Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
END-TO-END TEXT RECOGNITION WITH CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS AN HONORS THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Full end-to-end text recognition in natural images is a challenging problem that has recently received much attention in computer vision and machine learning. Traditional systems in this area have relied on elaborate models that incorporate carefully hand-engineered features or large amounts of prior knowledge. In this thesis, I describe an alternative approach that combines the representational power of large, multilayer neural networks with recent developments in unsupervised feature learning. This particular approach enables us to train highly accurate text detection and character recognition modules. Because of the high degree of accuracy and robustness of these detection and recognition modules, it becomes possible to integrate them into a full end-to-end, lexicon-driven, scene text recognition system using only simple off-the-shelf techniques. In doing so, we demonstrate state-of-theart performance on standard benchmarks in both cropped-word recognition as well as full end-to-end text recognition.
Bitcoin’s Fatal Flaw: The Limited Adoption Problem*

We demonstrate theoretically that Bitcoin’s limited adoption arises as an equilibrium outcome rather than as a short-lived property. Our results are driven by negative network effects which arise due to Bitcoin’s need for consensus and the existence of network delay. As the Bitcoin network expands, network delay grows thereby prolonging the time needed for generating consensus. In turn, transaction settlement becomes prolonged, and users abandon the system, yielding limited adoption. Increasing transaction rates fails to solve this problem because increasing transaction rates increases fork probabilities which prolongs the consensus process and generates limited adoption.
In Situ Raman Detection of Gas Hydrates Exposed on the Seafloor of the South China Sea

Gas hydrates are usually buried in sediments. Here we report the first discovery of gas hydrates exposed on the seafloor of the South China Sea. The in situ chemical compositions and cage structures of these hydrates were measured at the depth of 1,130 m below sea level using a Raman insertion probe (RiP‐Gh) that was carried and controlled by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Faxian. This in situ analytical technique can avoid the physical and chemical changes associated with the transport of samples from the deep sea to the surface. Natural gas hydrate samples were analyzed at two sites. The in situ spectra suggest that the newly formed hydrate was Structure I but contains a small amount of C3H8 and H2S. Pure gas spectra of CH4, C3H8, and H2S were also observed at the SCS‐SGH02 site. These data represent the first in situ proof that free gas can be trapped within the hydrate fabric during rapid hydrate formation. We provide the first in situ confirmation of the hydrate growth model for the early stages of formation of crystalline hydrates in a methane‐rich seafloor environment. Our work demonstrates that natural hydrate deposits, particularly those in the early stages of formation, are not monolithic single structures but instead exhibit significant small‐scale heterogeneities due to inclusions of free gas and the surrounding seawater, there inclusions also serve as indicators of the likely hydrate formation mechanism. These data also reinforce the importance of correlating visual and in situ measurements when characterizing a sampling site.
Development and assessment of web based Curriculum materials for decision making About socio-scientific issues: the example of Trace chemicals in drinking water

This paper reports on a research effort targeted at helping high-school students develop decision-making skills, in the context of an important socio-scientific issue that is not traditionally included in school curricula. This issue relates to the evaluation of the quality of drinking water on the basis of its ingredients and their concentration. Selecting among different bottled waters becomes complicated because (a) students do not typically interpret the information shown on the label in an appropriate manner (e.g. they cannot identify which of the constituents of the water are harmful for human consumption or which limits are prohibitive); (b) the concentration of each constituent is not common for all commercially available bottled waters; and (c) the content of solvents in the water, varies from one type of water to another. The paper reports on an attempt to design an activity sequence that seeks to help students develop the optimization strategy in the context of selecting the most appropriate bottled water considering a number of factors, such as the physico-chemical composition in terms of essential constituents, the suitability of certain waters regarding special age groups (infants and young children) and labeling requirements. Through this example, we seek to help students appreciate certain aspects of the decision making process, such as the important role of criteria and the need to rely on them in justifying the selection of a certain alternative option. The learning materials that have been developed in the context of this study are webbased and they are embedded in a special inquiry learning environment, the STOCHASMOS platform. The activity sequence engages students in the process of collecting information concerning the quality of drinking water and guides them to process the available information and construct arguments about the quality of drinking water. The paper provides an overview of the activity sequence, its underlying rationale and preliminary results from a pilot implementation.
Status Quo, Critical Reflection, and the Road Ahead of Digital Nudging in Information Systems Research: A Discussion with Markus Weinmann and Alexey Voinov

