Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
S40RTS: A degree-40 shear-velocity model for the mantle from new Rayleigh wave dispersion, teleseismic traveltime and normal-mode splitting function measurements

We have developed model S40RTS of shear-velocity variation in Earth's mantle using a new collection of Rayleigh wave phase velocity, teleseismic body-wave traveltime and normal-mode splitting function measurements. This data set is an order of magnitude larger than used for S20RTS and includes new data types. The data are related to shear-velocity perturbations from the (anisotropic) PREM model via kernel functions and ray paths that are computed using PREM. Contributions to phase delays and traveltimes from the heterogeneous crust are estimated using model CRUST2.0. We calculate crustal traveltimes from long-period synthetic waveforms rather than using ray theory. Shear-velocity perturbations are parametrized by spherical harmonics up to degree 40 and by 21 vertical spline functions for a total of 35 301 degrees of freedom. S40RTS is characterised by 8000 resolved unknowns. Since we compute the exact inverse, it is straightforward to determine models associated with fewer or more unknowns by adjusting the model damping. S40RTS shares many characteristics with S20RTS because it is based on the same data types and similar modelling procedures. However, S40RTS shows more clearly than S20RTS the abrupt change in the pattern of shear-velocity heterogeneity across the 660-km phase transition and it presents a more complex patern of shear-velocity heterogeneity in the lower mantle. Utilities to visualise S40RTS and software to analyse the resolution of S40RTS (or models for different damping parameters) are made available.
An impedance control using a Finite Control Set Model Predictive Controller

The use of Electro-Mechanical Actuator to impact an environment is often criticized because of its presumably higher wear. This is due to the naturally high stiffness of the mechanical transmission, that leads to a hard-to-hard impact with the environment. This paper proposes a position-based impedance control using a Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) controller to solve this problem. In comparison to a standard impedance controller, it can achieve the same impedance behavior in steady state, but the reduction of the mechanical losses and of the compression of the transmission are better during the transient. Furthermore, the trade-off between the mechanical losses and the transient time can be modified easily by changing the weighting factors of a cost function.
Holistic design for critical thinking instruction : case studies of instructional practices

This exploratory study uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches to investigate the relationship between critical thinking outcomes and instructional practices. Three associate degree programs in radiologic technology are used as the context for comprehensive review of instructional practices for critical thinking throughout the two year time period. A comprehensive picture of each program's instructional approach is developed and compared with student outcomes in disposition and skill. Qualitative methods are used to collect data about instructional practices at each site through interviews with faculty and students, classroom observation and document analysis. Consideration is given to planning for instruction, instructional activities, critical thinking processes and implementation strategies. Twenty-five students participate in measurement of their critical thinking outcomes using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test and Disposition Inventory and samples of student work. This small number of participants limits the statistical power of the analysis of outcomes differences. While students at the three programs perform equally well on skills measures, there are likely differences among the sites in disposition to think critically. There are more marked differences in how the three sites implement certain instructional activities and the choice of activity type than the differences in frequency of use. The study suggests that long term use of the following activities/strategies over the course of the educational program may be associated with greater critical thinking disposition: (a) analysis of real-world problems, (b) performance based problem solving, (c) verbalizing evidence supporting arguments or decisions, (d) extensive writing, (e) attention to classroom environment, and (f) use of group work in and out of the classroom. Findings suggest that there is a continuum of program development for critical thinking instruction. At one extreme is a site with a nascent view of critical thinking instruction characterized by intuitive practices. At the other extreme is a program that incorporates many of the best practices for critical thinking development, including those that extend learning beyond the classroom. In the middle is a site that is consciously and regularly continuing to adapt classroom practice to improve its ability to encourage critical thinking among its students.
Physiology of high temperature stress tolerance at reproductive stages in maize.

Maize is a dynamic cereal of world’s agriculture community and is grown both in spring and autumn seasons in Pakistan. In case of spring sowing (February sowing) both pistillate and staminate flowers face high temperature stress and ultimately results in poor seed setting because of increased silk dryness and pollen desiccation. Maize accessions were identified on the basis of their performance at high temperature stress against the indicators like cell membrane thermostability (CMT), leaf temperature (LT), pollen viability %age (PV%), pollen production (PP), pollen germination %age (PG%), pollen grain size (PGS), pollen moisture contents %age (PMC%), and pollen tube length (PTL). Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for high temperature tolerance related indicators which provided wide range of option for selection and opportunity to improve tolerance level against high temperature stress. Principle component analysis (PCA) proved PV%, PP, PG% and PTL as best physiological standards for evaluation of germplasm against high temperature stress. Genotypes viz. B-321, EV-323, POP-209, B-308, B-316, F-127, B-236, EV340, F-143 and SAWAN-3 showed high level of variability and performed well under heat stress. Genotypes showing high level of adaptability in response to imposed stress could be a good genetic source carrying wide diversity of genes responsible for high temperature tolerance and could be used in breeding program to breed for high temperature tolerance in maize.
Prefix-preserving IP address anonymization: measurement-based security evaluation and a new cryptography-based scheme

