Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Co-reference Resolution of Elided Subjects and Possessive Pronouns in Spanish-English Statistical Machine Translation

This paper presents a straightforward method to integrate co-reference information into phrase-based machine translation to address the problems of i) elided subjects and ii) morphological underspecification of pronouns when translating from pro-drop languages. We evaluate the method for the language pair Spanish-English and find that translation quality improves with the addition of co-reference information.
Personality Model of a Social Character

Virtual characters are increasingly becoming a common interface for communication between humans and computers, or for portraying human’s behaviour in leisure or educational setting (Louchart, Aylett, Pickering, Romano, 2004). If their creation aim is to portray humans, they should be inspired by the way humans express their feeling and interact with each other. We present here a personality model that attempts to emphasise the believability of a virtual character, by displaying personality and emotions in a social context. Such model enables the creation of characters that can account for both stability and variability of a real person in action and his/her behaviour across time and place. It models not only the person’s emotional status, but also the social tasks they are confronted with and construct over time, maintaining a history of the social interactions the character has held with other agents or real people in the virtual world. To meet the above requirements, elements from established personality models have been put together to form a framework of components that interacts in a consistent way to represent the personality of the character. Architecture Overview The proposed personality model consists of four modules described below. The Emotion Module defines the emotional status of a character at a particular time. Such emotional status depends not only on the current contact between the two characters but also on their interaction history. The Memory Module stores the history of previous verbal and non-verbal interactions of the character with other characters in the virtual world in the form of emotional status. The Social-Cognitive Factors Module accounts for the relatively stable personality factors over time. These factors are connected with one to several emotional attributes of the Emotion Module. The Event Processing Module determines the gestures and actions/speech actions that a character should perform according to their emotional status. Figure 1 shows the relationships between these modules. The personality model receives a notification when an event, or external stimuli, occurs in the environment, and produces an event for the environment, which represents the behaviour of the person modelled in response to the event in input. The information passed to the personality model for the occurrence of an event (e.g. shake hands, nodding, etc) includes the intensity of the event, which is strength of the emotions involved the event, and a list of the social-cognitive(SC) personality factors that the event may have an effect on, the Social Context in which the character is in and other relevant Environment Information. To express the personality of the behaviour a list of gestures and actions/speech actions is available to the model to display the personality of the character. For each gesture different intensities are available. The personality model output is the event that occurs in the environment.
Long-term Phonocardiographic Fetal Home Monitoring for Telemedicine Systems

A novel compact method for fetal home monitoring optimized for long data acquisition time and low communication costs is presented. The method incorporates the preprocessing of disturbed acoustic signal received on the maternal abdomen. The basic idea of the preprocessing is that the detection of the systolic and diastolic sounds takes place on two separated frequency bands with autocorrelation on predicted time intervals. Measurements on 47 selected pregnant women have shown that the use of this method significantly reduces the amount of data to be transferred to the computer centre in the hospital, where only the very disturbed time periods have to be evaluated. Based on this method a new, phonocardiographic fetal telemedicine system can be built without time limitation of measurements
On a Problem of Robbins

An early example of a compound decision problem of Robbins (1951) is employed to illustrate some features of the development of empirical Bayes methods. Our primary objective is to draw attention to the constructive role that the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for mixture models introduced by Kiefer & Wolfowitz (1956) can play in these developments.
On learning discretized geometric concepts

We present a polynomial time online learning algorithm that learns any discretized geometric concept generated from any number of halfspaces with any number of known (to the learner) slopes in a constant dimensional space. In particular, our algorithm learns (from equivalence queries only) unions of discretized axis-parallel rectangles in a constant dimensional space in polynomial time. The algorithm also runs in polynomial time in l if the teacher lies on l counterexamples. We then show a PAC-learning algorithm for the above discretized geometric concept when the example oracle lies on the labels of the examples with a fixed probability p/spl les/ 1/2 -1/r that runs in polynomial time also with r. We use these methods, as well as a bounded version of the finite injury priority method, to construct algorithms for learning several classes of rectangles. In particular we design efficient algorithms for learning several classes of unions of discretized axis-parallel rectangles in either arbitrary dimensional spaces or constant dimensional spaces. <<ETX>>
Efficient Radio Access Technology Selection for the Next Generation Wireless Networks

