Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Building an integrated IT governance platform at the BMW Group

IT management has many facets, defining blueprints and guidelines for application architectures or planning the further development of the IT landscape are two typical examples. The BMW Group established four IT management processes for strategy, architecture, planning and control, which are linked to the IT project life cycle. But if these processes are not supported by an enterprise architecture management process, concentrating on the architecture on a holistic and abstract level, there still retains room for improvement. In this paper, we describe each process and how IT efficiency and IT effectiveness can be greatly improved by linking these processes using an integrated IT governance platform. We give some insights, which techniques are used in the processes, how the processes are linked and which functionalities for an integrated IT governance platform are needed.
ICT Adoption in Malaysian SMEs

Many studies show that SMEs are the driving engine of growth, job creation, income generation and competitiveness in domestic and global markets. They also play a pivotal role in innovation and productivity growth. ICT is important tool and regarded as enabler to bring up the competitive level of SMEs in business arena. This paper, therefore, examines the factors that may affect the adoption of internet-based information and communication technologies (ICT) among SMEs in Malaysia as well as the factors affecting their willingness to adopt ICT usage.
A Three Dimensional Mesh Improvement Algorithm Based on Curvature Flow

In order to suppress undesirable noises in triangular meshes for quality improvement, an effective smoothing method based on curvature flow is proposed in this paper. For triangular meshes generated from planar contours, the continuity information amongst adjacent contours is utilized to determine whether a vertex represents a geometric feature to preserve or an isolated noise to smooth. Before smoothing the original mesh with an isotropic diffusion process, local adaptive refinement is performed where the sharp features are detected. In doing so, the smoothing method has both the benefits of the isotropic diffusion method, simplicity and stability, and that of the anisotropic diffusion method, feature preserving. The presented method is implemented along with several other smoothing methods, and experiments that smooth triangular meshes reconstructed from contours are performed. Experimental results demonstrate that our method can smooth triangular meshes in an effective way.
Trace semantics for concurrent objects

The theory of traces (the theory of free partial commutative monoids) is used to describe the behavior of systems of concurrent objects. A composition operation on systems and a synchronization operation on behaviors are presented: they allow to derive the behavior of complex systems from the behavior of its components. To address fundamental issues of concurrent semantics for objects in general, we concentrate on a simple model where objects communicate via asynchronous message passing and are only capable of sending messages, creating more objects and changing the way they react to incoming messages. The semantics is built from two simple concepts: a set of events representing the reception of messages by objects, and a binary symmetric and irre exive relation on events|independence|representing permissible concurrency. Causality, the dual notion of concurrency, is expressed by the dependence relation|the complement of independence. Executions of systems are described by a traces: labeled acyclic graphs where nodes are labeled with events and the only edges are between di erent nodes labeled with dependent events. The behavior of a system is the set of traces representing all possible executions. We achieve a simple and intuitive description of the behavior of concurrent objects where both causality and concurrency are explicit. When compared to other semantics for concurrent objects, trace semantics yields a more abstract description, in the sense that more similarly behaving computations are identi ed.
Simulation-based study of MPTCP (Multipath TCP)

Our current world is revolutionned by the networks which are interconnecting any machine to any other one. Nowadays equipments are plugged to the network by the way of many different network adapters (Ethernet, wifi, GSM), and network equipments are more and more interconnected to each other creating a highly mesh network. Thus, redundant paths are created between any two endpoints enabling multipath or the use of multiple paths to handle a communication. The benefits of multipath are the enhancement of robustness against failure, and minimizing communication cost. In the present work, we will talk about some solutions of multipath applied to the transport level. We will expose the most important problem facing multipath which is packet reordering, and we will also expose results of our simulations.
Multiple-Agent Surveillance Mission with Non-Stationary Obstacles

This paper presents the overall control architecture and the work-in-progress towards demonstrating the feasibility of using a team of autonomous robots to conduct a surveillance mission with non-stationary obstacles using an innovative multi-tiered control architecture. The presented control concept involves a central control computer serving as the hierarchical monitor of the overall mission which relays the pertinent information of the new obstacle positions detected by each robot to other robots involved in the mission. The robot’s on-board controllers are being designed to have the intelligence and adaptability to adjust their trajectories.
Passivity-based observer/controller design with desired dynamics compensation for 6 dofs parallel manipulators

This article provides a tracking scheme for 6 DOFpsilas parallel robots. It is based on a controller/observer combination with an additional compensation of the desired dynamics. The latter is necessary to avoid an online calculation of the direct kinematics. However, it introduces systematic errors. To take such deviations into account a passivity based formalism is used. The resulting approach is experimentally substantiated and proven to be highly powerful and robust against initial errors and model uncertainties.
Boreal forest CO2 exchange and evapotranspiration predicted by nine ecosystem process models: Intermodel comparisons and relationships to field measurements

