Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Conference on Computer-Human Interaction: Designing for Habitus and Habitat

It is my privilege to welcome you to this most tropical OZCHI conference, to celebrate with you 20 years of conferences and to thank you for traveling so far to do so. I chose our theme to recognise how interactions are critically defined by, as much as defining of, life-experiences in varied settings. A theme resonating with locating OZCHI08 in a place that, I hope, will invoke reflection on the opportunities and responsibilities that designing for cultural, social and ecological diversity brings. Welcome to the Proceedings of the Australasian Conference on Computer-Human Interaction. OZCHI is Australia and New Zealand's leading forum for work in all areas of human-computer interaction. As the annual conference for the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group (CHISIG) of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA), OZCHI attracts an international community of researchers and practitioners with a wide range of interests, including usability, information architecture, interaction design, human factors and ergonomics, humancomputer interaction, information systems, software engineering, artificial intelligence, design, social sciences and management. This year's conference attracted 57 long papers, 61 short papers and 4 case studies as submissions. From these papers we accepted 28 long papers, 31 short papers and 1 case study for inclusion at the conference and in the proceedings. We also accepted 6 demos - 4 were reviewed and 2 were invited. These proceedings can be cited as: Vetere, F. , Graham, C. & Satchell, C. (2008). Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Conference on Computer-Human Interaction (OZCHI'08) --- Designing for Habitat and Habitus, Cairns, Australia, 8-12 December 2008. ISBN 0-9803063-4-5.
Discriminative Methods for Label Sequence Learning

Discriminative learning framework is one of the very successful fields of machine learning. The methods of this paradigm, such as Boosting and Support Vector Machines, have significantly advanced the state-of-the-art for classification by improving the accuracy and by increasing the applicability of machine learning methods. One of the key benefits of these methods is their ability to learn efficiently in high dimensional feature spaces, either by the use of implicit data representations via kernels or by explicit feature induction. However, traditionally these methods do not exploit dependencies between class labels where more than one label is predicted. Many real-world classification problems involve sequential, temporal or structural dependencies between multiple labels. The goal of this research is to generalize discriminative learning methods for such scenarios. In particular, we focus on label sequence learning. Label sequence learning is the problem of inferring a state sequence from an observation sequence, where the state sequence may encode a labeling, an annotation or a segmentation of the sequence. Prominent examples include part-of-speech tagging, named entity classification, information extraction, continuous speech recognition, and secondary protein structure prediction. In this thesis, we present three novel discriminative methods that are generalizations of AdaBoost and multiclass Support Vector Machines (SVM) and a Gaussian Process formulation for label sequence learning. These techniques combine the efficiency of dynamic programming methods with the advantages of the state-of-the-art learning methods. We present theoretical analysis and experimental evaluations on pitch accent prediction, named entity recognition and part-of-speech tagging which demonstrate the advantages over classical approaches like Hidden Markov Models as well as the state-of-the-art methods like Conditional Random Fields.
EEG-Based Classification of Imagined Fists Movements using Machine Learning and Wavelet Transform Analysis

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals represent the brain activity by the electrical voltage fluctuations along the scalp. In this paper, we propose a system that enables the differentiation between imagined left or right fist movements for the purpose of controlling computer applications via imagination of fist movements. EEG signals were filtered and processed using a hybrid system that uses wavelet transform analysis and machine learning algorithms. Many Daubechies orthogonal wavelets were used to analyze the extracted events. Then, the Root Mean Square (RMS) and the Mean Absolute Value (MAV) were calculated to the wavelet coefficients in two detail levels. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and Neural Networks (NNs) were applied to the feature vectors and optimized by carrying out an intensive learning and testing experiments. Optimum classification performances of 84.5% and 82.1% were obtained with SVMs and NNs, respectively. Compared with the related research work reported in the literature, our system showed a good performance for the classification of fists movements, which enables the control of many computer applications via imagination.
`Risks', `Hazards' and Life Choices: Reflections on Health at Work

