Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mathematical Analysis of Unsteady Flows of Fluids with Pressure, Shear-Rate, and Temperature Dependent Material Moduli that Slip at Solid Boundaries

In Bridgman's treatise [The Physics of High Pressures, MacMillan, New York, 1931], he carefully documented that the viscosity and the thermal conductivity of most liquids depend on the pressure and the temperature. The relevant experimental studies show that even at high pressures the variations of the values in the density are insignificant in comparison to that of the viscosity, and it is thus reasonable to assume that the liquids in question are incompressible fluids with pressure dependent viscosities. We rigorously investigate the mathematical properties of unsteady three-dimensional internal flows of such incompressible fluids. The model is expressed through a system of partial differential equations representing the balance of mass, the balance of linear momentum, the balance of energy, and the equation for the entropy production. Assuming that we have Navier's slip at the impermeable boundary we establish the long-time existence of a (suitable) weak solution when the data are large.
Normal Factorization in $SL(2,Z)$ and the Confluence of Singular Fibers in Elliptic Fibrations

In this article we obtain a result about the uniqueness of factorization in terms of conjugates of the matrix $U=(\xymatrix{1 & 1 0 & 1})$, of some matrices representing the conjugacy classes of those elements of $SL(2,Z)$ arising as the monodromy around a singular fiber in an elliptic fibration (i.e. those matrices that appear in Kodaira's list).
A dynamic inventory model using exponential smoothing.

Inventory systems may be analyzed using techniques which were originally devised to study the dynamic response of servomechanisms. This paper uses these methods to study an inventory system using exponential smoothing to predict a demand which is assumed to have a linear trend with uncorrelated noise components. The statistical properties of the estimator are investigated, and both exact and limiting expressions for its mean and variance are derived. The model is assumed to have a fixed time lag between the placing of a replenishment order and its receipt, and the system response is determined for impulse, step and ramp inputs. The choice of a smoothing constant is discussed, and the effect of the choice on the variance of the forecast equation, and the response time of the system is analyzed.
'Tropical' Real Business Cycles? A Bayesian Exploration

Can frictionless small open economy models driven solely by technology shocks account for business cycles in developing countries? We don't find evidence of it. We build a DSGE model that jointly includes a variety of real perturbations in addition to technology shocks, such as procyclical fiscal policies; terms of trade fluctuations; and perturbations to the foreign interest rate coupled with financial frictions and estimate it using Bayesian methods on high and low frequency data from a developing - and "tropical" - country, Colombia. We find interest rate shocks to be crucial and that financial frictions play a central role as propagating mechanisms of transitory technology shocks. These two driving forces alone can account well for the observed properties of the Colombian business cycle. Other structural shocks such as terms of trade fluctuations and level shifts in the technology process do not appear to be relevant in the past decade and a half, but their importance increases when a longer span of data is considered.
Ordinal and cardinal utility: An integration of the two dimensions of the welfare concept

Abstract In this paper we distinguish two ‘dimensions’ of the utility concept. The first is the ‘behavioral’ dimension, described by indifference curves in a commodity space. It may be estimated by observing consumer purchase behavior. The second dimension is the ‘welfare’ dimension, i.e., the cardinal utility levels corresponding to indifference curves. The second dimension may be estimated by means of the income evaluation approach. We deal with methodological issues and show by means of empirical evidence the validity of the income evaluation approach. In the same time we propose some major modifications of the method. Secondly, we show how the two dimensions may be combined. This is illustrated with respect to the AIDS and the Translog model. In this way we find how price and income variations influence measured individual welfare.
Influence of various asymmetrical contextual factors for TTS in a low resource language

The generalized statistical framework of Hidden Markov Model (HMM) has been successfully applied from the field of speech recognition to speech synthesis. In this paper, we have applied HMM-based Speech Synthesis (HTS) method to Gujarati (one of the official languages of India). Adaption and evaluation of HTS for Gujarati language has been done here. In addition, to understand the influence of asymmetrical contextual factors on quality of synthesized speech, we have conducted series of experiments. Evaluation of different HTS built for Gujarati speech using various asymmetrical contextual factors is done in terms of naturalness and speech intelligibility. From the experimental results, it is evident that when more weightage is given to left phoneme in asymmetrical contextual factor, HTS performance improves compared to conventional symmetrical contextual factors for both triphone and pentaphone case. Furthermore, we achieved best performance for Gujarati HTS with left-left-left-centre-right (i.e., LLLCR) contextual factors.
Comparison of voice features for Arabic speech recognition

