Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FLUID STRUCTURE SIMULATION OF A LEFT VENTRICLE WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY CHAN BEE TING DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING FACULTY OF ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA

ii ABSTRAK . iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF EQUATIONS . viii LIST OF FIGURES . ix LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xii LIST OF SYMBOLS . xiv Chapter
Grid-free compressive beamforming

The direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation problem involves the localization of a few sources from a limited number of observations on an array of sensors, thus it can be formulated as a sparse signal reconstruction problem and solved efficiently with compressive sensing (CS) to achieve high-resolution imaging. On a discrete angular grid, the CS reconstruction degrades due to basis mismatch when the DOAs do not coincide with the angular directions on the grid. To overcome this limitation, a continuous formulation of the DOA problem is employed and an optimization procedure is introduced, which promotes sparsity on a continuous optimization variable. The DOA estimation problem with infinitely many unknowns, i.e., source locations and amplitudes, is solved over a few optimization variables with semidefinite programming. The grid-free CS reconstruction provides high-resolution imaging even with non-uniform arrays, single-snapshot data and under noisy conditions as demonstrated on experimental towed array data.
Modeling a computer application for... MODELING A COMPUTER APPLICATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES OF UNPAVED ROADS1

This study presents a contribution to the modeling of a computer application employing a method of serviceability performance for unpaved roads, aiming the management of maintenance/restoration activities of the primary surface layer. The proposed methodology consisted of field inspections during dry (April to September) and rainy (October to March) periods, during which objective evaluations were performed to survey of defects and their densities and degrees of severity. To aid the functional classification of analyzed road sections and the determination of the defect with major influence on the serviceability of these roads, the method of serviceability performance proposed by Silva (2009)was implemented in the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) language in Microsoft Excel software. With the use of the computer application proposed it was possible to identify among the defects analyzed in field, through the index of serviceability of the sampling unit per defect type (ISUdef), which one had the greatest influence on determining the relative serviceability index per road section (IST). The results allow us to conclude that the computer application Road achieved satisfactory results, since the objective evaluation criteria applied to road sections denotes consistency regarding their serviceability.
On the CLD Attack to a Statistical Model of a Key Stream Generator

An embedding attack based on constraint Lenvenshtein distance was proposed by Golic and Mihaljevic to analyze a statistical model of a key stream generator which contains an additive noise of probability p, where any value of p ＜ 1/2 is possible. This attack is significant only if the embedding error caused by the noise is less than that caused by an incorrect candidate initial state. We show that this condition is not satisfied when p ≧ 1/4.
QUICKI does not accurately reflect changes in insulin sensitivity with exercise training.

A novel index of insulin sensitivity, the quick insulin sensitivity check index, termed QUICKI (1/[log (insulin) + log (glucose)]), was recently developed. We examined whether QUICKI accurately reflects changes in insulin sensitivity after exercise training, a perturbation known to improve insulin sensitivity. Sedentary, nondiabetic adults underwent a frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test before and after 6 months of training. Insulin sensitivity was estimated from the glucose tolerance test using Bergman's minimal model (insulin sensitivity-minimal model), and QUICKI was calculated from basal insulin and glucose. Exercise increased (P = 0.003) insulin sensitivity-minimal model but did not change (P = 0.12) QUICKI. Before and after training, the rank-correlation between QUICKI and insulin sensitivity-minimal model was significant (r = 0.79, P = 0.0005; r = 0.56, P = 0.03, respectively). However, the rank-correlation between fasting insulin alone with insulin sensitivity-minimal model was as good (before training r = -0.77, P = 0.0009; after training r = -0.55, P = 0.03) as that between QUICKI and insulin sensitivity-minimal model. Fasting glucose was not related to insulin sensitivity-minimal model at either time. When difference scores (i.e. after pretraining values) were examined, neither QUICKI nor fasting insulin correlated with insulin sensitivity-minimal model (QUICKI vs. insulin sensitivity-minimal model r = 0.24, P = 0.39; fasting insulin vs. insulin sensitivity-minimal model r = -0.40, P = 0.14). We conclude that fasting insulin is equivalent to fasting insulin plus glucose (i.e. QUICKI) at estimating basal insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic adults. However, QUICKI does not accurately reflect exercise-induced changes in insulin sensitivity within individual subjects.
Preprocessing Does Matter: Parsing Non-Segmented Arabic

