Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring satisfaction with student housing facilities

Problem statement: In the past decade, resident satisfaction has been used as an important indicator in evaluating student housing quality and services. This study investigates the level of resident satisfaction with student housing facilities. In particular, it examines the level of student satisfaction with living accommodations at one of the leading universities in Malaysia. Approach: The residential satisfaction framework was based on post-occupancy evaluations and has been utilized in previous studies; we expand the framework to address physical and social variables. Face-to-face surveys were conducted with participants who were selected using a cluster sampling technique. Results: The results show a mean satisfaction level of 2.61, which indicates that students are generally satisfied with student housing facilities. This score was lower, however, than the results of previous studies. Conclusion: By assessing residential satisfaction among students, we hope to provide valuable feedback to housing administrators and facility managers of higher learning institutions, thus enabling them to improve their services and offer better housing facilities in the near future.
ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS - A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Pharmaceutical companies are facing challenges to improve productivity in research and development, to ensure that patients all over the world have access to a safe and effective drug, and to improve performance to satisfy all stakeholders. To meet these challenges, pharmaceutical firms focus on a variety of business drivers that help them gain competitive advantage and remain profitable. They build absorptive capacity, which is the identification, assimilation, transformation and exploitation of new knowledge (Cohen and Levinthal, 1990) by investing in R&D and marketing. These firms formulate a strategy that ensures successful commercialization of their R&D output in the market. In addition, they integrate their functional units by the use of cross-functional teams and move from a centralized R&D to decentralized innovation centers to bring efficiency and effectiveness to their operations.
Sub-dictionary selection using local discriminant bases algorithm for signal classification

In signal decompositions using overcomplete, redundant time-frequency (TF) dictionaries, often it is challenging to restrict the dictionary to a sub-dictionary tailored for specific applications. In the proposed technique we used a similar approach as local discriminant bases algorithm (LDB) to select optimal TF subdictionaries for signal classification applications. A novel time-width versus frequency band mapping was generated for each of the signal class. These mappings of different classes were compared using a discriminant measure to arrive at a sub-dictionary. This sub-dictionary was then used for decomposing the testing set signals, followed by feature extraction and classification. Two highly nonstationary biomedical databases (1) vibroarthrographic signals (89 signals, 51 normal and 38 abnormal) (2) pathological speech database (100 signals, 50 normal and 50 pathological) were tested. Classification accuracies as high as 74.2% and 92% were achieved respectively. Due to the sub-dictionary approach, approximately a 40% reduction in signal decomposition time was observed for the tested databases.
Flow and Turbulence Structure around Abutments with Sloped Sidewalls

AbstractResults of eddy-resolving numerical simulations are used to investigate flow and turbulence structure around an isolated abutment with sloped sidewalls at conditions corresponding to the start (flatbed) and the end (equilibrium bathymetry) of the scour process. Besides cases where the abutment is not protected against scour using riprap, the paper considers cases where a riprap apron of constant width is present around the base of the abutment at the start of the scour process. The paper also discusses the effect of large-scale turbulence (e.g., horseshoe vortex system, eddies shed in the separated shear layer, vortices forming in the recirculation regions) on sediment entrainment and transport. Using information about the position and coherence of the large-scale turbulent structures present in the vicinity of the bed surface, the paper discusses some of the reasons for the very different bed scour patterns observed at equilibrium scour conditions for cases without and with a riprap apron. The ef.
Refining Estimates of Polar Ice Volumes during the MIS11 Interglacial Using Sea Level Records from South Africa

AbstractPeak eustatic sea level (ESL), or minimum ice volume, during the protracted marine isotope stage 11 (MIS11) interglacial at ~420 ka remains a matter of contention. A recent study of high-stand markers of MIS11 age from the tectonically stable southern coast of South Africa estimated a peak ESL of 13 m. The present study refines this estimate by taking into account both the uncertainty in the correction for glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and the geographic variability of sea level change following polar ice sheet collapse. In regard to the latter, the authors demonstrate, using gravitationally self-consistent numerical predictions of postglacial sea level change, that rapid melting from any of the three major polar ice sheets (West Antarctic, Greenland, or East Antarctic) will lead to a local sea level rise in southern South Africa that is 15%–20% higher than the eustatic sea level rise associated with the ice sheet collapse. Taking this amplification and a range of possible GIA corrections int.
Two-Way Rounding

