Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Models for Reidentification of Trucks Over Long Distances on the Basis of Axle Measurement Data

Vehicle reidentification methods can be used to anonymously match vehicles crossing 2 different locations on the basis of vehicle attribute data. In this article, reidentification methods are developed to match commercial vehicles that cross 2 weigh-in-motion sites in Oregon that are separated by 145 miles. Using vehicle length and axle data as attributes to characterize vehicles, a Bayesian model is developed that uses probability density functions obtained by fitting Gaussian mixture models to a sample data set of matched vehicles. The reidentification model when applied to a test data set (where each downstream vehicle also crosses the upstream site) matches vehicles with an accuracy of 91% when both axle weight and axle spacings data are used. To account for the fact that not all vehicles in the downstream also cross the upstream site, an additional new step is developed to screen mismatched vehicles produced by the algorithm. For this step, several screening methods are developed that allow the user to trade off the total number of matched vehicles and error rate. For evaluating the effectiveness of the screening methods, 2 scenarios are considered. In the first scenario, only common vehicles that cross both the upstream and downstream sites are considered, whereas in the second scenario all downstream vehicles are considered. It is shown that the mismatch error can be reduced to as low as 1% and 5% at the expense of not matching about 25% of the common vehicles (crossing both sites) for the first and second scenarios, respectively.
An effective method for adenoviral‐mediated delivery of small interfering RNA into mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promise as a main actor of cell‐based therapeutic strategies, due to their intrinsic ability to differentiate along different mesenchymal cell lineages, able to repair the diseased or injured tissue in which they are localized. The application of MSCs in therapies requires an in depth knowledge of their biology and of the molecular mechanisms leading to MSC multilineage differentiation. The knockdown of target genes through small interfering RNA (siRNA) carried by adenoviruses (Ad) represents a valid tool for the study of the role of specific molecules in cell biology. Unfortunately, MSCs are poorly transfected by conventional Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) vectors. We set up a method to obtain a very efficient transduction of rat MSCs with low doses of unmodified Ad5, carrying the siRNA targeted against the mRNA coding for Rb2/p130 (Ad‐siRNA‐Rb2), which plays a fundamental role in cell differentiation. This method allowed a 95% transduction rate of Ad‐siRNA in MSC, along with a siRNA‐mediated 85% decrease of Rb2/p130 mRNA and a 70% decrease of Rb2/p130 protein 48 h after transduction with 50 multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of Ad5. The effect on Rb2/p130 protein persisted 15 days after transduction. Finally, Ad‐siRNA did not compromise the viability of transduced MSCs neither induced any cell cycle modification. The effective Ad‐siRNA‐Rb2 we constructed, together with the efficient method of delivery in MSCs we set up, will allow an in depth analysis of the role of Rb2/p130 in MSC biology and multilineage differentiation. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 293–302, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Australian consumers' perceptions of environmental and agricultural threats: The associations of demographic and of psychographic variables

Currently little is known about the ways consumers perceive the issues and threats facing the agricultural sector. Understanding of the sector among the general community is important for its continued economic, social and environmental sustainability. Therefore we conducted an on-line survey among 1026 respondents drawn from each State and Territory in Australia. Initial examination of the responses showed most respondents held protectionist views about issues such as coal seam gas mining, imported food products and subsidies for agriculture and were aware of environmental and other threats. There were few city-country differences. Tertiary educated respondents tended to hold firmer opinions and more laissez-faire views than other respondents. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed two threat dimensions, one relating to threats to soil quality, the other about pollution and the survival of native animals. Stepwise multiple regression analyses of these dimensions showed that universalist values and trust in independent scientific information sources were positively associated with threat perceptions. The findings suggest that consumers generally are aware of agricultural issues, particularly those who hold strong universalist values. The respondents' views of policy issues diverge in several respects from prevailing views of economic orthodoxy. Future consumer communication and research opportunities are discussed.
A Journey of Suffering: Living With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in South Korea

ABSTRACT Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis presents significant challenges for patients because of the devastating disease characteristics and the fact that there is no treatment available. In this article, we explored the illness experiences from the perspectives of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the sociocultural context of South Korea. Fifteen patients were observed and interviewed between September 2009 and July 2010 in the metropolitan area of South Korea. We used an ethnographic approach for data collection and analysis. The meta-theme generated was “a journey of suffering,” and three themes emerged: (a) off the course, (b) drifting, and (c) on a new boat. Participants experienced multidimensional suffering as the disease progressed. Healthcare professionals should understand that, for many patients, this disease is a process or a series of experiences rather than a single diagnosis. This knowledge would allow healthcare providers to help patients prepare for those needs that arise as the disease worsens.
Forskolin has biphasic effects on osteoprogenitor cell differentiation in vitro

