Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vision-Based Descriptive Analytics of Seniors ’ Daily Activities for Long-Term Health Monitoring

Nations around the world face a rising demand for costly long-term care for seniors. Patterns in seniors’ activities of daily living, such as sleeping, sitting, standing, walking, etc. can provide caregivers useful clues regarding seniors’ health. As the older population continues to grow worldwide, it becomes more and more challenging for caregivers to monitor seniors’ daily activities manually and continuously. To improve caregivers’ ability to assist seniors, an automated system for monitoring and analyzing patterns in seniors activities of daily living has been long-awaited. A possible approach to implementing such a system involves wearable sensors, but this approach is intrusive in that it requires adherence by seniors, and is specific to a certain activity category. In this paper, using a dataset we collected from an assisted-living facility for seniors, we present a novel computer vision-based approach that leverages non-intrusive, privacy-compliant multimodal sensors and state-ofthe-art computer vision techniques to continuously detect seniors’ activities and provide the corresponding long-term descriptive analytics. This analytics includes both qualitative and quantitative descriptions of senior daily activity patterns, which can be further interpreted by caregivers. Our work is progress towards a smart senior home that uses computer vision to support caregivers in senior healthcare to help meet the challenges of an aging worldwide population.
Parametric Thermal FE Analysis on the Laser Power Input and Powder Effective Thermal Conductivity during Selective Laser Melting of SS304L

A low-cost parametric finite element thermal model is proposed to study the impact of the initial powder condition, such as diameter and packing density, on effective thermal conductivity as well as the impact of the laser power input on the final temperature distributions during selective laser melting (SLM). Stainless steel 304L is the material used, since it is not yet commercially available in SLM equipment and our main goal was to show the capabilities of the finite element method in the evaluation of power input in the process. The results from our sensitivity analysis showed that packing density has a greater impact on the final temperature distributions compared with powder diameter variance. However, overall the thermal conductivity of the powder only showed significant effects below the melting point, otherwise the thermal conductivity no longer affected the temperature distributions. Among the three different power inputs analyzed, the temperature profile demonstrated that power inputs of 100 and 200 W are recommended when printing SS-304L rather than 400 W, which generates too high temperature in the powder bed, a non-favorable behavior that can induce high residual stresses and material evaporation.
Shared Mental Models to Support Distributed Human-Robot Teaming in Space

Effective human-robot interaction (HRI) is a critical requirement for current and future space operations. However, given the limitations of autonomous technologies, robots are not yet capable of coordinating with human crew as peers under real-world mission constraints. Due to the complexity inherent in space robotics operations, it is crucial that robots are able to coordinate the various aspects of human-robot teaming and the task at hand. In this paper, we extend our Shared Mental Model (SMM) interaction framework to show how it can be used to overcome some of the challenges inherent in distributed HRI and facilitate coordination in space robotics teams. Since this framework has not yet been implemented in real systems, we conducted an exploratory study to identify potential benefits that the SMM mechanisms can afford in a task domain involving simulated free-flying robot assistants on a spacecraft. We found that the SMM framework offers advantages to task performance and team efficiency due to its support of shared knowledge representations, however these benefits do not seem to reduce workload or improve other subjective measures. The significance of these findings for future space operations is discussed, as are directions for future research.
The link between cut‐off lows and Rossby wave breaking in the Southern Hemisphere

The climatological link between cut‐off low (COL) pressure systems that occur from 20 to 50°S and Rossby wave breaking (RWB) in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) is examined for 1979–2008. It is shown that COLs are associated with either RWB events (89%) or with potential vorticity (PV) intrusions where there is north–south advection of high‐PV air (11%). In the vast majority of COLs, the RWB events occur upstream, on or before the day of the COL formation. The evolution of the PV, geopotential heights, static stability, absolute vorticity and temperature advection fields during the COLs are consistent with the formation of high‐PV anomalies that induce cyclonic circulations as predicted by theory. RWB plays a key role in producing the split flow associated with COLs in the SH, which in turn produces absolute vorticity anomalies by shear‐curvature vorticity conversion, and creates static stability anomalies. The COLs associated with RWB at 330 K are deeper and more persistent than those associated with 350 K RWB and surface processes differ depending on the isentropic surface on which the associated RWB occurs. The seasonality of the RWB and COLs are similar, and is linked to the seasonal march of the westerly jets. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Supporting Father Involvement to Promote Co-Parent, Parent and Child Outcomes in a Canadian Context

