Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Levels of automation in a binary categorization task

Motivation -- To study the effect of levels of automation on binary categorization decisions. Research approach -- A laboratory experiment was conducted on 80 students, employing a simulated production control task that involved binary categorizations of situations. Findings/Design -- The performance with the lower level of automation tended to be less affected by the quality of the aid and overall better than performance with the higher level of automation. Research limitations/Implications -- The system is fairly abstract, and additional validation of the findings in more realistic settings may be desirable. Originality/Value -- The study is one of a fairly small number of empirical studies on the effect of levels of automation on performance. Take away message -- Lower levels of automation may actually lead to better results in a wide range of conditions.
Investigation of force-controlled friction stir welding for manufacturing and automation

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process for materials with low melting points. The process uses a rotating tool that consists of a shoulder and a pin. The tool plastically deforms the material with its pin and then forges together the parent materials underneath the shoulder. Past research has established that the axial force on the tool that creates the forging pressure is a function of plunge depth, traverse speed, and rotation speed. Historically, force control of FSW has been accomplished by varying the plunge depth of the tool. The research presented in this paper examines the force control of FSW by varying each of the process parameters separately. A force controller was implemented on a retrofitted milling machine. The closed-loop proportional—integral—derivative (PID) control architecture was tuned using the Ziegler—Nichols method. Welding experiments were conducted by butt welding ¼ inch (6.35 mm) × 1½ inch (38.1 mm) × 8 inch (203.2 mm) samples of aluminium 6061-T6511 with a ¼ inch (6.35 mm) FSW tool. The results indicate that force control via traverse speed is the most accurate and, as a by-product, heat distribution control along the weld seam occurs. Force control via plunge depth is the least accurate but it compensates for machine and robot deflection. Tensile test data show that greater strength can be obtained through force control via rotation speed. It is concluded that force is maintained by keeping the amount of tool surface area in contract with the workpiece constant throughout the welding process when plunge depth is used as the controlling variable. Force is maintained by varying the rate of heat generation when rotation speed is used as the controlling variable. Lastly, force is maintained by changing the amount of heat deposited per unit length along the weld seam when traverse speed is used as the controlling variable. Successful robotic FSW requires to be selected the appropriate controlling variable and the sensitivity of the interaction between the tool and the workpiece to be reduced.
Doing Gender in the Bedroom: Investing in Gender Norms and the Sexual Experience

People often believe that they must be consistent with gender norms to obtain others’ approval. The authors believe people who invest in gender norms tend to base self-esteem on others’ approval, which undermines their sexual autonomy and ultimately diminishes their sexual satisfaction in intimate relationships. A survey of 309 sexually active college students examined whether placing importance on conforming to gender norms undermines sexual relationships because of its link to basing self-worth on others’ approval and decreased sexual autonomy. Using structural equation modeling, the authors found that valuing gender conformity (but not avoiding gender deviance) negatively affects sexual pleasure for both men and women through increased contingency on others’ approval and restricted sexual autonomy. The model fit the data for both men and women.
NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRA OF GALACTIC STELLAR CLUSTERS DETECTED ON SPITZER/GLIMPSE IMAGES

We present near-infrared spectroscopic observations of massive stars in three stellar clusters located in the direction of the inner Galaxy. One of them, the Quartet, is a new discovery while the other two were previously reported as candidate clusters identified on mid-infrared Spitzer images (GLIMPSE20 and GLIMPSE13). Using medium-resolution (R = 900–1320) H and K spectroscopy, we firmly establish the nature of the brightest stars in these clusters, yielding new identifications of an early WC and two Ofpe/WN9 stars in the Quartet and an early WC star in GLIMPSE20. We combine this information with the available photometric measurements from Two Micron All Sky Survey, to estimate cluster masses, ages, and distances. The presence of several massive stars places the Quartet and GLIMPSE20 among the small sample of known Galactic stellar clusters with masses of a few 103 M☉, and ages from 3 to 8 Myr. We estimate a distance of about 3.5 kpc for GLIMPSE20 and 6.0 kpc for Quartet. The large number of giant stars identified in GLIMPSE13 indicates that it is another massive (∼6500 M☉) cluster, but older, with an age between 30 and 100 Myr, at a distance of about 3 kpc.
When the same form does not have the same function: how mothers’ lexical repetitions shape the children’s emerging linguistic and interactional skills

