Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding and modeling conversations on microblogs

Recommender systems have proven to successfully influence user decisions on several applications and websites such as Amazon, eBay, Netflix, Spotify, among others. Largely, these systems rely on collaborative filtering to make useful recommendations but could suffer from cold start issues, i.e., lacking enough information for new users. By harnessing the popularity of social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) and other social media platforms, knowledge about users can be extracted, including intent of users that engage in conversations. This can provide additional information to applications using recommender systems in order to overcome issues like cold start. To that end, this research will tackle several challenges of natural language understanding in the context of conversations on social media platforms, such as: clustering, classification and summarization of conversations. Thus, the models developed will allow to extract knowledge from microblogs conversations that could be used in several applications.
Satellite-based estimate of the direct and indirect aerosol climate forcing

[1] The main uncertainty in anthropogenic forcing of the Earth's climate stems from pollution aerosols, particularly their “indirect effect” whereby aerosols modify cloud properties. We develop a new methodology to derive a measurement-based estimate using almost exclusively information from an Earth radiation budget instrument (CERES) and a radiometer (MODIS). We derive a statistical relationship between planetary albedo and cloud properties, and, further, between the cloud properties and column aerosol concentration. Combining these relationships with a data set of satellite-derived anthropogenic aerosol fraction, we estimate an anthropogenic radiative forcing of −0.9 ± 0.4 Wm−2 for the aerosol direct effect and of −0.2 ± 0.1 Wm−2 for the cloud albedo effect. Because of uncertainties in both satellite data and the method, the uncertainty of this result is likely larger than the values given here which correspond only to the quantifiable error estimates. The results nevertheless indicate that current global climate models may overestimate the cloud albedo effect.
Service delivery for people with hereditary spastic paraparesis living in the South West of England

Abstract Purpose: Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is an inherited nervous system disorder characterized by development of leg weakness, spasms and stiffness. While generally acknowledged that health and social care services can minimise symptoms and improve quality of life, there is a lack of research exploring this from the perspective of people affected by HSP. This qualitative study explored the users and providers experience of using rural services. Method: Focus groups and interviews were undertaken of people with HSP (n = 14), carers (n = 6) and professionals (n = 12), to describe their experience of service provision and to suggest improvements for care. These were taped, transcribed and analysed. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) Diagnosis, symptoms and finding support; (2) Therapy, treatment and the delivery of care; (3) Managing the disease together; and (4) The way forward. Conclusions: Rehabilitation and support for self-management is valued by those affected with HSP throughout the disease trajectory from diagnosis onwards. Key to this is the development of a partnership approach which includes carers. Single point, well-informed, gatekeepers may enhance the coordination and delivery of care in rural areas. These findings underline current guidance promoting a holistic approach for people with neurological conditions. Implications for Rehabilitation People with HSP see as a high priority the need for additional neuro-physiotherapy services and emotional support services. Single point, well-informed, gatekeepers are essential to coordinate care, especially with rare diseases. Health professionals need more education and training about the disease process and its consequences for people affected by HSP, including the carer burden. People with HSP require better self-management advice, information and support.
Core-Peripheral Temperature Gradient Does Not Predict Cardiac Output or Systemic Vascular Resistance in Children

We prospectively measured toe temperature, rectal temperature, systemic arterial pressure and cardiac output on two occasions one hour apart in 136 children who had had phenoxybenzamine after cardiac surgery while on cardiopulmonary bypass. Repeated measures analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between the change in temperature gradient over one hour in each patient and the change in cardiac index (r = 0.03, P > 0.1) or systemic vascular resistance (r = 0.007, P > 0.1). Although the peripheral temperature (toe temperature), and the core-peripheral temperature difference are simple, safe and inexpensive to measure in the population studied, they did not provide any guide to either cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance.
NoC Routers Using Cλash Sybe van Hijum

The traditional approach of using a bus for communication between different hardware components is not suitable anymore for modern multicore systems. In this paper this problem is solved with a Network-on-Chip. A protocol based on existing protocols is developed and a router that uses this protocol is built. To build this router Cλash is used, a new hardware description language based on Haskell. This is also a test for the language, as no routers have yet been described using Cλash.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE INTEGRITY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES LISTED IN INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE

