Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulatory role of inhibition during language switching: Evidence from evoked and induced oscillatory activity

Aims: The present study adopted the electroencephalogram (EEG) technique to investigate whether inhibition advantage could modulate different language switches, regardless of the time spent on second language learning. Design: The inhibitory control (IC) ability of 80 low-proficient Chinese (L1)-English (L2) bilinguals was assessed by the Simon task. Half of these bilinguals were then subdivided into 20 high- and 20 low-IC participants to perform switching between L1 and L2 (L1–L2 switching), and the other half were subdivided into 20 high- and 20 low-IC participants to conduct switching between L1 and Lnew (L1–Lnew switching). All participants were required to name pictures (picture naming task) in their L1 and L2/Lnew in language switching task. Data and analysis: Both response latencies and EEG data were obtained, and then evoked and induced oscillations were calculated using time–frequency analysis. Findings: The results of language switching showed similar naming latencies for L1 and L2/Lnew switch trials in the high-IC group, whereas the low-IC group showed larger naming latencies for L1 switch trials than L2/Lnew switch trials. In contrast, the high-IC group exhibited larger theta evoked and induced power for L2/Lnew switch trials than L1 switch trials at the lexical selection level, whereas the low-IC group did not. These findings indicate that inhibition advantage helps the high-IC group to suppress effectively the non-target word via recruiting bottom-up (evoked oscillation) and top-down (induced oscillation) processes. Innovation: The present study was a first attempt to provide evidence that theta oscillation indicates cross-language interference at the lexical selection level. Significance: Inhibition plays a modulatory role in language switching, which is independent of the time spent on second language learning, and such role involves bottom-up (i.e., evoked oscillation) and top-down (i.e., induced oscillation) processes which were mainly evident at the lexical selection level.
Taming Diversity: A Distributed ACM-Based Approach for Cross-Enterprise Knowledge Work

Adaptive case management is a business process management approach which is quickly gaining the attention of practitioners and scientists. Although it aims at empowering knowledge workers from multiple organizations, it provides no means of managing and supporting multiple agendas, objectives, and / or procedures within the scope of collaboratively working on a knowledge-intensive business process. This contribution proposes a distributed approach inspired by multi agent systems as well as a corresponding metamodel for supporting knowledge-intensive cross-enterprise processes.
Integrated Framework for Implementing Knowledge Management in Contemporary Organizations

Knowledge Management (KM) is an integral part of contemporary business environment which ensures growth and competitive advantage for an organization. Today many organizations are losing sight of competitive advantage to grow and compete with other players because of mismanagement of their experiences, expertise and knowledge assets. In present day competitive business environment, besides being innovative an organization must be able to make use of its prior experiences and learning in an effective manner to gain over its competitors. KM is an effective tool to manage organization’s knowledge assets which in short run generates profits and in the longer run fosters creativity. KM leverages organization’s knowledge internally and externally to create and sustain a competitive advantage. Hence, organizations must have an effective KM System in operation, which can create, capture, store, disseminate and document the knowledge assets of an organization and help in business intelligence, business process re-engineering and decision making. However, most organizations focus mainly on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), thereby giving lesser emphasis on other important factors which are must for gaining significantly from a KM System. An effective KM is result of interplay of both technological and behavioral aspects. KM System must have holistic approach i.e. it must emphasize all three important factors of organization People, Process and Technology. Hence, while implementing KM in organization, all three factors must be considered and handled effectively and efficiently. This paper proposes an integrated framework to implement KM involving technological as well as behavioral aspects of an Meghna Goswami et al 612 organization. It addresses all three aspects (People, Process and Technology) of KM and provides holistic approach of KM.
The effects of developing English language and literacy on Spanish reading comprehension

ABSTRACT In this longitudinal study, the cross-language transfer from second language (L2) to first language (L1) was examined among Spanish-speaking English-language learners in an English intervention (Grades 1–3) in the southwest United States. Path analysis revealed statistically significant transfers (ps < .05) for the treatment group from English reading comprehension to Spanish reading comprehension. English vocabulary and English grammar also had an indirect influence on Spanish reading comprehension through English reading comprehension. For the comparison group, no English to Spanish paths were statistically significant. We concluded that intervention activities in L2 influenced L1 reading even when L1 instructional time was reduced.
Generic feature selection measure for botnet malware detection

