Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trust and the communication of flood risks: comparing the roles of local governments, volunteers in emergency services, and neighbours

Risk information need to be communicated by trusted groups, in order to promote attitude and behaviour change. We compare different levels of trust in local governments, volunteers in emergency and relief services, and neighbours, and how trust in these groups shapes citizens’ perceptions and actions relating to flood risks. Structural equation modelling is applied to a sample of 2007 flood‐prone households in Austria. A series of cognitive and behavioural responses to flood risks is regressed on trust shown to the three groups. Our findings show that citizens show great trust and attribute high competence to volunteers, which increases risk perception and reduces denial and wishful thinking. Trust in local government downplays risks, makes citizens rely on external help, and promotes fatalism and wishful thinking. Trust in neighbours increases reliance on social support and reinforces wishful thinking. These trust effects reflect the roles and risk narratives of the respective groups. To stimulate specific actions of citizens in flood risk management, the group which addresses the desired actions within its narrative should act as risk communicator. Risk communication could be introduced as a complementary activity in voluntary emergency and relief services, wherein older, retired volunteers seem particularly qualified as risk communicators.
- 1-IDENTIFICATION OF IDURONATE-2-SULFATASE ( IDS ) IN MOUSE PANCREATIC ISLETS

Institution of origin: Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Laboratory of Experimental Diabetes, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain. Institute of Diabetes, Fundació Sardà Farriol, Barcelona, Spain. Diabetes Research Laboratories, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
A Logic of Semantic Representations for Shallow Parsing

One way to construct semantic representations in a robust manner is to enhance shallow language processors with semantic components. Here, we provide a model theory for a semantic formalism that is designed for this, namely Robust Minimal Recursion Semantics (rmrs). We show that rmrs supports a notion of entailment that allows it to form the basis for comparing the semantic output of different parses of varying depth.
Object oriented accountability approach in cloud for data sharing with patchy image encryption

Cloud computing presents a new approach for delivery model and consumption of different IT services based on internet. Highly scalable and virtualized resources are provided as a service on demand basis. Cloud computing provides flexibility for deploying applications at lower cost while increasing business agility. The main feature of using cloud services is that user's data are more often processed at remote machines which are unknown to user. As user do not own these remote machine used for speed up data processing or operate them in cloud, users can lose control of own confidential data. Despite of all of advantages of cloud this remains a challenge and acts as a barrier to the large scale adoption of cloud. To address above problem in this paper we present object oriented approach that performs automated logging mechanism to ensure any access to user's data will trigger authentication with use of decentralized information accountability framework called as CIA (Cloud Information Accountability) [1]. We use the JAR (JAVA Archive File) programmable capabilities to create dynamic travelling object containing user's data. To strengthen the distributed data security we use the chaos image encryption technique specific to image files. Chaos is patchy image encryption technique based on pixel shuffling. Randomness of the chaos is made utilized to scramble the position of the pixel of image.
Touch Based Perception for Object Manipulation

Humans are capable of manipulating objects solely based on the sense of touch. To study this capability in robots, we focus on touch based object localization. At each stage of exploration our goal is to estimate a Bayesian posterior based on measurements obtained thus far. The state space for object localization is six dimensional: three parameters for position and three for orientation of the object. When initial uncertainty is high (0.5m and 360 degrees), precise estimation of the posterior is computationally expensive. We propose an efficient technique that estimates the posterior in real time. The approach termed Scaling Series is based on importance sampling. It performs the estimation using a series of successive refinements, gradually scaling the precision from low to high. Our approach can be applied to a wide range of manipulation tasks. We demonstrate its portability on two applications: (1) picking up a box and (2) operating a door handle.
A Distributed Key Management Framework with Cooperative Message Authentication in VANETs

In this paper, we propose a distributed key management framework based on group signature to provision privacy in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Distributed key management is expected to facilitate the revocation of malicious vehicles, maintenance of the system, and heterogeneous security policies, compared with the centralized key management assumed by the existing group signature schemes. In our framework, each road side unit (RSU) acts as the key distributor for the group, where a new issue incurred is that the semi-trust RSUs may be compromised. Thus, we develop security protocols for the scheme which are able to detect compromised RSUs and their colluding malicious vehicles. Moreover, we address the issue of large computation overhead due to the group signature implementation. A practical cooperative message authentication protocol is thus proposed to alleviate the verification burden, where each vehicle just needs to verify a small amount of messages. Details of possible attacks and the corresponding solutions are discussed. We further develop a medium access control (MAC) layer analytical model and carry out NS2 simulations to examine the key distribution delay and missed detection ratio of malicious messages, with the proposed key management framework being implemented over 802.11 based VANETs.
Cloning and sequence analysis of blaBIL-1, a plasmid-mediated class C beta-lactamase gene in Escherichia coli BS

