Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Database Watermarking

As increasing amounts of data are produced, packaged and delivered in digital form, in a fast, networked environment, one of its main features threatens to become its worst enemy: zero-cost verbatim copies. The ability to produce duplicates of digital Works at almost no cost can now be misused for illicit profit. This mandates mechanisms for effective rights assessment and protection. One such mechanism is based on Information Hiding. By concealing a resilient rights holder identity “signature” (watermark) within the digital Work(s) to be protected, Information Hiding for Rights Assessment (Watermarking) enables ulterior court-time proofs associating particular Works with their respective rights holders. One main challenge is the fact that altering the Work in the process of hiding information could possibly destroy its value. At the same time one has to be concerned with a malicious adversary, with major incentives to remove or alter the watermark beyond detection – thus disabling the ability for court-time proofs – without destroying the value of the Work – to preserve its potential for illicit profit. In this chapter we explore how Information Hiding can be deployed as an effective tool for Rights Assessment for discrete digital data. More specifically, we discuss numeric and categorical relational data.
Morality judgement: test of an averaging model with differential weights.

Ratings of persons described by sets of moral and immoral actions were inconsistent with additive and averaging models of information integration. An averaging model with differential weights could not give a consistent account of the effects of both the number of items and the heterogeneity of the items in the set. Highly immoral deeds appear to have an overriding influence on the overall judgment: Having committed one bad deed, a person will be rated "bad," with his good deeds having little influence. Morality judgment may thus represent a truly configural process. Recent research with judgments of the morality of objectionable behaviors (Birnbaum, 1972a) suggests that 5s integrate evaluations of immorality in a nonadditive fashion. Contrary to additive or constantweight averaging models, judgments of the overall morality of 2 actions depend upon the range of the values within the set, as well as their sum or mean. The greater the range of the items, holding mean scale value constant, the lower the judgment of morality. The interactions obtained by Birnbaum
AsyncStripe: I/O efficient asynchronous graph computing on a single server

Large-scale graphs can be analyzed by lightweight systems on a single server, e.g., GraphChi, X-Stream, and GridGraph. Studies indicate that graph algorithms have different performance impacted by partitioning schemes, scheduling strategies and execution models. Existing systems of single-server graph processing often suffer from poor I/O locality, inefficient selective scheduling or expensive synchronization costs. In this paper, we propose AsyncStripe, an I/O efficient asynchronous graph system aiming at solving all these three problems on a single server. First, AsyncStripe adopts a 2-dimensional asymmetric graph partitioning scheme to enable optimized locality and fine selective-scheduling. Second, AsyncStripe utilizes an efficient stripe-based data access strategy, obtaining high disk bandwidth and smaller I/O amount. Third, AsyncStripe executes graph algorithms asynchronously with two kinds of consistency models, therefore reducing unnecessary intermediate I/O and accelerating the convergence speed. We implement the AsyncStripe prototype by modifying the GridGraph system. Experimental results show that AsyncStripe has better performance than state-of-the-art graph analysis systems. For traversal algorithms, e.g., BFS, AsyncStripe can outperform X-Stream and GridGraph in the computation speed by up to 10.18 and 4.59 times faster respectively. For sparse matrix multiplication algorithms, e.g., SpMV, AsyncStripe can outperform X-Stream and GridGraph by up to 463.89% and 50.97% faster respectively.
Principal leadership effects on student achievement: a multilevel analysis using Programme for International Student Assessment 2015 data

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between principals’ leadership and student achievement. Based on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 United States data, a two-level hierarchical linear model (HLM) with students nested within principals and schools was applied. The findings showed (a) that principals’ rating of their own overall leadership was statistically negatively related to student achievement, (b) that among the four subscales of principal self-rated leadership, instructional leadership was statistically positively related to student achievement, while leadership for teacher development was negatively related to student achievement and (c) that principal leadership’s effect on student achievement was moderated by school contextual variables. Implications of the findings were discussed.
and Trial Behavioral and Emotional Problems Associated With Convergence Insufficiency in Children : An Open

Objective: This study investigated behavioral and emotional characteristics of children with convergence insufficiency (CI), before and after treatment with office-based vergence accommodative therapy (OBVAT). Method: Parents of 44 children ages 9 to 17 years with symptomatic CI completed the Conners 3 ADHD Index and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) before and after OBVAT. Pre-treatment scores were compared with normative data and post-treatment scores were compared with baseline using the Wilcoxon sign rank test. Results: Following OBVAT, CI children showed a significant mean improvement (p < .0001, effect size of 0.58) on the Conners 3 ADHD Index with the largest changes occurring in the 23 children who scored the highest at baseline. On the CBCL, anxious/depressed, somatic, and internalizing problems improved significantly (p < .001, effect sizes of −0.36, −1.15, and −0.67, respectively). Conclusion: In an open trial, attention and internalizing problems improved significantly following treatment for CI. (J. of Att. Dis. XXXX; XX(X) XX-XX)
A Visual Front-end for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping

