Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Web mining for the mayoral election prediction in Taiwan

Purpose The prediction of pre-election polls is an issue of concern for both politicians and voters. The Taiwan nine-in-one election held in 2014 ended with jaw-dropping results; apparently, traditional polls did not work well. As a remedy to this problem, the purpose of this paper is to utilize the comments posted on social media to analyze civilians’ views on the two candidates for mayor of Taichung City, Chih-chiang Hu, and Chia-Lung Lin. Design/methodology/approach After conducting word segmentation and part-of-speech tagging for the collected reviews, this study constructs the opinion phrase extraction rules for identifying the opinion words associated with the attribute words. Next, this study classifies the attribute words into six municipal governance-related topics and calculates the opinion scores for each candidate. Finally, this study uses correspondence analysis to transform opinion information on the candidates into a graphical display to facilitate the interpretation of voters’ views. Findings The results show that the topics of candidates’ backgrounds and transport infrastructure were the two most critical factors for the election prediction. Based on the predication, Lin outscores Hu by 17.74 percent which is close to the real election results. Research limitations/implications This study proposes new rules for the extraction of Chinese opinion words associated with attribute words. Practical implications This study applies Chinese semantic analysis to assist in predicting election results and investigating the topics of concern to voters. Originality/value The proposed opinion phrase extraction rules for Chinese social media, as well as the election forecast process, can provide valuable references for political parties and candidates to plan better nomination and election strategies.
Probabilistic Graph Layout for Uncertain Network Visualization

We present a novel uncertain network visualization technique based on node-link diagrams. Nodes expand spatially in our probabilistic graph layout, depending on the underlying probability distributions of edges. The visualization is created by computing a two-dimensional graph embedding that combines samples from the probabilistic graph. A Monte Carlo process is used to decompose a probabilistic graph into its possible instances and to continue with our graph layout technique. Splatting and edge bundling are used to visualize point clouds and network topology. The results provide insights into probability distributions for the entire network-not only for individual nodes and edges. We validate our approach using three data sets that represent a wide range of network types: synthetic data, protein-protein interactions from the STRING database, and travel times extracted from Google Maps. Our approach reveals general limitations of the force-directed layout and allows the user to recognize that some nodes of the graph are at a specific position just by chance.
A separation principle for optimum biorthogonal dmt without a high bit rate assumption

We consider the design of optimum biorthogonal, as opposed to orthonormal, discrete multitone (DMT) systems supporting a service whose quality of service (QoS) requirements are quantified by bit rate and symbol error rate specifications. Our goal is to minimize the transmitted power given the QoS specifications subject to the knowledge of the channel and colored interference at the receiver input of the DMT system. We find an optimum bit loading scheme that distributes the bit rate transmitted across the various subchannels, and an optimum transceiver. Earlier papers, [2] and [4] showed the following: (i) Relaxing the orthonormality constraint yields no performance improvement. (ii) The optimum transceiver is unaffected by changing service characteristics, and depends only on the channel and interference conditions. (iii) The QoS requirements, only affect bitloading. These conclusions form a separation principle that has important implications to wireline applications like DSL. These papers, [2] and [4], however worked with an approximation that only works if each subchannel supports a very high data rate. In this paper we show that even if one relaxes this high bit rate assumption, (i-iii) still hold.
Semantic Comparison of Security Policies: From Access Control Policies to Flow Properties

This paper introduces two generic mechanisms allowing to compare security policies from a semantical point of view. First, a notion of embedding is defined in order to compare policies over a common domain. Then, interpretations of security policies are introduced in order to consider their properties over arbitrary domains. Thus, combining interpretations and embeddings allows to compare policies expressed over different domains. Along the lines of this paper, we illustrate our definitions by defining a flow-based interpretation of access control and by comparing classical access control policies according to a hierarchy of abstract flow policies, thus characterizing flow properties which can be ensured by access control policies.
Facial Age Estimation Using Robust Label Distribution

Facial age estimation, to predict the persons' exact ages given facial images, usually encounters the data sparsity problem due to the difficulties in data annotation. To mitigate the suffering from sparse data, a recent label distribution learning (LDL) algorithm attempts to embed label correlation into a classification based framework. However, the conventional label distribution learning framework only considers correlations across the neighbouring variables (ages), which omits the intrinsic complexity of age classes during different ageing periods (age groups). In the light of this, we introduce a novel concept of robust label distribution for scalar-valued labels, which is designed to encode the age scalars into label distribution matrices, i.e. two-dimensional Gaussian distributions along age classes and age groups respectively. Overcoming the limitations of conventional hard group boundaries in age grouping and capturing intrinsic inter-group dependency, our framework achieves robust and competitive performance over the conventional algorithms on two popular benchmarks for human age estimation.
Competitive orientations and motives of adult sport and exercise participants.