Research on Digital Nudging has become increasingly popular in the Information Systems (IS) community. This paper presents an overview of the current progress, a critical reflection and an outlook to further research regarding Digital Nudging in IS. For this purpose, we conducted a comprehensive literature review as well as an interview with Markus Weinmann from Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University, one of the first scholars who introduced Digital Nudging to the IS community, and Alexey Voinov, director of the Centre on Persuasive Systems for Wise Adaptive Living at University of Technology Sydney. The findings uncover a gap between what we know about what constitutes Digital Nudging and how consequent requirements can actually be put into practice. In this context, the original concept of Nudging bears inherent challenges, e.g. regarding the focus on the individuals' welfare, which hence also apply to Digital Nudging. Moreover, we need a better understanding of how Nudging in digital choice environments differs from that in the offline world. To further distinguish itself from other disciplines that already tested various nudges in many different domains, Digital Nudging Research in IS may benefit from a strong Design Science perspective, going beyond the test of effectiveness and providing specific design principles for the different types of digital nudges.
Re-assessment of the status of the Golden-shouldered Parrot Psephotus chrysopterygius

[Extract] The Golden-shouldered Parrot Psephotus chrysopterygiusis listed as an Endangered species under Schedule 2 of the Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The species fits the criteria of endangered under IUCN Red List categories (IUCN SSC 2001): Category B1a,b(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) (extent of occurrence <5000 sq.km, occurs at fewer than five locations, continuing projected decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, quality of habitat, number of mature individuals; (Garnett & Crowley 2000)). It is listed under Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (Garnett & Crowley 2002). The species occurs only on Cape York Peninsula in two areas totalling less than 2000 km2area of occupancy and ranging over less than 3,000 km2 extent of occurrence. The northern population is centred around Morehead River in an area of around 1,380 km2, and the southern one around the Staaten River in an area of around 400 km2(Fig 1). The population of adults is in the order of 2,000 to 2,300 birds, increasing possibly to 3,600 adult and juvenile birds after the breeding season and declining back to the core population during the later dry season and wet season each year. Due to limited surveys and data, it is not clear whether or not the population is increasing, stable or declining. A Recovery Plan for the golden-shouldered parrot Psephotus chrysopterygius2003-2007 (Garnett & Crowley 2002) was prepared in 2002 and included a number of objectives. This report responds to: Specific Objective 3: Determine population trends. A Prospectus for the study, 'Re-assessment of the status of the Golden-shouldered Parrot Psephotus chrysopterygius', prepared for the Caring for Our Country grants provided the scope of the study (Appendix 1). Anticipated outcomes of the study were expected to be: A report documenting trends in the Morehead population of Golden-shouldered Parrots enabling a comparison to be made with population estimates in 1996 and 2001 and a reassessment of conservation status. GPS locations of all located nest sites for the 2009 breeding season. The work undertaken complies with this scope, and is described below. The contract (CY TBIO 01) for the study included two milestones: •A nest survey of the Morehead population during the late breeding season between March and May 2009 to ascertain whether the apparent reversal in the decline of the Morehead population has been maintained; •Observations of predation and nest damage, of flock sizes, sex ratios, number of juveniles together with presence/absence of Pied Butcherbirds and/or Black-faced Wood swallows. The survey was urgent as the previous survey was conducted about 8 years ago (2001) and should have been conducted within 5 years of the previous one. This project was funded by the Federal Government's Caring for Our Country program, and managed by the Queensland Government Dept of Environment & Natural Resource Management.
Inhabitants Knowledge on Mosquito Proliferation and Control in the Wetland Ecosystem of Wadi Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine

The wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza is a major source of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Gaza Strip due to its water content that comes from different sources including wastewater. Local inhabitants usually complain from mosquito proliferation and ask the responsible parties for urgent solutions. The escalating situation in the study area promoted the conduction of this study, which aims at documenting the inhabitants knowledge on mosquito proliferation and control in the wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza, Gaza Strip. One hundred and twenty people (N=120) were selected randomly to fill a questionnaire especially designed to conduct the current study. The findings of the study showed that most participants (85.0%) ranked stagnant wastewater as the main cause of mosquito proliferation and the emission of offensive odors that affect the life of Wadi Gaza residents. Of the study population, 72.5% linked mosquito proliferation to many of the prevailing diseases in the area, of which fever, skin rashes and inflammations and itching were a part. To control mosquitoes and to avoid their biting at the personal level, several means with variable scores were reported to include burning mats, light traps, indoor insecticides, mosquito bed nets (Namosiah), window and/or door wire screens, and self-hygiene. Some people limit their outdoor activities after dark during peak mosquito seasons. At the public level, mosquito control means included the spraying of kerosene and pesticides, burning and clearing of vegetation around the wetland ecosystem, and burial and desiccation of stagnant water pools in the area. As far as the use of the biological control agent "Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis" (Bti) is concerned, 57.5% of the participants demonstrated their knowledge on its use and sometimes on its efficacy. Only 20.0% of participants ensured their attendance to different health and environmental awareness campaigns concerning mosquitoes and their associated health problems. Finally, the authors recommend the different parties to coordinate their efforts to further alleviate the problem of mosquito proliferation and to find suitable control methods. The conduction of educational and awareness health programs to all levels of the Palestinian society is highly recommended. Key words: Mosquito proliferation, mosquito control, wetlands, Wadi Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)