The extended-spectrum, plasmid-borne beta-lactamase gene blaBIL-1, which was discovered in Escherichia coli, has been cloned. Unusually for a plasmid-borne beta-lactamase, blaBIL-1 encodes a novel class C enzyme and appears to have originated from the chromosomal ampC gene of Citrobacter freundii.
Real-time generation of L-system scene models for rendering and interaction

We present a framework for generating procedural geometry described by a context-free, parametric L-system completely on the GPU in real-time. These formal grammars allow us to easily describe various types of complex objects, such as vegetation or buildings, in a great diversity. We can create large and complex parts of the scene on-the-fly, which enables us to create a potentially infinite world of such objects. To make modeling easier, we show how the grammar description can be transformed automatically to a shader code that evaluates the L-system on the GPU. Additionally, to allow interaction with the procedural geometry, we propose an algorithm to efficiently perform discrete collision detection with the procedural scene for a large number of objects.
Adequacy of the Gradient-Descent Method for Classifier Evasion Attacks

Despite the wide use of machine learning in adversarial settings including computer security, recent studies have demonstrated vulnerabilities to evasion attacks---carefully crafted adversarial samples that closely resemble legitimate instances, but cause misclassification. In this paper, we examine the adequacy of the leading approach to generating adversarial samples---the gradient descent approach. In particular (1) we perform extensive experiments on three datasets, MNIST, USPS and Spambase, in order to analyse the effectiveness of the gradient-descent method against non-linear support vector machines, and conclude that carefully reduced kernel smoothness can significantly increase robustness to the attack; (2) we demonstrate that separated inter-class support vectors lead to more secure models, and propose a quantity similar to margin that can efficiently predict potential susceptibility to gradient-descent attacks, before the attack is launched; and (3) we design a new adversarial sample construction algorithm based on optimising the multiplicative ratio of class decision functions.
Blizzard 2008: Experiments on Unit Size for Unit Selection Speech Synthesis

This paper describes the techniques and approaches developed at IIIT Hyderabad for building synthetic voices in Blizzard 2008 speech synthesis challenge. We have submitted three different voices: English full voice, English ARCTIC voice and Mandarin voice. Our system is identied as D. In building the three voices, our approach has been to experiment and exploit syllable-like large units for concatenative synthesis. Inspite of large database supplied in Blizzard 2008, we nd that a backoff strategy is essential in using syllable-like units. In this paper, we propose a novel technique of approximate matching of the syllables as back-off technique for building voices. Index Terms: speech synthesis, unit size, tonal unit, prominence
PARNEU : Scalable Multiprocessor System for Soft Computing Applications

Many soft computing applications have inherent parallelism in the form of synapses and neurons. Exploitation of parallelism will bring computers more close to their biological counterparts as well as improve the performance. Modularity and good communication capabilities are essential for practical implementations. Our multiprocessor system called PARNEU is designed according to general requirements found in artificial neural networks. PARNEU is a parallel co-processor system, which includes a bus, ring and reconfigurable partial tree communication networks. Programming is done using C-language primitives, which hide the communication topology. PARNEU is directly connected to the host computer, which includes a TCP/IP server for remote programming over Internet connection. Scalability of communication topology and artificial neural network applications, like Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Sparse Distributed Memory (SDM) are shown. Parallel efficiency with eight boards configuration is generally more than 75%.
A new efficient gene disruption cassette for repeated use in budding yeast

The dominant kanr marker gene plays an important role in gene disruption experiments in budding yeast, as this marker can be used in a variety of yeast strains lacking the conventional yeast markers. We have developed a loxP-kanMX-loxP gene disruption cassette, which combines the advantages of the heterologous kanr marker with those from the Cre-lox P recombination system. This disruption cassette integrates with high efficiency via homologous integration at the correct genomic locus (routinely 70%). Upon expression of the Cre recombinase the kanMX module is excised by an efficient recombination between the loxP sites, leaving behind a single loxP site at the chromosomal locus. This system allows repeated use of the kanr marker gene and will be of great advantage for the functional analysis of gene families.
Damage initiation, progression and failure of polymer matrix composites due to manufacturing induced defects

