Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nericell: rich monitoring of road and traffic conditions using mobile smartphones

We consider the problem of monitoring road and traffic conditions in a city. Prior work in this area has required the deployment of dedicated sensors on vehicles and/or on the roadside, or the tracking of mobile phones by service providers. Furthermore, prior work has largely focused on the developed world, with its relatively simple traffic flow patterns. In fact, traffic flow in cities of the developing regions, which comprise much of the world, tends to be much more complex owing to varied road conditions (e.g., potholed roads), chaotic traffic (e.g., a lot of braking and honking), and a heterogeneous mix of vehicles (2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, cars, buses, etc.). To monitor road and traffic conditions in such a setting, we present Nericell, a system that performs rich sensing by piggybacking on smartphones that users carry with them in normal course. In this paper, we focus specifically on the sensing component, which uses the accelerometer, microphone, GSM radio, and/or GPS sensors in these phones to detect potholes, bumps, braking, and honking. Nericell addresses several challenges including virtually reorienting the accelerometer on a phone that is at an arbitrary orientation, and performing honk detection and localization in an energy efficient manner. We also touch upon the idea of triggered sensing, where dissimilar sensors are used in tandem to conserve energy. We evaluate the effectiveness of the sensing functions in Nericell based on experiments conducted on the roads of Bangalore, with promising results.
On the finite element method for elliptic problems with degenerate and singular coefficients

We consider Dirichlet boundary value problems for second order elliptic equations over polygonal domains. The coefficients of the equations under consideration degenerate at an inner point of the domain, or behave singularly in the neighborhood of that point. This behavior may cause singularities in the solution. The solvability of the problems is proved in weighted Sobolev spaces, and their approximation by finite elements is studied. This study includes regularity results, graded meshes, and inverse estimates. Applications of the theory to some problems appearing in quantum mechanics are given. Numerical results are provided which illustrate the theory and confirm the predicted rates of convergence of the finite element approximations for quasi-uniform meshes.
Adjuvant radiation therapy, local recurrence, and the need for salvage therapy in atypical meningioma.

BACKGROUND The impact of adjuvant radiation in patients with atypical meningioma remains poorly defined. We sought to determine the impact of adjuvant radiation therapy in this population. METHODS We identified 91 patients with World Health Organization grade II (atypical) meningioma managed at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center between 1997 and 2011. A propensity score model incorporating age at diagnosis, gender, Karnofsky performance status, tumor location, tumor size, reason for diagnosis, and era of treatment was constructed using logistic regression for the outcome of receipt versus nonreceipt of radiation therapy. Propensity scores were then used as continuous covariates in a Cox proportional hazards model to determine the adjusted impact of adjuvant radiation therapy on both local recurrence and the combined endpoint of use of salvage therapy and death due to progressive meningioma. RESULTS The median follow-up in patients without recurrent disease was 4.9 years. After adjustment for pertinent confounding variables, radiation therapy was associated with decreased local recurrence in those undergoing gross total resection (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.96; P = .04). No differences in overall survival were seen in patients who did and did not receive radiation therapy. CONCLUSION Patients who have had a gross total resection of an atypical meningioma should be considered for adjuvant radiation therapy given the improvement in local control. Multicenter, prospective trials are required to definitively evaluate the potential impact of radiation therapy on survival in patients with atypical meningioma.
Movement-Based Influence: Resource Mobilization, Intense Interaction, and the Rise of Modernist Architecture

We argue that the long-term influence of actors in fields of cultural production depends on the opportunities for resource mobilization offered by external conditions combined with intense interaction among actors. Using a unique data set of 1,143 architects active between 1890 and 1940, at a time of large-scale socioeconomic transformations and political disruption, we find by multiple regression analysis that exposure to industrialization and political upheaval, and halo effects in an architect’s network of collaborators predict greater ultimate impact, while urbanization and professional affiliations do not. Theory of social movements and theory of cultural production thus have important implications for each other.
An X-Ray and Optical Investigation of the Environments around Nearby Radio Galaxies

