Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gesture Interface for 3D CAD Modeling using Kinect

AbstractModeling in general can be viewed as a two-step process, the first being concept visualization followed by the final design. Most designers who work with CAD systems go through the concept visualization stage and follow the same steps required in the final design stage. A standard approach to concept visualization is traditionally performed using clay modeling, yet there is a lack of computer aided design tools that can faithfully mimic the process of traditional clay modeling both in terms of representation of virtual clay as well as an immersive user interface capable of capturing the user’s intent in an intuitive sense. In this paper we describe a voxel based representation of virtual clay and introduce a hierarchical gestural interface using Kinect which together brings the intuitiveness of traditional clay modeling to a CAD environment. The framework was validated using a 3D clay modeling software (n=13). Results showed that most of the participants were able to adapt to the new interface qui.
A Perfect Counterinsurgency? Making Sense of Moscow’s Policy of Chechenisation

Abstract This article assesses the successes and setbacks of Moscow’s policy of counterinsurgency and beyond. It challenges the general consensus in scholarship positing that military successes associated with Chechenisation have been obtained against the backdrop of Chechnya’s increasingly autonomous status within Russia, considered by some as a case of ‘systemic separatism’. The article tracks how four key mechanisms (Chechnya’s institutional design, internal opposition to the Kadyrov clan, the tradition of blood feud among kadyrovtsy—initially Chechen paramilitary forces named after both Kadyrovs, gradually transformed into seemingly regular Ministry of Interior (MVD) units—and Chechnya’s economic dependency on Moscow) have enabled Moscow to maintain control over Chechnya while simultaneously allowing its elites to consolidate power within the republic.
Efficient Compression of CT Images with Modified Branched Inverse Pyramidal Decomposition

In the paper is presented one novel approach for adaptive compression of groups of computer tomography (CT) images, based on modified branched inverse pyramid decomposition. In result is obtained high compression ratio with retained image quality. To achieve this, was used the high correlation between sequences of CT images, representing same object(s). For the processing of a group of CT images was used the Inverse Pyramid Decomposition (IPD), with a special Branched structure, called Modified ВIPD. The experimental results confirmed the efficiency of the presented method. The general characteristics of the new decomposition are a reliable basis for its successful use in various application areas for processing of similar (multi-view) or sequences of similar images. As it was proved by the experiments, this compression is very efficient when used for archiving of sequences of CT images. It could also be used for compression of still multispectral, hyper spectral or multi-view images and video sequences, obtained from surveillance video cameras, supersound scanners, thermo-vision systems, scanning microscopes, etc. Key-Words: Image processing, Archiving of CT images, Compression of sequences of medical images; Image group coding, Modified branched pyramidal image decomposition.
Maximum Orthogonal Subspace Projection Approach to Estimating the Number of Spectral Signal Sources in Hyperspectral Imagery

Estimating the number of spectral signal sources, denoted by p, in hyperspectral imagery is very challenging due to the fact that many unknown material substances can be uncovered by very high spectral resolution hyperspectral sensors. This paper investigates a recent approach, called maximum orthogonal complement algorithm (MOCA) developed by Kuybeda for estimating the rank of a rare vector space in a high-dimensional noisy data space which was essentially derived from the automatic target generation process (ATGP) developed by Ren and Chang. By appropriately interpreting the MOCA in context of the ATGP, a potentially useful technique, called maximum orthogonal subspace projection (MOSP) can be further developed where a stopping rule for the ATGP provided by MOSP turns out to be equivalent to a procedure for estimating the rank of a rare vector space by the MOCA and the number of targets determined by the MOSP to generate is the desired value of the parameter p. Furthermore, a Neyman-Pearson detector version of MOCA, referred to as ATGP/NPD can be also derived where the MOCA can be considered as a Bayes detector. Surprisingly, the ATGP/NPD has a very similar design rationale to that of a technique, called Harsanyi-Farrand-Chang method that was developed to estimate the virtual dimensionality (VD) where the ATGP/NPD provides a link between MOCA and VD.
Research Dispositional affectivity as a predictor of Note work attitudes and job performance

Summary Previous research has shown that dispositional negative affect (NA) is associated with lower levels of job satisfaction. Little research has been conducted, however, on other organizational implications of negative affect or on the potential effects of dispositional positive affect (PA). The present studies examined the relationship of both positive and negative affectivity to organizational commitment, turnover intentions, global job satisfaction and performance. In the first study both NA and PA were associated with organizational commitment and turnover intentions. Additionally, commitment mediated the relationship between dispositional affectivity and turnover. Finally, PA and tenure interacted to predict job performance, such that PA and job performance were positively related, but only for high tenure employees. In Study 2 the findings were generally similar, but not identical. Both NA and PA were related to global job satisfaction and turnover intentions. However, only PA was related to affective organizational commitment. Moreover, both job satisfaction and affective commitment mediated the relationship between dispositional affectivity and turnover intentions. Finally, unlike Study 1, PA was not related to job performance. Rather, NA and tenure interacted such that when individuals were lower in tenure, NA was negatively related to performance.
Folk theory of social changeajsp_ 227..246