Feature selection for botnet malware detection is an important task. In this paper, we study the recently proposed Generic-Feature-Selection (GeFS) measure [18]. Since there is no benchmark dataset of botnet malware, we conduct experiments on the dataset that is generated by using public available tools. We utilize the static and dynamic approaches [24], [29], [12] to extract features from the generated dataset and to produce two separate feature sets. We analyze the statistical properties of these feature sets to provide more insights of their nature and quality. Subsequently we determine appropriate instances of the GeFS measure for feature selection. The GeFS measure was compared experimentally with two different methods regarding the feature selection capabilities in botnet malware detection: the genetic-algorithm-CFS and the best-first-CFS algorithms. We use five different classifiers to test the detection rates and false positive rates. The experiments show that we can remove 99.9% of irrelevant and redundant features from the datasets, while keeping or yielding even better classification performances. Moreover, the GeFS measure outperforms the genetic-algorithm-CFS and the best-first-CFS methods by removing much more redundant features.
A New Algorithm for Monte Carlo for American Options

We consider the valuation of American options using Monte Carlo simulation, and propose a new technique which involves approximating the optimal exercise boundary. Our method involves splitting the boundary into a linear term and a Fourier series and using stochastic optimization in the form of a relaxation method to calculate the coefficients i n the series. The cost function used is the expected value of the option using the the current estimate of the location of the boundary. We present some sample results and compare our results to other methods.
The populations of planetary nebulae in the direction of the Galactic bulge - Chemical abundances and Wolf-Rayet central stars

Departamento de Astronomia, Instituto de Astronomia, Geof´isica e Cieˆncias Atmosfe´ricas da USP, Rua do Mata˜o 1226,05508-090, Sa˜o Paulo, BrazilReceived ? ; accepted ? Abstract. We have observed 44 planetary nebulae (PNe) in the direction of the Galactic bulge, and merged our data withpublished ones. We have distinguished, in the merged sample of 164 PNe, those PNe most likely to prtain physically to theGalactic bulge and those most likely to belong to the Galactic disk. We have determined the chemical composition of all the164 objects in a coherent way. We looked for stellar emission features and discovered 14 new [WR] stars and 15 new weakemission line central stars.The analyzed data led us to the following conclusions: (1) The spectral type distribution of [WR] stars is very diﬀerent in thebulge and in the disk of the Galaxy. However, the observed distributions are strongly dependent on selection eﬀects. (2) Theproportion of [WR]PNe is signiﬁcantly larger in the bulge th an in the disk. (3) The oxygen abundances in [WR] stars do noappear to be signiﬁcantly a ﬀected by nucleosynthesis and mixing in the progenitors. (4) The O/H gradient of the Galactic diskPNe population ﬂattens in the most internal parts of the Gala xy. (5) The median oxygen abundance in the bulge PN populationis larger by 0.2 dex than in the disk population seen in the direction of the bulge. (6) Bulge PNe with smaller O/H tend tohave smaller radial velocities. (7) The oxygen abundance distribution of bulge PNe is similar in shape to that of the metallicitydistribution of bulge giants, but signiﬁcantly narrower. ( 8) The location of SB 32 (PN G 349.7-09.1) in the (V
An image retargeting scheme with content-based cropping and local significance aware seam carving

This research presents an image retargeting scheme consisting of two main operations, the content-based cropping and seam carving, to modify the width/height of imagery data. The seam carving is first employed to remove insignificant pixels in the middle part of image. The selection of seams is based on the gradient in one direction and local energy to avoid obvious distortions. When the background tends to be uniform, some seams can be inserted in a similar way to make the aspect ratio closer to the target one. The content-based cropping that considers the visual saliency is then applied to remove boundaries. The final image is formed by scaling directly if necessary. The experimental results will demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method.
On the Arbitrary-Length  $M$-Channel Linear Phase Perfect Reconstruction Filter Banks

This correspondence extends the theory and lattice factorizations for M-channel linear phase perfect reconstruction filter banks (LPPRFBs). We deal with FIR FBs with real-valued filter coefficients in which all filters have the same arbitrary length L = KM + beta (0 les beta < M) and same symmetry center, in contrast to traditional constrained length profile L=KM. First, refined existence conditions on this larger class of FBs are given. Then, lattice structures are developed for both odd and even-channel FBs, and their relationship with time-domain lapped transforms is explained. These structures are more general compared to conventional design methods, and cover them as special cases. Furthermore, we discuss how to structurally impose the regularity onto the lattice structure to ensure the smoothness of the basis function, which is very desirable in high performance image compression. Finally, these lattice structures are proven to be minimal in terms of the number of delay elements used in implementation, and to completely span the class of LPPRFBs with length L les 2M and the whole class of linear phase paraunitary filter banks (LPPUFBs).
An Analytical Solution for a Markov Chain Modeling Multithreaded Execution