Investigations of the cluster environment of radio sources have not shown a correlation between radio power and degree of clustering. However, it has been demonstrated that extended X-ray luminosity and galaxy clustering do exhibit a positive correlation. This study investigates a complete sample of 25 nearby (z ≤ 0.06) radio galaxies that are not cataloged members of Abell clusters. The environment of these radio galaxies is studied in both the X-ray and the optical by means of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS), ROSAT pointed observations, and the Palomar optical Digitized Sky Survey (DSS). X-ray luminosities and extents are determined from the RASS, and the DSS is used to quantify the degree of clustering via the spatial two-point correlation coefficient, Bgg. Of the 25 sources, 20 are ≥3 σ detections in the X-ray and 11 possessed Bgg's significantly in excess of that expected for an isolated galaxy. Adding the criterion that the X-ray emission be resolved, 10 of the radio galaxies do appear to reside in poor clusters with extended X-ray emission suggestive of the presence of an intracluster medium. Eight of these galaxies also possess high spatial correlation coefficients. Taken together, these data suggest that the radio galaxies reside in a low-richness extension of the Abell clusters. The unresolved X-ray emission from the other galaxies is most likely associated with active galactic nucleus phenomena. Furthermore, although the sample size is small, it appears that the environments of FR I and FR II sources differ. FR I's tend to be more frequently associated with extended X-ray emission (10 of 18), whereas FR II's are typically point sources or nondetections in the X-ray (none of the seven sources exhibit extended X-ray emission).
Sum rules of four-neutrino mixing in matter

Assuming the existence of one light sterile neutrino, we investigate the neutrino flavor mixing matrix in matter. Sum rules between the mixing parameters in vacuum and their counterparts in matter are derived. By using these new sum rules, we obtain the simple but exact expressions of the effective flavor mixing matrix in matter in terms of neutrino masses and the mixing parameters in vacuum. The rephasing invariants, sides of unitarity quadrangles and oscillation probabilities in matter are also achieved. Our model-independent results will be very helpful for analyzing flavor mixing and CP violation in the future long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments.
Teaching international relations

In recent years, the calls to internationalize the curriculum and to prepare our students to be global citizens have grown ever louder (e.g. Barber et al. 2007; Breuning and Ishiyama 2007; Rajaee 2005). The demand comes from university administration, government and industry, but also from the students themselves. Global intelligence is seen as increasingly important in terms of career and life preparedness. In the face of these demands, the question of how best to teach international relations becomes ever more important. This chapter outlines some best practices for teaching international relations (IR), drawn from research in the field, peerreviewed publications and my own experience. The diverse ideas presented here are by no means exhaustive. Instead, the purposes of this chapter are twofold. First, because learning happens best when students are interested in what they are studying (Colby et al. 2003), I present the case for making student engagement a central teaching goal. Second, I provide readers with a variety of proven teaching strategies to help reach that goal.
Three Options Are Optimal for Multiple‐Choice Items: A Meta‐Analysis of 80 Years of Research

Multiple-choice items are a mainstay of achievement testing. The need to adequately cover the content domain to certify achievement proficiency by producing meaningful precise scores requires many high-quality items. More 3-option items can be administered than 4- or 5-option items per testing time while improving content coverage, without detrimental effects on psychometric quality of test scores. Researchers have endorsed 3-option items for over 80 years with empirical evidence—the results of which have been synthesized in an effort to unify this endorsement and encourage its adoption.
Estimates on Path Functionals over Wasserstein Spaces

In this paper we consider the class a functionals (introduced in [Brancolini, Buttazzo, and Santambrogio, J. Eur. Math. Soc. (JEMS), 8 (2006), pp. 415–434] $\mathcal{G}_{r,p}$ defined on Lipschitz curves $\gamma$ valued in the p-Wasserstein space. The problem considered is the following: given a measure $\mu$, give conditions in order to assure the existence of a curve $\gamma$ such that $\gamma(0)=\mu$, $\gamma(1)=\delta_{x_0}$, and $\mathcal{G}_{r,p}(\gamma)<+\infty$. To this end, new estimates on $\mathcal{G}_{r,p}(\mu)$ are given, and a notion of dimension of a measure (called path dimension) is introduced: the path dimension specifies the values of the parameters $(r,p)$ for which the answer to the previous reachability problem is positive. Finally, we compare the path dimension with other known dimensions.
Agricultural returns and conflict: quasi-experimental evidence from a policy intervention programme in Rwanda

In 1997 Rwanda introduced a re-settlement policy for refugees displaced during previous conflicts. We exploit geographic variation in the speed of implementation of this policy to investigate the impact of conflict-induced displacement and the re-settlement policy on household agricultural output and on skill spill-over mechanisms between returnees and stayers. We find that returns to on-farm labour are higher for returnees relative to stayers, although the evidence suggests that the policy contributed little additional effect to this differential. More speculatively, these differentials suggest that, upon return from conflictinduced exile, returnees are more motivated to increase their economic performance.
Ih Current Is Necessary to Maintain Normal Dopamine Fluctuations and Sleep Consolidation in Drosophila

