Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colour Morphological Scale-Spaces from the Positional Colour Sieve

Morphological sieves are a popular tool for scale-space image analysis. Recent work has considered the development of colour and multichannel sieves, and their application to image segmentation. This paper proposes a new colour sieve based on the geometry of the local convex hull, providing a more flexible approach to extrema definition. Results show the new approach to have a similar segmentation performance to existing colour sieves but with an improved performance in terms of noise reduction.
Semantic Networks as Means for Goal-Directed Formative Feedback

Kalz, M. , Berlanga, A. , Van Rosmalen, P., Stoyanov, S. , Van Bruggen, J., & Koper, R. (2009). Semantic Networks as Means for Goal Directed Formative Feedback. In V. Hornung-Prahauser & M. Luckmann (Eds.), Kreativitat und Innovationskompetenz im digitalen Netz - Creativity and Innovation Competencies in the Web, Sammlung von ausgewahlten Fach- und Praxisbeitragen der 5. EduMedia Fachtagung 2009 (pp. 88-95). Mai, 4-5, 2009, Salzburg, Austria: Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.bH.
Senescence, Stress, and Reactive Oxygen Species

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the earliest responses of plant cells to various biotic and abiotic stresses. ROS are capable of inducing cellular damage by oxidation of proteins, inactivation of enzymes, alterations in the gene expression, and decomposition of biomembranes. On the other hand, they also have a signaling role and changes in production of ROS can act as signals that change the transcription of genes that favor the acclimation of plants to abiotic stresses. Among the ROS, it is believed that H2O2 causes the largest changes in the levels of gene expression in plants. A wide range of plant responses has been found to be triggered by H2O2 such as acclimation to drought, photooxidative stress, and induction of senescence. Our knowledge on signaling roles of singlet oxygen (1O2) has been limited by its short lifetime, but recent experiments with a flu mutant demonstrated that singlet oxygen does not act primarily as a toxin but rather as a signal that activates several stress-response pathways. In this review we summarize the latest progress on the signaling roles of ROS during senescence and abiotic stresses and we give a short overview of the methods that can be used for their assessment.
Study of performance of pattern recognition techniques based on wavelet features for Islanding detection in distributed generation

In this rapidly growing world, the need of distributed generation (DG) is increasing. But there are some problems related to it, one of them is Islanding. In this manuscript, a comparative study of different pattern recognition techniques using wavelet based features for islanding detection in distributed generation is presented. A system containing two DGs, one synchronous wind generator and an asynchronous hydro generator are taken into consideration. The model is simulated and wavelet transform is applied to extract the features like energy, entropy and standard deviation. Pattern recognition techniques including decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), extreme learning machine (ELM) and differential evolution (DE)-clustering are applied to segregate the islanding condition from non-islanding events like single line to ground fault, double line to ground fault, triple line to ground fault, load switching, capacitive switching, voltage sag, voltage swell and DG tripping. The comparative results show the effectiveness of each individual classifier for islanding detection in both noiseless and noisy environments. The whole system is simulated by using MATLAB software.
Rapid Face Recognition Technology using Eigenfaces and Gabor Filter

Face recognition is one of biometric methods, to identify given face image using main features of face. Face recognition system is a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image. Gabor filters have proven themselves to be a powerful tool for feature extraction. Proposed methodology is connection of two stages – Face detection using Haar based cascade classifier ,Feature extraction using Gabor Filter and recognition using Eigen faces. The Eigenface approach used for the recognition of the images. It gives us efficient way to find the lower dimensional space.
Cascading Impact of Lag on User Experience in Cooperative Multiplayer Games

Playing cooperative games should be fun for everyone involved. Part of having fun in games is being able to perform well, be immersed, and stay engaged [18, 30, 31]. These indicators of experience are part of a game player’s Quality of Experience (QoE). One of the primary causes of QoE degradation in online games is lag, a general term for communication delay and loss due to poor network conditions [7, 10, 12, 33, 34, 42]. Current lag mitigation strategies are constructed using the assumption that when evaluating the QoE of a player only that player’s network conditions impact their QoE [5]. We have designed an experimental framework to study the effects of lag on a group of players by measuring a gamut of subjective and objective QoE metrics. Our results indicate that the change in QoE of one player due to their lag has a cascading effect on the QoE of the other players. Understanding a player’s QoE as a cascade function that includes other users’ network conditions provides a more complete understanding of the impact of lag in cooperative multiplayer games. This has the potential to improve lag mitigation strategies for multiplayer games and other group applications.
Finding Interesting Images in Albums using Attention