Given $n$ real numbers $0\leq x_1,\ldots,x_n<1$ and a permutation~$\sigma$ of $\{1,\ldots,n\}$, we can always find $\xbar_1,\ldots,\xbar_n\in\{0,1\}$ so that the partial sums $\xbar_1+\cdots +\xbar_k$ and $\xbar_{\sigma 1}+\cdots +\xbar_{\sigma k}$ differ from the unrounded values $x_1+\cdots + x_k$ and $x_{\sigma 1}+\cdots +x_{\sigma k}$ by at most $n/(n+1)$, for $1\leq k\leq n$. The latter bound is best possible. The proof uses an elementary argument about flows in a certain network, and leads to a simple algorithm that finds an optimum way to round.
Variability of Sea Surface Heights in the Baltic Sea: An Intercomparison of Observations and Model Simulations

Sea level changes in the Baltic Sea are dominated by internal, short-term variations that are mostly caused by the ephemeral nature of atmospheric conditions over the Baltic area. Tides are small and their influence decreases from western parts of the Baltic Sea to the Baltic Proper. Superimposed to the large short-term sea level changes (up to few decimeters from day to day) are seasonal and interannual variations (centimeters to decimeters). This study focuses on the comparison of sea surface heights obtained from observations and from a high resolution oceanographic model of the Baltic Sea. From this comparison, the accuracy of the modeled sea surface variations is evaluated, which is a necessary precondition for the further use of the oceanographic model in geodetic applications. The model reproduces all observed Baltic sea level variations very reliably with an accuracy of 5 to 9 cm (rms) for short-term variations (up to 2 months) and 8 cm (rms) for long-term variations (>2 months). An additional improvement of the model can be attained by including long-period sea level variations of the North Sea. The model performs well also in the case of extreme sea level events, as is shown for a major storm surge that occurred at the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in November 1995.
Multi-image interpolation based on graph-cuts and symmetric optical flow

Multi-image interpolation in space and time has recently received considerable attention. Typically, the interpolated image is synthesized by adaptively blending several forward-warped images. Blending itself is a low-pass filtering operation: the interpolated images are prone to blurring and ghosting artifacts as soon as the underlying correspondence fields are imperfect. We address both issues and propose a multi-image interpolation algorithm that avoids blending. Instead, our algorithm decides for each pixel in the synthesized view from which input image to sample. Combined with a symmetrical long-range optical flow formulation for correspondence field estimation, our approach yields crisp interpolated images without ghosting artifacts.
Fluvial Degradation of the Highlands: The Terra Tyrrhena Region of Mars

Geologic and geomorphic analyses of highland terrains reveal the effects of fluvial erosion by well-integrated valley networks. Hydrologic modeling using 128 pix/deg Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter (MOLA) gridded topography is being done to quantitatively characterize these systems. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
Analysing the spatial variability of ground-level ozone in the UK using a generalised additive model

A generalised additive model is developed using annual mean ozone concentration as dependent variable and Cartesian coordinates, altitude, proximity to coast and nitrogen oxides (NOx) concentration as independent variables, which are all easy to obtain and apply. The model shows high concentrations at higher altitudes and closer proximity to coasts and an underlying south easterly trend in the UK. NOx, which is mainly derived from road traffic in urban areas, is negatively associated with ozone and appears to provide a good descriptor for urban versus rural locations. Used in combination with previously published NOx projections, the model estimates an average 26% increase in urban ozone across the UK by 2020. The spatial variability of annual ozone concentration (µg/m3) is compared with health related ozone metrics (SOMO35 µg/m3 hr) and the metrics set up for the protection of agricultural crops (AOT40 µg/m3).
Abnormal Kinetochore-Generated Pulling Forces from Expressing a N-Terminally Modified Hec1

