Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unobtrusive head gesture based directional control system for patient mobility cart

This work is based upon the design and development of novel technique which involves real-time identification of the head gestures using camera. The system incorporates a unique directional control system for maneuvering patient cart based upon the commands generated by head gestures. The work involved design and development of customized patient cart, camera arm attached along with camera, and tablet computer. The gesture detection was done by face alignment technique developed using regression based supervised learning method. The algorithm efficiently detects roll, and pitch under unconstraint conditions such as natural head movements and variable illuminations which avoid any loss of performance and sensitivity. The system is unobtrusive in nature as the patient cart is controlled by using normal head gestures only with a remotely fixed camera at a distance from the subject. Ultrasonic sensors based collision warning detection was also incorporated for safety purposes. The system is tested in laboratory environment and its performance was found to be excellent and most helpful for the effective empowerment of quadriplegic patients who want to maneuver their mobility cart themselves by head gestures only.
Interpretation of Score Reports by Diverse Subgroups of Parents

ABSTRACT The degree to which diverse score users can understand and consume information presented in score reports dictates whether they are able to draw reasonable conclusions. The goal of this study was to understand how parents (a particularly understudied and heterogeneous stakeholder population) make interpretations from a hypothetical interactive score report. We used cognitive laboratories to evaluate how 35 parents from diverse educational and language proficiency backgrounds make sense of the information presented in hypothetical K-12 score reports. Results from this study demonstrate the diversity in the levels of comprehension across the assessed subgroups of parents, and highlight the need for and importance of additional support materials that can help parents understand and make sense of the information presented in score reports. Nevertheless, due to the hypothetical nature of the score report mockup evaluated and the small sample sizes, these results should be substantiated with additional research.
A ghost in the machine: Tracing the role of ‘the digital’ in discursive processes of cybervictimisation

The study of discursive understandings of cybervictimisation draws on a dataset of crime news reporting and asks the question of if and how cybervictimisation is construed in ways that differ from other types of (non-digital) victimisation. Building on a critical discourse perspective employing corpus-based text analysis methods, the composition of news discourses about cybervictimisation are analysed, alongside the relationship between such representations and news media discourse on crime victimisation generally. The aim is to see what effect the presence of a digital dimension has for how the notion of victimisation is socially and culturally understood. The study shows, first, that news reporting on cybervictimisation has a strong bias towards crimes that fit well with the notion of ‘the ideal victim’ (such as sexual victimisation and bullying) while excluding other types like hacking and identity theft. The question is raised whether ‘victim’ discourse is able to account for the latter types or if new understandings and concepts will emerge. Second, the study shows that discourses promoting understandings of technology as contributing to amplifying danger, and that represent technology as potentially undermining social order, are strong in cybervictimisation news reports. These discourses are consequential for who is seen as a legitimate victim and not. Just as it can be very difficult to identify and apprehend perpetrators of cybercrime, so is also the identification and definition of cybervictims ambiguous and demands to be further researched.
Methodological approaches to exploring epileptic disorders in the human brain in vitro

Intended for scientists interested in electrophysiology, this symposium will include methodological talks by international scientists within the field. Speakers from diverse areas will present results illustrating advances in neuroscience made possible by advances in instrumentation. The first half of the symposium will be devoted to microelectrode techniques and the second half will be devoted to multielectrode techniques. The microelectrode techniques section will illustrate a variety of new applications such as electroporation, single cell stimulation and high resolution recording addressable with improved devices. The multielectrode techniques will illustrate the growing field of MEA technology on different preparations in vivo.
Forced Response Analysis of Integrally Bladed Disks With Friction Ring Dampers

This paper investigates a damping strategy for integrally bladed disks (blisks) based on the use of friction rings. The steady-state forced response of the blisk with friction rings is derived using the so-called dynamic Lagrangian frequency-time method adapted to cyclic structures with rotating excitations. In addition, an original approach for optimal determination of the number of Fourier harmonics is proposed. In numerical applications, a representative compressor blisk featuring several rings is considered. Each substructure is modeled using finite-elements and a reduced-order modeling technique is used for the blisk. The efficiency of this damping technology is investigated, and friction dissipation phenomena are interpreted with respect to frequency responses. It is shown that the friction damping effectiveness depends mainly on the level of dynamic coupling between blades and disk, and on whether the dynamics features significant alternating stick/slip phases. Through parameter studies, design guidelines are also proposed.
ATTRIBUTE-BASED TECHNIQUES TO EVALUATE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES FOR INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS 1