Commercial systems such as Flickr display interesting photos from their collection as an interaction mechanism for sampling the collection. It purely relies on social activity analysis for determining the notion of interestingness. We propose an alternative technique based on content analysis for finding interesting photos in a collection. We use a combination of visual attention models and an interactive feedback mechanism to compute interestingness. A differentiating feature of our approach is the ability to customize the set of interesting photos depending upon the individual interest. Also, we incorporate non-identical duplicate detection as a mechanism to strengthen the surprise factor among the potentially interesting set of candidate photos. We have implemented the system and conducted a user study whose results are promising. This proposed work presents a variant on query by example integrating user relevance feedback to choose “interesting” photos.
A dual-model fault detection approach with application to actuators of robot manipulators

Multiple-model (MM)-based methods have been successfully applied to many fault detection schemes; however systematic design of the associated model set remains an open question. The difficulty comes from the fact that using a large model set reduces the risk of undetected faults, but also increases the computation load drastically. In this paper we propose a dual-model fault detection (DMFD) algorithm aiming at solving the model set design problem, and apply it to detect actuator faults of robot manipulators. The DMFD algorithm is able to detect various types of unexpected actuator faults, including abrupt faults, incipient faults, and simultaneous faults, in a computationally efficient way. To evaluate the performance of the DMFD algorithm, upper bounds of the false alarm and missed detection probabilities are explicitly presented in terms of the tunable variables. Furthermore, experiments are conducted to demonstrate its ability in immediate detection of faults.
Resource Manual for College Supervisors. Developed as a Part of the Teacher Education Internship Project.

ABSTRACT This handbook is part of a series of guides developed for use with the Teacher Education Internship Project at the University of North Florida. This resource manual contains information of use to the college supervisor. Topics covered include: (1) the roles and responsibilities of the college supervisor; (2) the roles and responsibilities of the director of the internship program; (3) clinical supervision; (4) planning conferences; (5) observation; (6) data collection and analysis; (7) supervisory post-conference; (8) formative analysis; and (9) summative evaluation. Samples of charts and instruments ured by the college supervisor during the intership and a list of references are included. (CB)
Plug : Automatically Tolerating Memory Leaks in C and C + + Applications Gene

Memory leaks remain a significant challenge for C and C++ developers. Leaky applications become slower over time as their working set grows, triggering paging, and can eventually become unresponsive. At the same time, memory leaks remain notoriously difficult to debug, and comprise a large number of reported bugs in mature applications. Existing approaches like conservative garbage collection can only remedy leaks of unreachable objects. In addition, they can impose unacceptable runtime or space overheads, or cause legal C/C++ applications to fail or retain excessive memory. This paper presents Plug, a runtime system for C/C++ applications that allows applications to deliver high performance in the face of both reachable and unreachable memory leaks. It uses a novel heap layout that isolates leaked objects from non-leaked objects, allowing them to be completely paged out to disk. Plug further reduces the space impact of leaks by employing virtual compaction, an approach that leverages virtual memory primitives to allow physical memory compaction without moving objects. We demonstrate Plug’s low overhead and its effectiveness at tolerating real memory leaks.
MicroRNA Implications across Neurodevelopment and Neuropathology

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have rapidly emerged as biologically important mediators of posttranscriptional and epigenetic regulation in both plants and animals. miRNAs function through a variety of mechanisms including mRNA degradation and translational repression; additionally, miRNAs may guide gene expression by serving as transcription factors. miRNAs are highly expressed in human brain. Tissue and cell type-specific enrichments of certain miRNAs within the nervous system argue for a biological significance during neurodevelopmental stages. On the other hand, a large number of studies have reported links between alterations of miRNA homeostasis and pathologic conditions such as cancer, heart diseases, and neurodegeneration. Thus, profiles of distinct or aberrant miRNA signatures have most recently surged as one of the most fascinating interests in current biology. Here, the most recent insights into the involvement of miRNAs in the biology of the nervous system and the occurrence of neuropathological disorders are reviewed and discussed.
Dual frame of frequency warping operators

In this work we introduce the dual frame operator relative to the aliasing compensated frequency warping operator for non-smooth warping functions. Except for approximation errors, the resulting operators pair allows perfect reconstruction. Unlike previously introduced frequency warping frame and dual frame pair, which was obtained by adding redundancy to the group delay shift covariance analysis space, in this case no modifications are needed to the analysis operator. Anyway, to calculate the dual frame, previously introduced computational models are exploited and forward developed. Basically, the dual frame construction is based on an operator power series which is entirely precomputed, so the complexity of frequency warping inversion is not increased.
An investigation into the views of young people with Autism Spectrum Condition (aged 14-19) on their use of social media

