Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a well-functioning stock market in context

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to summarise and reflect upon key issues at the interface of prices, information and regulation with a focus upon the stock market in context. Reflecting upon academic research in the area of efficient markets, and regulatory policy, the concern is to discern issues in terms of policy and support for policy. What does the research imply for policy? Is it possible that the research, perhaps given its rhetoric, can be misinterpreted in relation to policy? The study is also concerned to develop avenues for future research based on these considerations. Design/methodology/approach The paper is an analytical and critical review and writing. Findings The reading of the research suggests a pragmatic regulatory policy that should be concerned to improve stock market functioning, including with respect to information, as well as the context of which this is part. At the same time, the literature may be read as promoting anti-regulatory policy. Practical implications On the one hand, these are consistent with the pragmatic policy referred to above. On the other hand, further research is suggested to explore substantively the rhetoric of the research and its interpretation and to explore understandings of the research and its implications amongst key constituencies in practice. Originality/value The concern is to bring key insights from the academic literature together with a view to promoting a pragmatic policy orientation, while cautioning in a critical perspective about how this academic literature and research might be interpreted from a policy perspective.
Exploring prosodic and conversational context factors in pitch perception

Listeners use pitch information to contextualize and interpret what they hear in conversation, but contextualization requires a frame of reference in terms of both acoustic information and conversational structure. We investigate how different acoustic features such as fundamental frequency (F0), intensity, and duration, as well as different contexts for listening to speech (i.e. in isolation versus adjacent to another conversational turn) re-late to listeners’ perception of pitch in speech. Following a perception experiment in which listeners gave pitch ratings for individual turns or pairs of turns drawn from a corpus, we explore the relationship of prosodic features to listeners’ judgments. While whole-turn F0 appears to be most relevant to judgment of turns in isolation, pitch and intensity in the region of the transition are prioritized in the turn-comparative judgments.
SIMULAÇÃO COMPUTACIONAL DO SOPRO DE OXIGÊNIO DOS CONVERTEDORES BOF DA ARCELORMITTAL TUBARÃO

Resumo O objetivo do presente trabalho é investigar o escoamento de oxigênio no bocal convergente-divergente da lança utilizada nos convertedores BOF da ArcelorMittal Tubarão. As condições de sopros macio, normal e duro são analisadas através de ferramentas analíticas e computacional (CFD). Os resultados evidenciam que o contorno do bocal não promove uma expansão apropriada do escoamento, ocorrendo ondas de choque fortes no interior do mesmo e ocasionando perdas de energia cinética em todas as condições de sopro. Adicionalmente, as condições dos sopros macio e normal tornam a saída do bocal vulnerável ao desgaste térmico, devido à pressão de saída do bocal ser menor que a do ambiente. Palavras-chave: Sopro de oxigênio; Convertedor BOF; Simulação Numérica; Bocal convergente-divergente.
On Detecting Domestic Abuse via Faces

Domestic violence is considered a major social problem worldwide. Different countries have enacted the law to contain and protect the victims of domestic violence. In order to understand the nature of domestic violence, medical professionals and researchers have performed manual analysis of facial injuries. The aim of these studies is to find commonly affected facial regions, to determine the types of maxillofacial trauma associated with domestic violence, and to distinguish the injuries of domestic violence from accidents. Analysis of these injuries assist the service providers in providing proper treatment to the victims as well as facilitate law enforcement investigation. This paper automates the process of analyzing the facial injuries to distinguish the victims of domestic abuse from others. For this purpose, Domestic Violence Face database of 450 subjects with two classes namely, Domestic Violence and Non-Domestic Violence, is prepared. The paper also presents a novel framework using activation maps of deep learning features for determining whether an image belongs to domestic violence class or not. The results on the proposed database show that deep learning based framework is effective in detecting domestic injuries.
An investigation into finding the optimum combination for dental restorations

The aim of the study was to find the optimum combination of materials and thicknesses to provide a tough, damage resistant multi-layer system with numerical methods to restore the damaged teeth. Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) was used to assess the critical loads for the onset of damage modes such as radial cracks and plastic deformation in dental prostheses, which consist of a brittle outerlayer (porcelain)/ metal (Au, Pd, Co)-core/ substrate (dentin) trilayer system. XFEM not only has the ability to model crack initiation process, but also could solve crack propagation problems. Generally speaking, porcelain layer shouldn't be thinner than 0.5 mm, as the stresses due to bending become tensile critically in porcelain undersurfaces and radial cracks would occur in low loads. Also, it could be concluded that XFEM in axisymmetric model could properly estimate crack initiation and propagation path. Yielding of metal core makes additional flexural stress at overlaying brittle surface and consequently, facilitates radial cracks. In dental applications, the optimum porcelain thickness would be between 0.75 and 1.25 mm. Furthermore, yield strength and stiffness of metal is better to be high sufficiently to prevent it from plastic deformation and ensuing radial cracks.
Relative benefits of amino‐acid, codon, degeneracy, DNA, and purine‐pyrimidine character coding for phylogenetic analyses of exons

