Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Co-evolutionary-based active contour models in tracking of moving obstacles

A new symbiotic genetic algorithm (SGA)-based active contour model (Snake) is proposed to track the B-spline contour of obstacles. It exploits the local control properties of the B-spline to decompose the contour into subcontours and optimizes each subcontour in separate genetic algorithms (GA). Unlike GA-based Snake, a SGASnake can track the obstacles outline more robustly. Application-specific inter-population genetic operators are introduced to reinforce the symbiotic relationship via migration of genetic material. The use of symbiosis dramatically reduces the combinatorics of the search space, when compared to GA. Results of tracking objects in real road scenarios demonstrate its robustness to noise and stability of convergence when compared to its GA counterpart.
A Systematic Literature Review on the Integration of Internet Memes in EFL/ESL Classrooms

As memes have become ubiquitous and embedded in the Internet and popular culture, a growing body of literature has investigated incorporating digital humor in the form of Internet memes as a new approach to increase learners’ motivation and engagement. This paper conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to examine the impact of humor and meme-related pedagogical activities on language learning and to provide guidelines for incorporating meme-based learning in language classrooms. It seeks to address the following question: What is the effect of meme-related pedagogical activities in EFL/ESL classrooms? The revealed findings should encourage instructors to adopt this innovative approach to meet the needs and expectations of today’s language learners. The results show that using meme-based learning in language classrooms increases learners’ motivation and interest in the topic; creates a positive, fun, interesting, and engaging learning environment; enhances retention and understanding of new concepts; and simplifies complex concepts and ideas. In light of the review’s findings, the paper suggests practical and instructional implications for implementing memes appropriately and effectively.
A Comparison of Methods for Treating Incomplete Data in Selection Research

Data were simulated to conform to covariance patterns taken from the personnel selection literature. Two, six, and ten percent of the values were deleted from one of three predictor variables in sample sizes of 50, 100 and 200. Incomplete data matrices were treated by four methods: (a) elimination of cases with incomplete data records; (b) substitution of missing values with the variable mean; (c) replacement of missing values with an estimate obtained from simple regression; and (d) replacement of missing values with an estimate derived from iterated multiple regression. The treated data matrices were subjected to multiple regression analyses, and the resulting regression equations were compared to the equations obtained from the original, complete data. The two regression based estimation procedures provided the most accurate regression equations, followed by the method of inserting means. Discarding cases with incomplete records was the least accurate method. Although the results supported the practice of using covariate information to estimate missing data, the increases in accuracy were minimal under the conditions investigated.
Source bearing determination from a tri-axial seismometer using Rayleigh wave propagation

Bearing determinations for ground vehicles have been made, using a single buried three-axis seismometer. The method, based on Rayleigh wave detection, exploits the phase difference between measured wave components to obtain vehicle bearing estimates. It is referred to as a Rayleigh wave retention method and uses both prograde and retrograde motion. Determination of the propagation direction is based upon analysis of maximum correlation values obtained by cross-correlating the vertical wave components with horizontal beam components. Theoretical simulations demonstrate the technique. Methods for obtaining direction of travel and vehicle speed estimates are also discussed. Applications of the method to real data obtained from several vehicles at different test sites are presented.
Uniform stochastic ordering and related inequalities

Stochastic order between univariate random variates may be called uniform when such order persists under conditioning to a broad family of intervals. The ordering is local when it holds for any finite interval (a, b), however small. Local order in multivariate settings has been described by Whitt (1980, 1981), by Karlin and Rinott (1980), and by others. The prevalence of uniform and local order in a variety of simple stochastic-process settings is displayed, and inequalities arising from such orderings developed. Une relation ordre stochastique sur l'ensemble des variables aleatoires a une dimension est dite uniforme lorsqu'elle demeure valide apres qu'on ait conditionne sur une grande famille d'intervalles. On dit par ailleurs que la relation dordre est locale si elle vaut pour n'importe quel petit intervalle (a, b) fini. La notion 'ordre local a ete introduite dans differents contextes multidirnensionnels par Whitt (1980, 1981), Karlin & Rinott (1980), entre autres. Dam le present travail, on montre qu'une relation d'ordre uniforme et locale prevaut sur une classe de processus stochastiques simples, et on prouve certaines inegalites qui en decoulent.
The concept of RO in epidemic theory