Selection of the speech feature for speech recognition has been investigated for languages other than Arabic. Arabic Language has its own characteristics hence some speech features may be more suited for Arabic speech recognition than the others. In this paper, some feature extraction techniques are explored to find the features that will give the highest speech recognition rate. Our investigation in this paper showed that Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) gave the best result. We also look at using an operator well know in image processing field to modify the way we calculate MFCC, this results in a new feature that we call LBPCC. We propose the way we use this operator. Then we conduct some experiments to test the proposed feature.
An Efficient Time-Frequency Domain Speech Perceptual Hashing Authentication Algorithm Based on Discrete Wavelet Transform

According to the situation that speech authentication algorithms are not appropriated for real-time speech content authentication, a novel speech perceptual hashing authentication algorithm based on discrete wavelet transform with combination of time-frequency domain features was proposed. Firstly, by discrete wavelet transform (DWT), a new signal in frequency domain is generated from the original speech signal after pre-processing and intensity-loudness transform (ILT). Next, the algorithm partitions low frequency wavelet decomposition coefficients into equal-sized and non-overlapping blocks, and then computes logarithmic short-time energy of each block to obtain speech signal's features in frequency domain. Finally, combining with spectral flux features (SFF) of speech signal in time domain, a ternary perceptual hashing sequence is created. Experiment results show that ternary form is better to stand for hashing digest than binary form, the proposed algorithm has a good robustness against content preserving operations, discrimination, compactness and high efficiency, and detects the tamper localization as well.
Keep it slow and in time: Online DVFS with hard real-time workloads

To handle hot spots or power shortages, modern multicore processors are equipped with a supervisory dynamic thermal and power management (DTPM) system. When necessary, the DTPM system autonomously adapts the capacity of the cooling system or throttles the speed of core-local clocks via dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) techniques. Opposed to best-effort scenarios, online DVFS with real-time workloads also needs to consider completion times of computations. Whereas execution times can be bounded adequately with worst-case estimates, arrival times of computation requests are potentially unknown. A deadline for completing a computation can easily be missed, if workloads suddenly peak and past clock speed assignments have built-up a non-negligible backlog of computations. To overcome this problem, we introduce an online DVFS management scheme which is history-aware. It operates a core at higher speed levels only if the future workload has the potential to result in timing violations, if not anticipated by rising clock speed assignments. We present an implementation of the scheme running on the Gem5 hardware simulator.
Feasibility of Repurposing the Polyanionic Microbicide, PPCM, for Prophylaxis against HIV Transmission during ART

HIV-serodiscordant couples wishing to conceive often seek assisted reproduction, during which spermatozoa from infected men are washed to minimize the risk of HIV transmission to partner and fetus. We sought to improve this method by adding a microbicide, PPCM, as an HIV prophylactic. HIV-1 (BaL) inhibition by PPCM appears irreversible and independent of added Ca2+. Without added Ca2+, PPCM (≤10 mg/mL, ≤90 min), a stimulus of Ca2+-dependent acrosomal loss, has no effect on sperm motility, forward progression, or acrosomal status. PPCM-treated (10 mg/mL) sperm retain their ability to acrosome react when Ca2+ is added. Sperm DNA integrity/function is unaffected by PPCM (≤10 mg/mL). Adding PPCM (5 mg/mL, 30 min) to washing media reduces infectivity (viral antigen p24 and RNA) of ex-vivo HIV-infected semen by 3-4 Logs compared with washing alone. Sperm washing with appropriate extracellular Ca2+ levels and PPCM is significantly more effective than washing alone at reducing HIV infectivity.
Generalized Basis Pursuit

We consider the problem of estimating a signal sampled with noise at equispaced locations. While many denoising techniques assume that the noise is Gaussian, they will lose eeciency if this is false. Waveshrink and Basis Pursuit are two wavelet-based denoising techniques which are well suited to estimate spatially inhomogeneous signal under the assumption of Gaussian noise. The aim of this article is to generalize Basis Pursuit to a wider class of noise distributions while retaining the good predictive performance of a wavelet-based estimator. We deene Generalized Basis Pursuit, propose an algorithm to solve the corresponding convex programming optimization problem, propose an automatic \universal" selection of the smoothing parameter, and illustrate the new estimator on simulated and real data.
Between-Subject Variability in the Breaking Continuous Flash Suppression Paradigm: Potential Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

A recent focus in the field of consciousness research involves investigating the propensity of initially non-conscious visual information to gain access to consciousness. A critical tool for measuring conscious access is the so-called breaking continuous flash suppression paradigm (b-CFS). In this paradigm, a high contrast dynamic pattern is presented to one eye, thereby temporarily suppressing a target stimulus that is presented to the other eye. The time it takes for observers to report (e.g., the location of) the initially suppressed stimulus provides a measure of conscious access. Typical observations in b-CFS studies include the finding that upright faces are released from suppression faster than inverted faces, and the finding that stimuli that match the current content of visual working memory are released from suppression faster than mismatching stimuli. Interestingly, the extent to which observers exhibit these effects varies extensively (in the range of hundreds of milliseconds). By re-analyzing existing datasets and a new dataset we establish that the difference in RTs between conditions in b-CFS tasks (i.e., the effect of interest) is highly correlated with participants' overall suppression durations, and with their trial-to-trial variability in RTs. We advocate the usage of a simple latency- normalization method, which (1) removes the between-subject variability in suppression duration from the effect of interest, while (2) providing distributions of RT differences that are better suited for parametric testing. We next compare this latency-normalization method to two other transformations that are widely applied on within-subject RT data (z-transformations and log-transformations). Finally, we tentatively discuss how trial-to-trial variability and overall suppression duration might relate to prolonged phases of shallow suppression that are more prone to modulations of conscious access.
X-Ray Detection of PSR B1259-63 at Periastron

