Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed Zeroth Order Optimization Over Random Networks: A Kiefer-Wolfowitz Stochastic Approximation Approach

We study a standard distributed optimization framework where $N$ networked nodes collaboratively minimize the sum of their local convex costs. The main body of existing work considers the described problem when the underling network is either static or deterministically varying, and the distributed optimization algorithm is of first or second order, i.e., it involves the local costs' gradients and possibly the local Hessians. In this paper, we consider the currently understudied but highly relevant scenarios when: 1) only noisy function values' estimates are available (no gradients nor Hessians can be evaluated); and 2) the underlying network is randomly varying (according to an independent, identically distributed process). For the described random networks-zeroth order optimization setting, we develop a distributed stochastic approximation method of the Kiefer-Wolfowitz type. Furthermore, under standard smoothness and strong convexity assumptions on the local costs, we establish the $O(1/k^{1/2})$ mean square convergence rate for the method – the rate that matches that of the method's centralized counterpart under equivalent conditions.
Linking human activity and ecosystem condition to inform marine ecosystem based management

There is growing consensus that integrated marine management is needed. However, implementation of ecosystem-based management (EBM) faces major operational challenges, including accurately delineating the links between ecosystem components and benefits to humans, and quantifying trade-offs associated with different management decisions. It is suggested using human activity level as an indicator of the benefit provided by marine ecosystems at a certain location in comparison with other locations and establishing links between human activity levels and ecological conditions. This approach allows for the determination of what ecological conditions may provide the greatest human benefits and thus may be targets for management action. This approach is used to investigate the link between scuba diving in the Monterey Bay area, California, USA, and different ecological characteristics of kelp forests. Diving intensity levels correlate with kelp persistence, suggesting that kelp persistence may be used as an indicator of benefits from diving and for evaluating the impact of potentially competing activities through their effects on kelp. Overall, an operational definition of marine ecosystem services is provided and it is suggested that this method could be extended to a suite of different activities and systems and thus may become useful in considering trade-offs among different activities that depend upon the same ecosystem. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diagnosis and Management of Helicobacter pylori

C l i n M e d International Library Citation: Wong U, McLean LP (2016) Diagnosis and Management of Helicobacter pylori. J Clin Gastroenterol Treat 2:015 Received: January 03, 2016: Accepted: February 08, 2016: Published: February 11, 2016 Copyright: © 2016 Wong U, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Wong and McLean. J Clin Gastroenterol Treat 2016, 2:015
Natural Products and Drug Discovery through a Network of Partnerships

We present here relevant result obtained from a network of collaborations. Malaria programme ranging from screening to investigation of mechanism of action has been conducted in collaboration with the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, the Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles (CNRS), the Istituto Superiore di Sanità di Roma, the Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, the Université de Montpellier II, the Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, the University of Cape Town. The cancer MDR modulator programme has been done at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in collaboration with our Institute. The antiviral and anti-inflammatory programme has been done in collaboration with the Università del Piemonte Orientale, and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
The Ozone Hole Breakup in September 2002 as Seen by SCIAMACHY on ENVISAT

An unprecedented stratospheric warming in the Southern Hemisphere in September 2002 led to the breakup of the Antarctic ozone hole into two parts. The Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) on the European Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT ) performed continuous observations of limb-scattered solar radiance spectra throughout the stratospheric warming. Thereby, global measurements of vertical profiles of several important minor constituents are provided with a vertical resolution of about 3 km. In this study, stratospheric profiles of O3 ,N O 2, and BrO retrieved from SCIAMACHY limb-scattering observations together with polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) observations for selected days prior to (12 September), during (27 September), and after (2 October) the ozone hole split are employed to provide a picture of the temporal evolution of the Antarctic stratosphere’s three-dimensional structure.
Natural Language Explanations for Query Results

Multiple lines of research have developed Natural Language (NL) interfaces for formulating database queries. We build upon this work, but focus on presenting a highly detailed form of the answers in NL. The answers that we present are importantly based on the provenance of tuples in the query result, detailing not only the results but also their explanations. We develop a novel method for transforming provenance information to NL, by leveraging the original NL query structure. Furthermore, since provenance information is typically large and complex, we present two solutions for its effective presentation as NL text: one that is based on provenance factorization, with novel desiderata relevant to the NL case, and one that is based on summarization.
Unsupervised pedestrian trajectory reconstruction from IMU sensors

