Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intra and inter-reliability testing of a South African developed computerised notational system among Western Province Club Rugby Coaches

The coach’s role is to enhance the performance of players through observing the performance, evaluating the performance, providing feedback on the performance and then implementing appropriate interventions to improve the performance. In coaching environments specifically, there can only be confidence in the data generated from computerised notational systems if the system provides reliable information and statistics. There are many systems on the market that are being utilised by amateur club rugby coaches and performance analysts; yet only a few have been tested for reliability. The aim of the study is to firstly, determine the inter- and intra-coder reliability of a South African developed computerised notational systems and secondly, to compare the coding proficiency of Western Province Rugby Union club coaches versus an experienced coder. Five club coaches with no prior experience of computerised notational systems or coding and one experienced coder participated in the study. The participants (n = 6) each coded five international rugby matches and re-coded two of these matches to determine the intra-coder reliability. The reliability between the different coding agreements was measured using Cohen’s kappa statistic (К). The study revealed a good inter-coder agreement for all the performance indicators (К = 0.79) with the strongest agreement being for the set pieces (К = 0.93). Very good intra-coder reliability was also revealed for all the coders; there was a mean of К = 0.82. Comparing the club coach’s coding to the experienced coder showed a good mean agreement of К = 0.77. The study concluded that the EncodeProRX is a reliable computerised notational systems that can be accurately and consistently used in club rugby set-up.
Public Agendas and Policy Agendas in Three Western European Countries: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Abstract In any democratic system, the question of whether governments pay attention to citizens’ needs and requests represents a crucial component of democratic quality. But what conditions favour this fundamental democratic process? This article compares policy priorities identified by public opinion with the actual legislative production in Italy, Spain and the UK from 2003 to 2012. The article’s methodology is a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in which causal conditions are represented by politico-institutional and contextual factors, while the outcome consists of the degree of overlap between public opinion priorities and legislation. Empirical analysis shows that there are four paths leading to a correspondence in priorities: first, it is linked to the combination of high government decision-making capacity and declining citizens’ trust in government; second, it is also linked to the combination of rising citizens’ trust and low government decision-making capacity. Third and fourth, priorities also correspond where there is a simultaneous absence of both trust and elections, and in the absence of both decision-making capacity and elections, respectively.
Relationship between Oral Communication Apprehension and Communication Competence among EFL Students

This research paper discusses the relation between oral communication apprehension (CA) and communication competence (CC). There is a pronounced link between oral CA and CC in English language learners. Students who have English either as their second or a foreign language face considerable difficulty in conversing due to a natural apprehension and lack of confidence relating to correctness, fluency and other factors. This study investigates the major role CA and CC play in English language or second/foreign language learning through perfection and imperfection of linguistic repertoire, grammatical construction, social context, motivation, willingness to communicate, and teaching techniques. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations, such as providing motivation through different motivational activities, encouraging oral communication by means of suggested strategies, and designing an English language learning curriculum in accordance with the backgrounds of the target students.
The kernel of an homomorphism of Harish-Chandra

Let 0 be a reductive, complex Lie algebra, with adjoint group G, let G act on the ring of differential operators ^(g) via the adjoint action and write r : Q —» ^(fl) for the differential of this action. A classic result of Harish-Chandra shows that any invariant differential operator that kills 0(Q), the algebra of invariant functions on 0, also kills all invariant distributions on a real form of g. In this paper we generalize this result by showing that ^(Q)r(Q)={e^D(Q):e(0(Q))=0}. This answers a question raised by Dixmier, by Wallach and by Schwarz.
Slot Management based Energy Aware routing (SMEAR) for wireless sensor networks

ZigBee is the emerging industrial standard for Ad hoc networks based on the IEEE 802.15. 4 physical and MAC layers standard. It was originally specified for low data rate, low power consumption and low cost wireless personal area networks (WPANs). ZigBee is expected to be used in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for industrial sensing and control applications. Handling high data rate applications, such as video surveillance in WPANs is a real challenge. To decrease energy consumption of the node in a ZigBee network, in this paper, time management routing, where multiple paths are used in various time slot to transfer data between a source and the sink. This paper presents an integrated MAC and routing protocol called Slot Management based Energy Aware routing (SMEAR) for time-sensitive wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. SMEAR is a TDMA-based protocol designed to provide deterministic delay guarantee in an energy-efficient manner. The slots for the path of nodes are carefully computed so that data is transported from the source toward the sink whereas the nodes could sleep at other times to conserve energy. This paper has simulated SMEAR using ns2 simulator and results are compared with those of without SMEAR. Simulation results show that the packet reception ratio, energy consumption and number of packets received at the sink are much better in a network using SMEAR than that using without SMEAR.
Systematic TLM Measurements of NiSi and PtSi Specific Contact Resistance to n- and p-Type Si in a Broad Doping Range

