Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANTHROPOLOGY OF MUSIC

Main emphases: European explorers' accounts (from late 15th c. onwards) of non-Western peoples and cultures provided basis for development of anthropology and ethnomusicology, and provided most ethnographic information until development of anthropological fieldwork in late 19th-early 20th c. (see Fieldwork, below). Recent historical and critical work in anthropology and cultural studies has stressed influence of colonialism, but earliest ethnographies were pre-colonial, seeking information as defensive response to invasions by Mongol and Turkish armies, reflecting European weakness rather than hegemonic power. Emphasis shifted during colonial era to European superiority, although early ethnographic writings treated some non-European cultures as potentially equal competitors, or even (as in pre-19th c. writings on China) as more advanced and/or powerful than Europe. Colonial emphasis on acquisition of knowledge, including cultural and musical knowledge, among other spoils of conquest.
Autism Support in a Community College Setting: Ideas from Intersectionality

ABSTRACT Autism diagnoses continue to increase, and students who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are attending college in greater numbers. Many choose community colleges to start their postsecondary careers, so these institutions have a unique opportunity to provide necessary social support. When developing social support initiatives, it is important to consider the diversity of the spectrum, not just in terms of ASD features, but also cultural factors. Autism is diagnosed more in males than females, is linked to gender nonconformity, and is variably diagnosed across racial groups. This article uses intersectionality as a theoretical framework to identify needs and make suggestions about how to best support students on the spectrum.
Compressive sensing for cluster structured sparse signals: variational Bayes approach

Compressive sensing (CS) provides a new paradigm of sub-Nyquist sampling which can be considered as an alternative to Nyquist sampling theorem. In particular, providing that signals are with sparse representations in some domain, information can be perfectly preserved even with small amount of measurements captured by random projections. Besides sparsity prior of signals, the inherent structure property behind some specific signals is often exploited to enhance the reconstruction accuracy. In this study, the authors are aiming to take into account the cluster structure property of sparse signals, of which the non-zero coefficients appear in clustered blocks. By modelling simultaneously both sparsity and cluster prior within a hierarchical statistical Bayesian framework, a non-parametric algorithm can be obtained through variational Bayes approach to recover original sparse signals. The proposed algorithm could be slightly considered as a generalisation of Bayesian CS (BCS), but with a consideration on cluster property. Consequently, the performance of the proposed algorithm is at least as good as BCS, which is verified by the experimental results.
The XMM–Newton long look of NGC 1365: uncovering of the obscured X-ray source

We present an analysis of the extreme obscuration variability observed during an XMM–Newton 5-d continuous monitoring of the active galactic nuclei (AGN) in NGC 1365. The source was in a reflection-dominated state in the first ∼1.5 d, then a strong increase in the 7–10 keV emission was observed in ∼10 h, followed by a symmetric decrease. The spectral analysis of the different states clearly shows that this variation is due to an uncovering of the X-ray source. From this observation, we estimate a size of the X-ray source DS < 1013 cm, a distance of the obscuring clouds R∼ 1016 cm and a density n∼ 1011 cm−3. These values suggest that the X-ray absorption/reflection originates from the broad-line region clouds. This is also supported by the resolved width of the iron narrow Kα emission line, consistent with the width of the broad Hβ line.
Transgressors, victims, and cry babies: Is basic moral judgment spared in autism?

Abstract Human social intelligence comprises a wide range of complex cognitive and affective processes that appear to be selectively impaired in autistic spectrum disorders. The study of these neuro-developmental disorders and the study of canonical social intelligence have advanced rapidly over the last twenty years by investigating the two together. Specifically, studies of autism have provided important insights into the nature of “theory of mind” abilities, their normal development and underlying neural systems. At the same time, the idea of impaired development of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying “theory of mind” has shed new light on the nature of autistic disorders. This general approach is not restricted to the study of impairments but extends to mapping areas of social intelligence that are spared in autism. Here we investigate basic moral judgment and find that it appears to be substantially intact in children with autism who are severely impaired in “theory of mind”. At the same time, we extend studies of moral reasoning in normal development by way of a new control task, the “cry baby” task. Cry baby scenarios, in which the distress of the victim is “unreasonable” or “unjustified,” do not elicit moral condemnation from normally developing preschoolers or from children with autism. Judgments of moral transgressions in which the victim displays distress are therefore not likely the result of a simple automatic reaction to distress and more likely involve moral reasoning. Mapping the cognitive comorbidity patterns of disordered development must encompass both impairments and sparings because both are needed to make sense of the neural and genetic levels.
Superresolution in Image Sequences