Good financial statements are the financial statements which have integrity of the information contained. Integrity of the financial statements is the extent to which the financial statements present financial information fairly, honestly and unbiased. Integrity of the financial statements is very important for the users, especially external parties that have lower information to make decisions. The phenomenon of financial scandals that still occur in Indonesia indicates a failure to form the integrity of financial statements to meet the information needs of users of financial statements. This research aims obtain empirical evidence about the influence of internal and external companies for integrity of the financial statements of companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2012-2016. Factors of companies, among others, institutional ownership by financial institutions, independent commissioners, audit committee, audit quality and audit tenure. This study is a quantitative study aimed to examine the effect of independent variables independent variable. The statistical method used was multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 20. The method use purposive sampling and there are 39 samples that fulfill sample criteria. The results of this research indicate that institutional ownership by financial institutions and independent commissioner does not affect to integrity of the financial statements, while the audit committee a positive effect to integrity of the financial statements. Audit quality and audit tenure obtain results that audit quality does not affect to integrity of the financial statements and audit tenure positive effect to integrity of the financial statements.
Some Nonunique Fixed Point Theorems of Ćirić Type on Cone Metric Spaces

Some results of (Ciric, 1974) on a nonunique fixed point theorem on the class of metric spaces are extended to the class of cone metric spaces. Namely, nonunique fixed point theorem is proved in orbitally 𝑇 complete cone metric spaces under the assumption that the cone is strongly minihedral. Regarding the scalar weight of cone metric, we are able to remove the assumption of strongly minihedral.
A comparative study of reduced-order modeling techniques for nonlinear MEMS beams

This paper is dedicated to the comparison of three techniques of reduced-order modeling (ROM) that may be applied to MEMS beams subject to nonlinear damping and restoring forces. These methods are compared in terms of simplicity and accuracy, in the static, transient and steady-state regimes. It is shown that one of the most popular ROM methods may lead to dramatically wrong results in the case of single-mode decomposition.
Correlates of Voting Participation of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) vote less frequently than nondisabled people and people with other disabilities. This study explores what factors facilitate and hinder people with IDD’s voting participation. To do so, 1,341 people with IDD were surveyed using the Personal Outcome Measures®. Binary logistic regressions revealed significant relationships between voting participation, and support needs, residence types, guardianship statuses, and organizational supports. Along with the right supports, attention to barriers that might exist can ensure people with IDD are able to make use of their civil rights and participate in this crucial form of civic engagement.
A Response Regulator That Represses Transcription of Several Virulence Operons in the Group A Streptococcus

ABSTRACT A search for homologs of the Bacillus subtilis PhoP response regulator in the group A streptococcus (GAS) genome revealed three good candidates. Inactivation of one of these, recently identified as csrR (J. C. Levin and M. R. Wessels, Mol. Microbiol. 30:209–219, 1998), caused the strain to produce mucoid colonies and to increase transcription ofhasA, the first gene in the operon for capsule synthesis. We report here that a nonpolar insertion in this gene also increased transcription of ska (encoding streptokinase),sagA (streptolysin S), and speMF (mitogenic factor) but did not affect transcription of slo(streptolysin O), mga (multiple gene regulator of GAS),emm (M protein), scpA (complement C5a peptidase), or speB or speC (pyrogenic exotoxins B and C). The amounts of streptokinase, streptolysin S, and capsule paralleled the levels of transcription of their genes in all cases. Because CsrR represses genes unrelated to those for capsule synthesis, and because CsrA-CsrB is a global regulatory system inEscherichia coli whose mechanism is unrelated to that of these genes in GAS, the locus has been renamed covR, for “control of virulence genes” in GAS. Transcription of thecovR operon was also increased in the nonpolar insertion mutant, indicating that CovR represses its own synthesis as well. All phenotypes of the covR nonpolar insertion mutant were complemented by the covR gene on a plasmid. CovR acts on operons expressed both in exponential and in stationary phase, demonstrating that the CovR-CovS pathway is separate from growth phase-dependent regulation in GAS. Therefore, CovR is the first multiple-gene repressor of virulence factors described for this important human pathogen.
A Time-Varying Q-Filter Design for Iterative Learning Control

Linear time-invariant (LTI) lowpass Q-filters are often employed in iterative learning control (ILC) algorithms to provide robustness to model uncertainty at the expense of learning bandwidth. Whenever high frequency control is necessary, such as motion commands with rapid changes, precision tracking requirements may not be met. In this work, we examine the use of linear time-varying (LTV) Q-filters to create a time-varying learning bandwidth. Single-input single- output LTI plants with repeating disturbances are considered. Stability analysis for the LTV Q-filter learning algorithm is developed and an LTV Q-filter design procedure is presented incorporating time-frequency analysis of the tracking error and optimization. This procedure is used to design an LTV Q- filter for a microscale robotic deposition manufacturing system. Simulation and experimental results are provided, which demonstrate that the designed LTV Q-filter results in faster convergence and lower converged error than the best LTI Q-filter.
MEMBANGUN KEUNGGULAN BERSAING MELALUI MANAJEMEN SUMBERDAYA MANUSIA

