Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Case studies on the implementation of TQM in the UK automotive SMEs

Describes the methodology and findings of four industrial case studies conducted on the implementation of TQM in automotive small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Interviews were conducted to answer key issues which were felt to be crucial to this study. In addition, the case studies also explored the feasibility of the authors’ conceptual framework, and subsequently its validation. The companies were categorised as “TQM” and “lesser TQM” companies, and the analysis was performed on this basis. Results from the case studies indicated that the SMEs used in the study had approached TQM without the help of any specific framework, but they had implemented the numerous quality initiatives or programmes on a “slice by slice” approach. It was found that three common aspects were emphasised in each case when adopting TQM. Culminates with the conclusions drawn from the studies and future research directions.
DLS@CU-CORE: A Simple Machine Learning Model of Semantic Textual Similarity

We present a system submitted in the Semantic Textual Similarity (STS) task at the Second Joint Conference on Lexical and Computational Semantics (*SEM 2013). Given two short text fragments, the goal of the system is to determine their semantic similarity. Our system makes use of three different measures of text similarity: word n-gram overlap, character n-gram overlap and semantic overlap. Using these measures as features, it trains a support vector regression model on SemEval STS 2012 data. This model is then applied on the STS 2013 data to compute textual similarities. Two different selections of training data result in very different performance levels: while a correlation of 0.4135 with gold standards was observed in the official evaluation (ranked 63 among all systems) for one selection, the other resulted in a correlation of 0.5352 (that would rank 21).
Improving the stability of gait planning for quadruped robots

In this paper the stability of gait planning for the quadruped robot in flat surface is considered, and the effects of planning parameters on the stability of the robot have been examined. Continuous trajectory for the body in forward direction has been derived. The study demonstrates that adding periodic longitudinal (PLON) body motion back and forth and periodic lateral (PLAT) body motion left and right improved the stability margin. Finally this approaches were tested on the TMUBot quadruped, and the results show significant improvement in the robot.
Practical Case Studies in Teaching Concurrency

As with all aspects of computing, there are four main strands to teaching concurrency, viz hardware, theory, applications and programming, with programming linking the other three together. The basic requirements for practical work for each of these strands are discussed, and the problems of meeting these requirements. These have usually limited practical work in concurrency either to theoretical exercises, or to simple programming assignments in which students build complete programs starting from some given specification. The aim of this paper is to present some examples of an alternative approach to practical work in concurrency, using case studies instead of expecting students to build complete systems for themselves. Features and benefits of the case study approach are described, and examples are given of three case studies that have been used successfully. Finally, the role of software tools in facilitating such case studies is discussed briefly.
A family of optimized LMS-based algorithms for system identification

The performance of the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm is governed by its step-size parameter. In this paper, we present a family of optimized LMS-based algorithms (in terms of the step-size control), in the context of system identification. A time-variant system model is considered and the optimization criterion is based on the minimization of the system misalignment. Simulations performed in the context of acoustic echo cancellation indicate that these algorithms achieve a proper compromise in terms of fast convergence/tracking and low misadjustment.
Control of 3-level shunt active power filter using harmonic selective controller

In this paper the control of 3-level shunt active power filter is proposed using frequency selective proportional plus multiple resonant controllers. The voltage source converter (VSC) is operated using ramp-comparison current control method. The method provides fixed switching frequency operation, and unipolar modulation of a control function yields three-level PWM output. The resonant controllers are tuned near the harmonic frequencies to be compensated. The issues of compensator ratings and loss calculations are addressed. The performance of the proposed shunt active power filter is illustrated through the compensation of a distribution system using PSCAD/EMTDC simulation package
Ion Channel Activities in Neural Stem Cells of the Neuroepithelium

During the embryonic development of the central nervous system, neuroepithelial cells act as neural stem cells. They undergo interkinetic nuclear movements along their apico-basal axis during the cell cycle. The neuroepithelial cell shows robust increases in the nucleoplasmic [Ca2+] in response to G protein-coupled receptor activation in S-phase, during which the nucleus is located in the basal region of the neuroepithelial cell. This response is caused by Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores, which are comprised of the endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclear envelope. The Ca2+ release leads to the activation of Ca2+ entry from the extracellular space, which is called capacitative, or store-operated Ca2+ entry. These movements of Ca2+ are essential for DNA synthesis during S-phase. Spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations also occur synchronously across the cells. This synchronization is mediated by voltage fluctuations in the membrane potential of the nuclear envelope due to Ca2+ release and the counter movement of K+ ions; the voltage fluctuation induces alternating current (AC), which is transmitted via capacitative electrical coupling to the neighboring cells. The membrane potential across the plasma membrane is stabilized through gap junction coupling by lowering the input resistance. Thus, stored Ca2+ ions are a key player in the maintenance of the cellular activity of neuroepithelial cells.
A preliminary study of negative social triggers of anger: Gender differences among adolescents