We describe a method of generating and utilizing visual landmarks that is well suited for SLAM applications. The landmarks created are highly distinctive and reliably detected, virtually eliminating the data association problem present in other landmark schemes. Upon subsequent detections of a landmark, a 3-D pose can be estimated. The scheme requires a single camera.
Wide Load Range Efficiency Improvement of a High-Power-Density Bidirectional DC–DC Converter Using an MR Fluid-Gap Inductor

High-power-density bidirectional dc-dc converters consisting of buck-and-boost converters are widely used in hybrid electric vehicles due to their smaller size and low cost. With a conventional constant-value inductor, the light-load efficiency of these converters is greatly reduced because of the large constant peak-to-peak current swing and relatively constant conduction losses that result in the entire load range. This paper proposes a new type of nonlinear inductor using magnetorheological (MR) fluid to improve the intermediate- and light-load efficiencies of these converters. The use of the proposed inductor does not require any additional circuit or complex control, and yet, it has benefits of decreasing conduction losses and improving efficiency due to its increasing inductance when the load is changed from heavy to light. A 3.7-kW prototype converter is built, and the efficiency from heavy to light load is measured separately using the proposed MR fluid-gap inductor and conventional air-gap inductor, which validates the advantages of the proposed MR fluid-gap inductor.
Diagnosis of Snakebite and the Importance of Immunological Tests in Venom Research

In many cases of envenoming following snake bite, the snake responsible for the accident remains unidentified; this frequently results in difficulty deciding which antivenom to administer to the systemically-envenomed victim, especially when only monospecific antivenoms are available. Normally the specific diagnosis of snake bite can be conveniently made using clinical and laboratory methods. Where clinical diagnosis depends upon the recognition of specific signs of envenoming in the patient, laboratory diagnosis is based on the changes which occur in envenomed victims including the detection of abnormalities in blood parameters, presence/absence of myoglobinuria, changes in certain enzyme levels, presence/absence of neurotoxic signs and the detection in the blood of specific venom antigens using immunologically-based techniques, such as enzyme immunoassay. It is the latter which is the main subject of this review, together with the application of techniques currently used to objectively assess the effectiveness of new and existing antivenoms, to assess first aid measures, to investigate the possible use of such methods in epidemiological studies, and to detect individual venom components. With this in mind, we have discussed in some detail how such techniques were developed and how they have helped in the treatment of envenoming particularly and in venom research in general.
Interchangeability of measurements of total and free prostate-specific antigen in serum with 5 frequently used assay combinations: an update.

BACKGROUND The comparability of total and free prostate-specific antigen (tPSA and fPSA) results among commercial PSA assays has been suggested to be improved by calibration to WHO PSA reference materials and the development of equimolar-response assays. To characterize the current situation, we assessed 5 frequently used commercial assay combinations for tPSA and fPSA regarding the interchangeability of the PSA values and the ratio of fPSA to tPSA (%fPSA), equimolar characteristics, and diagnostic accuracy. METHODS Sera from 314 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and 282 men with no evidence of prostate cancer (NPCa) were measured with tPSA and fPSA assays from Abbott (AxSYM), Beckman Coulter (Access), Diagnostic Products Corporation (Immulite 2000), and Roche (Elecsys 2010) and with tPSA and complexed PSA (cPSA) assays from Bayer (ADVIA Centaur). RESULTS Method comparisons (Passing and Bablok regressions; Bland-Altman plots) showed assay-dependent results for tPSA, fPSA, and %fPSA. With the Access tPSA values taken as 100%, tPSA concentrations varied from 87% (AxSYM and ADVIA Centaur) to 115% (Immulite), leading to different numbers of patients classified according to the commonly recommended tPSA cutoffs for performing a biopsy. Different %fPSA values also led to assay-dependent ROC analysis results, a finding that shows the importance for the diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION Interchangeability of tPSA, fPSA, and %fPSA values obtained by commercial PSA assays remains inadequate, but attention to this issue may minimize the misinterpretation of PSA results obtained by different assays.
Counseling sex offenders and the importance of counselor self-care

