Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved Recommendation of Photo-Taking Locations using Virtual Ratings

We consider the task of collaborative recommendation of photo-taking locations. We use datasets of geotagged photos. We map their locations to a location grid using a geohashing algorithm, resulting in a user × location implicit feedback matrix. Our improvements relative to previous work are twofold. First, we create virtual ratings by spreading users’ preferences to neighbouring grid locations. This makes the assumption that users have some preference for locations close to the ones in which they take their photos. These virtual ratings help overcome the discrete nature of the geohashing. Second, we normalize the implicit frequency-based ratings to a 1-5 scale using a method that has been found to be useful in music recommendation algorithms. We demonstrate the advantages of our approach with new experiments that show large increases in hit rate and related metrics.
Sentiment Analysis for the Greek Language

In recent years, the rapid development of technology has invaded dynamically in all areas of human activity by facilitating communication, information and interaction between people worldwide through Internet use. Internet users are no longer passive recipients of information, but new information data creators expressing ideas, opinions, feelings or their views on a service-product. Taking into account the evolution and use of mobile devices and the proliferation of wireless networks, the timely and widespread use of social networks and services satisfying the above uses are understandable. In this paper, we present an approach to analyze textual data in Greek language and extract meaningful information regarding the writer's opinion. More specifically, we present a supervised approach which classifies user generated comments into the proper polarity category. An extensive experimental study was conducted in the context of users' attitudes and opinions on e-lectures that they attended. The results were very promising, indicating that the approach was accurate and able to correctly classify opinions into the proper category.
Folding in and out: passive morphing in flapping wings

We present a new mechanism for passive wing morphing of flapping wings inspired by bat and bird wing morphology. The mechanism consists of an unactuated hand wing connected to the arm wing with a wrist joint. Flapping motion generates centrifugal accelerations in the hand wing, forcing it to unfold passively. Using a robotic model in hover, we made kinematic measurements of unfolding kinematics as functions of the non-dimensional wingspan fold ratio (2–2.5) and flapping frequency (5–17 Hz) using stereo high-speed cameras. We find that the wings unfold passively within one to two flaps and remain unfolded with only small amplitude oscillations. To better understand the passive dynamics, we constructed a computer model of the unfolding process based on rigid body dynamics, contact models, and aerodynamic correlations. This model predicts the measured passive unfolding within about one flap and shows that unfolding is driven by centrifugal acceleration induced by flapping. The simulations also predict that relative unfolding time only weakly depends on flapping frequency and can be reduced to less than half a wingbeat by increasing flapping amplitude. Subsequent dimensional analysis shows that the time required to unfold passively is of the same order of magnitude as the flapping period. This suggests that centrifugal acceleration can drive passive unfolding within approximately one wingbeat in small and large wings. Finally, we show experimentally that passive unfolding wings can withstand impact with a branch, by first folding and then unfolding passively. This mechanism enables flapping robots to squeeze through clutter without sophisticated control. Passive unfolding also provides a new avenue in morphing wing design that makes future flapping morphing wings possibly more energy efficient and light-weight. Simultaneously these results point to possible inertia driven, and therefore metabolically efficient, control strategies in bats and birds to morph or recover within a beat.
A growth-modifying factor from cell lines of human malignant origin.

