Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Object-Ions: From Technological Determinism towards Geographies of Relations

In spite of the recent proliferation of theoretically informed writings on all things ‘cyber,’- it remains the case that much of the literature on ‘electronic spaces’ is characterised by a strong current of technological determinism. That is to say, it assumes and reproduces a stable and matter-of-fact distinction between the material/technical and the social such that changes in the former are supposed somehow to ‘impact’ on the latter. In those accounts which eschew this position, authors tend to employ an approach towards technology that might broadly be termed social constructionist. After Latour, I argue that, in that they operate according to the same ‘logic’, both these positions—technological determinism and social constructionism—remain within a ‘modern’ worldview. I propose that if we are to (and I argue that we must) tell stories of a world in which what the moderns refer to as the ‘material’ and the ‘social’ are always already bound together, always already binding together, we require other vocabularies than those which divide and ‘black box’ the world into easy categories, vocabularies that are able to grant all sorts of things their rightful place in the (co)construction of the world. Drawing on a variety of writers, I suggest that one element of these other vocabularies might be what I term a ‘materialist semiotics’. Having elaborated certain strands of what this could mean, I offer some tentative accounts of what our ‘virtual geographies’ might look like from an a modern perspective.
Multi-Objective Search Results Clustering

Most web search results clustering (SRC) strategies have predominantly studied the definition of adapted representation spaces to the detriment of new clustering techniques to improve perfor-mance. In this paper, we define SRC as a multi-objective optimization (MOO) problem to take advantage of most recent works in clustering. In particular, we define two objective functions (compactness and separability), which are simultaneously optimized using a MOO-based simu-lated annealing technique called AMOSA. The proposed algorithm is able to automatically detect the number of clusters for any query and outperforms all state-of-the-art text-based solutions in terms of F β -measure and F b 3 -measure over two gold standard data sets.
Q-AODV: A Flood control Ad-Hoc on Demand Distance Vector Routing Protocol

Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a self-organized and self-configurable infrastructure less network where the mobile nodes move arbitrarily. One of the major characteristic that differentiate mobile ad-hoc networks from other types of networks is the ability of the mobile nodes to receive and forward packets as a router. The focus of the work is to devise a strategy to control the flooding of control packets through the network in a way to improve the QoS parameters associated with MANETs. The proposed strategy tries to reduce the number of the intermediate nodes that participate in the route discovery process thereby, reducing the total number of control packets that are forwarded by the nodes in the network. This is achieved by controlling the route request (RREQ) broadcast storm using the node’s queue length. The source appends a random number with RREQ which is compared with the queue vacancy proportion at each intermediate node. The intermediate node relays the RREQ packet if the random number generated is less than the queue vacancy proportion. This reduces the number of congested nodes forwarding the RREQ packets thereby improving QoS parameters, preserving the energy and increasing the overall network lifetime. The proposed algorithm Q-AODV is advancement over AODV that tries to find a less congested route based on queue vacancy. The proposed algorithm QAODV improves average end to end delay, throughput and jitter, to some extent, as compared to AODV. The simulation has been carried out on Qualnet.
Detection of atmospheric haze on an extrasolar planet: the 0.55–1.05 μm transmission spectrum of HD 189733b with the Hubble Space Telescope

The nearby transiting planet HD 189733b was observed during three transits with the Advanced Camera for Surveys of the Hubble Space Telescope in spectroscopic mode. The resulting time-series of 675 spectra covers the 550–1050 nm range, with a resolution element of ∼8 nm, at extremely high accuracy (signal-to-noise ratio up to 10 000 in 50-nm intervals in each individual spectrum). Using these data, we disentangle the effects of limb darkening, measurement systematics and spots on the surface of the host star, to calculate the wavelength dependence of the effective transit radius to an accuracy of ∼50 km. This constitutes the ‘transmission spectrum’ of the planetary atmosphere. It indicates at each wavelength at what height the planetary atmosphere becomes opaque to the grazing stellar light during the transit. In this wavelength range, strong features due to sodium, potassium and water are predicted by atmosphere models for a planet like HD 189733b, but they can be hidden by broad absorption from clouds or hazes higher up in the atmosphere. We observed an almost featureless transmission spectrum between 550 and 1050 nm, with no indication of the expected sodium or potassium atomic absorption features. Comparison of our results with the transit radius observed in the near and mid-infrared (2–8 μm), and the slope of the spectrum, suggest the presence of a haze of submicrometre particles in the upper atmosphere of the planet.
The FORS Deep Field: Field selection, photometric observations and photometric catalog ,

