Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model Order Reduction by Approximate Balanced Truncation: A Unifying Framework / Modellreduktion durch approximatives Balanciertes Abschneiden: eine vereinigende Formulierung

Summary A novel formulation of approximate truncated balanced realization (TBR) is introduced to unify three approaches: two iterative methods for solving the underlying Lyapunov equations - the alternating directions implicit (ADI) iteration and the rational Krylov subspace method (RKSM) - and a two-step procedure that performs a Krylov-based projection and subsequently direct TBR. The framework allows to compare the three methods with respect to solvability, fidelity, numerical effort, stability preservation and global error bounds, which suggests to merge ADI with the two-step procedure Zusammenfassung Eine neue Formulierung des approximativen Balancierten Abschneidens vereinheitlicht drei Varianten: zwei iterative Lösungsverfahren der zugrundeliegenden Ljapunow-Gleichungen - Alternating Directions Implicit (ADI) Iteration und Rational Krylov Subspace Method (RKSM) - und ein Zwei-Schritt-Verfahren (ZSV), welches nacheinander eine Krylow-Projektion und Balanciertes Abschneiden durchführt. Die einheitliche Beschreibung ermöglicht den Vergleich hinsichtlich Lösbarkeit, Approximationsgüte, numerischem Aufwand, Stabilitätserhaltung und globaler Fehlerschranken, was eine Fusion von ADI und ZSV empfiehlt
Iodine Status Has No Impact on Thyroid Function in Early Healthy Pregnancy

Aim. To assess the impact of iodine status in early pregnancy on thyroid function. Methods. Women >18 years old seen at their first prenatal consult before 12 weeks of amenorrhea and without personal thyroid history were proposed thyroid screening and were eligible if they had strictly normal thyroid tests (fT4 > 10th percentile, TSH < 2.5 mUI/L, negative anti-TPO antibodies). Evaluation included thyroid ultrasound, extensive thyroid tests, and ioduria (UIE). Results. 110 women (27.5 y, 8 weeks of amenorrhea, smoking status: 28% current smokers) were enrolled. Results are expressed as medians. UIE was 116 μg/L. 66.3% of women had iodine deficiency (ID) defined as UIE < 150. FT4 was 14.35 pmol/L; TSH 1.18 mUI/L; fT3 5 pmol/L; thyroglobulin 17.4 ng/mL; rT3 0.27 ng/mL; thyroid volume: 9.4 ml. UIE did not correlate with any thyroid tests, but correlated negatively with thyroid volume. UIE and all thyroid tests, except fT3, correlated strongly with βhCG. Smoking correlated with higher thyroid volume and thyroglobulin and with lower rT3. Conclusions. In pregnant women selected for normal thyroid function, mild ID is present in 66% during the 1st trimester. The absence of correlation between UIE and thyroid tests at that stage contrasts with the impact of βhCG and, to a lesser degree, maternal smoking.
Formulating an emergency plan based on expectation-maximization is one thing, but applying it to a single case is another

This research extends the exploration of single-play/multiple-play distinctions from monetary gambling paradigm to emergency management situation. We conducted three studies (two survey studies and one eye tracking study) to test whether an emergency plan we formulated in advance based on expectation-maximization would be likely to be applied in a single case. In the first two survey studies we found that the plan with the higher EV was more likely to be preferred when the plan was applied 100 times or to 100 areas than when the plan was applied only once or to only one area. We also found significant framing and reflection effects, both of which violated the invariance principle in the single-application condition, but not in the multiple-application condition. Furthermore, in the eye tracking study, we found distinctly different eye movement patterns in the single-application condition and the multiple-application condition. The eye movement patterns in the multiple-application condition are more consistent with the predictions deduced from expectation computation. The overall results suggest that a gap exists between the formulation and the implementation of an emergency plan. Formulating an emergency plan based on expectation-maximization is doable, but applying it to a single case may be more challenging.
Comparative Analysis of Turbulent Plane Jets from a Sharp-Edged Orifice, a Beveled-Edge Orifice and a Radially Contoured Nozzle

This article investigates through experiments the flow characteristics of plane jets from sharp-edged orifice-plate, beveled edge and radially contoured nozzle. The first two configurations exhibit saddle-backed velocity profiles while the third shows a top hat. A vena contracta is found for the jet emanating from orifice at x/h ≈ 3 while the contoured case displays a potential core extending to the range x/h = 5. A spurt in jet pressure on the centerline supports vena contracta for the orifice-jet. Momentum thicknesses and integral length scales elongate linearly with x although the growth of the shear-layer and large-scale eddies for the orifice are greater than the contoured case. The near-field spectrum exhibits higher frequency of the primary eddies that concur with enhanced turbulence intensity. Importantly, highly “turbulent” state of the orifice-jet prevails in the far-field where the spectra confirm more energetic secondary eddies associated with greater flapping amplitude of the orifice-jet.
Issue Emergence, Evolution of Controversy, and Implications for Competitive Framing