One of the main problems recipients and speakers have to face when using lexical repetitions is to distinguish the action the speaker is doing when uttering a repetition. The multi-functionality of repetitions makes it harder to explain some of the ambiguities involved in their analysis, and it calls for an analytic division between different actions done by repetitions in which the same form may be used for different functions. Following the interactional phonetics methodological approach, this thesis integrates the methodology of Conversation Analysis and instrumental and impressionistic phonetics to show how mothers and their children negotiate the action done by mothers’ repetitions of the children’s previous turns in everyday Brazilian Portuguese conversations. Repetitions to affirm are used as a way of approving the children’s articulatory performance and labeling ability. Here the repetition matches the children’s prior turn pitch pattern and have minimised phonetic differences. Repetitions to correct pronunciation are produced with significant difference in articulation and pitch pattern, as compared to the child’s prior realisation. The phonetic cues are understood by the children as an invitation to correct their prior turn. Mothers’ repetitions to correct the child’s lexical choice are produced with a distinctive rise-fall intonation contour. The children treat the repetitions as a hearing trouble on the mother’s side, while the mothers’ subsequent talk provides evidence that in fact she had designed the repetition with the aim of correcting the children’s lexical choice. Repetitions to request confirmation are produced also with a rise-fall contour. Mothers and children seem to orient to the repetition in the same way, since both treat them as a request of confirmation. The results show that the children’s ability to understand repetitions addressing pronunciation problems, to affirm and to request confirmation come before the ability to understand repetitions that address problems of lexical choice.
Political Parties and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows among Developing Countries

This article focuses on the nature of party systems to explain variations in foreign direct investment inflows within developing democracies. We hypothesize a positive relationship between the effective number of parliamentary parties and foreign direct investment inflows. Large effective number of parliamentary parties is indicative of the expropriation risks as well as stability of the political environment of host countries. We thus argue that expropriation risks are low when the presence of multiple parties makes drastic, impulsive changes in economic policies difficult. We also suggest that a larger number of parties represent diverse societal interests better, reducing the chances of underrepresented social groups driving political instability. The relationship between effective number of parliamentary party and foreign direct investment inflows is tested on a sample of 56 developing democracies from 1985 to 2011. The evidence presented lends strong support to the argument and is found robust to a number of alternative empirical scenarios.
A genetic programming free-parameter algorithm for mining association rules

This paper presents a free-parameter grammar-guided genetic programming algorithm for mining association rules. This algorithm uses a contex-free grammar to represent individuals, encoding the solutions in a tree-shape conformant to the grammar, so they are more expressive and flexible. The algorithm here presented has the advantages of using evolutionary algorithms for mining association rules, and it also solves the problem of tuning the huge number of parameters required by these algorithms. The main feature of this algorithm is the small number of parameters required, providing the possibility of discovering association rules in an easy way for non-expert users. We compare our approach to existing evolutionary and exhaustive search algorithms, obtaining important results and overcoming the drawbacks of both exhaustive search and evolutionary algorithms. The experimental stage reveals that this approach discovers frequent and reliable rules without a parameter tuning.
The athlete’s diet: nutritional goals and dietary strategies

When talented, motivated and highly trained athletes meet for competition the margin between victory and defeat is usually small. When everything else is equal, nutrition can make the difference between winning and losing. Although the primary concern of many athletes is to supplement the diet with protein, vitamins and minerals, and a range of more exotic compounds, key dietary issues are often neglected. Athletes must establish their nutritional goals, and must also be able to translate them into dietary strategies that will meet these goals. Athletes are often concerned with dietary manipulations in the period around competition, but the main role of nutrition may be to support consistent intensive training which will lead to improved performance. Meeting energy demand and maintaining body mass and body fat at appropriate levels are key goals. An adequate intake of carbohydrate is crucial for maintaining muscle glycogen stores during hard training, but the types of food and the timing of intake are also important. Protein ingestion may stimulate muscle protein synthesis in the post-exercise period, promoting the process of adaptation in the muscles. Restoration of fluid and electrolyte balance after exercise is essential. If energy intake is high and a varied diet is consumed, supplementation of the diet with vitamins and minerals is not warranted, unless a specific deficiency is identified. Specific strategies before competition may be necessary, but this requirement depends on the demands of the sport. Generally, it is important to ensure high pre-competition glycogen stores and to maintain fluid balance. There is limited evidence to support the use of dietary supplements, but some, including perhaps creatine and caffeine, may be beneficial.
Relations of diet and physical activity to bone mass and height in black and white adolescents