[CANCERRESEARCH30,2847â€”2851,December1970]MATERIALSANDMETHODSTheestablishedhumancelllinesusedinthisstudyincludedtheKBline,derivedfromahumannasopharyngealcarcinoma;theCMPline,originating fromanadenocarcinoma ofthecolon;andHeLa,acervicalcarcinoma.Thenonmalignant celltypeusedmostfrequentlywasahumanembryonicskinfibroblaststrain.For1setofexperiments, anestablishedlineofhumanAmnion(Fernandes)wasalsoused.ThecellsweremaintainedineitherT-60flasksorRosemultipurposeculturechambersinEagle'sminimalessentialmediumsupplementedwith10%fetalcalfserum.Thisserumshowednoelectrophoreticallyseparableprealbumincomponent. TheGMF'washarvestedbycollectingtheculturemediumfromaconfluentlayerofcellsincubatedfor48hrorlongerinT-60flasks.Whenthemediumwastobeintroducedintofibroblastcultures,itwassimplycentrifugedtoremovecellulardebrisandneutralizedwithdiluteNaOH.Ifthefactorwastobeconcentrated, thecellswithintheflaskswererinsedgently3timeswithHanks'balancedsaltsolutionandthenincubatedfor48hrinserum-freeEagle'smedium.Thepooledmediumwasthencentrifugedandback-dialyzedagainstCarbowaxfor8to12hr.Forantigenpreparation,thefactorwasprecipitated with40%ammoniumsulfatefromserum-freemediumandthendialyzedovernightagainstbalancedsaltsolution.ThepolyacrylamidegelswerepreparedaccordingtotheprocedureoutlinedbyDavis(2). ThebestseparationoftheGMFwasaccomplishedwith7.5%acrylamideand0.184%N,N'-methylenebisacrylamideinacurrentof50mafor45mm.ThebandsweredemonstratedbystandardAmidoschwarzstainingprocedures. Anti-GMFserumwaspreparedinrabbitswithanantigencollected fromserum-free medium thathadmaintainedviabilityofCMPcellsfor48hr.Theantiserumwasplacedinacentralwellinanagar-filledPetridish,whileantigensfromvariousmediawereplacedinsurroundingwells,accordingtoproceduresdescribedbyCrowle(1). Theprecipitinbands,whichdevelopedatroomtemperature overaperiodof48hr,werephotographedwithdark-groundillumination.Theantihumanprealbumin serumwaskindlyfurnishedbyHylandLaboratories,LosAngeles,Calif.Avolumeof10mlofwholebloodwascollectedfromahumanvolunteerandchilledfor2hr. TheoverlyingplasmaAgrowth-modifyingfactorwasdetectedintheculturemediaderivedfromflaskculturesofthreeestablishedlinesofhumanmalignant origin.Thegrowth-modifying factormigratedelectrophoreticallylikeprealbumin,wasantigenic,andshowedhyaluronidaseactivity.Thisproteinstimulatedfibroblasticgrowthatlowconcentrationsbutstoppedmitosisandwascytotoxic tofibroblastsathighconcentrations. Linesofidentityinanimmunodiffusion systemsuggestedthatacommonantigenwasbeingproducedbycarcinomacellsofdivergentsourcesbutwasnotproducedbyfibroblasts.INTRODUCTIONReportsofworkwithconjointtissueculturesofnormalandneoplasticcellsappeartoofferconflictingevidenceforbothstimulatoryandinhibitoryeffectsonfibroblasts. LudfordandBarlow(11,12)reportedthatthegrowthoffibroblastswasstimulatedbydiffusibleagentsderivedfromcarcinomacellsbutwasinhibitedbysarcomacells.Thesefindingswereconsistentwiththeobservations ofKasutaetaL(9),whousedparabioticcultures.RanadiveandBhide(13)concludedfrom
Preparation and properties of wood plastic composite reinforced by ultralong cellulose nanofibers

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) were reinforced by ultralong cellulose nanofibers (CNF), which were extracted from poplar flour. To solve the aggregate problem of CNF in nonpolar high density polyethylene (HDPE), a new method, which was corresponding to preblending the mixture of wood flour and HDPE powder in the CNF suspension with continuously stirring at 80°C for 2 h was used before the extrusion process. The capillary rheological tests showed CNF could increase the apparent viscosity of WPCs obviously. From the SEM images, abundant CNF were distributed on the fracture surface of WPCs uniformly and compactly like “spider web. ” Compared with WPC without CNF, the bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of WPCs with 20 wt% CNF increased by 93.01, 153.64, and 116.55%, respectively. The thermal expansion coefficient of WPCs with 20 wt% CNF decreased by 61.30%. The storage modulus of WPCs was greatly improved with the addition of CNF. POLYM. COMPOS. , 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Coronary heart disease mortality and risk among Hispanics and non-Hispanics in Orange County, California.