We present the data on specific silicide-to-silicon contact resistance (rhoc) obtained using optimized transmission-line model structures, processed for a broad range of various n- and p-type Si doping levels, with NiSi and PtSi as the silicides. These structures, despite being attractive candidates for embedding in the CMOS processes, have not been used for NiSi, which is the material of choice in modern technologies. In addition, no database for NiSi-silicon contact resistance exists, particularly for a broad range of doping levels. This letter provides such a database, using PtSi extensively studied earlier as a reference.
A Rearrangement-Based Approach to Compare Whole Genomes of Vibrionaceae Strains

The Vibrionaceae family comprises a wide variety of organisms, including some severe human pathogens. Currently, 8 completely sequenced genomes are public available, and a natural challenge that arises from this scenario is to employ this information to establish a modern phylogeny. Toward this goal, we propose an approach based on genomic rearrangements to compare complete genomes of Vibrionaceae strains, which can in principle be applied, with adaptations, to other species. In our approach, we employ a profile-based methodology to identify homologous genes and model evolutionary events such as gene losses, lateral gene transfers, and chromosomal rearrangements to estimate evolutive distance, which we believe can substantially complement analyzes based on gene markers or phenotypic characteristics.
Armadillidin H, a Glycine-Rich Peptide from the Terrestrial Crustacean Armadillidium vulgare, Displays an Unexpected Wide Antimicrobial Spectrum with Membranolytic Activity

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of innate immunity and are widespread in nature, from bacteria to vertebrate animals. In crustaceans, there are currently 15 distinct AMP families published so far in the literature, mainly isolated from members of the Decapoda order. Up to now, armadillidin is the sole non-decapod AMP isolated from the haemocytes of Armadillidium vulgare, a crustacean isopod. Its first description demonstrated that armadillidin is a linear glycine-rich (47%) cationic peptide with an antimicrobial activity directed toward Bacillus megaterium. In the present work, we report identification of armadillidin Q, a variant of armadillidin H (earlier known as armadillidin), from crude haemocyte extracts of A. vulgare using LC-MS approach. We demonstrated that both armadillidins displayed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, but were totally inactive against yeasts. Membrane permeabilization assays, only performed with armadillidin H, showed that the peptide is membrane active against bacterial and fungal strains leading to deep changes in cell morphology. This damaging activity visualized by electronic microscopy correlates with a rapid decrease of cell viability leading to highly blebbed cells. In contrast, armadillidin H does not reveal cytotoxicity toward human erythrocytes. Furthermore, no secondary structure could be defined in this study [by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)] even in a membrane mimicking environment. Therefore, armadillidins represent interesting candidates to gain insight into the biology of glycine-rich AMPs.
Inter-arrival time distribution for channel arrivals in cellular telephony

In this paper different probability density functions are fitted to the inter-arrival time in a channel of a Cellular Mobile Telephony system. The approach is entirely experimental: the data set to be fitted has been obtained on an actual system in operation. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) goodness-of-fit test is used in order to establish a ranking of the best fitting probability density functions. From this study it can be concluded that the arrivals to a channel in a cell are according to a smooth process.
Diachronic Evaluation of NER Systems on Old Newspapers

In recent years, many cultural institutions have engaged in large-scale newspaper digitization projects and large amounts of historical texts are being acquired (via transcription or OCRization). Beyond document preservation, the next step consists in providing an enhanced access to the content of these digital resources. In this regard, the processing of units which act as referential anchors, namely named entities (NE), is of particular importance. Yet, the application of standard NE tools to historical texts faces several challenges and performances are often not as good as on contemporary documents. This paper investigates the performances of different NE recognition tools applied on old newspapers by conducting a diachronic evaluation over 7 time-series taken from the archives of Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Styles of play in professional soccer: an approach of the Chinese Soccer Super League

Abstract Describing and measuring different styles of play that soccer teams can adopt during a match is a very important step towards a more predictive and prescriptive performance analysis. The current study aimed to identify and measure different styles of play in professional soccer. The sample comprises all 240 matches in the Chinese Soccer Super League during the 2016 season. Data were examined using a linear regression analysis and a factor analysis. Five factors had eigenvalues greater than 1 and explained 79.6% of the total variance. The following styles of play were found: Factor 1 (“possession” style of play, correlated with the ball possession, ball possession in opponent half and in the final third of the field, positional attacks, passes, accurate passes, passes forward and back), Factor 2 (set pieces attack, correlated positively with the number of set pieces attacks, and attacks), Factor 3 (counterattacking play, correlated with interceptions, interceptions in opponents half, recovered balls, and number of counterattacks) and Factor 4 and 5 (transitional play, correlated with lost balls, and picking up free balls). These metrics may allow coaches and analysts to classify the teams’ into specific profiles of playing styles.
An illusion of memory: false recognition influenced by unconscious perception

