Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variational Reasoning about User Preferences for Conversational Recommendation

Conversational recommender systems (CRSs) provide recommendations through interactive conversations. CRSs typically provide recommendations through relatively straightforward interactions, where the system continuously inquires about a user's explicit attribute-aware preferences and then decides which items to recommend. In addition, topic tracking is often used to provide naturally sounding responses. However, merely tracking topics is not enough to recognize a user's real preferences in a dialogue. In this paper, we address the problem of accurately recognizing and maintaining user preferences in CRSs. Three challenges come with this problem: (1) An ongoing dialogue only provides the user's short-term feedback; (2) Annotations of user preferences are not available; and (3) There may be complex semantic correlations among items that feature in a dialogue. We tackle these challenges by proposing an end-to-end variational reasoning approach to the task of conversational recommendation. We model both long-term preferences and short-term preferences as latent variables with topical priors for explicit long-term and short-term preference exploration, respectively. We use an efficient stochastic gradient variational Bayesian (SGVB) estimator for optimizing the derived evidence lower bound. A policy network is then used to predict topics for a clarification utterance or items for a recommendation response. The use of explicit sequences of preferences with multi-hop reasoning in a heterogeneous knowledge graph helps to provide more accurate conversational recommendation results. Extensive experiments conducted on two benchmark datasets show that our proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art baselines in terms of both objective and subjective evaluation metric
A Multimodal Framework for Robustly Distinguishing among Similar Emotions using Wearable Sensors

Detecting the correct emotion is crucial for improved mental health outcomes. While the existing works on emotion recognition focus on detecting the common or primary emotions only, there exists some uncommon or secondary emotions of similar kind (e.g., contempt vs anger) that makes accurate emotion detection challenging. Moreover, there exists limited labeled data on such secondary emotions. We present the first work to accurately discriminate among such similar emotions by generating distinguishable data for the secondary emotions using convenient multimodal wrist sensors. Extensive evaluations show that our novel solution provides around 7–36 % F1-score improvement to existing solutions for similar emotions, and also significantly reduces the burden on providing labeled emotion data.
DAWK: A Robustness Improvement to Prio

In an age where information privacy is becoming ever more important, many data collection systems that preserve individual privacy have been proposed. Prio [1] is one such system that attempts to tackle this problem directly, and has been implemented in many settings, from Mozilla Firefox to smartphone COVID statistics aggregation. However, the original Prio system relies on some relatively strict assumptions that must hold for the system to function properly. Through implementation and testing, these assumptions have been empirically been shown to be safe and viable in practice. Regardless, our group is interested in extending Prio to build in features that enable increased robustness against faults that could occur the sys-tem. The core of our approach comes from incorporating Shamir’s Secret Sharing into Prio while preserving its core features.
S ITUATED COMMUNICATION : A SOLUTION TO OVER - COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ARTIFICIAL AGENTS

Most research on communication emergence between reinforcement learning (RL) agents explores unsituated communication in one-step referential tasks. The tasks are not temporally interactive and lack time pressures typically present in natural communication and language learning. In these settings, agents can successfully learn to communicate, but they do not learn to exchange information concisely—they tend towards over-communication and an anti-efficient encoding. In our work, we introduce situated communication by imposing an opportunity cost on communication—the acting agent has to forgo an action to solicit information from its advisor. Situated communication mimics the external pressure of passing time in real-world communication. We compare language emergence under this pressure against language learning with an internal cost on articulation, implemented as a per-message penalty. We find that while both pressures can disincentivise over-communication, situated communication does it more effectively and, unlike the internal pressure, does not negatively impact communication emergence. Implementing an opportunity cost on communication might be key to shaping language properties and incentivising concise information sharing between artificial agents.
Flexural Behavior of Confined High-Strength Concrete Columns

This article reports on an experimental investigation of 30 plain and reinforced concrete column specimens with 200 mm square sections. The specimens were tested under three different loading schemes: concentric compression, eccentric compression with a fixed neutral axis position, and eccentric compression with a constant eccentricity. The variables investigated were concrete strength and confinement reinforcement. The confinement from lateral reinforcement improved the flexural strength and ductility of reinforced concrete columns. The strength of concrete has the most significant effect on the flexural stress block parameters. The authors then propose a new equivalent but simplified rectangular stress block needing only one parameter. They examine this proposed rectangular stress block against a large volume of published test data with a wide range of concrete strengths. The authors conclude that their new equivalent rectangular stress block is suitable for both normal- and high-strength concrete.
A Preliminary Analysis of the Impact of Geotechnical Concept Tools (GCT) Integrated into a Civil Engineering Classroom