Both traditional as well as 10 more recent methods of coding characters from exons of protein‐coding genes are reviewed. The more recent methods collectively blur the distinction between nucleotide and amino‐acid coding and enable investigators to carefully quantify the effects of different sources of phylogenetic signal as well as their potential biases. Codon models, which explicitly model silent and replacement substitutions, are a major advance and are expected to be broadly useful for simultaneously inferring recent and ancient divergences, unlike amino‐acid coding. Degeneracy coding, wherein ambiguity codes are used to eliminate silent substitutions at the individual‐nucleotide level, has clear advantages over scoring amino‐acid characters. Nucleotide, codon, and amino‐acid models are now directly comparable with easy‐to‐use programs, and widely used phylogenetics programs can analyze partitioned supermatrices that incorporate all three types of model. Therefore, it should become standard practice to test among these alternative model types before conducting parametric phylogenetic analyses. An earlier study of 78 protein‐coding genes from 360 green‐plant plastid genomes is used as an empirical example with which to quantify the relative performance of alternative character‐coding methods using five quantification measures. Codon models were selected as having the best fit to the data, yet were outperformed by nucleotide models for all five quantification measures. Third‐codon positions were found to be an important source of phylogenetic signal and even outperformed analyses of first and second positions for some measures. Degeneracy coding generally performed at least as well as amino‐acid coding and is an arguably more effective alternative.
NARA-WPE: A Python package for weighted prediction error dereverberation in Numpy and Tensorflow for online and offline processing

NARA-WPE is a Python software package providing implementations of the weighted prediction error (WPE) dereverberation algorithm. WPE has been shown to be a highly effective tool for speech dereverberation, thus improving the perceptual quality of the signal and improving the recognition performance of downstream automatic speech recognition (ASR). It is suitable both for single-channel and multi-channel applications. The package consist of (1) a Numpy implementation which can easily be integrated into a custom Python toolchain, and (2) a TensorFlow implementation which allows integration into larger computational graphs and enables backpropagation through WPE to train more advanced front-ends. This package comprises of an iterative offline (batch) version, a block-online version, and a frame-online version which can be used in moderately low latency applications, e.g. digital speech assistants.
The Views of Preservice Teachers for Problem Based Learning Model Supported by Geocaching in Environmental Education

The purpose of this study is to investigate the usability of Problem-Based Learning model supported by Instructional Geocaching Game (PBL-IGG). The study was conducted in Turkey, in 2015-2016 spring term with 19 geography teacher candidates who chosen by convenience sampling method. In this study, within Educational Geocaching Game (IGG) which is the complementary activity of the problem-based learning (PBL) process, treasure boxes containing various clues and tasks for the students to help them at their PBL research reports, had been prepared and students' opinions regarding the effectiveness of this game was taken. The data was collected through Problem-Solving Inventory and focus group interviews, in this instrumental case study. Paired Samples Test and content analysis were used for analysis of the data. The findings showed that PBL-IGG did not lead to a significant difference regarding the students’ problem-solving skills, since the effect size is . 013. However, in the light of the interviews, it was revealed that PBL-IGG increased the students’ social and cognitive skills and map skills as well; that the students had positive attitudes towards PBL-IGG. They also stated that IGG applications made the lesson more enjoyable, increased awareness and motivation towards the environment. It is expected that the results will be useful to encourage using IGG learning strategy in geography and environmental education and make a contribution to new researches.
Theoretical and numerical study of highly anisotropic turbulent flows

We present a detailed numerical study of anisotropicstatistical fluctuations in stationary, homogeneousturbulent flows. We address both problems of intermittency in anisotropic sectors, and the relative importance of isotropic and an fluctuations at different scales on a direct num erical simulation of a three-dimensional r ndomKolmogorov flow. We review a simple argument to predict the dimensional scaling for all velocity moments, in all anisotropic sectors. W a previous analysis made on the same data set (Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 4831) presenting (i) the statistical behavior and co-spectra; (ii) high-order longitudinal structure functions; (iii) anisotropic fluctuations of the full tensorial twovelocity correlations. Among the many issues discussed, we stress the problem of the return-to-isotropy, the universality of anisotropic fluctuations and the foliation mechanism. A new a priori test on sub-grid quantities used in Large-Eddy Simulati is also presented.  2003 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis of Cattle, Sheep and Goats in Iran

