Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Multiproduct Network Economic Model of Cybercrime in Financial Services

In this paper, we propose a network economic model of cybercrime with a focus on financial services, since such organizations are one of the principal targets of such illicit activity. This multiproduct model is constructed as a layered bipartite network with supply price, transaction cost, and demand price functions linking the networks. A novelty of the new model is the incorporation of average time associated with illicit product delivery at the demand markets with the demand price functions being decreasing functions of such times, as noted in reality. The governing equilibrium conditions are formulated as a variational inequality problem with qualitative properties of the solution presented. An algorithm, with nice features for computations, is then applied to two sets of numerical examples in order to illustrate the model and computational procedure as well as the types of interventions that can be investigated from a policy perspective to make it more difficult for cybercriminals to obtain sensitive data.
Tracing the young massive high-eccentricity binary system Theta 1 Orionis C through periastron passage

Context. The nearby high-mass star binary system θ 1 Ori C is the brightest and most massive of the Trapezium OB stars at the core of the Orion Nebula Cluster, and it represents a perfect laboratory to determine the fundamental parameters of young hot stars and to constrain the distance of the Orion Trapezium Cluster. Aims. By tracing the orbital motion of the θ 1 Ori C components, we aim to refine the dynamical orbit of this important binary system. Methods. Between January 2007 and March 2008, we observed θ 1 Ori C with VLTI/AMBER near-infrared (H -a ndK-band) longbaseline interferometry, as well as with bispectrum speckle interferometry with the ESO 3.6 m and the BTA 6 m telescopes (B � and V � -band). Combining AMBER data taken with three different 3-telescope array configurations, we reconstructed the first VLTI/AMBER closure-phase aperture synthesis image, showing the θ 1 Ori C system with a resolution of ∼2 mas. To extract the astrometric data from our spectrally dispersed AMBER data, we employed a new algorithm, which fits the wavelength-differential visibility and closure phase modulations along the H -a ndK-band and is insensitive to calibration errors induced, for instance, by changing atmospheric conditions. Results. Our new astrometric measurements show that the companion has nearly completed one orbital revolution since its discovery in 1997. The derived orbital elements imply a short-period (P ≈ 11.3 yr) and high-eccentricity orbit (e ≈ 0.6) with periastron passage around 2002.6. The new orbit is consistent with recently published radial velocity measurements, from which we can also derive the first direct constraints on the mass ratio of the binary components. We employ various methods to derive the system mass (Msystem = 44 ± 7 M� ) and the dynamical distance (d = 410 ± 20 pc), which is in remarkably good agreement with recently published trigonometric parallax measurements obtained with radio interferometry.
Examining Distance Education Coursetaking and Time-to-Completion among Community College Students

ABSTRACT The discrepancy in the empirical literature surrounding distance education (DE) coursetaking among community college students has led to the online paradox, where short-term or more proximal academic outcomes associated with DE coursetaking are negative, but the long-term or distal academic outcomes are positive. Importantly, no previous study has yet examined the relationship between DE enrollment and the time it takes community college students to complete their degree programs or succeed in transferring to a four-year school. This gap in the research literature is unfortunate, as understanding the relationship between DE and time-to-completion may shed light on mechanisms underlying the online paradox. Consequently, the current study looks at the relationship between DE coursetaking and time-to-completion among first-time community college students. The study uses large, nationally representative data and propensity score matching (PSM) to mitigate the impact of self-selection into DE courses. Results indicate that students who completed at least one DE course during their first year of study finished their BA degrees, on average, two to three months sooner than similar students who did not take a DE course. Policy implications for DE and community college leadership are discussed.
Structure-aware dictionary learning with harmonic atoms

Non-negative blind signal decomposition methods are widely used for musical signal processing tasks, such as automatic transcription and source separation. A spectrogram can be decomposed into a dictionary of full spectrum basis atoms and their corresponding time activation vectors using methods such as Non-negative Matrix Factorisation (NMF) and Non-negative K-SVD (NN-K-SVD). These methods are constrained by their learning order and problems posed by overlapping sources in the time and frequency domains of the source spectrogram. We consider that it may be possible to improve on current results by providing prior knowledge on the number of sources in a given spectrogram and on the individual structure of the basis atoms, an approach we refer to as structure-aware dictionary learning. In this work we consider dictionary recoverability of harmonic atoms, as harmonicity is a common structure in music signals. We present results showing improvements in recoverability using structure-aware decomposition methods, based on NN-K-SVD and NMF. Finally we propose an alternative structure-aware dictionary learning algorithm incorporating the advantages of NMF and NN-K-SVD.
Precision range image registration using a robust surface interpenetration measure and enhanced genetic algorithms