This study describes a western Canadian implementation of Supporting Father Involvement (SFI), a California, U.S. evidenced-based intervention designed to promote couple and co-parenting relationships and father engagement. Unlike the more ethnically diverse, lower income California families, Alberta families were mostly Caucasian and middle class. Evidence from SFI Alberta showed positive changes in father involvement and reduced parenting stress, parental conflict, and both avoidant and violent problem-solving strategies. In addition, couple relationship quality and children’s hyperactive and withdrawn behaviors remained stable (though they worsened in a previous control group study). Given the program’s success among these families, SFI appears to be a useful and appropriate intervention with the Albertan families. These findings add to a growing body of evidence showing the importance of strengthening father involvement through a focus on co-parenting and couple relationships, in order to obtain positive results for parents and children.
The impact of capital expenditure of agricultural sector on economic performance: case in North Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

The aim of this research is to determine the impact of capital expenditure of agricultural sector on the economic performance in North Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This research uses panel data which combines time series data of 2004-2013 and cross section data of five regencies/cities in North Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This research uses econometric model approach namely simultaneous equations models which consist of two identity equations and six structural equations. From the analysis it can be concluded that the capital expenditure of agricultural sector have a positive impact and it is significant on the gross regional domestic product of agricultural sector, where every increase of one percent of capital expenditure of agricultural sector will increase the gross regional domestic product of agricultural sector of 42.86%. The capital expenditure of agricultural sector have a positive impact simultaneously on gross regional domestic product, consumption, investment and export regional.
Interannual variability of stratospheric trace gases: The role of extratropical wave driving

The interannual variability of methane and ozone from a 35‐year middle atmosphere climate model simulation with no interannual variations in external forcing or chemistry is examined. The internal dynamics in the model produces large tracer interannual variability, particularly in polar regions. During winter and spring the interannual standard deviation in the polar lower‐middle stratosphere is about 30% of the climatological mean for methane and 15% for ozone. Global‐scale, coherent interannual variations in temperature, residual circulation, and tracers are correlated with variability in the extratropical wave forcing. Statistically significant positive correlations between wave driving and polar tracer tendencies, including column ozone, occur from autumn to spring in both hemispheres. These positive correlations imply that interannual variations in polar tracers are dominated by variations in the horizontal eddy transport and not by variations in residual mean descent rates. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Image Deblurring and Super-Resolution Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Recently multiple high performance algorithms have been developed to infer high-resolution images from low-resolution image input using deep learning algorithms. The related problem of super-resolution from blurred or corrupted low-resolution images has however received much less attention. In this work, we propose a new deep learning approach that simultaneously addresses deblurring and super-resolution from blurred low resolution images. We evaluate the state-of-the-art super-resolution convolutional neural network (SR-CNN) architecture proposed in [1] for the blurred reconstruction scenario and propose a revised deeper architecture that proves its superiority experimentally both when the levels of blur are known and unknown a priori.
Towards Belief Contraction without Compactness

In the AGM paradigm of belief change the background logic is taken to be a supra-classical logic satisfying compactness among other properties. Compactness requires that any conclusion drawn from a set of propositions X is implied by a finite subset of X . There are a number of interesting logics such as Computational Tree Logic (CTL, a temporal logic) which do not possess the compactness property, but are important from the belief change point of view. In this paper we explore AGM style belief contraction in non-compact logics as a starting point, with the expectation that the resulting account will facilitate development of corresponding accounts of belief revision. We show that, when the background logic does not satisfy compactness, as long as the language in question is closed under classical negation and disjunction, AGM style belief contraction functions (with appropriate adjustments) can be constructed. We provide such a constructive account of belief contraction that is characterised exactly by the eight AGM postulates of belief contraction. The primary difference between the classical AGM construction of belief contraction functions and the one presented here is that while the former employs remainders of the belief being removed, we use its complements.
Predicting Academic Achievement Based on Goal Orientations and Study Approaches / Predviđanje akademskog uspjeha na temelju ciljnih orijentacija i pristupa učenju

