deflection of the joints at each segment. Another advantage of the structure is the modular design. The mechanism is extendable by a simple, uniform mechanical interface. This contribution focuses on the mechanical structure, the kinematic behavior and the benefits of the chosen actuation principle in order to show the functionality of the robot. The prototype has six segments with twelve degrees of freedom, qualified by the corresponding number of actuators and their arrangement according to the mechanical structure. The endeffector has four coupled degrees of freedom, three translational and one rotational.
Membrane Tethering Complexes in the Endosomal System

Vesicles that are generated by endocytic events at the plasma membrane are destined to early endosomes. A prerequisite for proper fusion is the tethering of two membrane entities. Tethering of vesicles to early endosomes is mediated by the class C core vacuole/endosome tethering (CORVET) complex, while fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes depends on the homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting (HOPS) complex. Recycling through the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and to the plasma membrane is facilitated by the Golgi associated retrograde protein (GARP) and endosome-associated recycling protein (EARP) complexes, respectively. However, there are other tethering functions in the endosomal system as there are multiple pathways through which proteins can be delivered from endosomes to either the TGN or the plasma membrane. Furthermore, proteins that may be part of novel tethering complexes have been recently identified. Thus, it is likely that more tethering factors exist. In this review, I will provide an overview of different tethering complexes of the endosomal system and discuss how they may provide specificity in membrane traffic.
Effects of Resistance Training on Muscular Strength and Functional Abilities of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

This study examined the efficacy of a progressive resistance exercise program, using equal concentric/eccentric (CE) or greater eccentric/concentric (GE) workloads, for increasing strength and improving functional abilities of community-dwelling older adults. Sixty men and women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: CE, GE, or control. All strength testing and training took place on six Lifecircuit machines. Functional tests included a bas carry, weighted stair climb, shelf task 1-RM, and static balance. Significant interactions in strength tests were noted for the chest, back, and shoulder exercises. GE improved in shoulder strength more than CE and control For functional measures, all weight trainers were grouped and compared to controls. A significant interaction occurred for the stair climb and balance with the exercise groups decreasing stair climb time by 11% and increasing balance time by 26%. Relative improvements by weight trainers of 12% for the shelf task and 7% for the bag carry were .
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (Glu298Asp) and acute pulmonary hypertension post cardiopulmonary bypass in children with congenital cardiac diseases

Abstract Background Intra-cardiac repair of congenital cardiac diseases in children with left–right shunt is often associated with acute elevation of pulmonary artery pressure following cardiopulmonary bypass. We studied the correlation between the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital cardiac diseases. Methods and results A total of 80 children with congenital cardiac diseases at a median age of 3.8 years, ranged 0.1–36.2 years, and 136 controls were enrolled. Most patients presented with significant left-to-right shunt – pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow of 2.8, with a range from 0.6 to 7.5. In all, 40 out of 80 children showed pulmonary hypertension with mean pressure of 42, ranged 26–82, millimetres of mercury. Thirty-one out of 40 children underwent intra-cardiac repair and 15 out of 31 operated patients were found to have an acute elevation of pulmonary artery pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass. The Glu298Asp polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Both in patients and in controls, the genotype distribution corresponded to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The gene frequency for Glu298Glu, Glu298Asp and Asp298Asp was not different in the control group compared to the patients (Armitage trend test: p = 0.37). The endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism was related to acute post-operative elevation of pulmonary artery pressure (genotypic frequency 53.3 versus 25%; Armitage trend test: p = 0.038). In addition, the allelic frequency of the Glu298Asp was related to post-operative pulmonary hypertension (Fischer’s exact test: p = 0.048). The positive predictive value was 71.43%. Conclusion Patients with left-to-right shunt are more likely to develop acute elevation of pulmonary artery pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass when presenting with the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the gene endothelial nitric oxide synthase. This could be used as a genetic marker for the predisposition for the development of pulmonary hypertension after intra-cardiac repair.