The workplace has been extensively and variously evaluated as an environment which - like others - contains risks to health. This paper unpacks such risk assessment by problematising the relation between hazards and risks. Three positions are set out. In the first (materialist or realist), risks map directly onto underlying real hazards. In the second (constructionist or culturalist), hazards are natural, while risks are social constructions. In the final (postmodern) position, both risks and hazards are seen as constructions. The paper goes on to consider the implications of the latter position for assessment of risks in the workplace, arguing that risks are often discounted in the on-going choices made by people who do some things called `work' and evaluate their continuity of sense-of-self as their `health'.
Major Environmental Constraints on Growth of Micro and Small Enterprises in Uganda: A Survey of Selected Micro and Small Enterprises in Mbarara Municipality

Micro and Small enterprises (henceforth, MSEs) play a key role in economic growth and industrial development of a country. They make vital contributions in improving economic and social sectors of a country through stimulating large scale employment, investment, development of indigenous skill and technology, promotion of entrepreneurship and innovativeness, enhancing exports, and also building an industrial base at different scales. However, Ugandan micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) still perform poorly as a result of a combination of factors ranging from internal to external factors. The paper relies on data collected from selected MSEs for the period of October 2011 to February 2012 in Mbarara municipality. Using a stratified random sampling, a sample of 60 MSEs were surveyed. These included fabrication industry, Milling industry, carpentry and small roadside shops. The paper examines the extent to which the growth of MSEs is associated with environmental constraints. The results reveal that MSEs’ growth potential is negatively affected by limited access to productive resources (finance and business services), by high taxes, lack of market access, erratic and costly electricity, lack of infrastructure, lack of human resources, and competitive practices that were dysfunctionally imitative rather than innovative.
Pulsewidth-constrained signaling and trellis coded modulation on the direct-detection optical channel

Pulsewidth-constrained signals are developed for use on the degraded direct-detection optical channel. A two-dimensional representation for these signals is obtained and used to design a trellis-coded-modulation (TCM) system for use on the optical channel. The theoretical advantage of optical TCM is shown, through use of the cutoff rate, to range from 7.5 to 9 dB, depending on the throughput rate of the system. The practical potential is shown, through the actual design of a TCM system, to be as high as 6.7 dB. <<ETX>>
Concept Mapping as an Alternative Approach for the Analysis of Open-Ended Survey Responses

This article presents concept mapping as an alternative method to existing code-based and word-based text analysis techniques for one type of qualitative text data—open-ended survey questions. It is argued that the concept mapping method offers a unique blending of the strengths of these approaches while minimizing some of their weaknesses. This method appears to be especially well suited for the type of text generated by open-ended questions as well for organizational research questions that are exploratory in nature, aimed at scale or interview question development, and/or developing conceptual coding schemes. A detailed example of concept mapping on open-ended survey data is presented. Reliability and validity issues associated with concept mapping are also discussed.
Design and Evaluation of Dual-Mode Processor Architecture

Current processor architecture are implemented many techniques and mechanisms including register renaming, scheduling windows, and so on to achieve a high performance using some kinds of parallelisms. However added or modified modules which realize the techniques and mechanisms increase an architecture area and power consumption. The queue processors have been developed to overcome these challenges and generated as a high performance, small area and low power consumption processor. However the queue processors can not execute existed programs which are made by predecessors. Because the queue processors do not have a compatibility with programs made for other processors. At this time, user must make the queue programs from scratch and can not use all existed programs. This thesis presents the 32bits dual execution processor (DEP32) which can execute queue programs and Java byte code without a considerable hardware increase to the base queue processor to reduce a incompatibility of the queue processor The most feature of Java programs is that Java programs use Java byte codes. Since almost Java byte codes are supported by the Java virtual machine except for Java processors, almost Java programs are executed on many processors. And there are many advantages in Java programs, an object-oriented paradigm, a robustness, a security. Thus, Java programs have been used in the internet. Recently Java programs are also used in an embedded systems, because Java programs also have portability. To support Java byte code can reduce a incompatibility of the queue processors. In addition, two computation models of both queue and Java have have many analogies. The DEP32 can overcome a incompatibility of queue processors using a support of the Java computation model without considerable hardware increase to base queue processor. The DEP32 is designed using the Verilog HDL and evaluated by Altera tools. From the design and evaluation results, the DEP32 core which executes both queue and Java computation model increase 7% hardware area and 9% power consumption to the base queue processor. Chapter
A New IFO Estimation Scheme for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Systems