The term “superresolution” refers to the process of obtaining higher-resolution images from several lower-resolution ones, i.e. resolution enhancement. The quality improvement is caused by fractional-pixel displacements between images. Superresolution allows to overcome the limitations of the imaging system (resolving limit of the sensors) without the need for additional hardware. This thesis presents a unified matrix-based framework that formulates superresolution as an inverse problem. We show explicitly how to construct every matrix involved in the formulation, and reduce the problem to a single matrix equation. The solution involves matrix inversion via Tikhonov regularization. It is tested on synthetic data, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach, and then results using experimental data are presented. We also investigate the problem of image registration, describing a procedure to measure the shift between images with subpixel accuracy. The results of this work can be used for object tracking and identification.
GAMMA RAY BURSTS AND SUPERNOVA SIGNATURES IN SLOWLY ROTATING COLLAPSARS

We consider accretion onto newborn black holes (BHs) following the collapse of rotating massive stellar cores, at the threshold where a centrifugally supported disk gives way to nearly radial inflow for low angular momentum. For realistic initial conditions taken from pre-supernova (pre-SN) evolution calculations, the densities and temperatures involved require the use of a detailed equation of state and neutrino cooling processes, as well as a qualitative consideration of the effects of general relativity. Through two-dimensional dynamical calculations we show how the energy release is affected by the rotation rate and the strength of angular momentum transport, giving rise to qualitatively different solutions in limits of high and low angular momentum, each being capable of powering a gamma-ray burst (GRB). We explore the likelihood of producing Fe-group elements in the two regimes and suggest that while large and massive centrifugally supported disks are capable of driving strong outflows with a possible SN-like signature, quasi-radial flows lack such a feature and may produce a GRB without such an accompanying feature, as seen in GRB060505. Subject headings: accretion, accretion disks — hydrodynamics — gamma rays: bursts — supernovae
The Impact of Constructive News on Affective and Behavioural Responses

ABSTRACT The fact that the news has a negativity bias is relatively undisputed. But is this a matter for concern? In this study, two experiments explored the impact of different types of constructive news stories on readers’ affect, motivation, and behavioural intentions. Study 1 examined news stories with either a solution frame or catastrophic frame, and Study 2 examined stories that evoked either positive or negative emotions. Findings revealed that catastrophically-framed stories and news stories that evoked negative emotions reduced intentions to take positive action to address issues, and resulted in negative affect. In contrast, solution-framed stories and news stories that evoked positive emotions resulted in more positive affect and higher intentions to take positive action and were still perceived as legitimate journalism. Respondents expressed a greater preference for solution-framed news. The conclusion is that more constructive journalism would better serve society.
Does It Matter if I Take My Mathematics Test on Computer? A Second Empirical Study of Mode Effects in NAEP.

This article describes selected results from the Math Online (MOL) study, one of three field investigations sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to explore the use of new technology in NAEP. Of particular interest in the MOL study was the comparability of scores from paper- and computer-based tests. A nationally representative sample of eighth-grade students was administered a computer-based mathematics test and a test of computer facility, among other measures. In addition, a randomly parallel group of students was administered a paper-based test containing the same math items as the computer-based test. Results showed that the computer-based mathematics test was significantly harder statistically than the paper-based test. In addition, computer facility predicted online mathematics test performance after controlling for performance on a paper-based mathematics test, suggesting that degree of familiarity with computers may matter when taking a computer-based mathematics test in NAEP.
TDTL Based Frequency Synthesizers with Auto Sensing Technique

This paper presents a frequency synthesizer architecture based on the time delay digital tanlock loop (TDTL). The loop is of the first order type. The synthesizer architecture includes an adaptation mechanism to keep the complete system in lock. The mechanism uses a frequency sensing structure to control critical TDTL parameters responsible for locking. Both integer and fractional multiples of the loop reference frequency are synthesized by the new architecture. The ability of the TDTL based frequency synthesizer to respond to sudden variations in the system input frequency is studied. The results obtained indicate the proposed synthesizer has a robust performance and is capable of responding to those changes provided that they are within the bounds of its locking region.
Face-n-Food: Gender Differences in Tuning to Faces