The FORS Deep Field project is a multi-colour, multi-object spectroscopic investigation of a ∼7 � × 7 � region near the south galactic pole based mostly on observations carried out with the FORS instruments attached to the VLT telescopes. It includes the QSO Q 0103-260 (z = 3.36). The goal of this study is to improve our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies in the young Universe. In this paper the field selection, the photometric observations, and the data reduction are described. The source detection and photometry of objects in the FORS Deep Field is discussed in detail. A combined B and I selected UBgRIJKsphotometric catalog of 8753 objects in the FDF is presented and its properties are briefly discussed. The formal 50% completeness limits for point sources, derived from the co-added images, are 25.64, 27.69, 26.86, 26.68, 26.37, 23.60 and 21.57 in U, B, g, R, I, J and Ks(Vega-system), respectively. A comparison of the number counts in the FORS Deep Field to those derived in other deep field surveys shows very good agreement.
A Novel MIMO Channel Model for Congested Communication Environments

This paper presents a novel multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel model for congested curved-street vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) non-line-of-sight communication environments, where the scatterers are located within narrow arcs along the curved street. The mobile transmitter and mobile receiver are equipped with massive MIMO antenna array; therefore, three-dimensional spherical antenna arrays are introduced in the model, rather than two-dimensional planar wavefront assumption used in traditional MIMO channel models. The closed expressions for the probability density functions of the azimuth angle of departure, the elevation angle of departure, the azimuth angle of arrival, and elevation angle of arrival are first deduced by analyzing the proposed V2V channel model. We then analyze the temporal and spatial cross-correlation functions corresponding to the single- and doublebounced scattering propagation paths. Comparisons with previously reported results are used to validate the applicability and feasibility of the proposed model.
Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin in relation to renal impairment

The dose dependence of mezlocillin pharmacokinetics was examined in relation to renal function after intravenous doses of 1 and 5 g in 16 subjects with various degrees of renal impairment. Dose and time-average model-independent physiological parameters were calculated from plasma concentration and urinary excretion data. Lack of superimposition of plasma concentration profiles occurred between dosage levels with a twofold exaggeration of areas under the curve produced between doses of 1 and 5 g. Decreased plasma clearances at the higher dose were caused partly by nonlinear renal clearance, but more markedly by dose dependence in nonrenal clearances. At each dosage level, these parameters were examined in relation to creatinine clearances. Plasma and renal clearances exhibited a typical linear correlation with creatinine clearance for each dose level. However, nonrenal clearances demonstrated a linear relationship with creatinine clearance at the 1-g dose, but apparent saturation of this pathway produced lower and relatively constant nonrenal clearance values at the 5-g dose. Mezlocillin pharmacokinetics are thus influenced by both dose and renal function over the dosage range of 1 to 5 g. Saturation in renal clearance and probably in biliary clearance explains the unusual disposition characteristics of mezlocillin observed in this and previously reported studies.
A Review of the Literature on Teaching Academic English to English Language Learners

Academic English (AE) refers to the language used in school to help students acquire and use knowledge. This article reviews current literature to determine what is known about the nature of AE within the context of K–12 schooling. It describes how AE is conceptualized in the education research literature, how these conceptualizations are realized in instructional practices, and the implications of these conceptualizations for teacher education and professional development. The student population that is the primary focus of the article is English language learners, but the findings have implications for all students who struggle with learning AE. The article raises critical challenges in defining and operationalizing AE for instruction and suggests areas for further inquiry.
Effective third-party policing partnerships or missed opportunities?

In the last decade, in particular, policing organisations have increasingly been called upon to adapt to rising demands on their resources. These demands have required policing organisations to think more strategically about the way policing business is performed and the types of crime outcomes being achieved. More complex crime challenges particularly in the area of organised crime have influenced police to adopt more proactive methods. This paper examines an innovative policing partnerships response to a serious illicit drug crime problem in Australia. The key objective of the paper is to analyse police perspectives of the operations and functionality of the partnership with community pharmacists, at the state policy level and at the local level in two jurisdictions. This paper highlights the importance of developing a partnership model that alleviates the ‘disconnect’ experienced by police who are translating the partnership at the local level.
Measurements of erbium laser-ablation efficiency in hard dental tissues under different water cooling conditions