Background: The prevalence of setariasis in cattle and cerebrospinal nematodiasis in sheep and goats were determined in two geographical regions of Iran. Methods: In two provinces of Iran: Mazandaran (zone I) and Qazvine (zoneII) where sheep and goats were suffering from symptoms similar to cerebrospinal nematodiasis, the peritoneal cavities of 763 and 1020 cattle were searched for adult Setaria sp. respectively. History taking of 4770 sheep from zone I and 25550 sheep and 3190 goats from zone II were performed for the presence and determination of cerebrospinal nematodiasis in sheep and goats. To study pathological changes induced in central nervous system 7 sheep from zone I and 4 sheep and 2 goats from zone II with symptoms similar to CSN were necropsied. Results: Our findings revealed that 47% and 13.2% of cattle in zone I and II harboured Setaria digitata (99.45%) and S. digitata (67.12%) plus S.labiato–papillosa (17.46%) respectively. History taking showed that each year 2.53% of sheep in zone I and 1.65% of sheep and 1.25% of goats in some districts of zone II (e.g. Roudbar Alamout) suffered from symptoms similar to cerebrospinal nematodiasis the main clinical signs of which were difficulty in hind limbs movement (lumbar paralysis). At necropsy, no lesions were observed macroscopically in the brains as well as spinal cords. But in a few cases, central nervous system were congested and edematous . Histopathological examination of CNS of necropsied animals showed mild leptomeningitis and eosinophilic and lymphacytic encephalomyelitis with numerous hemorrhagic tracts, degeneration and necrosis due to migration of the larvae. The cross section of nematode larvae was observed in the brain section of a sheep in zone I. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that setariasis of cattle is very prevalent in both region mainly in zone I and sheep and goats harbor low percentage of CSN but with marked pathological lesions.
Where Modern Macroeconomics Went Wrong

This paper provides a critique of the DSGE models that have come to dominate macroeconomics during the past quarter-century. It argues that at the heart of the failure were the wrong microfoundations, which failed to incorporate key aspects of economic behavior, e.g. incorporating insights from information economics and behavioral economics. Inadequate modelling of the financial sector meant they were ill-suited for predicting or responding to a financial crisis; and a reliance on representative agent models meant they were ill-suited for analysing either the role of distribution in fluctuations and crises or the consequences of fluctuations on inequality. The paper proposes alternative benchmark models that may be more useful both in understanding deep downturns and responding to them.
A Comparative Evaluation of Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine as an Adjuvant to Ropivacaine in Epidural Anaesthesia for Intraoperative and Postoperative Sedation and Analgesia

Background: This prospective randomized double blind study was carried out to evaluate and compare the effect of dexmedetomidine and clonidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in epidural anaesthesia. Method: Ninety patients (ASA grade I and II), were randomly allocated into three groups of 30 patients in each. Group A (R) received 17 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine + 2ml saline (control), group B (RD) received dexmedetomidine 1. 5μg/kg in 2ml+ 17 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine and group C (RC) received clonidine 2μg/kg in 2ml+17 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine in epidural anaesthesia. All three groups were evaluated in terms of onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia, motor block, sedation and any untoward side effects. Results: Onset of analgesia (sensory block) was earlier in group B (8.13±2.02 mins) than group A (12.13±3.37 mins) and group C (9.86±2.84 mins) (p<0.05). Similarly, onset of maximum sensory block and maximum motor block were shorter in group B (13.6±2.36 mins &17.23±3.30 mins respectively) as compared to group A (18.06±3.16 mins &21.23±3.74 mins respectively) and group C (15.76±3.39 mins &19.66±3.74 mins respectively) (p <0.05). Duration of analgesia was 284.7±28.22 mins, 341.33±29.06 mins and 312.6±27.68 mins in group A, B and C respectively as well as intro-operative sedation score was also higher in group B as compared to group A&C (p<0.05). Conclusion: Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists particularly dexmedetomidine when used as an adjuvant with ropivacaine significantly prolong the duration of sensory and motor blockade and duration of analgesia.
Perceptions Towards the Elderly Among the Thai Working-Age Population : A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

As Thailand is rapidly aging, understanding intergenerational relationships and how to mitigate intergenerational conflicts becomes an increasingly critical issue. Using a Structural Equation Modeling approach and a nationally representative dataset collected in 2011, this paper investigates how the Thai working-age population views the elderly. A unique feature of the paper is the construction of latent variables of “positive” and “negative” perceptions to capture intangible attitudes towards the elderly based on a Confirmatory Factor Analysis with modification indices. Drawing from the conflict perspective on aging, the paper finds that positive perception about the elderly among the working-age population is strongly correlated with age and income, but diminishes as the number of elderly individuals in the same household increases, while negative perception is neither affected by age nor contact with the elderly, yet it decreases with education and income. Interestingly, modernization diminishes both the positive and negative perceptions. In general the Thai working-age population has a favorable view about the elderly, but this study illustrates that there is still room for improvement. Progress towards the reduction of intergenerational conflicts can be made through an expansion of education and a stimulation of economic activities, which in turn generate income. The government should be more firmly committed to integrating aging issues into national school curricula, formally promoting an understanding across generations.
Yard differences in training, management and orthopedic injury in showjumping, riding school, and thoroughbred race horses