Faces represent valuable signals for social cognition and non-verbal communication. A wealth of research indicates that women tend to excel in recognition of facial expressions. However, it remains unclear whether females are better tuned to faces. We presented healthy adult females and males with a set of newly created food-plate images resembling faces (slightly bordering on the Giuseppe Arcimboldo style). In a spontaneous recognition task, participants were shown a set of images in a predetermined order from the least to most resembling a face. Females not only more readily recognized the images as a face (they reported resembling a face on images, on which males still did not), but gave on overall more face responses. The findings are discussed in the light of gender differences in deficient face perception. As most neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental and psychosomatic disorders characterized by social brain abnormalities are sex specific, the task may serve as a valuable tool for uncovering impairments in visual face processing.
Neural signatures of perceptual inference

Generative models, such as predictive coding, posit that perception results from a combination of sensory input and prior prediction, each weighted by its precision (inverse variance), with incongruence between these termed prediction error (deviation from prediction) or surprise (negative log probability of the sensory input). However, direct evidence for such a system, and the physiological basis of its computations, is lacking. Using an auditory stimulus whose pitch value changed according to specific rules, we controlled and separated the three key computational variables underlying perception, and discovered, using direct recordings from human auditory cortex, that surprise due to prediction violations is encoded by local field potential oscillations in the gamma band (>30 Hz), changes to predictions in the beta band (12-30 Hz), and that the precision of predictions appears to quantitatively relate to alpha band oscillations (8-12 Hz). These results confirm oscillatory codes for critical aspects of generative models of perception. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.11476. 001
Processes in an Experience-Based Co-Design Project With Family Carers in Community Mental Health

Experience-based co-design (EBCD) is a service design strategy that facilitates collaborative work between professional staff and service users toward common goals. There is a lack of published examples of it in relation to family carer engagement within a mental health context, and little research exploring the mechanisms behind successful implementation. The aim of this study was to explore the processes that facilitated EBCD with carer involvement. The study adopted a grounded theory–informed approach involving interviews with 16 participants of an existing EBCD project in an English National Health Service (NHS) trust, reflecting multiple stakeholders. EBCD can be thrown off track in two ways: conflict and getting “bogged down. ” Leadership by project and design-group leaders could return group cohesion and maintain project momentum. The developed model reflects key processes. Future research should examine EBCD projects with similar ranges of stakeholders and in contexts with different levels of organizational change.
An Extended Damage Plasticity Model for Shotcrete: Formulation and Comparison with Other Shotcrete Models

The aims of the present paper are (i) to briefly review single-field and multi-field shotcrete models proposed in the literature; (ii) to propose the extension of a damage-plasticity model for concrete to shotcrete; and (iii) to evaluate the capabilities of the proposed extended damage-plasticity model for shotcrete by comparing the predicted response with experimental data for shotcrete and with the response predicted by shotcrete models, available in the literature. The results of the evaluation will be used for recommendations concerning the application and further improvements of the investigated shotcrete models and they will serve as a basis for the design of a new lab test program, complementing the existing ones.
Motor unit firing pattern, synchrony and coherence in a deafferented patient

The firing of spinal motoneurons (MNs) is controlled continuously by inputs from muscle, joint and skin receptors. Besides altering MN synaptic drive, the removal of these inputs is liable to alter the synaptic noise and, thus, the variability of their tonic activity. Sensory afferents, which are a major source of common and/or synchronized inputs shared by several MNs, may also contribute to the coupling in the time and frequency domains (synchrony and coherence, respectively) observed when cross-correlation and coherence analyses are applied to the discharges of MN pairs. Surprisingly, no consistent changes in firing frequency, nor in synchrony and coherence were reported to affect the activity of 3 pairs of motor units (MUs) tested in a case of sensory polyradiculoneuropathy (SPRNP), leading to an irreversible loss of large diameter sensory afferents (Farmer et al., 1993). Such a limited sample, however, precludes a definite conclusion about the actual impact that a chronic loss of muscle and cutaneous afferents may have on the firing properties of human MUs. To address this issue, the firing pattern of 92 MU pairs was analyzed at low contraction force in a case of SPRNP leading similarly to a permanent loss of proprioceptive inputs. Compared with 8 control subjects, MNs in this patient tended to discharge with slightly shorter inter-spike intervals but with greater variability. Synchronous firing tended to occur more frequently with a tighter coupling in the patient. There was no consistent change in coherence in the 15–30 Hz frequency range attributed to the MN corticospinal drive, but a greater coherence was observed below 5 Hz and between 30 and 60 Hz in the patient. The possible origins of the greater irregularity in MN tonic discharges, the tighter coupling of the synchronous firing and the changes in coherence observed in the absence of proprioceptive inputs are discussed.
/ RECREATING AND EXTENDING JAPANESE AUTOMOBILE BUYER-SUPPLIER LINKS IN NORTH AMERICA