Although scholarship on competitive framing acknowledges that framing is a dynamic process in which the early stages may matter most, very little research has focused on the dynamics of issue emergence. In this article, we draw on several literatures to develop theories for how controversy related to new issues will emerge and expand in news coverage. Through a comprehensive content analysis of 101 local newspapers across the fifty U.S. states, we explore the dynamic and evolving process wherein a new issue—the HPV vaccine—emerged into public discourse and a legislative debate over school requirements for vaccination began. We find that coverage of controversy is a function of proximity, driven primarily by events within a state, although external events also influence local coverage. We also find that the legislative discussion in the media did not necessarily start out as controversial, but as the issue evolved, we observe a large increase in the proliferation of both actors taking positions and the types of arguments made to influence debate. The findings yield important insight into issue emergence with implications for how future research might test competing frames to better understand how the presentation of controversy in the mass media affects public opinion.
The endovascular treatment of a spinal perimedullary arteriovenous fistula with coils: a case report

We report a case of direct spinal intradural ventral arteriovenous fistula of the thoraco-lumbar region. Angiography demonstrated a single feeder from the anterior spinal artery that drained directly into a markedly dilated vein without an intervening nidus. The endovascular treatment was performed by a transarterial approach and the occlusion of the fistula, after a failed treatment by a detachable balloon, was obtained by coils released in the initial fistulous site inside a venous dilatation with complete clinical cure. This case indicates that endovascular treatment is possible using coils as a valid and safe alternative to a balloon, glue or surgical approach.
Software-defined radio: a brief overview

This paper overviews the software-defined radio (SDR), also called software radio (SR), refers to wireless communication in which the transmitter modulation is generated or defined by a computer. The receiver then also uses a computer to recover the signal intelligence. SDR is an enabling technology that is useful in a wide range of areas within wireless systems. The primary goal of SDR is to replace as many analog components and hardwired digital VLSI devices of the transceiver as possible with programmable devices. This technology is receiving enormous recognition and generating widespread interest in the telecommunication industry. The SDR Forum is an international, nonprofit organization that includes members from academia, the military, vendors, wireless service providers, and regulatory bodies. SDR has been described as the cornerstone in the evolution of GSM.
Evolving type-2 recurrent fuzzy neural network

Evolving intelligent system (EIS) is a machine learning algorithm, specifically designed to deal with learning from large data streams. Although the EIS research topic has attracted various contributions over the past decade, the issue of uncertainty, temporal system dynamic, and system order are relatively unexplored by existing studies. A novel EIS, namely evolving type-2 recurrent fuzzy neural network (eT2RFNN) is proposed in this paper. eT2RFNN features a novel recurrent network architecture, possessing double local recurrent connections. It generates a generalized interval type-2 fuzzy rule, where an interval type-2 multivariate Gaussian function constructs the rule premise, and the rule consequent is crafted by the nonlinear wavelet function. eT2RFNN adopts an open structure, where it can start learning process from scratch with an empty rule base. Fuzzy rules can be automatically generated according to degree of nonlinearity data stream conveys. It can performs a rule base simplification procedure by pruning and merging inactive, outdated and overlapping rules. eT2RFNN can deal with the high dimensionality problem, where an online dimensionality reduction method is integrated in the training process. The efficacy of the eT2RFNN has been numerically validated using two real-world data streams, where it provides high predictive accuracy, while retaining low complexity.
Technology-Using Teachers: Comparing Perceptions of Exemplary Technology Use to Best Practice

In this exploratory study, we compared characteristics and teaching practices of teachers perceived to be exemplary technology users with descriptions of exemplary users provided in the literature. Using a qualitative case-study design, we examined the pedagogical beliefs and classroom practices of 17 exemplary technology-using teachers. Findings suggest that exemplary technology use, as perceived and practiced by teachers, does not readily match descriptions of best practice provided in the literature. Rather, exemplary use reflects teachers’ personal beliefs about teaching and learning as well as their specific teaching contexts. (
Classroom Teaching Changes in Web-Enhanced Courses: A Multi-Institutional Study.

