Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perception of the tone contrast in East Limburgian dialects

East Limburgian dialects are typological goldmines. On the one hand, they resemble tone languages like Chinese, in that they can express word-level semantic contrasts by means of pitch only. On the other hand, they use pitch to distinguish sentence-level meanings such as the statement/question opposition, just like non-tone languages do. For instance, if a Roermond speaker says haas with a steep fall in its melody, one can infer that this word means ‘hare’ and is pronounced as a statement. If, however, haas is realized with a low flat contour followed by a steep rise, it means ‘glove’ and forms a yes/no question. The number of melodic contours that results from all possible combinations of tones (conveying lexical meanings) and intonations (conveying discourse meanings) is further boosted by two structural factors of variation, the focus condition and position of a word within the sentence. Given all these dimensions, one may indeed wonder how native speakers manage to find their way in the sentences they hear.
Feasibility of time-delay based frequency-control of a sliding-mode buck converter

The step-down switch-mode DC/DC power supply is commonly used in power management of integrated circuits such as high performances processors and high speed memories. Sliding-mode-control appears to be one of the best way to control step-down switch-mode converter due to stringent transient performances required by next generation processor cores used in Smart-phones or Tablets. However sliding-mode's free-running frequency has to be controlled due to electromagnetic compatibility issues. This paper presents a time-delay based frequency control analysis of a sliding-mode controlled buck converter. Lower and upper bounds of the synchronization domain are discussed and a frequency loop stability analysis is presented. The original contribution is the circuit implementing a synchronization solution. Transistor level simulations corroborate theoretical results. An integrated test-chip is under fabrication using CMOS 130nm process by ST.
Robotics and Automation for “Icebreaker”

The proposed “Icebreaker” mission is a return to the Mars polar latitudes first visited by the Phoenix mission in 2007–2008. Exploring and interrogating the shallow subsurface of Mars from the surface will require some form of excavation and penetration, with drilling being the most mature approach. A series of 0.5–5 m automated rotary and rotary‐percussive drills developed over the past decade by NASA Ames and Honeybee Robotics provide the capability to fly on a Mars surface mission within the next decade. Surface robotics have been integrated for sample transfer to deck instruments, and the Icebreaker sample acquisition system has been tested successfully in Mars chambers and analog field sites to depths between 1 and 3 m, most recently in the Antarctic Dry Valleys in January of 2013. This paper provides a hardware and software systems overview of the Icebreaker sample acquisition system, and discusses test results of this robotic system in relevant environments. Test results from recent Arctic and Antarctic field campaigns demonstrate a hands‐off “dust to data” capability.
Selecting Optimal Threshold Value of Douglas-Peucker Algorithm Based on Curve Fit

Sample data of Douglas-Peucker algorithm parameter and certain attributes related to simplification quality is obtained by iteration method of simplification algorithm, Functions between threshold with line length, point number, and running time are get by curve fit, Through analyzing curvature of function between threshold with point number, function maximum curvature is confirmed and acts as optimal threshold. Law between parameter with simplification algorithm is revealed from qualitative and quantitative, and then optimal method determining simplification threshold value is also put forward. It’s suitable for simplifying large amount of lines data with Douglas-Peucker algorithm by analyzing threshold affecting factors and confirming optimal threshold value.
Eliciting Truthful Feedback for Binary Reputation Mechanisms

Reputation mechanisms offer an efficient way of building the necessary level of trust in electronic markets. Feedback about an agent's past behavior can be aggregated into a measure of reputation, and used by other agents for taking trust decisions. Unfortunately, true feedback cannot be automatically assumed. In the absence of Trusted Third Parties, the mechanism has to make it rational for agents to truthfully share reputation information. In this paper we describe two mechanisms that can be used in decentralized environments for eliciting true feedback. The mechanisms are accompanied by examples inspired by real scenarios.
A profiler and compiler for the Wonka Virtual Machine

D at ACUNIA , Wonka is an open source Virtual Machine (VM) for executing Java bytecode methods. Wonka is a self-contained, clean-room VM implementation designed for use in embedded systems and is targeted towards Java 2 compliance: it has no dependence on external libraries (except for libc) and comes with all the essential standard class libraries (Foundation Profile/CDC), including an Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT), named Rudolph [1]. Rudolph is suitable for running Wonka directly on a memory-mapped or framebuffer device, supports all required graphics operations, has a built-in font rendering engine, supports GIF and PNG images, provides input/output device handling, and more. For maximum portability, Wonka is accompanied by its own real-time operation system (RTOS), called OSwald. Thanks to OSwald, Wonka does not require a host operating system and can run on bare bones hardware. As such, Wonka provides a complete, portable open source solution for embedded systems. Currently Wonka runs in interpreter mode only which imposes a performance penalty due to the runtime overhead of fetching, decoding and executing bytecode instructions. For performance’s sake, ACUNIA is developing a runtime compiler to translate Java bytecode to native machine code during program execution.
“You Should Have Seen the Look on Your Face…”: Self-awareness of Facial Expressions