Musculoskeletal injuries are a major cause of wastage in Thoroughbred racing and equestrian sport. Epidemiological studies in racehorses have demonstrated that risk of injury vary between trainers and with differences in training regimens, but few havestudied such between-yard differences in riding horses. The aim of the thesis was to quantify and compare training regimes, management and measures of injury in racehorses, riding school horses and showjumping horses at herd level, and measure the effect of different training regimens on skeletal adaptation in two-year-old racehorses with bone biomarkers. Analysing data from an animal insurance database, rates of locomotor problems varied substantially among 136 riding schools. A field study of 19 riding schools with high or low utilization of insurance (HUIO/LUIO) for orthopedic injuries demonstrated differences in management strategies and influence on injury rate and longevity. Experienced managers, highly qualified chief instructors and gradual introduction to riding school work for new horses protected against orthopedic injury. Showjumping and racehorse training was analysed longitudinally. Ten racehorse trainers in the UK with 194 horses participated. The total number of training days (DAR) was 43,373. Data analysed in the showjumping study were delivered by 31 riders with 263 horses, in four European countries (39,262 DAR). Both showjumping riders and racehorse trainers varied in volume and components of daily training. The mean daily training in the showjumping yards was between 19 and 49 min per DAR. The mean percentages of days lost to training were 23 and 5 in the racehorses and showjumpers respectively. In Thoroughbred racehorses bone biomarker patterns varied between yards, indicating differences in skeletal response. Conclusions from the thesis support previous results showing orthopedic injury to be a main reason for wastage in horses, and that risk of injury, training regimens and management varies between yards. As analysis of training factors and injury is a new field of study in riding horses, further studies are required to expand the understandingof the multifactorial causes of orthopedic conditions. However, based on results from the thesis and other studies, certain aspects with the potential to influence soundness should be considered by trainers, riders and coaches. This includes a gradual progression of training to allow adaptation to increased loads, training components that improve fitness and prepare for the load required in competition and races, andvariation, both of training activities and training load, i.e. periodization.
Short‐Term Vegetation and Soil Responses to Mechanical Destruction of Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) Warrens in an Australian Box Woodland

We studied the impact of disturbance by rabbits on plants and soils along a gradient out from the center of ripped rabbit warrens in an Australian semiarid woodland. Five years after the warrens were ripped, the impact of rabbits was still apparent. The cover of bare soil declined, and the cryptogam cover increased with increasing distance from the warren mound. However, litter cover, plant cover, and plant diversity remained unchanged with increasing distance from the mounds. Differences in plant composition were apparent with increasing distance from the mounds, with three species, Schismus barbatus, Salsola kali var. kali, and Chenopodium melanocarpum dominating the mounds, whereas the perennial grass Austrostipa scabra dominated the nonwarren control surfaces. Two species, Crassula sieberana and S. barbatus, dominated the active soil seed bank on ripped warrens. The mounds had the lowest number of species in the soil seed bank, whereas the warren edge microsite had the greatest. Ripped and unripped warrens differed substantially in their complement of species, and ripped warrens contained an order of magnitude fewer active warren entrances compared with unripped warrens. Ripped warrens also had significantly more plant cover than unripped warrens. Taken together, our results reinforce the view that rabbits have a destructive effect on surface soils and vegetation in semiarid woodlands and suggest that restoration of the original woodland vegetation after warren ripping is likely to be a slow and ongoing process.
Synergistic Effects of Plant Extracts and Antifungal Drugs on C. albicans

Background: Fungi have surrounded us and have affected our life, when changed or getting out from control it should be treated and when change to multi drug resistant it is difficult to treat by antibiotics so we can use plant extracts to produce valuable protection against infection. Objective: In this study, we used agar well diffusion method to investigate the effect of antifungal drug of plant extracts on Candida albicans. Methods: Candida albicans was isolated from oral cavity of Sulaimani Emergency hospital patients. The isolates consisted C. albicans (n=15). The microorganisms were divided into four groups in a factorial design: control, FGE with blackseed, FGE without black seed, black seed without FGE and antibiotic (Fluconazole). The minimum inhibitory concentration of FGE was calculated by using a gradient of concentrations and observing their inhibitory effects on C. albicans. Results: Fresh garlic extract (FGE extract) displayed evident inhibition against Candida albicans by producing more inhibition zone (p<0.05), Black seed extract (BL extract) showed no inhibitory effect on C. albicans at 10% concentration. However, synergism of BI with FGE have shown significant effects on it (P<0.05) and fluconazole had little effect on Candida albicans. Conclusion: The result suggests that FGE can improve the antibiotic sensitivity and BI don’t effect on C. albicans.