26 Web-based instruction in higher education has grown exponentially, with more than a thousand universities offering courses over the Web in the United States alone.1 Web-based instruction offers obvious advantages for distance and continuing education populations by making access to education at any time or place feasible. This kind of flexibility is similarly advantageous for informal or professional training. However, a major use of Web-based instruction is to enhance traditional, on-campus courses, where the benefit of Web enhancement as a supplemental resource is less obvious. Nonetheless, universities are investing significantly in course management software, expanded networks, and training and support capabilities to introduce Web enhancements to traditional courses. Faculty are embracing these tools as well and investing significant time and energy into adding Web-based supplements to their traditional courses.2 Much of the research on Web use in education has focused on specific applications and their perceived effects on outcomes. In a review of research on Web-based learning, Meyer acknowledged the difficulty in isolating the factors that influence online learning, such as the technologies or the students.3 Meyer also noted that assessing quality in traditional classroom settings is difficult for similar reasons. Much of the research comparing outcomes does not account for changes in instructional design and classroom teaching that may accompany the introduction of technology. Smith and Dillon called the interaction of technologies with instructional design the “media/method confound” and asserted that “it is not the technology that has an effect; it is the way it is used. ”4 Meyer, along with Newman and Scurry, suggested that online learning initiatives go beyond the technology itself to encourage institutions and faculty to “question assumptions and renew attention to student learning. ”5 Little has been reported on the specific impact of Web enhancements on classroom activities—the face-to-face comThis study assessed the kinds of changes that occur in face-toface instruction when faculty add Web enhancements to their courses
Surface acting in service: A two-context examination of customer power and politeness

To date, the role of employee perceptions of customers has largely been overlooked in the emotional labor literature, particularly in the area of customer power. In two studies, we first examined the relationships between perceptions of the customer (i.e. power and politeness), surface acting and job-related outcomes in a typical service context (a department store; Study 1) and then explored the generalizability of these findings to a health care service context (a nursing home; Study 2), in which customer–employee relationships, the emotional climate and customer behavior norms differ substantially. Survey results indicate that for department store employees, perceiving customers as having higher power was associated with more reported surface acting and that certain negative effects of surface acting were exacerbated by interacting with impolite customers. These results were not replicated in our sample of nursing home employees. Our research suggests that customer-related variables have an impact on surface acting strategies, both in terms of usage and its relationship to job-related outcomes in certain service contexts. Divergent findings across our two studies suggest that different service contexts may require different assumptions regarding surface acting, customer perceptions and outcomes.
A case of valence competition in elections

Despite a growing interest in investigating the causes of political corruption, far less attention has been devoted to analysing the conditions under which political actors have an incentive to highlight corruption in electoral competition. Do parties talk about corruption just as a reaction to exogenous factors (i.e. scandals reported in the press)? Or are there systematic patterns in the way parties emphasize this issue during campaigns? Assuming that corruption is a valence issue (i.e. an issue universally supported/disclaimed by electors), we put our investigation in the framework of a one-dimensional model and hypothesize that spatial considerations can affect parties’ incentives to emphasize corruption issues. Empirical analysis based on CMP data shows that such an incentive exists for both cabinet and non-cabinet parties, and increases with proximity on the ideological scale.
Investigating Gender‐Schema Congruity Effects on Consumers’ Evaluation of Anthropomorphized Products

Anthropomorphism refers to the tendency to attribute humanlike characteristics, intentions, and behavior to nonhuman artifacts. Prior research has established a product-schema congruity effect by suggesting that successful anthropomorphism necessitates a product with schema-congruent features next to the promotion message. This article extends this body of research for the specific case of gender anthropomorphism by proposing a gender-schema congruity effect. Specifically, the results of two experimental studies demonstrated that when a human gender schema is primed, that is, congruent with consumers’ own gender, consumers show more preferential evaluations and are more likely to perceive the product as human, even when no product-schema congruent features are present in the product. Results indicated that perceived anthropomorphism mediates the gender-schema congruity effect and the product-schema congruity effect on product evaluations.
Small-Signal Stability Assessment of Power Electronics Based Power Systems: A Discussion of Impedance- and Eigenvalue-Based Methods

This paper investigates the small-signal stability of power electronics-based power systems in frequency domain. A comparison between the impedance-based and the eigenvalue-based stability analysis methods is presented. A relation between the characteristics equation of the eigenvalues and poles and zeros of the minor-loop gain from the impedance-based analysis have been derived analytically. It is shown that both stability analysis methods can effectively determine the stability of the system. In the case of the impedance-based method, a low phase-margin in the Nyquist plot of the minor-loop gain indicates that the system can exhibit harmonic oscillations. A weakness of the impedance method is the limited observability of certain states given its dependence on the definition of local source-load subsystems, which makes it necessary to investigate the stability at different subsystems. To address this limitation, the paper discusses critical locations where the application of the method can reveal the impact of a passive component or a controller gain on the stability. On the other hand, the eigenvalue-based method, being global, can determine the stability of the entire system; however, it cannot unambiguously predict sustained harmonic oscillations in voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage dc (HVdc) systems caused by pulse-width modulation (PWM) switching. To generalize the observations, the two methods have been applied to dc–dc converters. To illustrate the difference and the relation between the two-methods, the two stability analysis methods are then applied to a two-terminal VSC-based HVdc system as an example of power electronics-based power systems, and the theoretical analysis has been further validated by simulation and experiments.
Does dietary knowledge influence the eating behaviour of adolescents?