The awareness of facial expressions allows one to better understand, predict, and regulate his/her states to adapt to different social situations. The present research investigated individuals’ awareness of their own facial expressions and the influence of the duration and intensity of expressions in two self-reference modalities, a real-time condition and a video-review condition. The participants were instructed to respond as soon as they became aware of any facial movements. The results revealed that awareness rates were 57.79% in the real-time condition and 75.92% in the video-review condition. The awareness rate was influenced by the intensity and (or) the duration. The intensity thresholds for individuals to become aware of their own facial expressions were calculated using logistic regression models. The results of Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) revealed that video-review awareness was a significant predictor of real-time awareness. These findings extend understandings of human facial expression self-awareness in two modalities.
Multifunctional integrated electromagnetic components work modes in push-pull converters

Both sides of the conversion cycle (charge and discharge) are used in push-pull converters as opposed to single-ended converters. This increases their efficiency. Push-pull converters have been used successfully in charge of capacitive storage devices, automatic control systems and charging batteries, pulse and converter technology as well as in the secondary power sources to power various electrical devices. The authors propose the hybrid electromagnetic element (EME) — multifunction integrated electromagnetic component (MIEC). The use of the hybrid EME can improve the technical and economic parameters, accelerate the development process, improve manufacturability and reliability, and reduce the cost of devices based on them. The authors have developed a mathematical model of a push-pull converter based on the one-section MIEC. The peculiarity of the developed mathematical model is to describe the electromagnetic processes in MIEC with the system of linear equations using MIEC integral parameters. The research results of modes of one-section MIEC in the push-pull converter conducted with the help of MIEC mathematical models show the following. The energy stored in the MIEC electrodes inductor is used to create pulses of high voltage more than the input voltage when the charging process is oscillatory. The current amplitude reaches 1.5 times the value when the charge process is aperiodic. There is a current limiting (current half) when the charge process is oscillatory. The maximum voltage gain is achieved when the charge process of MIEC capacity is oscillating. At the same time, it is necessary to unlock the key at the time when voltage reaches its maximum.
The development of community competence in the teacher education curriculum

Teachers are expected to frequently collaborate within teacher communities in schools. This requires teacher education to prepare student teachers by developing the necessary community competence. The present study empirically investigates the extent to which teacher education programmes pay attention to and aim to stimulate the development of community competence in the intended curriculum, the implemented curriculum and the attained curriculum. Various types of data are gathered and analysed in respect of these three curriculum representations. It appears that community competence is weakly conceptualised in the intended curriculum. In the implemented, and especially the attained curriculum, this results in no systematic and explicit practice in terms of the development of community competence.
SPEECH-EVOKED CORTICAL POTENTIALS IN NORMAL-HEARING CHILDREN AND ADULTS USING THREE PHONEMES

Background: The neural representation of different speech stimuli (phonemes) can be measured at the cortex using electrophysiological techniques, a procedure called speech-evoked cortical potentials. Each phoneme produces cortical potentials with different temporal and spectral properties. Latency and amplitude measures reflect changes in the way different phonemes are neurally represented, so these measures are expected to change with maturation of the system, that is with age. The aim of the present study to investigate whether there were differences in latency and amplitude between children and adults in response to the three phonemes /m/, /g/, and /t/.
Taking the Lead; The Role of Affect in Leadership Effectiveness

textabstractFrederic Damen was born on January 31, 1976 in Eindhoven. He received his secondary education diploma from the ‘Rythovius College’ in Eersel in 1994. He studied Psychology from 1994-1999 in Utrecht and graduated in Social Psychology. After his studies he worked as a management trainee for the Dutch government (Economic Affairs & Financial Affairs), lived and worked for two years in Italy and started his PhD-project on the role of emotions in leadership in 2003. The present research was conducted at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam between January 2003 and December 2006. Frederic currently works as a business consultant for Atos Consulting.
Bacterial degradation of antibiotic residues in marine fish farm sediments of Uranouchi Bay and phylogenetic analysis of antibiotic-degrading bacteria using 16S rDNA sequences