The purpose of this study is to raise awareness regarding negative social tr iggers of anger among adolescents and examine how they compare between gender. A comprehensive literature review revealed 6 variables commonly known to stimulate anger mong adolescents. These include the following: (a) racial differences and envi ronmental influences, (b) stage of pubertal development, (c) social status, (d) gay har assment, (e) social rejection, and (f) school adjustment / academic structure. The resea rcher then created an Anger Assessment Questionnaire (AAQ), a survey which presented sc ario representing the aforementioned categories, excluding stage of pubertal de velopment. Because literature emphasizes the school environment as a common locale for provocations of anger among adolescents, the questionnaire was administered, along wi th the Beck Anger Inventory for Youth (BANI-Y), within an academic setting. The sample consisted of 38 male and female students in eighth grade at a school in southern California. Research questions explored gender differences among anticipate d responses to harassment situations. T-tests were used to analyze responses to the AAQ and BANIY, and correlations compared responses between gender on both measures. There we re no statistically significant differences between gender on the AAQ. On t he BANI-Y, females reported experiencing a higher frequency of anger. Contrary to t he investigator’s expectation, there were both males and females who anticipated having an aggre ssive response (“I would fight with others”) to various scenarios on the AAQ. These finding s were surprising to the researcher and should be used to increase awareness among parents, teachers, school administrators, and youth, regarding the propensity f or negative social situations to trigger a level of anger that could lead to aggression or v iolence. In
Educational pathways of ninth grade adolescents: Transition practices in vocational and academic families

The study analyses how the educational pathways of ninth graders are constructed by practices of adolescents and their parents in families with different educational statuses. The importance of contextualising the educational transition as it occurs in daily life and socially structured family cultures is emphasised. The research question is: How is the choice of educational route of ninth graders constructed by the practices of the adolescents and the parents in vocational and academic families? What does characterise different pathways and what kinds of distinctions, differences and contrasts of transition practices do exist between them? The interview sample consisted of 16 Finnish families. The interviews were carried out in three forms: a family discussion interview, a thematic interview of the adolescents, and a life-history interview of the parents. The results introduce the main characteristics and distinctions of transition practices of the vocational and academic families.
Resistance Patterns Selected by Nevirapine vs. Efavirenz in HIV-Infected Patients Failing First-Line Antiretroviral Treatment: A Bayesian Analysis

Background WHO recommends starting therapy with a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), i.e. nevirapine or efavirenz, with lamivudine or emtricitabine, plus zidovudine or tenofovir. Few studies have compared resistance patterns induced by efavirenz and nevirapine in patients infected with the CRF01_AE Southeast Asian HIV-subtype. We compared patterns of NNRTI- and NRTI-associated mutations in Thai adults failing first-line nevirapine- and efavirenz -based combinations, using Bayesian statistics to optimize use of data. Methods and Findings In a treatment cohort of HIV-infected adults on NNRTI-based regimens, 119 experienced virologic failure (>500 copies/mL), with resistance mutations detected by consensus sequencing. Mutations were analyzed in relation to demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables at time of genotyping. The Geno2Pheno system was used to evaluate second-line drug options. Eighty-nine subjects were on nevirapine and 30 on efavirenz. The NRTI backbone consisted of lamivudine or emtricitabine plus either zidovudine (37), stavudine (65), or tenofovir (19). The K103N mutation was detected in 83% of patients on efavirenz vs. 28% on nevirapine, whereas Y181C was detected in 56% on nevirapine vs. 20% efavirenz. M184V was more common with nevirapine (87%) than efavirenz (63%). Nevirapine favored TAM-2 resistance pathways whereas efavirenz selected both TAM-2 and TAM-1 pathways. Emergence of TAM-2 mutations increased with the duration of virologic replication (OR 1.25–1.87 per month increment). In zidovudine-containing regimens, the overall risk of resistance across all drugs was lower with nevirapine than with efavirenz, whereas in tenofovir-containing regimen the opposite was true. Conclusions TAM-2 was the major NRTI resistance pathway for CRF01_AE, particularly with nevirapine; it appeared late after virological failure. In patients who failed, there appeared to be more second-line drug options when zidovudine was combined with nevirapine or tenofovir with efavirenz than with alternative combinations.
Research on Intrusion Detection Model using ensemble learning methods

