Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volvo Single View of Vehicle: Building a Big Data Service from Scratch in the Automotive Industry

Big data analytics is a major trend affecting business today. Many organizations collect vast amounts of data simply to investigate if its market value can be identified. In this case study, we contribute a practical example of using the big data approach to create innovative services. We describe our work to identify and integrate data sources in order establish what data is available and who may benefit from it. We then show how we worked with users to communicate the vast possibilities created when many data sources are integrated, and participated in building a new big data service. Finally, we share a set of lessons we learned which can guide future big data inquiries. Our work was conducted in the context of the inspection, service, and sale of Volvo trucks, significantly aiding risk management for Volvo Used Trucks EMEA.
Enhancing Teachers' Beliefs and Practices Through Problem-Based Learning Focused on Pertinent Issues of Environmental Health Science

The authors examined teachers' beliefs and classroom practices during a 2-year professional development program that required middle-school teachers to develop, implement, and revise problem-based, interdisciplinary curricula focusing on locally relevant environmental health issues. The results of the study indicate that over the course of the program, teachers' self-efficacy, beliefs about the classroom learning environment, and reported use of reform-based classroom practices increased significantly. The results also indicate that teachers' beliefs about the likelihood of support from the school environment declined significantly, and their outcome expectancy beliefs did not change significantly. The authors offer related data showing the impact of the program on other teacher and student outcomes and advocate for the use of problem-based learning curricula that use local environmental health science issues as an integrative context.
Selecting Stars: The k Most Representative Skyline Operator

Skyline computation has many applications including multi-criteria decision making. In this paper, we study the problem of selecting k skyline points so that the number of points, which are dominated by at least one of these k skyline points, is maximized. We first present an efficient dynamic programming based exact algorithm in a 2d-space. Then, we show that the problem is NP-hard when the dimensionality is 3 or more and it can be approximately solved by a polynomial time algorithm with the guaranteed approximation ratio 1-1/e. To speed-up the computation, an efficient, scalable, index-based randomized algorithm is developed by applying the FM probabilistic counting technique. A comprehensive performance evaluation demonstrates that our randomized technique is very efficient, highly accurate, and scalable.
Association of different forms of bullying victimisation with adolescents’ psychological distress and reduced emotional wellbeing

Objective: The frequency and emotional response to bullying victimisation are known to be associated with adolescent mental ill health. A potentially important under-investigated factor is the form of bullying. Four common forms of bullying behaviours are name-calling, physical threats or harm, rumour spreading and social exclusion. To more comprehensively understand bullying victimisation in adolescence, we examined the association of all three factors (frequency, emotional response, form) to psychological distress and emotional wellbeing. Method: A stratified, random sample of adolescents (n = 10, 273; mean age = 14.33 years, standard deviation = 1.68 years) completed validated measures of bullying victimisation (Gatehouse Bullying Questionnaire), psychological distress (K10) and emotional wellbeing (Mental Health Inventory) in classroom time. Associations between the form of bullying victimisation and mental health outcomes were examined. Results: Adolescents reported a high prevalence of all four forms of bullying: teased or called names (30.6%), rumour spreading (17.9%), social exclusion (14.3%) and physical threats or harm (10.7%). Victimisation was independently associated with significantly higher levels of psychological distress and reduced levels of emotional wellbeing for all forms of bullying. In particular, social exclusion had a strong association with mental ill health. Adolescents who experienced frequent bullying that was upsetting reported higher psychological distress and reduced emotional wellbeing. Conclusion: Different forms of bullying victimisation were independently associated with psychological distress and reduced emotional wellbeing. In particular, frequent and upsetting social exclusion requires a targeted and measured response by school communities and health practitioners.
Managing conflicting issues: a decision‐making tool for technology adoption by VSEs

Decision making is a vital part of the adoption process of new technologies by VSEs; however, to date, little has been written on this subject. This paper outlines a number of approaches to decision making currently in the literature and argues that most of them are inappropriate to VSEs. A decision‐making tool most appropriate for VSEs in a technology adoption process is suggested. Sets of conflicting issues are conceptualised as a decision‐dilemma which have the ability to impede the adoption of new technology. Thus, the tool is designed to allow owners/managers of VSEs to manage these decision‐dilemmas at any time during the process of new technology adoption.
X-ray diffraction study of anisotropic state of residual stress after down-cut and up-cut face grinding