This paper addresses the problem of evaluating architectural styles or patterns with respect to specific quality characteristics, in order make a selection for a particular domain, using attributebased techniques. The domain of interactive systems, where the graphical user-interface plays an important role and where the adaptation (modifiability) is a crucial aspect of the architectural design, will be studied here. In this work the ABAS (Attribute Based Architectural Style) technique, formulated by Klein and Kazman, is used to evaluate a multiagent-based architecture with respect to the modifiability quality attribute. Moreover, the ABAS structure of the information on the style is extended in this work considering the ISO 9126 quality model of the domain, customized in our case for interactive systems. The PAC (Presentation, Abstraction, Control) ABAS is defined as a specialization of the Mediator ABAS. The ISO quality model as part of the ABAS techinque, systematizes and helps to establish the cualitative and cuantitative reasoning for a better understanding and determination of the measurable properties and their dependencies on the expected or predictable quality requirements of the final system.
A 10-point interpolatory recursive subdivision algorithm for the generation of parametric surfaces

In this paper, an interpolatory subdivision algorithm for surfaces over arbitrary triangulations is introduced and its properties over uniform triangulations studied. The Butterfly Scheme, which is introduced by Dyn, Gregory and Levin is a special case of this algorithm. In our analysis, the matrix approach is employed and the idea of "Cross Difference of Directional Divided Difference" analysis is presented. This method is a generalization of the technique used by Dyn, Gregory and Levin etc. to analyse univariate subdivision algorithms. It is proved that the algorithm produces smooth surfaces provided the shape parameters are kept within an appropriate range.
State Implementation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

The 2006 Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, established federal standards related to the content and operation of sex offender registration and notification systems across the United States. As of early 2017, over a decade following passage, 18 of 50 states had been designated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as having substantially implemented SORNA—figures that might be initially interpreted as indicators of a failed policy. Yet a closer analysis suggests that SORNA implementation is complex and multifaceted and that viewing the policy’s “success” through such a binary prism may be inherently limited. In this context, the current study offers a multidimensional analysis of state-level SORNA implementation based on data abstracted from DOJ records. Findings indicate that many aspects of SORNA have been universally or widely implemented, that most states have adopted policies that are consistent with a majority of SORNA standards, and that barriers to SORNA implementation are concentrated among a limited subset of issues, notably those related to retroactive application, registration of juveniles, and means of classifying registrants. Implications for state and federal policy governing sex offender registration are discussed.
Predicting the Evolution of Social Networks: Optimal Time Window Size for Increased Accuracy

This study investigates the data preparation process for predictive modelling of the evolution of complex networked systems, using an e -- mail based social network as an example. In particular, we focus on the selection of optimal time window size for building a time series of network snapshots, which forms the input of chosen predictive models. We formulate this issue as a constrained multi -- objective optimization problem, where the constraints are specific to a particular application and predictive algorithm used. The optimization process is guided by the proposed Windows Incoherence Measures, defined as averaged Jensen-Shannon divergences between distributions of a range of network characteristics for the individual time windows and the network covering the whole considered period of time. The experiments demonstrate that the informed choice of window size according to the proposed approach allows to boost the prediction accuracy of all examined prediction algorithms, and can also be used for optimally defining the prediction problems if some flexibility in their definition is allowed.
Greedy structure learning of Markov Random Fields

Acknowledgments I would like to thank my advisor, Pradeep Ravikumar, for inspiration, guidance, and encouragement on this work. In addition, I would like to thank Ali Jalali for his collaboration and work on the proof techniques and theoretical analysis used in this paper. Also, I would also like to thank Inderjit Dhillon and the students of his lab for motivation and many stimulating conversations like to thank my friends and family for their faith and encouragement in my many late nights of research and writing. I couldn't have finished this work without their support. Probabilistic graphical models are used in a variety of domains to capture and represent general dependencies in joint probability distributions. In this document we examine the problem of learning the structure of an undi-rected graphical model, also called a Markov Random Field (MRF), given a set of independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) samples. Specifically, we introduce an adaptive forward-backward greedy algorithm for learning the structure of a discrete, pairwise MRF given a high dimensional set of i.i. d. samples. The algorithm works by greedily estimating the neighborhood of each node independently through a series of forward and backward steps. By imposing a restricted strong convexity condition on the structure of the learned graph we show that the structure can be fully learned with high probability given n = Ω(d log(p)) samples where d is the dimension of the graph and p is the number of nodes. This is a significant improvement over existing convex-optimization based algorithms that require a sample complexity of n = Ω(d 2 log(p)) and a stronger irrepresentability condition. We further v support these claims with an empirical comparison of the greedy algorithm to node-wise 1-regularized logistic regression as well as provide a real data analysis of the greedy algorithm using the Audioscrobbler music listener dataset. 2.1 Graphical representation of a Bayesian Network defined over a joint probability distribution. The " markov blanket " for the variable represented by the X consists of the shaded vertices. 16 2.2 Graphical representation of a Factor Graph defined over a joint probability distribution. The circles represent random variables and the squares represent factors associated with the random 17 2.3 Graphical representation of a Markov Random Field (MRF) defined over a joint probability distritbution. The " markov blanket " or " neighborhood " of the variable represented by the X
Scalar and categorical phenomena in a unified model of phonetics and phonology