In the past few years, for security issues keep increasing and changing explosively, Intrusion Detection System (IDS) have been asked for discovering these threats more accurately and more rapidly. Many intrusion detection models have been proposed to meet the requirements. However, for this unbalanced data sample KDDcup99, some classifiers may have a good effect on big sample classes like J48 and RandomForest, others are good at classifying on small sample, but few of them can achieve balance. In this paper, an intrusion detection solution based on ensemble learning is put forward. In our model, we employ Bayesian network and RandomTree as base classifiers along with meta learning algorithms RandomCommitte and vote. To evaluate the model's performance, the KDDcup99 dataset is introduced.
Practical Application of Critical Race Theory: A Social Justice Course Design

ABSTRACT Social work education aims to prepare students to effectively engage with diverse people and groups. This article presents a practical application of critical race theory (CRT) toward that end. It describes a brief history of curricular approaches to teaching diversity and social justice and examines a few of the challenges with current curricular approaches that CRT has the potential to mitigate. I provide an overview of CRT and discusses the utility of applying CRT to the design of a diversity and social justice course in a social work education program. A logic model, which illustrates the application of CRT and a social justice approach, is presented and discussed. The model includes strategies, course methods, student outcomes, and influential factors.
Probabilistic range queries in moving objects databases with uncertainty

This work addresses the issue of answering spatio-temporal range queries when there is uncertainty associated with the model of the moving objects. Uncertainty is inherent in Moving Objects Database (MOD) applications and capturing it in the data model has a twofold impact: -- the number of updates when the actual trajectory deviates from its MOD representation; -- the linguistic constructs and the processing algorithms for querying the MOD. The paper presents both spatial and temporal uncertainty aspects, which are combined into one model of uncertain trajectories. Given the model, the methodology is presented which enables processing of queries such as: "What is the probability that a given moving object was/will be inside a given <u>region</u> <u>sometimes/always</u> during a given <u>time</u> interval? " where the regions are bounded by arbitrary 2D polygons.
Improving Video-Based Robot Self Localization Through Outlier Removal

The purpose of this paper is to present a method for rejecting false matches of points from successive views in a video sequence - e.g., one used to perform Pose from Motion for a mobile sensing platform. Invariably, the algorithms used to determine point correspondences between two images output false matches along with the true. These false matches negatively impact the calculations required to perform the pose estimation from video. This paper presents a new algorithm for identifying these false matches and removing them from consideration in order to improve system performance. Experimental results show that our algorithm works in cases where the percentage of false matches may be as high as 80%, providing a set of point correspondences whose true/false match ratio is much higher than the mutual best match method commonly used for outlier filtering, resulting in comparable or better outlier rejection - increasing the true/false match ratio by 2-3 times - in only a fraction of the time.
EPB41L5 functions to post-transcriptionally regulate cadherin and integrin during epithelial–mesenchymal transition

EPB41L5 belongs to the band 4.1 superfamily. We investigate here the involvement of EPB41L5 in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) during mouse gastrulation. EPB41L5 expression is induced during TGFβ-stimulated EMT, whereas silencing of EPB41L5 by siRNA inhibits this transition. In EPB41L5 mutants, cell–cell adhesion is enhanced, and EMT is greatly impaired during gastrulation. Moreover, cell attachment, spreading, and mobility are greatly reduced by EPB41L5 deficiency. Gene transcription regulation during EMT occurs normally at the mRNA level; EPB41L5 siRNA does not affect either the decrease in E-cadherin or the increase in integrin expression. However, at the protein level, the decrease in E-cadherin and increase in integrin are inhibited in both EPB41L5 siRNA-treated NMuMG cells and mutant mesoderm. We find that EPB41L5 binds p120ctn through its N-terminal FERM domain, inhibiting p120ctn–E-cadherin binding. EPB41L5 overexpression causes E-cadherin relocalization into Rab5-positive vesicles in epithelial cells. At the same time, EPB41L5 binds to paxillin through its C terminus, enhancing integrin/paxillin association, thereby stimulating focal adhesion formation.
Ab initio calculation of ideal strength and phonon instability of graphene under tension

