Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae

Geckos have evolved one of the most versatile and effective adhesives known. The mechanism of dry adhesion in the millions of setae on the toes of geckos has been the focus of scientific study for over a century. We provide the first direct experimental evidence for dry adhesion of gecko setae by van der Waals forces, and reject the use of mechanisms relying on high surface polarity, including capillary adhesion. The toes of live Tokay geckos were highly hydrophobic, and adhered equally well to strongly hydrophobic and strongly hydrophilic, polarizable surfaces. Adhesion of a single isolated gecko seta was equally effective on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces of a microelectro-mechanical systems force sensor. A van der Waals mechanism implies that the remarkable adhesive properties of gecko setae are merely a result of the size and shape of the tips, and are not strongly affected by surface chemistry. Theory predicts greater adhesive forces simply from subdividing setae to increase surface density, and suggests a possible design principle underlying the repeated, convergent evolution of dry adhesive microstructures in gecko, anoles, skinks, and insects. Estimates using a standard adhesion model and our measured forces come remarkably close to predicting the tip size of Tokay gecko seta. We verified the dependence on size and not surface type by using physical models of setal tips nanofabricated from two different materials. Both artificial setal tips stuck as predicted and provide a path to manufacturing the first dry, adhesive microstructures.
Twitter Sentiment Analysis

This paper covers the two approaches for sentiment analysis: i) lexicon based method; ii) machine learning method. We describe several techniques to implement these approaches and discuss how they can be adopted for sentiment classification of Twitter messages. We present a comparative study of different lexicon combinations and show that enhancing sentiment lexicons with emoticons, abbreviations and social-media slang expressions increases the accuracy of lexicon-based classification for Twitter. We discuss the importance of feature generation and feature selection processes for machine learning sentiment classification. To quantify the performance of the main sentiment analysis methods over Twitter we run these algorithms on a benchmark Twitter dataset from the SemEval-2013 competition, task 2-B. The results show that machine learning method based on SVM and Naive Bayes classifiers outperforms the lexicon method. We present a new ensemble method that uses a lexicon based sentiment score as input feature for the machine learning approach. The combined method proved to produce more precise classifications. We also show that employing a cost-sensitive classifier for highly unbalanced datasets yields an improvement of sentiment classification performance up to 7%.
FP-Hadoop: Efficient Execution of Parallel Jobs Over Skewed Data

Big data parallel frameworks, such as MapReduce or Spark have been praised for their high scalability and performance, but show poor performance in the case of data skew. There are important cases where a high percentage of processing in the reduce side ends up being done by only one node. In this demonstration, we illustrate the use of FP-Hadoop, a system that efficiently deals with data skew in MapReduce jobs. In FP-Hadoop, there is a new phase, called intermediate reduce (IR), in which blocks of intermediate values, constructed dynamically, are processed by intermediate reduce workers in parallel, by using a scheduling strategy. Within the IR phase, even if all intermediate values belong to only one key, the main part of the reducing work can be done in parallel using the computing resources of all available workers. We implemented a prototype of FP-Hadoop, and conducted extensive experiments over synthetic and real datasets. We achieve excellent performance gains compared to native Hadoop, e.g. more than 10 times in reduce time and 5 times in total execution time. During our demonstration, we give the users the possibility to execute and compare job executions in FP-Hadoop and Hadoop. They can retrieve general information about the job and the tasks and a summary of the phases. They can also visually compare different configurations to explore the difference between the approaches.
Answering Back: Girls, Boys and Feminism in Schools

Answering Back exposes the volatility of gender reform in many different schools and classrooms. It tells stories in close up and from below, allowing everyone to talk: anxious boys, naughty girls, cantankerous teachers, pontificating principals and feisty feminists. This book challenges many sacred ideas about gender reform in schools and will surprise and unsettle teachers and researchers. It draws on a deep knowledge of gender issues in schools and of feminist theories, policies and practices. It is compelling and provocative reading at the leading edge.
Generating Hierarchically Modular Networks via Link Switching

This paper introduces a method to generate hierarchically modular networks with prescribed node degree list by link switching. Unlike many existing network generating models, our method does not use link probabilities to achieve modularity. Instead, it utilizes a user-specified topology to determine relatedness between pairs of nodes in terms of edge distances and links are switched to increase edge distances. To measure the modular-ness of a network as a whole, a new metric called Q2 is proposed. Comparisons are made between the Q [15] and Q2 measures. We also comment on the effect of our modularization method on other network characteristics such as clustering, hierarchy, average path length, small-worldness, degree correlation and centrality. An application of this method is reported elsewhere [12]. Briefly, the generated networks are used as test problems to explore the effect of modularity and degree distribution on evolutionary search algorithms.
Voting on contributions to a threshold public goods game: An experimental investigation

