Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability Analysis of the Continuous-Conduction-Mode Buck Converter Via Filippov's Method

To study the stability of a nominal cyclic steady state in power electronic converters, it is necessary to obtain a linearization around the periodic orbit. In many past studies, this was achieved by explicitly deriving the Poincare map that describes the evolution of the state from one clock instant to the next and then locally linearizing the map at the fixed point. However, in many converters, the map cannot be derived in closed form, and therefore this approach cannot directly be applied. Alternatively, the orbital stability can be worked out by studying the evolution of perturbations about a nominal periodic orbit, and some studies along this line have also been reported. In this paper, we show that Filippov's method - which has commonly been applied to mechanical switching systems - can be used fruitfully in power electronic circuits to achieve the same end by describing the behavior of the system during the switchings. By combining this and the Floquet theory, it is possible to describe the stability of power electronic converters. We demonstrate the method using the example of a voltage-mode-controlled buck converter operating in continuous conduction mode. We find that the stability of a converter is strongly dependent upon the so-called saltation matrix - the state transition matrix relating the state just after the switching to that just before. We show that the Filippov approach, especially the structure of the saltation matrix, offers some additional insights on issues related to the stability of the orbit, like the recent observation that coupling with spurious signals coming from the environment causes intermittent subharmonic windows. Based on this approach, we also propose a new controller that can significantly extend the parameter range for nominal period-1 operation.
Sleep, Sleepiness, and Behavior Problems in Children With Headache

The purpose of this study was to assess sleep, daytime sleepiness, and behavior problems in children suffering from headaches and in controls, with a special focus on the role of gender. A clinical group of 28 children with persistent headache complaints and a control group of 108 healthy children were included. Sleep was assessed by actigraphy and diaries. Behavior problems were assessed by parental reports. In comparison with the control group, the sleep quality of the clinical group was poorer and they complained more about excessive daytime sleepiness. Children suffering from headache showed higher levels of internalizing behavior problems. Gender was found to be a moderating factor for the relationships between headache and sleep. Compared with control girls, girls suffering from headaches had poorer sleep quality, whereas the opposite was true for the boys. The results highlight the importance of assessing sleep, daytime sleepiness, and psychologic adjustment in children complaining about headaches as an integral part of their routine assessment.
Examination of data, rule generation and detection of phishing URLs using online logistic regression

Web services such as online banking, gaming, and social networking have rapidly evolved as has the reliance upon them by people to perform everyday tasks. As a result, a large amount of information is uploaded on a daily basis to the Web. The openness of the Web exposes opportunities for criminals to upload malicious content. Despite extensive research, email based spam filtering techniques are unable to protect other web services. Therefore, a counter measure must be taken that generalizes across web services to protect the user from phishing hosts. The paper describes an approach that classifies URLs automatically based on their lexical and host-based features. The usability of Mahout is demonstrated for such scalable machine learning problems, and online learning is considered over batch learning. The classifier achieves 93-97% accuracy by detecting a large number of phishing hosts, while maintaining a modest false positive rate. The raw data is examined, and the effectiveness of various feature subsets is assessed. The relevance of bigrams is assessed, and strengthened by using the chi-squared and information gain attribute evaluation methods.
An improved non-local denoising algorithm

Recently, the NLMeans filter has been proposed by Buades et al. for the suppression of white Gaussian noise. This filter exploits the repetitive character of structures in an image, unlike conventional denoising algorithms, which typically operate in a local neighbourhood. Even though the method is quite intuitive and potentially very powerful, the PSNR and visual results are somewhat inferior to other recent state-of-the-art non-local algorithms, like KSVD and BM-3D. In this paper, we show that the NLMeans algorithm is basically the first iteration of the Jacobi optimization algorithm for robustly estimating the noise-free image. Based on this insight, we present additional improvements to the NLMeans algorithm and also an extension to noise reduction of coloured (correlated) noise. For white noise, PSNR results show that the proposed method is very competitive with the BM-3D method, while the visual quality of our method is better due to the lower presence of artifacts. For correlated noise on the other hand, we obtain a significant improvement in denoising performance compared to recent wavelet-based techniques.
Facial Action Unit Recognition from Video Streams with Recurrent Neural Networks

individual behavioral processes. Their recognition and verification can be framed as the identification of states of dynamical systems generated by physiological processes. Whereas a snap shot of a dynamical system gives information about its current state, a time series of past states captures its trajectory in state space. The description and recognition of facial expressions using atomic muscle movements, so-called action units provide an extensive framework. The temporal modeling and recognition of these muscle movements promises a broader and more generic approach for recognizing subtle changes on the facial region. This paper proposes the use of recurrent neural networks for modeling facial action unit activity. Recurrent neural networks are able to model actions based on their previous and current states, unlike other dynamic classifiers such as hidden Markov models. A detailed comparative analysis with the recognition performance of a static classifier such as support vector machines suggests that recurrent neural networks gain more knowledge about the action unit activation when presented with a sequence of images. On average our model achieved a positive hit rate of 85.8% for upper face action units and 84.9% for lower face action units.
The Impact of Virtual Technologies on Organizational Knowledge Creation: An Empirical Study