In epidemiology R0 denotes the average number of secondary cases of an infectious disease that one case would generate in a completely susceptible population. This concept is among the foremost and most valuable ideas that mathematical thinking has brought to epidemic theory. In this contribution, we first review the historical development of Ro, from demography to epidemiology, proceed to give an exposition of the recently formalised theory to define and calculate R0 for structured populations, return to the interaction of demography and epidemiology for an example of the use of the concept to study vaccination campaigns and finally we deal with statistical aspects of estimating R0. In the appendix we discuss some issues of current attention.
Convergence of Sample Paths of Normalized Sums of Induced Order Statistics

The main result in this paper concerns the limiting behavior of normalized cumulative sums of induced order statistics obtained from n independent two-dimensional random vectors, as n increases indefinitely. By means of a Skorokhod-type embedding of these cumulative sums on Brownian Motion paths, it is shown that under certain conditions the sample paths of these normalized sums converge in a certain sense to a process obtained from the Brownian Motion by a transformation of the time-axis. This yields an invariance principle similar to Donsker's. In particular, the asymptotic distribution of the supremum of the absolute values of these normalized cumulative sums is obtained from a well-known result for the Brownian Motion. Large sample tests of a specified regression function are obtained from these results.
An analysis of curvature effects for the control of wall-bounded shear flows

The Reynolds stress transport equations are used to predict the effects of simultaneous and sequential combinations of distortions on turbulent boundary layers. The equations are written in general orthogonal curvilinear coordinates, with the curvature terms expressed in terms of the principal radii of curvature of the respective coordinate surfaces. Results are obtained for the cases of two-dimensional and three-dimensional flows in the limit where production and pressure-strain redistribution dominate over diffusion effects.
Linear Logistic Latent Class Analysis for Polytomous Data

Abstract For latent class analysis, a widely known statistical method for the unmixing of an observed frequency table into several unobservable ones, a flexible model is presented in order to restrain the unknown class sizes (mixing weights) and the unknown latent response probabilities. Two systems of basic equations are stated such that they simultaneously allow parameter fixations, the equality of certain parameters as well as linear logistic constraints of each of the original parameters. The maximum likelihood equations for the parameters of this “linear logistic latent class analysis” are given, and their estimation by means of the EM algorithm is described. Further, the criteria for their local identifiability and statistical tests (Pearson- and likelihood-ratio-χ 2) for goodness of fit are outlined. The practical applicability of linear logistic latent class analysis is demonstrated by three examples: mixed logistic regression, a mixed Bradley-Terry model for paired comparisons with ties, and a lo.
Surface Drag Instabilities in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Abstract Jefferys' analysis of wavelike instabilities observed in turbulent water running down an incline is extended to wavelike instabilities in the wind over level ground. In the lowest part of the atmosphere the wind experiences an aerodynamic surface drag that balances part of the horizontal pressure gradient, and this balance is shown to be unstable against wave-associated modulation of the drag, the mechanism presented by Jeffreys. Model computations for the statistically stable atmospheric boundary layer evaluate this instability for several classes of ducted waves. Linearized theory predicts very small growth rates for the Fundamental modes (those with the simplest vertical structure) and much larger growth rates for the higher modes. The drag mechanism allows synoptic conditions to maintain turbulence in the stably gratified boundary layer waves grow until overturning cascades energy into the small-scale turbulence, and in this way the waves process available potential energy from the larger sca.
Application of GDQ Method for Study of Mixed Convection in Horizontal Eccentric Annuli

A generalized differential-integral quadrature (GDQ) discretization technique was used to solve a mixed heat convection problem in a body-fit coordinate system in its primitive variables form. A special treatment of the boundary condition to satisfy the continuity and momentum equations along the boundaries with the implementation of the GDQ method was investigated. Comparisons with the experimental and numerical results of other investigators are presented and discussed. In contrast with the existing published results, this highly accurate method was able to reveal extremely weak net circulation around the outer cylinder. In the horizontal annulus with the mixed heat convection problem the combination of unbalance of buoyancy and centrifugal forces causes net circulation. The net circulation decreases and approaches to zero with the rise of Rayleigh number, and it reaches its minimum value with high eccentricity when the inclination angle of eccentricity is π.
Effect of patellar denervation by circumpatellar electrocautery on clinical outcomes of patients with total knee arthroplasty