It is often assumed that there is a sharp division between phonetic and phonological processes, but the two are often strikingly similar, as in the case of phonetic consonant–vowel coarticulation and phonological assimilation between consonants and vowels. Parallels of this kind are best accounted for if both types of phenomena are analysed within a unified framework, so similarities result from the fact that both phonetic and phonological processes are subject to the same constraints. A unified model of phonetics and phonology is developed and exemplified through the analysis of parallel phonetic and phonological assimilation processes. The model operates in terms of scalar phonetic representations to accommodate phonetic detail, but categorical phenomena can still be derived from the interaction of speech production constraints with constraints that motivate the formation of distinct categories of sounds for the purposes of linguistic contrast.
Piece wise Laplacian‐based Projection for Interactive Data Exploration and Organization

Multidimensional projection has emerged as an important visualization tool in applications involving the visual analysis of high‐dimensional data. However, high precision projection methods are either computationally expensive or not flexible enough to enable feedback from user interaction into the projection process. A built‐in mechanism that dynamically adapts the projection based on direct user intervention would make the technique more useful for a larger range of applications and data sets. In this paper we propose the Piecewise Laplacian‐based Projection (PLP), a novel multidimensional projection technique, that, due to the local nature of its formulation, enables a versatile mechanism to interact with projected data and to allow interactive changes to alter the projection map dynamically, a capability unique of this technique. We exploit the flexibility provided by PLP in two interactive projection‐based applications, one designed to organize pictures visually and another to build music playlists. These applications illustrate the usefulness of PLP in handling high‐dimensional data in a flexible and highly visual way. We also compare PLP with the currently most promising projections in terms of precision and speed, showing that it performs very well also according to these quality criteria.
tRNASec is transcribed by RNA polymerase II in Trypanosoma brucei but not in humans

Nuclear-encoded tRNAs are universally transcribed by RNA polymerase III (Pol-III) and contain intragenic promoters. Transcription of vertebrate tRNASec however requires extragenic promoters similar to Pol-III transcribed U6 snRNA. Here, we present a comparative analysis of tRNASec transcription in humans and the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma brucei, two evolutionary highly diverged eukaryotes. RNAi-mediated ablation of Pol-II and Pol-III as well as oligo-dT induced transcription termination show that the human tRNASec is a Pol-III transcript. In T. brucei protein-coding genes are polycistronically transcribed by Pol-II and processed by trans-splicing and polyadenylation. tRNA genes are generally clustered in between polycistrons. However, the trypanosomal tRNASec genes are embedded within a polycistron. Their transcription is sensitive to α-amanitin and RNAi-mediated ablation of Pol-II, but not of Pol-III. Ectopic expression of the tRNASec outside but not inside a polycistron requires an added external promoter. These experiments demonstrate that trypanosomal tRNASec, in contrast to its human counterpart, is transcribed by Pol-II. Synteny analysis shows that in trypanosomatids the tRNASec gene can be found in two different polycistrons, suggesting that it has evolved twice independently. Moreover, intron-encoded tRNAs are present in a number of eukaryotic genomes indicating that Pol-II transcription of tRNAs may not be restricted to trypanosomatids.
Islamic finance crossing the 40-years milestone – the way forward

Islamic finance has experienced considerable growth worldwide interms of deposits and assets of Islamic banks over the last 40 years, but showslittle signs of achieving maturity. Almost all Islamic finance products currentlyis use are mere replicas of their conventional counterparts. This study followsthe archival research strategy of Bryman (1989), and analyses the literatureon Islamic finance theory and products and practices in order to ascertainthe reforms needed for the maturity goal. The paper proposes adoption ofa new law regarding money, different policy approaches, new structures offinance for shifting to risk-based financing, new models, procedures and somefresh thought in order to relate banking and finance to the real economy. Itrecommends a leading role for Islamic economists for effective reforms in themonetary and credit system in order to ensure that all financing is based ongoods, services, stocks or securities representing real assets in line withthe Shariʽah principles. The suggested policy measures are expected to leadto social inclusion and harmony in the interests of all stakeholders in businessand finance transactions.
Universal temperature and body-mass scaling of feeding rates