Dr. Kimberly Warren is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who specializes in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, a discipline of Civil Engineering. She holds her Civil Engineering degrees from Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University. Her disciplinary research involves the use of geosynthetic materials (polymeric materials) incorporated into Civil Engineering Structures including roadways and earth retaining structures. Due to her strong passion for teaching, Dr. Warren pursued educational research opportunities in recent years and was awarded an NSF TUES grant, which she is currently completing with hopes of continuing her work in this area. Dr. Warren has been awarded the UNC Charlotte College of Engineering teaching award for her dedication and excellence in teaching.
in of Mycobacterium

EDITOR,—Eales’ disease, first described by Henry Eales in 1880 is a primary retinal perivasculitis that predominantly aVects the peripheral retina of young and otherwise healthy adults in the age group 15–40 years. Of the several aetiologies proposed, most favoured are tuberculosis and hypersensitivity to tuberculoprotein. Since polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers for the insertion sequence of IS6110 consisting of upstream primer: 5' CCTGCGAGCGTAGGCGT CGG3' and downstream primer: 5'CTC GTCCAGCGCCGCTTCGG 3' coding for 123 bp product, has found a universal acceptance for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in clinical specimens, we applied it on vitreous fluid samples obtained from clinically diagnosed patients with Eales’ disease and controls (undergoing vitreous surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy). Uncontaminated vitreous fluid from 12 cases of Eales’ disease and 45 non-Eales’ disease control patients collected at the beginning of vitrectomy were subjected to PCR using IS6110 primers for the presence of M tuberculosis complex DNA. PCR was found to be specific and sensitive enough to detect 2.5 pg of M tuberculosis complex DNA. Five (41.6%) among 12 vitreous fluid samples from Eales’ disease (Fig 1) and only one (2.2%) out of 45 vitreous fluid samples from the control group were positive by PCR and this diVerence was statistically significant (Pearson-÷ <0.001). Vitreous fluid from both groups of patients did not reveal the presence of acid fast bacilli by direct smear and culture by standard conventional techniques. The presence of M tuberculosis complex DNA in a statistically significant number of vitreous fluid samples of Eales’ disease patients compared with the control group leads us to hypothesise the presence of sequestrated mycobacterium in the eyes of Eales’ disease patients and a probable role of this bacterium in the pathogenesis of this enigmatic clinical condition. Part of the study has been presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 1997.
Physichocemical Properties of Analog Rice from Composite Flour: Cassava, Green Bean and Hanjeli

Dependence on rice as a staple food of Indonesia is not matched by domestic rice production. An alternative food that resembles Indonesian staple food is a necessary requirement to meet the needs of domestic rice and food diversification, therefore a research on non- paddy rice is to be done. Analysis of the results of this study is expected to provide a review of the influence of the raw material type and feedstock composition on the physicochemical properties of analog rice, as well as the composition of which produces the best analog rice. The ingredient used in this study are cassava starch, green beans and hanjeli flour (Coix lacryma-jobi L.). From the results, the best analog rice composition is 80% fermented cassava starch, 10% green beans and 10% hanjeli. The best analog rice formula has bright color with 80.43 brightness degrees, which is higher than Rojolele rice with 72.57 brightness degree. The best analog rice has 128.41% of water absorption. A chemical analysis shows that the best analog rice in this study contained 12.51% water, 71.94 % carbohydrate, 4.86% protein and 1.1% fat. Amylose content in this rice, which is classified as low amylose content, is 14.09%.
A study on the distance relay operation characteristics for Korean single track AC electrical railway system

Because of the distinct characteristics of Korean AC railway system, research about localization of protective schemes of equipment for Korean railway system in domestically has received attention. In order to establish the protection schemes, circuit analysis of railway system is required. We used an inductive analysis method for circuit analysis and produced results concerning the fault current flow. Based on PSCAD/EMTDC simulations, distance relay operation characteristics including fault location algorithm was conducted.
The Impact of Enterprise Architecture Management on Design Decisions in IS Change Projects