Preprocessing is a normal first step in parsing, but it is the step that most researchers consider trivial and not worth reporting. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that parsing research often focuses on parsing a treebank rather than parsing a text since the treebank obscures many of the preprocessing steps that have gone into the curation of the text. In this paper, we argue that preprocessing has a non-negligible effect on parsing, and that we need to be careful in documenting our preprocessing steps in order to ensure replicability. We focus on parsing Arabic since Arabic is more difficult than English in the sense that 1) the orthography has intricacies such as vocalization that need to be handled and that 2) the basic units in the treebank do not necessarily correspond to words but sometimes constitute morphemes. The latter necessitates the use of a segmenter in order to convert the text to a form that the parser has seen in training. We investigate a scenario where we combine a morphological analyzer/segmenter, MADAMIRA, with a parser trained on the Arabic Treebank. We mainly examine the differences in orthographic and segmentation decisions between the analyzer and the treebank. We show that normalizing the two representations is not a simple process and that results can be artificially low or misleading if we do not pay attention. In other words, this paper is an attempt at establishing best practices for parsing Arabic, but also more generally for documenting preprocessing more carefully.
Toward Mobile Authentication with Keystroke Dynamics on Mobile Phones and Tablets

Security and protection of personal data are becoming more and more important. At the same time, we see a steady rise of very powerful mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. These devices offer most capabilities of desktop computers. Even today, they are often used for storing or accessing individual data. In the near future, it is obviously desirable to use their Internet capability to access private data or even business intra-nets from everywhere. Therefore, new security mechanisms must be designed. In this paper, we only focus on the authentication part (and ignore OS and network issues). Traditional methods for authentication (like smartcards or face recognition) may not be used in every context because of hardware and environment limitations (dark environments or camera restrictions in business). Therefore, we suggest to develop a mixture of a keystroke-based and a handwriting-based authentication method using capacitive displays. In this paper, we will briefly discuss limitations of existing approaches and why we believe that keystroke and handwriting authentication is a possible way for improving the security on mobile devices. First experiments will demonstrate the effectivity of this new approach with error rates under 2%.
Title Direct AC / DC Rectifier With Mitigated Low-Frequency RippleThrough Inductor-Current Waveform Control

In a rectification system with unity power factor, the input power consists of a dc and a double-line frequency power component. Traditionally, an electrolytic capacitor (E-Cap) is used to buffer the double-line frequency power such that the dc output presents a small voltage ripple. The use of E-Cap significantly limits the lifetime of the rectifier system. In this paper, a differential ac/dc rectifier based on the use of an inductor-current waveform control methodology is proposed such that a single-stage direct ac/dc rectification without the need of an E-Cap for buffering the double-line frequency power, and a front-stage diode rectifier circuit can be achieved. The feasibility of the proposal has been practically confirmed in an experimental prototype.
Associations between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement: A Meditational Analysis

Research has illustrated the interrelatedness of childhood physical fitness and psychological wellbeing, psychological wellbeing and academic achievement, as well as physical fitness and academic achievement. In this study, we proposed that psychological wellbeing (self-esteem and depression) serves as a mediator between physical fitness and academic achievement during adolescence. In a sample of middle school children (N = 1,530), significant correlations were found between all three variables (p.0001). A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between physical fitness, psychological wellbeing, and academic achievement. The regression analysis reported a significant partial mediation effect. The results of this study supported the proposed hypotheses, including a mechanism of psychological wellbeing partially mediating the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement. The findings of this study support the importance of encouraging activities to promote both physical fitness and psychological wellbeing in schools.
An SDF approach to hedge funds' tail risk: evidence from Brazilian funds

The main purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to obtain a hedge fund tail risk measure. Our measure builds on the methodologies proposed by \citet*{ag15} and \citet*{aagvg15}, which rely in solving dual minimization problems of Cressie Read discrepancy functions in spaces of probability measures. Due to the recently documented robustness of the Hellinger estimator (Kitamura et al., 2013), we adopt within the Cressie Read family, this specific discrepancy as loss function. From this choice, we derive a minimum Hellinger risk-neutral measure that correctly prices an observed panel of hedge fund returns. The estimated risk-neutral measure is used to construct our tail risk measure by pricing synthetic out-of-the-money put options on hedge fund returns of ten specific categories. We provide a detailed description of our methodology, extract a Tail risk hedge fund factor for Brazilian funds, and relate it to a commonly adopted market volatility measure.
Do Comparisons of Fictional Applicants Measure Discrimination When Search Externalities are Present? Evidence from Existing Experiments