The results of two experiments showed that an illusion of memory can be produced by unconscious perception. In a first phase of those experiments, a long list of words was presented for study. For the test of recognition memory given in the second phase of each experiment, presentation of a "context" word preceded that of most recognition test words. Ss were to judge whether or not the test words had been presented during the earlier study phase of the experiment. Effects of a context word on this recognition memory decision were opposite when Ss were aware vs. unaware of its presentation. For example, as compared to a condition in which no context word was presented, the probability of false recognition was increased when Ss were unaware but decreased when Ss were aware of the presentation of a context word that matched the recognition test word. Results are discussed in terms of unconscious influences on an attribution process.
Please Biofeed the Zombies: Enhancing the Gameplay and Display of a Horror Game Using Biofeedback

This paper describes an investigation into how real-time but low-cost biometric information can be interpreted by computer games to enhance gameplay without fundamentally changing it. We adapted a cheap sensor, (the Lightstone mediation sensor device by Wild Divine), to record and transfer biometric information about the player (via sensors that clip over their fingers) into a commercial game engine, Half-Life 2. During game play, the computer game was dynamically modified by the player’s biometric information to increase the cinematically augmented “horror” affordances. These included dynamic changes in the game shaders, screen shake, and the creation of new spawning points for the game’s non-playing characters (zombies), all these features were driven by the player’s biometric data. To evaluate the usefulness of this biofeedback device, we compared it against a control group of players who also had sensors clipped on their fingers, but for the second group the gameplay was not modified by the biometric information of the players. While the evaluation results indicate biometric data can improve the situated feeling of horror, there are many design issues that will need to be investigated by future research, and the judicious selection of theme and appropriate interaction is vital. Author Keywords Biofeedback, gameplay, horror, cinematics, shaders.
Effects of Different Regulatory Methods on Improvement of Greenhouse Saline Soils, Tomato Quality, and Yield

To identify effective regulatory methods scheduling with the compromise between the soil desalination and the improvement of tomato quality and yield, a 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of straw mulching and soil structure conditioner and water-retaining agent on greenhouse saline soils, tomato quality, and yield. A higher salt removing rate of 80.72% in plough layer with straw mulching was obtained based on the observation of salt mass fraction in 0~20 cm soil layer before and after the experiment. Salts were also found to move gradually to the deeper soil layer with time. Straw mulching enhanced the content of soil organic matter significantly and was conductive to reserve soil available N, P, and K, while available P and K in soils of plough layer with soil structure conditioner decreased obviously; thus a greater usage of P fertilizer and K fertilizer was needed when applying soil structure conditioner. Considering the evaluation indexes including tomato quality, yield, and desalination effects of different regulatory methods, straw mulching was recommended as the main regulatory method to improve greenhouse saline soils in south China. Soil structure conditioner was the suboptimal method, which could be applied in concert with straw mulching.
Evaluation of transient osteoporosis of the hip in magnetic resonance imaging

Summary Transient osteoporosis is a relatively rare condition of unknown etiology that causes temporary bone loss. The syndrome is characterized by self-limited course and spontaneous resolution after 6 to 12 months. The pathogenesis of transient osteoporosis is not fully understood but several hypotheses that have been proposed include trauma, neurovascular dysfunction and transient hyperemia. Clinical manifestations include sudden onset of pain in the hip that usually worsens with weight bearing and leads to functional disability involving the affected extremity. Radiographs are frequently unremarkable, but may reveal periarticular osteopenia 3–6 weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms. There is no radiographic evidence of demineralization during the early phase of syndrome, as a result advanced imaging is required. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most sensitive and predictable test for an early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.
Balanced Synaptic Input Shapes the Correlation between Neural Spike Trains

Stimulus properties, attention, and behavioral context influence correlations between the spike times produced by a pair of neurons. However, the biophysical mechanisms that modulate these correlations are poorly understood. With a combined theoretical and experimental approach, we show that the rate of balanced excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input modulates the magnitude and timescale of pairwise spike train correlation. High rate synaptic inputs promote spike time synchrony rather than long timescale spike rate correlations, while low rate synaptic inputs produce opposite results. This correlation shaping is due to a combination of enhanced high frequency input transfer and reduced firing rate gain in the high input rate state compared to the low state. Our study extends neural modulation from single neuron responses to population activity, a necessary step in understanding how the dynamics and processing of neural activity change across distinct brain states.
FLOW BOILING OF WATER ON TITANIUM AND DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON COATED SURFACES IN A MICROCHANNEL