People have a folk theory of social change (FTSC). A typical Western FTSC stipulates that as a society becomes more industrialized, it undergoes a natural course of social change, in which a communal society marked by communal relationships becomes a qualitatively different, agentic society where market-based exchange relationships prevail. People use this folk theory to predict a society’s future and estimate its past, to understand contemporary cross-cultural differences, and to make decisions about social policies. Nonetheless, the FTSC is not particularly consistent with the existing cross-cultural research on industrialization and cultural differences, and needs to be examined carefully.
A Framework for the Combination of Different Arabic Handwritten Word Recognition Systems

In this paper we present A Framework for the Combination of Different Arabic Handwritten Word Recognition Systems to achieve a decision with a higher performance. This performance can be expressed by lower rejection rates and higher recognition rates. The used methods range from voting schemes based on results of different recognizer to a neural network decision based on normalized confidences. This work presents an extension of the well known combination methods for a large lexicon, an extension from maximum 30 classes (e.g., 10 classes for digits classification) to 937 classes for the IfN/ENIT-database. In addition, different reject rules based on the evaluation and analysis of individual and combined systems output are discussed. Different threshold function for reject levels are tested and evaluated. Tests with a set of recognizer, which participated in the ICDAR 2007 competition and based on set coming from the IfN/ENIT-database show that a word error rate (WER) of 5.29% without reject and with a reject rate less than 25% even a word error rate of less than 1%.
Interception of moving objects while walking in children with Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine the coordination of reaching and walking behaviour when children with Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy (SHCP) intercept an approaching and hence externally-timed object. Method. Using either the impaired or non-impaired arm, children intercepted a ball approaching from a fixed distance with one of three velocities. Each participant's initial starting position was scaled to their maximum walking velocity determined prior to testing; for the medium ball velocity, participants would arrive at the point of interception at the correct time if they walked with their maximum velocity. Results. Children with SHCP adapted their reaching and walking behaviour to the different ball approach velocities. These adaptations were exhibited when using the impaired and non-impaired arm, and resulted in similar outcome performance irrespective of which arm was used. Still, children with SHCP found it necessary to increase trunk movement to compensate for the decreased elbow excursion and a decreased peak velocity of the impaired arm. Conclusion. Children with SHCP exhibited specific adaptations to their altered movement capabilities when performing a behaviourally-realistic task. The provision of an external timing constraint appeared to facilitate both reaching and walking movements and hence could represent a useful technique in rehabilitation.
A Novel Dynamic Ranked Fuzzy Keyword Search over Cloud Encrypted Data

It is a hot topic for researchers to boost users retrieval efficiency and satisfactory degree according to a retrievers query results in the existing searchable encryption schemes in cloud computing. Considering that traditional work on searchable encryption rarely refers to the interaction between the user and the cloud, this paper proposes a method to improve the systems usability and users satisfactory degree in the fuzzy keyword search field. In this paper, based on [1] and [2], for the first time we solve the problem of full-scale fuzzy keyword set construction according to the input keyword, and construct the feedback scheme to produce pointer vector including fuzzy keyword, edit distance and keywords dynamic score, which is feasible in hybrid cloud model. Thus, different vectors form the character vector database within its data structure. It can go to the trapdoor construction procedure after access to the database with its edit distances to construct fuzzy keyword set, which makes the fullest use of the retrieval history and statistical misspelled keywords, precisely and quickly realizing the aim of ranked fuzzy keyword search over cloud encrypted data. Thorough rigorous security analyses realize privacy preservation, as well as improvement of the solution which can meet satisfaction needs of users. And experiments show that efficiency and precision are clearly achieved in the proposed solution, the retrieval time overhead is improved after many times as well.
Atrial and ventricular function in thalassemic patients with supra-ventricular arrhythmias