Abstract Sex offender treatment is a process by which offenders learn special strategies for stopping abusive behavior and taking responsibility for harm done. Such mental health treatment is vital for offenders of sexual crimes. Most sex offenders do eventually return to the community. Sex offense counseling is also important in order to reduce recidivism rates. The purpose of this literature review is to discuss possible impacts for counselors working with sex offenders and to highlight the importance of counselor self-care when working with this population.
Influence of Teachers’ Depersonalization on Implementation of Secondary School Curriculum in Longido and Monduli Districts, Arusha, Tanzania

: Teachers play an important role in the implementation of secondary school curriculum. However, implementation of secondary school curriculum has not been effective. The study was guided by the persistent burnout and curriculum implementation theories. The study adopted mixed methods approach and used the concurrent triangulation research design. The target population for this study was 806 respondents from which a sample of 243 was selected using the Central Limit Theorem. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from secondary school teachers whereas interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from school heads and education officers. Validity was established through expert judgment whereas reliability was determined using test retest technique and reliability index, r = 0.853, was obtained using Cronbach Alpha Method. Credibility of qualitative data was ascertained by involving multiple analysis, whereas dependability was established through detailed reporting of the researcher process. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically along the research questions and presented in narrative forms whereas quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferentially using ANOVA and presented in tables and charts. The study established that teachers’ depersonalization influence implementation of secondary school curriculum. Thus, the study recommends that school management and Ministry of Education need to devise ways of motivating teachers by providing incentives, instructional resources and physical facilities. Teachers need to develop positive self-esteem, attitude and positive perception towards oneself. Teachers ought to learn to avoid aggressive acts and adhere to ethical standards of handling professional challenges in education. The Ministry of Education needs to hire more teachers to reduce workload which create burnout amongst teachers. The Ministry of Education ought to conduct seminars and workshops for teachers and to remind them of their duties despite the heavy workload.
Evolutionary and social consequences of introgression of nontransgenic herbicide resistance from rice to weedy rice in Brazil

Several studies have expressed concerns about the effects of gene flow from transgenic herbicide‐resistant crops to their wild relatives, but no major problems have been observed. This review describes a case study in which what has been feared in transgenics regarding gene flow has actually changed biodiversity and people's lives. Nontransgenic imidazolinone‐resistant rice (IMI‐rice) cultivars increased the rice grain yield by 50% in southern Brazil. This increase was beneficial for life quality of the farmers and also improved the regional economy. However, weedy rice resistant to imidazolinone herbicides started to evolve three years after the first use of IMI‐rice cultivars. Population genetic studies indicate that the herbicide‐resistant weedy rice was mainly originated from gene flow from resistant cultivars and distributed by seed migration. The problems related with herbicide‐resistant weedy rice increased the production costs of rice that forced farmers to sell or rent their land. Gene flow from cultivated rice to weedy rice has proven to be a large agricultural, economic, and social constraint in the use of herbicide‐resistant technologies in rice. This problem must be taken into account for the development of new transgenic or nontransgenic rice technologies.
The performance of processor co-allocation in multicluster systems

In systems consisting of multiple clusters of processors interconnected by relatively slow communication links, co-allocation may be required. We study its performance by means of simulations, depending on the structure and sizes of jobs, and the communication speed ratio. We model a multicluster with C clusters of identical processors. The workload consists of rigid jobs that require fixed numbers of processors, possibly in multiple clusters simultaneously. A job is represented by a tuple of C values, each generated from a same distribution D. In an ordered request the positions of the components in the tuple specify the clusters from which the processors must be allocated. For an unordered request, by the components of the tuple the job only specifies the numbers of processors needed in the separate clusters. A flexible request specifies the total number of processors, obtained as the sum of the values in the tuple. For total requests, there is a single cluster and a request only specifies the total number of processors needed. All intracluster communication links have the same speed, as do all intercluster links. The communication speed ratio is the ratio between the time needed to complete a send operation between processors in different clusters and in the same cluster.
Use of handheld wireless technology for a home-based sickle cell pain management protocol.

PURPOSE To evaluate use of a handheld electronic wireless device to implement a pain management protocol for participants with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS Participants were 19 patients with SCD aged 9-20 who experienced vaso-occlusive pain. A single-session training on the use of cognitive-behavioral coping skills was followed by instruction on how to practice these skills and monitor daily pain experience using the device. Daily pain experience and practice of coping skills were collected for the 8-week intervention period using wireless technology. RESULTS High rates of participation, daily diary completion and consumer satisfaction support the use of handheld wireless devices to implement this protocol. A comparison of the rates of self and device-recorded skills practice provides important information about the use of electronic monitoring for behavioral interventions. CONCLUSION Wireless data transfer technology has significant potential to become a practical method to improve symptom monitoring and communication between patients and providers.
Where is the Discussion of Diversity in Educational Administration Programs? Graduate Students’ Voices Addressing an Omission in their Preparation *