Nine ecosystem process models were used to predict CO2 and water vapor exchanges by a 150-year-old black spruce forest in central Canada during 1994–1996 to evaluate and improve the models. Three models had hourly time steps, five had daily time steps, and one had monthly time steps. Model input included site ecosystem characteristics and meteorology. Model predictions were compared to eddy covariance (EC) measurements of whole-ecosystem CO2 exchange and evapotranspiration, to chamber measurements of nighttime moss-surface CO2 release, and to ground-based estimates of annual gross primary production, net primary production, net ecosystem production (NEP), plant respiration, and decomposition. Model-model differences were apparent for all variables. Model-measurement agreement was good in some cases but poor in others. Modeled annual NEP ranged from −11 g C m−2 (weak CO2 source) to 85 g C m−2 (moderate CO2 sink). The models generally predicted greater annual CO2 sink activity than measured by EC, a discrepancy consistent with the fact that model parameterizations represented the more productive fraction of the EC tower “footprint. ” At hourly to monthly timescales, predictions bracketed EC measurements so median predictions were similar to measurements, but there were quantitatively important model-measurement discrepancies found for all models at subannual timescales. For these models and input data, hourly time steps (and greater complexity) compared to daily time steps tended to improve model-measurement agreement for daily scale CO2 exchange and evapotranspiration (as judged by root-mean-squared error). Model time step and complexity played only small roles in monthly to annual predictions.
Less is more: energy-efficient mobile sensing with senseless

We present SenseLess, a system that leverages the different energy consumption characteristics of sensors to maximise battery life in mobile-sensing applications. We use the less expensive sensors more often, thereby enabling us to use the more expensive sensors less frequently. In the context of location-aware services, experimental results indicate that for a typical indoor and outdoor walk, compared to a simple GPS-based system, our SenseLess system can reduce energy consumption by more than 58% when determining a user's location, while maintaining the fidelity of the sensed data. This extends the battery life of a typical handheld device from 9 hours to 22 hours.
Mediterranean coastal conditions and litter type drive litter microbial responses to drought stress

Warming and disturbance of precipitation dynamics are expected in the Mediterranean basin, resulting in longer, more intense drought and heat waves. Here we investigated how litter microbial functioning and responses to stress may be shaped by coastal environmental conditions, and whether this depends on litter type (Pinus halepensis, Pistacia lentiscus and their admixture). Mesocosms of monospecific and mixed litters collected from both inland and coastal areas were subjected to either control (25°C, 60% water holding capacity [WHC]) or stress conditions (five drying‐rewetting [D/rW] cycles: 1 week of drying at 35°C, 1 week at 25°C, 60% WHC). Litters were characterised using chemical analyses (C/N ratio and solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] spectroscopy) and indicators of microbial activity (lignocellulolytic activities, basal respiration [BR], active microbial biomass [MB], fungal and bacterial catabolic profiles). Litter type controlled cellulases and basal respiration in litters from the inland area (e.g. positive correlations between these microbial indicators and di‐O‐alkyl C + O‐alkyl C and %N), whereas the litter‐type effect was smoothed for the coastal area. Fungal and bacterial catabolic profiles were mainly shaped by the coastal conditions and litter type, respectively, indicating that fungi were more sensitive to coast‐specific conditions and bacteria more sensitive to their immediate surrounding (i.e. litter type). After D/rW cycles, microbial catabolic profiles showed: (a) a stronger stress impact on microbial communities from the inland area and (b) pre‐exposure to coastal constraints limited the drought effect on decomposers from the coastal area. Our findings reveal that coastal environmental conditions and litter type are major drivers of microbial functioning and responses to drought stress.
LuaJava - A Scripting Tool for Java

Scripting languages are becoming more and more important as a tool for software development, as they provide great flexibility for rapid prototyping and for configuring componentware applications. In this paper we present LuaJava, a scripting tool for Java. LuaJava adopts Lua, a dynamically typed interpreted language, as its script language. Great emphasis is given to the transparency of the integration between the two languages, so that objects from one language can be used inside the other like native objects. The final result of this integration is a tool that allows the construction of configurable Java applications, using off-the-shelf components, in a high abstraction level.
Compactness results for H-holomorphic maps

