Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of User Acceptance of Mixed Reality Technology.

This study investigates users' perception and acceptance of mixed reality (MR) technology. Acceptance of new information technologies has been important research area since 1990s. It is important to understand the reasons why people accept information technologies, as this can help to improve design, evaluation and prediction how users will respond to a new technology. MR is one of the potential technologies that has gained attention in recent time, offering a unique environment as it combines real and virtual objects, interactive in real time and registered in three dimensions. This paper discusses a study into users' acceptance of a mixed reality prototype, named Mixed Reality Regenerative Concept (MRRC). MRRC was developed using mixed reality technology to provide Biomedical Science students with exposure to regenerative concepts and tissue engineering processes. MRRC integrates situated learning as the model of instruction, emphasising authentic context and activities. Volunteer sampling was used in this study to obtain 63 participants comprising 2nd, 3rd and 4th year Biomedical Science students in two public universities in Malaysia, who had not previously experienced mixed reality technology. In this study, the constructs used to determine acceptance of mixed reality technology were personal innovativeness (PI), perceived enjoyment (PE), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), and intention to use (ITU). Results from simple correlation analyses showed positive linear correlations between the constructs. However, findings from regression analysis suggested that perceived usefulness was the most important factor determining users' intention to use this technology in the future. Findings from this study also suggested that tertiary level science students showed a high willingness to use mixed reality technology in the future.
Face recognition based on multi-scale local features

The ability to recognize human faces is a demonstration of incredible human intelligence. Over the last four decades, attempts from diverse areas are made to replicate this outstanding visual perception of human beings in machine recognition of faces. Within the face recognition literature, researchers have centered the debate on how human beings perceive human faces and this has become an important and active research area. Psychologists concluded that holistic and local feature based approaches are dual routes to the face recognition. Although holistic based approaches have attained certain level of maturity, in general they require a preprocessing procedure to normalize the face image variations in pose, scale and illumination. This is not an easy task because it depends on the accurate detection of at least two landmarks from the face image. As a result, most approaches work on the normalized face images based on the manually identified landmarks. The recognition performance deteriorates considerably if the manual process is replaced by an automatic landmark detection algorithm. Moreover, global features are sensitive to image variations in scale, facial expression, pose and occlusion. Most of the holistic approaches are dependent on the training databases because knowledge about the face discrimination is generalized by machine learning from the face samples. A representative training database is necessary, which, however, is not available in many applications. In contrast to holistic methods, local feature based approaches are more robust to variations in pose, scale, expression and occlusion. Elastic bunch graph matching (EBGM) and active appearance models (AAM) fall into this category. In EBGM, faces are represented as graphs, with nodes positioned at facial landmarks and edges labeled with distance vectors. Each node contains a set of Gabor wavelet coefficients. The AAM can match a class of deformable objects, for example faces with different expressions.
Receiver techniques for direct sequence spread spectrum ISM band radio LANs

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the performance of DS spread spectrum ISM band radio LANs using BPSK modulation and matched filter receivers with short spreading sequences (one sequence per symbol). Differential and quasi-coherent systems were considered. The BER against normalised delay spread was estimated using Monte-Carlo techniques for the two receiver types. The results show that the use of quasi-coherent rather than differential techniques gives a significant increase in the maximum tolerable delay spread from 0.7 to 0.9 for combining diversity. However, for selection diversity the increase is insignificant, the maximum tolerable delay spread being around 0.4. The results also show that optimum system performance in noise is achieved when the normalised delay spread is between 0.05 and 0.3. For a transmission rate of 1 Mbit/s this is equivalent to a range in delay spread from 50 ns to 300 ns. This means that these systems will work well in all indoor environments. <<ETX>>
Computer Animation and the Academic Achievement of Nigerian Senior Secondary School Students in Biology

This study investigated the effects of computer animation on the academic achievement of Nigerian senior secondary school students in biology. The moderating effects of mental ability and gender were also investigated. The pretest-posttest, control group, quasi-experimental design with a 2x2x2 factorial matrix was adopted for the study. One hundred and eighty-nine senior secondary school Year II biology students from two randomly selected Federal Government Colleges in two states in Southwestern Nigeria were the participants. Findings show that there is a significant main effect of treatment on students’ achievement in biology. The computer animation was effective in improving students’ achievement, therefore, computer animation is recommended as a means of teaching biology to students in Nigerian secondary schools.
Optimized decision feedback equalization versus optimized orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, for high-speed data transmission over the local cable network