This study examines the processes of organizational knowledge creation in two highly virtualized teams, one involved in the design of a small city car and the second in the re-design of a small industrial vehicle. Using Nonaka's model of organizational knowledge creation, we explore how the visualization of knowledge based processes, i.e. the intensive exploitation of ICTs in support of knowledge-based activities, has shaped new forms of knowledge creation both at individual and organizational level. In contrast with previous studies [1] that identified knowledge codification as the main contribution of ICTs, this study provides detailed micro-level evidence on the ability of virtual technologies to support the transfer and the creation of new knowledge both at explicit and tacit levels. Several implications for scholars and practitioners are presented.
Molecular Markers Implicating Early Malignant Events in Cervical Carcinogenesis

Background: Human papillomavirus can induce a stepwise progression of precursor lesions to carcinoma. Sensitive and specific molecular markers are needed to identify the cervical lesions (CIN) at risk for this progression. hTERT activation could be one indicator of a point of no return in malignant progression. Methods: The UT-DEC-1 cell line is an in vitro model for the study of human papillomavirus–induced progression. Using molecular mining, nine potential genes interlinking hTERT and viral oncogene expression with the phenotypical features of CIN2 were identified. After preliminary testing with real-time PCR, five genes were selected for further analysis: hTERT, DKC1, Bcl-2, S100A8, and S100A9. These proteins were also tested in a series of 120 CIN lesions using immunohistochemistry. Results: Analysis of the mRNA expression of these genes at different cell passages revealed three time points with significant changes. hTERT, Bcl-2, and S100A9 were also overexpressed in CIN lesions, and the expression pattern changed during the progression toward CIN3 lesions. Conclusions: These identified time points that were combined with the mRNA overexpression of target genes matched events previously shown to be important in the progression toward malignancy: (a) the viral integration into the cell genome and episome loss; (b) the selection of cells with an acquired growth advantage and ability to maintain telomerase activity; and (c) the final stage of malignancy with permanently upregulated telomerase. Impact: hTERT, Bcl-2, and S100A9 together might compose a potential prognostic marker panel for the assessment of CIN lesions. These results, however, need further validation in prospective clinical settings. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(8); 2003–12. ©2010 AACR.
Report from a multi-institutional randomized clinical trial examining computer-assisted problem-solving skills training for English- and Spanish-speaking mothers of children with newly diagnosed cancer.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA)-based supplement for maternal Problem-Solving Skills Training (PSST) and to explore Spanish-speaking mothers' experiences with it. METHODS Mothers (n = 197) of children with newly diagnosed cancer were randomized to traditional PSST or PSST + PDA 8-week programs. Participants completed the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Profile of Mood States, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised pre-, post-treatment, and 3 months after completion of the intervention. Mothers also rated optimism, logic, and confidence in the intervention and technology. RESULTS Both groups demonstrated significant positive change over time on all psychosocial measures. No between-group differences emerged. Despite technological "glitches," mothers expressed moderately high optimism, appreciation for logic, and confidence in both interventions and rated the PDA-based program favorably. Technology appealed to all Spanish-speaking mothers, with younger mothers showing greater proficiency. CONCLUSIONS Well-designed, supported technology holds promise for enhancing psychological interventions.
The User Experience Landscape of South Africa

Industry in South Africa is becoming increasingly aware of the need for user experience design in the development of products and services. Problems experienced with usability prevent people from accessing, and eventually adopting technology, and a deep understanding of the users' needs is needed for building a successful service. User experience activities, such as user research, can be used to understand how people live their lives, in order to more effectively respond to user needs with informed, relevant and innovative design solutions. Together with this increased awareness and appetite, is the emergent challenge where those who constitute the field of user experience (practitioners, service providers, content providers, scholars and those requiring user experience services) often understand the field differently and in different ways. The aim of this paper is to describe the current landscape of the field of user experience in South Africa and gain insights into the field's maturity such that further research and recommendations may assist in its positive growth. A survey was used to gather feedback from 105 respondents currently involved in the user experience field in South Africa. The user research methodology focused on: defining the goals of the survey; determining the user profiles; planning the survey; running the survey; analysing and reporting the results. Results provided insights into the demographics, experience, education, job titles, salaries, challenges of user experience practitioners, and the user experience community of practice in South Africa.
Does Perceptual Learning Style Matching Affect L2 Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition through Reading?