Abstract. Laser triangulation measurements of Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser-ablated volumes in hard dental tissues are made, in order to verify the possible existence of a “hydrokinetic” effect that has been proposed as an alternative to the “subsurface water expansion” mechanism for hard-tissue laser ablation. No evidence of the hydrokinetic effect could be observed under a broad range of tested laser parameters and water cooling conditions. On the contrary, the application of water spray during laser exposure of hard dental material is observed to diminish the laser-ablation efficiency (AE) in comparison with laser exposure under the absence of water spray. Our findings are in agreement with the generally accepted principle of action for erbium laser ablation, which is based on fast subsurface expansion of laser-heated water trapped within the interstitial structure of hard dental tissues. Our measurements also show that the well-known phenomenon of ablation stalling, during a series of consecutive laser pulses, can primarily be attributed to the blocking of laser light by the loosely bound and recondensed desiccated minerals that collect on the tooth surface during and following laser ablation. In addition to the prevention of tooth bulk temperature buildup, a positive function of the water spray that is typically used with erbium dental lasers is to rehydrate these minerals, and thus sustaining the subsurface expansion ablation process. A negative side effect of using a continuous water spray is that the AE gets reduced due to the laser light being partially absorbed in the water-spray particles above the tooth and in the collected water pool on the tooth surface. Finally, no evidence of the influence of the water absorption shift on the hypothesized increase in the AE of the Er,Cr:YSGG wavelength is observed.
Effects of alternative label formats on choice of high- and low-sodium products in a New Zealand population sample

Abstract Objective Dietary sodium reduction is a cost-effective public health intervention to reduce chronic disease. In response to calls for further research into front-of-pack labelling systems, we examined how alternative sodium nutrition label formats and nutrition claims influenced consumers’ choice behaviour and whether consumers with or without a diagnosis of hypertension differed in their choice patterns. Design An anonymous online experiment in which participants viewed ten choice sets featuring three fictitious brands of baked beans with varied label formats and nutritional profiles (high and low sodium) and indicated which brand in each set they would purchase if shopping for this product. Setting Participants were recruited from New Zealand's largest online nationwide research panel. Subjects Five hundred people with self-reported hypertension and 191 people without hypertension aged 18 to 79 years. Results The addition of a front-of-pack label increased both groups’ ability to discriminate between products with high and low sodium, while the Traffic Light label enabled better identification of the high-sodium product. Both front-of-pack formats enhanced discrimination in the presence of a reduced salt claim, but the Traffic Light label also performed better than the Percentage Daily Intake label in moderating the effect of the claim for the high-sodium product. Conclusions Front-of-pack labels, particularly those with simple visual cues, enhance consumers’ ability to discriminate between high- and low-sodium products, even when those products feature nutrition claims.
A Reliability Analysis of a Deep Neural Network

Deep Learning, and in particular its implementation using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), is currently one of the most intensively and widely used predictive models for safety-critical applications like autonomous driving assistance on pedestrian, objects and structures recognition. Today, ensuring the reliability of these innovations is becoming very important since they involve human lives. One of the peculiarities of the CNNs is the inherent resilience to errors due to the iterative nature of the learning process. In this work we present a method-ology to evaluate the impact of permanent faults affecting CNN exploited for automotive applications. Such a characterization is performed through a fault injection enviroment built upon on the darknet open source DNN framework. Results are shown about fault injection campaigns where permanent faults are affecting the connection weights in the LeNet and Yolo; the behavior of the corrupted CNN is classified according to the criticality of the introduced deviation.
Gender-related worry and emotionality test anxiety for high-achieving students.

Test anxiety among academically talented high school students (N = 103) was explored in this study. Two components of test anxiety were assessed: a cognitive component (worry) and a physiological component (emotionality). The results indicated that these students suffered from test anxiety, and that higher anxiety was related to lower science performance. Overall, females reported more test anxiety than did males. Whereas females experienced higher worry than emotionality, males reported little difference between the two anxiety components. Implications for college-bound students are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
State anxiety and working memory in children: A test of processing efficiency theory

This study investigated the effect of individual differences in state anxiety on tasks tapping the central executive, phonological, and visuo‐spatial components of working memory (WM). It was designed to test Eysenck and Calvo’s processing efficiency theory (PET) which suggests that the phonological and executive components of WM may be important in understanding learning outcomes in anxiety. Typically‐developing children aged 9–10 years were split into high and low state anxiety groups. They performed three WM tasks – forward and backward digit span (assumed to measure phonological and central executive components of WM respectively) and a spatial working memory task (measuring the visuo‐spatial component of WM). Measurements of task accuracy were taken as an indicator of performance outcome or effectiveness. Time taken to complete tasks and a subjective rating of mental effort were taken as measurements of performance efficiency. No differences were found between high and low state anxiety groups in task accuracy for any measure. Children in the high state anxiety group, however, took longer to complete the backward digit span task and reported increased mental effort in the forward digit span task, indicating some effect of anxiety on measures of performance efficiency.
Migrants in the High-Tech and Engineering Sectors: An Emerging Research Area