The ideal near-end crosstalk and thermal noise-limited throughput capabilities of uncoded decision feedback equalized (DFE) and orthogonally frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) PAM digital signals transmitted over nonloaded twisted metallic pairs bundled in a multicore transmission cable are determined. Though OFDM has recently loomed as a possible strong competitor among alternatives to DFE for high-speed data transmission over the digital subscriber loop network, it is revealed to be, at best, of marginal value, even if one allows an infinite number of transmission subchannels. <<ETX>>
FAES: a CASE tool for information acquisition

It has become a trend that new CASE based tools be more focused. FAES is such a case. It assists the software engineer in the interview process during an information systems' requirements phase. FAES inherited important concepts from the IS literature and embodies them in a conceptual model that drives the interview process. Special heuristics associated with the conceptual model were proposed and tested before inclusion on FAES. The goal of those heuristics is to provide an up front analysis of the information as the interview proceeds. Artificial intelligence techniques were used in order to provide FAES with the intelligent assistance capability. <<ETX>>
Virtual Evidence

Abstract This paper presents a study of Web Crawler activities based upon Web access logs from the Web site of an academic library. It further compares crawler behavior with that of regular human visitors. The results provide practical insights and foster a culture of evidence-based practice for better managing network-based resources and maintaining a reliable IT infrastructure.
The impact of nonnormal and heteroscedastic level one residuals in partially clustered data

The multilevel model (MLM) is easily parameterized to handle partially clustered data for example, Baldwin, Bauer, Stice, & Rohde, 2011). The current study evaluated the performance of this model under various departures from underlying assumptions, including assumptions of normally distributed and homoscedastic Level 1 residuals. Two estimating models – one assuming homoscedasticity, the other allowing for the estimation of unique Level 1 variance components – were compared. Results from a Monte Carlo simulation suggest that the MLM for partially clustered data yields consistently unbiased parameter estimates, except for an underestimation of the Level 2 variance component under heteroscedastic generating conditions. However, this negative parameter bias desisted when the MLM allowed for Level 1 heteroscedasticity. Standard errors for variance component estimates at both levels were underestimated in the presence of nonnormally distributed Level 1 residuals. A discussion of results, as well as suggestions for future research, is provided.
Engaging the Curriculum in Higher Education

Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: The Possibility of Curriculum 1. Curriculum: a missing term 2. Understanding curriculum 3. Higher education for an age of uncertainty 4. Framing curriculum Part II: Signs of Curriculum Life 5. A schema 6. Knowing 7. Acting 8. Being Part III: Prospects for Engagement 9. Engaging the Curriculum 10. Engaging Students 11. Engaging Academics Summary and Reflections Appendices Bibliography Subject Index Author Index The Society for Research into Higher Education
Teaching languages online: Deconstructing the myths

Debates on e-learning often begin by comparing apples with oranges. The 'theatre of the classroom' and the rich social tapestry of the campus are contrasted with a barren, solitary, inhuman online experience consisting of no more than downloading texts and submitting assignments. While the comparison ensures amusing entertainment, it does no more than claim that a piece of technology cannot replicate or even simulate what a brilliant teacher can do in a classroom. Of course it cannot. What is more, without the intervention of a creative teacher, the Web and the Internet can at best function as a convenient materials resource and communication vehicle. This paper will take a critical look at popular myths attached to online learning from three perspectives: administrators, teachers and students. The central questions underpinning the discussion as a whole are (1) why would we want to teach online? (2) what are the constraints? and (3) how can we do it well despite the constraints? The paper argues that the exciting promise of the new technologies is that they offer an environment in which an innovative teacher can set up authentic learning tasks in which both the processes and the goals are stimulating and engaging, and which take individual student differences into account. It will demonstrate by way of practical examples that the new technologies offer great potential for adding value to face to face teaching and that the greatest challenge lies in designing and sustaining quality language programs at a distance.
College Writing Skills

Part 1 Basic principles of essay writing: introduction to the essay form important factors in writing the first and second steps in essay writing the third and fourth steps in essay writing the four bases for evaluating essay writing. Part 2 Types of essay development: introduction to essay development description examples process cause and effect comparison and contrast division and classification argumentation. Part 3 Special skills: taking essay exams preparing a summary doing a report writing a resume and job application letter using the library writing a research paper. Part 4 Handbook of sentence skills: grammar mechanics punctuation word use.
Representation of Muslim Women in the Western Media