This paper presents a pedestrian navigation algorithm based on a foot-mounted 9DOF Inertial Measurement Unit, which provides accelerations, angular rates and magnet-ics along 3-axis during the motion. Most of algorithms used worldwide are based on stance detection to reduce the tremendous integration errors, from acceleration to displacement. As the crucial part is to detect stance phase precisely, we introduced a cyclic left-to-right style Hidden Markov Model that is able to appropriately model the periodic nature of signals. Stance detection is then made unsupervised by using a suited learning algorithm. Then, assisted by a simplified error-state Kalman filter, trajectory can be reconstructed. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can provide more accurate location, compared to competitive algorithms, w.r. t. ground-truth obtained from OpenStreet Map.
Evaluation of Success Rate of Immediately Placed Implants in Sockets with Facial Bone Defects in Anterior Region of Maxilla

It was strongly suggested that a lost tooth must be replaced by the restorative procedures in order for the patients to benefit from their dentition masticatory function and aesthetics [1]. Over years, various treatment methods have been used by the clinicians to replace lost teeth such as: removable partial dentures, resin bonded or cemented fixed partial prosthesis. These treatment methods could not fulfill the patients and clinicians demands as long as preparation of adjacent intact teeth was a main part of their procedures. Especially, in anterior region of maxilla, reestablishment of aesthetic is a crucial task which cannot be accomplished by these treatment modalities properly [2]. The concept of treatment of edentulous patient with osseointegrated implants has been introduced by Beranemark for the first time in 1960s [3]. Through past decades use of dental implants has considerably increased by clinicians due to the high success rate of this treatment technique. The main advantage of dental implants over past treatment modalities is that intact adjacent teeth remain intact [2-5]. Single tooth replacement in the anterior region of maxilla by means of dental implants has been known as a highly predictable and successful technique regarding its survival rate and bone remodeling [6,7]. Successful osseointegration of implants and reestablishment of normal soft tissue contour in aesthetic regions are the most significant aims of this kind of treatment in order to restore function and aesthetics for patients [4]. Previously it was believed that before placing implants in extracted tooth socket, the alveolar ridge, should be allowed for 2-3 months to remodel, also an additional 3-6-month period without loading is required to achieve acceptable osseointegration prior to fabricating the prosthesis [8,9]. This protocol has been defined by Branemark and his group which is predictable and reliable and serves as an index to evaluate other loading procedures success rate [10]. However, alveolar bones resorption that occurs after tooth extraction can considerably reduce the required bone volume which is critical for the clinician to achieve favorable positioning of implant. Moreover, it is much more conspicuous in anterior region of maxilla where palatolabial discrepancy between implant and restoration can be brought about by bone resorption [9-13]. According to the study by Carlsson et al., within the first post-extraction year aggregate alveolar bone loss is 25% of total bone volume and 4.00 mm of its height. Also bone resorption is increased to 40-60% over a 3-year period of time [12]. Other disadvantages of conventional loading Volume 8 Issue 3 2017
Human demographic trends and landscape level forest management in the northwest Wisconsin Pine Barrens

The effects of landscape pattern on forest ecosystems have been a recent focus in forest science. Forest managers are increasingly considering landscape level processes in their management. Natural disturbance patterns provide one baseline for such management. What has been largely ignored is the pattern of human habitation patterns (i.e., housing), on landscapes. The objective of this study is to discuss landscape level management options for the northwest Wisconsin Pine Barrens based on both landscape ecology and the human demographics of the region. Using the 1990 U.S. Decennial Census we examined current housing density, seasonal housing unit concentration, historic housing density change and projected future housing densities. These data were related to land cover and land ownership data using a GIS. Housing density increase was particularly pronounced in the central Pine Barrens, an area where seasonal housing units are common. Lakes and streams were more abundant in areas that exhibited highest growth. Within national forest lands, 80% of the area contained no housing units. In contrast, only 12% of the area in small private land ownership contained no housing. These results are integrated with previous studies of presettlement vegetation and landscape change to discuss landscape level management suggestions for the Pine Barrens.
High Resolution 3D Earth Observation Data Analysis for Safeguards Activities