We introduce a binding unanimous voting rule to a public goods game with an uncertain threshold for the total group contribution. In a laboratory experiment we find that voting generates significantly higher total contributions than making individual voluntary contributions to the public good. Heterogeneity with regard to marginal costs of contribution makes coordination on the threshold value somewhat more di cult when voting, but apparently facilitates coordination when not voting. Homogeneous non-voting groups instead exhibit a breakdown of contributions commonly observed in linear public goods games, but unusual for a threshold setting. We also notice a preference for payoff symmetry over maximization of expected welfare in heterogeneous voting groups, which to a lesser extent also appears in nonvoting groups. Using a top-down rule, i.e., splitting the voting process into two separate votes on 1) total contribution and 2) individual contributions does not affect these results.
Bus arrival time prediction using artificial neural network model

A major component of ATIS is travel time information. The provision of timely and accurate transit travel time information is important because it attracts additional ridership and increases the satisfaction of transit users. The objectives of this research are to develop and apply a model to predict bus arrival time using automatic vehicle location (AVL) data. In this research, the travel time prediction model considered schedule adherence and dwell times. Actual AVL data from a bus route located in Houston, Texas was used as a test bed. A historical data based model, regression models, and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to predict bus arrival time. It was found that ANN models outperformed the historical data based model and the regression models in terms of prediction accuracy.
Long-Term Consecutive DInSAR for Volume Change Estimation of Land Deformation

In this paper, the long-term consecutive differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique is used to measure the volume change during land deformation. This technique was used to investigate the subsidence of Bandung city, Indonesia, by assessing the data from two Japanese L-band spaceborne SARs (Japanese Earth Resources Satellite 1 SAR and Advanced Land Observation Satellite Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) during the periods of 1993-1997 and 2007-2010. The results are confirmed using GPS observation data, ground survey data, local statistics, ground water level trend data, and the geological formation of the study area. The obtained results reveal a close correlation between the subsidence measurements and changes in the ground water level due to water pumping, population growth, industry growth, and urbanization of the study area.
Application of Satellite-Based Spectrally-Resolved Solar Radiation Data to PV Performance Studies

In recent years, satellite-based solar radiation data resolved in spectral bands have become available. This has for the first time made it possible to produce maps of the geographical variation in the solar spectrum. It also makes it possible to estimate the influence of these variations on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Here, we present a study showing the magnitude of the spectral influence on PV performance over Europe and Africa. The method has been validated using measurements of a CdTe module in Ispra, Italy, showing that the method predicts the spectral influence to within ±2% on a monthly basis and 0.1% over a 19-month period. Application of the method to measured spectral responses of crystalline silicon, CdTe and single-junction amorphous silicon (a-Si) modules shows that the spectral effect is smallest over desert areas for all module types, higher in temperate Europe and highest in tropical Africa, where CdTe modules would be expected to yield +6% and single- junction a-Si modules up to +10% more energy due to spectral effects. In contrast, the effect for crystalline silicon modules is less than ±1% in nearly all of Africa and Southern Europe, rising to +1% or +2% in Northern Europe.
AGGREGATION WITHOUT SEPARABILITY: TESTS OF U.S. AND MEXICAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION DATA

The generalized composite commodity theorem (Lewbel 1996) is used to test for consistent aggregation of U.S. and Mexican agricultural production data in each of the categories for which earlier tests rejected homothetic separability. All U.S. agricultural outputs can be justifiably aggregated into as few as four categories. All Mexican agricultural outputs can be aggregated into as few as five categories. The aggregation of all outputs into a single output cannot be supported in either country by sufficient conditions provided by the generalized composite commodity theorem and/or a homothetically separable technology.
Entanglements in Practice: Performing Anonymity Through Social Media

Information systems researchers have shown an increasing interest in the notion of sociomateriality. In this paper, we continue this exploration by focusing specifically on entanglement: the inseparability of meaning and matter. Our particular approach is differentiated by its grounding in a relational and performative ontology, and its use of agential realism. We explore some of the key ideas of entanglement through a comparison of two phenomena in the travel sector: an institutionalized accreditation scheme offered by the AA and an online social media website hosted by TripAdvisor. Our analysis centers on the production of anonymity in these two practices of hotel evaluation. By examining how anonymity is constituted through an entanglement of matter and meaning, we challenge the predominantly social treatments of anonymity to date and draw attention to the uncertainties and outcomes generated by specific performances of anonymity in practice. In closing, we consider what the particular agential realist concept of entanglement entails for understanding anonymity, and discuss its implications for research practice.
X-Ray Phase Nanotomography Resolves the 3D Human Bone Ultrastructure