This essay attempts to argue about the representation of Muslim women in veil in Western media. This topic is chosen because of general discourse about Muslim women, who wear veil as a threat to secular tradition and value of freedom. Besides, media has power to create affirmation about the general discourse. This paper analyses some researches about Muslim women in media. Based on previous research, it can be assumed that media has power to create women representation as otherness and placed them as threat towards secular tradition and value of freedom.
Bayesian Inference For Oil Spill RelatedNet Environmental Benefit Analysis

This paper investigates the applicability of Bayesian inference to oil spill related situation assessment in order to facilitate the Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) based decisions in evaluating the threat or probable overall environmental impact of the spill. Bayesian networks are believed to be useful in integrating the NEBA related information imported from 1) oil spill scene surveillance, 2) simulation results on an oil spill incident with human response, and 3) ecological sensitivity maps. This paper exemplifies the use of Bayesian Belief Networks in answering the questions: can the oil spill be combated at sea, and if it cannot then is the oil threatening a sensitive environment?
Translating graphical conceptual model from STATEMATE to FNLOG

In this paper, we propose an approach based on automatic derivation schemes from STATEMATE models to FNLOG specifications. STATEMATE is a semi formal method that pertains to the specification and design of complex reactive systems and builds simulations and prototypes rapidly. Though STATEMATE provides rigorous specifications, these are not verifiable to ensure and guarantee the reliability of the system being developed. To fulfill this objective, a STATEMATE specification is translated into a logic-based specification language called FNLOG which allows its verification. This paper describes the translation approach, cross references between STATEMATE and FNLOG features, and the translation algorithm.
An Analysis of Static, Dynamic, and Saltatory Vibrotactile Stimuli to Inform the Design of Efficient Haptic Communication Systems

The sense of touch is uniquely well-suited for displaying certain types of information, such as navigation instructions and some high-level messaging. As part of a line of research in developing a vibrotactile communication system to support person-to-person tactile messaging over a network, the present study examines the effectiveness and efficiency of three types of vibrotactile signal presentations for communicating spatial patterns. Participants identified spatial patterns presented statically (one or multiple locations vibrating at once), via non-overlapping dynamic sequences of presentations, and via saltatory presentations which induced the “apparent motion” tactile illusion. Signal complexity and presentation duration were also varied. The results suggest that both response time and accuracy are strongly dependent on the presentation method utilized, with static and saltatory presentations outperforming dynamic presentations. With more complex signals, the relative benefit of saltatory presentations appears to increase. These results have implications for the design of tactile display signals of varying degrees of complexity, and will inform the continued development of the vibrotactile communication system.
Case in Icelandic : A Synchronic, Diachronic and Comparative Approach

This dissertation addresses the question of what the function of morphological case is in Icelandic. The working hypotheses of this book is that morphological case is a multifunctional category. Firstly, new verbs in Icelandic were collected and examined to cast light on the productivity of the morphological cases, revealing that not only are the nominative and accusative productive in Icelandic but also the dative. Secondly, a text-based investigation was conducted to find out what the statistical correlation is between morphological case, syntactic functions and thematic roles. Thus, a well-stratified corpus was compiled, containing Modern Icelandic texts from five written genres and one spoken genre. The study showed that there is a correlation between morphological case and both syntactic and semantic factors. Thirdly, a similar corpus was compiled for Old Icelandic, containing four genres which are closest in content to the Modern Icelandic genres. Some frequency differences were found between the two corpora, reflecting a change in the use of morphological case from Old to Modern Icelandic. Fourthly, a comparison of the development of case in English, Swedish and German revealed that the internal order of the changes within the case system is the same for the Germanic languages considered, with English leading the development, followed closely by Swedish, then German, and Icelandic lagging behind. The theoretical approach adopted in this work is that of Construction Grammar and the Usage-based model. (Less)
Chinese final particles and the syntax of the periphery

This thesis attempts to motivate a syntactic analysis of final particles in Chinese. The proposal conforms essentially to the recent hypotheses on the split CP system. It suggests that Chinese final particles are heads of functional projections in the C-domain. The investigation is implemented by two steps. The first step is examining the semantic function of final particles. It argues that every final particle expresses a semantic core despite its various uses in different contexts. According to its core meaning, each final particle is related to a functional projection in the C-domain. The second step involves the structural mapping of final particles to the sentence structure. Crucial evidence comes from the observation that different final particles can enter a rigidly ordered sequence. On the basis of the linear order, a hierarchy of the corresponding functional projections is established. The languages of interest are Mandarin, Cantonese, and Wenzhou. In this thesis, a detailed description as well as systematic and comparative analysis of the final particle system in the three Chinese languages are provided. This research expands the existing cross-linguistic evidence, showing that Chinese has a rich functional makeup of the C-domain.
The design of textbooks and their influence on students’ understanding of ‘proof’ in lower secondary school

