Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Information Security at Large Public Displays

In this chapter we present a novel concept for personalized privacy support on large public displays. In a first step, two formative evaluations are conducted in order to analyze the requirements of potential users regarding the protection of private information on large public displays. The insights gained in these evaluations are used to design a system that automatically adapts the information visible on public displays according to the current social situation and the individual privacy preferences of the user working on the display. In a third evaluation, the developed system is evaluated regarding its appropriateness for daily usage and its usefulness to protect privacy. The results of the evaluation show that users are in general willing to trust system-based protection mechanisms, provided that they are well implemented. In this context, the proposed combination of pre-defined privacy profiles and context-adapted information visualization proved to be a good trade-off between usability and adequate privacy protection.
Sequential Attributional Feedback and Children's Achievement Behaviors

Two experiments investigated how the sequence of attributional feedback influences children's motivation, attributions, self-efficacy, and skillful performance. Children lacking subtraction skills received training and solved problems over four sessions. During the problem solving, one group of children (ability-ability) periodically received ability feedback, a second group (effort-effort) received effort feedback, a third group (ability-effort) was given ability feedback during the first two sessions and effort feedback during the last two, and for a fourth group this sequence was reversed (effort-ability). In both studies, children who initially received ability feedback (ability-ability and ability-effort conditions) developed higher ability attributions, self-efficacy, and subtraction skills compared with subjects in the effort-ability and effort-effort conditions. The sequence of attributional feedback did not differentially affect motivation, effort attributions, or perceptions of training successes.
A New Keynesian IS curve for Australia: is it forward looking or backward looking?

This article estimates the forward looking, backward looking and an extended version of the New Keynesian IS curve for Australia. The validity of these models is investigated by imposing the constraint on real rate of interest as well as when the constraint is relaxed. Two measures of output gap, namely GAP1 (constructed using the unobserved components approach) and GAP2 (constructed using a quadratic trend) are utilized. Our results suggest that the baseline backward looking and forward looking models are overwhelmingly rejected by the data. This evidence strongly supports the extended backward looking model (with GAP2) being relevant for monetary policy analysis.
Bond to Zirconia Ceramic: Evaluation of Different Primers and a Universal Adhesive

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a universal adhesive and different primers on the bond strength to zirconia ceramic. Seventy-five zirconia ceramic samples were obtained and divided into five groups (n=15): G1–Scothbond Universal (SBU); G2 – silane + SBU; G3 - Signum Zirconia Bond; G4 - Z-Prime Plus; G5 - MZ Primer. A cone of composite resin was built. The specimens were stored in 100% relative humidity with distilled water at 37°C for 48 h and then submitted to a tensile bond strength test in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The type of failure that occurred during the de-bonding procedure was analyzed. The mean results of the bond strength test (MPa) followed by the same letter represent no statistical difference by ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test (p<0.05): G2=27.55a (±6.99), G4=23.71a (±5.65), G1=22.64a (±5.67), G5=13.64b (±5.49), G3=7.54c (±4.75). G2 and G4 exhibited predominantly cohesive failure in the composite resin cone. G1 and G5 had predominantly mixed failures, and G3 exhibited only adhesive failures. The SBU and Z-Prime Plus provided higher bond strength to zirconia ceramic.
Effects of dietary sucrose thermal oligosaccharide caramel on hematological parameters, fibronectin, selected serum biochemical constituents and hormones, and cecal bacterial counts of white Pekin ducks

Ninety-six, 2-wk-old white Pekin ducks were fed a novei sugar, sucrose thermal oligosaccharide caramel (STOC) to determine its effect on hematological parameters, fibronectin, selected serum biochemical constituents and hormones, as well as cecal total gram-negative bacterial counts in ducks. Red blood coil characteristics were not influenced by the diet. Feeding STOC resulted in more (P<0.05) heterophils, a decreased number of lymphocytes, a significant (P<0.001) increase in heterophil / lymphocyte ratio and a decrease in basophil counts (P<0.05) compared with ducks fed the control diet. The inclusion of STOC in the diet led to a significant increase in serum total protein (P<0.01), albumin (P<0 .001) and globulin (P<0.05). Serum from STOC-fed ducks had significantly more Ca (P<0.05), more P (P<0.01) and increased Anion Gap (P<0.01). Serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels were not affected by dietary treatment. The concentration of fibronectin which is associated with cell adhesion, homeostasis and augmenting the function of the mononuclear phagocytic system, was significantly higher (P<0.01) in both serum and plasma from ducks fed the STOC diet when compared with those fed the control diet. Levels of triiodothyroxine (Т3), thyroxine (T4) and corticosterone in the blood were not affected by inclusion of STOC in the diet. The diet did not influence cecal gram-negative bacterial counts (log 10). No salmonella were detected in the ceca of ducks fed STOC or in the ceca of ducks fed the control diet. Feeding STOC to growing ducks seemed to enhance favorable changes in several normal physiological parameters.
Why warn? The impact of profit warnings on shareholder’s equity