This paper addresses the range image registration problem for views having low overlap and which may include substantial noise. The current state of the art in range image registration is best represented by the well-known iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm and numerous variations on it. Although this method is effective in many domains, it nevertheless suffers from two key limitations: it requires prealignment of the range surfaces to a reasonable starting point; and it is not robust to outliers arising either from noise or low surface overlap. This paper proposes a new approach that avoids these problems. To that end, there are two key, novel contributions in this work: a new, hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) technique, including hill climbing and parallel-migration, combined with a new, robust evaluation metric based on surface interpenetration. Up to now, interpenetration has been evaluated only qualitatively; we define the first quantitative measure for it. Because they search in a space of transformations, GA are capable of registering surfaces even when there is low overlap between them and without need for prealignment. The novel GA search algorithm we present offers much faster convergence than prior GA methods, while the new robust evaluation metric ensures more precise alignments, even in the presence of significant noise, than mean squared error or other well-known robust cost functions. The paper presents thorough experimental results to show the improvements realized by these two contributions.
Out of Focus: Exploring Practitioners' Understanding of Child Sexual Abuse Images on the Internet

Children made the subjects of sexual abuse images online have been abused offline and in addition, images of their abuse have been distributed online images that cannot be retrieved and that circulate on the Internet indefinitely. There is a lack of knowledge regarding practitioners’ understanding of child sexual abuse images online and the effects of such images on the child victims. This study represents one of the first explorations of how practitioners working in child sexual abuse (CSA) understand online CSA images and the effects of these images, and how practitioners integrate their understanding into assessment and treatment approaches. Employing a Grounded Theory methodology, 14 practitioners from Ontario, Canada were recruited using theoretical sampling to participate in in-depth interviews to explore their understanding of online CSA images and how this understanding influenced their clinical practice. Themes that emerged indicated that the participants differed in how they conceptualized what constituted online CSA images, and that they held varying levels or degrees of concern regarding the effects on the child. Factors identified as influencing practitioners’ conceptualizations included whether practitioners viewed online CSA images as: 1) the same as conventional CSA; 2) different from conventional CSA and not as serious; 3) different from
Use of cysteine‐reactive cross‐linkers to probe conformational flexibility of human DJ‐1 demonstrates that Glu18 mutations are dimers

The oxidation of a key cysteine residue (Cys106) in the parkinsonism‐associated protein DJ‐1 regulates its ability to protect against oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. Cys106 interacts with a neighboring protonated Glu18 residue, stabilizing the Cys106‐SO2− (sulfinic acid) form of DJ‐1. To study this important post‐translational modification, we previously designed several Glu18 mutations (E18N, E18D, E18Q) that alter the oxidative propensity of Cys106. However, recent results suggest these Glu18 mutations cause loss of DJ‐1 dimerization, which would severely compromise the protein's function. The purpose of this study was to conclusively determine the oligomerization state of these mutants using X‐ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, thermal stability analysis, circular dichroism spectroscopy, sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation, and cross‐linking. We found that all of the Glu18 DJ‐1 mutants were dimeric. Thiol cross‐linking indicates that these mutant dimers are more flexible than the wild‐type protein and can form multiple cross‐linked dimeric species due to the transient exposure of cysteine residues that are inaccessible in the wild‐type protein. The enhanced flexibility of Glu18 DJ‐1 mutants provides a parsimonious explanation for their lower observed cross‐linking efficiency in cells. In addition, thiol cross‐linkers may have an underappreciated value as qualitative probes of protein conformational flexibility.
On the Convergence Behavior of the FastICA Algorithm with the Kurtosis Cost Function

The FastICA algorithm is widely used in practice for blind source separation. It would therefore be essential to have theoretical confirmation of its properties. The convergence problem in ICA is difficult and important. A rigorous convergence analysis has been presented for the so-called one-unit case, in which just one of the rows of the separating matrix is considered. However, in the FastICA algorithm, there is also an explicit normalization step, and it may be questioned whether the extra rotation caused by the normalization will effect the convergence property. The global convergence analysis has been made for the 2times2 case of the FastICA algorithm with the kurtosis cost function. The purpose of this paper is to show the good convergence properties of the FastICA algorithm with symmetrical normalization for three mixtures and three sources.
A Hierarchically Blocked Jacobi SVD Algorithm for Single and Multiple Graphics Processing Units