Real-world traffic traces are crucial for Internet research, but only a very small percentage of traces collected are made public. One major reason why traffic trace owners hesitate to make the traces publicly available is the concern that confidential and private information may be inferred from the trace. We focus on the problem of anonymizing IP addresses in a trace. More specifically, we are interested in prefix-preserving anonymization in which the prefix relationship among IP addresses is preserved in the anonymized trace, making such a trace usable in situations where prefix relationships are important. The goal of our work is two fold. First, we develop a cryptography-based, prefix-preserving anonymization technique that is provably as secure as the existing well-known TCPdpriv scheme, and unlike TCPdpriv, provides consistent prefix-preservation in large scale distributed setting. Second, we evaluate the security properties inherent in all prefix-preserving IP address anonymization schemes (including TCPdpriv). Through the analysis of Internet backbone traffic traces, we investigate the effect of some types of attacks on the security of any prefix-preserving anonymization algorithm. We also derive results for the optimum manner in which an attack should proceed, which provides a bound on the effectiveness of attacks in general.
Gang masculinity and high-risk sexual behaviours

Abstract High-risk sexual behaviours include practices such as relationship violence and substance use, which often cluster together among young people in high-risk settings. Youth gang members often show high rates of such behaviours, substance use and relationship violence. This paper draws on data from in-depth interviews with male and female gang members from six different gangs to explore the role of powerful socialising peer groups that set gender, sexual and relationship roles and expectations for their male and female members. High-risk sexual behaviours among gang members included sex with multiple partners and group sex. Gang norms included the belief that male members were sexually insatiable with multiple sexual partners and that female gang members should be sexually available to male members. Alcohol and drugs were seen to have a large influence on sexual desire and the inability to use condoms. Much sexual behaviour with gangs, such as group sex, was viewed with ambivalence and seen as somewhat coercive. Finally, gendered sexual expectations (boys as sexually insatiable and girls as sexually available) made forming long-term romantic relationships problematic for gang members. The influence of gang norms such as these must be addressed in future programmes and interventions with gang members.
Religion, ethnicity and transnational migration between West Africa and Europe

Preface Contributors Introduction, Stanislaw Grodz and Gina Gertrud Smith 1. Reinventing Africa? The Negotiation of Ethnic Identities in the new African religious diaspora, Afe Adogame 2. Self-identification and Othering among the Senegalese Fulfulde Speaking People and Others, Gina Gertrud Smith 3. Religious pluralism and secularism between Senegal and France: A view from Senegalese families in France, Etienne Smith 4. Dealing with Diversity and Difference in Public. Traces of Casamancais Cohabitation in Catalonia? , Tilmann Heil 5. Senegalese Networks in Switzerland and USA - How Festive Events Reflect Urban Incorporation Processes, Monika Salzbrunn 6. Religion as a resource for the political involvement of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin, Miriam Schader 7. Between Ghana and the Netherlands: Ghanaian Muslims Engaging in Interreligious Relationships, Martha Frederiks and Stanislaw Grodz 8. Fulani Identity, Citizenship and Islam in an International Context of Migration, Jose C.M. van Santen Religion, Ethnicity and Transnational Migration between West Africa and Europe. An Epilogue, Martha Frederiks
An Energy-Efficient Clustering Algorithm for Multihop Data Gathering in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks afford a new opportunity to observe and interact with physical phenomena at an unprecedented fidelity. To fully realize this vision, these networks have to be self-organizing, self-healing, economical and energy-efficient simultaneously. Since the communication task is a significant power consumer, there are various attempts to introduce energy-awareness within the communication stack. Node clustering, to reduce direct transmission to the base station, is one such attempt to control energy dissipation for sensor data gathering. In this work, we propose an efficient dynamic clustering algorithm to achieve a network-wide energy reduction in a multihop context. We also present a realistic energy dissipation model based on the results from stochastic geometry to accurately quantify energy consumption employing the proposed clustering algorithm for various sensor node densities, network areas and transceiver properties.
Signal Remodulation Ring WDM Passive Optical Network with Rayleigh Backscattering Interferometric Noise Mitigation

We propose and demonstrate a novel and simple signal remodulation ring-based wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) scheme with the capability to mitigate the Rayleigh backscattering (RB) beat noise in colorless signal remodulation operation. The effects of RB can be avoided since the backscattering effects and upstream signals travel in opposite directions. Here, 10 Gb/s DPSK downstream is used to launch into reflective optical semiconductor amplifier (RSOA)-based optical network unit (ONU) for signal remodulation at 1.25 or 2.5 Gb/s on-off keying (OOK). Moreover, the network performance has also been analyzed and discussed.
Bright Lights, Big Dreams - A Case Study of Factors Relating to the Success of Broadway Shows