Information systems (IS) change projects aim at developing consistent IS solutions for business needs. In order to avoid inconsistencies, redundancies, and misalignments among these projects, some form of cross-project guidance is needed. Enterprise architecture management (EAM) is a prominent discipline that aims to guide IS change projects not only for local business needs, but also for enterprise-wide and long-term goals. However, EAM’s impact often remains limited due to the complexity of IS landscapes, conflicting goal systems, and design decisions that cater local/short-term rather than enterprise-wide/long-term solutions. Assuming that EAM does not necessarily guide all these potentially relevant design decisions in IS change projects, we explore dimensions and characteristics of design decisions based on empirical focus group data. To this end, we develop a classification scheme, based on which we identify two design decision types that embody hierarchical and lateral characteristics, respectively. Using this scheme, we discuss how to (re-)consider EAM for enterprise-wide/long-term solutions in IS change projects.
Experience of a microparticle retention aid system

This paper presents some experience from using a cationic polymer-bentonite microparticle retention aid system at an alkaline fine paper mill. An automatic control system on white water consistency maintains retention at a constant level with the polymer. Increase in the stability of the wet end was a direct result of this control loop. This procedure and access to a process data base allowed identification and analysis of some important variables affecting retention
Advanced signal processing methods for analysis of respiratory sounds.

i Respiratory sounds (RSs) auscultation using stethoscope is often the first noninvasive resource available to physicians for the detection and analysis of respiratory ailments. Motivated by the subjectivity of human auditory system, computerized auscultation combined with signal processing techniques have boosted the diagnostic capabilities of RS. This PhD thesis concentrates on the advanced signals processing methods for RS analysis from several aspects including: RS denoising by means of heart sounds (HSs) cancellation (Part I), respiratory phase detection (Part II), as well as RS analysis and feature extraction methods for RS classification (Part III). Part I solves the problem of HS cancellation through a two-steps scheme consisting of HS localization and HS removal from different types of single-channel RS recordings. HS contaminated segments have been localized by introducing a wavelet based localization scheme. A detection function based on multiscale decomposition is calculated and HS segments in the noisy RS signal are localized based on the cumulative sums of likelihood ratios capturing the dynamic behaviour of the signal. HS removal from RS is then addressed by proposing a novel semi-blind single-channel source extraction algorithm which incorporates the filter banks and template based matching using FIR filters. It has shown that the proposed methods are successful attempts to solve the clinical application challenge faced by the existing HS cancellation methods in terms of respiratory ailments. In Part II, the problem of noninvasive automatic respiratory rate monitoring by acoustical means is addressed first. Respiratory phase segmentation is then formulated as an optimization problem and the boundaries of the respiratory phase segments are ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
Multi Dimensional Personalisation Architecture Proposal for a Prototype

Multi Dimensional Personalisation (MDP) is based on the location, the interest and the location of the user. Recommendations of online content as well as offline events shall be offered to the user. At the right time, at the right place the right information or service will be offered. Instead of having to request this information this new service concept would proactively provide the information and services. MDP depends on a loosely coupled communication between the mobile device client and the MDP / server. In this paper the communication paths between the mobile MDP client and the MDP server are described. In addition an architecture proposal for the implementation of a MDP prototype is presented. This prototype implementation has to cover the user requirements of protecting the privacy and at the same time allowing the openness to deal with information / service providers. In addition it can be used to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed MDP architecture.
Lessons learnt from alcoholism and substance use disorders (SUDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in India