is the leading cause of death in the United States, as well as in many other highly industrialized countries. Japan, however, is a noteworthy exception (1-3). Various hypotheses have been suggested for the low CHD rates among the Japanese and certain other groups. These hypotheses include the protective influence of the cultural milieu, social support mechanisms, and the behavioral and dietary practices associated with particular cultural groups. Yano and associates (3) reported that the degree of acculturation of Japanese men in Hawaii to the Japanese culture was inversely related to the incidence of CHD, a finding which suggests that this nonWestern culture affords a protective influence against CHD. Matsumoto (1) hypothesized that the traditional Japanese culture reduces the levels of societal stress. Even in this current age of industrialization, the orientation of the Japanese culture is toward conformity and consensus, rather than toward the competitiveness so common in industrialized nations. Burkitt (4) has suggested that the absence of fiber in the Western diet Dr. Friis is with the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of California at Irvine. Dr. Nanjundappa is with the Department of Sociology, California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Prendergast is with the Division of Epidemiology, Public Health and Medical Services, Human Services Agency, County of Orange. Mr. Welsh is with the San Bernardino County Health Department. Tearsheet requests to Dr. Robert Friis, Department of Medicine, University of California. , Irvine, Calif. 92717.
Enterprise Asset Management Platform under Cloud Computing Mode

Enterprise asset management system can help to reduce operating costs, improve the management level of enterprise, and the relevant industry expert knowledge contained in this system can provide a unified management platform for all key assets of enterprise. To build an information center of enterprise asset management that is cross-industry and cross-area, cloud computing technology should be introduced to build cloud computing platform of asset management. The construction needs of asset management cloud platform are analyzed, and the cloud computing characteristics of platform construction is studied in this paper. Afterwards, the system architecture and key technologies of constructing the cloud computing platform for enterprise asset management are put forward.
Under the Shadow of Sunshine: Understanding and Detecting Bulletproof Hosting on Legitimate Service Provider Networks

BulletProof Hosting (BPH) services provide criminal actors with technical infrastructure that is resilient to complaints of illicit activities, which serves as a basic building block for streamlining numerous types of attacks. Anecdotal reports have highlighted an emerging trend of these BPH services reselling infrastructure from lower end service providers (hosting ISPs, cloud hosting, and CDNs) instead of from monolithic BPH providers. This has rendered many of the prior methods of detecting BPH less effective, since instead of the infrastructure being highly concentrated within a few malicious Autonomous Systems (ASes) it is now agile and dispersed across a larger set of providers that have a mixture of benign and malicious clients. In this paper, we present the first systematic study on this new trend of BPH services. By collecting and analyzing a large amount of data (25 snapshots of the entire Whois IPv4 address space, 1.5 TB of passive DNS data, and longitudinal data from several blacklist feeds), we are able to identify a set of new features that uniquely characterizes BPH on sub-allocations and that are costly to evade. Based upon these features, we train a classifier for detecting malicious sub-allocated network blocks, achieving a 98% recall and 1.5% false discovery rates according to our evaluation. Using a conservatively trained version of our classifier, we scan the whole IPv4 address space and detect 39K malicious network blocks. This allows us to perform a large-scale study of the BPH service ecosystem, which sheds light on this underground business strategy, including patterns of network blocks being recycled and malicious clients being migrated to different network blocks, in an effort to evade IP address based blacklisting. Our study highlights the trend of agile BPH services and points to potential methods of detecting and mitigating this emerging threat.
Syllable onset detection applied to the portuguese language

Recent developments have suggested that the use of syllables as the basic unit in a speech recognition system could be very usefull. Since syllable boundaries are more precise and well de(cid:12)ned than phoneme ones there is a large scope for their application on the continuous speech recognition process. In this work we developed di(cid:11)erent methods of syllable segmentation in continuous speech. These methods are based on perceptually oriented feature extraction techniques. These features were post-processed through simple threshold mechanisms or by an arti(cid:12)cial neural network based classi(cid:12)er in order to estimate the syllable boundaries. These systems were trained and evaluated using a Portuguese database with continuous speech. The results show that large context input windows (260 ms ) are the most appropriate, achiev-ing results of 93% detection of onsets with insertion rates of only 15%.
Survival of Denitrifiers in Nitrate-Free, Anaerobic Environments