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between goal orientations, learning approaches and academic achievement, and to examine the possibility of predicting academic achievement through goal orientations and learning approaches. A sample of N = 346 male and female second and third year undergraduate and first year graduate students of different colleges and sections of the University of J.J.Strossmayer in Osijek participated in this study. The results indicate that academic achievement is in a positive correlation with the mastery and performance goal orientations and deep and strategic learning approaches, and in a negative correlation with the work-avoidance goal orientation and surface learning approach. Furthermore, the results indicate a positive relationship between the mastery goal orientation and deep and strategic learning approaches and positive relationship between the work-avoidance goal orientation and surface learning approach, and negative between the work-avoidance goal orientation and deep learning approach. Also, mastery, performance goal orientations and deep learning approach were positive predictors of academic achievement. College was significant moderator of relationship between deep learning approach and academic achievement. Deep learning approach was a positive predictor of achievement in "hard" study disciplines and was not a significant predictor of academic achievement in "soft" study disciplines. Key words: learning; motivation; performance. --- Sažetak Cilj je ovog rada bio ispitati odnos ciljnih orijentacija u ucenju, pristupa ucenju i akademskog uspjeha kod studenata te provjeriti mogucnost predviđanja akademskog uspjeha na temelju ciljnih orijentacija u ucenju i pristupa ucenju. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo N=346 studenata i studentica drugih i trecih godina preddiplomskih i prvih godina diplomskih studija razlicitih fakulteta i odsjeka osjeckog sveucilista. Rezultati pokazuju da postoji pozitivna povezanost akademskog uspjeha s ciljnom orijentacijom na znanje i izvedbu te s dubinskim i strateskim pristupima ucenju, a negativna povezanost akademskog uspjeha s ciljnom orijentacijom na izbjegavanje truda i povrsinskim pristupom ucenju. Osim toga, rezultati pokazuju da postoji pozitivna povezanost ciljne orijentacije na znanje s dubinskim i strateskim pristupima ucenju kao i pozitivna povezanost ciljne orijentacije na izbjegavanje truda s povrsinskim i negativna s dubinskim pristupima ucenju. Nadalje, kao pozitivni prediktori akademskog uspjeha pokazale su se ciljne orijentacije na znanje i izvedbu te dubinski pristup ucenju. Vrsta studija pokazala se znacajnim moderatorom veze između dubinskog procesiranja i akademskog uspjeha. Dubinsko procesiranje znacajan je prediktor uspjeha kod studenata prirodoslovnih i tehnickih studija, a nije znacajan prediktor kod studenata drustveno-humanistickih studija. Kljucne rijeci: izvedba; motivacija; ucenje.
Temporal-spatial structures of plasmas flows and turbulence around tearing mode islands in the edge tokamak plasmas

The temporal-spatial structures of plasma flows and turbulence around tearing mode islands are presented. The experiments were performed using Langmuir probe arrays in the edge plasmas of J-TEXT tokamak. The correlation analyses clearly show that the flows have similar structures of m/n = 3/1 as the magnetic island does (m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively). The sign of the potential fluctuations for the flows inverses and the powers significantly reduce at q = 3 surface. Approaching to the last closed flux surface for the magnetic islands, the radially elongated flow structure forms. The flows are concentrated near separatrix and show quadrupole structures. The turbulence is concentrated near X-point and partly trapped inside the magnetic islands.
Influence of leadership towards working performance mediated with motivation: a study on the implementation of «Pemberdayaan kelurahan and Kampung» program in Jayapura

Kampung and kelurahan in Jayapura is a public organization that becomes the front-liner in providing public service. Village and village organization requires strong leadership and motivation to support improving performance. The study aims at examining and analyzing the influence of leadership on working performances, and motivation at work as a medium which resulted in the influence leadership towards working performances. It was conducted in 39 villages and urban villages in Jayapura. The population of the study was 96 permanent employees working at the village and village in Jayapura. All of the population was selected as the respondents and therefore, the study was categorized as census study. The data analysis method used was Partial Least Square. The findings show that results showed that direct leadership did not have significant influence towards working performances and motivation at work is the perfect medium so that leadership has significant influence towards working performances.
Trust in Internet Banking in Malaysia and the Moderating Influence of Perceived Effectiveness of Biometrics Technology on Perceived Privacy and Security

Internet banking is gaining popularity in Malaysia due to its convenience which is achieved by unique business interactions between banking institutions and customers via websites and mobile applications. However, the incredible escalation of internet fraud cases has caused increased privacy and security risks for internet banking customers. Based on a review of literature, this paper developed a research framework to gauge the impact of customer perception about the effectiveness of biometrics technology on perceived privacy and security and its influence on trust and intention to continue internet banking. In light of the growing viability of biometrics technology as a solution for internet banking issues, the developed framework is then used to assess whether perceptions of biometrics effectiveness for internet banking has significant impact on the relationship between trust and perceptions of privacy as well as security. By testing the framework using a sample of 413 internet banking users, this study offers significant insights into the potential effectiveness of biometrics technology application in an internet banking context to alleviate privacy and security concerns and improve trust among Malaysian customers. The findings revealed that although there was an insignificant relationship between perceived privacy and trust, perceived biometrics effectiveness significantly influenced the strength of the relationships between both perceived privacy and perceived security with trust.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES THE MISSING PROFITS OF NATIONS