The aims of this study were to evaluate through Color Doppler Myocardial Imaging (CDMI) echocardiography if atrial or ventricular myocardial alterations could be detectable in patients with thalassemia major (THAL) and if these alterations could be considered as predictive elements for supra-ventricular arrhythmic events. Twenty-three patients with THAL underwent clinical and electrocardiographic evaluation; patients were grouped in THAL1 (9 with supra-ventricular arrhythmias) and THAL2 (14 without arrhythmias); 12 healthy subjects were considered as control group (C). We examined through conventional 2D Color Doppler echocardiography some morphological and functional parameters regarding left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, and through CDMI the velocities at mitral annulus level, the regional LV and left atrial (LA) strain and strain rate. All THAL patients had LV dimension (p<0.05), LA area (p<0.01) and E/Em ratio (p<0.001) to be significantly higher than controls. The mitral annulus longitudinal velocities were significantly lower in THAL1 than in THAL2 (p<0.001); the E/Em ratio was higher in THAL1 than THAL2 (p<0.001). The THAL1 showed a lower systolic strain rate of atrial wall than THAL2 and C (p<0.05). The multiple regression highlighted a significantly inverse correlation among E/Em and atrial strain (p<0.02). CDMI showed both THAL subgroups had subtle systolic and diastolic left ventricular myocardial alterations, which could represent the onset of developing “iron cardiomyopathy” and are related to supra-ventricular arrhythmia. Monitoring these parameters in the THAL patients could contribute to decisions about follow-up and therapy.
A landmark underspecification account of the patterning of glottal stop

We, the dissertation committee for the above candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, hereby recommend acceptance of this dissertation. 2007 This dissertation addresses the asymmetry in patterning between laryngeal and supralaryngeal consonants. In this dissertation, I consider four patterns: (1) required identity-across-glottals (in V 1 V 2 , V 1 = V 2); (2) hiatus resolution-like processes in VV (VV ≈ VV); (3) prohibition of glottal stop from syllable onset or coda; and (4) temporal instability of sequences with glottal stop (e.g. vowel intrusion: V x C AE V x  Vx C, coalescence of C to C'). I present a unified analysis of these patterns within the framework of Articulatory Phonology (Browman and Goldstein 1986, et seq.), in which utterances are comprised of abstract articulatory gestures (rather than segments or features). I argue that the exceptional behavior of glottal stop is a function of its acoustic properties: in contrast to oral stop consonants, glottal stop does not condition formant iv transitions, and therefore lacks the landmarks of ONSET (marking the beginning of the gesture) and OFFSET (marking the end of the gesture). Based on data on temporal relations within syllables and sequences (e.g. in Browman and Goldstein 2000), I propose that the ONSET and OFFSET landmarks are points of alignment for phasing relations that underlie syllabification and sequentiality. Because it lacks these crucial landmarks (the Landmark Underspecification proposal), glottal stop cannot participate unambiguously in syllabic or sequential phasing relations. This approach provides an account of each of the patterns described above. Hiatus resolution-across-glottals occurs because the glottal stop cannot satisfy the constraint that requires syllable onsets to be precisely phased with respect to the following vowel; glottal stop is therefore not a satisfactory syllable onset. Languages in which the vowels flanking laryngeal consonants are required to be identical exhibit a subset case of the hiatus resolution pattern, differing only in the strategies employed to repair hiatus. Similarly, glottal stop is disallowed pre-or postvocalically in some languages because it cannot obey the constraints on phasing of onset or coda consonants with respect to syllable nuclei. Finally, the lack of clear cues to the temporal position of glottal stop lead underlying sequences with glottal stop to surface non-sequentially, manifested as vowel intrusion or as coalescence of the glottal stop with a vowel or consonant. my father, Edwin Robert Borroff, in thanks for his support, and in hopes of happiness and …
Beyond F-Formations: Determining Social Involvement in Free Standing Conversing Groups from Static Images

In this paper, we present the first attempt to analyse differing levels of social involvement in free standing conversing groups (or the so-called F-formations) from static images. In addition, we enrich state-of-the-art F-formation modelling by learning a frustum of attention that accounts for the spatial context. That is, F-formation configurations vary with respect to the arrangement of furniture and the non-uniform crowdedness in the space during mingling scenarios. The majority of prior works have considered the labelling of conversing group as an objective task, requiring only a single annotator. However, we show that by embracing the subjectivity of social involvement, we not only generate a richer model of the social interactions in a scene but also significantly improve F-formation detection. We carry out extensive experimental validation of our proposed approach by collecting a novel set of multi-annotator labels of involvement on the publicly available Idiap Poster Data, the only multi-annotator labelled database of free standing conversing groups that is currently available.
A statistics-based least squares (SLS) method for non-line-of-sight error of indoor localization