Multithreading is an architectural technique aimed at maintaining high processor utilization in the presence of large memory or interprocessor communication latency. While waiting for a remote reference to complete, the processor switches to another execution thread. Several realizations of this concept have been proposed, but little data is available on the actual costs and benefits. This paper presents an analytical model of multithreaded execution, which may serve to guide and explain empirical studies. The model is based on three key parameters: thread run-length, switch cost, and latency. A closed-form expression for processor utilization is obtained for deterministic and stochastic run-lengths. The derivation involves identifying specific patterns in the very large set of equations forming the Markov chain. Using this result, three operating regimes are identified for a multithreaded processor subject to long latencies; linear, where utilization is proportional to the number of threads per processor
Motion Synthesis on Manifolds in High Dimensional Space

A lot of work has been done on how to reuse motion capture data and minimize the amount of manual work required in obtaining it. Processing and analyzing the input data, which is of a high dimensionality, recognizing the data and generating new motion behavior can be very complicated. Therefore it is necessary to reduce the data dimensions, while preserving the motion features embedded in the data. Manifold learning is the process of estimating this low dimensional structure. The projection algorithm used in this work is by Amenta and Kil [2004]. This projection procedure projects all points on a lower dimensional manifold, but in higher dimensional space thus preserving the features among the input points. This work presents 2 sample applications that can utilize this method. The first application synthesizes new motions from the input database of motions. The second application produces new intermediate motions through blending the manifolds produced in the projection procedure.
Immunolocalisation of the D. melanogaster Nramp homologue Malvolio to gut and Malpighian tubules provides evidence that Malvolio and Nramp2 are orthologous

SUMMARY Nramp (Slc11a1) genes in mammals are associated with the transport of iron and other divalent cations; Nramp1 in macrophages involved in the innate immune response against intracellular pathogens, and Nramp2 with duodenal iron uptake and the transferrin–transferrin-receptor pathway of iron assimilation. The Drosophila melanogaster Nramp-related gene is known as Malvolio. The localisation of Malvolio protein was inferred from the enhancer trap line initially used to isolate Malvolio in a screen for mutants with defects in taste perception. Here we describe the generation of a Malvolio-reactive polyclonal antibody and apply it to evaluate Malvolio localisation during stages of D. melanogaster development, and compare the results with the localisation of the enhancer trap line identified with beta-galactosidase. All immunolocalisation studies have been confirmed to be specific with Malvolio-blocking peptides. Our results demonstrated expression within Malpighian tubules, testis, brain, the amnioserosa of embryos, the larval and adult alimentary canal. Expression within the gut was of significant interest, as mammalian Nramp2 in the gut plays a primary role in the acquisition of dietary iron. We confirm expression within the central nervous system and in cells of the haematopoietic system. By immunohistochemistry we showed that expression within cells was either punctuate, diffuse cytoplasmic or plasma membrane associated, or both. The staining within the gut indicates a degree of conservation of components for iron acquisition between flies and mammals, suggesting that a comparable mechanism has been retained during evolution.
Warped geometry of brane worlds

We study the dynamical equations for extra-dimensional dependence of a warp factor and a bulk scalar in 5D brane world scenarios with induced brane metric of constant curvature. These equations are similar to those for the time dependence of the scale factor and a scalar field in 4D cosmology, but with the sign of the scalar field potential reversed. Based on this analogy, we introduce novel methods for studying the warped geometry. We construct the full phase portraits of the warp factor/scalar system for several examples of the bulk potential. This allows us to view the global properties of the warped geometry. For flat branes, the phase portrait is two dimensional. Moving along typical phase trajectories, the warp factor is initially increasing and finally decreasing. All trajectories have timelike gradient-dominated singularities at one or both of their ends, which are reachable in a finite distance and must be screened by the branes. For curved branes, the phase portrait is three dimensional. However, as the warp factor increases the phase trajectories tend towards the two-dimensional surface corresponding to flat branes. We discuss this property as a mechanism that may stretch the curved brane to be almost flat, with a small cosmological constant. Finally, we describe the embedding of branes in the 5D bulk using the phase space geometric methods developed here. In this language the boundary conditions at the branes can be described as a 1D curve in the phase space. We discuss the naturalness of tuning the brane potential to stabilize the brane world system.
Use of adjectives in Catalan: A morphological characterization in different genres and modes of production through school-age development