Introduction: Young people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) have been shown to be at higher risk of many negative factors associated with internet use. However, many anecdotal reports have suggested that social media can have a positive impact on young people with ASC, with the emergence of social media for the ASC population being compared to the emergence of sign language in the deaf community. This has been hypothesised to be due to online communication lessening “the emotional, social and time pressures experienced in offline situations” (Benford and Standen, 2009 p.2). Method: This research explored young people (aged 14-19) with ASCs’ digital identity and how they feel it relates to; relationships, psychological well-being and life outcomes. Phase one data collection was through a questionnaire formed of three standardised measures to assess; digital identity (the Autism Digital Identity Scale, adapted from the Deaf Acculturation Scale; Maxwell-McCaw & Zea, 2011), relationship formation (the Friendship Scale; Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2003), and well-being (the Moods and Feelings Questionnaire; Angold & Costello, 1987). Four questions on a Likert scale were used to ascertain views about life outcomes. For phase two, participants were asked to contribute to an online forum, where a qualitative thematic analysis and a systematic qualitative analysis were undertaken to find any phenomena occurring. Two participants were chosen as case studies. Results: A relationship was found between those who identify as non-autistic online and enjoy close relationships. A relationship is found between those with an autistic digital identity and those who feel that the internet will support their life outcomes with regards
Contemporary Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Obesity has recently emerged as a major global health problem. According to World Health Organization estimates, 1.6 billion adults worldwide were overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25 kg/m) and at least 400 million were obese (BMI 30 kg/m) in 2005, numbers that are expected to reach 2.3 billion and 700 million, respectively, by 2015. In the United States, the percentage of overweight and obese adults increased markedly from 47% and 15% in 1976 to 1980 to 66% and 33% in 2005 to 2006, with the greatest proportion of increase seen among non-Hispanic black and Mexican American women.1,2 The implications of excess body weight are far-reaching. Epidemiological studies indicate that overweight and obesity are important risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature death.3 In the United States, healthcare expenditures attributable to overweight and obesity are estimated to be $147 billion or 9.1% of total healthcare costs per year.4 Such excess costs could have serious repercussions for resource-poor countries, which must manage the dual burdens of chronic and infectious disease. In the setting of a pandemic of obesity and related chronic diseases, the American Heart Association recently released a scientific statement recommending reductions in added-sugar intake to no more than 100 to 150 kcal/d for most Americans.5 The statement identified sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as the primary source of added sugars in the American diet.6 Although it has long been suspected that SSBs contribute at least in part to the obesity epidemic, only in recent years have large epidemiological studies been able to substantiate the relationship between SSB consumption and long-term weight gain, T2DM, and cardiovascular risk. It is thought that SSBs contribute to weight gain because of their high added-sugar content, low satiety, and potential incomplete compensation for total energy, leading to increased energy intake.7,8 In addition, because of their high amounts of rapidly absorbable carbohydrates such as various forms of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the large quantities consumed, SSBs may increase T2DM and cardiovascular risk independently of obesity as a contributor to a high dietary glycemic load (GL), leading to inflammation, insulin resistance, and impaired -cell function.9 Fructose from any sugar or HFCS may also increase blood pressure and promote the accumulation of visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, and ectopic fat deposition because of increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis.10 Here, we review temporal patterns in SSB consumption and clinically relevant effects on obesity, T2DM, and cardiovascular disease risk, emphasizing potential underlying biological mechanisms, clinical implications, and consideration of methodological issues inherent in the literature.
Trade Performance and the Role of R & D, Patents, Investment and Hysteresis: An Analysis

This paper experiments with three different proxy variables - ie, relative patenting activity, R & D expenditure and investment - in an attempt to capture the importance of non-price factors (such as relative product quality, variety and innovation) in the determination of import volumes. The empirical work uses bilateral import volume data for the UK, Germany and Italy - disaggregated to 4-digit ISIC level - together with disaggregated bilateral proxies for quality and innovation. The paper seeks to identify `hysteresis' effects in UK import volumes by testing whether the temporary appreciation of sterling in the early 1980s - which was accompanied by a 27% increase in UK import penetration and a 25% fall in manufacturing employment - resulted in a permanent increase in UK imports (ie, between 1979-81 the sterling effective exchange rate rose by around 30%, but virtually all of the appreciation had been reversed by the end of 1983). The paper concludes: quality and innovation are important determinants of trade shares for certain sectors; the temporary appreciation of sterling at the start of the 1980s was associated with a permanent loss of market share for UK producers partly because the high level of sterling encouraged UK purchasers to try more imported products, particularly imports from the newly-industrialising countries; relative import price elasticities are approximately twice (in some cases, three times) as large as those previously estimated using aggregate data.
Topology and higher dimensional representations