H-holomorphic maps are a parameter version of J-holomorphic maps into contact manifolds. They have arisen in efforts to prove the existence of higher--genus holomorphic open book decompositions and efforts to prove the existence of finite energy foliations and the Weinstein conjecture, as well as in folded holomorphic maps. For all these applications it is essential to understand the compactness properties of the space of H-holomorphic maps. We prove that the space of H-holomorphic maps with bounded periods into a manifold with stable Hamiltonian structure possesses a natural compactification. Limits of smooth maps are "neck-nodal maps", i.e. their domains can be pictured as nodal domains where the node is replaced by a finite cylinder that converges to a twisted cylinder over a closed characteristic or a finite length characteristic flow line. We show by examples that compactness fails without the condition on the periods, and we give topological conditions that ensure compactness.
Is Spatial Uncertainty Necessary for the Context Specific Proportion Congruency Effect

iv ÖZ . vi DEDICATION . viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . ix TABLE OF CONTENTS . x LIST OF TABLES . xiii LIST OF FIGURES . xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xv CHAPTER 1 . 1
Link-Layer Encryption Effect on Achievable Capacity in Wireless Network Coding

In recent years, network coding has been enthusiastically promoted for certain wireless settings as a means of improving throughput and achieving higher capacity. Naturally, such proposals focused on communication issues, while paying less attention to security implications. This paper considers the effect of link-layer encryption (LLE) on network coding in wireless networks. LLE is a feature in current wireless networking standards (such as IEEE 802.11i) and its purpose is to mitigate traffic analysis attacks that are possible even in the presence of end-to-end encryption. We model single-source multicast using wireless network coding and show that, unfortunately, LLE significantly decreases the achievable capacity. Our goal is to understand the bounds of network coding and explore trade-offs between better security through LLE and greater capacity through network coding.
The Dimensional Structure of the Self Report Psychopathy Scale

Mental health issue is becoming increasingly prevalent in Malaysia. However, the country still lacks valid measures in assessing mental illness which includes psychopathy. The present study investigates the factorial structure of the Self Report Psychopathy Scale (SRPS). Specifically, it examines the feasibility of its use with Malaysian community. The SRPS was administered to a sample of undergraduate students. Result of principal components analysis yielded a four-factor solution. The obtained result was inconsistent with the proposed conceptual framework of this scale which captured only two factors (primary psychopathy and secondary psychopathy factors). The psychometric features of SRPS showed less support on its feasibility as a sound and reliable research instrument to measure students’ psychopathic attributes in the Malaysian context. Other implications of the findings are discussed.
Easy Hyperparameter Search Using Optunity

Optunity is a free software package dedicated to hyperparameter optimization. It contains various types of solvers, ranging from undirected methods to direct search, particle swarm and evolutionary optimization. The design focuses on ease of use, flexibility, code clarity and interoperability with existing software in all machine learning environments. Optunity is written in Python and contains interfaces to environments such as R and MATLAB. Optunity uses a BSD license and is freely available online at this http URL
Local descriptors for visual SLAM

We present a comparison of several local image descriptors in the context of visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). In visual SLAM a set of points in the environment are extracted from images and used as landmarks. The points are represented by local descriptors used to resolve the association between landmarks. In this paper, we study the class separability of several descriptors under changes in viewpoint and scale. Several experiments were carried out using sequences of images in 2D and 3D scenes.
Music in religion, religion in music: Christian faith and Confucian filial piety in the lifeworld practices of two musician-educators

Phenomenological research seeks understanding through descriptions of lived experiences using history, culture, and society to identify the true essence of human experiences. This study examined the relationships between faith community, socialisation, and occupational choices. Specifically, it investigated two musician-educators’ identity development and practices as educational leaders, focusing on the interplay between religion, music, cultural heritage, and stewardship. Confucian collectivism and Christian individualism served as the theoretical underpinnings where concepts of filial piety, Christian love, and the Protestant work ethic were explored. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to interpret the data gathered in semi-structured interviews. Overarching themes that emerged from both narratives were analysed. Both participants became renowned educators and role models in society. Their journeys were reframed into “The Parable of the Talents,” where they attributed their successes to God’s provision, and their work as stewardship to the institutions they served. Finally, faith-based institutions play an important role in the shaping of moral people that continues to positively influence them long after their graduation. Weekly chapel assembly was perceived as a key element in the planting of seeds in young minds. Further research is needed to explore the interactions between music, religion, cultural heritage, and stewardship in all cultures and faiths.
Mini-incision for strictly retroperitoneal nephrectomy in living kidney donation vs flank incision.