We report on results of X-ray observations of the unique radio pulsar/Be star binary PSR B1259? 63, obtained using the ASCA satellite two weeks before, during , and two weeks after the pulsar's most recent periastron passage on January 9, 1994. The source was detected at all three epochs, with an X-ray luminosity in the 1{10 keV band of 110 34 (d=2 kpc) 2 erg s ? 1 at the pre-and post-periastron epochs, and a factor of 2 smaller at periastron. The X-ray emission can be characterized by power-law spectra with a photon index in the range 1.5{1.9, with evidence for spectral softening at periastron. The photoelectric absorption, N H 510 21 cm ? 2 , was constant for the three observations within measurement uncertainties, and is consistent with the galactic contribution. We detect no pulsations , and derive an upper limit on periodicities close to the PSR B1259? 63 spin period of 7% of the total observed ux, conservatively assuming a sine-wave proole. We argue that accretion of gaseous material onto the surface of the neutron star is an unlikely origin for the observed X-rays. The characteristics of the X-ray emission from the PSR B1259? 63 system are in good qualitative agreement with models of non-thermal acceleration of relativistic particles from the pulsar wind in a shock at the location where the pulsar and Be star wind pressures balance. Assuming reasonable Be star equatorial outtow and pulsar wind pressures, we nd that the mass-loss rate _ M and surface velocity v are constrained by the relation 100 < (v=10 km s ? 1)(_
FACTORS RELATED TO DATA USE IN INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP: THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA LITERACY IN LEADERSHIP EDUCATION

Using the theoretical framework of information use environments, this study examined 183 principals? use of data in instructional leadership in a Midwest state in the US and identified the factors related to data use. Survey results indicate that data were frequently used by the principals for instructional leadership. Principals? data literacy including perceptions of data quality and data analysis skills significantly predicted their frequency of data use in instructional leadership. School district? s requirement of data-driven decision making, data accessibility, and school team of data analyses did not seem to serve as the significant predictors. Results provide insights and implications guiding data literacy education in school leader preparation.
Source of homologous parasites in recurrent Plasmodium vivax malaria.

TO THE EDITOR—In the group of infants with Plasmodium vivax malaria that was monitored by Imwong et al [1], most of the first recurrences were found to be caused by parasites that were genotypically similar to those that had given rise to the initial clinical symptoms. Alternatively, parasites responsible for recurrent P. vivax malaria can be genetically different from those that caused the first bout of illness [1]. Hypnozoites appear to be directly sporozoite derived [2, 3], and sporozoite inocula may contain more than 1 genotype [4]. Renewed parasitemia of a heterologous nature can therefore be explained (in theory) as a relapse resulting from hypnozoite activation. However, the point has been made that many heterologous recurrences in adults might not derive from the inoculum that gave rise to the previous clinical or parasitemic episode but rather from earlier mosquito inoculation of parasites [1]. In contrast to the heterologous relapse situation, the origin of homologous parasites in the bloodstream in recurrent P. vivax malaria is puzzling. The source in an unknown proportion of cases might be latent merozoites [3, 5] rather than hypnozoites, because the latter origin would require that some inoculated sporozoites of a particular genotype undergo early multiplication in the liver
Chrysophanol Inhibits NALP3 Inflammasome Activation and Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion in Mice

The most effective way to contain cerebral ischemic injury is reperfusion; however, reperfusion itself may result in tissue injury, for which inflammatory damage is one of the main causative factors. NALP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex. It consists of NALP3, ASC, and caspase-1, whose function is to switch on the inflammatory process. Chrysophanol is an extract from plants of Rheum genus and it possesses many pharmacological effects including its anti-inflammation activity. In this study, the effects of chrysophanol in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and the potential mechanisms were investigated. Male CD1 mice were subject to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). The NALP3 inflammasome activation status and its dynamic expression during the natural inflammatory response induced by tMCAO were first profiled. The neuroprotective effects of chrysophanol were then assessed and the potential mechanisms mediating the observed neuroprotection were then explored. Physical parameters including neurological deficit, infarct size, brain edema, and BBB permeability were measured at 24 h after tMCAO. Confocal microscopy, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR techniques were utilized to analyze the expression of NALP3 inflammasome and IL-1β. Our results indicated that the brain tissue damage during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion is accompanied by NALP3 inflammasome activation. Chrysophanol could inhibit the activation of NALP3 inflammasome and protect cerebral ischemic stroke.
The Behaviour of the Dollar and Exchange Rates in Europe: Empirical Evidence and Possible Explanations