In this paper we report on our analysis of textbooks commonly used for teaching students about proof in geometry in lower secondary school in Japan. From our analysis we found that, as expected from the curriculum specification, deductive reasoning is prominent in Japanese textbooks. Yet the way that proof and proving is presented in these textbooks shows geometry as a very formal subject for study, one that omits to illustrate convincingly for students the difference between formal proof and experimental verification. As such, we argue that an improvement in textbook design is likely to involve providing students with more effective instructional activities so that they appreciate more fully the notion of ‘generality of proof’.
Thematic Teaching and Student Engagement in a 
Non-Academic Year 12 Mathematics Course

The recently revised New Zealand Curriculum (Ministry of Education, 2007) encourages mathematics teachers to engage their students through the use of meaningful contexts for learning. One approach to making contexts for mathematics more meaningful is to explore a single context over a series of lessons, an approach known as thematic teaching. Prior studies of thematic mathematics teaching have failed to reach a consensus on the relationship between thematic teaching and student outcomes such as achievement and attitude toward learning. This study used a pragmatic, mixed methods design to examine the relationship between thematic teaching and student engagement with two classes of low-achieving senior students in a New Zealand secondary school. It examined which student characteristics appeared to be related to whether students engaged with thematic teaching, and the reason students gave for their preferred teaching styles. Students experienced four thematic lessons with the theme of the human settlement of the Pacific Islands and four non-thematic lessons during a coordinate geometry topic. Each student‟s engagement was assessed every lesson using questionnaires and observations, and students were interviewed in order to elicit their views on thematic teaching. Collectively, no difference was found between student engagement in thematic and non-thematic teaching. However, many individual students found either thematic or non-thematic teaching more engaging. English language learners tended to prefer non-thematic teaching, some reporting that they found the theme an unhelpful complication. There is preliminary evidence that Pakeha students may engage with thematic teaching to a greater extent than Pasifika students. Students did not engage in learning when they did not understand the mathematical content, even when they were interested in the theme. The study augments the thematic mathematics teaching literature by examining variability in the apparent effects of thematic teaching, and articulating students‟ experiences of thematic teaching. It gives guarded support for the current policy emphasis on teaching mathematics contextually and reveals some potential pitfalls associated with teaching mathematics thematically.
Toward Fortran 77 performance from object-oriented C++ scientific frameworks

The use of object-oriented C{sup 2} frameworks has significantly simplified the development of numerous complex parallel scientific applications at Los Alamos National Laboratory and elsewhere. In spite of considerable use of, and commitment to, these frameworks, concerns about performance are nonetheless a significant issue; performance very close to that of FORTRAN 77 with message passing must be realized before the acceptance and use of such frameworks will be truly widespread. This paper identifies the primary source of inefficiency in using C or C{sup 2} for numerical codes with stencil- or stencil-like operations, and demonstrates two solutions--one portable, one not--to give genuine FORTRAN 77 performance.
Convex Formulation of Region-based Image Registration

Medical Imaging is a necessary component of many applications, such as clinical diagnosis, event tracking and decision making. Segmentation of anatomical organs in a medical image is a helpful processing of medical images for clinical purposes. Accurate manual segmentation requires considerable efforts and time, due to some challenges such as the invisibility of some organs in an image, for example. Here, image processing techniques are used to facilitate and improve the accuracy of such a segmentation.
Minimal Codewords and Secret Sharing

The use of a linear code to "split" secrets into equal-size shares is considered. The determination of which sets of shares can be used to obtain the secret leads to the apparently new notion of minimal codewords in a linear code. It is shown that the minimal codewords in the dual code completely specify the access structure of the secret-sharing scheme, and conversely.
Computing Envelopes of Quadrics

We present the computation of envelopes of a set of quadratic surfaces defined in IR. Our solution is based on the new Cgal Envelope 3 package that provides a generic and robust implementation of a divideand-conquer algorithm. This work concentrates on the theory of algebraic and combinatorial tasks that occur for quadratic surfaces and their implementation. The implementation is exact and efficient. Figure 1: Cutout of the lower envelope of 400 quadrics, hyperboloids and ellipsoids. It consists of 30 faces, 4 of which are unbounded, 101 edges, and 76 vertices.