This paper proposes radio access selection algorithm for the next generation wireless networks. The proposed algorithm uses mobile terminal measurements from different radio access technologies within a given time interval, with aim to obtain information for multi criteria decision making between different access networks available to the terminal. The proposed algorithm uses fuzzy logic controllers, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization for decision making under given input criteria on user velocity, type of service and service parameters, Quality of Service and service costs for the mobile user. The algorithm is compared via simulation analysis with well-known algorithm for radio resource management in mobile networks using different velocities of users, different costs, different service types and different number of users present in the heterogeneous environment. Results showed that the proposed mobile terminal based algorithm for radio access technology selection outperforms other algorithms and provides highest user satisfaction from the network selection by the given constraints and criteria.
Regular polynomial interpolation and approximation of global solutions of linear partial differential equations

We consider regular polynomial interpolation algorithms on recursively defined sets of interpolation points which approximate global solutions of arbitrary well-posed systems of linear partial differential equations. Convergence of the "limit" of the recursively constructed family of polynomials to the solution and error estimates are obtained from a priori estimates for some standard classes of linear partial differential equations, i.e. elliptic and hyperbolic equations. Another variation of the algorithm allows to construct polynomial interpolations which preserve systems of linear partial differential equations at the interpolation points. We show how this can be applied in order to compute higher order terms of WKB-approximations of fundamental solutions of a large class of linear parabolic equations. The error estimates are sensitive to the regularity of the solution. Our method is compatible with recent developments for solution of higher dimensional partial differential equations, i.e. (adaptive) sparse grids, and weighted Monte-Carlo, and has obvious applications to mathematical finance and physics.
Spatio-textual similarity joins

Given a collection of objects that carry both spatial and textual information, a spatio-textual similarity join retrieves the pairs of objects that are spatially close and textually similar. As an example, consider a social network with spatially and textually tagged persons (i.e., their locations and profiles). A useful task (for friendship recommendation) would be to find pairs of persons that are spatially close and their profiles have a large overlap (i.e., they have common interests). Another application is data de-duplication (e.g., finding photographs which are spatially close to each other and high overlap in their descriptive tags). Despite the importance of this operation, there is very little previous work that studies its efficient evaluation and in fact under a different definition; only the best match for each object is identified. In this paper, we combine ideas from state-of-the-art spatial distance join and set similarity join methods and propose efficient algorithms that take into account both spatial and textual constraints. Besides, we propose a batch processing technique which boosts the performance of our approaches. An experimental evaluation using real and synthetic datasets shows that our optimized techniques are orders of magnitude faster than base-line solutions.
Novel Rickettsia in Ticks, Tasmania, Australia

A novel rickettsia was detected in Ixodes tasmani ticks collected from Tasmanian devils. A total of 55% were positive for the citrate synthase gene by quantitative PCR. According to current criteria for rickettsia speciation, this new rickettsia qualifies as Candidatus Rickettsia tasmanensis, named after the location of its detection.
Joint Spectrum Reuse and Power Control for Multi-Sharing Device-to-Device Communication

Compared to current mobile networks, next-generation mobile networks are expected to support higher numbers of simultaneously connected devices and to achieve higher system spectrum efficiency and lower power consumption. To achieve these goals, we study the multi-sharing device-to-device (D2D) communication, which allows any cellular user equipment to share its radio resource with multiple D2D devices. We jointly consider resource block reuse and power control and then develop the MISS algorithm. Simulation results show that MISS performs very well in terms of transmission power consumption, system throughput, and the number of permitted D2D devices.
Ethno-Religious and Political Conflicts: Threat to Nigeria Nascent Democracy

After about thirty years of military dictatorship, Nigeria found herself again in the mainstream of democratic governance. While this development was seen by some people as an avenue to explore dividends and goodies of democracy, others saw it as an opportunity to express grievances, the outcome of which is the occurrence and re-occurrence of ethno-religious and political conflicts. Since the re-emergence of democracy in May 1999, not less than one hundred politically, ethnically and religiously motivated conflicts have occurred in Nigeria. This paper examines the persistent waves of ethno-religious and political conflicts and the threat they pose to the nascent democracy in Nigeria. The paper investigates the history of ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria and argues that the foundation of ethno-religious and political conflicts was laid by colonialism, boosted by military dictatorship and strengthened by the contradictions embedded in the Nigerian federalism. The paper concludes that good governance, accountability, poverty and unemployment reduction and restructuring of federalism are important issues to be addressed in order to solve permanently the problem of ethno-religious and political conflicts that have continued to threaten Nigeria democracy.
Reciprocal Symbiont Sharing in the Lodging Mutualism between Walking Corals and Sipunculans