Cells isolated from fetal rat calvaria (RC) and maintained in vitro in medium containing ascorbic acid and B‐glycerophosphate form three‐dimensional, mineralized nodules having the histological, immunohistological, and ultrastructural characteristics of woven bone. We have studied the effects of forskolin (FSK), a diterpene that activates adenylate cyclase, in this system. While 10−7 −10−5 M FSK significantly stimulated cAMP levels in RC cells, lower concentrations did not. cAMP levels with 10−5 M FSK reached a maximum by 30 min at 37°C and returned to basal level in 2‐3 hr. Changes in cAMP levels correlated with changes in cellular shape: cells treated with 10−5 M FSK assumed a stellate morphology, lost microfilament bundles, and reduced their substrate adhesiveness, while cells treated with 10−9 M were not affected. Exponential growth and saturation densities of FSK‐treated cultures were similar to untreated cultures, indicating that FSK was neither toxic nor stimulatory to the population. The effect on bone nodule formation of FSK present continuously depended on concentration: 10−5 M FSK significantly inhibited the number of nodules formed, while 10−9 M FSK significantly stimulated bone nodule formation. Single short treatments with either 10−5 M or 10−9 M FSK had no effect on nodule formation, but repeated short duration treatments (1 hr every 2 days for 21 days) gave results similar to continuous exposure. These results indicate that intermittent elevations in intracellular cAMP have an inhibitory effect on bone formation. In addition, our work indicates that low concentrations of FSK stimulate differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells possibly through a non‐cAMP‐dependent process.
Is advertising helpful for organic businesses? Differential effects of packaging claims

What claims should companies use to improve consumer perceptions of their certified organic products and help consumers differentiate them from conventional products? This study focuses on advertising – specifically, on packaging claims that differ in their degree of explicitness and message topic. A laboratory experiment shows that a single claim positively influences perceptions of organic products, though additional claims can cancel out this positive effect. Different claims have distinct impacts on consumer perceptions. This study, thereby, reveals an effect of thematic scope: messages related to the environment have greater scope than those related to health, and they influence both environmental and health perceptions strongly.
Health‐related quality of life of food allergic patients: comparison with the general population and other diseases

To cite this article: Flokstra‐de Blok BMJ, Dubois AEJ, Vlieg‐Boerstra BJ, Oude Elberink JNG, Raat H, DunnGalvin A, Hourihane JO’B, Duiverman EJ. Health‐related quality of life of food allergic patients: comparison with the general population and other diseases. Allergy 2010; 65: 238–244.
Evidence for a ‘Medieval Warm Period’ in a 1,100 year tree‐ring reconstruction of past austral summer temperatures in New Zealand

The occurrence of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) in the Southern Hemisphere is uncertain because of the paucity of well‐dated, high‐resolution paleo‐temperature records covering the past 1,000 years. We describe a new tree‐ring reconstruction of Austral summer temperatures from the South Island of New Zealand, covering the past 1,100 years. This record is the longest yet produced for New Zealand and shows clear evidence for persistent above‐average temperatures within the interval commonly assigned to the MWP. Comparisons with selected temperature proxies from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres confirm that the MWP was highly variable in time and space. Regardless, the New Zealand temperature reconstruction supports the global occurrence of the MWP.
Parallel low-complexity MIMO detection algorithm using QR decomposition and Alamouti space-time code

Fourth generation (4G) and beyond-4G wireless standards must support sub-1Gbps data rates with peak bandwidth efficiencies of up to 30 bit/s/Hz. It is widely recognized that the use of multiple antennas on both ends of the wireless link, commonly referred to as MIMO, is the technology that will make this a reality. The problem is that most existing MIMO algorithms are either too complex to be able to support such rates or do not lend themselves to a parallel implementation, a must-have feature that will enable the use of low-power multi-core processors. In this paper we propose a parallel architecture and associated algorithm that has reasonable complexity. Most importantly, the algorithm possesses a performance-on-demand feature that allows for complexity, performance and power consumption to be traded off on a packet-by-packet basis.
The Response of Indian Equities to US Stock Market Movements of the Prior Trading Day