We present a hierarchically blocked one-sided Jacobi algorithm for the singular value decomposition (SVD), targeting both single and multiple graphics processing units (GPUs). The blocking structure reflects the levels of the GPUs' memory hierarchy. The algorithm may outperform MAGMA's \textttdgesvd, while retaining high relative accuracy. To this end, we developed a family of parallel pivot strategies on the GPU's shared address space, but applicable also to inter-GPU communication. Unlike common hybrid approaches, our algorithm in a single-GPU setting needs a CPU for the controlling purposes only, while utilizing the GPU's resources to the fullest extent permitted by the hardware. When required by the problem size, the algorithm, in principle, scales to an arbitrary number of GPU nodes. The scalability is demonstrated by more than twofold speedup for sufficiently large matrices on a Tesla S2050 system with four GPUs versus a single Fermi card.
Values of certain L-series in positive characteristic

We introduce a class of deformations of the values of the Goss zeta function. We prove, with the use of the theory of deformations of vectorial modular forms as well as with other techniques, a formula for their value at 1, and some arithmetic properties of values at other positive integers. Our formulas involve Anderson and Thakur’s function ! We discuss how our formulas may be used to investigate the existence of a kind of functional equation for the Goss zeta function.
Preconditioning for Accelerated Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares in Structured Sparsity Reconstruction

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for structured sparsity reconstruction. This algorithm is based on the iterative reweighted least squares (IRLS) framework, and accelerated by the preconditioned conjugate gradient method. The convergence rate of the proposed algorithm is almost the same as that of the traditional IRLS algorithms, that is, exponentially fast. Moreover, with the devised preconditioner, the computational cost for each iteration is significantly less than that of traditional IRLS algorithms, which makes it feasible for large scale problems. Besides the fast convergence, this algorithm can be flexibly applied to standard sparsity, group sparsity, and overlapping group sparsity problems. Experiments are conducted on a practical application compressive sensing magnetic resonance imaging. Results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves superior performance over 9 state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of both accuracy and computational cost.
Prepubertal social gender transitions: What we know; what we can learn—A view from a gender affirmative lens

ABSTRACT Background : This article provides a review and commentary on social transition of gender-expansive prepubertal youth, analyzing risks, and benefits based on a synthesis of research and clinical observation, highlighting controversies, and setting forth recommendations, including the importance of continued clinical research. Methods : This article involved: (1) a review and critique of the WPATH Standards of Care 7th edition guidelines on social transition; (2) a review and synthesis of empirical research on social transition in prepubertal children; (3) a discussion of clinical practice observations; (4) a discussion of continuing controversies and complexities involving early social transition; (5) a discussion of risks and benefits of social transition; and (6) conclusions and recommendations based upon the above. Results : Results suggest that at this point research is limited and that some of the earliest research on young gender-expansive youth is methodologically questionable and has not been replicated. Newer research suggests that socially transitioned prepubertal children are often well adjusted, a finding consistent with clinical practice observations. Analysis of both emerging research and clinical reports reveal evidence of a stable transgender identity surfacing in early childhood. Discussion : The authors make recommendations to support social transitions in prepubertal gender-expansive children, when appropriate, as a facilitator of gender health, defined as a child's opportunity to live in the gender that feels most authentic, acknowledging that there are limitations to our knowledge, and ongoing research is essential.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN OFF-ROAD AGRICULTURAL VIRTUAL PROVING GROUND

A virtual proving ground (VPG) was developed for use in agricultural applications using the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS). The VPG environment consists of a real-time tractor dynamics model, visual and terrain databases with areas suitable for various types of driving tasks, a physical tractor cab equipped with instrumented controls providing a realistic interface between the operator and the simulated environment, and a set of audio cues which provide realistic tractor sounds. This project marks the first time that a cab other than one of the four standard NADS cabs was integrated into the simulator. A baseline experiment established that the VPG environment was realistic as measured by operator workload and realism assessments. This paper highlights some of the development tasks required to create the VPG and integrate the new cab, and summarizes some results of the baseline experiment.
Teachers in the National Curriculum Assessment Policy: What Powers Do They Hold?