Learning style matching is a neglected factor that may affect the complex process of second language (L2) incidental vocabulary acquisition through reading. The purpose of the current study is to investigate whether there is any difference in L2 incidental vocabulary acquisition and retention through reading when learners’ perceptual learning style is matched to their input mode, mismatched to their input mode, or mixed. The participants were 108 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners at pre-intermediate levels of English proficiency. Based on their perceptual learning style preferences (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic/tactile, mixed), they were divided into a reading group (consisting of three subgroups: Matched, Mismatched, Mixed) and a control group. The reading group read a graded reader containing 16 target words and then completed immediate and delayed (3 weeks later) vocabulary post-tests. The results revealed no significant differences between the three reading subgroups in terms of incidental vocabulary acquisition and retention. The findings suggest that perceptual learning style matching has no benefits for incidental word learning through reading.
Getting and Retaining Child Care Assistance: How Policy and Practice Influence Parents' Experiences. Occasional Paper. Assessing the New Federalism: An Urban Institute Program To Assess Changing Social Policies.

For low-income parents, getting and keeping child care subsidies can sometimes be so challenging that it undermines a key goal of the system, to work and stay off welfare. Families must do far more to get and keep their subsidies than has generally been recognized. They must apply for subsidies, periodically recertify their eligibility and report any changes in, for instance, job, income, child care provider, residence, or marital status. Most sites required parents to come into the office at least once, though some sites required them to come in repeatedly. Subsidy policies and how they were implemented in practice also did not always match. For instance, even in locations that required recertification every six months, caseworkers could require parents to recertify more often, particularly if the family experienced frequent job related changes. The research is based on interviews with state and local administrators and other experts, and focus groups with child care caseworkers, parents receiving subsidies, and child care providers in 12 states.
Ordinal Rating of Network Performance and Inference by Matrix Completion

This paper addresses the large-scale acquisition of end-to-end network performance. We made two distinct contributions: ordinal rating of network performance and inference by matrix completion. The former reduces measurement costs and unifies various metrics which eases their processing in applications. The latter enables scalable and accurate inference with no requirement of structural information of the network nor geometric constraints. By combining both, the acquisition problem bears strong similarities to recommender systems. This paper investigates the applicability of various matrix factorization models used in recommender systems. We found that the simple regularized matrix factorization is not only practical but also produces accurate results that are beneficial for peer selection.
Glaucolepis ) lituanica sp . nov . , an unexpected new stem-miner on Salvia pratensis occurring in eastern Europe ( Lepidoptera : Nepticulidae )

Trifurcula (Glaucolepis) lituanica Ivinskis & van Nieukerken, sp. nov., is described from adults reared from stemmining larvae on Salvia pratensis (Lamiaceae) from Lithuania and some specimens taken as adults in Austria, Slovenia and Greece. In addition the new species is recorded from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania. Superficially, it resembles Trifurcula (Glaucolepis) headleyella (Stainton, 1854), especially the male, but it differs by male genitalia with additional cornuti, a unique character for the subgenus, and the female genitalia differ by the larger number of convolutions in the ductus spermathecae. It is the only known Trifurcula to make its cocoon partially inside a stemmine. The synonymy of Nepticula dubiella Hauder, 1912 with T. headleyella is confirmed, but some specimens recorded under this name from Austria belong to the new species. DNA barcodes are provided and compared with related species.
Caspase-mediated calcineurin activation contributes to IL-2 release during T cell activation.

Calcineurin, a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent Ser/Thr phosphatase (protein phosphatase 2B), plays a critical role in IL-2 production during T cell activation. It has been previously reported that IL-2 release in activated Jurkat T requires caspase-like activity (Posmantur et al. (1998) Exp. Cell. Res. 244, 302-309). We report here that the 60-kDa catalytic subunit of calcineurin A (Cn A) was partially cleaved to a 45-kDa form in phytohemagglutinin A (PHA) or phorbol ester + ionomycin (P + I)-activated Jurkat cells. In parallel, proteolytic activation of upstream caspases (caspase-8 and -9) as well as effector caspase-3 was also observed. Cn A cleavage was caspase mediated, since it was inhibitable by pan-caspase inhibitor Cbz-Asp-CH(2)OC(O)-2,6-dichlorobenzene (Z-D-DCB). Cn A cleavage was also observed when purified calcineurin was digested in vitro with caspase-3. Truncated Cn A was associated with enhanced phosphatase activity and reduced calmodulin sensitivity. Furthermore, in PHA or P + I-activated Jurkat cells, dephosphorylation of calcineurin substrate NFATc (a transcription factor known to be involved in transactivation of the IL-2 gene), was also suppressed by Z-D-DCB. Taken together, our results suggest that caspase-mediated cleavage of Cn A contributes to IL-2 production during T cell activation.
Understanding the social impacts of festivals on communities