Solitary scleractinian corals of the genera Heterocyathus and Heteropsammia inhabit soft marine bottoms without attaching to hard substrata. The corallums of these genera contain a coiled cavity inhabited by a sipunculan that roams the seafloor, carrying the host coral with it. The coral serves as a sturdy shelter that protects the sipunculan from possible predators. At the same time, the sipunculan maintains the coral in an upright position on the soft bottom. This coral–sipunculan association is unique because two phylogenetically distant coral genera have developed convergent associations with sipunculans. We investigate the process of convergent evolution of two coral species, Hc. aequicostatus and Hp. cochlea, in Okinawa, Japan, with their symbiotic sipunculans, using phylogenetic and morphological analyses. Phylogenetic analyses clarified that the symbiotic sipunculans comprise two distinct clades, surprisingly both of which are associated with both coral species. The bodily habitus of the sipunculan differed between coral species and fit the morphologies of the coiled cavities of their respective host corals. Our results suggest that the two coral species share two sipunculan clades and that sipunculan morphology is plastic and determined by the internal structure of their host corals.
Overview of aerosol properties associated with air masses sampled by the ATR-42 during the EUCAARI campaign (2008)

Abstract. Within the frame of the European Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions (EUCAARI) project, the Meteo-France aircraft ATR-42 performed 22 research flights over central Europe and the North Sea during the intensive observation period in May 2008. For the campaign, the ATR-42 was equipped to study the aerosol physical, chemical, hygroscopic and optical properties, as well as cloud microphysics. For the 22 research flights, retroplume analyses along the flight tracks were performed with FLEXPART in order to classify air masses into five sectors of origin, allowing for a qualitative evaluation of emission influence on the respective air parcel. This study shows that the extensive aerosol parameters (aerosol mass and number concentrations) show vertical decreasing gradients and in some air masses maximum mass concentrations (mainly organics) in an intermediate layer (1–3 km). The observed mass concentrations (in the boundary layer (BL): between 10 and 30 μg m −3 ; lower free troposphere (LFT): 0.8 and 14 μg m −3 ) are high especially in comparison with the 2015 European norms for PM 2.5 (25 μg m −3 ) and with previous airborne studies performed over England (Morgan et al., 2009; McMeeking et al., 2012). Particle number size distributions show a larger fraction of particles in the accumulation size range in the LFT compared to BL. The chemical composition of submicron aerosol particles is dominated by organics in the BL, while ammonium sulphate dominates the submicron aerosols in the LFT, especially in the aerosol particles originated from north-eastern Europe (~ 80%), also experiencing nucleation events along the transport. As a consequence, first the particle CCN acting ability, shown by the CCN/CN ratio, and second the average values of the scattering cross sections of optically active particles (i.e. scattering coefficient divided by the optical active particle concentration) are increased in the LFT compared to BL.
Lower body exoskeleton-supported compliant bipedal walking for paraplegics: How to reduce upper body effort?

This paper introduces a position-based compliance control algorithm that can be implemented in a lower extremity exoskeleton-supported paraplegia walking task, in which upper body has to be utilized to maintain the overall balance. In order to reduce the upper body effort required during the task, the controller is designated to be capable of managing the position/force trade-off in conjunction with an active admittance regulator scheme. In the case of no force errors, the controller prioritizes position tracking in a way to achieve walking support. Once the force error increases (e.g., ground reaction force peaks, unexpected disturbances, stepping on an object, etc.) the position reference is updated in accordance with the force constraints and active admittance characteristics. By the virtue of this strategy, the human-robot system exhibits enhanced environmental interaction capabilities; therefore, the subject can maintain the overall balance with relatively less upper body effort while walking. Implementing the proposed method, we conducted robot-assisted walking experiments on 4 able-bodied subjects with different body mass index levels and genders. Subjects were instructed to be in passive mode. In addition, walking with severe obstacles was also experimented on a single able-bodied subject. In conclusion, the proposed method enabled us to yield enhanced walking performance comparing to classical rigid position control scheme; indicating that it could potentially introduce a compliant locomotion control alternative for the paraplegia walking support task with a comparatively less amount of upper body effort requirements.
EVERT: energy representations for probing electric vehicle practice