Received 14 May 2007; revised manuscript received 16 June 2007; published 28 August 2007 Graphene-based sp 2 -carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes and nanofibers can fail near their ideal strengths due to their exceedingly small dimensions. We have calculated the phonon spectra of graphene as a function of uniaxial tension by density functional perturbation theory to assess the first occurrence of phonon instability on the strain path, which controls the strength of a defect-free crystal at 0 K. Uniaxial tensile strain is applied in the x nearest-neighbor and y second nearest-neighbor directions, related to tensile deformation of zigzag and armchair nanotubes, respectively. The Young’s modulus E = 1050 GPa and Poisson’s ratio = 0.186 from our small-strain results are in good agreement with previous calculations. We find that in both x and y uniaxial tensions, phonon instabilities occur near the center of the Brillouin zone, at xx= 0.194, xx = 110 GPa, yy= 0.016 and yy= 0.266, yy= 121 GPa, xx= 0.027, respectively. Both soft phonons are longitudinal elastic waves in the pulling direction, suggesting that brittle cleavage fracture may be an inherent behavior of graphene and carbon nanotubes at low temperatures. We also predict that a phonon band gap will appear in highly stretched graphene, which could be a useful spectroscopic signature for highly stressed carbon nanotubes.
A Key Role for Diacylglycerol Lipase-α in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-Dependent Endocannabinoid Mobilization

Activation of group I metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors recruits the endocannabinoid system to produce both short- and long-term changes in synaptic strength in many regions of the brain. Although there is evidence that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) mediates this process, the molecular mechanism underlying 2-AG mobilization remains unclear. In the present study, we used a combination of genetic and targeted lipidomic approaches to investigate the role of the postsynaptic membrane-associated lipase, diacylglycerol lipase type-α (DGL-α), in mGlu receptor-dependent 2-AG mobilization. DGL-α overexpression in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells increased baseline 2-AG levels. This effect was accompanied by enhanced utilization of the 2-AG precursor 1-stearoyl,2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol and increased accumulation of the 2-AG breakdown product arachidonic acid. A similar, albeit less marked response was observed with other unsaturated and polyunsaturated monoacylglycerols, 1,2-diacylglycerols, and fatty acids. Silencing of DGL-α by RNA interference elicited lipidomic changes opposite those of DGL-α overexpression and abolished group I mGlu receptor-dependent 2-AG mobilization. Coimmunoprecipitation and site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that DGL-α interacts, via a PPxxF domain, with the coiled-coil (CC)-Homer proteins Homer-1b and Homer-2, two components of the molecular scaffold that enables group I mGlu signaling. DGL-α mutants that do not bind Homer maintained their ability to generate 2-AG in intact cells but failed to associate with the plasma membrane. The findings indicate that DGL-α mediates group I mGlu receptor-induced 2-AG mobilization. They further suggest that the interaction of CC-Homer with DGL-α is necessary for appropriate function of this lipase.
HIGH RESOLUTION DATA FROM LASER SCANNING AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY TERRESTRIAL METHODOLOGIES. TEST SITE: AN ARCHITECTURAL SURFACE

Terrestrial methodologies, as high resolution laser scanning and digital photogrammetry, are used in many applications in the field of architectural and cultural heritage surveys: they are characterized by different operative procedures and precisions. Data deriving from acquisition of an architectural surface, “morphologically complex” but geometrically simple and regular, were used in order to compare different methodologies. The 3D laser scanning data were acquired with HDS2500 Time Of Flight (TOF) terrestrial laser scanner and Konica Minolta Vivid 910 triangulation laser scanner. Moreover, the application of traditional topography with Leica TC2003 total station provided the 3D coordinates of 70 natural points, placed in the survey area, with high accuracy. The photogrammetric survey was performed with Canon EOS 1 DS Mark II digital metric camera: with 3 m and 6 m camera-to-object distances, 13 images with 10 cm and 20 cm, respectively of base increment, were acquired. The overlap between subsequent images is 95%, but with non subsequent images it ranges from 40% to 95%. For each stereo-pair, a stereoscopic model was created with Socet Set v. 5.4 software and the corresponding digital model was extracted. The different models were co-registered in the same reference system using control points and, subsequently, were compared: results indicated a good agreement between the data derived from HDS2500 laser scanner, digital photogrammetry and natural points. Moreover, the applicability of Konica Minolta Vivid 910 laser scanner for detailed architectural survey was demonstrated.
Exploring High Performance Distributed File Storage Using LDPC Codes

We explore the feasibility of implementing a reliable, high performance, distribute d storage system on a commodity computing cluster. Files are distributed across storage n des using erasure coding with small Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes, whic h provide highreliability with small storage and performance overhead. We present perf ormance measurements done on a prototype system comprising 50 nodes, which are self orga nised using a peer-to-peer overlay.