Antibiotic residues in marine sediments of fish farms negatively influence microbial ecologic systems. The microbial degradation of antibiotic residues was experimentally examined in the marine sediments of Uranouchi Bay, to which one of five antibiotics was added. After incubation reducing physical factors, ampicillin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and thiamphenicol were significantly degraded, while josamycin maintained most of the initial amounts. The isolates resistant to ampicillin, josamycin, oxytetracycline, or thiamphenicol degraded each antibiotic in wide ranges of degrees, whereas the isolates degrading doxycycline were not obtained. Microbial degradation may contribute to the disappearance of ampicillin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and thiamphenicol in the fish farm. In contrast, the disappearance of josamycin would depend on physical factors, but the bacteria degrading josamycin at least exist in the marine sediments. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences demonstrated that the antibiotic-resistant isolates formed several clusters in the Gram-positive bacterial group, the Flavobacterium-Cytophaga-Bacteroides group, and the proteobacteria subdivisions. The antibiotic-resistant bacterial population would be composed of various species including ubiquitous coastal bacterial groups. Several species of antibiotic resistant bacteria show antibiotic degradation activities, and appear to contribute to the disappearance of antibiotics in Uranouchi Bay.
Evaluation of a monoclonal antibody-based dot-blot ELISA for detection of Leptospira spp in bovine urine samples.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a novel monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based dot-blot ELISA for detection of Leptospira antigens in urine samples of cattle. SAMPLE POPULATION Blood and urine samples of 45 test cattle from 5 farms in Chonburi province and 20 control cattle from 2 farms in Khon Kaen province in Thailand. PROCEDURE Blood and urine samples were assayed (microscopic agglutination test and urine antigen test) for Leptospira infection by use of an MAb-based dot-blot ELISA, and results for the ELISA were compared with those for dark-field microscopy (DFM), microbial culture, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. RESULTS All urine samples with positive results for DFM, microbial culture, PCR assay, or > 1 of these tests also had positive results when tested by use of the MAb-based dot-blot ELISA, except for 1 sample that had positive results only for the PCR assay. Detection limits of the dot-blot ELISA were 10(3) leptospires/mL of urine and 9.3 ng of Leptospira homogenate. Comparison revealed that the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, efficacy (accuracy), positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the ELISA were in agreement with results for DFM (100%, 72.72%, 80%, 57.14%, and 100%, respectively), microbial culture (100%, 61.54%, 66.62%, 28.57%, and 100%, respectively), and PCR assay (95.45%, 100%, 91.77%, 100%, and 95.83%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The MAb-based dot-blot ELISA is suitable as a tool for detecting leptospires in urine samples of cattle.
A high-Q AlGaN/GaN phonon trap with integrated hemt read-out

This paper presents novel phonon traps, the main building blocks of self-sustained all-GaN oscillators, implemented on an AlGaN/GaN electro-acoustic platform. The geometry of acoustic cavities has been engineered to efficiently trap the energy in the central region of devices, where the interdigitated excitation/sense electrodes and HEMT read-outs are located. Such an energy trapping method obviates the need for narrow tethers. This facilitates routing of multiple lines connected to the source, gate, and drain of the read-out HEMTs as well as allowing co-integration of different interdigitated transducer (IDT) sets for efficient piezoelectric lateral field excitation. Furthermore, elimination of narrow tethers improves the power handling capability of the GaN resonators, making them suitable for high-power applications. Two types of AlGaN/GaN-based devices are discussed in this work, both operating in the ninth-order width-extensional mode that is excited using Schottky IDTs. In the first device, another set of Schottky IDTs it used for sensing, while the second device utilizes a HEMT to read-out the signal. An unloaded quality factor (Q) of ~13,000 has been measured at room temperature and atmospheric pressure for a device operating at ~740 MHz, resulting in a frequency × Q value of 0.96×1013, which is the highest value reported to date for GaN-based resonators and is very close to the intrinsic limits for AlN and GaN, set by phonon-phonon interactions.
Influence of multi‐wavelength laser irradiation of enamel and dentin surfaces at 0.355, 2.94, and 9.4 μm on surface morphology, permeability, and acid resistance

Ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) lasers can be used to specifically target protein, water, and mineral, respectively, in dental hard tissues to produce varying changes in surface morphology, permeability, reflectivity, and acid resistance. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of laser irradiation and topical fluoride application on the surface morphology, permeability, reflectivity, and acid resistance of enamel and dentin to shed light on the mechanism of interaction and develop more effective treatments.
Methane yield phenotypes linked to differential gene expression in the sheep rumen microbiome