Bone strength and failure are increasingly thought to be due to ultrastructural properties, such as the morphology of the lacuno-canalicular network, the collagen fiber orientation and the mineralization on the nanoscale. However, these properties have not been studied in 3D so far. Here we report the investigation of the human bone ultrastructure with X-ray phase nanotomography, which now provides the required sensitivity, spatial resolution and field of view. The 3D organization of the lacuno-canalicular network is studied in detail over several cells in osteonal and interstitial tissue. Nanoscale density variations are revealed and show that the cement line separating these tissues is hypermineralized. Finally, we show that the collagen fibers are organized as a twisted plywood structure in 3D.
BINARY PROPERTIES FROM CEPHEID RADIAL VELOCITIES ( CRaV ) Citation

We have examined high accuracy radial velocities of Cepheids to determine the binary frequency. The data are largely from the CORAVEL spectrophotometer and the Moscow version, with a typical uncertainty of 1 ⩽ km s, and a time span from 1 to 20 years. A systemic velocity was obtained by removing the pulsation component using a high order Fourier series. From this data we have developed a list of stars showing no orbital velocity larger than±1 km s. The binary fraction was analyzed as a function of magnitude, and yields an apparent decrease in this fraction for fainter stars. We interpret this as incompleteness at fainter magnitudes, and derive the preferred binary fraction of 29% ± 8% (20%± 6% per decade of orbital period) from the brightest 40 stars. A comparison of this fraction in this period range (1–20 years) implies a large fraction for the full period range. This is reasonable in that the high accuracy velocities are sensitive to the longer periods and smaller orbital velocity amplitudes in the period range sampled here. Thus the Cepheid velocity sample provides a sensitive detection in the period range between short period spectroscopic binaries and resolved companions. The recent identification of δ Cep as a binary with very low amplitude and high eccentricity underscores the fact that the binary fractions we derive are lower limits, to which other low amplitude systems will probably be added. The mass ratio (q) distribution derived from ultraviolet observations of the secondary is consistent with a flat distribution for the applicable period range (1–20 years).
On the relation between Meridional Overturning Circulation and sea-level gradients in the Atlantic

Abstract. On the basis of model simulations, we examine what information on changes in the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) can be extracted from associated changes in sea surface height (SSH), specifically from a broad Atlantic north–south gradient as has been suggested previously in the literature. Since a relation between AMOC and SSH changes can only be used as an AMOC diagnostic if it is valid independently of the specific forcing, we consider three different forcing types: increase of CO2 concentration, freshwater fluxes to the northern convection sites and the modification of Southern Ocean winds. We concentrate on a timescale of 100 yr. We find approximately linear and numerically similar relations between a sea-level difference within the Atlantic and the AMOC for freshwater as well as wind forcing. However, the relation is more complex in response to atmospheric CO2 increase, which precludes this sea-level difference as an AMOC diagnostic under climate change. Finally, we show qualitatively to what extent changes in SSH and AMOC strength, which are caused by simultaneous application of different forcings, correspond to the sum of the changes due to the individual forcings, a potential prerequisite for more complex SSH-based AMOC diagnostics.
Bmc Plant Biology

Defence reactions in the apoplastic proteome of oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. napus) attenuate Verticillium longisporum growth but not disease symptoms Abstract Background: Verticillium longisporum is one of the most important pathogens of Brassicaceae that remains strictly in the xylem during most stages of its development. It has been suggested that disease symptoms are associated with clogging of xylem vessels. The aim of our study was to investigate extracellular defence reactions induced by V. longisporum in the xylem sap and leaf apoplast of Brassica napus var. napus in relation to the development of disease symptoms, photosynthesis and nutrient status.
Sitting on the domain walls of N=1 super Yang-Mills

In pure = 1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills with gauge group SU(N), the domain walls which separate the N vacua have been argued, on the basis of string theory realizations, to be D-branes for the confining string. In a certain limit, this means that a configuration of k parallel domain walls is described by a 2+1-dimensional U(k) gauge theory. This theory has been identified by Acharya and Vafa as the U(k) gauge theory with 4 supercharges broken by a Chern-Simons term of level N in such a way that 2 supercharges are preserved. We argue further that the gauge coupling of the domain wall gauge theory goes like g2 ~ Λ/N , for large N. In the case of two domain walls, we show that the U(2) world-volume theory generates a quadratic potential on the Coulomb branch at two loops in perturbation theory which is consistent with there being a supersymmetric bound state of the two wall system. A mass gap of order Λ/N is generated around the supersymmetric minimum and we estimate the size of the bound-state to be order Λ/(N)1/2. At large distance the potential reaches a constant that can qualitatively account for the binding energy of the two walls even though stringy effects are not, strictly speaking, decoupled.
Coverage constrained non-uniform node deployment in wireless sensor networks for load balancing