We address a new integer frequency offset (IFO) estimation scheme with an aid of a pilot for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems. After correlating each continual pilot with a predetermined scattered pilot, the correlation value is again correlated to alleviate the influence of the timing offset. From numerical results, it is demonstrated that the influence of the timing offset on the IFO estimation is significantly decreased. Keywords—Estimation, integer frequency offset, OFDM, timing offset.
Nomenclatural availability of preliminary electronic versions of taxonomic papers: in need of a clear definition

Abstract. The question of the nomenclatural availability of preliminary electronic versions of taxonomic papers, distributed online ‘ahead of print’ by some journals and publishing companies, is addressed again. We disagree with Krell's suggestion to ‘distinguish between content and bibliographical metadata’. The concept of ‘bibliographical metadata’ does not exist in the Code and should not be incorporated into it. The citation of publication date, issue and page numbers are part of the relevant information that is useful in bibliographic references, in text citations and in synonymic lists that appear in taxonomic publications (which have a much longer life than most other publications), and should be considered part of the ‘content’ of a taxonomic paper. In particular, the page of first appearance of a name or of a nomenclatural act is traditionally cited in taxonomic revisions, monographs, faunas and catalogues, whether printed or stored in online databases, and this information is very useful for serious taxonomists. Having two different sets of information in this respect, in a first version of the work first published online but then discarded from the website of the journal, and in a subsequent one included into a journal issue, would be an indisputable source of confusion, which would not be solved by calling artificially both these versions the ‘version of record’ as if they were identical. The fact that ‘pagination is not regulated’ by the Code is fully irrelevant here: many aspects of taxonomic works are not regulated by the Code but are of crucial importance for the discipline of taxonomy. Krell's proposal is motivated, according to his own words, by some publishers’ desire to make their publications more ‘attractive as outlets of taxonomic research’. But the purpose of the Code is not to make some journals more attractive than others; it is to help working taxonomists in their daily work, to make it easier, more straightforward, efficient, reliable and useful, and less prone to ambiguity. We recommend rejecting Krell's suggestion. On the other hand, we make the new proposal of the creation of a ‘label’ to which some online journals and publishing companies might adhere, taking the engagement to publish online only one single version of each paper, with its final date, issue number and pagination. Authors will then have the possibility to choose their publication outlet among those having this label or those following the practice of ‘early view’. Currently, such preliminary versions of papers are unavailable under the 2012 Amendment of the Code.
Comparison of the Psychometric Properties of Several Computer-Based Test Designs for Credentialing Exams With Multiple Purposes

Many credentialing agencies today are either administering their examinations by computer or are likely to be doing so in the coming years. Unfortunately, although several promising computer-based test designs are available, little is known about how well they function in examination settings. The goal of this study was to compare fixed-length examinations (both operational forms and newly constructed forms) with several variations of multistage test designs for making pass-fail decisions. Results were produced for 3 passing scores. Four operational 60-item examinations were compared to (a) 3 new 60-item forms, (b) 60-item 3-stage tests, and (c) 40-item 2-stage tests; all were constructed using automated test assembly software. The study was carried out using computer simulation techniques that were set to mimic common examination practices. All 60-item tests, regardless of design or passing score, produced accurate ability estimates and acceptable and similar levels of decision consistency and decision accuracy. One interesting finding was that the 40-item test results were poorer than the 60-item test results, as expected, but were in the range of acceptability. This raises the practical policy question of whether content-valid 40-item tests with lower item exposure levels and/or savings in item development costs are an acceptable trade-off for a small loss in decision accuracy and consistency.
Model reference learning approach and its applications to robot impedance control

In this paper, a model reference learning control (MRLC) law is proposed for a class of nonlinear and time varying system. The robustness of the MRLC system to dynamics fluctuations, output measurement noises and errors in initial conditions is analyzed. The design method for analyzing the MRLC system is developed and sufficient conditions for the convergence are derived. An application of the MRLC to robotic impedance control is addressed and an impedance learning control (ImpLC) approach is presented.
EXEMPLIFICATION IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