Ruminant livestock represent the single largest anthropogenic source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, which is generated by methanogenic archaea residing in ruminant digestive tracts. While differences between individual animals of the same breed in the amount of methane produced have been observed, the basis for this variation remains to be elucidated. To explore the mechanistic basis of this methane production, we measured methane yields from 22 sheep, which revealed that methane yields are a reproducible, quantitative trait. Deep metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing demonstrated a similar abundance of methanogens and methanogenesis pathway genes in high and low methane emitters. However, transcription of methanogenesis pathway genes was substantially increased in sheep with high methane yields. These results identify a discrete set of rumen methanogens whose methanogenesis pathway transcription profiles correlate with methane yields and provide new targets for CH4 mitigation at the levels of microbiota composition and transcriptional regulation.
Perceived organizational support, organizational identification, and employee outcomes testing a simultaneous multifoci model

This study involves a multifoci analysis of antecedents and outcomes of organizational identification (OID), within a dual-organizational identity context. We investigate links between perceived organizational support (POS), OID, organizational involvement, and turnover intention with 736 employees from a UK National Health Service (NHS) Trust. Using Structural Equation Models (SEM), we analyzed models using the Trust and the NHS as organizational foci. With both Trust and NHS foci, POS had a positive effect on identification which, in turn, predicted both outcomes. Organizational support showed a direct and an indirect effect on outcomes through OID. Generally the effects were foci specific, though limited downward crossfoci effects were found.
Recursive Algorithms for Distributed Forests of Octrees

The forest-of-octrees approach to parallel adaptive mesh refinement and coarsening has recently been demonstrated in the context of a number of large-scale PDE-based applications. Efficient reference software has been made freely available to the public both in the form of the standalone \tt p4est library and more indirectly by the general-purpose finite element library \tt deal.II, which has been equipped with a \tt p4est backend. Although linear octrees, which store only leaf octants, have an underlying tree structure by definition, it is not fully exploited in previously published mesh-related algorithms. This is because tree branches are not explicitly stored and because the topological relationships in meshes, such as the adjacency between cells, introduce dependencies that do not respect the octree hierarchy. In this work, we combine hierarchical and topological relationships between octants to design efficient recursive algorithms that operate on distributed forests of octrees. We present three imp.
Low Power Security System by Using Dral

: Power dissipation in modern technologies is an important issue, and overheating is a serious concern for both manufacturer and customer. Everyday new technology which is faster, smaller and more complex is being developed . This paper describes a side channel attack resistant coprocessor IC fabricated . The IC is being developed with both Reversible and Adiabatic logic and is been proposed with 180nm CMOS technology. Reversible logic is used due to its less heat dissipating characteristics. Adiabatic logic (DRAL) is a design methodology for reversible logic in CMOS where the current flow through the circuit is controlled such that the energy dissipation due to switching and capacitor dissipation is minimized . It is capable of both forward encryption and reverse decryption by using AES algorithm for security applications. The Adiabatic logic with reversible technique is used and simulated in HSPICE. This technique is also used in allowing for efficient hardware reuse.
Improving Chronic Illness Care: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis of Large Physician Organizations

Background:An increasing number of people suffer from chronic illness. Processes exist to provide better chronic illness care and yet for the most part, they are not used. Objective:To examine the change in use of commonly recommended chronic illness care management processes (CMPs) in large medical groups between 2000 and 2006 and the factors associated with the change. Design and Measures:Cohort analysis of data from a national telephone survey in year 2000 and again in 2006. Participants provided information on their organizations’ ownership, size, use of defined chronic illness CMPs, financial incentives, quality improvement involvement, profitability, and use of electronic medical records. Setting:Medical groups and independent practice associations of 20 physicians or more (N = 369) that treat patients with asthma, congestive heart failure, depression, and diabetes, and that responded to the survey in 2000 and 2006. Results:Use of CMP increased from 6.25 to 7.67 (of a total of 17; P ≤ 0.001), that is, by 23%, between 2000 and 2006. Increases were greatest for those practices receiving financial rewards for quality; those participating in quality improvement activities; and those practices that were profitable. Most of the increase was in use of registries and in patient self-management support services. Conclusions:There is significant opportunity for improving chronic illness care even in larger physician organizations. Public policies that promote financial rewards for improving quality and that encourage quality improvement initiatives are likely to be associated with improved chronic illness care.
Comparison of Three Questionnaires to Screen for Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

One of the most common personality disorders among adolescents and young adults is the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The objective of current study was to assess three questionnaires that can reliably screen for BPD in adolescents and young adults (N = 53): the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD; Zanarini et al., 2003), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4th edition – BPD scale (PDQ-4 BPD; Hyler, 1994), and the SCID-II Patient Questionnaire – BPD scale (SCID-II-PQ BPD). The nine criteria of BPD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV; APA, 1994) were measured with the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders – BPD scale (SCID-II; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, Williams, & Benjamin, 1995). Correlations between the questionnaires and the SCID-II were calculated. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires were tested. All instruments predicted the BPD diagnosis equally well.