The number of migrants with specialized skills and higher education has increased significantly since the 1990s. These migrants are very active in high-tech and engineering-intensive industries that rely heavily on knowledge, innovation and advanced systems and processes. This paper pieces together the literature on this group of people to brings to light their importance and contribution to host countries. We noted that by virtue of their specialized knowledge and contribution, the high-tech migrants are globally valued and may enjoy unique privileges. Their key contribution takes forms of: filling labour shortages, innovation and patents, business and jobs creation, creation of innovative products and services, competition and technology upgrading, and global expansion and export.
Conjugated linoleic acid enhanced the immune function in broiler chicks

This study was undertaken to investigate the growth performance and immune responses of broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Two hundred and forty day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments with different inclusion levels of CLA (0, 2·5, 5·0 or 10·0g pure CLA/kg) for 6 weeks. Growth performance, lysozyme activity, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and antibody production were investigated. There were no significant differences in growth performance among treatments (P>0·05). Chicks fed 10·0g CLA/kg diet produced 40% and 49% more lysozyme activity in serum and spleen than the control group at 21d of age (P<0·05). Dietary CLA enhanced the PBMC proliferation in response to concanavalin A at the age of 21 and 42d (P<0·05). Systemic and peripheral blood lymphocytic synthesis of PGE2 in chicks fed 10·0g CLA/kg diet was significantly decreased by 57% and 42% compared to chicks fed control diet (P<0·05). Antibody production to sheep red blood cell and bovine serum albumin were elevated in either 2·5 or 10·0g CLA/kg dietary treatments (P<0·05). The results indicated dietary CLA could enhance the immune response in broiler chicks, but did not alter the growth performance.
Dense entire curves in Rationally Connected manifolds

We show the existence of metrically dense entire curves in rationally connected complex projective manifolds confirming for this case a conjecture according to which such entire curves on projective manifolds exist if and only if these are "special". We also show that such a dense entire curve may be chosen in such a way that it does not lift to any of its ramified covers, answering in this case a question of Corvaja and Zannier about the Nevanlinna analog of the `weak Hilbert property' of arithmetic geometry. We consider briefly the other test case of the conjecture, namely manifolds with $c_1=0$. Furthermore we discuss entire curves in normal rational surfaces avoiding the singular locus.
On Negative Genesis – The Role of Dyadic and Network Attributes in the Emergence of Hostile Relationships

In spite of the currently growing interest in the study of negative relationships, little is known about the processes that influence the emergence of negative ties. This paper presents the results of an empirical test of the theory of “Hostile Ties” proposed by Davide Barrera, about the probability of hostile tie’s creation as consequence of the dyad’s and the network’s attributes, in relation to the degree of functional interdependence in the considered network. Using the data of a research about relationships among high school students, I have tested a series of multilevel logistic models, estimating the probability of the emergence of a negative tie at time t2, as a function of the theory inspired predictors measured at time t1. Our results confirm the importance of good relational assets as a shield against new hostile ties. On the other hand, the propositions about dyadic and network attributes role are not corroborated.
Communication with police supervisors and peers as a buffer of work‐related traumatic stress

Traumatic events are a particular type of stressor that may affect police officers engaged in front line duties. In this study, specific types of social support predicted to buffer the psychological and physical health effects of trauma are drawn from theory and empirical evidence in the area of post-traumatic stress. Social support, measured as the content of communication, and the ease of talking about trauma was tested with 527 working police officers who responded to a questionnaire survey. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the communication variables contributed to the variance in post-traumatic stress disorder and physical symptoms with differential effects for different aspects of communication. Analysis of the effects of traumatic stress on symptoms for sub-groups at different levels of communication showed that some types of communication, such as the ease of talking about trauma or positive communications about work, moderate the effects of stress for police officers, in that higher levels are associated with a weaker trauma–strain relationship. However, some types of communication buffered stress only at moderate levels and other types may not be protective. These results are discussed in terms of the types and sources of social support that are likely to buffer post-traumatic stress at work. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.