Damage Initiation, Progression and Failure of Polymer Matrix Composites due to Manufacturing Induced Defects. (May 2007) Khairul Alam Chowdhury, B.S., BUET (Bangladesh); M.S., The University of Alabama Co–Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Ramesh Talreja Dr. Amine Benzerga In polymer matrix composites (PMCs) manufacturing processes can induce defects, e.g., voids, fiber misalignment, irregular fiber distribution in the cross-section and broken fibers. The effects of such defects can be beneficial or deleterious depending on whether they cause failure suppression or enhancement by localized deformation processes e.g., crazing, shear yielding and fiber-matrix debonding. In this study, a computational approach is formulated and implemented to develop solutions for general boundary-value problems for PMC microstructures that accounts for micromechanics-based constitutive relations including fine scale mechanisms of material failure. The defects considered are voids, and the microstructure is explicitly represented by a distribution of fibers and voids embedded in a polymer matrix. Fiber is modeled as a linearly elastic material while the polymer matrix is modeled as an elastic-viscoplastic material. Two distinct models for the matrix behavior are implemented: (i) Drucker–Prager type Bodner model that accounts for rate and pressure-sensitivity, and (ii) improved macromolecular constitutive model that also accounts for temperature dependence, small-strain softening and large-strain hardening. Damage is simulated by the Gearing-Anand craze model as a reference model
Improving access to high-quality primary care for socioeconomically disadvantaged older people in rural areas: a mixed method study protocol

Introduction The UK has an ageing population, especially in rural areas, where deprivation is high among older people. Previous research has identified this group as at high risk of poor access to healthcare. The aim of this study is to generate a theory of how socioeconomically disadvantaged older people from rural areas access primary care, to develop an intervention based on this theory and test it in a feasibility trial. Methods and analysis On the basis of the MRC Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions, three methods will be used to generate the theory. First, a realist review will elucidate the patient pathway based on existing literature. Second, an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing will be completed using structural equation modelling. Third, 15 semistructured interviews will be undertaken with patients and four focus groups with health professionals. A triangulation protocol will be used to allow each of these methods to inform and be informed by each other, and to integrate data into one overall realist theory. Based on this theory, an intervention will be developed in discussion with stakeholders to ensure that the intervention is feasible and practical. The intervention will be tested within a feasibility trial, the design of which will depend on the intervention. Lessons from the feasibility trial will be used to refine the intervention and gather the information needed for a definitive trial. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval from the regional ethics committee has been granted for the focus groups with health professionals and interviews with patients. Ethics approval will be sought for the feasibility trial after the intervention has been designed. Findings will be disseminated to the key stakeholders involved in intervention development, to researchers, clinicians and health planners through peer-reviewed journal articles and conference publications, and locally through a dissemination event.
A Method for Query Expansion Using the Related Word Extraction Algorithm

When searching for information a user wants, search engines often return lots of results unintended by the user. Query expansion is a promising approach to solve this problem. In the query expansion research, one of big issues is to generate appropriate keywords representing the user's intention. This paper proposes the related word extraction algorithm (RWEA) which pays attention to the distance between sentences where keywords in the original query appear. The RWEA is based on the idea that a word nearby important words is also important. We conducted several experiments to evaluate the RWEA. The results promise the effectiveness of the RWEA for improving search results.
Benchmarking Harp-DAAL: High Performance Hadoop on KNL Clusters

Data analytics is undergoing a revolution in many scientific domains, and demands cost-effective parallel data analysis techniques. Traditional Java-based Big Data processing tools like Hadoop MapReduce are designed for commodity CPUs. In contrast, emerging manycore processors like the Xeon Phi have an order of magnitude greater computation power and memory bandwidth. To harness their computing capabilities, we propose the Harp-DAAL framework. We show that enhanced versions of MapReduce can be replaced by Harp, a Hadoop plug-in, that offers useful data abstractions for both high-performance iterative computation and MPI-quality communication, as well as drive Intel's native DAAL library. We select a subset of three machine learning algorithms and implement them within Harp-DAAL. Our scalability benchmarks ran on Knights Landing (KNL) clusters and achieved up to 2.5 times speedup of performance over the HPC solution in NOMAD and 15 to 40 times speedup over Java-based solutions in Spark. We further quantify the workloads on single node KNL with a performance breakdown at the micro-architecture level.
Weighted Guided Image Filtering – A Survey