ABSTRACT At globalization era, company has given on to change of information current, technological and commerce which so quickly penetrate region a state. Every activity of business shall the change merespon ably manajerial and technical in the form of program is transfer of human resource development and technology. So that highly competitive company, hence human resource development program require to be improved, pass program analyse work, rekrutmen, selection, orient, development and training and career development, so that yield preeminent human resource ready to compete in globalization era. Keywords : excellence compete, human resource management
Diagnosing the Organisational Culture of Kumasi Polytechnic Using the Competing Values Framework

The Competing Values Framework is a tool that can be used for many purposes including identifying the organizational culture of an organization. According to this framework there are four main cultures namely, Clan, Adhocracy, Market and Hierarchy. Knowledge of the organizational culture of an institution is very important if the managers of such institution are to succeed. The purpose of the research was therefore to identify the existing dominant organizational culture of Kumasi Polytechnic as perceived by its staff as well as the preferred organizational culture of members of staff. The members of staff of Kumasi Polytechnic were grouped into; senior members, senior staff and junior staff. Members of staff who had attained a minimum of one year of service with the Polytechnic were randomly sampled to answer the organizational culture assessment instrument. Based on the analysis, the existing dominant organizational culture of Kumasi Polytechnic is Hierarchy. However, the preferred organizational culture is Market. The implication is that for managers of the Polytechnic to be effective and successful, their leadership style should be that of a coordinator or organizer or rule-reinforcer. Also their management style should be characterized by security of employment, conformity and stability in relationships.
The inferior colliculopontine neurons of the cat in relation to other collicular descending neurons

Cells of origin of the pontine afferents from the inferior colliculus (IC) of cats have been identified by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Following injections of HRP in the pontine nuclei, many labeled neurons were found ipsilaterally in the caudal parts of the external and pericentral nuclei, while a few cells were found in the central nucleus. Additional neurons occurred in the nuclei of the middle and rostral parts. This organization contrasts with that of other collicular descending systems. Thus, neurons projecting to the superior olivary complex and cochlear nuclei were found predominantly in the central nucleus bilaterally. In the external nucleus labeled cells tended to be distributed in the middle to rostral regions, but they were few in number in the caudal part.
Planning for Peak Demand in Reverse Logistics

The project sponsor is a reverse logistics company that provides Returnable Transport Items (RTIs) to large manufacturing companies, distributors and retailers. Its business model is characterized by a unique closed-loop supply chain. The seasonal peak demand for RTIs from June to September negatively impacts service levels and costs. The sponsor company seeks an opportunity to level load production and build inventory position, while optimizing the service levels and annual supply chain costs. This capstone project proposes an optimal supply chain plan by analyzing historical data, identifying key cost-service drivers and creating a Scenario Planning Tool (SPT) that demonstrates tangible benefits in terms of cost and service level improvements. The data analysis quantifies the correlation between serviceability (days of coverage), inventory position and supply chain component costs (cost to serve). This correlation is used to model a Scenario Planning Tool (SPT) that recommends the optimal supply plan and directs the inventory policy decisions in order to maximize serviceability, while minimizing the total annual supply chain costs. A key takeaway is that the correlation between inventory policies and supply chain costs provides an opportunity to optimally plan inventory coverage in order to minimize supply chain costs while meeting service level targets. Capstone Advisor: Dr. Eva Ponce-Cueto Title: MITx MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management
Community‐Based Financing of Family Planning in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

In this systematic review, we gather evidence on community financing schemes and insurance programs for family planning in developing countries, and we assess the impact of these programs on primary outcomes related to contraceptive use. To identify and evaluate the research findings, we adopt a four‐stage review process that employs a weight‐of‐evidence and risk‐of‐bias analytic approach. Out of 19,138 references that were identified, only four studies were included in our final analysis, and only one study was determined to be of high quality. In the four studies, the evidence on the impact of community‐based financing on family planning and fertility outcomes is inconclusive. These limited and mixed findings suggest that either: 1) more high‐quality evidence on community‐based financing for family planning is needed before any conclusions can be made; or 2) community‐based financing for family planning may, in fact, have little or no effect on family planning outcomes.
Rejuvenating functional responses with renewal theory