Knowledge of feeding rates is the basis to understand interaction strength and subsequently the stability of ecosystems and biodiversity. Feeding rates, as all biological rates, depend on consumer and resource body masses and environmental temperature. Despite five decades of research on functional responses as quantitative models of feeding rates, a unifying framework of how they scale with body masses and temperature is still lacking. This is perplexing, considering that the strength of functional responses (i.e. interaction strengths) is crucially important for the stability of simple consumer–resource systems and the persistence, sustainability and biodiversity of complex communities. Here, we present the largest currently available database on functional response parameters and their scaling with body mass and temperature. Moreover, these data are integrated across ecosystems and metabolic types of species. Surprisingly, we found general temperature dependencies that differed from the Arrhenius terms predicted by metabolic models. Additionally, the body-mass-scaling relationships were more complex than expected and differed across ecosystems and metabolic types. At local scales (taxonomically narrow groups of consumer–resource pairs), we found hump-shaped deviations from the temperature and body-mass-scaling relationships. Despite the complexity of our results, these body-mass- and temperature-scaling models remain useful as a mechanistic basis for predicting the consequences of warming for interaction strengths, population dynamics and network stability across communities differing in their size structure.
Proceedings of International Conference on Microwave-08 A Wireless Ad-Hoc Network : Design and Performance Evaluation of Dynamic Routing Model

This paper describes the identification of potential problems with ad hoc routing protocol that contribute to the overall performance. Another major factor that contributes to routing protocol performance is when wireless nodes move out of coverage area of the other nodes and thus lose connection, or the opposite, where other wireless nodes join the network while on the move and require a dynamic route to a destination; this is defined as the mobility factor. The multimedia model shows how well the routing protocol can handle realworld traffic and guarantee Quality of Service, QoS, for this type of data. The circular model attempts to address for potential problems with ad-hoc routing where there is only one destination node. Lastly, the dynamic model attempts to address problems with an extremely dynamic topology where nodes leave and join the network continually, putting extreme strain on the routing protocol, and network overheads. The main objectives of this project were to investigate these models and appraise their performance after implementation using network simulator, ns-2 [1], and investigate which models work well in which situations. Index Terms Ad-Hoc, MANET, protocol, routing, DSR, AOD~ DSDV, TORA, WRP, packets.
GridPSi : A Grid-Enabled Problem Solving Environment for Physical Simulation Applications

Development of user-friendly Problem Solving Environments (PSEs) is still a challenging task for PSE developers, especially in dealing with the issue of human-PSE communications. This paper proposes a novel way in designing the GridPSi, a Grid-enabled PSE for partial differential equation based physical simulations. The well-designed graphical user interface of this PSE and PDE wizards will guide the users to construct, run and analyze their physical simulation intuitively and with confident control. The GridPSi also provides a declarative computational script based remote computing service by dynamically generating problem specification scripts and remote submission, as well as the Grid resource accessibility. In this paper, we describe the overall functionality and architecture of this system. Since it is still being under design and implementation, only in progress work and conceptual plans for how GridPSi will be developed are presented, no real run time example is given in this paper.
New neighbours in a time of change: local pragmatics and the perception of asylum centres in rural Denmark

ABSTRACT Asylum centres in rural areas are an increasingly common mode of managing asylum seekers in Denmark. These centres’ arrival occurs in a context of protracted rural crisis, as demographic and economic changes reshape local communities. Yet research on these processes remains scarce, issues concerning asylum and the rural being seldom conceived together. At the same time, majority population attitudes towards refugees are often depicted through the opposed poles of xenophobia and humanitarianism. Based on ethnographic research, this article examines the meanings and consequences of asylum centres for rural Danish communities. Drawing on anthropological theory on the mutuality of social life we argue that asylum centres become embedded in pre-existing relations within local communities and between them and the centralising Danish welfare state. Local communities sometimes were initially sceptical about asylum centres, but they generally developed a collective, pragmatic approach towards them in contrast to the divided, ideological cast of national debates on asylum. By shifting focus from the national to the local, from the urban to the rural, and from the migrants to the neighbouring communities, a less polarising and more everyday mode of relating to the arrival of asylum seekers becomes visible.