SMEs can potentially gain competitive advantage from Internet-based technologies, because these require less investment and are more flexible than traditional Information Technologies. However, availability of IT resources is not enough. Organisations need particular competencies in order to deploy their resources effectively. Strategic application of these competencies can than lead to distinct organisational capabilities which provide competitive advantages. This paper presents a case study of a small organisation that was keen to exploit the potential of Internet-based technologies to help them compete in a very tough environment. It was found that Internet-based technologies enabled tactical quick-wins and hold the promise of potential strategic benefits through the creation of distinctive IT resources. However, it was shown that there was a need to develop competencies, particularly around capturing business needs as well as vendor management, before strategic capabilities could be realised. As SMEs have to be responsive to dynamic environments, these competencies and capabilities need to be enhanced and maintained by embedding IS management in overall management processes.
Crustal Structure of the Ionian Basin and Eastern Sicily Margin: Results From a Wide‐Angle Seismic Survey

In the Ionian Sea (central Mediterranean) the slow convergence between Africa and Eurasia results in the formation of a narrow subduction zone. The nature of the crust of the subducting plate remains debated and could represent the last remnants of the Neo‐Tethys ocean. The origin of the Ionian basin is also under discussion, especially concerning the rifting mechanisms as the Malta Escarpment could represent a remnant of this opening. This subduction retreats toward the south‐east (motion occurring since the last 35 Ma) but is confined to the narrow Ionian basin. A major lateral slab tear fault is required to accommodate the slab roll‐back. This fault is thought to propagate along the eastern Sicily margin but its precise location remains controversial. This study focuses on the deep crustal structure of the eastern Sicily margin and the Malta Escarpment. We present two two‐dimensional P wave velocity models obtained from forward modeling of wide‐angle seismic data acquired onboard the R/V Meteor during the DIONYSUS cruise in 2014. The results image an oceanic crust within the Ionian basin as well as the deep structure of the Malta Escarpment, which presents characteristics of a transform margin. A deep and asymmetrical sedimentary basin is imaged south of the Messina strait and seems to have opened between the Calabrian and Peloritan continental terranes. The interpretation of the velocity models suggests that the tear fault is located east of the Malta Escarpment, along the Alfeo fault system.
Fault localization using a model checker

If a program does not fulfill its specification, a model checker can deliver a counterexample. However, although such a counterexample shows how the specification can be violated, it typically comprises large parts of the program and gives little information about which of the visited statements is responsible for the error. In this article, we show that model checkers can also be used to perform model-based diagnosis and thus fault localization. The approach leads to significantly more precise diagnoses than the state-of-the-art and typically rules out 90–99p of the code as possible fault locations. The approach is general and can be applied to any system that is amenable to model checking (with respect to language and complexity). To demonstrate the applicability and high precision of our approach, we present implementations for C programs using two different model checking tools and show experimental results from the TCAS case study and an integration with the DDVerify framework to debug Linux device drivers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Standard formal verification methods provide the developer with an example trace if the specification can be violated, but give little information on the location of the fault. This article improves current state of the art by using model checkers for more precise diagnosis of fault locations. Implementations for C programs demonstrate the applicability to case studies and Linux device drivers and rule out 90–99p of the code as possible fault locations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Downlink capacity of interference-limited MIMO systems with joint detection