Abstract This article opens up a discussion on the power that teachers have in mathematics curriculum at the Further Education and Training Level. It is related to the general question: who beats the drums in school mathematics education in South Africa? To what extent is the teacher given an opportunity to exercise power in mathematics assessment? If the teacher is given power, what does that power allow him/her to do, and under what conditions does this happen? From the vantage point of assessment, this article is an attempt to unpack the question of teacher power by looking at how teachers are positioned in the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) Assessment Policy for Mathematics (Grades 10-12, Department of Education). The case of mathematics is presented here to illustrate the above complex questions of teacher power in curriculum assessment.
The Effects of Alone and Joint The Social Skills Education and Family Participation Programmes on 4-5 Years Old Children's Social Skills and Mother- Child Relationship

The aim of this research was to determine effect alone and joint and Family Participation and The Social Skills Education Programmes on 4-5 years old children's social skills. This research was designed as a quasi experimental study. During the research pre-test, past-test and follow-up test is used to collect accurate data. The work group of this research was consisted of for subgroups; Experimenal Group1 (the group that The Family Participation Activity is applied), Experimantal Group2 (The group that The Social Skills Education Programme is applied), Experimantal Group3 (The group that The Social Skills Education Programme With Family Participation is applied) and control group (the none of this programmes are applied). Experimantal Group1 there are 34 children, 34 mothers, 34 fathers, in the Experimantal Group2 there are 32 children, Experimantal Gruoup3 there are 30 children, 30 mothers, 30 fathers, in the Control Group there are 32 children, 32 mothers, 32 fathers. During this research; Personal Information Form, Child-Parent Relationship Scale (Mother Form) and Social Skills Evaluation Scales are used as a data collection tools. According to the results of this research, Social Skills Education Programme With Family Participation in Experimantal Group3; social skills education programme in Experimantal Group2; The Family Participation Activity in Experimantal Group1 for 4-5 year of children's social skills (interpersonal skills, controlling the anger behaviour and the abilities of adapting to changes, coping with the peer pressure, controlling himself, verbal description, accepting the results, listening, creating aim, completing the tasks) are an significant effect (p<.01).
The Geographic Selection Mosaic for Ponderosa Pine and Crossbills: A Tale of Two Squirrels

Abstract Recent research demonstrates how the occurrence of a preemptive competitor (Tamiasciurus) gives rise to a geographic mosaic of coevolution for crossbills (Loxia) and conifers. We extend these studies by examining ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), which produces more variable annual seed crops than the conifers in previous studies and often cooccurs with tree squirrels in the genus Sciurus that are less specialized than Tamiasciurus on conifer seed. We found no evidence of seed defenses evolving in response to selection exerted by S. aberti, which was apparently overwhelmed by selection resulting from inner bark feeding that caused many developing cones to be destroyed. In the absence of S. aberti, defenses directed at crossbills increased, favoring larger-billed crossbills and causing stronger reciprocal selection between crossbills and ponderosa pine. However, crossbill nomadism in response to cone crop fluctuations prevents localized reciprocal adaptation by crossbills. In contrast, evolution in response to S. griseus has incidentally defended cones against crossbills, limiting the geographic range of the interaction between crossbills and ponderosa pine. Our results suggest that annual resource variation does not prevent competitors from shaping selection mosaics, although such fluctuations likely prevent fine-scale geographic differentiation in predators that are nomadic in response to resource variability.
Ethnic and gender comparison of rugae patterns among clinical dental trainees in Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction This study was conducted to compare the rugae patterns between two major ethnic groups in Nigeria to establish any peculiarities. This will serve as basis for population identification especially in mass disasters involving individuals of different races or ethnicities. Methods One hundred consenting participants, 50 of south-western Yoruba ethnicity and 50 of south-eastern Igbo ethnicity were recruited; impressions of the upper jaws were taken and cast with dental stone. Two blinded investigators then delineated and recorded the rugae pattern of individual casts. The rugae patterns for the two groups were then analysed using the SPSS version 16. Results The Yoruba's had more of wavy and straight patterns while there were more of curve and circular among the Ibo's, however, there was no significant differences between the two groups in the mean incidence of the various rugae shapes of wavy, circular, curve and straight (p = 0.843, p = 0.711, p = 0.309 and p = 0.292 respectively). There were more secondary rugae in the Igbo than the Yoruba group and the differences in the mean incidences were significant. Conclusion The study observed several rugae similarities and no significant differences in the primary rugae shapes of the Igbos and Yoruba ethnicities, however, there were significant differences in the sum of secondary and unclassified rugae between the two groups; therefore, rugoscopy may be useful in ethnic differentiation.