Participants in four different adult sport and exercise programs (running club, exercise classes, cardiac rehabilitation program, senior games) completed measures of competitive orientation and participation motivation. Our samples were older and more diverse than samples of previous research, and their competitive orientations and motives were similarly diverse. Multivariate analyses revealed gender and sample differences. Males were higher than females on competitiveness and win orientation, and runners were less win-oriented than other groups, but overall, all groups were similar to previous college-age samples in competitive orientation. Groups varied on specific motives, with females rating fitness, flexibility, affiliation, and appearance higher than males did. Generally, participants were diverse in orientations and motives, and positive about their participation. Research and conceptual models of sport orientation must extend beyond achievement motives to capture the diversity of adult participants. Program directors and instructors who offer activities and approaches to match this diversity will encourage wider participation and provide a more satisfying experience for more participants.
Orbital Angular Momentum in Radio—A System Study

Recent discoveries concerning rotating (helical) phase fronts and orbital angular momentum (OAM) of laser beams are applied to radio frequencies and comprehensive simulations of a radio OAM system are performed. We find that with the use of vector field-sensing electric and magnetic triaxial antennas, it is possible to unambiguously estimate the OAM in radio beams by local measurements at a single point, assuming ideal (noiseless) conditions and that the beam axis is known. Furthermore, we show that conventional antenna pattern optimization methods can be applied to OAM-generating circular arrays to enhance their directivity.
Lung microbiology and exacerbations in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common chronic respiratory condition in adults and is characterized by progressive airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The main etiological agents linked with COPD are cigarette smoking and biomass exposure but respiratory infection is believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of both stable COPD and in acute exacerbations. Acute exacerbations are associated with more rapid decline in lung function and impaired quality of life and are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in COPD. Preventing exacerbations is a major therapeutic goal but currently available treatments for exacerbations are not very effective. Historically, bacteria were considered the main infective cause of exacerbations but with the development of new diagnostic techniques, respiratory viruses are also frequently detected in COPD exacerbations. This article aims to provide a state-of-the art review of current knowledge regarding the role of infection in COPD, highlight the areas of ongoing debate and controversy, and outline emerging technologies and therapies that will influence future diagnostic and therapeutic pathways in COPD.
Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization among U.S. children.

BACKGROUND Incidence estimates of hospitalizations for community-acquired pneumonia among children in the United States that are based on prospective data collection are limited. Updated estimates of pneumonia that has been confirmed radiographically and with the use of current laboratory diagnostic tests are needed. METHODS We conducted active population-based surveillance for community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization among children younger than 18 years of age in three hospitals in Memphis, Nashville, and Salt Lake City. We excluded children with recent hospitalization or severe immunosuppression. Blood and respiratory specimens were systematically collected for pathogen detection with the use of multiple methods. Chest radiographs were reviewed independently by study radiologists. RESULTS From January 2010 through June 2012, we enrolled 2638 of 3803 eligible children (69%), 2358 of whom (89%) had radiographic evidence of pneumonia. The median age of the children was 2 years (interquartile range, 1 to 6); 497 of 2358 children (21%) required intensive care, and 3 (<1%) died. Among 2222 children with radiographic evidence of pneumonia and with specimens available for bacterial and viral testing, a viral or bacterial pathogen was detected in 1802 (81%), one or more viruses in 1472 (66%), bacteria in 175 (8%), and both bacterial and viral pathogens in 155 (7%). The annual incidence of pneumonia was 15.7 cases per 10,000 children (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.9 to 16.5), with the highest rate among children younger than 2 years of age (62.2 cases per 10,000 children; 95% CI, 57.6 to 67.1). Respiratory syncytial virus was more common among children younger than 5 years of age than among older children (37% vs. 8%), as were adenovirus (15% vs. 3%) and human metapneumovirus (15% vs. 8%). Mycoplasma pneumoniae was more common among children 5 years of age or older than among younger children (19% vs. 3%). CONCLUSIONS The burden of hospitalization for children with community-acquired pneumonia was highest among the very young, with respiratory viruses the most commonly detected causes of pneumonia. (Funded by the Influenza Division of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.).
File-Stream Distribution Application on Software-Defined Networks (SDN)