It is well-known that local filtering-based edge preserving smoothing method suffers from halo artifacts. In this paper, a weighted guided image filter is introduced by incorporating an edge-aware weighting into an accessible guided image filter to address the problem. The WGIF inherit benefits of both global and local smoothing filters in the sense that: 1) the difficulty of the WGIF is O(N) for an image with N pixels, which is same as the GIF and 2) the WGIF can avoid halo artifact like the existing global smoothing filters. The WGIF is applied for single image detail enhancement, single image mist removal, and fusion of differently exposed images. Investigational results show that the resultant algorithms create images with better visual quality and at the same time halo artifacts can be avoided from appearing in the final images with negligible rise on running times.
A note on the complexity of reliability in neural networks

It is shown that in a standard discrete neural network model with small fan-in, tolerance to random malicious faults can be achieved with a log-linear increase in the number of neurons and a constant factor increase in parallel time, provided fan-in can increase arbitrarily. A similar result is obtained for a nonstandard but closely related model with no restriction on fan-in.
Millimeter-Wave Network Architectures for Future High-Speed Railway Communications: Challenges and Solutions

The shortage and congestion of lower spectra motivate the exploration of the broadband and underutilized mmWave to be used in future public mobile communications, and subsequently future HSR mobile communications, which has the potential to provide multi-gigabit rate radio access for train passengers. However, due to the inferior propagation characteristics of mmWave and particularity of HSR scenarios, there are many design challenges ahead. In this article, we tackle those challenges by developing technical solutions for mmWave broadband HSR systems. We first propose feasible multiple access techniques and frame structures based on OFDM and SC communications, respectively. We then present promising train–trackside network architectures based on different MIMO techniques, including BF and SM, which have been viewed as the key enabling technologies to realize mmWave communications in outdoor environments. Moreover, we discuss the inherent defects of each architecture and offer the corresponding solutions or recommendations. Finally, we conduct performance evaluation, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed architectures. We hope this article will stimulate further research on the innovative use of mmWave in high-speed rail systems.
Rebuilding the tower of Babel: a revised nomenclature for the study of suicide and suicidal behaviors. Part 2: Suicide-related ideations, communications, and behaviors.

A revised and refined version of the O'Carroll et al. (1996) nomenclature for suicidology is presented, with a focus on suicide-related ideations, communications, and behaviors. The hope is that this refinement will result in the development of operational definitions and field testing of this nomenclature in clinical and research settings. This revision would not have been possible without the international collaboration and dialogue addressing the nomenclature of suicidology since the O'Carroll et al. nomenclature appeared in 1996. Although it is doubtful that we will ever be able to construct universally unambiguous criteria to comprehensively characterize suicidal behaviors (and, overall, firmly establish the intention behind them), for scientific clarity it would be highly desirable that the set of definitions and the associated terminology be explicit and generalizable. De Leo, Burgis, Bertolote, Kerkhof, & Bille-Brahe, 2006, p. 5)
Crustal and upper mantle structure of Botswana: is Botswana rifting?

We present the first nationwide crustal thickness and Vp/Vs maps for Botswana based on the analysis of new receiver functions of NARS-Botswana network integrated with previous receiver function results in Botswana. Using H-K analysis, we found crustal thickness values ranging from 34 km for the Okavango Rift Zone to 50 km at the border between the Magondi Belt and the Zimbabwe Craton. For stations with significant sediment cover, a sediment correction was applied based on sequential H-K stacking. We observed distinct differences for the Kaapvaal craton. The northwestern part has a high Vp/Vs ratio typical of a predominantly mafic composition, indicating the extension of the Bushveld mafic complex. On the other hand, the western part with a Vp/Vs of 1.67 is felsic, probably as a result of delamination caused by rifting processes. Further to the west, we found a crustal thickness of 42 km and a Vp/Vs ratio of 1.76 for the Nosop Basin. These values are similar to other cratonic regions in Botswana, suggesting the presence of a buried craton as proposed by previous studies. We confirm a relatively thin crust (∼ 34-39 km) and high Vp/Vs ratio (∼1.84) underneath the Okavango Rift Zone (ORZ) found by previous receiver function studies. Furthermore, we found a thin crust (37 km) and high Vp/Vs ratio (1.84) in central Botswana underneath the Passarge Basin. The location is close to the location of the 2017 large magnitude extensional Botswana earthquake, suggesting that the rift initiation process extends further south than commonly assumed.