The Cox proportional hazards model technique is demonstrated in an analysis of the longevity of Broadwayshows. The necessity of using the Cox proportional hazards model to identify the factors associated with showlongevity becomes clear by comparison to an ordinary linear regression analysis. Emphases are given to themodel interpretation, including residual analysis, tests for the proportional hazards assumption, and fitting thestratified proportional hazards model. The intended audience consists of all applied statisticians who may considerusing the Cox proportional hazards model. A basic to intermediate level of statistical analysis backgroundis needed to understand the case.
Motion Planning for a Class of Planar Closed-chain Manipulators

The paper reports studies on the motion planning problem for planar star-shaped manipulators. These manipulators are formed by joining k “legs” to a common point (like the thorax of an insect) and then fixing the “feet” to the ground. The result is a planar parallel manipulator with k - 1 independent closed loops. A topological analysis is used to understand the global structure of the configuration space so that the planning problem can be solved exactly. The worst-case complexity of the algorithm is O(k 3 N 3 ), where N is the maximum number of links in a leg. Examples illustrating the method are given.
Rank Aggregation in Scientific Publication Databases Based on Logistic Regression

The goal of the d-Rank project is to study rank aggregation in scientific publication databases. In our work we focus in particular on document ranking in the domain of particle physics and we work with the collection of CERN publications called the CERN Document Server. In this report we present the main advances achieved within the second phase of the project. The most important achievements notably include a c reation of an extended CDS referential as an IR evaluation resource, implementation of two d-Rank software modules for query parsing and document ranking and creation of a rank aggregation framework based on logistic regression.
Zero-crossing detector based reconfigurable analog system

A reconfigurable analog system is presented that implements pipelined ADCs, switched-capacitor filters, and programmable gain amplifiers. Each block employs a zero-crossing based circuit for easy reconfigurability and power efficiency. Configured as a 10-bit ADC, the chip consumes 1.92mW at 50MSPS with ENOB of 8.02b and FOM of 150fJ/conversion-step. A third order Butterworth filter is also demonstrated. The chip is implemented in 65nm technology.
The Temporal Stability of Children's Neighborhood Experiences: A Follow-Up from Birth to Age 15

Despite increasing attention being paid to the temporal dynamics of childhood disadvantage, children's neighborhood characteristics are often measured at a single point in time. Whether such cross-sectional measures serve as reliable proxies for children's long-run neighborhood conditions depends on the stability in children's neighborhood experiences over time. We investigate the temporal stability in children's neighborhood environment, focusing on two of the most commonly studied neighborhood characteristics: The ethnic composition and mean income of the neighborhood. Using Dutch population register data, we follow an entire cohort of children from birth up until age 15. We use year-to-year correlations in the percentage non-Western minorities and the mean income in the neighborhood to evaluate the temporal stability of children's neighborhood experiences. Children's neighborhood characteristics were found to be more stable over time with regard to ethnic composition than with regard to income. Children who had moved at least once were found to have lower stability in neighborhood characteristics than children who never moved. Finally, neighborhood experiences were found to be more stable over time for ethnic minorities than for the native Dutch, although differences were small with regard to income. Single point-in-time measurements of neighborhood characteristics are reasonable proxies for the long-run ethnic composition of children's neighborhood environment, but rather noisy proxies for the long-run income status of their neighborhood, particularly for those who moved.
Exploring a Hybrid of Geospatial Semantic Information in Ubiquitous Computing Environments

Nowadays, geospatial information plays a critical role. Searching and obtaining geospatial information, however, is a difficult and time-consuming task. The Semantic Web promises to facilitate this by improving the capability to search for information by better expressing the meaning of search queries. Combining the two approaches to create a Geospatial Semantic Web is an idea that is gaining acceptance in both areas. Here, we present a prototype that promises to prove that the meshing of these two areas is a promising field in conjunction with information retrieval and ubiquitous computing. The aim of this prototype is to exploit geospatial semantic information retrieved from multiple data sources in a mobile environment. Our prototype uses three geospatial data sources: GeoNames, LinkedGeoData, and DBpedia. Experimental results show how the merging of the geospatial data sources and the use of more than one level of indexing is more effective in terms of recall and precision.
OCA‐B integrates B cell antigen receptor‐, CD40L‐ and IL 4‐mediated signals for the germinal center pathway of B cell development