This paper provides an overview of the investigations performed at DLR with respect to the application of high resolution SAR and optical data for 3D analysis in the context of Safeguards. The Research Center Julich and the adjacent open cut mines were used as main test sites, and a comprehensive stack of ascending and descending TerraSAR data was acquired over two years. TerraSAR data acquisition was performed, and various ways to visualize and analyze stacks of radar images were evaluated. Building height estimation was performed using a combination of ascending- descending radar images, as well as height-form-shadow and height-from-layover. A tutorial on building signatures from SAR images highlighted the sensor specific imaging characteristics. These topics were particularly relevant in safeguards activity with a “small-budget” as only a single image – or a couple - were employed. Interferometric coherence map interpretation allows the detection of traffic on dirt roads. Digital surface models (DSM) were generated from TanDEM-X interferometric data and from optical VHR data. Sub-meter Worldview-2 and GeoEye-1 data was processed into highly detailed DSM with a grid spacing of 1 m, showing building structures. 3D change and volume detection was performed with both optical and radar DSMs. The TanDEM-X DSMs proved useful for volume change detection and computation in mining areas, and DSMs generated from optical satellite data show details on the building level. Virtual 3D fly-throughs were found to be a good tool to provide an intuitive understanding of site structure and might be useful for inspector briefing.
Robustness analysis for a class of linear neutral systems in a critical case

This study pays attention to robust stability of a class of uncertain neutral systems in a critical case, where the spectral radius of the principal neutral term (matrix H in this study) is equal to 1. It is shown that usual methods cannot deal with such systems with uncertainties. Thus, a novel method is developed, whose idea is to examine whether or not an existing stability criterion still holds when the uncertainties are sufficiently small. More specifically, it is to examine whether or not the existing stability criterion in terms of a linear matrix inequality (LMI) still has a solution with the sufficiently small uncertainties. By analysing the structure of the solution, a new robust stability criterion is derived in terms of the existence of solutions to an equation. An application shows the effectiveness of the proposed method by dealing with a problem caused by numerical methods when solving LMIs.
Universiteit van Amsterdam System and Network Engineering Research Project 2 Tor : Hidden Service Intelligence Extraction

Overlay networks improve and extend the internet functionality without changing the underlying infrastructure. An example of an overlay network is the Tor network, which is focused on improving anonymity and privacy. This research aims to investigate the possibility and efficiency of information extraction from Tor hidden services. The research focuses on the Distributed Hash Table (DHT), where hidden service descriptors are published to. Two servers were used to become part of the DHT and therefore became responsible for descriptors published by hidden services. The process memory and network traffic of these servers were then analysed to find descriptors. Subsequently, the descriptors were extracted and analysed to find the onion address of the hidden service. This was done by implementing a python framework that extracts the full descriptors from memory and processes the independent fields to extract information. With e10,54 per month, the framework was run hourly to extract the onion addresses. A total of 2104 onion addresses were extracted in the process, showing that the majority of the descriptors were using the older v2 protocol instead of the newer v3. Countermeasures such as deprecating the old protocols or the usage of the authentication mechanisms in the old protocol were proposed to solve or help mitigate the issue.
Secondary metabolites of the argan tree (Morocco) may have disease prevention properties

The argan tree (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) is native to Morocco, where after the Holly oak it constitutes the second most common tree in the country. Recent studies suggest that dietary argan oil, an endemic seed oil from argan fruits, may have a relevant role in disease prevention, and its consumption could protect against atherosclerosis and cancer. Unfortunately, in less than a century, more than a third of the forest has disappeared. It is therefore imperative to improve the tree's production potential so that it can regain its key position in the agricultural systems of the region. On the basis of ethnobotanical knowledge, researchers are screening metabolites of this rare plant to identify bioactive compounds for the development of new therapeutic agents and food supplements. This includes studies on secondary metabolites with chemopreventive activities. In this review, a complete outline of components (triglycerides, unsaponifiable, phenolic antioxidants and aroma constituents) are described. Finally, a discussion of the biological functions of the polar and non-polar A. spinosa products which have been evaluated using a range of in vitro bioassays are described.
Support-Reducing Functional Decomposition for FPGA Technology Mapping

The goals of decomposition and optimization methods in technology-independent logic synthesis have historically been the reduction of cubes and literals, or nodes and levels of a directed-acyclic graph. These cost functions have a high correlation with mapped circuits composed of standard cells, in which the simplest logic block has 2 inputs. However, this correlation does not hold for look-up table based field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), which are composed of logic blocks with k inputs (typically 4 to 6). Also, local optimizations have limited power due to the structural bias of circuit descriptions, as these are generally targeted to standard cells. This paper tries to reduce the structural biasing by iteratively collapsing the subject network and decomposing the derived functions using the support as cost function. The proposed method improves the FPGA mapping results of a commercial tool for the 20 largest MCNC benchmarks, with gains of 27% in delay plus 10% in area when targeting delay; and a reduction of 16% in area plus 12% in delay with area as cost function. Moreover, 12 of the best known results for delay (and 3 for area) of the EPFL benchmarks are updated.
Executive efficacy on Stroop type interference tasks . A validation study of a numerical and manual version ( CANUM )