Background Highly Expressed in Cancer protein 1 (Hec1) is a constituent of the Ndc80 complex, a kinetochore component that has been shown to have a fundamental role in stable kinetochore-microtubule attachment, chromosome alignment and spindle checkpoint activation at mitosis. HEC1 RNA is found up-regulated in several cancer cells, suggesting a role for HEC1 deregulation in cancer. In light of this, we have investigated the consequences of experimentally-driven Hec1 expression on mitosis and chromosome segregation in an inducible expression system from human cells. Methodology/Principal Findings Overexpression of Hec1 could never be obtained in HeLa clones inducibly expressing C-terminally tagged Hec1 or untagged Hec1, suggesting that Hec1 cellular levels are tightly controlled. On the contrary, a chimeric protein with an EGFP tag fused to the Hec1 N-terminus accumulated in cells and disrupted mitotic division. EGFP- Hec1 cells underwent altered chromosome segregation within multipolar spindles that originated from centriole splitting. We found that EGFP-Hec1 assembled a mutant Ndc80 complex that was unable to rescue the mitotic phenotypes of Hec1 depletion. Kinetochores harboring EGFP-Hec1 formed persisting lateral microtubule-kinetochore interactions that recruited the plus-end depolymerase MCAK and the microtubule stabilizing protein HURP on K-fibers. In these conditions the plus-end kinesin CENP-E was preferentially retained at kinetochores. RNAi-mediated CENP-E depletion further demonstrated that CENP-E function was required for multipolar spindle formation in EGFP-Hec1 expressing cells. Conclusions/Significance Our study suggests that modifications on Hec1 N-terminal tail can alter kinetochore-microtubule attachment stability and influence Ndc80 complex function independently from the intracellular levels of the protein. N-terminally modified Hec1 promotes spindle pole fragmentation by CENP-E-mediated plus-end directed kinetochore pulling forces that disrupt the fine balance of kinetochore- and centrosome-associated forces regulating spindle bipolarity. Overall, our findings support a model in which centrosome integrity is influenced by the pathways regulating kinetochore-microtubule attachment stability.
New Results in Graph Layout

A track layout of a graph consists of a vertex colouring, an edge colouring, and a total order of each vertex colour class such that between each pair of vertex colour classes, there is no monochromatic pair of crossing edges. This paper studies track layouts and their applications to other models of graph layout. In particular, we improve on the results of Enomoto and Miyauchi [SIAM J. Discrete Math., 1999] regarding stack layouts of subdivisions, and give analogous results for queue layouts. We solve open problems due to Felsner, Wismath, and Liotta [Proc. Graph Drawing, 2001] and Pach, Thiele, and Toth [Proc. Graph Drawing, 1997] concerning three-dimensional straight-line grid drawings. We initiate the study of three-dimensional polyline grid drawings and establish volume bounds within a logarithmic factor of optimal.
Smooth group actions on definite $4$-manifolds and moduli spaces

In this paper we give an application of equivariant moduli spaces to the study of smooth group actions on certain 4-manifolds. A rich source of examples for such actions is the collection of algebraic surfaces (compact and nonsingular) together with their groups of algebraic automorphisms. From this collection, further examples of smooth but generally nonalgebraic actions can be constructed by an equivariant connected sum along an orbit of isolated points. Given a smooth oriented 4-manifold X which is diffeomorphic to a connected sum of algebraic surfaces, we can ask: (i) which (finite) groups can act smoothly on X preserving the orientation, and (ii) how closely does a smooth action on X resemble some equivariant connected sum of algebraic actions on the algebraic surface factors of X? For the purposes of this paper we will restrict our attention to the simplest case, namely X p2(C) #. # p2(C), a connected sum of n copies of the complex projective plane (arranged so thatX is simply connected). Furthermore, ASSUMPTION. All actions will be assumed to induce the identity on H,(X, Z).
TIPSTER Phase I Final Report