Announcements by firms that earnings will be lower than those forecast by market analysts is expected to result in an adverse share price reaction. A significantly negative reaction is documented for a large sample of profit warnings made between 1997-2000. This research also analyses factors expected to impact market reaction to ascertain why firms make these voluntary announcements. Analysis of variables representing avoidance of shareholder lawsuits suggests this is an important motive. Conversely, announcement timing does not seem to be an attempt to delay market response. Examination of factors portraying information asymmetry suggests they have a significant, differential impact on market reaction.
The partial vine copula: A dependence measure and approximation based on the simplifying assumption

Simplified vine copulas (SVCs), or pair-copula constructions, have become an important tool in high-dimensional dependence modeling. So far, specification and estimation of SVCs has been conducted under the simplifying assumption, i.e., all bivariate conditional copulas of the vine are assumed to be bivariate unconditional copulas. We introduce the partial vine copula (PVC) which provides a new multivariate dependence measure and which plays a major role in the approximation of multivariate distributions by SVCs. The PVC is a particular SVC where to any edge a j-th order partial copula is assigned and constitutes a multivariate analogue of the bivariate partial copula. We investigate to what extent the PVC describes the dependence structure of the underlying copula. We show that the PVC does not minimize the Kullback-Leibler divergence from the true copula and that the best approximation satisfying the simplifying assumption is given by a vine pseudo-copula. However, under regularity conditions, step-wise estimators of pair-copula constructions converge to the PVC irrespective of whether the simplifying assumption holds or not. Moreover, we elucidate why the PVC is the best feasible SVC approximation in practice.
Duration of swimming practice has differential effect on airway caliber and muscular efficiency.

Swimming, by increasing the airway caliber and muscular efficiency brings about enhanced pulmonary function. However, the effect of duration of swimming practice on these effects is sparsely evaluated and the present study attempts to address this aspect. Pulmonary function test was conducted among healthy male (20-30 years) volunteers who were regular swimmers (n=51) and was compared with controls (n=51)who practiced athletic events but not swimming. Swimmers (23.52 ±1.87 years) were significantly younger than controls (24.39 ± 2.22 years) with 5.33±1.82 years of swimming practice. Swimmers exhibited increased VC, FVC, FEV1, PEFR, MEF25%, MEF50%, MEF25/75% than controls. Swimmers demonstrated a significant positive correlation between duration of swimming practice and airway caliber (FEV1, MEF25%, MEF50%, MEF25/75%), whereas, muscular efficiency (VC and PEFR) did not demonstrate any correlation. This demonstrates that, airway modulation takes place proportionately with duration of swimming practice. Contrary, muscle efficiency did not showed such behavior, thereby, a ceiling effect on skeletal muscle efficiency could be expected with prolonged duration of swimming practice.
Evaluation of productivity and quality of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spelt (Triticum spelta L.) in relation to nutrition conditions.

Field experiments were conducted at the Joniskėlis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry during 2009–2012. The study was aimed to explore the effects of the ecological fertilizer Ekoplant and the bio-activators Biokal 01 and Terra Sorb Foliar on the formation of the productivity elements, grain yield and quality of spelt (Triticum spelta L.) cv. ‘Franckenkorn’ and common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. ‘Toras’ in an organic cropping system on an clay loam Endocalcari-Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-wcan). The weather conditions, especially those during crop wintering, differed between years and this affected the grain yield of both winter wheat species and resulted in different fertilizer efficacy. In 2010 and 2012, the winter wheat crops overwintered well and the yield of common wheat was by 27.6% and 30.1%, respectively higher than that of spelt. In 2011, due to the contrasting winter conditions with a spell of unusually high temperatures in January followed by a sharp drop of temperature to −25°C the crop of common wheat thinned out more than spelt, which resulted in a significantly lower common wheat grain yield. In 2010 and 2011, the application of ecological fertilizer Ekoplant as well as in combination with Biokal 01 and Terra Sorb Foliar led to an increase in the values of biometric indicators, i.e. stem mass, ear length and mass, grain number per ear significantly increased having used Ekoplant fertilizer in combination with Terra Sorb Foliar. However, in 2012, Biokal 01 exerted the most marked positive effect on the biometric indicators of wheat. The highest yield increase for both wheat species was observed when Ekoplant fertilizer had been used in combination with the bio-activator Biokal 01. The Ekoplant fertilizer as well as in combination with the bio-activator Biokal 01 did not have any significant effect on grain quality indicators, while the bio-activator Biokal 01 increased the protein and gluten content by 2.2% and 3.4%, respectively.
Ischemia-modified albumin levels in professional male soccer players before and after training