Experiments were performed to study the effects of surface wettability on flow boiling of water at atmospheric pressure. The test channel is a single rectangular channel 0.5 mm high, 5 mm wide and 180 mm long. The mass flux was set at 100 and 120 kg/m² s and the base heat flux was varied from 30 to 80 kW/m². Water enters the test channel under subcooled conditions. The sample surfaces are titanium (Ti) and diamond-like carbon (DLC) surfaces having a contact angle of 49° and 63°, respectively. The experimental results show different flow patterns that impact the heat transfer significantly. Compared to the Ti surface, the DLC surface shows a deterioration of 10% in heat transfer.
Cosmological Redshift-Space Distortion on Clustering of High-Redshift Objects: Correction for Nonlinear Effects in the Power Spectrum and Tests with N-Body Simulations

We examine the cosmological redshift-space distortion effect on the power spectrum of objects at high redshifts,which is an unavoidable observational contamination in general relativistic cosmology. In particular, we consider the nonlinear effects of density and velocity evolution using high-resolution N-body simulations in cold dark matter models. We find that theoretical modeling on the basis of the fitting formulae of nonlinear density and velocity fields accurately describes the numerical results, especially in quasi-nonlinear regimes. These corrections for nonlinear effects are essential in order to use the cosmological redshift-space distortion as a cosmological test. We perform a feasibility test to derive constraints from the future catalogs of high-redshift quasars using our theoretical modeling and results of N-body simulations. Applying the present methodology to the future data from ongoing surveys of high-redshift galaxies and quasars will provide a useful tool to constrain a geometry of the universe.
The Case for Temporary Inflation in the Eurozone

Since the onset of the Great Recession in peripheral Europe, nominal hourly wages have not fallen from the high levels they had reached during the boom years -- this in spite of widespread increases in unemployment. This observation evokes a well-known narrative in which nominal downward wage rigidity is at the center of the current unemployment problem. We embed downward nominal wage rigidity into a small open economy with tradable and nontradable goods and a fixed exchange-rate regime. In this model, negative external shocks cause involuntary unemployment. We analyze a number of national and supranational policy options for alleviating the unemployment problem caused by the combination of downward nominal wage rigidity and a fixed exchange-rate regime. We argue that, in spite of the existence of a battery of domestic policies that could be effective in solving the unemployment problem, it is unlikely that a solution will come from within national borders. This leaves supranational monetary stimulus as the most compelling avenue out of the crisis. Our model predicts that full employment in peripheral Europe could be restored by raising the euro area annual rate of inflation to about 4 percent for the next five years.
Role of Disulfide Cross-Linking of Mutant SOD1 in the Formation of Inclusion-Body-Like Structures

Background Pathologic aggregates of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) harboring mutations linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) have been shown to contain aberrant intermolecular disulfide cross-links. In prior studies, we observed that intermolecular bonding was not necessary in the formation of detergent- insoluble SOD1 complexes by mutant SOD1, but we were unable to assess whether this type of bonding may be important for pathologic inclusion formation. In the present study, we visually assess the formation of large inclusions by fusing mutant SOD1 to yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). Methodology/Principal Findings Experimental constructs possessing mutations at all cysteine residues in SOD1 (sites 6, 57, 111, and 146 to F,S,Y,R or G,S,Y,R, respectively) were shown to maintain a high propensity of inclusion formation despite the inability to form disulfide cross-links. Interestingly, although aggregates form when all cysteines were mutated, double mutants of the ALS mutation C6G with an experimental mutation C111S exhibited low aggregation propensity. Conclusions/Significance Overall, this study is an extension of previous work demonstrating that cysteine residues in mutant SOD1 play a role in modulating aggregation and that intermolecular disulfide bonds are not required to produce large intracellular inclusion-like structures.
Generalising the Discriminative Restricted Boltzmann Machine

We present a novel theoretical result that generalises the Discriminative Restricted Boltzmann Machine (DRBM). While originally the DRBM was defined assuming the {0, 1}-Bernoulli distribution in each of its hidden units, this result makes it possible to derive cost functions for variants of the DRBM that utilise other distributions, including some that are often encountered in the literature. This is illustrated with the Binomial and {-1, +1}-Bernoulli distributions here. We evaluate these two DRBM variants and compare them with the original one on three benchmark datasets, namely the MNIST and USPS digit classification datasets, and the 20 Newsgroups document classification dataset. Results show that each of the three compared models outperforms the remaining two in one of the three datasets, thus indicating that the proposed theoretical generalisation of the DRBM may be valuable in practice.