The capacity of downlink cellular multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where co-channel interference is the dominant channel impairment, is investigated in this paper, mainly from a signal-processing perspective. Turbo space-time multiuser detection (ST MUD) is employed for intracell communications and is shown to closely approach the ultimate capacity limits in Gaussian ambient noise for an isolated cell. Then, it is combined with various multiuser detection methods for combating intercell interference. Among various multiuser detection techniques examined, linear minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE) MUD and successive interference cancellation are shown to be feasible and effective. Based on these two multiuser detection schemes, one of which may outperform the other for different settings, an adaptive detection scheme is developed, which together with a Turbo ST MUD structure offers substantial performance gain over the well-known V-BLAST techniques with coding in this interference-limited cellular environment. The obtained multiuser capacity is excellent in the high to medium signal-to-interference ratio scenario. Nonetheless, numerical results also indicate that a further increase in system complexity, using base-station cooperation, could lead to further significant increases of the system capacity. The asymptotic multicell MIMO capacity with linear MMSE MUD preprocessing is also derived, and this analysis agrees well with the simulation results.
THE PARTIAL PRO-DROP NATURE AND THE RESTRICTED VS ORDER IN BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE

However, the correlation between NS and free invers ion has been challenged by Safir (1982), who found out that Northern Italian d ialects, while disallowing the former, license the latter. Brazilian Portuguese ( BP), on the other hand, has been exhibiting a change in progress in both properties, a fact that can be used in favor of a single parameter (cf. Tarallo & Kato 1989; Duarte 1993; Roberts 1993b). Curiously, though Duarte’s (1993, 1995) studies sho w a significant decrease in the use of null subjects , they show that the change affected mainly the fir st and second persons, leaving a still reasonably stable use of n ull subjects for the third person. Andrade Berlinck’s (1988, 1995) studies show, on th e other hand, that free inversion is being lost, but that VS is still productive with t e copula and with unaccusative verbs.
C R ] 1 7 M ay 2 01 8 A Survey of Intrusion Detection Systems Leveraging Host Data

This survey focuses on intrusion detection systems (IDS) that leverage host-based data sources for detecting attacks on enterprise network. The host-based IDS (HIDS) literature is organized by the input data source, presenting targeted sub-surveys of HIDS research leveraging system logs, audit data, Windows Registry, file systems, and program analysis. While system calls are generally included in audit data, several publicly available system call datasets have spawned a flurry of IDS research on this topic, which merits a separate section. Similarly, a section surveying algorithmic developments that are applicable to HIDS but tested on network data sets is included, as this is a large and growing area of applicable literature. To accommodate current researchers, a supplementary section giving descriptions of publicly available datasets is included, outlining their characteristics and shortcomings when used for IDS evaluation. Related surveys are organized and described. All sections are accompanied by tables concisely organizing the literature and datasets discussed. Finally, challenges, trends, and broader observations are throughout the survey and in the conclusion along with future directions of IDS research. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).
Aggregation Bias in Sponsored Search Data: The Curse and The Cure

There has been significant recent interest in studying consumer behavior in sponsored search advertising (SSA). Researchers have typically used daily data from search engines containing measures such as average bid, average ad position, total impressions, clicks and cost for each keyword in the advertiser's campaign. A variety of random utility models have been estimated using such data and the results have helped researchers explore the factors that drive consumer click and conversion propensities. However, virtually every analysis of this kind has ignored the intra-day variation in ad position. We show that estimating random utility models on aggregated (daily) data without accounting for this variation will lead to systematically biased estimates -- specifically, the impact of ad position on click-through rate (CTR) is attenuated and the predicted CTR is higher than the actual CTR. We demonstrate the existence of the bias analytically and show the effect of the bias on the equilibrium of the SSA auction. Using a large dataset from a major search engine, we measure the magnitude of bias and quantify the losses suffered by the search engine and an advertiser using aggregate data. The search engine revenue loss can be as high as 11% due to aggregation bias. We also present a few data summarization techniques that can be used by search engines to reduce or eliminate the bias.
Spectral analysis and modeling of microcyclostratigraphy in late Paleozoic glaciogenic rhythmites, Paraná Basin, Brazil

We investigate the depositional time scale of lithological couplets (fine sandstone/siltstone–siltstone/mudstone) from two distinctive outcrops of Permo‐Carboniferous glacial rhythmites in the Itararé Group (Paraná Basin, Brazil). Resolving the fundamental issue of time scale for these rhythmites is important in light of recent evidence for paleosecular variation measured in these sequences. Spectral analysis and tuning of high‐resolution gray scale scans of sediment core microstratigraphy, which comprises pervasive laminations, reveal a comparable spectral content at both localities, with a frequency suite interpreted as that of short‐term climate variability of Recent and modern times. This evidence for decadal‐ to centennial‐scale deposition of these lithological couplets is discussed in light of the ‘varvic’ character, i.e., annual time scale that was previously assumed for the rhythmites.