Objectives: The ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) test is a promising indicator of myocardial ischemia in the early diagnosis of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recent studies examining alterations in IMA levels caused by myocardial ischemia that develops during exercise have shown contradictory results. There has been an increase in severe exercise-related cardiac events in football. We therefore, assessed IMA levels before and after exercise in professional soccer players in order to examine the effect of the exercise on IMA levels. Methods: Blood was collected from professional soccer players before and after exercise. IMA levels were measured by using spectrophotometric methods, and the albumin levels were measured in an autoanalyzer. Results: The average preand post exercise IMA levels of 16 soccer players were found to be 0.438±0.071 and 0.386±0.069, respectively. The preand post exercise albumin levels of the same group were 4.08±0.20 g/dL and 4.21±0.19 g/dL, respectively. There was a strong negative correlation between post exercise IMA and albumin levels, which was statistically significant (r = -0.535. p = 0.033). Conclusion: IMA levels should be examined not only in noncardiac pathologies, but also in specific serum albumin concentrations and in individuals practicing vigorous sport activities.
Inequality is Bad for Growth of the Poor (But Not for that of the Rich)

The paper assesses the impact of overall inequality, as well as inequality among the poor and among the rich, on the growth rates along various percentiles of the income distribution. The analysis uses micro-census data from U.S. states covering the period from 1960 to 2010. The paper finds evidence that high levels of inequality reduce the income growth of the poor and, if anything, help the growth of the rich. When inequality is deconstructed into bottom and top inequality, the analysis finds that it is mostly top inequality that is holding back growth at the bottom.
Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Tertiary Hospital South East, Nigeria

Objective: Drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a public health threat globally. We described the drug resistance pattern of M. tuberculosis to first line anti-TB drugs and the prevalence of Multidrug resistant TB among TB patients at tertiary hospital Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: Sputum specimens from 550 suspected TB patients were analyzed for AFB. The smear positive samples were subjected to culture and drug susceptibility testing to first line anti-TB drugs on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Result: Out of 180 (32.7%) culture positive samples subjected to DST, 97 (53.8%) were susceptible to all first line anti-TB drugs while 83 (46.1%) were resistant to one or two anti- TB drugs. The level of resistance was significant at p<0.05 identifying three patterns, Mono-drug resistance in 34(18.8%) patients, Multi-drug resistance in 14 (7.7%) and Poly drug resistance in 35 (19.4%) patients. The proportion of TB cases with resistance to single drugs ranged from 5 (2.7%) for rifampicin to 12 (6.6%) for isoniazid and previously treated TB 8 (4.4%) patients was a significant factor (P<0.000) to development of MDR-TB compared to new TB patients 6(3.3%) within the age range of 21-40 years. Other factors such as age, gender and HIV positive status were not significantly associated with the development of any resistance. Conclusion: The investigation highlights the presence of drug resistant TB with high prevalence of MDR-TB in the studied community. Larger studies are urgently recommended to improve TB clinical management and control efforts.
Progress in Theoretical and Numerical Tools Devoted to Understanding of Acoustic Devices Behavior

Since several decades, the acoustic devices improvement depends largely on the theoretical and Numerical tools. In Acoustic domain, the simulations provide results in high agreement with the measurements. The numerical methods mainly used are either heuristic or algorithmic. The heuristic ones give results rapidly but not necessary optimized e.g. the Mixed Matrix formulation [1–3]. The second kind of numerical methods (algorithmic ones) requires advanced mathematical development and also complex numerical algorithms e.g. Finite Element Analysis (FEA)/Boundary Element Method (BEM) [4]. FEA also provides the data structures for the heuristic methods such as P-Matrix method. In this chapter, we go over the second kind of numerical methods i.e. the exact ones (FEA/BEM). First, the basis equations are detailed as well as the current level of the numerical tools (Periodic FEA/BEM [5]). Next, FEA improvements are demonstrated. Indeed, new research fields in acoustic need to consider extra configurations which cannot be treated by the periodic way e.g. in dual-mode SAW filters [6]. So, a non-periodic model was developed and implemented. The theoretical approach is identical to the one used in periodic case. The strategy of digitizing is also the same i.e. So only the inhomogeneous part of the studied configuration must be discretized. By contrast, the surrounding space is considered by using boundary conditions. Indeed, an acoustic devices is not flying in a free space but if one does not take care of the boundary that is exactly what it is simulate. The edges of the mesh used in a FEA act as a perfect mirror. So, without boundary conditions the component is in the vacuum. This remark is valid both for the non-periodic and periodic. To avoid any problems with the bottom and top limits of the mesh, one must first develop a BEM to simulate the radiation in a multilayered substrate or surrounding medium. Here, BEM is based on Green functions. The inverse Green problem is solved for the periodic case [7] while the direct one is used for the non-periodic systems [8]. In a second step the artificial reflexions on the side edges of the meshed grid must be eliminated. In periodic configuration (e.g. SAW transducers), this
Individual differences in students ’ knowing and learning about fractions : Evidence from an in-depth qualitative study