The main challenge of indoor wireless positioning is the large positive bias of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) ranging, which directly degrades the localization accuracy. It is necessary for a practical positioning algorithm to learn the specific of indoor ranging from statistics. Thus, we analyze the ranging characteristics based on real-world indoor experiments with both static and mobile cases, which finds that bounding-box algorithm is robust to the NLOS bias. Then, we propose a twostep statistics-based least squares (SLS) method consisting of a NLOS bias elimination and a linear least squares (LLS) process. SLS first removes the NLOS bias by an intermediate estimation obtained from bounding-box algorithm, then uses a weighted LLS estimator to handle the remained ranging error. The difference between SLS and other NLOS mitigation approaches is that SLS aims to remove the bias away from the NLOS range while the others try to less emphasize or discard the NLOS range. SLS is compared with three NLOS mitigation algorithms on a sensor test-bed in a typical hallway. Results demonstrate that an effective NLOS mitigation of SLS.
A Model for Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke with Applications to Critical Illness Insurance Underwriting I: The Model

Abstract In Part I we construct a model for the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke that either incorporates, or includes pathways through, the major risk factors of interest when underwriting for critical illness insurance. Our main purpose is to develop a model that could be used to assess the impact on insurance underwriting of genetic information relevant to CHD and/or stroke. Our model is parameterized using data from the Framingham Heart Study in the United States. In Part II we extend this model to include other critical illnesses, for example, cancers and kidney failure, and describe some applications of the model.
Coherence in Aphasia: Implementation of Different Measurement Procedures

Coherence is a semantic property of the text to make sense to readers or listeners and is crucial for any text. Various coherence measures have been developed for assessment of discourse abilities in different clinical populations. However, the results of decades of research on coherence of speech of individuals with brain damage have yielded contradictive results. We suggest that this might be due to the different sensitivity of the methods. In this study we two measures of global coherence and five measures of local coherence on the same set of texts by healthy speakers of Russian and people with dynamic aphasia in order to find which methods allow to distinguish between the two groups and how these results correlate. The material for the study is texts from the Russian CliPS corpus which is a collection of oral retellings of the pear film by individuals with brain damage and healthy speakers of Russian language
Integrated Earth and Space Science Learning Model That Accommodate Multiple Intelligences to Improve The Mastery of Concept of Secondary School Students

The aim of the research was to determine the implementation of integrated learning model from students in 9 grades secondary school in Warungkiara, Sukabumi District. This learning model basically combine the various related matter in order to produce some theme that can support the student’s intelligence. The instrument used on this research are identification tests of multiple intelligences, assessment of multiple intelligences activities (self and peer assessment) and test mastery of concept. The research showed integrated earth and space science learning model can facilitate student’s intelligence and improve student’s concept understanding of earth structure
On the incompleteness of the AS-level graph: a novel methodology for BGP route collector placement

In the last decade many studies have used the Internet AS-level topology to perform several analyses, from discovering its graph properties to assessing its impact on the effectiveness of worm-containment strategies. Yet, the BGP data typically used to reveal the topologies are far from being complete. Our contribution is three-fold. Firstly, we analyse BGP data currently gathered by RouteViews, RIS and PCH route collectors, and investigate the reasons for its incompleteness. We found that large areas of the Internet are not properly captured due to the geographic placement of the current route collector feeders and due to BGP filters, such as BGP export policies and BGP decision processes. Secondly, we propose a methodology to select the optimal number of ASes that should join a route collector project to obtain a view of the Internet AS level topology closer to reality. We applied this methodology to the global AS-level topology and to five regional AS-level topologies, highlighting that the particular characteristics of the Internet at a regional level cannot be ignored during this process. Thirdly, we provide a characterization of the ASes that we found to be part of at least one optimal solution set. By analysing these ASes we found that the current route collector infrastructure is rarely connected to them, highlighting that much more effort should be made in devising a route collector infrastructure that ideally would be able to capture a complete view of the Internet.
The effect of task-based language teaching on students’ reading comprehension

The aim of this research study was to find out whether there could be a significant improvement in students taught reading comprehension using Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and those taught using the Grammar Translation Method (GTM). In this experimental research, the sample was divided into an experimental group and a control group. The population for this study was 162 second grade students from SMA Negeri 1 Gandapura from which 2 classes were chosen by random sampling. The experimental group had 21 students, while the control group had 23 students. Data was collected through reading comprehension tests. The data was analysed by using an independent t-test assisted by SPSS 22. Based on the t-index from the analysis, it was found that there was a significant difference between the two groups as 0.73 was higher than α = 0.05. Moreover, the t-count was 3.12 which was higher that the t-table which was 2.01. These findings showed that there was a significant difference in achievement between the students who were taught reading comprehension by TBLT and those who were taught by GTM. Hence, the alternative hypothesis was accepted.