The analysis of the day-by-day evolution of currency markets often emphasises the relationship between the behaviour of the US dollar and that of the exchange rates between the other major currencies, in particular the tendency of EMS currencies to appreciate vis-i? ½-vis the DM in periods of dollar strength. In this paper we systematically analyse this relationship. In particular, we examine the extent to which it has changed in the last ten years, a span of time that included a period without realignments in the EMS, the crisis of the System, the suspension of the lira’s participation in the ERM and the withdrawal of the pound, the “widened” band for the other currencies, and the re-entry of the lira. We also suggest a possible explanation for this relationship and find supporting empirical evidence for it: we show that the reactions of each bilateral exchange rate to shocks to the value of the dollar are related to the different orientation of monetary and exchange-rate policies in the various European countries, and that these differences are consistent with the potential effects of variations in the exchange rates vis-i? ½-vis the dollar and the DM on each country’s rate of inflation.
Tree-Cut and a Lexicon Based on Systematic Polysemy

This paper describes a lexicon organized around systematic polysemy: a set of word senses that are related in systematic and predictable ways. The lexicon is derived by a fully automatic extraction method which utilizes a clustering technique called tree-cut. We compare our lexicon to WordNet cousins, and the inter-annotator disagreement observed between WordNet Semcor and DSO corpora.
The Nonlinear Impact of Globalization on Corruption

Some researchers have argued that globalization has increased the opportunity for corrupt practices, while others state that globalization has lead to a decrease in corruption as countries wishing to join the global economy must comply with international anti-corruption rules and regulations. This study empirically explores this paradox using the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and the Konjunkturforschungsstelle (KOF) globalization Index. The results suggest that a nonlinear relationship exists between globalization and corruption. Specifically, the results of this study suggest that the effect of globalization on corruption is dependent on the level of globalization with the highest corruption levels realized at moderate or transitioning levels of globalization.
Signal-Level Information Fusion for Less Constrained Iris Recognition Using Sparse-Error Low Rank Matrix Factorization

Iris recognition systems working in less constrained environments with the subject at-a-distance and on-the-move suffer from the noise and degradations in the iris captures. These noise and degradations significantly deteriorate iris recognition performance. In this paper, we propose a novel signal-level information fusion method to mitigate the influence of noise and degradations for less constrained iris recognition systems. The proposed method is based on low rank approximation (LRA). Given multiple noisy captures of the same eye, we assume that: 1) the potential noiseless images lie in a low rank subspace and 2) the noise is spatially sparse. Based on these assumptions, we seek an LRA of noisy captures to separate the noiseless images and noise for information fusion. Specifically, we propose a sparse-error low rank matrix factorization model to perform LRA, decomposing the noisy captures into a low rank component and a sparse error component. The low rank component estimates the potential noiseless images, while the error component models the noise. Then, the low rank and error components are utilized to perform signal-level fusion separately, producing two individually fused images. Finally, we combine the two fused images at the code level to produce one iris code as the final fusion result. Experiments on benchmark data sets demonstrate that the proposed signal-level fusion method is able to achieve a generally improved iris recognition performance in less constrained environment, in comparison with the existing iris recognition algorithms, especially for the iris captures with heavy noise and low quality.
Does surgery for instability of the shoulder truly stabilize the glenohumeral joint?

Abstract Despite the fact that surgery is commonly used to treat glenohumeral instability, there is no evidence that such treatment effectively corrects glenohumeral translation. The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to analyze the effect of surgical stabilization on glenohumeral translation. Glenohumeral translation was assessed in 11 patients preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively following surgical stabilization for anterior shoulder instability. Translation was measured using optical motion capture and computed tomography. Preoperatively, anterior translation of the affected shoulder was bigger in comparison to the normal contralateral side. Differences were significant for flexion and abduction movements (P < 0.001). Postoperatively, no patients demonstrated apprehension and all functional scores were improved. Despite absence of apprehension, postoperative anterior translation for the surgically stabilized shoulders was not significantly different from the preoperative values. While surgical treatment for anterior instability limits the chance of dislocation, it does not seem to restore glenohumeral translation during functional range of motion. Such persistent microinstability may explain residual pain, apprehension, inability to return to activity and even emergence of dislocation arthropathy that is seen in some patients. Further research is necessary to better understand the causes, effects, and treatment of residual microinstability following surgical stabilization of the shoulder.