Experiments were undertaken to explain the occurrence of a high denitrification capacity in anaerobic, NO3--free habitats. Deep layers of freshwater sediments that were buried more than 40 years ago and digested sludge were the habitats studied. The denitrifier populations were 3.1 × 103 and 3.1 × 105 cells cm-3 in deep sediments from a river and lake, respectively, and 5.3 × 106 cells cm-3 in digested sludge. The denitrification capacities of the samples reflected the population densities. Strict anaerobic procedures were used to obtain the predominant isolates that would grow on anaerobic medium with NO3-. All strict anaerobes isolated failed to denitrify. All isolates that denitrified were aerobic, gram-negative bacteria, particularly species of Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes. No detectable growth was observed when these strains were incubated with electron acceptors other than NO3- or O2. When representative isolates were added to sterile, O2- and NO3--free porewater from their original locations at their natural densities (105 cells cm-3), no change in viable population was noted over 3 months of incubation. Metabolic activity was demonstrated in these cells by slow formation of formazan granules when exposed to tetrazolium and by observation of motile cells. When [14C]glucose was added to cell suspensions of the pseudomonads that had been starved for 3 months without electron acceptors (O2 or NO3-), 14C-labeled products, including cell biomass, 14CO2, and fermentation products, were produced. The high denitrification capacity of these anaerobic environments appears to be due to conventional respiratory denitrifiers. These organisms have the capacity for long-term survival without O2 or NO3- and appear to be capable of providing for their maintenance by carrying on a low level of fermentation.
Circadian Modulation of Alcohol-Induced Sedation and Recovery in Male and Female Drosophila

Delineating the factors that affect behavioral and neurological responses to alcohol is critical to facilitate measures for preventing or treating alcohol abuse. The high degree of conserved molecular and physiological processes makes Drosophila melanogaster a valuable model for investigating circadian interactions with alcohol-induced behaviors and examining sex-specific differences in alcohol sensitivity. We found that wild-type Drosophila exhibited rhythms in alcohol-induced sedation under light-dark and constant dark conditions with considerably greater alcohol exposure necessary to induce sedation during the late (subjective) day and peak sensitivity to alcohol occurring during the late (subjective) night. The circadian clock also modulated the recovery from alcohol-induced sedation with flies regaining motor control significantly faster during the late (subjective) day. As predicted, the circadian rhythms in sedation and recovery were absent in flies with a mutation in the circadian gene period or arrhythmic flies housed in constant light conditions. Flies lacking a functional circadian clock were more sensitive to the effects of alcohol with significantly longer recovery times. Similar to other animals and humans, Drosophila exhibit sex-specific differences in alcohol sensitivity. We investigated whether the circadian clock modulated the rhythms in the loss-of-righting reflex, alcohol-induced sedation, and recovery differently in males and females. We found that both sexes demonstrated circadian rhythms in the loss-of-righting reflex and sedation with the differences in alcohol sensitivity between males and females most pronounced during the late subjective day. Recovery of motor reflexes following alcohol sedation also exhibited circadian modulation in male and female flies, although the circadian clock did not modulate the difference in recovery times between the sexes. These studies provide a framework outlining how the circadian clock modulates alcohol-induced behaviors in Drosophila and identifies sexual dimorphisms in the circadian modulation of alcohol behaviors.
The influence of non-metallic and metallic fibres on the mechanical properties of cement mortars