By combining new macroeconomic statistics on the activities of multinational companies with the national accounts of tax havens and the world's other countries, we estimate that close to 40% of multinational profits are shifted to low-tax countries each year. Profit shifting is highest among U.S. multinationals; the tax revenue losses are highest for the European Union and developing countries. We show theoretically and empirically that in the current international tax system, tax authorities of high-tax countries do not have incentives to combat profit shifting to tax havens. They instead focus their enforcement effort on relocating profits booked in other high-tax countries—in effect stealing revenue from each other. This policy failure can explain the persistence of profit shifting to low-tax countries despite the high costs involved for high-tax countries. We provide a new cross-country database of GDP, corporate profits, trade balances, and factor shares corrected for profit shifting, showing that the global rise of the corporate capital share is significantly under-estimated. Thomas R. Tørsløv University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5 DK-1353 Copenhagen thomas.torslov@econ.ku. dk Ludvig S. Wier University of Copenhagen Øster Farimagsgade 5 DK-1353 Copenhagen ludvig.wier@econ.ku. dk Gabriel Zucman Department of Economics University of California, Berkeley 530 Evans Hall, #3880 Berkeley, CA 94720 and NBER zucman@berkeley.edu An Appendix and Data is available at http://gabriel-zucman.eu/missingprofits/
External Factors Affecting Investment Decisions of Companies

Abstract In this paper, we attempt to investigate the importance of certain external factors on the investment decisions made by Polish companies. With the use of data from the tailor-made Survey on Receivables, we (1) examine factors influencing investment decisions of companies in Poland; (2) assess the relation between branch, company size and investment factors; (3) evaluate the importance of the investment factors; and (4) determine the relative influence of these factors on the company-level investment reductions. The results show that first, although the problem of payment delays is the most important single issue determining the investment decisions of Polish companies, its importance decreases when analysed simultaneously with other issues. Second, among the indicators selected for an assessment of investment decisions, two driving forces determine the investment decisions of Polish companies - namely, macroeconomic factors and law-related factors, with the relative importance of the former lower than the latter. Third, there is a positive association between the importance of each of the two factors and the actual investment reductions, implying that among companies facing higher investment reductions, the importance of macroeconomic and law-related factors is higher.
Radio Galaxy Zoo: compact and extended radio source classification with deep learning

Machine learning techniques have been increasingly useful in astronomical applications over the last few years, for example in the morphological classification of galaxies. Convolutional neural networks have proven to be highly effective in classifying objects in image data. In the context of radio-interferometric imaging in astronomy, we looked for ways to identify multiple components of individual sources. To this effect, we design a convolutional neural network to differentiate between different morphology classes using sources from the Radio Galaxy Zoo (RGZ) citizen science project. In this first step, we focus on exploring the factors that affect the performance of such neural networks, such as the amount of training data, number and nature of layers, and the hyperparameters. We begin with a simple experiment in which we only differentiate between two extreme morphologies, using compact and multiple-component extended sources. We found that a three-convolutional layer architecture yielded very good results, achieving a classification accuracy of 97.4 per cent on a test data set. The same architecture was then tested on a four-class problem where we let the network classify sources into compact and three classes of extended sources, achieving a test accuracy of 93.5 per cent. The best-performing convolutional neural network set-up has been verified against RGZ Data Release 1 where a final test accuracy of 94.8 per cent was obtained, using both original and augmented images. The use of sigma clipping does not offer a significant benefit overall, except in cases with a small number of training images.
Investigations on Liver Function in Mulards with Experimentally Induced Aflatoxicosis

Ducklings are among the most sensitive avian species to the toxic effects of aflatoxin В1 (AFB1). In this experiment, the toxic effects of AFB1 on liver morphology, blood plasma aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alanine amino-transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), albumin, blood glucose, and plasma total protein (TP) were established in mulard ducks. The experiment was carried out with four groups of 20 10-day-old ducklings each. Each group included three subgroups with 10 birds. The groups were as followed: group І – control (which received standard feed according to the species and age), group ІІ – experimental, which received compound feed with 0.5 mg/kg AFB1, group ІІI– receiving compound feed supplemented with 0.8 mg/kg AFB1 and group IV – compound feed supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg AFB1 and 2g/kg Mycotox NG. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Macroscopically, livers were enlarged, rounded, with yellowish colour and a frail consistency in group ІІ and ІІI. Histopathologically, a various extent of dystrophy was detected depending on the dose of ingested toxin. The supplementation of compound feed with the mycosorbent Mycotox NG improved deviations in blood biochemical parameters and substantially reduced the severity and prevalence of histological lesions.