Researchers commonly use fictional applicants to measure discrimination. However, such experiments can confound discrimination against an individual’s characteristics with employers’ responses to the composition of the applicant pool. Such confounding occurs when one applicant’s characteristics affect another applicant’s likelihood of success. I find evidence of such spillovers using data from several existing experiments. Applicants randomly assigned to compete against higher quality applicant pools receive more callbacks. Under one reasonable set of assumptions, adjusting for applicant pool composition increases measured discrimination by 19% on average. Such confounding can be eliminated by avoiding experimental designs that stratify treatment assignment by vacancy. JEL Codes: J71; J64; C93
Nonnegative Matrix Factorization Algorithms using a Constraint to Increase the Discriminability of Two Classes for EEG Feature Extraction

onnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is an algorithm used for blind source separation. It has been reported that NMF algorithms can be utilized as an effective means to extract features from a motor-imagery related EEG spectrum, which is often used in brain-computer interfaces (BCI). BCI systems enable users to control electrical devices without moving their body parts, and are often tasked with interpreting a user's intentions through motor-imagery related EEG features. In other words, they require EEG signal classification in order to reflect user intentions. In this study, constraints are placed on NMF and kernel NMF (KNMF) algorithms to increase the discriminability between two classes by increasing the energy difference between their potential sources in a spectral EEG signal. To evaluate the proposed algorithms, the IDIAP database, which contains the motor-imagery related EEG spectrum of three subjects, was adopted to test the discrimination between two classes. Using the database, the classification accuracy of the proposed constraint was 75%, which was 7% higher than what was obtained through NMF without a constraint. Similarly, the classification accuracy of KNMF with the proposed constraint was also 4% higher than that of KNMF without a constraint, and reached 78%.
Anaesthetic considerations for endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography procedures

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current literature on the use of general anaesthesia and propofol deep sedation for patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Propofol is primarily an anaesthetic agent, but its use in a sedative capacity has resulted in the extensive off-label administration of this drug by gastroenterologists and other nonanaesthesia personnel. This has created controversy and enabled the gastroenterology community to gather evidence and campaign for US Food and Drug Administration approval to administer propofol to patients undergoing ERCP and other endoscopic procedures. Recent findings General anaesthesia appears to be a well tolerated technique for patients undergoing ERCP procedures, although there is a scarcity of publications in this field. The available evidence from prospective and retrospective cohort studies suggests a low incidence of serious outcomes (from sedation-related incidents) in patients undergoing ERCP procedures under propofol deep sedation. However, data from the American Society of Anesthesiologists closed claims analysis report suggests that endoscopy procedures performed under monitored anaesthetic care using propofol as a sedative agent can result in serious patient harm. Summary Deep sedation with propofol, administered by anaesthesia personnel, can be used as an alternative to general anaesthesia for a select group of patients undergoing ERCP procedures. Further research is necessary to clarify the nature and parameters of deep sedation.
Opportunistic Power Control for Wireless Ad hoc Networks

Opportunistic power control can be used as a generalized framework for distributed power control in wireless networks. In this paper, we investigate this scheme for wireless ad hoc networks where channel state changes due to the mobility of nodes. Using opportunistic power control, a node increases its power in good and decreases it in bad channel condition. Considering some real restrictions on nodes mobility and maximum allowable transmission power in each time slot, we use opportunistic power control to determine the power of mobile nodes in each time slot in a time-division multiple access (TDMA) wireless ad hoc network. We compare the network throughput and power consumption of this scheme with the target tracking approach that aim at hitting a Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) target in all time slots. Simulation results show that opportunistic algorithm inherently has a scheduling property that results into a significant improvement in throughput and power consumption of the network and makes it more appropriate for distributed power control in wireless Ad hoc networks.
An exceptional series of phase transitions in hydrophobic amino acids with linear side chains

Four amino acids with linear, hydrophobic side chains display an unprecedented series of solid-state phase transitions between 100 and 470 K. These involve hydrogen-bond rearrangements, sliding of molecular bilayers in one or two dimensions and development of side-chain disorder. The first modulated structures of amino acids are reported.
Product Data Sheet Inhibitors • A gonists • Screening Libraries