HCN channels are becoming pharmacological targets mainly in cardiac diseases. But apart from their well-known role in heart pacemaking, these channels are widely expressed in the nervous system where they contribute to the neuron firing pattern. Consequently, abolishing Ih current might have detrimental consequences in a big repertoire of behavioral traits. Several studies in mammals have identified the Ih current as an important determinant of the firing activity of dopaminergic neurons, and recent evidences link alterations in this current to various dopamine-related disorders. We used the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to investigate how lack of Ih current affects dopamine levels and the behavioral consequences in the sleep∶activity pattern. Unlike mammals, in Drosophila there is only one gene encoding HCN channels. We generated a deficiency of the DmIh core gene region and measured, by HPLC, levels of dopamine. Our data demonstrate daily variations of dopamine in wild-type fly heads. Lack of Ih current dramatically alters dopamine pattern, but different mechanisms seem to operate during light and dark conditions. Behaviorally, DmIh mutant flies display alterations in the rest∶activity pattern, and altered circadian rhythms. Our data strongly suggest that Ih current is necessary to prevent dopamine overproduction at dark, while light input allows cycling of dopamine in an Ih current dependent manner. Moreover, lack of Ih current results in behavioral defects that are consistent with altered dopamine levels.
Effects of electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones on germination, root growth, and root tip cell mitotic division of Lens culinaris Medik

In this study, the effects of electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones operating at 1800 MHz were investigated on germination, root growth and mitotic division of root tips of Lens culinaris Medik. Seeds were split into three groups. The first group was exposed to a mobile phone electromagnetic field for 48 hours at the state of dormancy, and the second group was exposed to the same electromagnetic field at the state of division. The third group, the control group, was not exposed to an electromagnetic field beyond the natural background. The results obtained in the study indicate that electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones affect seeds in the state of dormancy more than the state of germination. Germination rate was not affected under the specified exposure conditions, but root growth decreased due to a possible effect of oxidative stress in the state of dormant seeds. There was also a noticeable increment in the c-mitosis rates, especially in the state of dormant seeds. The reason for this increment could be problems in spindle function.
Lichen Planus Is an Uncommon Cause of Nonspecific Proximal Esophageal Inflammation

Background/Aims Esophageal lichen planus (LP) has been described as a cause of nonspecific esophagitis that may cause dysphagia, but its incidence is unknown. We aimed to estimate the incidence of esophageal LP in a defined geographic region and describe the clinical characteristics of affected patients. Methods A histopathology database for a population of 1 million people was searched for all esophageal mucosal biopsy results over an 8-year period. Cases showing inflammation or abnormalities without a diagnosis after three or more biopsies were reviewed for findings of LP. Results Of 13,589 esophageal biopsies, only one received a diagnosis of LP. Seven patients (four male; mean age, 59 years; range, 39 to 76 years) were identified as having chronic dysphagia and nonspecific proximal esophagitis for which no diagnosis could be made. All patients had proximal inflammation, and six of seven had full-thickness lymphocytic infiltration. Elongation of the lamina propria papillae was noted in all patients, whereas six patients had parakeratosis and ballooning. Only one patient had findings potentially consistent with, but not sufficient for, a diagnosis of esophageal LP. Conclusions Esophageal LP appears to be extremely uncommon in this North American population, and esophageal biopsy alone is likely not sufficient to establish a diagnosis of LP.
Analysis of RC Building Dynamic Response and Soil-Building Resonance Based on Data Recorded during a Damaging Earthquake (Molise, Italy, 2002)

During the 2002 seismic sequence in Molise (Italy), the town of Bonefro suffered moderate damage ( I MCS = VII) except for two reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. These buildings are located on soft sediments, close to each other and very similar in design and construction. The main difference is the height: the most damaged one (European Macroseismic Scale damage 4) has four stories, whereas the less damaged (EMS damage 2) has three stories. The M 5.4 shock on 31 October damaged both of them. The second shock on 1 November ( M 5.3) increased the damage on the four-story building substantially, just while a 5-min. seismic recording was taken. We analyzed the recorded data by four different techniques: short-time fourier transform (STFT), wavelet transform (WT), horizontal-to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR), and horizontal-to-vertical moving window ratio (HVMWR). All the results agree upon the estimate of the main building frequency before the second shock and upon the shift of frequency due to damage. All the fundamental frequencies (pre-, during, and postdamage) are in the range 2.5-1.25 Hz. The fundamental frequency of the less damaged building was estimated at about 4 Hz. To test if the soil-building resonance effect could have increased the damage, we also evaluated the soil fundamental frequency by three different techniques: noise HVSR, strong motion HVSR of seven aftershocks, and 1D modeling based on a velocity profile derived from noise analysis of surface waves (NASW) measurements. The results are again in good agreement, showing that resonance frequencies of the soil and of the more damaged building are very close.
No . 99-30 A Non-dissipative Staggered Fourth-order Accurate Explicit Finite Difference Scheme for the Time-domain Maxwell ’ s Equations