Compared to concrete, the compressive strength is not a very important property of cement mortar. It is very important that mortar forms a complete, strong, and durable bond with the building material elements, because it is used as an adhesive and sealant material. The physical and mechanical properties of cement mortar, especially flexural strength, toughness, tensile strength, reduction of plastic as well as drying shrinkage, can be enhanced by the use of randomly dispersed fibres, such as steel, carbon or polymer. In the present research there were investigated cement mortars modified with randomly dispersed polypropylene and steel fibres in different volume fraction used both separately and in a hybrid system. The conducted research proved that the low modulus polypropylene fibres with good flexibility added to cement matrix resulted in good properties of fresh mortar and caused the reduction of early age cracking. The beneficial effects of flexible fibres could be attributed to their high aspect ratio and increased fibre availability at a given volume fraction due to their low density. Because of low stiffness, these fibres are particularly effective in controlling the propagation of micro-cracks. It was found that the hybrid combination of metallic and nonmetallic fibres can offer potential advantages in improving cement matrix properties, such as the ultimate strength and toughness of composites.
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli as a potential cause of diarrheal disease in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Stools of 68 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults with diarrhea and 60 without diarrhea were examined for enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEc) by HeLa cell adherence assay. EAggEc were present in stools of 30 patients with and 18 without diarrhea (P = .05). CD4 cell counts of patients with EAggEc and diarrhea were significantly lower than those of patients with EAggEc without diarrhea (P = .02). There was no difference in the mean duration of diarrheal symptoms or in the number of stools per day between patients with EAggEc and those without. None of the EAggEc strains were positive by polymerase chain reaction for adherence fimbria, but 11 strains were positive for EAggEc heat-stable toxin EAST/1. Of the EAggEc strains, 51% were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 65% were resistant to ampicillin. EAggEc may be a pathogen in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea; HIV-infected patients with EAggEc appear to be more symptomatic when HIV disease is more advanced.
TOPICAL REVIEW: The Bekenstein formula and string theory (N-brane theory)

A review of recent progress in string theory concerning the Bekenstein formula for black hole entropy is given. Topics discussed include p-branes, D-branes and supersymmetry; the correspondence principle; the D- and M-brane approach to black hole entropy; the D-brane analogue of Hawking radiation and information loss; D-branes as probes of black holes and the matrix theory approach to charged and neutral black holes. Some introductory material is included, as are some very brief remarks on the AdS/CFT correspondence.
Laser-induced change of electrical resistivity of metals and its applications

Applying of laser alloying for modification of electrical resistivity of metals with significant importance in electrical and electronic engineering and utilization of this method for producing passive elements of electric circuit have been presented. The alloyed metals were obtained by means of laser beams with different wave length and various mode of working (cw or pulse), by different methods for the supplying of alloying elements. It was possible to form alloyed layers of metals forming different types of metallurgical systems: with full (Cu-Au, Cu-Ni) or partial solubility (Mo-Ni, W-Ni, Cu-Al, Ag-Sn), insoluble (Mo-Au and Cu-Cr) and immiscible (Ag-Ni and Ni-Au) metals, with metallic as well as non-metallic additions (oxide). It has been shown as well that it is possible to achieve resistive elements modified in whole cross section, in a single technological process. The results of systematic investigations into the resistivity of alloyed metals in the temperature range of 77-450 K have been presented. The alloyed layers, obtained, were characterised by a range of resistivity from 2.8 x 10-8 Ωm (Cu-Cr) to 128 x 10-8 Ωm (W-Ni). The microstructure and composition of alloyed layers were examined by means of SEM-microscopy and EDX analyser. In selected cases it was shown how results of investigations could be utilized for modification of surface layer of contact materials or to optimize the resistance of laser welded joints. In addition the results of investigations of new developed microtechnology -- producing micro-areas with extremely high resistivity -- have been presented.
A novel approach for preparation of conductive hybrid elastomeric nano‐composites

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and intrinsically conductive polymers, such as polyaniline (PANI) some research has focused on the development of novel hybrid materials by combining CNT and PANI to achieve their complementary properties. Electrically conductive elastomer nano-composites containing CNT and PANI are described in the present investigation. The synthesis procedure includes in-situ inverse emulsion polymerization of aniline doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid in the presence of CNT and dissolved styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) block copolymer, followed by a precipitation–filtration step. The synthesis step is carried out under ultrasonication. The resulting uniform SIS/CNT/PANI dispersions are stable for long time durations. The incorporation of CNT/PANI in the SIS elastomeric matrix improves thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of the nano-composites. The formation of continuous three-dimensional CNT/PANI network, assumed to be responsible for enhancement of the resulting nano-composite properties, is observed by HRSEM. A relatively low percolation threshold of 0.4 wt. % CNT was determined. The Young's modulus of the SIS/CNT/PANI significantly increases in the presence of CNT. High electrical conductivity levels were obtained in the ternary component systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.