Functional responses are widely used to describe interactions and resource exchange between individuals in ecology. The form given to functional responses dramatically affects the dynamics and stability of populations and communities. Despite their importance, functional responses are generally considered with a phenomenological approach, without clear mechanistic justifications from individual traits and behaviours. Here, we develop a bottom-up stochastic framework grounded in renewal theory that shows how functional responses emerge from the level of the individuals through the decomposition of interactions into different activities. Our framework has many applications for conceptual, theoretical and empirical purposes. First, we show how the mean and variance of classical functional responses are obtained with explicit ecological assumptions, for instance regarding foraging behaviours. Second, we give examples in specific ecological contexts, such as in nuptial-feeding species or size-dependent handling times. Finally, we demonstrate how to analyse data with our framework, especially highlighting that observed variability in the number of interactions can be used to infer parameters and compare functional response models.
TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL ORDER IN BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS

I n 1955, the observation of oscillating enzyme reactions brought the first direct experimental evidence that biological systems can function beyond some threshold of instability, the source of which is highly nonlinear kinetics in biochemical processes. ”’ Nonlinearity arises from the kinetics of multiple types of positive and negative feedback interactions of biochemical processes in living cells, which are organized in the form of enzyme cycles, such as energy metabolism, protein biosynthesis, or fatty acid synthesis and break down, among others. The rates of these processes are commonly controled by allosteric and/or interconvertible enzymes, which respond to small changes in substrate products and controling ligands in a cooperative manner by changing their conformation states, as well as their chemical structure. I n addition, it should be noted that the organization of transport of chemical particles in living systems implies, not only free diffusion, but, to a large extent, transport through membrane, which is facilitated by membrane-bound enzymes. Recently, electrical field effects were observed as an additional large-scale force affecting the transport of charged particles and controling the microenvironment of catalytic centers. ’ Experimental observations, as well as model studies, have shown that, under proper dynamic conditions, oscillatory states are maintained in various systems composed of single or multiple enzyme reactions. Depending on the turnover of the system, multiple steady states with monotone or overshooting transitions from one state to another, rotation on a limit cycle around an unstable singular point,4 as well as chaotic behavior,5 have been described. For the nonhomogeneous case, transport processes by diffusion and active transport coupled to enzyme reactions have been found to settle on dynamic states which might yield the occurrence of standing or moving chemical waves, depending on the geometry and size of the system . 6*7,*,9 Recently, major experimental and model studies focused on the mechanism of oscillation in the peroxidase reaction, the membrane-bound papain reaction, the glycolytic oscillation, as well as the oscillation of the synthesis of cyclic A M P in dictyostelium discoideum.2 In the context of this presentation, we would like to discuss more recent studies on the mechanism of glycolytic oscillation.
High isolation two-element MIMO antenna array based on embedded meta-material cells

A high isolation two-element MIMO antenna array is proposed by using embedded meta-material structure. The proposed meta-material is comprised of two layers at different level and the two layers are connected together by shorted pins. Five proposed meta-material cells are embedded in the FR-4 substrate, which is installed between the two antenna elements, to improve the isolation of the two-element MIMO antenna array. The proposed MIMO antenna array with meta-material isolation elements are created by the HFSS and its performance is also investigated in detail. The experimental results show that the proposed meta-material cells can provide a mutual coupling reduction of 18 dB in terms of the transmission coefficients.
Novel Image-dependent Quality Assessment Measures

The image is a 2D signal whose pixels are highly correlated in a 2D manner. Hence, using pixel by pixel error what we called previously Mean-Square Error, (MSE) is not an efficient way to compare two similar images (e.g., an original image and a compressed version of it). Due to this correlation, image comparison needs a correlative quality measure. It is clear that correlation between two signals gives an idea about the relation between samples of the two signals. Generally speaking, correlation is a measure of similarity between the two signals. An important step in image similarity was introduced by Wang and Bovik where a structural similarity measure has been designed and called SSIM. The similarity measure SSIM has been widely used. It is based on statistical similarity between the two images. However, SSIM can produce confusing results in some cases where it may give a non-trivial amount of similarity while the two images are quite different. This study proposes methods to determine a reliable similarity between any two images, similar or dissimilar, in the sense that dissimilar images have near-zero similarity measure, while similar images give near-one (maximum) similarity. The proposed methods are based on image-dependent properties, specifically the outcomes of edge detection and segmentation, in addition to the statistical properties. The proposed methods are tested under Gaussian noise, impulse noise and blur, where good results have been obtained even under low Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratios (PSNR’s).