The aim of this chapter is to glean empirical evidence about the interconnections between Indian and US markets, in terms of price and volatility spillovers. The analysis also investigates the promptness of the Indian market response to US movements, any asymmetric properties of such response and how the latter is affected by liquidity factors such as the number of companies traded and transaction size.
Modifying Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Towards an Effective Auto-Mobile Business Continuity Management (BCM): A Quantitative Approach

Traditionally BCP consists of two main aspects, being Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Analysis (RA) [3] [7]. However, this approach doesn’t seem to be sufficiently addressing the complex and elaborate nature of supply chain network in the automobile industry. To address this insufficiency, we replace RA with Risk Ranking (RR) and introduce a new term Supply Chain Cooperation (SCC) to our BCP. A quantitative study was carried on 75 automobile parts markers in disaster prone regions (Asian and North America) and the results was analyzed by adopting this modified BCP concept and using Smart PLS 2.0 as our statistical analysis tool. We realized that SCC has a positive total significant effect on manmade risk rankings, natural risk ranking and BCM. Though risk ranking affects BCM, recovery time and competitive advantages positively, the relationships were not significant. In this study, we realized that BIA is the single most important part of BCP as it had the strongest positive total effects on other BCP factors (SCC, manmade risk ranking and natural risk ranking), BCM and evaluation factors (competitive advantages and recovery time).
Improvement of automatic abstracts by the use of structural analysis

We have undertaken to extend the capabilities of the abstracting system described by Rush, Salvador and Zamora by adding to the system a modification procedure that could be employed to make the abstracts produced by the system more acceptable to the reader. Results of this study are reported in this paper. Our purpose is to present a rationale for the modification phase of an abstracting system and to describe several modification rules whose implementation is an initial step toward the automated production of abstracts that contain sentences written especially for the abstract. We have described several methods for improving the readability of abstracts produced by computer program. The research described in this paper was performed as a part of a larger project whose aim is the development of an operational automatic abstracting system. 18 references are given. This abstract was produced by the Rush, Salvador, and Zamora automatic abstracting system and the procedures described in this paper.
Does Training Improve the Detection of Deception? A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examined whether training improves detection of deception. Overall, 30 studies (22 published and 8 unpublished; control-group design) resulted in a small to medium training effect for detection accuracy (k = 30, gu = 0.331) and for lie accuracy (k = 11, gu = 0.422), but not for truth accuracy (k = 11, gu = 0.060). If participants were guided by cues to detect the truth, rather than to detect deception, only truth accuracy was increased. Moderator analyses revealed larger training effects if the training was based on verbal content cues, whereas feedback, nonverbal and paraverbal, or multichannel cue training had only small effects. Type of training, duration, mode of instruction, and publication status were also important moderators. Recommendations for designing, conducting, and reporting training studies are discussed.
The Effect Earnings Management on Financial Performance

: The usefulness of this study was to determine the effect of management Return on Financial Performance. Forms of earnings management in the form of: 1) reporting earnings aggressive (earning aggresiveness), by delaying the recognition of expenses and the current losses and or accelerate the recognition of income and future returns, 2) avoid reporting income (loss avoidance), namely to avoid reporting income negative, increasing the earnings reporting, and meet the profit forecast by analysts. 3) smoothing earnings (earnings smoothing), namely the use of accounting policy to hide the economic shock on the operating cash flow of the company. The main focus of the users of the financial statements in this research is to provide information about the company's performance is measured by income and its components. While the investors and creditors as users of financial statements using past earnings information to help assess the company's prospects. management the In connection with the agency opportunistic not expected by the parties related to the company's contract the result of the agency The study's findings support several previous research, the study Casterella et al. (2002) which states that the longer a client auditor relationship with the greater likelihood of an audit failure. The findings are supported by the results of research Chung (2004), which indicates that the restriction length auditor and client relationships generate greater impetus for auditors to maintain the independence, which is able to effectively control the excessive manipulation of corporate profits. The company itself voluntarily reduce earnings management in responding to the public's attention. However, due to the length restriction rule auditor relationship with the client, the company can not avoid replacement auditors. The results support some of the previous research. Research Chung (2004) provide evidence that the rotation of audit regulation in Korea, audit quality is increased when the auditor relationship with the client is limited. This indicates that audit firm rotation rules can enhance auditor independence and encouraging higher for the auditor to withstand the pressure of the management company. The findings of this study support Johnson and Lys (1990) which showed that the replacement auditor can improve the quality of the audit because it allows the company to replace its auditors with more efficient new auditor. In this case, maintaining the auditors are not able to adequately provide services can reduce the quality of the audit.
Analysis of Aspects and Star Ratings in Consumer Reviews