running title: Patellar denervation in knee arthroplasty

Objective: Anterior knee pain may lead to worse outcomes after total knee arthroplasty. The effect of patellar denervation (PD) by electrocautery on postoperative pain and function in patellar nonresurfacing TKA were assessed in this study. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients with a minimum of 24 months follow-up who were operated for TKA between January 2014 and January 2018. Patellar Denervation (PD) group; patients who underwent circumpatellar electrocautery around the patella, and Control (C) group; who did not underwent. Patient demographics, preoperative patellofemoral osteoarthritis grades, Knee Society System (KSS) scores, Feller patella score (PS), Short Form-36 (SF-36) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores at preoperative, postoperative 3. Month and last follow-up examination were noted. Results: There was no difference between groups in terms of gender distribution and age (P > 0.05). At 3rd postoperative month, KSS-Knee was significantly higher and VAS score was significantly lower in the PD patients compared to C group (p=0.026, p=0.023 respectively). At the final follow-up, KSS-Function and PS scores were significantly higher (p=0.031, 0.012 respectively). Some of the QoL scores were better at late follow-up in PD group. However, there was no statistical difference between these two groups in other follow-up examinations (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Circumpatellar electrocautery denervation can be advantageous in reducing early postoperative knee pain. Clinical, functional and some of the QoL scores were better in the midterm postoperative period of patients with gonarthrosis treated by TKA with PD.
Combining Independent Tests of Significance

Abstract * Work sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. It is shown that no single method of combining independent tests of significance is optimal in general, and hence that the kinds of tests to be combined should be considered in selecting a method of combination. A number of proposed methods of combination are applied to a particular common testing problem. It is shown that for such problems Fisher's method and a method proposed by Tippett have an optimal property.
A high-quality x-ray scattering experiment on liquid water at ambient conditions

We report a new, high-quality x-ray scattering experiment on pure ambient water using a synchrotron beam line at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Several factors contribute to the improved quality of our intensity curves including use of a highly monochromatic source, a well-characterized polarization correction, a Compton scattering correction that includes electron correlation, and more accurate intensities using a modern charge coupled device (CCD) detector. We provide a comprehensive description of the data processing that we have used for correcting systematic errors, and we provide an estimate of our remaining random errors. The resulting error estimates of our data are smaller then the discrepancies between data sets collected in past x-ray experiments. We find that the older x-ray curves support a family of gOO(r)’s that exhibit a smaller first peak (∼2.2), while the current data is better fit with a family of gOO(r)’s with a first peak height of 2.8, and systema.
AN ANALYTICAL MODEL OF INTERSTELLAR GAS IN THE HELIOSPHERE TAILORED TO INTERSTELLAR BOUNDARY EXPLORER OBSERVATIONS

The stationary distribution of interstellar neutral gas in the heliosphere subject to solar gravity, solar radiation pressure, photoionization, and charge exchange is investigated analytically assuming ionization rates and radiation pressure that are proportional to R−2, where R is the heliocentric radius. The collisionless hyperbolic trajectories of the individual atoms including ionization losses are combined with Liouville's Theorem to construct the heliospheric phase-space distribution function of an interstellar gas species in the solar reference frame under the assumption that the distribution is a drifting Maxwellian at large distances from the Sun. The distribution is transformed to the Earth (essentially Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)) frame as a function of solar longitude. The expression is then tailored to the latitudinal scan of IBEX as a function of longitude using the fact that IBEX detects each atom close to perihelion in its hyperbolic orbit. The distribution is further adapted to IBEX by integrating the differential intensity over the entrance aperture solid angle of the IBEX-Lo collimator, and over energy to predict the IBEX count rate of helium. The major features of the predicted count rate are described, including a peak in longitude, a peak in latitude at each longitude, and the widths of the major peak in both latitude and longitude. Analytical formulae for these features are derived for comparison with IBEX observations in order to determine the temperature and bulk velocity of the gas in interstellar space. Based in part on these formulae, the results for helium are presented in the companion paper by Möbius et al.
The Dynamic response of bilinear hysteretic systems

A study is made of the dynamic response of one and two degree of freedom systems having a bilinear hysteretic restoring force. In the case of the one degree of freedom system exact steady state solutions are obtained for both square wave and trigonometric excitation. It is thereby shown that the system exhibits a soft type resonance and that there exists a critical level of excitation above which the system displays unbounded resonance. An approximate steady state theory for the one degree of freedom system is investigated and on the basis of this theory it is found that the system is stable and possesses a single locus of vertical tangency. The results of the exact and approximate steady state theories are supplemented by electric analog studies of both the harmonic and ultraharmonic response. The response of the one degree of freedom system to transient excitation of finite duration is also examined and it is noted that certain rather general conclusions may be made about the final state of the system without reference to the specific time history of the excitation. A first order approximate theory for the steady state response of the two degree of freedom system is formulated and it is shown that there are two critical levels of excitation for unbounded resonance. The existence of loci of vertical tangency is demonstrated and the stability problem is treated in limiting cases. Direct numerical integration of the equations of motion is carried out for a number of specific cases as a check of the approximate theory.
Low-cost/high-efficiency lasers for medical applications in the 14XX-nm regime