Because the development of healthy bodies during the years of growth has life-long health consequences, it is important to understand the early influences of diet and physical activity (PA). One way to generate hypotheses concerning such influences is to conduct cross-sectional studies of how diet and PA are related to different components of body composition. The subjects were 660 black and white adolescents. Total body bone mineral content (BMC) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; free-living diet and PA were assessed with 4–7 separate 24-h recalls. The main dietary variables investigated were: total energy intake, macronutrient distribution (%), dairy servings, vitamin D, and calcium. The main PA variables were hours of moderate PA (3–6 METs) and vigorous PA (>6 METs). BMC was higher in blacks than in whites (P<0.01) and it increased more in boys than in girls (age by sex interaction) as age increased (P<0.01). After adjustment for age, race and sex, higher levels of BMC were associated with higher levels of energy intake, dairy servings, calcium, vitamin D, and vigorous PA (all P 's<0.05). In the multivariable model, significant and independent proportions of the variance in BMC were explained by race, the age by sex interaction, calcium, and vigorous PA (all P 's<0.01). When height was used as the outcome variable, similar diet results were obtained; however, there was a sex by vigorous PA interaction, such that vigorous PA was associated with height only in the girls. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the bone mass and height of growing youths are positively influenced by higher dietary intake of energy and dairy foods, along with sufficient amounts of vigorous PA. This hypothesis needs to be tested in randomized controlled trials.
Should we abandon the common practice of withholding oral anticoagulation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?

AIMS To assess the relation between the atrial fibrillation (AF) subtype and thrombo-embolic events. METHODS AND RESULTS The observational Euro Heart Survey on AF (2003-04) enrolled 1509 paroxysmal, 1109 persistent, and 1515 permanent AF patients, according to the 2001 American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology guidelines definitions. A 1 year follow-up was performed. Permanent AF patients had at baseline a worse stroke risk profile than paroxysmal and persistent AF patients. In paroxysmal AF, the risk for stroke, any thrombo-embolism, major bleeding and the combined endpoint of cardiovascular mortality, any thrombo-embolism, and major bleeding was comparable with persistent and permanent AF, in both univariable and multivariable analyses. Compared with AF patients without stroke, patients suffering from a stroke had a comparable frequency and duration of AF attacks, but tended to have a worse stroke risk profile at baseline. During 1 year following cardioversion, paroxysmal AF patients had a higher risk for stroke (P = 0.029) and any thrombo-embolism (P = 0.001) than persistent AF patients. CONCLUSION In the Euro Heart Survey, paroxysmal AF had a comparable risk for thrombo-embolic events as persistent and permanent AF. This observation strengthens the guideline recommendation not to consider the clinical AF subtype when deciding on anticoagulation.
Rapid Adaptation Effect of N170 for Printed Words

Faces and written words are two of the most familiar types of visual patterns with the brain's selective response of N170 component in early perception. Using ERP adaptation paradigms, studies have found the N170 response is reduced when there is repeated presentation of upright faces relative to a control condition. In contrast to these well-established features of the face-related N170 adaptation effect, the characteristics of the N170 adaptation effect for printed words are less clear. The goal was to investigate the ERP adaptation effects of printed language (English words and Chinese characters) in a short ISI (200msec.) adaptation paradigm. The present study showed that both alphabetic words and non-alphabetic words could produce a rapid N170 adaptation effect. Objects of expertise (e.g. words and faces) can produce a rapid N170 adaptation effect but other objects (e.g., houses) cannot, indicating that the specific stimuli have some specific mechanisms for the rapid N170 adaptation.
A MiRNA Signature for Defining Aggressive Phenotype and Prognosis in Gliomas

Gliomas represent a disparate group of tumours for which there are to date no cure. Thus, there is a recognized need for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on increased understanding of their molecular nature. We performed the comparison of the microRNA (miRNA) profile of 8 WHO grade II gliomas and 24 higher grade tumours (2 WHO grade III and 22 glioblastomas) by using the Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA Array v. 1.0. A relative quantification method (RT-qPCR) with standard curve was used to confirm the 22 miRNA signature resulted by array analysis. The prognostic performances of the confirmed miRNAs were estimated on the Tumor Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. We identified 22 miRNAs distinguishing grade II gliomas from higher grade tumours. RT-qPCR confirmed the differential expression in the two patients' groups for 13 out of the 22 miRNAs. The analysis of the Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and Lower Grade Glioma (LGG) datasets from TCGA demonstrated the association with prognosis for 6 of those miRNAs. Moreover, in the GBM dataset miR-21 and miR-210 were predictors of worse prognosis in both univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses (HR 1.19, p = 0.04, and HR 1.18, p = 0.029 respectively). Our results support a direct contribution of miRNAs to glioma cancerogenesis and suggest that miR-21 and miR-210 may play a role in the aggressive clinical behaviour of glioblastomas.
Input spacing and the learning of L2 vocabulary in a classroom context