Adjectives, like nouns and verbs, are one of the three major classes of lexical words. But, unlike nouns and verbs, they emerge late in acquisition. In Catalan, as in many other languages, their use is closely linked to the literate lexicon learned at school-age. Thus, the use of adjectives can be a good indicator of later language development. The goal of this study is twofold: to characterize the use of adjectives from age 9 to adulthood and to examine the effect of discourse genre (expository and narrative) and mode of production (spoken and written) on frequency of use and word-internal morphological structure. The study takes a corpus-based approach and uses the GRERLI-CAT1 corpus, which contains 316 expository and narrative spoken and written texts produced by 79 Spanish/Catalan bilinguals whose home language is Catalan, at four age and schooling levels: primary school (9- to 10-year-olds), secondary school (12- to 13-year-olds), sixth form (16- to 18-year-olds) and university (adults). Results show that the use of adjectives expands through school-age and especially from sixth form onwards, presenting an increasing pattern. An effect of genre and mode of production on the target features was also detected. Expository texts contain significantly more adjectives per text and clause and lower-frequency adjectives than narrative texts. Written texts contain significantly more adjectives, and lower-frequency and longer adjectives, than spoken texts. Age interacts with mode of production in the use and morphological complexity of adjectives. The four text types analysed (spoken expository, written expository, spoken narrative and written narrative) present a complexity cline, from written expository texts to spoken narratives through spoken expository texts and written narratives.
Occupational, Commuting, and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Relation to Total and Cardiovascular Mortality Among Finnish Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

Background—Some previous studies have assessed the association between leisure-time physical activity and mortality among patients with diabetes, but the potential effect of occupational and commuting physical activity remains uncertain. Methods and Results—We prospectively followed up 3316 Finnish participants 25 to 74 years of age with type 2 diabetes. The association of different types of physical activity with mortality was examined with Cox proportional-hazard models. During a mean follow-up of 18.4 years, 1410 deaths were recorded, 903 of which were due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The multivariate-adjusted (age, sex, study year, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and the 2 other types of physical activity) hazard ratios associated with light, moderate, and active work were 1.00, 0.86, and 0.60 (Ptrend<0.001) for total mortality and 1.00, 0.91, and 0.60 (Ptrend<0.001) for CVD mortality, respectively. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios associated with low, moderate, and high leisure-time physical activity were 1.00, 0.82, and 0.71 (Ptrend<0.001) for total mortality and 1.00, 0.83, and 0.67 (Ptrend=0.005) for CVD mortality, respectively. Active commuting had significant inverse associations with total and CVD mortality, but these relations were no longer significant after additional adjustment for occupational and leisure-time physical activity. Conclusions—Moderate or high levels of physical activity reduce total and CVD mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes. Not only leisure-time physical activity but also occupational and commuting physical activities are important components of a healthy lifestyle among patients with diabetes.
Classification in combined phrases: noun-noun conjunctions and intersective, subsective and privative adjective-noun combinations

How is the meaning of an adjectivenoun phrase related to the meanings of its adjective and noun constituents? Different types of adjective produce different relations between a combination and in its constituent adjectives and nouns. Current theories give separate mechanisms for each adjective type. This paper shows how a computational model originally developed to explain classification in noun-noun conjunctions also gives a single explanation for combinations involving standard intersective adjectives, subsective adjectives such as "skilful", and privative adjectives such as "fake". This model may lead to a unified account of naturallanguage word combination.
FLORA – Publishing Unstructured Financial Information in the Linked Open Data Cloud

In the world, where computers assist humans in information processing in almost every aspects of our lives, there are still huge gaps of unsurveyed areas, where data exists in an unstructured or unprocessable form limiting its usefulness and requiring extra human effort. Many times such data is extremely useful for many parties, as is the case of financial data. This paper describes an ongoing work of the FLORA system that aims at transforming unstructured financial data into Linked Data form and interlinking it with other relevant datasets of LOD initiative in order to provide a financial knowledgebase for financial data analysis framework.
An Efficient Index Lattice for XML Query Optimization

Structural indexes of XML data can effectively reduce the search space for the evaluation of path queries over the data. The indexes partition the structural graph of an XML document into equivalent classes of nodes that are then condensed into index nodes. However, structural indexes are inadequate to handle queries with valuebased conditions, since equivalent nodes in the same partition become distinguishable by their data contents. In practice, only a small portion of nodes in each partition are relevant for the processing of a value-based condition. To enhance the applicability of structural indexes, we propose a lattice structure on an XML structural index, which we call the Structure Index Tree (SIT). The index is defined as partitions of equivalent paths in an XML document, while an element in the lattice, which we call a SIT-Lattice Element (SLE), is an index of an arbitrary subset of paths in the document. Since paths represent the structure of XML data and each text node is associated with a unique path, we can define an SLE to filter out both irrelevant structures and text nodes. We propose a set of SLE operations and devise efficient techniques to generate SLEs that can be tailored towards query workloads. Our experiments show that SLEs significantly speed up the evaluation of path queries with value-based and aggregation-based conditions. We also demonstrate that SLEs are able to support effective querying over very large XML documents in memory-limited hand-held devices.