Summary SUD is a widespread non-communicable disease (NCD) with biological, social, or psychological foundations which policymakers have given less attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. People with alcohol dependence went into withdrawal as a result of the lockdown and acute lack of alcohol availability, which led to black marketing and, in extreme cases, suicide. On the other hand, De-addiction services in India were not adequately equipped for the SUD pandemic, and as a result, most services could not cope with lockdown problems. To generate revenue and to get out of this Catch-22 situation, the Government opened liquor shops and sold alcohol while people purchased it as usual because of excess stress, lack of social contact, loneliness and boredom. We recommend that during COVID-19 pandemic, national, state, and local governments, as along with organisations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, develop and support networks to address the needs of patients with SUD.
Predictors of Professional Fulfillment and Burnout Among Otolaryngologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective The goal of this study is to assess burnout and professional fulfillment during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic among otolaryngology practitioners. Study Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting International survey of otolaryngologists during a pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed from April 24 to May 8, 2020, via email and social media platforms to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on otolaryngology practitioners in academic and private practice. The Professional Fulfillment Index was used to assess professional fulfillment and burnout. Burnout was divided into work exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement. Results Of 243 respondents, 202 completed the Professional Fulfillment Index portion of the survey. An average score ≥3 on the professional fulfillment section correlates with fulfillment, while an average score ≥1.33 on the burnout section correlates with burnout. The average score of professional fulfillment was 2.17, with 85.6% of respondents reporting lack of professional fulfillment. The average score on burnout was 1, with 40.1% of otolaryngologists reporting burnout. In multivariable analyses, females were found to have statistically lower professional fulfillment (beta = −2.28, P = .010) with higher rates of work exhaustion (beta = 0.62, P < .001), interpersonal disengagement (beta = 2.08, P = .023), and burnout (beta = 4.49, P = .002). Conclusion Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, most participants reported a lack of professional fulfillment while just under half experienced burnout. Female gender was associated with low professional fulfillment and high work exhaustion, interpersonal disengagement, and burnout. Attention to burnout and job satisfaction during a pandemic is critical for the appropriate well-being of otolaryngology practitioners.
Near-field self-interference cancellation and quality of service multicast beamforming in full-duplex

To enable simultaneous multicast downlink transmit and receive operations on the same frequency band, also known as full-duplex links between an access point and mobile users. The problem of minimizing the total power of multicast transmit beamforming is considered from the viewpoint of ensuring the suppression amount of near-field line-of-sight self-interference and guaranteeing prescribed minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) at each receiver of the multicast groups. Based on earlier results for multicast groups beamforming, the joint problem is easily shown to be NP-hard. A semidefinite relaxation (SDR) technique with linear program power adjust method is proposed to solve the NP-hard problem. Simulation shows that the proposed method is feasible even when the local receive antenna in nearfield and the mobile user in far-filed are in the same direction.
Comportamiento con carga de un inversor multinivel fuente común con transformadores a la salida

This work deals with the design, development and testing of the behavior under load of a three-stage common source (27 steps) multilevel converter. Prototype implementation is carried by adopting firing angles calculated to achieve a harmonic distortion of 1.1% for the first 40 harmonics taking into account the requirements of IEEE Standard 519. The developed prototype is tested with domestic loads, evaluating the behavior of variables such as voltage regulation, the behavior of the harmonic distortion and other technical aspects of the power converter.
Shift work and evening chronotype are related to prevalent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in 282,303 UK biobank participants

Background & Aims: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is globally prevalent and confers a high risk of morbidity via progression to non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Circadian disruption in mouse models contributes to the development of hepatic steatosis and inflammation, however evidence in humans is lacking. We investigated how shift working and chronotype were associated with NAFLD/NASH in UK Biobank participants. Methods: We stratified 282,303 UK Biobank participants into day, irregular shift, and permanent night shift workers. We compared the likelihood of NAFLD/NASH in these groups using: a) Dallas Steatosis Index (DSI), b) NAFLD/NASH ICD10 codes, and c) liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF) after serially adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, sleep, alcohol, smoking, and body mass index. We further assessed the relationship of baseline chronotype with likelihood of NAFLD/NASH using the same outcomes and covariates. Results: Compared to day workers, irregular shift workers were more likely to have NAFLD/NASH defined by high DSI (odds ratio (OR) 1.29 (95% CI 1.18:1.4)) after adjusting for all covariates excluding BMI, with some attenuation after additional adjustment for BMI (OR 1.12 (1.03:1.22)). Likelihood of DSI defined NAFLD/NASH was also higher in permanent night shift workers (OR 1.08 (0.9:1.29)) in the fully adjusted model. Compared to participants with intermediate chronotype, those with extreme late chronotype had a higher likelihood of DSI-defined NAFLD/NASH (OR 1.45 (1.34:1.56)) and a higher likelihood of NAFLD/NASH by ICD10 code (OR 1.23 (1.09:1.39)). Liver PDFF was elevated in irregular shift workers, but not permanent night shift workers. Conclusions: Irregular shift work and chronotype are associated with NAFLD/NASH, suggesting circadian misalignment as an underlying mechanism. These findings have implications for health interventions to mitigate the detrimental effect of shift work.