Differences between up-cut and down-cut grinding are usually not considered since both modes are alternating during conventional face grinding. Nevertheless, there is a pronounced distinction in the fashion of material removal which could lead to unequal states of surface residual stress. By means of X-ray diffraction analysis, ground plates made from three types of steel were investigated in order to compute and compare both macroscopic and microscopic residual stress and domains of coherent scattering. With respect to the main sources of residual stress generation, i.e., plastic and thermal deformation, machining process was carried out in two types of cooling environment. The results indicate significant influence of heat removal since differences between the two grinding modes are virtually nonexistent for liquid cooling, whereas dry grinding results in higher compressive normal residual stresses for down-cut mode in comparison to the up cut.
Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments Using BitTorrent and Bargaining

Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment (WAVE) technology such as IEEE 802.11pWireless Access in Vehicular Environment (WAVE) technology such as IEEE 802.11p has emerged as a state-of-the- art solution to vehicular communications. The major challenges in WAVE arise due to the fast changing communication environment and short durations of communications due to the mobility. As a result, it is difficult to transmit a large amount of data in such a network for vehicle-to-roadside and/or vehicle-to-vehicle communications. To overcome this problem, we propose a solution based on the idea of BitTorrent used for peer-to-peer networking, and the concept of bargaining game used in game theory. Similar to the distribution of data to peers in BitTorrent, the roadside units (RSUs) randomly distribute the data to the passing vehicles. Then, the on board units (OBUs) on the vehicles with different data, exchange the information among each other using bargaining considering channel adaptations and fairness in their achieved utility. We formulate two optimization problems - one for the RSUs and the other for the OBUs. For OBUs, the bargaining solutions are proposed which are based on three fairness criteria. For RSUs, depending on the traffic pattern, distribution of packets to the OBUs is optimized considering the different priority of the packets so that the overall utilities of the OBUs are maximized. Simulation results show that the proposed schemes can ensure fairness among the OBUs, and adapt to different traffic scenarios with different vehicular traffic intensity. has emerged as a state-of-the- art solution to vehicular communications. The major challenges in WAVE arise due to the fast changing communication environment and short durations of communications due to the mobility. As a result, it is difficult to transmit a large amount of data in such a network for vehicle-to-roadside and/or vehicle-to-vehicle communications. To overcome this problem, we propose a solution based on the idea of BitTorrent used for peer-to-peer networking, and the concept of bargaining game used in game theory. Similar to the distribution of data to peers in BitTorrent, the roadside units (RSUs) randomly distribute the data to the passing vehicles. Then, the on board units (OBUs) on the vehicles with different data, exchange the information among each other using bargaining considering channel adaptations and fairness in their achieved utility. We formulate two optimization problems - one for the RSUs and the other for the OBUs. For OBUs, the bargaining solutions are proposed which are based on three fairness criteria. For RSUs, depending on the traffic pattern, distribution of packets to the OBUs is optimized considering the different priority of the packets so that the overall utilities of the OBUs are maximized. Simulation results show that the proposed schemes can ensure fairness among the OBUs, and adapt to different traffic scenarios with different vehicular traffic intensity.
Credit and Classification: The Impact of Industry Boundaries in Nineteenth-Century America

In this article, we examine how issues of multi-category membership (hybridity) were handled during the evolution of one of the first general systems of industrial classification in the United States, the credit rating schema of R. G. Dun and Company. Drawing on a repeated cross-sectional study of credit evaluations during the postbellum period (1870–1900), our empirical analyses suggest that organizational membership in multiple categories need not be problematic when classification systems themselves are emergent or in flux and when organizations avoid rare combinations or identities involving ambiguous components. As Dun's schema became institutionalized, boundaries between industries were more clearly defined and boundary violations became subject to increased attention and penalty by credit reporters. Our perspective highlights the utility of an evolutionary perspective and tests its implications for the salience of distinct mechanisms of hybridity.
Gender in ice hockey: women in a male territory

This study investigates how female ice hockey players describe and explain their situation within as well as outside their sport. Information was obtained by semi‐structured interviews with female ice hockey players. The results were analyzed in a gender perspective where the main starting point was the concepts of different levels of power relations in society developed by Harding and applied to sports by Kolnes (the symbolic, structural, and individual level). The study shows that the players appeared to share the traditional views of men and women. They also described gender differences in terms of financial and structural conditions as well as differences in ice hockey history. Even though the players described structural inequalities, they were quite content with their situation and the differences in conditions were not considered when they explained the gender differences in ice hockey performance. At the individual level, the players considered themselves different from other women and appeared to share the traditional views of femininity and masculinity. It has been suggested that performance of a sport traditionally associated with the other sex might alter the traditional view of men and women; however, our results lend little support to this suggestion.
Local/foreign status, cultural background, and organizational citizenship behaviour: A study among foreign and local workers in The Netherlands