This paper describes an investigation of the needs of graduate students in educational administration preparation programs. The study raises questions focusing on what learning would be most valuable to school administrators who deal with diverse constituencies and cultures. To obtain appropriate information, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with older graduate students at three different locations in the U.S. In this study, the most salient finding that emerged was that graduate students learned far more through informal peer learning about diversity issues dealing with gender, race, ethnicity, social class and other areas of difference than they did in the formal educational administration classroom. Based on the analysis of interviews, the authors recommend a number of changes for program development under the category of diversity. Through these changes, it is hoped that educational administration faculty will better prepare graduate students to be educational leaders in the 21st century.
In Silico Toxicology – Non-Testing Methods

In silico toxicology in its broadest sense means “anything that we can do with a computer in toxicology. ” Many different types of in silico methods have been developed to characterize and predict toxic outcomes in humans and environment. The term non-testing methods denote grouping approaches, structure–activity relationship, and expert systems. These methods are already used for regulatory purposes and it is anticipated that their role will be much more prominent in the near future. This Perspective will delineate the basic principles of non-testing methods and evaluate their role in current and future risk assessment of chemical compounds.
Partial purification and characterization of an antimicrobial activity from the wood extract of mangrove plant Ceriops decandra

The development of resistance towards the antibiotics in use today has been a source of growing concern in the modern healthcare system around the world. To counter this major threat, there is an urgent need for discovery of new antimicrobials. Many plants, like mangroves, possess highly diversified list of natural phytochemicals which are known to have wide range of bioactivities. These phytochemicals can be good sources for the discovery of new drugs. In this study, we report the partial phytochemical characterization and antimicrobial activities of a semi-purified fraction isolated from the wood tissue of Ceriops decandra, a mangrove plant. This fraction named CD-3PM was chromatographically separated from C. decandra wood extract and was subjected to different spectral analyses to determine its partial chemical nature. The structural investigation indicates the presence of two diterpenoids, i) 3β, 13β-Dihydroxy-8-abietaen-7-one and ii) 3β-Hydroxy-8,13-abietadien-7-one in the CD-3PM fraction. The antimicrobial potential of this fraction was evaluated by microdilution-MTT assay against several organisms. Among the nine microorganisms found to be sensitive to the CD-3PM fraction, six organisms are reported to be pathogenic in nature. The CD-3PM fraction with broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy revealed the presence of two diterpenoids and possesses potential applications in drug discovery process and food processing industries.
Discovery of X-ray burst triplets in EXO 0748-676

Type-I X-ray bursts are thermonuclear flashes that take place on the surface of accreting neutron stars. The wait time between consecutive bursts is set by the time required to accumulate the fuel needed to trigger a new burst; this is at least one hour. Sometimes secondary bursts are observed, approximately 10 min after the main burst. These short wait-time bursts are not yet understood. We observed the low-mass X-ray binary and X-ray burster EXO 0748-676 with XMM-Newton for 158 h, during 7 uninterrupted observations lasting up to 30 h each. We detect 76 X-ray bursts. Most remarkably, 15 of these bursts occur in burst triplets, with wait times of 12 min between the three components of the triplet, T1, T2, and T3. We also detect 14 doublets with similar wait times between the two components of the doublet, D1 and D2. We characterize this behavior to try and obtain a better understanding of bursts with short wait times. We measure the burst peak flux, fluence, wait time and time profile, and study correlations between these parameters and with the persistent flux representing the mass accretion rate. (i) For all bursts with a long wait time, the fluence is tightly correlated with the wait time, whereas burst with short wait times generally have higher fluences than expected from this relationship; (ii) wait times tend to be longer after doublets and triplets; (iii) the time profile of single bursts, S1, and of the first burst in a double or triple burst, D1 and T1, always contains a slow component which is generally absent in the D2, T2 and T3 bursts; (iv) the peak flux is highest for S1, D1 and T1 bursts, but this is still a factor of 7 lower than the highest peak flux ever seen for a burst in this system; (v) the persistent flux, representing the mass accretion rate onto the neutron star, is about 1% of Eddington, which is among the lowest value so far measured for this system. The amount of energy per gram of accreted mass liberated during bursts is consistent with a fuel mixture of hydrogen-rich material. The characteristics of the bursts indicate that possibly all bursts in this system are hydrogen-ignited, in contrast with most other frequent X-ray bursters in which bursts are helium-ignited, but consistent with the low mass accretion rate in EXO 0748-676. Possibly the hydrogen ignition is the determining factor for the occurrence of short wait-time bursts. For example the 12 min wait time may be associated with a nuclear beta decay timescale. Appendix is only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda. org