This paper presents an analysis of star ratings in consumer reviews in Yelp, an online social platform for sharing consumer reviews about local businesses. In particular, we analyze consumer reviews about food businesses. We analyze how well or poorly the star ratings (on a scale of one star to five stars) associated with these reviews tally with the sentiment derived from the textual portion of the consumer review.
Low On-Resistance High-Breakdown Normally Off AlN/GaN/AlGaN DHFET on Si Substrate

Ultrathin-barrier normally off AlN/GaN/AlGaN double-heterostructure field-effect transistors using an in situ SiN cap layer have been fabricated on 100-mm Si substrates for the first time. The high 2DEG density in combination with an extremely thin barrier layer leads to enhancement-mode devices with state-of-the-art combination of specific on-resistance that is as low as 1.25 m¿·cm2 and breakdown voltage of 580 V at V GS = 0 V . Despite the 2-¿m gate length used, the transconductance peaks above 300 mS/mm. Furthermore, pulsed measurements show that the devices are dispersion free up to high drain voltage V DS = 50 V. More than 200 devices have been characterized in order to confirm the reproducibility of the results.
Preliminary study of the prevalence of speech and language difficulties in young offenders.

BACKGROUND There are no systematic surveys of the UK prison population, but data from several sources suggest that a significant number of prisoners might have limitations in their speech, language and communication abilities. AIM To examine the hypothesis that compared with the general population, a significantly larger number of the prison population has speech, language and communication difficulties. METHODS & PROCEDURES A survey of 10% of the young offenders within one young offender's institution was conducted. Tests of naming, picture description, grammatical competency and comprehension were used. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Forty-three per cent of participants scored at a level significantly lower than the limits acceptable for their age on the Boston Naming Test; 73% scored significantly below the acceptable limits for their age on grammatical competency; 23% scored significantly below the acceptable limits for their age on language comprehension; 47% of participants received more than one rating of moderate impairment on picture description. CONCLUSION It was confirmed that high levels of speech, language and communication difficulties are found among the young offender population. The implications for the management of young offenders, the limitations of the study and indications for further research are discussed.
The Effects of Cameroonian Informal Sector on the Scale and Composition of Output

This paper studies potential economic effect of the informal sector, stemming from two factors: first, that informal workers, rural migrants, bring not only their labour supply with them, but also their consumption demands. Second, that informal workers may have a comparative advantage in the production of local goods. The paper then provides some descriptive statistics on the Informal workers share in the Cameroonian labour force, by industry, region, as well as on their branches distribution. Using data on a sample of microenterprises located in Douala and Yaounde between 2001 and 2010 matched with Rural and Urban Youth Support Program (RUYSP) and the National Employment Fund (NEF) data, the paper find some evidence that rural workers inflows boost employment in the retail sector, which is non-traded and a non-intensive user of informal labour. The paper also find that informalisation is associated with greater stand-alone retail stores, and a fewer number of large and in particular big-box retailers – evidence that likely corroborate a diversityenhancing effect of informalisation. Finally, focusing more sharply on the agricultural sector, for which we can better identify the types of products consumed by customers, the authors indicate that informalisation is associated with increased product diversity of agricultural sellers.
Research on electromagnetic parameters of superconductors in a wide range of operating temperatures and frequencies

Based on the Mattis-Bardeen equations, the contour maps for complex conductivity, bulk surface impedance and conductivity quality factor of a classical superconducting material (aluminum) are calculated with the temperature ranging from 0 K to 1.2K (the transition temperature, Tc), and the frequency ranging from 1 GHz to 162 GHz (twice gap frequency). It is shown that the microwave properties of superconducting materials are mainly determined by temperature when the operating frequency is below the gap frequency. Also, it is found that the surface impedance is near a pure reactance in the range [0, 0.25Tc], and the quality factor is more than 108 in the range [0, 0.1Tc].
Automatic tree crown delineation in tropical forest using hyperspectral data

This paper aims to use unique features of hyperspectral data on an automatic process for outlining individual tree crowns (ITCs) in a tropical forest area, with special focus on semi-deciduous species. In order to enhance biophysical and biochemical properties of canopy species, a set of vegetation indices were computed. These indices served as input for a region growing segmentation algorithm that takes into account mutual similarity of pixels and spectral separability between neighbor segments. Segmentation output was evaluated on the basis of a score computed with the proportion of the area of the segments located within manually delineated ITCs. Results show that the segmentation approach is able to automatically delineate up to 70% of the control ITCs.