ix PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS ARISING FROM THE DOCTORAL RESEARCH xi CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL IMPACTS OF FESTIVALS ON COMMUNITIES 1 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH 1 1.2 THE RESEARCH FOCUS: THE SOCIAL IMPACTS OF FESTIVALS ON COMMUNITIES 4 1.3 THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE THESIS. 7 1.4 DELIMITATIONS OF SCOPE 9 1.5 THESIS OUTLINE 10 1.6 SUMMARY 11 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 13 2.
Determining the impact of multiple consecutive years of financial reporting quality issues on investment efficiency

Title of Dissertation: DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF MULTIPLE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY ISSUES ON INVESTMENT EFFICIENCY Amanda L. Wilford, Ph.D. Candidate, 2012 Directed By: Professor Lawrence A. Gordon Department of Accounting and Information Assurance Robert H. Smith School of Business Prior research recognizes that there is a positive relation between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency. The primary object of this dissertation is to examine how financial reporting quality in multiple consecutive years impacts investment efficiency. I use material weaknesses in internal control (MW) as a proxy for poor financial reporting quality and I examine the impact of poor financial reporting quality in multiple consecutive years using an OLS regression model. The results indicate there is a progressively negative impact on investment efficiency tied to the number of consecutive years in which firms report MW. Additionally, I examine whether investment specific financial reporting quality issues have a greater impact on investment efficiency than all other types of financial reporting quality issues. My results suggest that investment specific financial reporting quality issues are driving the negative impact on investment efficiency. These results imply that managers can reduce investment inefficiency by focusing their resources on remediating (correcting) financial reporting quality issues (MW) associated with investment. Current internal control research identifies firms as having either strong or weak internal control dependent upon (1) the presence or absence of MW or (2) the number of MW. This research essentially treats each MW as being of equal importance, Thus, as a secondary objective of this dissertation, in Appendix B, I develop a metric for internal control using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to provide a weighting scheme for the different types of MW. Based on Audit Analytics (which separates MW into 21 different categories), I engage 18 participants in an AHP exercise to determine which types of MW have the greatest impact on the financial statements. The results indicate that auditors and managers find MW related to Personnel Weaknesses have the greatest impact on the financial statements. AHP results in weights that are then applied to the 21 different categories of MW. These weights are applied to firms based upon the types of MW reported and the sum of the weights is the measure used for the internal control metric. I then perform a simple OLS regression to test the relation between the internal control metric and stock market returns (Appendix C). I find that a positive relation exists between strong internal controls (as measured by the newly constructed metric) and stock market returns. DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF MULTIPLE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY ISSUES ON INVESTMENT EFFICIENCY
Chip impedance characterization for contactless proximity personal cards

We present a new method to characterize impedance of proximity personal smartcard chips from low voltage up to destruction level. Our method is based on an extended setup using network analysis. Combined with antenna parameters, we relate the equivalent electrical chip parameters to transponder behaviour in the contactless system. The detailed considerations of this approach allow to verify and optimize chip design, operating software and inlay antenna production for an improved fit to application requirements.
In Silico Promoter Analysis can Predict Genes of Functional Relevance in Cell Proliferation: Validation in a Colon Cancer Model

Specific combinations of transcription-factor binding sites in the promoter regions of genes regulate gene expression, and thus key functional processes in cells. Analysis of such promoter regions in specific functional contexts can be used to delineate novel disease-associated genes based on shared phenotypic properties. The aim of this study was to utilize promoter analysis to predict cell proliferation-associated genes and to test this method in colon cancer cell lines. We used freely-available bioinformatic techniques to identify cell-proliferation-associated genes expressed in colon cancer, extract a shared promoter module, and identify novel genes that also contain this module in the human genome. An EGRF/ETSF promoter module was identified as prevalent in proliferation-associated genes from a colon cancer cDNA library. We detected 30 other genes, from the known promoters of the human genome, which contained this proliferation-associated module. This group included known proliferation-associated genes, such as HERG1 and MCM7, and a number of genes not previously implicated in cell proliferation in cancer, such as TSPAN3, Necdin and APLP2. Suppression of TSPAN3 and APLP2 by siRNA was performed and confirmed by RT-PCR. Inhibition of these genes significantly inhibited cell proliferation in colon cancer cell lines. This study demonstrates that promoter analysis can be used to identify novel cancer-associated genes based on shared functional processes.