A study in Singapore (Ang et al., 2003) found that foreign employees displayed a lower tendency to engage in Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) than their local counterparts. The explanation was that foreign employees often experience their employment relation as more disadvantageous. The present study attempted to investigate possible differences in OCB between foreign and local workers in The Netherlands. In addition, it aimed to ascertain what role the cultural dimension of “individualism–collectivism” plays in this connection. Contrasting the expectations, the foreign employees reported a higher propensity to pursue OCB than local workers. The difference in behaviour could not be explained by cultural differences. It was argued that economic and personal motives of foreign workers might have affected the self-reports of their organizational behaviour.
A novel HLA‐DRB1 allele, HLA‐DRB1*13:116, identified by sequencing‐based typing in a member of the Czech national marrow donor registry

We describe the identification of a novel HLA‐DRB1 allele, DRB1*13:116, in a member of the Czech National Marrow Donor Registry. The novel allele differs from the known DRB1*13:17 variant by a nucleotide exchange at position 227 (T/A) of the coding HLA‐DRB1 sequence, which causes an amino acid substitution (Phe47Tyr) in the HLA‐DR beta 1 chain.
Targeting for Important Color Content: Near Neutrals and Pastels

The elements of a successful imaging performance pr ogram should include; establishing of performance goals, efficient test plans, and periodic performance auditing. All three of these require the selection and adoption of test objects as references. In many cases the use of common color elements such as those of the ColorChecker® test target is sufficient. However fo r critical collections predominated by near neutrals (e.g. pap er, vellum, parchments), limited color gamut (e.g., watercolors ), or near singular hues (early photographic prints), the capt ure of small color differences is not only important but problem atic, largely because the color targets used today to calibrate d igital capture devices were not designed to discriminate the subtl e color gradations of such content. Recently [IS&T Archiving Conf, 2010], we described how the measurement and testing of color image capture perf ormance for cultural heritage imaging could be adapted for spec ial collections such as those indicated above. As a continuation of this effort, we now present both the methods and initial results of the selection of test target elements, testing/calibration methods a nd results. We start by characterizing the spectral reflectance ch aracteristics of the collection materials. These are then compared w ith the corresponding properties for a database of practica l, available color samples. For a given collection, the automate d selection method of corresponding color patches is demonstrat ed. We then describe how color calibration and performance moni toring software can be designed to accommodate the flexibl e testing of special color materials. Aspects of the resulting scolorpatch selection, target assembly and analysis softw are are then described, as are criteria for the successful appli cation of such a program.
Communicative Development in Bilingually Exposed Chinese Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

PURPOSE We examined the association of bilingual exposure with structural and pragmatic language development in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). METHOD The parents of 54 children with ASD exposed to 1 (n = 31) or 2 (n = 23) Chinese languages completed (a) a questionnaire to evaluate their child's competence in structural language and pragmatic ability in their dominant language (Children's Communication Checklist-Second Edition; Bishop, 2006), and (b) a questionnaire to assess their child's social functioning (Social Responsiveness Scale; Constantino & Gruber, 2005; Wang, Lee, Chen, & Hsu, 2012). In addition, parents completed thorough interviews regarding the linguistic environment of their children (Language Environment Interview; Hambly & Fombonne, 2011). RESULTS Multivariate analyses of variance revealed that bilingually exposed children with ASD did not demonstrate significantly different performance on any standard measure relative to their monolingual peers. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that bilingual language exposure is not associated with additional challenges for the development of the dominant language in children with ASD. The lack of negative associations in our sample is not likely to be due to the comparatively early diagnosis and/or intervention that are available in other countries. We discuss implications for decisions regarding the linguistic environment of children with ASD.
A Data Complexity Approach to Kernel Selection for Support Vector Machines

We describe a data complexity approach to kernel selection based on the behavior of polynomial and Gaussian kernels. Our resultsshow how the use of a Gaussian kernel produces a gram matrix with useful local information that has no equivalent counterpart inpolynomial kernels.By exploiting neighborhood information embedded by data complexity measures, we are able to carry out a form of meta-generalization.Our goal is to predict which data sets are more favorable to particular kernels (Gaussian or polynomial). The end result is a framework to improve the model selection process in Support Vector Machines.
Neuropsychological assessment of attention in ADHD adults