We compare buyer'supplier links established by pairs of Japanese-owned automobile assemblers and component manufacturers operating in Japan and in North America during 1989-90. Eight assemblers and more than 170 Japanese component manufacturers had established North American manufacturing facilities. In total, Japanese automobile assembly organizations operating in North America had recreated about a quarter of their Japanese supply links. The suppliers that set up North American facilities had recreated almost 60 percent of their links with traditional buyers and formed more than 16 percent of the possible extension links with new assembler partners. We identify several economic and organizational factors that influence whether an existing buyer'supplier link will be recreated in a new location and whether firms that do not have a buyer'supplier relationship at home will form an extension link in the new location. We find that the presence of a long-term buyer'supplier relationship, buyer and supplier entry timing to the new location, the joint venture status of the buyer, supplier size, and the breadth of a supplier's sales base in the home market influence the likelihood that links will be recreated and extension links will be formed.
The Birth of Molecular Clouds: Formation of Atomic Precursors in Colliding Flows

Molecular cloud complexes (MCCs) are highly structured and "turbulent. " Observational evidence suggests that MCCs are dynamically dominated systems, rather than quasi-equilibrium entities. The observed structure is more likely a consequence of the formation process than something that is imprinted after the formation of the MCC. Converging flows provide a natural mechanism to generate MCC structure. We present a detailed numerical analysis of this scenario. Our study addresses the evolution of an MCC from its birth in colliding atomic hydrogen flows up until the point when H2 may begin to form. A combination of dynamical and thermal instabilities breaks up coherent flows efficiently, seeding the small-scale nonlinear density perturbations necessary for local gravitational collapse and thus allowing (close to) instantaneous star formation. Many observed properties of MCCs come as a natural consequence of this formation scenario. Since converging flows are omnipresent in the ISM, we discuss the general applicability of this mechanism, from local star formation regions to galaxy mergers.
Banach Center Publications, Volume ** Institute of Mathematics Polish Academy of Sciences Warszawa 200* Large Time Behaviour of Solutions to Nonhomogeneous Diffusion Equations

This note is devoted to the study of the long time behaviour of solutions to the heat and the porous medium equations in the presence of an external source term, using entropy methods and self-similar variables. Intermediate asymptotics and convergence results are shown using interpolation inequalities, Gagliardo-Nirenberg-Sobolev inequalities and Csiszár-Kullback type estimates. 1. Introduction. In this note, we study the large time behavior in L 1 (R N) of solutions to the Cauchy problem for the porous media equation (m > 1) and the heat equation (m = 1) in the presence of an external source term:
Contextual Effects in Face Lightness Perception Are Not Expertise-Dependent

Lightness judgments of face stimuli are context-dependent (i.e., judgments of face lightness are influenced by race classification). Here, we tested whether contextual effects in face lightness perception are modulated by expertise, exploiting well-known other race effects in face perception. We used a lightness-matching paradigm where Chinese and White observers were asked to adjust the lightness of a variable face to match that of a standard face. The context (i.e., race category) of the two faces could be the same or different. Our data indicated that both groups had the smallest matching errors in same-context trials, for which errors did not vary across different racial categories. For cross-context trials, observers made the largest (negative) errors when the reference face was Black, as compared to Chinese and White references, for which matching errors were no different from zero or trended positively. Critically, this pattern was similar for both groups. We suggest that contextual influences in lightness perception are unlikely to be guided by classical mechanisms that drive face perception. We instead speculate that such influences manifest in terms of an interaction between race assumptions (e.g., expected surface reflectance patterns) and traditional mechanisms for reflectance computations.
Problems and challenges of user involvement in software development: an empirical study

Context: The benefits of involving users in software development projects have been studied extensively in the last four decades and have been reported to contribute to user satisfaction thus leading to system success. However, the relationship between user involvement and system success, being a multi-faceted and complex concept, has introduced many problems and challenges for the practitioners. Objective: In this paper we present our findings from a case study to give a deeper understanding of the challenges and problems of user involvement during software development. Method: The data in the case study was collected from interviews, observations and project documents. Results: We present our results in four main categories related to users, communicative aspects, managerial considerations, and project issues. It was observed that system success is achievable even when there are problems and challenges in involving users. Conclusion: Understanding the nature of the problems related to user involvement helps the project managers to develop appropriate strategies for increasing the effectiveness of user involvement.