BACKGROUND Mini-incision donor nephrectomies (MIDNs) were established during the last decade, as an alternative to traditional open donor nephrectomy (ODN) via flank incision. In this study, we investigated intra-operative and post-operative data on outcome following MIDN in comparison with ODN data. METHODS Data of 70 living kidney donations, performed at the University of Regensburg Medical Center since 1996, were evaluated. Donor operation was performed as either strictly retroperitoneal MIDN (n = 34) or as traditional ODN (n = 36) via flank incision. Total operation time, warm ischaemia time (WIT), perioperative pain-medication usage and creatinine levels as well as length of hospital stay, return to complete enteral nutrition and regular digestion were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS Total operation times were similar in MIDN, n = 34 (132 +/- 26 min) and in ODN, n = 36 (140 +/- 37 min) (P = 0.424). WIT was also similar in both: MIDN (0.9 +/- 0.4 min) and ODN (0.9 +/- 0.4 min) (P = 0.568). The requirement for post-operative opioids in morphine equivalent doses was significantly lower in MIDN (8.4 +/- 16 mg) compared with ODN (44 +/- 57 mg) (P = 0.001). Additional application of non-opioids (metamizole) (MIDN: 4.8 +/- 6.3 g, ODN: 3.4 +/- 3.9 g) and non-steroidal antirheumatic (NSAR) (diclofenac) (MIDN: 322 +/- 361 mg, ODN: 247 +/- 474 mg) revealed no significant differences between the groups. The hospital stay was 4.9 +/- 1.4 days in MIDN which was significantly shorter than that in ODN (9.3 +/- 3.3 days) (P = 0.001). Patients achieved fully independent mobility earlier in MIDN than in ODN (P = 0.934). Start of enteral nutrition with fluids was significantly quicker in MIDN (1.9 +/- 7 h) compared with ODN (12 +/- 13 h) (P = 0.05). Full enteral nutrition was accomplished significantly earlier in MIDN (1.6 +/- 0.8 days) (P = 0.023). Return to normal digestion revealed no significant differences between groups. Serum creatinine levels of all kidney donors were in the normal range (66 +/- 18 micromol/l) one day before nephrectomy, increased on day 1 after surgery (119 micromol/l +/- 31 micromol/l) and were stable on day 3 (115 micromol/l +/- 30 micromol/l) without significant differences. CONCLUSION Strictly, retroperitoneal MIDN in living kidney donation is a fast and safe method for the procurement of a living donor graft, giving the patient a significantly shorter period of recovery, and thus is an attractive and recommendable alternative to traditional ODN procedures.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: prevalence, comorbidity, impact, and help-seeking in the British National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of 2000.

OBJECTIVE There is little information about obsessive-compulsive disorder in large representative community samples. The authors aimed to establish obsessive-compulsive disorder prevalence and its clinical typology among adults in private households in Great Britain and to obtain generalizable estimates of impairment and help-seeking. METHOD Data from the British National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of 2000, comprising 8,580 individuals, were analyzed using appropriate measurements. The study compared individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, individuals with other neurotic disorders, and a non-neurotic comparison group. ICD-10 diagnoses were derived from the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised. RESULTS The authors identified 114 individuals (74 women, 40 men) with obsessive-compulsive disorder, with a weighted 1-month prevalence of 1.1%. Most individuals (55%) in the obsessive-compulsive group had obsessions only. Comorbidity occurred in 62% of these individuals, which was significantly greater than the group with other neuroses (10%). Co-occurring neuroses were depressive episode (37%), generalized anxiety disorder (31%), agoraphobia or panic disorder (22%), social phobia (17%), and specific phobia (15%). Alcohol dependence was present in 20% of participants, mainly men, and drug dependence was present in 13%. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, compared with other neurotic disorders, was associated with more marked social and occupational impairment. One-quarter of obsessive-compulsive disorder participants had previously attempted suicide. Individuals with pure and comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder did not differ according to most indices of impairment, including suicidal behavior, but pure individuals were significantly less likely to have sought help (14% versus 56%). CONCLUSIONS A rare yet severe mental disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder is an atypical neurosis, of which the public health significance has been underestimated. Unmet need among individuals with pure obsessive-compulsive disorder is a cause for concern, requiring further investigation of barriers to care and interventions to encourage help-seeking.
Bilirubin: An Endogenous Molecule with Antiviral Activity in vitro

Bilirubin-IX-alpha (BR) is the final product of heme metabolism through the heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase (HO/BVR) system. Previous papers reported on the microbicidal effects of the HO by-products biliverdin-IX-alpha, carbon monoxide and iron, through either direct or indirect mechanisms. In this paper the evidence of a virucidal effect of BR against human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and the enterovirus EV71 was provided. Bilirubin-IX-alpha, at concentrations 1–10 μM, close to those found in blood and tissues, significantly reduced HSV-1 and EV71 replication in Hep-2 and Vero cell lines, respectively. Bilirubin-IX-alpha inhibited viral infection of Hep-2 and Vero cells when given 2 h before, concomitantly and 2 h after viral infection. Furthermore, BR retained its antiviral activity even complexed with a saturating concentration of human serum-albumin. Moreover, 10 μM BR increased the formation of nitric oxide and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in Vero and Hep-2 cell lines, respectively, thus implying a role of these two pathways in the mechanism of antiviral activity of the bile pigment. In conclusion, these results support the antiviral effect of BR against HSV-1 and enterovirus in vitro, and put the basis for further basic and clinical studies to understand the real role of BR as an endogenous antiviral molecule.