This study examines the utility of a variety of neuropsychological measures of attention in the assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. The Attentional Impairment Index (Al) is introduced along with a procedure for computation, and is intended as an experimental measure which can be used to indicate the presence and severity of an attentional problem. Results indicated that the severity of attentional impairment (Al) was affected by the number of diagnoses, subtype of ADHD, and group classification (No Diagnosis, ADHD, or Other Psychiatric diagnoses). Overall group differences indicate a decline in performance on the neuropsychological test measures as the severity of diagnosis increased, with two exceptions. One was the number of failures to maintain response set on the WCST, and the other was the overall level of attentional impairment as measured by the Al Index. Both of these scores were most impaired in the ADHD group. The summary measures from the Stroop, WCST, FSIQ, and Trail Making Test successfully differentiated both the clinical groups from those not meeting full diagnostic criteria for any disorder.
A Randomized Trial of an Elementary School Mathematics Software Intervention: Spatial-Temporal Math

Abstract Fifty-two low performing schools were randomly assigned to receive Spatial-Temporal (ST) Math, a supplemental mathematics software and instructional program, in second/third or fourth/fifth grades or to a business-as-usual control. Analyses reveal a negligible effect of ST Math on mathematics scores, which did not differ significantly across subgroups defined by prior math proficiency and English Language Learner status. Two years of program treatment produced a nonsignificant effect. Publication of evaluation results from large-scale real-world supplemental mathematics instructional implementations such as this one can provide a realistic view of the possibilities, costs, and limitations of this and other computer aided instruction supplemental interventions.
Optimal linear combinations of array elements for B1 mapping

Accuracy of B1 mapping for array coils can be improved by mapping the fields produced by driving linear combinations of the array elements, chosen to produce a more uniform distribution of B1 amplitude. Quality of the resulting single element B1 maps is influenced by the transformation used both via the uniformity of the resulting linear combination fields and by the degree to which these linear combinations differ from one another. In this work we investigate the effect of using different transformations on the quality of B1 maps by simulating the B1 mapping process for two different techniques, using real data from a 3T 8‐channel body transmit system. Different transformations are generated using a single complex parameter. It is demonstrated that the optimal transformation within this framework is different for different imaging targets (pelvis and brain of healthy volunteers, and water and oil phantoms). For the same target (pelvis) the optimum condition, however, is similar for a number of subjects, suggesting that optimal configurations to be used for calibrating coils in specific anatomical contexts can be determined in advance. Potential gains may be translated into significant reductions in scan time for equivalent signal‐to‐noise ratio coil maps. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Troglitazone suppresses transforming growth factor beta-mediated fibrogenesis in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Purpose Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells has been implicated to be an important event during the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The present study was conducted to examine whether troglitazone (TGZ) can inhibit TGFβ2-mediated fibrosis of RPE cells. The mechanism of the TGZ effect was also investigated by studying major TGFβ2-induced signaling including activation of Smad and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Methods Human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were exposed to various concentrations of TGZ in the presence of TGFβ2. The inhibitory effects of TGZ on collagen type I (COLI) and fibronectin (FN) expression induced by TGFβ2 was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. COLI synthesis was evaluated by the concentration of the C-terminal propeptide of COLI in the medium. The protein levels of FN and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and Smad2 and Smad3 were assessed by immunoblotting. TGZ inhibition of TGFβ2-promoted ARPE-19 cell migration was evaluated by an in vitro wound-healing assay. The influence of TGZ on cell viability was evaluated by the colorimetric conversion of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Results TGZ dose-dependently inhibited TGFβ2-induced COLI and FN overexpression at the levels of mRNA and protein manufacture. A dose-dependent TGZ inhibition was also apparent in TGFβ2-induced cell migration; cell viability was unaffected. TGFβ2 induced sequential phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 and p38 MAPK. TGZ inhibited TGFβ2-induced early Smad2 and Smad3 and late Smad3 phosphorylation but had no influence on TGFβ2-induced p38 MAPK activation. Conclusions TGZ pretreatment can significantly prevent TGFβ2-induced epithelial- mesenchymal transition of RPE cells, and retards cell migration. This may be achieved through the prevention of TGFβ2-induced Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation. On the other hand, TGZ does not alter the levels of TGFβ2-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation, the effect of TGZ is unlikely to be mediated by p38 MAPK signaling.