This study examined the optimal learning schedule for second language vocabulary within an authentic classroom setting in Hong Kong. Following a pretest, treatment, delayed posttest design, fifty-two primary school students (Cantonese first language) studied 20 English adjectives over two learning episodes under spaced-short (1-day interval) or spaced-long (8-day interval) learning conditions. The spacing of the vocabulary items was manipulated within-participants, and learning was assessed on a multiple-choice posttest, administered following a four-week delay. In contrast to previous laboratory-based findings, the results here indicated superior learning of the items presented under the spaced-short format, suggesting that lag effects might be attenuated by age, learning context and teaching procedure.
Finding Convex Hulls Using Quickhull on the GPU

Author(s): Tzeng, Stanley; Owens, John D | Abstract: We present a convex hull algorithm that is accelerated on commodity graphics hardware. We analyze and identify the hurdles of writing a recursive divide and conquer algorithm on the GPU and divise a framework for representing this class of problems. Our framework transforms the recursive splitting step into a permutation step that is well-suited for graphics hardware. Our convex hull algorithm of choice is Quickhull. Our parallel Quickhull implementation (for both 2D and 3D cases) achieves an order of magnitude speedup over standard computational geometry libraries.
Efficient Sparseness-Enforcing Projections

We propose a linear time and constant space algorithm for computing Euclidean projections onto sets on which a normalized sparseness measure attains a constant value. These non-convex target sets can be characterized as intersections of a simplex and a hypersphere. Some previous methods required the vector to be projected to be sorted, resulting in at least quasilinear time complexity and linear space complexity. We improve on this by adaptation of a linear time algorithm for projecting onto simplexes. In conclusion, we propose an efficient algorithm for computing the product of the gradient of the projection with an arbitrary vector.
Supercapacitors-based energy storage for urban mass transit systems

The advance in energy storage technologies allows to improve significantly the performances of electrified light transportation systems. This is aligned with the massive requirement of competitiveness compared to other transportation technologies in terms of sustainable energy and high reduction of environmental impact reduction. The present paper deals with the problem of designing and sizing supercapacitors energy storage systems applied in DC electrified mass transit systems (MTSs). More specifically, it is shown that the optimal design of a stationary energy storage device can be regarded as a classical isoperimetric problem, whose solution is very attractive in order to determine also the optimal allocation of the storage device, as well as it takes contemporaneously into account several technical aspects in an integrated manner. Some simulations with respect to a case study are presented, pointing out the potentiality of the tailored technique. Experimental results are also reported, with reference to a reduced scale model, in order to put in evidence the effectiveness and the actual implementation of the proposed optimization technique.
GeDEA-II : A Novel Evolutionary Algorithm for Multi-Objective Optimization Problems Based on the Simplex Crossover and The Shrink Mutation

The key issue for an efficient and reliable multiobjective evolutionary algorithm is the ability to converge to the True Pareto Front with the least number of objective function evaluations, while covering it as much as possible. To this purpose, in a previous paper performance comparisons showed that the Genetic Diversity Evolutionary Algorithm (GeDEA) was at the same level of the best state-of-the-art MOEAs due to it intrinsic ability to properly conjugate exploitation of current non-dominated solutions and the exploration of the search space. In this paper, an improved version, namely the GeDEAII, is proposed which features a novel crossover operator, the Simplex-Crossover, and a novel mutation operator, the ShrinkMutation. GeDEM operator was left unchanged and completed using the non-dominated-sorting based on crowding distance. The comparison among GeDEA-II and GeDEA, as well as with three other modern elitist methods, on different extremely multidimensional test problems, clearly indicates that the performance of GeDEA-II is, at least in these cases, superior. In addition, authors aimed at putting in evidence the very good performance of GeDEA-II even in extremely multidimensional landscapes. To do this, four test problems were considered, and the GeDEA-II performance tested as the number of decision variables was increased. In particular, ZDT test functions featured a number of decision variables ranging from the original proposed number up to 1000, whereas on DTLZ the decision variables were increased up to 100 times the original proposed number. Results obtained contribute to demonstrate further the GeDEA-II breakthrough performance.
Reconfiguring Rights in Austerity Britain: Boundaries, Behaviours and Contestable Margins

Abstract This paper addresses policy change in Britain since 2010 across the three fields of domestic welfare, migration and asylum, and analyses the association between welfare, conditionality and control through the lens of civic stratification. Drawing on the work of Richard Munch and Mary Douglas, it moves beyond existing literature in this area to show that the more complex the classification in play, and the more severe its boundary implications, the more likely the emergence of contestable margins. Informed by Munch's ‘battlefield’ approach, it provides a discussion of contestable margins in each of the three policy fields and outlines the nature and source of challenges that emerge within the ‘institutional battlefield’. A concluding section reflects on what is revealed by viewing welfare, migration and asylum within the same conceptual frame, identifying an emergent welfare paradigm that displays recurrent problems across all three fields.