In order to develop a true understanding of adolescents’ eating behaviour and food choices it is necessary to briefly consider such behaviour from an ecological perspective. Four levels of influence impact on the nutritional health of teens. Firstly, individual or intrapersonal factors such as the psycho-social and biological factors immediately drive behaviour. Secondly, the social environment (or interpersonal factors) in which the adolescent lives, in terms of peers and family members, plays a strong role. Thirdly, one needs to place the adolescent in the perspective of his/her community and environment in terms of influences impacting on nutrition-related behaviour. Outside influences such as availability and access to fast food outlets, school tuckshops, food stores and vendors in the vicinity may play a role in his/her decision making. Lastly the macroenvironment needs to be understood in terms of the society in which the adolescent finds himself/herself. The latter influences include effects of mass media and advertising. For example, research in the USA since the nineties has shown that advertisements on children’s programmes on television are frequently the direct opposite of the recommended diet. They are mainly for fast foods and for foods rich in sugar and fat. Very few, if any promulgate a fruit and vegetable intake.
Addressing the Population Burden of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems: A Primary Care Model

A model for primary care child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) services is presented, the overall goal of which is to reduce population burden of CAMH problems. The theoretical orientation of the model is based on ecological systems theories. Features of the model include: local population outcome measures; small area service focus; primary-care-based CAMH specialists; a locally comprehensive service framework based in primary care (schools and general practices); and an explicit process of community engagement. The model is illustrated by reference to a primary care CAMH service (currently the subject of a controlled trial) in Flintshire, North Wales.
Going with the Flow: Can the Base of Jets Subsume the Role of Compact Accretion Disk Coronae?

The hard state of X-ray binaries (XRBs) is characterized by a power-law spectrum in the X-ray band and a flat/inverted radio/IR spectrum associated with occasionally imaged compact jets. It has generally been thought that the hard X-rays result from Compton upscattering of thermal accretion disk photons by a hot, coronal plasma whose properties are inferred via spectral fitting. Interestingly, these properties—especially those from certain magnetized corona models—are very similar to the derived plasma conditions at the jet footpoints. Here we explore the question of whether the "corona" and "jet base" are in fact related, starting by testing the strongest premise that they are synonymous. In such models, the radio through the soft X-rays are dominated by synchrotron emission, while the hard X-rays are dominated by inverse Compton at the jet base—with both disk and synchrotron photons acting as seed photons. The conditions at the jet base fix the conditions along the rest of the jet, thus creating a direct link between the X-ray and radio emission. We also add to this model a simple iron line and convolve the spectrum with neutral reflection. After forward-folding the predicted spectra through the detector response functions, we compare the results to simultaneous radio/X-ray data obtained from the hard states of the Galactic XRBs GX 339-4 and Cygnus X-1. Results from simple Compton corona model fits are also presented for comparison. We demonstrate that the jet model fits are statistically as good as the single-component corona model X-ray fits, yet are also able to address the simultaneous radio data.
The Effect of Yoga Lessons on Young Children's Executive Functioning

Individual differences in preschool and school-aged children's attention, inhibition and spatial working memory were examined after exposure to a yoga intervention. Previous research has found that exposure to yoga has improved attention in both adults and children. Previous research, however, is limited in regards to examining this relationship in a preschool-aged population. The purpose of the current study is to examine and compare the relationship between preschool-aged as well as school-aged children's attention, inhibition, and spatial working memory abilities for children who participated in a yoga intervention and children who do not participate in a yoga intervention. Twenty-six 4 to 8-year-olds who participated in a six-week yoga intervention and 26 4 to 8-year-olds who did not participate in a yoga intervention, but instead read an extra 30 minutes a week with their parents, were asked to complete a Continuous Performance Task (attention measurement), a Flanker Task (inhibition measurement) and a Spatial Memory Task in a pre and posttest format. Parents were asked to fill out questionnaires regarding their child's social behavior, and effortful control. Follow-up questionnaires were administered along with follow-up questions regarding the parents and children's perception of the yoga and reading intervention to the preschool-aged children's parents. The findings suggest that yoga can be used as an ! intervention for both preschool and school-aged children as noted by video observations of the yoga course. Our current study provided weak evidence that yoga may have impacted the inhibition abilities of preschool-aged children as measured by our flanker task. However, future research should further examine the relationship between yoga and the improvement of inhibition abilities in young children. This current research added to the research in the area of behavioral interventions for young children's executive functioning by examining if yoga helps improve the executive functioning in school-aged and preschool-aged children. This study is a good first step to understanding if yoga could be used a possible intervention strategy with children in order to help strengthen his or her executive functioning.