Energy and design of energy-feedback are becoming increasingly important in the HCI community. Our application area concerns electric vehicles, we thus depart from home and workplace appliances and address range and energy anxiety caused by short driving distance capabilities and long charging times in mobile settings. We explore this topic by letting conventional fuel car drivers reflect on their current driving habits through an exploration tool that we use as a technology probe. Our preliminary results demonstrate the educational values of the energy representations in the tool, and we also identify a design tension for map-related energy representations.
Intergenerational continuity in parenting: a review and theoretical integration

Abstract Objective: This review evaluates literature on how parenting behaviors are passed from one generation to the next in families by providing a new definitional framework to organize existing work, utilizing this framework to review literature on intergenerational continuity in parenting behaviors, and proposing a new developmental framework for understanding the etiology of intergenerational continuity in parenting behaviors. Design: The present review examines 31 studies of intergenerational continuity in parenting, summarizes the findings offered by these studies, and integrates this existing literature in a theoretical framework for considering the etiology of intergenerational continuity in parenting behaviors. Results: Results indicate that parental warmth, hostility, and behavioral control each demonstrate intergenerational continuity, and that internalizing and externalizing behavior serve as potential mediators of intergenerational continuity across all three types of parenting behaviors. Conclusions: Parenting behaviors falling in the warmth, hostility, and behavioral control domains each demonstrate modest continuity across generations. Internalizing and externalizing behaviors developed by children in response to parenting in their family of origin may persist and cause similar patterns of parenting when these children grow up and start their own families. Partner psychopathology and parenting styles may moderate these externalizing and internalizing pathways to intergenerational continuity in parenting.
Developing New Forms of Discourse for English Language Teaching

This thesis is an account of how I have worked collaboratively with a group of practising Japanese teachers in order to propose a potentially new form of professional education for English language teachers in Japan. It tells the story of how we have learnt to challenge Japanese government policy on English language education and professional education for English language teachers through the process of our inquiry. It also tells of how I have learnt to find ways of developing my practice as a researcher – through working collaboratively in the teacher research group, developing myself as a PhD researcher, and becoming an independent researcher. The inquiry has led to my appreciation of the action research methodology, used for this study, grounded in collaboration, reflective practice and a values-oriented perspective. Our collaborative practice has led to our generating a potentially new understanding of the meaning of communicative competence for use in a Japanese context. This has prompted my recognition of what the improvement of teachers’ communicative competence might include, which has been further incorporated into a potentially new form of professional education I propose in this thesis: the new form is grounded in a person-centred dialogic approach, and is characterised by the following four dimensions of teacher professional learning: action, reflection, autonomy and collaboration. I hope that this thesis demonstrates that I have done my best to live my values ‘in practice’ and have shown my ‘commitments’ to the values ‘in action’ (McNiff, 2014, p.113). I also hope that the public presentation of the thesis may act as an invitation to policy-makers and those involved in English language education and to a public debate about the current educational context. Ultimately, I hope to influence education policy formation and implementation in Japan.
Modeling respiratory lung motion: a biophysical approach using finite element methods

Respiratory dynamics poses a main source of error in radiotherapy of thoracic tumors. Development and optimization of methods to adequately account for breathing motion require detailed knowledge of the dynamics and its impact on e. g. the dose delivered by radiation. Thus, computer aided modeling and model based simulation of respiratory motion gains in importance. In this paper a biophysical approach for modeling lung motion is described. Main aspects of the process of lung ventilation are identified and outlined as the starting point of modeling. They are formulated as a contact problem of linear elasticity theory. The resulting boundary value problem is solved using Finite Element Methods (FEM). 4D (= 3D+t) CT image data are used to evaluate the modeling approach. Model based three-dimensional vector fields representing respiratory motion are computed for different patients. Simulated motion patterns of inner lung landmarks like prominent bifurcations of the bronchial tree and the tumor mass center are compared with corresponding motion patterns observed in the 4D CT data. The influence of geometrical and biomechanical parameters like mesh quality and values of elasticity constants on the modeling process is investigated. Differences between model based predicted landmark positions and corresponding landmark positions identified interactively are mostly within the variability of interactive landmark positioning across multiple observers (interobserver variability). The impact of geometrical and biomechanical parameters on resulting vector fields is fairly small. Outcomes suggest that FEM state an adequate strategy to model aspects of the physiology of breathing.