Título: Eficacia ejecutiva en tareas de interferencia tipo Stroop. Estudio de validación de una versión numérica y manual (CANUM). Resumen: En este trabajo presentamos CANUM, una nueva versión numérica y manual de la prueba de interferencia de Stroop. El estímulo utilizado sustituye el conflicto color-palabra de la tarea clásica por el de cantidad-número, dada la interferencia que también se genera entre el valor simbólico del número y la cantidad de veces que éste se repite. Asimismo se sustituye la respuesta vocal por una simple pulsación izquierda-derecha en el teclado del ordenador. El objetivo fue doble: primero, asegurar un índice de control ejecutivo-atencional general desvinculado del factor verbal; y, segundo, ampliar así la población en la que resulta aplicable la prueba, obviando las restricciones relativas a la competencia lectora que conlleva la tarea de Stroop clásica. Los resultados obtenidos en una muestra de escolares revelan una alta fiabilidad en términos de consistencia interna, así como una notable validez predictiva en relación con dos medidas criterio: inteligencia general y amplitud de memoria operativa. Ello avala su utilidad como instrumento de evaluación de la función ejecutivo-atencional, aplicable en un amplio rango de edad tanto con objetivos de investigación como en contextos clínicos y educativos. Palabras clave: test de Stroop; control atencional; función ejecutiva; amplitud de memoria operativa; factor g de inteligencia. Abstract: This paper presents CANUM, a new numerical and manual version of the Stroop interference task. The stimulus used replaces the classical color-word conflict with a quantity-number conflict, considering the interference that is also generated between the symbolic value of the number and the amount of times it is repeated. CANUM also replaces the vocal answer with a simple right-left keyboard response. The aim was twofold: firstly, to ensure a general measure of attentional control capacity not linked to the verbal factor; and secondly, to widen the population to whom the test might be applied, avoiding the restrictions on reading ability inherent to the classical Stroop task. The results obtained in a sample of school children reveal a level of high reliability in terms of internal consistency, as well as a significant predictive validity in relation to two criterial measures: general intelligence and working memory capacity. This supports its usefulness as an instrument for the assessment of executive function and controlled attention applicable across a wide age range, both for research purposes as well as for clinical and educational goals.
Emoji Grammar as Beat Gestures

Emoji are popularly characterized as a “lan-guage”, but languages have grammar. What does an emoji grammar look like? Drawing from sequences of the most common two, three, and four emoji in a large corpus of real emoji use, we ﬁnd that top emoji sequences have a high level of repetition ( ∼ 50%), whereas the equivalent top sequences of words from a large corpus have zero repetition. We argue that emoji are best analogized to “beat” gestures, a well-established type of co-speech gesture characterized by its high level of repetition.
Variational Bayesian Learning for Channel Estimation and Transceiver Determination

We consider the design of linear precoders for the MISO Interfering Broadcast Channel (IBC) with partial Channel State Information at the Transmitter (CSIT) in the form of both channel estimates and channel covariance information. Most of the results can also be transposed to the SIMO Interfering Multiple Access Channel with linear receivers. We first point out that in the case of reduced rank covariance matrices, there is significant gain in sum rate by using LMMSE as opposed to Least-Squares (LS) channel estimates. We also analyze various beamforming designs exploiting partial CSIT. Then we go beyond assuming the availability of covariance CSIT and propose variational Bayesian learning (VBL) techniques to acquire it assuming TDD channel reciprocity. In particular a Space Alternating version of Variational Estimation (SAVE) allows a well founded alternative to AMP based techniques while being of similar complexity. The SAVE techniques can also be applied to obtain reduced complexity iterative techniques for determining the transmit/receive signals or beamformers themselves.
Generality vs. reusability in architecture-based self-adaptation: the case for self-adaptive microservices

Why is it so difficult to build self-adaptive systems by reusing existing self-adaptation services and frameworks? In this paper, we argue that one possible explanation is that there is a fundamental mismatch between the adaptation needs of modern software systems, and the architectural models and adaptation mechanisms supported by current self-adaptation solutions. We identify and discuss the main reasons leading to this problem by looking into a number of representative self-adaptation solutions that have been proposed in recent years, including open source frameworks and cloud-based services, from two perspectives: generality, i.e., their ability to support a variety of architectural models and adaptation mechanisms, and reusability, i.e., their ability to be reused without requiring substantial effort from software developers. We then make the case that recent industry progress toward microservices and their enabling technologies can open the way to the development of more general and reusable self-adaptation solutions.