Laser therapy is becoming an increasingly popular method of treating numerous dermatological conditions. The widespread use of these devices is often limited by the cost and size. Low cost, portable lasers would expand the laser market further into homes, general practitioners, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and 3rd world countries. There are numerous light devices currently on the market for hair removal and growth, acne reduction, and wrinkles. These devices are varied, from LEDs to intense pulsed light (IPL) to lasers. One particular disease is leishmaniasis, caused by a parasite carried by sand flies, most often occurring in third world countries. While there are drug therapies available, they sometimes require hospitalization for several days and are very expensive. An RF device has been FDA approved for treatment of leishmaniasis, but costs about $20,000 which is too expensive for widespread use. Since the method is heating the lesion, the same affect could be achieved using an infrared laser. Diode lasers have the capability to be produced in mass quantity for low costs, as shown by the ubiquity of diode lasers in the telecom industry and household appliances. Unfortunately, many diode lasers suffer from poor efficiency, particularly in wavelengths for dermatology. Advances are being made to improve wall plug efficiency of lasers to reduce waste heat and increase output power. In this paper, those efforts being made to develop manufacturing partners to lower the cost while increasing the production volume of long wavelength lasers will be discussed along with performance data and clinical results.
Influence of solar activity on the lower atmosphere state

[1] This paper briefly reviews modern ideas about plausible mechanisms of influence of solar activity on the lower atmosphere state and weather. The possible reasons for the disturbances in the lower atmosphere are as follows: (1) variations in solar irradiance, (2) changes in the global electric circuit parameters caused by variations in cosmic ray fluxes, (3) variations in the conditions of propagation and dissipation energy of planetary waves in the atmosphere, and (4) changes in the atmospheric transparency and cloudiness are considered. Specific features of development of individual (with duration of several days) disturbances in the lower atmosphere observed during Forbush decreases of galactic cosmic rays and solar proton events are discussed. It is concluded that at latitudes of 55◦ − 70◦ the disturbances considered are mainly due to variations in atmospheric transparency and cloudiness. Data on cyclic variations of the lower atmosphere state and their connection with variations in solar activity, atmospheric transparency, volcano eruptions, and other geophysical phenomena are analyzed. In conclusion, some unresolved problems of morphology of atmospheric disturbances are formulated.
Prepandemic and Pandemic Marriages among Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples

Most states experienced declines in marriages during the pandemic, with variation across states. Given that marriages to same-sex couples make up a small share of total marriages, these trends are overwhelmingly representative of marriages of different-sex couples. To test if the decline observed among marriages of different-sex couples is also observed among marriages of same-sex couples, the authors calculated ratios (2020 marriage count divided by 2019 marriage count) for 13 states, disaggregating marriages of same- and different-sex couples. The 13 states selected were the only states in which same-sex marriage administrative data were available. The results reveal disparate effects of the pandemic on marriage counts for same-sex and different-sex couples. For 11 of the states examined, marriages of same-sex couples either did not decline or declined less than marriages of different-sex couples. Further investigation is warranted as more state-level data on same-sex marriage become available.
On the arithmetic mean of Fourier-Stieltjes coefficients

Let {a,}? I= be the cosine Fourier-Stieltjes coefficients of the Borel measure ,u and {a,, (al1+ ? *+anj0? ={(Ta),,j0= be the sequence of their arithmetic means. Then = (TaX COS nx is a Fourier-Stieltjes series. Moreover, (a) "Sn? 0 (Ta)n cos nx is a Fourier series if and only if (Ta). -O at infinity or, equivalently, the measure ,u is continuous at the origin, (b) ? n? =1 (Ta)n sin nx is a Fourier series if and only if the function x-a,u([O, x)) is in L1 [0, 7]. These results form the best possible analogue of a theorem of G. Goes, concerning arithmetic means of Fourier-Stieltjes sine coefficients, and improve considerably the theorems of L. Fejer and N. Wiener on the inversion and quadratic variation of FourierStieltjes coefficients.