In a meteorology data-distribution application, streams of files are served to hundreds of receivers every day on unicast TCP connections. Software Defined Networking (SDN) offers a more scalable solution in which a rate-guaranteed Layer-2 multipoint virtual topology can be provisioned to have switches perform Ethernet-frame multicasting to support this application. A characterization of the file streams shows that file sizes and file inter-arrival times are both right skewed. The objective of this work is to design an algorithm for determining the rate of the Layer-2 multipoint virtual topology, and the size of the sending-host buffer, based on traffic characteristics of the file streams and performance requirements. Furthermore, the traffic characteristics are not exactly the same from day-to-day. An empirical method is proposed to determine the ideal rate and buffer size based on a day's traffic, which are then used along with the current rate and buffer size in an Exponential Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) scheme to determine the rate and buffer size for the next day. Our method was evaluated using metadata obtained for the top five file-streams of this meteorological data distribution, and found to be effective.
Reaching a Higher Level of Information Systems Integration: the Impact of Information Technology Substitution Strategies on Process Efficiency

Firms frequently apply more than one information system for their processes and data exchange. This variety is often due to the existence of legacy systems and can cause large inefficiencies. At present, most consumer goods firms aim at replacing non-integrated information flows with electronic data interchange. In doing so, firms constantly increase their level of information systems (IS) integration. However, firms have to decide whether they replace non-integrated legacy systems incrementally or radically. The paper investigates this issue from a conceptual viewpoint that combines the information technology (IT) substitution perspective with the concept of levels of IS integration. An empirical case study investigates two alternative IT substitution approaches, i.e., an incremental and a complete IT substitution, in respect of their impacts on process efficiency improvement. The results indicate that the complete IT substitution achieves significantly larger efficiency gains due to the impact of IS
Role of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system in effective contraception

Norgestrel, a synthetic progestin chemically derived from 19-nortestosterone, is six times more potent than progesterone, with variable binding affinity to various steroid receptors. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG IUS) provides a long-acting, highly effective, and reversible form of contraception, with a pearl index of 0.18 per 100 women-years. The locally released hormone leads to endometrial concentrations that are 200–800 times those found after daily oral use and a plasma level that is lower than that with other forms of levonorgestrel-containing contraception. The contraceptive effect of the LNG IUS is achieved mainly through its local suppressive effect on the endometrium, leading to endometrial thinning, glandular atrophy, and stromal decidualization without affecting ovulation. The LNG IUS is generally well tolerated. The main side effects are related to its androgenic activity, which is usually mild and transient, resolving after the first few months. Menstrual abnormalities are also common but well tolerated, and even become desirable (eg, amenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, and oligomenorrhea) with proper counseling of the patient during the choice of the method of contraception. The satisfaction rates after 3 years of insertion are high, reaching between 77% and 94%. The local effect of the LNG IUS on the endometrium and low rates of systemic adverse effects have led to its use in other conditions rather than contraception, as for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia, benign menorrhagia, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine fibroids.
OrtholugeDB: a bacterial and archaeal orthology resource for improved comparative genomic analysis

Prediction of orthologs (homologous genes that diverged because of speciation) is an integral component of many comparative genomics methods. Although orthologs are more likely to have similar function versus paralogs (genes that diverged because of duplication), recent studies have shown that their degree of functional conservation is variable. Also, there are inherent problems with several large-scale ortholog prediction approaches. To address these issues, we previously developed Ortholuge, which uses phylogenetic distance ratios to provide more precise ortholog assessments for a set of predicted orthologs. However, the original version of Ortholuge required manual intervention and was not easily accessible; therefore, we now report the development of OrtholugeDB, available online at http://www.pathogenomics. sfu.ca/ortholugedb. OrtholugeDB provides ortholog predictions for completely sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes from NCBI based on reciprocal best Basic Local Alignment Search Tool hits, supplemented with further evaluation by the more precise Ortholuge method. The OrtholugeDB web interface facilitates user-friendly and flexible ortholog analysis, from single genes to genomes, plus flexible data download options. We compare Ortholuge with similar methods, showing how it may more consistently identify orthologs with conserved features across a wide range of taxonomic distances. OrtholugeDB facilitates rapid, and more accurate, bacterial and archaeal comparative genomic analysis and large-scale ortholog predictions.
Normal range of human dietary sodium intake: a perspective based on 24-hour urinary sodium excretion worldwide.