SU(3) gauge theory in the 2-index symmetric (sextet) and fundamental representations is considered in symmetric and periodic boxes. Using the overlap formulation in the quenched approximation it is shown that the topological charge obtained from the sextet index theorem always leads to an integer value and agrees with the charge obtained from the fundamental index theorem in the continuum. At larger lattice spacing configurations exist with fractional topological charge if the sextet index is used but these are lattice artifacts and the probability of finding such a configuration rapidly approaches zero. By considering the decomposition of the sextet representation with respect to an SU(2) subgroup it is shown that the SU(2) adjoint index theorem leads to integer charge as well. We conclude that the non-zero value of the bilinear gaugino condensate in = 1 super-Yang-Mills theory cannot be attributed to configurations with fractional topological charge once periodic boundary conditions are imposed.
ROBOT NAVIGATION USING IMAGE PROCESSING AND ISOLATED WORD RECOGNITION

In this paper, a practical implementation of image processing and isolated word recognition has been explained. A modeled vehicle has been driven autonomously on the road and can navigate on a road on its own, stop at zebra-crossing, follow traffic lights and reach an end point or can be controlled through voice commands. The vehicle has been developed using an old scrap body of a Kinetic Sunny and its engine, Servo motors, microphone, PCB and cameras. The image processing is done with the help of a laptop using MATLAB image processing toolbox and speech processing is done using HTK (hidden markov model toolkit). The robot navigated through roads with marked lanes and traffic light using image processing after taking inputs from the environment with the help of CCD camera and webcam. However, on the roads with no standardized lane marking and traffic lights, the robot was controlled using voice commands only and processed by HTK toolkit.
Long Memory in Volatility. An Investigation on the Central and Eastern European Exchange Rates

Understanding the evolution of volatility on the financial markets is essential for the comprehension and for the analysis of risk. This paper regards the topic of persistence of volatility in the exchange rates for four Central and Eastern European countries: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. Persistence in volatility shows how quickly financial markets forget large volatility shocks. The persistence of volatility is addressed as the presence of long-term memory in the second order moment of returns and in absolute returns. The main feature of a long-memory process is that its autocorrelation function decays slower than that of a short memory process, but faster than that of an integrated one. The paper also concerns the implications on risk assessment of detecting long-term memory in the volatility of the exchange rate.
Distributed Shared Memory Management for Java

Jackal is a fine-grained distributed shared memory system that can run multithreaded Java programs on distributedmemory systems. The Jackal compiler generates an access check for every use of an object field or array element. The overhead of the access checks is reduced using compiler optimizations. The runtime system uses a homebased consistency protocol that manages (and caches) objects and array partitions. In addition, the runtime system manages the virtual address space and dynamically maps and unmaps pages, to support large data structures. Jackal uses local and global mark-and-sweep garbage collectors, which also deal with replicated objects and partitioned arrays. The paper discusses the various distributed memory management techniques used in the system and presents performance results on a cluster of workstations.
The Political Economy of Income Redistribution.

During the decade of the 1960s, a variety of public policies were adopted to alter the American distribution of income. A history of these policies begins with the manpower programs of the early Kennedy administration and ends with President Nixon's 1974 budget. An examination of the economic and political history of these programs reveals a variety of reasons for their publicly proclaimed failure. Means and ends were never sufficiently distinguished; no consistent decision was ever made about the aspects of the income distribution to be altered; the political process wanted to pretend that income could be redistributed without reducing anyone's economic position; funds could never be concentrated enough to have a visible impact; and the public was simply unwilling to make investments of the size that would have been necessary to solve the problem. The elimination of poverty may be a good investment socially; financially, it is a bad investment. Increases in productivity do not cover the costs of the necessary programs. The Family Assistance Plan was a radical departure from previous attempts to alter the distribution of income, but it was fatally flawed by internal contradictions. Eventually, it proved to be a political liability for politicians of all parties. Lester C. Thurow is Professor of Economics and Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has served as Staff Economist for the Council of Economic Advisers during 1964 and 1965 and during the inauguration of the War on Poverty. Professor Thurow is author of Poverty and Discrimination, which won the David A. Wells Prize, and The American Distribution of Income: A Structural Problem. The author would like to thank Mike Piori for his helpful comments.