There is evidence from earliest historical records that examples play a central role in both the development of mathematics as a discipline and in the teaching of mathematics. It is not surprising therefore that examples have found a place in many theories of learning mathematics. Many would argue that the use of examples is an integral part of the discipline of mathematics and not just an aid for teaching and learning. The forum takes as its background both the variety of ways in which examples are construed within different theories of learning and the contribution that attention to examples can make to the learning and teaching processes. Consequently the forum can be seen as addressing issues at the very heart of mathematics education, both drawing upon and informing many other research topics. We argue that paying attention to examples offers both a practically useful and an important theoretical perspective on the design of teaching activities, on the appreciation of learners’ experiences and on the professional development of mathematics teachers. The importance of these ideas does not actually depend on the framework used for analysing teachers’ intentions, nor on any terms used to describe forms of teaching, such as: ‘analytic-inductive’ or ‘synthetic-deductive’, ‘traditional’ or ‘reform’, ‘rotelearning’ or ‘teaching for understanding’, ‘authentic’ or ‘investigative’. Issues in exemplification are relevant to all kinds of engagement with mathematics. This paper positions exemplification on the research agenda for the community by giving a historical overview of the way examples have been seen in mathematics education; an account of associated literature; an exploration of how exemplification ‘fits’ with various perspectives on learning mathematics; accounts of issues relating to teachers’ and learners’ use of examples; and directions for future research.
Communication skills of IS providers: an expectation gap analysis from three stakeholder perspectives

Communication skills are crucial to the successful completion of an information system (IS) project. The ability to interact with all potential stakeholders in an organization, to clearly document requirements, and to effectively express ideas has long been recognized by researchers and practitioners as critical success factors. This study examines how communication skills of IS professionals during a development project are viewed by three different stakeholders. Specifically, each of three stakeholder groups is examined to determine the extent to which a gap between expectations and perceived performance leads to lower satisfaction of the system of the users, lower perceived job performance by IS managers, or less career satisfaction for the IS professionals. A matched survey indicates that user satisfaction and job performance ratings by managers are related to a perceived failure to meet expectations, but that IS professionals do not relate career satisfaction directly to a lack in these skills. Organizations looking for success in the IS function must take steps to improve the communication skills of the IS professionals to the level expected by other stakeholders.
A new Smith predictor and controller for unstable and integrating processes with time delay

A new Smith predictor for control of an unstable process with time delay and a process with an integrator and long dead-time is proposed. The controller decouples the setpoint response from the load response. The design approach is based on standard forms of the closed loop system response and on the Nyquist stability analysis. Simulation results show high performance for the setpoint response and load disturbance rejection.
The effects of guided inquiry on understanding high school chemistry

My project sought to address the problem of passive, unmotivated students who leave labs and class activities still holding on to misconceptions. In this investigation, guided-inquiry labs and class activities were implemented with the purpose of improving student understanding in high school chemistry. Process Oriented Guided-Inquiry activities, guided-inquiry labs, and online investigations were completed during the stoichiometry and gas laws units in two chemistry classes with 57 students. Pre and postunit assessments, pre and postunit student interviews, pre and postintervention student surveys, unit tests, instructor field observations, colleague observations, instructor weekly journaling, and pre and postintervention teacher surveys were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Overall, students showed increased conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills, with low and middle-achieving students showing the most growth in those areas. While postunit assessments and unit tests did not show measurable improvement in higher order thinking skills following intervention, students demonstrated increased engagement during class activities. Both the students and the teacher also experienced an increase in motivation as a result of the guidedinquiry intervention. The results of this study encourage increased use of guided inquiry in all units of chemistry and the rewriting of existing labs and activities to promote more higher-order thinking and studentdirected learning.
Ökonomischer Wert von Informationssystemen - Beitrag von Literatur-Reviews zum Wissenserhalt ( = Preserving Knowledge on IS Business Value. What Literature Reviews Have Done)

The economic relevance of information systems has been studied for many years and has attracted an abundance of research papers. However, the “productivity paradoxon” of the 1990s, Carr’s widely recognized paper “IT doesn’t matter”, and several studies that do not find a positive correlation between IS investments and economic performance reveal long-lasting difficulties for IS researchers to explain “IS business value”. Business executives and researchers also continue to question the value of IS investments. This raises the question of whether literature reviews have tapped their potential to address the concerns by covering key research areas of IS business value and preserving their key findings. In order to address this question, this paper identifies and describes 12 key research areas, and synthesizes what literature reviews published in pertinent academic outlets have done to preserve knowledge. The analysis of 22 literature reviews shows that some crucial areas have not been (sufficiently) covered. They provide fertile areas for future literature reviews. As this work is based on the results of more than 200 research papers, it is capable of drawing a comprehensive picture of the current state-of-the-art in IS business value research.