Many of the key decisions in lymphocyte differentiation and activation are dependent on integration of antigen receptor and co‐receptor signals. Although there is significant understanding of these receptors and their signaling pathways, little is known about the molecular requirements for signal integration at the level of activation of gene expression. Here we show that in primary B cells, expression of the B‐cell specific transcription coactivator OCA‐B (also known as OBF‐1 or Bob‐1) is regulated synergistically by the B‐cell antigen receptor, CD40L and interleukin signaling pathways. Consistent with the requirement for multiple T cell‐dependent signals to induce OCA‐B, we find that OCA‐B protein is highly expressed in germinal center B cells. Accordingly, germinal center formation is blocked completely in the absence of OCA‐B expression in B cells, whereas the helper functions of OCA‐B‐deficient T cells are indistinguishable from controls. The requirement for OCA‐B expression in B cells is germinal center specific since the development of primary B cell follicles, the marginal zone and plasma cells are all intact. Thus, OCA‐B is the first example of a transcriptional coactivator that is both synergistically induced by and required for integration of signals that mediate cell fate decisions.
Highly Informative Natural Scene Regions Increase Microsaccade Production during Visual Scanning

Classical image statistics, such as contrast, entropy, and the correlation between central and nearby pixel intensities, are thought to guide ocular fixation targeting. However, these statistics are not necessarily task relevant and therefore do not provide a complete picture of the relationship between informativeness and ocular targeting. Moreover, it is not known whether either informativeness or classical image statistics affect microsaccade production; thus, the role of microsaccades in information acquisition is also unknown. The objective quantification of the informativeness of a scene region is a major challenge, because it can vary with both image features and the task of the viewer. Thus, previous definitions of informativeness suffered from subjectivity and inconsistency across studies. Here we developed an objective measure of informativeness based on fixation consistency across human observers, which accounts for both bottom-up and top-down influences in ocular targeting. We then analyzed fixations in more versus less informative image regions in relation to classical statistics. Observers generated more microsaccades on more informative than less informative image regions, and such regions also exhibited low redundancy in their classical statistics. Increased microsaccade production was not explained by increased fixation duration, suggesting that the visual system specifically uses microsaccades to heighten information acquisition from informative regions.
CROSS -LINGUAL SIMILARITY DISCRIMINATION WITH TRANSLATION CHARACTERISTICS

In cross-lingual plagiarism detection, the similarity between sentences is the basis of judgment. This paper proposes a discriminative model trained on bilingual corpus to divide a set of sentences in target language into two classes according their similarities to a given sentence in source language. Positive outputs of the discriminative model are then ranked according to the similarity probabilities. The translation candidates of the given sentence are finally selected from the top-n positive results. One of the problems in model building is the extremely imbalanced training data, in which positive samples are the translations of the target sentences, while negative samples or the non-translations are numerous or unknown. We train models on four kinds of sampling sets with same translation characteristics and compare their performances. Experiments on the open dataset of 1500 pairs of English Chinese sentences are evaluated by three metrics with satisfying performances, much higher than the baseline system.
Free radical scavenging decreases endothelin‐1 excretion and glomerular albumin permeability during type 1 diabetes

Increased renal endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) production and an ETA receptor‐dependent increase in glomerular albumin permeability (Palb) accompany type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). We hypothesized that T1D‐induced oxidative stress contributes to renal ET‐1 production and glomerular Palb. Male rats with streptozotocin‐induced T1D were provided free access to drinking water without additives (T1D rats) or containing the free radical scavenger tempol (1 mmol/L; T1D+Tempol). After 3 weeks, T1D+Tempol rats displayed lower urinary excretion of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and glomerular superoxide production (dihydroethidium staining) compared to T1D rats. Urinary ET‐1 excretion and inner medullary (but not cortical or outer medullary) prepro‐ET‐1 mRNA expression were lower in the T1D+Tempol group than in the T1D group. Palb, measured as the change in volume of isolated glomeruli upon exposure to oncotic gradients of albumin, was significantly lower in the T1D+Tempol group than in the T1D group. Tempol treatment did not alter protein excretion or creatinine clearance. These data support the postulate that oxidative stress contributes to glomerular Palb and renal ET‐1 production during the early phase of type 1 diabetes.
Formal Verification of HMQV Using ASM-SPV

Model checking is widely used in the verification of security protocols. However, difficulties were often encountered when trying to formalize the complex underlying computations in security protocols. Some flaws of the security protocols, especially the ones that caused by the computations weakness, cannot be detected owing to the simple abstractions of its underlying computations. In this paper, we present a method to verify a key establishment protocol HMQV, where we propose a simple formalization of its underlying Diffie-Hellman exponentiation. The formal model of HMQV is verified by our newly released model checker ASM-SPV (Abstract State Machines-Security Protocol Verifier). Experiments show that the attacks (reported by Sarr et al.) can be found under the proposed formal model of HMQV by ASM-SPV.