We present the results of an in-depth qualitative study that examined ninth graders’ conceptual and procedural knowledge of fractions as well as their approach to mathematics learning, in particular fraction learning. We traced individual differences, even extreme, in the way that students combine the two kinds of knowledge. We also provide preliminary evidence indicating that students with strong conceptual fraction knowledge adopt a deep approach to mathematics learning (associated with the intention to understand), whereas students with poor conceptual fraction knowledge adopt a superficial approach (associated with the intention to reproduce). These findings suggest that students differ in the way they reason and learn about fractions in systematic ways and could be used to inform future quantitative studies.
PALEOBIOLOGY OF PREDATORS, PARASITOIDS, AND PARASITES: DEATH AND ACCOMODATION IN THE FOSSIL RECORD OF CONTINENTAL INVERTEBRATES

Only 12 invertebrate phyla have become carnivorous in the continental realm. Six are lophotrochozoans (Acanthocephala, Rotifera, Platyhelminthes, Nemertinea, Mollusca, and Annelida) and six are ecdysozoans (Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Tardigrada, Onychophora, Pentastoma, and Arthropoda). Most of these groups have poor continental fossil records, but the two most diversenematodes and arthropodshave comparatively good representation. The record of arthropods documents (i) the presence of predator s among primary producers, herbivores, and decomposers in early terrestrial ecosystems; (ii) the addition later in the fossil record of the more accommodationist strategies of parasitoids and parasites interacting with animal hosts; (Hi) the occurrence of simpler food-web structures in terrestrial ecosystems prior toparasitoid and parasite diversification; and (iv) a role for mass extinction in the degradation of food-web structure that ultimately affected carnivory. Future research should explore how different modes of carnivory have brought about changes in ecosystem structure through time. Despite numerous caveats and uncertainties, trace fossils left by predators on skeletons of their prey remain one of the most promising research directions in paleoecology and evolutionary paleobiology.
You Can't Always Get What You Want: The Role of Public Housing and Vouchers in Achieving Residential Satisfaction

Using data from the 2009 American Housing Survey, this research examines neighborhood and housing satisfaction among assisted and unassisted renters. Studying the effect of housing assistance on neighborhood satisfaction allows for an assessment of the role that housing vouchers play in promoting household mobility to higher quality housing and neighborhoods compared with public housing developments or unsubsidized housing units. A major goal of this study is to shed light on the effectiveness of a predominant form of U.S. government-sponsored housing assistance at providing expanded housing choices for low-income families. Our findings show that housing voucher holders and public housing residents achieve higher levels of housing satisfaction and choose more desirable dwellings than do unassisted low-income renters. Housing assistance, however, does not enable recipients to locate to better neighborhoods.
ComprehensiveBench: a Benchmark for the Extensive Evaluation of Global Scheduling Algorithms

Parallel applications that present tasks with imbalanced loads or complex communication behavior usually do not exploit the underlying resources of parallel platforms to their full potential. In order to mitigate this issue, global scheduling algorithms are employed. As finding the optimal task distribution is an NP-Hard problem, identifying the most suitable algorithm for a specific scenario and comparing algorithms are not trivial tasks. In this context, this paper presents ComprehensiveBench, a benchmark for global scheduling algorithms that enables the variation of a vast range of parameters that affect performance. ComprehensiveBench can be used to assist in the development and evaluation of new scheduling algorithms, to help choose a specific algorithm for an arbitrary application, to emulate other applications, and to enable statistical tests. We illustrate its use in this paper with an evaluation of Charm++ periodic load balancers that stresses their characteristics.
Evaluating communication-network reliability with heterogeneous link-capacities using subset enumeration

This paper proposes an improved algorithm to compute the reliability of a communication-network having heterogeneous link capacities. The reliability measure, capacity related reliability (CRR), is a generalization of a two-terminal reliability. A subset-cut-technique (SCT [7]) obtains CRR in two steps. First, SCT generates non-redundant subset-cut (SC) of the evaluated network. Second, the technique uses a sum-of-disjoint product algorithm to compute CRR from the generated SC. The computational complexity of SCT depends on the total number of subsets generated, the total number of internal (external) redundant SC generated and removed, and the total number of cuts in the network that are used to generate SC. The SCT generates too many subsets and internal (external)-redundant SC. In this paper, we propose a new subset cut enumeration (SCE) technique, which significantly reduces the total number of enumerated subsets and the total number of internal-redundant SC. Hence, the non-redundant SC are generated more efficiently. Examples are given to illustrate the technique, and the time complexity of our SCE is also described. Our method has been implemented in C and results show that SCE performs better than SCT.