Multi-hop wireless sensor networks with uniform node deployment, in general, suffers from uneven load distribution that finally creates an energy hole around the sink causing early failure of the network. However, it has been shown earlier that nearly balanced energy consumption can be achieved by utilizing non-uniform deterministic node distribution with increasing node density towards the sink. In this paper, a novel model is proposed for non-uniform deterministic node distribution that reduces the total number of nodes to be deployed over the area and the network traffic satisfying both coverage and load balancing criteria. Also, with random node distribution, a simple distributed algorithm is developed for nearly load-balanced data gathering. Performance comparison with earlier works by simulation shows that the proposed model performs better in terms of network lifetime, network traffic and packet drops.
A finite element method for the two‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations

A new numerical method for Nwogu's (ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering 1993; 119:618)two‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations is presented using a linear triangular finite element spatial discretization coupled with a sophisticated adaptive time integration package. The authors have previously presented a finite element method for the one‐dimensional form of these equations (M. Walkley and M. Berzins (International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 1999; 29(2):143)) and this paper describes the extension of these ideas to the two‐dimensional equations and the application of the method to complex geometries using unstructured triangular grids. Computational results are presented for two standard test problems and a realistic harbour model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How worthwhile is teleworking from a sustainable mobility perspective? The case of Brussels Capital region.

Since the 1960s, the number of commuters in the Brussels Capital Region has doubled: nowadays more than 400,000 workers commute in and out of Brussels on a daily basis. In order to preserve the liveability of the region in terms of mobility, environment and traffic safety, policy measures should be taken to reduce the number and/or distances of commuter trips. Telework is often suggested as an instrument to reduce the environmental and socio-economic impacts of mobility on society. Currently, the implementation of teleworking is however still rather limited and fragmental in most companies in Belgium. Goal of this paper is to assess whether further encouragement of telework is advisable from a sustainable mobility viewpoint. Based on Belgian survey data, an appraisal of the environmental and mobility related impacts of telework for companies located in the Brussels Capital Region is performed, using an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of telework. In order to quantify the effects, external costs of trips to the central headquarter office are compared to those of trips to decentralized satellite offices and those caused by additional distances travelled when teleworking at home. Modal shifts occurring between trips travelled to the central office and trips travelled to the satellite office are taken into account and play an important role in the overall impact on external transport costs. Also receptor density and congestion levels along the routes travelled are taken into account.
Conceptual Object Representations in Human Anterior Temporal Cortex

Interaction with everyday objects requires the representation of conceptual object properties, such as where and how an object is used. What are the neural mechanisms that support this knowledge? While research on semantic dementia has provided evidence for a critical role of the anterior temporal lobes (ATLs) in object knowledge, fMRI studies using univariate analysis have primarily implicated regions outside the ATL. In the present human fMRI study we used multivoxel pattern analysis to test whether activity patterns in ATLs carry information about conceptual object properties. Participants viewed objects that differed on two dimensions: where the object is typically found (in the kitchen or the garage) and how the object is commonly used (with a rotate or a squeeze movement). Anatomical region-of-interest analyses covering the ventral visual stream revealed that information about the location and action dimensions increased from posterior to anterior ventral temporal cortex, peaking in the temporal pole. Whole-brain multivoxel searchlight analysis confirmed these results, revealing highly significant and regionally specific information about the location and action dimensions in the anterior temporal lobes bilaterally. In contrast to conceptual object properties, perceptual and low-level visual properties of the objects were reflected in activity patterns in posterior lateral occipitotemporal cortex and occipital cortex, respectively. These results provide fMRI evidence that object representations in the anterior temporal lobes are abstracted away from perceptual properties, categorizing objects in semantically meaningful groups to support conceptual object knowledge.
Gaussian Mixture Model Based Switched Split Vector Quantization of LSF Parameters

We address the issue of rate-distortion (R/D) performance optimality of the recently proposed switched split vector quantization (SSVQ) method. The distribution of the source is modeled using Gaussian mixture density and thus, the non-parametric SSVQ is analyzed in a parametric model based framework for achieving optimum R/D performance. Using high rate quantization theory, we derive the optimum bit allocation formulae for the intra-cluster split vector quantizer (SVQ) and the inter-cluster switching. For the wide-band speech line spectrum frequency (LSF) parameter quantization, it is shown that the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) based parametric SSVQ method provides 1 bit/vector advantage over the non-parametric SSVQ method.