During Phase I of the TIPSTER program, HNC developed a unique approach to machine learning of similarity of meaning. This approach, embodied in a system called "MatchPlus", exploits this learned similarity of meaning for concept-based text retrieval, routing and visualization of textual information. MatchPlus uses an information representation scheme called "context vectors" to encode similarity of usage. Key attributes of the context vector approach are as follows:• Words, documents, and queries are represented by context vectors. A context vector encodes a representation of the meaning of a word, query, or document as a high-dimension, fixed length, real vector.
Model predictive control for a brain-controlled mobile robot

The control performance and safety of current brain-controlled mobile robots are limited. To address this problem, in this paper, we design an assistive controller based on the model predictive control method. The proposed controller fuses tracking user intention and guaranteeing safety of brain-controlled mobile robots into an optimization problem. In this way, the proposed controller can make users control a brain-controlled mobile robot as much as possible given the mobile robot is safe. The experimental results show that the proposed controller can improve the control performance of the brain-controlled simulated mobile robot and guarantee its safety.
Ore geology, fluid inclusion and isotope geochemistry of the Xunyang Hg–Sb orefield, Qinling Orogen, Central China

The Xunyang Hg–Sb orefield, Shaanxi Province, containing two large (Gongguan and Qingtonggou) and tens of small to medium Hg–Sb deposits, is located in the southern Qinling Orogen. Ore bodies of the deposits are hosted in Devonian dolomite and controlled by a fault system. Ores are mainly present as massive veins, disseminations, breccias and fine veinlets, with cinnabar (Hg) and stibnite (Sb) being the dominant ore minerals. Gangue minerals include quartz, calcite and dolomite. Hydrothermal minerals (quartz and calcite) only contain aqueous fluid inclusions with low homogenization temperature (135–274 °C) and salinity (1.23–12.3 wt.% NaCl equiv.), supporting an epizonogenic hydrothermal origin. The carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotope data indicate that the ore‐forming fluids were mainly sourced from epizonogenic to metamorphic devolatilization of the Sinian−Triassic strata that possibly underthrusted beneath the orefield, with inflow of the circulating meteoric water. Sulphur isotope ratios of stibnite and cinnabar range from 2‰ to 12‰, suggesting a contribution from sedimentary sulphate or sulphate‐bearing fluids potted in strata, which is coincident with the δ34S values (3.4–8.6‰) of diagenetic pyrite in the strata. The conclusion drawn from sulphur isotopes is fully supported by the Pb isotope signatures. In addition, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios gradationally increase from ore‐hosting dolostones, through ore‐barren calcite or low‐grade ores, to high‐grade ores, indicating that a portion of the fluids originated from a source with higher 87Sr/86Sr values than the host‐rocks, which is possibly composed of the Neoproterozoic−Lower Palaeozoic basement of the Xunyang Basin. Integrating the data from ore geology, fluid inclusion microthermometry and stable, radioactive isotope geochemistry, it can be concluded that the deposits in the Xunyang Hg–Sb orefield were formed by epizonogenic hydrothermal fluids mainly sourced from the strata via structural deformation during the North China−Yangtze continental collision. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Methamphetamine use in Central Germany: protocol for a qualitative study exploring requirements and challenges in healthcare from the professionals' perspective

Introduction The synthetic drug methamphetamine with its high addiction potential is associated with substantial adverse health effects. In Germany, especially Central Germany, the increase in the consumption of methamphetamine has exceeded that of other illegal drugs. The treatment system and service providers are facing new challenges due to this rise in consumption. This qualitative study will explore the demand created by the increasing healthcare needs of methamphetamine-addicted persons in Central Germany, and the difficulty of rehabilitating addicted people. Methods and analysis The collection of empirical data will take place in a consecutive, two-stage process. In the first part of data collection, the experiences and perspectives of 40 professionals from numerous healthcare sectors for methamphetamine-addicted persons will be explored with the help of semistructured face-to-face interviews and probed by the research team. These findings will be discussed in 2 focus groups consisting of the participants of the face-to-face interviews; these group discussions comprise the second part of the data collection process. The interviews will be audio recorded, transcribed, and then subjected to qualitative content analysis. Ethics and dissemination All interviewees will receive comprehensive written information about the study, and sign a declaration of consent prior to the interview. The study will comply rigorously with data protection legislation. The research team has obtained the approval of the Ethical Review Committee at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. The results of the study will be published in high-quality, peer-reviewed international journals, presented at several congresses and used to design follow-up research projects. Trial registration number VfD_METH_MD_15_003600.
InSAR mapping and modelling of an active Iranian salt extrusion