BACKGROUND The recommendation to restrict dietary sodium for management of hypertensive cardiovascular disease assumes that sodium intake exceeds physiologic need, that it can be significantly reduced, and that the reduction can be maintained over time. In contrast, neuroscientists have identified neural circuits in vertebrate animals that regulate sodium appetite within a narrow physiologic range. This study further validates our previous report that sodium intake, consistent with the neuroscience, tracks within a narrow range, consistent over time and across cultures. METHODS Peer-reviewed publications reporting 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) in a defined population that were not included in our 2009 publication were identified from the medical literature. These datasets were combined with those in our previous report of worldwide dietary sodium consumption. RESULTS The new data included 129 surveys, representing 50,060 participants. The mean value and range of 24-hour UNaV in each of these datasets were within 1 SD of our previous estimate. The combined mean and normal range of sodium intake of the 129 datasets were nearly identical to that we previously reported (mean = 158.3±22.5 vs. 162.4±22.4 mmol/d). Merging the previous and new datasets (n = 190) yielded sodium consumption of 159.4±22.3 mmol/d (range = 114-210 mmol/d; 2,622-4,830mg/d). CONCLUSIONS Human sodium intake, as defined by 24-hour UNaV, is characterized by a narrow range that is remarkably reproducible over at least 5 decades and across 45 countries. As documented here, this range is determined by physiologic needs rather than environmental factors. Future guidelines should be based on this biologically determined range.
Multiple Enzymatic Activities Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Helicase

ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a newly identified group 2 coronavirus, is the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome, a life-threatening form of pneumonia in humans. Coronavirus replication and transcription are highly specialized processes of cytoplasmic RNA synthesis that localize to virus-induced membrane structures and were recently proposed to involve a complex enzymatic machinery that, besides RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, helicase, and protease activities, also involves a series of RNA-processing enzymes that are not found in most other RNA virus families. Here, we characterized the enzymatic activities of a recombinant form of the SARS-CoV helicase (nonstructural protein [nsp] 13), a superfamily 1 helicase with an N-terminal zinc-binding domain. We report that nsp13 has both RNA and DNA duplex-unwinding activities. SARS-CoV nsp13 unwinds its substrates in a 5′-to-3′ direction and features a remarkable processivity, allowing efficient strand separation of extended regions of double-stranded RNA and DNA. Characterization of the nsp13-associated (deoxy)nucleoside triphosphatase ([dNTPase) activities revealed that all natural nucleotides and deoxynucleotides are substrates of nsp13, with ATP, dATP, and GTP being hydrolyzed slightly more efficiently than other nucleotides. Furthermore, we established an RNA 5′-triphosphatase activity for the SARS-CoV nsp13 helicase which may be involved in the formation of the 5′ cap structure of viral RNAs. The data suggest that the (d)NTPase and RNA 5′-triphosphatase activities of nsp13 have a common active site. Finally, we established that, in SARS-CoV-infected Vero E6 cells, nsp13 localizes to membranes that appear to be derived from the endoplasmic reticulum and are the likely site of SARS-CoV RNA synthesis.
A study on internal temperature monitoring system for power transformer using pptical fiber Bragg grating sensors

A precise information on spatial distributions of temperature are important for diagnosing power transformers and evaluating its life because a power system failure will result in an enormous loss in tangible as well as social. The optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, which have been studied intensively for last decade, can be very efficient tools for applications to above mentioned purpose because these are immune to EMI and can be highly multiplexed, which enables efficient quasi-distributed temperature sensing along tens of km range. We proposed a fiber-optic temperature monitoring system with an array of over 4 sensor gratings. The temperature-induced Bragg wavelength variations are accurately monitored by a scanned tunable wavelength filter. Differential measurement with temperature-stabilized reference gratings and a Gaussian curve-fitting algorithm has been used to enhance measurement accuracy, which obtained temperature resolution of ~0.6degC, and linearity error less than 0.4 %.
Mechanical strength and water resistance of paperboard coated with long chain cellulose esters

Long chain cellulose esters (LCCE) are bio‐based materials, which are biodegradable, can be prepared from renewable materials, and have relatively good mechanical and barrier properties. In this study, we tested the feasibility of various LCCEs as a coating material for paperboard. Cellulose hexanoates (C6) and cellulose palmitates (C12) of various degrees of substitution were synthesized and tested as barriers. Coating of paperboard was performed by dissolving the LCCE to chloroform or acetone, and levelling the coating with wire bar coater to the surface of the paperboard. The coating gave hydrophobic surface to the paperboard, and significantly improved the water vapour barrier properties. Cellulose palmitate coatings were better water vapour barriers than cellulose hexanoate. However, polyethylene‐coated paperboard had markedly lower water vapour transmission rate than LCCEs used in this study. The LCCE coatings slightly improved the tensile strength of the paperboard. In order to find out the suitability of LCCEs for extrusion coating, the thermal behaviour of LCCEs were also assessed. The cellulose hexanoate starts to degrade thermally at 280°C and cellulose palmitate at temperature 320°C. These materials do not have a clear melting point, but they behave as amorphous materials, and turn gradually to viscous form as temperature increases from 170°C to 200°C. This indicates possibilities to use them in extrusion coating, at least if the viscosity is improved with suitable additives. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.