We consider a divergence-free non-dissipative fourth-order explicit staggered nite di erence scheme for the hyperbolic Maxwell's equations. Special one-sided di erence operators are derived in order to implement the scheme near metal boundaries and dielectric interfaces. Numerical results show the scheme is long-time stable, and is fourth-order convergent over complex domains that include dielectric interfaces and perfectly conducting surfaces. We also examine the scheme's behavior near metal surfaces that are not alligned with the grid axes, and compare its accuracy to that obtained by the Yee scheme.
Finding scientific topics

A first step in identifying the content of a document is determining which topics that document addresses. We describe a generative model for documents, introduced by Blei, Ng, and Jordan [Blei, D. M. , Ng, A. Y. & Jordan, M. I. (2003) J. Machine Learn. Res. 3, 993-1022], in which each document is generated by choosing a distribution over topics and then choosing each word in the document from a topic selected according to this distribution. We then present a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for inference in this model. We use this algorithm to analyze abstracts from PNAS by using Bayesian model selection to establish the number of topics. We show that the extracted topics capture meaningful structure in the data, consistent with the class designations provided by the authors of the articles, and outline further applications of this analysis, including identifying “hot topics” by examining temporal dynamics and tagging abstracts to illustrate semantic content.
LOCUS OF CONTROL DAN KINERJA KARYAWAN: UJI KOMPARASI

This study aims to examine the relationship between locus of control and employee performance in a company in Jakarta. Using a sample of 54 employees (15 female and 39 male). This study tested the usefulness of locus of internal and external controls for explaining work performance using independent t-test. The results conclude that there is no difference in performance between employees who have a tendency to the locus of control internal with external, or in other words, the locus of control is not a factor that can explain the variation of performance. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed. Keywords: locus of control, employee performance
Power Imbalance and Employee Silence: The Role of Abusive Leadership, Power Distance Orientation, and Perceived Organisational Politics

Employee silence is a costly but omnipresent phenomenon in modern organisations. In this study, we focus on two forms of silence: defensive silence based on fear and acquiescent silence based on resignation. Given the power imbalance in supervisor–subordinate relationships, we hypothesise that abusive supervision is an antecedent of subordinates’ defensive silence and that a subordinate’s power distance orientation affects acquiescent silence. We investigate the interaction effects of abusive supervision and power distance orientation on these two types of silence. Perceived organisational politics may also aggravate such interactive effects. Based on data collected from 159 junior employees in China in two periods, we find that abusive supervision is associated with employee defensive silence and moderates high-powerdistance employees’ tendency to engage in acquiescent silence. When perceiving high politics in the organisation, high-power-distance employees are more sensitive to abusive supervision and engage in more defensive silence. A highly political organisational context also accentuates abusive supervision’s moderating effect on the relation between employees’ power distance orientation and acquiescent silence. We conclude with theoretical and practical implications for the silence literature.
Asymptotic Freeness Almost Everywhere for Random Matrices

Voiculescu’s asymptotic freeness result for random matrices is improved to the sense of almost everywhere convergence. The asymptotic freeness almost everywhere is rst shown for standard unitary matrices based on the computation of multiple moments of their entries, and then it is shown for rather general unitarily invariant selfadjoint random matrices (in particular, standard selfadjoint Gaussian matrices) by applying the rst result to the unitary parts of their diagonalization. Bi-unitarily invariant non-selfadjoint random matrices are also treated via polar decomposition.
A Critical Discourse Analysis on Teachers’ Verbal Feedback Patterns in EFL CLT Classrooms

As providing feedback can have an effective role for the learning process, this study with a critical discourse analysis point of view in social scientific research investigated feedback patterns of four English language teachers on learners’ responses in four English Language institutes with Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach toward teaching and learning. In doing so, the classes were observed. The interactions were audio-taped and transcribed. The findings revealed that in providing feedback to learners, teachers gave positive feedback (approving and repetition), interactional feedback and corrective (negative feedback) in classrooms. Positive feedback as approving and repetition were the most type of feedback which the teachers made use of. The findings provide insights into feedback patterns in an EFL context and consequently they set up an argument to critically assess one of the most fundamental principles of CLT approach which is giving positive feedback to learners. Attention should be directed to EFL teachers’ ideologies in providing feedback to the students to uncover their philosophy of teaching and learning as a clue to detect their criteria in choosing some habits of providing feedback than others and hence to expand this area further.