Abstract: Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) imaging is a powerful technique that is increasingly used to extract detailed 3D information on Earth surface structures, including exposed diapiric surfaces. We have used InSAR to map, for the first time, the cumulative surface deformation in a 6 km × 6 km region surrounding an active salt diapir (Syahoo) and its associated surface salt flow (or namakier) exposed in the Zagros Mountains of southern Iran. Images provided by the European Space Agency were acquired in 12 increments (ranging in length between 35 and 1248 days) over a 14 year interval between July 1992 and May 2006. The deformation of the salt surface is non-steady, with (extrapolated) rates of displacement varying between surficial uplifts of +1.4 mm day−1 (+511 mm a−1) and subsidence of −2.2 mm day−1 (−803 mm a−1). Growth of a central topographic dome occurs following short wet intervals to create a salt fountain morphology, which then slowly decays during the intervening long dry periods. Salt associated with dynamic ‘bulging' of the central dome during wet intervals may flow laterally via gravity spreading into the surrounding salt sheet, resulting in deflation and subsidence of the dome, which is counteracted by growth and inflation of the adjacent namakiers. Salt ‘bulges' that migrate down the namakier, resulting in local inflationary and deflationary cycles of the surface, may be regarded as episodic pulses of gravity spreading. Areas of inflation and deflation are also observed to commonly reverse during dry to wet periods, as the overall salt system effectively self regulates as it continually strives for dynamic equilibrium. As long as the source of salt remains undepleted, gravity spreading of the dome ultimately results in more buoyancy-driven salt flowing up the diapiric neck to replenish and feed the extrusion and maintain the gross fountain morphology.
Cooperative aerial tele-manipulation with haptic feedback

In this paper, we propose a bilateral tele-operation scheme for cooperative aerial manipulation in which a human operator drives a team of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aerial vehicles, that grasped an object beforehand, and receives a force feedback depending on the states of the system. For application scenarios in which dexterous manipulation by each robot is not necessary, we propose using a rigid tool attached to the vehicle through a passive spherical joint, equipped with a simple adhesive mechanism at the tool-tip that can stick to the grasped object. Having more than two robots, we use the extra degrees of freedom to find the optimal force allocation in term of minimum power and forces smoothness. The human operator commands a desired trajectory for the robot team through a haptic interface to a pose controller, and the output of the pose controller along with system constraints, e.g., VTOL limited forces and contact maintenance, defines the feasible set of forces. Then, an on-line optimization allocates forces by minimizing a cost function of forces and their variation. Finally, propeller thrusts are computed by a dedicated attitude and thrust controller in a decentralized fashion. Human/Hardware in the loop simulation study shows efficiency of the proposed scheme, and the importance of haptic feedback to achieve a better performance.
Towards Pinpointing the Neural Correlates of ACT-R: a Conjunction of Two Model-Based fMRI Analyses

The aim of this study is to provide a precise mapping of five ACT-R modules on the brain. While there exists a predefined mapping between ACT-R modules and brain regions (e.g., Anderson et al., 2007), these regions are relatively crude (cubes of ~12×12×12mm) and serve in principle only as indicators of module activity. Previously, we have shown that an analysis method called model-based fMRI can provide more detailed whole-brain mappings (Borst, Taatgen, & Van Rijn, 2011). In the current study, we applied this method to a second dataset and combined the results of both datasets to create an overall mapping.