In Vitro Micafungin (10 mg/mL) phenotypicly decreases the formation of biofilm in most of the isolates. For all the genes tested, the levels of mRNA transcription are also decreased significantly in micafungin-treated samples cf. their untreated counterparts[1]. The combination of micafungin and KB425796-C is fungicidal and markedly reduces the number of CFU, in contrast to the fungistatic effects (no reduction in CFU) observed at all examined time points when each drug is used alone[2]. Product Data Sheet Inbitors • A gnists • Scening Liaries
Gepi: An Epigraphic Corpus for Old Georgian and a Tool Sketchfor Aiding Reconstruction

In the current paper, an annotated corpus of Old Georgian inscriptions is introduced. The corpus contains 91 inscriptions which have been annotated in the standard epigraphic XML format EpiDoc, part of the TEI. Secondly, a prototype tool for helping epigraphic reconstruction is designed based on the inherent needs of epigraphy. The prototype backend uses word embeddings and frequencies generated from a corpus of Old Georgian to determine possible gap fillers. The method is applied to the gaps in the corpus and generates promising results. A sketch of a front end is being designed.
Optimizing SVR Hyperparameters via Fast Cross-Validation using AOSVR

The performance of support vector regression (SVR) deeply depends on its hyperparameters such as an insensitive zone thickness, a penalty factor, and kernel parameters. A method called MCV-SVR was once proposed, which optimizes SVR hyperparameters so that cross-validation error is minimized. However, the computational cost of CV is usually high. In this paper we apply accurate online support vector regression (AOSVR) to the MCV-SVR cross-validation procedure. The AOSVR enables an efficient update of a trained SVR function when a sample is removed from training data. We show the AOSVR dramatically accelerates the MCV-SVR. Moreover, our experiments using real-world data showed our faster MCV-SVR has better generalization than other existing methods such as Bayesian SVR or practical setting.
Algorithms of Landmark Robot Navigation Basing on Monocular Image Processing

The application of mobile robots is very important in environments that are dangerous or inappropriate for human life. One of the problems arising for the mobile robot when targeting point within the indoor application during navigation is the provision of its localization. In this paper, the developments of the algorithms that provide and enable mobile robot to position itself within the indoor environment by using one video camera and a landmark template is presented.
The Relationship between Cultural Intelligence and Psychological Well-being with the Moderating Effects of Mindfulness: A Study of International Students in Taiwan

According to Ministry of Education of Taiwan, numbers of international students studying in Taiwan gradually increased. However, studies showed that their learning outcome is significantly influenced by their psychological well-being (PWB). Therefore, this study examines the factors affecting PWB. In this study, cultural intelligence (CQ) is seen as a potential predictor for PWB. CQ is defined as the ability to deal with different cultural context, and it includes four dimensions, namely cognitive CQ, metacognitive CQ, motivational CQ and behavioral CQ. Besides, as people pay more attention to unfamiliar exotic things when being abroad, their consciousness on the present moment, so-called mindfulness, plays an important role for their well-being. Therefore, mindfulness is examined as a moderator in the relationship between CQ and PWB. Quantitative approach is applied in this study. The samples are 110 international students studying in Taiwan. The self-report questionnaire composed by Ryff’s 18-item scale, Cultural Intelligence Scale and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale is distributed on-line. The collected data go through descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis. Results show that metacognitive CQ and PWB has a significant relationship with an R2 of . 231. Besides, motivational CQ is positive related to PWB with an R2 of . 142. According to the statistic result of this study, future research can put efforts on how to enhance metacognitive and motivational CQ, like designing related cultural program courses before students’ departure, in order to better international students’ PWB.
A framework for developing an ICT strategy in cadastral and land registration organizations

Accelerating development of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are pushing many Cadastral and Land Registration organizations towards organizational changes in order to meet challenging user requirements. Appropriate use of ICT improves the performance of these organizations and facilitates their way of becoming cost recovery. The purpose of this paper is to provide a ‘Conceptual Framework for Developing ICT Strategy’ for Cadastral and Land Registration organisation.
A New test of the theory of storage comparing historical and contemporary data

The main reasons to expect a change over time in the relations of interest are related to the growing financialization of commodity markets observed in recent years (UNCTAD 2009; Tang and Xiong 2010) and to the absence, in the 1920s, of a fully developed theory of fair pricing and market efficiency orientating trading strategies. At the same time, the two periods are comparable in terms of available trading instruments, if not of rapidity in the transmission of relevant information, and in terms of a trading environment free of State intervention. 2