Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Excessive internet use Internet addiction Gaming motivations Compensatory internet use

This study problematizes the common methodology in studies on excessive internet use where psychological characteristics are sought as unique predictors of negative outcomes. It suggests that some predictors may be significant only by virtue of being examined in isolation. In an attempt to add to this methodology the present study explored motivations for a particular online activity, MMO gaming, and the association with excessive use. The study used survey data from players of World of Warcraft (WoW), a popular MMO game. The psychological characteristics investigated were based on previous studies of excessive internet use and included social anxiety, loneliness and stress. The motivations were achievement, escapism and social interaction. The results revealed that although loneliness and social anxiety were correlated with excessive use, they lost significance when stress was controlled for. Furthermore, all psychological predictors lost significance when escapism and achievement were controlled for. These results suggest that psychological characteristics only have an indirect effect on negative outcomes and that this relationship can be better explained by motivations acting as a mediating variable. Based on these results an alternative conceptualization was offered, termed compensatory internet use, emphasizing that excessive use may be more usefully framed and investigated as a coping strategy rather than compulsive behavior.
Simulator Problem in User Centric Smart Card Ownership Model

The Issuer Centric Smart Card Ownership Model (ICOM) gives complete control of smart cards to their respective card issuers, enabling them to install, modify or delete applications remotely, in a secure manner. However, the User Centric Smart Card Ownership Model (UCOM) delegates the ownership of smart cards to their users, entitling them to install or delete any application according to their requirements. In the UCOM there might be no off-card relationship between a smart card and an application provider, referred to as a Service Provider, which is the cornerstone of the ICOM security framework. Therefore, this creates unique security issues like the simulator problem, in which a malicious user may simulate the smart card environment on a computing device and requests installation of an application. Following this, it might be possible to retrieve sensitive application data by reverse engineering. In this paper, we analyse the simulator problem, how it affects the UCOM and propose a possible solution.
Do Skyrme forces that fit nuclear matter work well in finite nuclei

A short list of Skyrme force parameterizations, recently found to have passed a series of constraints relating to nuclear matter properties is analyzed for their ability to reproduce data in ﬁnite nuclei. We analyse binding energies, isotope shifts, neutron skin thicknesses and ﬁssion barriers. We ﬁnd that the subset of forces have no common ability to reproduce(or otherwise)properties of ﬁnite nuclei, despite passing the extensive range of nuclear matter constraints.
Two Simple Prediction Algorithms to Facilitate Text Production

Several simple prediction schemes are presented for systems intended to facilitate text production for handicapped individuals. The schemes are based on single-subject language models, where the system is self-adapting to the past language use of the subject. Sentence position, the immediately preceding one or two words, and initial letters of the desired word are cues which may be used by the systems.
Construction of broadcast channel code based on hash property

The aim of this paper is to construct a code for broadcast channel (independent messages and no common message) based on the the notion of a stronger version of the hash property for an ensemble of functions. Since an ensemble of sparse matrices has a strong hash property, codes using sparse matrices can achieve an inner bound of capacity region.
Comparison of Anthropometric and Atherogenic Indices as Screening Tools of Metabolic Syndrome in the Kazakh Adult Population in Xinjiang

Objective: To compare the screening ability of various anthropometric and atherogenic indices for Metabolic syndrome (MetS) using three common criteria and to evaluate the validity of suitable parameters in combination for the screening of MetS among a Kazakh population in Xinjiang. Methods: A total of 3752 individuals were selected using the stratified cluster random sampling method from nomadic Kazakhs (≥18 years old) in Xinyuan county, Xinjiang, China, which is approximately 4407 km away from the capital Beijing. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of each index. The sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s index and cut-offs of each index for the screening of MetS were calculated. Results: According to the IDF, ATP III and JIS criteria, 18.61%, 10.51%, and 24.83% of males and 23.25%, 14.88%, and 25.33% of females had MetS. According to the IDF criteria, the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was the index that most accurately identified individuals with and without MetS both in males (AUC = 0.872) and females (AUC = 0.804), with the optimal cut-offs of 0.53 and 0.52, respectively. According to both the ATP III and JIS criteria, the lipid accumulation product (LAP) was the best index to discriminate between individuals with and without MetS in males (AUC = 0.856 and 0.816, respectively) and females (AUC = 0.832 and 0.788, respectively), with optimal cut-offs of 41.21 and 34.76 in males and 28.16 and 26.49 in females, respectively. On the basis of the IDF standard, Youden’s indices of WHtR and LAP serial tests for the screening of MetS were 0.590 and 0.455 in males and females, respectively, and those of WHtR and LAP parallel tests were 0.608 and 0.479, accordingly. Conclusion: According to the IDF, ATP III and JIS criteria, both the WHtR and LAP were better indices for the screening of MetS. The WHtR and LAP parallel test was the most accurate.
ECAlogic: hardware-parametric energy-consumption analysis of algorithms

hile green software is a popular topic in computer science nowadays, the average programmer still has little options for analysis of the energy-efficiency of his/her software. Analysis is mostly done dynamically, for which a complex measurement set-up is needed. Using a static analysis which predicts the energy-consumption, would be more accessible and more cost-effective. This paper presents ECAlogic, a tool that implements a static analysis that can bound the energy consumption of algorithms. The tool is parametric with respect to a set of hardware component models. Its results are symbolic over the program parameters.
Speeding of V̇O 2 kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise subsequent to heavy-intensity exercise is associated with improved local O 2 distribution

Juan M. Murias, Matthew D. Spencer, Darren S. DeLorey, Brendon J. Gurd, John M. Kowalchuk, and Donald H. Paterson Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, School of Kinesiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Automated quantification and classification of malaria parasites in thin blood smears

Malaria is a life threatening disease caused by mosquitoes of Anopheles genus that carries the plasmodium parasites. Malaria parasites identification is currently done based on patient's symptoms and parasitological testing. Both methods have several drawbacks such as limited access to microscopy experts especially in rural area practice, restricted diagnostic facilities and costly. This paper presents an approach to automatically quantify and classify erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium vivax at trophozoites stages in thin blood smears. Experimentation is conducted in MATLAB environment specifically using the Image Processing Toolbox. Tasks are divided into three main stages namely image preprocessing, segmentation and classification. In preprocessing, images were first converted to L*a*b* color space and then filtered to remove noises. For segmentation stage, a threshold for each image was calculated using Otsu method. Further, dilation and erosion were performed to completely remove background elements. In the classification stage, images were classified based on the number of infected red blood cell detected. Testing performed using 350 images yielded in 99.72% sensitivity, 99.94% specificity and 98.90% positive predictive value. Results proved that this proposed method is highly potential for automated malaria parasites identification system.
The European Union’s practice of state recognition: Between norms and interests

Abstract This article explores the European Union’s (EU) practices of international state recognition in a transitional international order. It illustrates the difficulties that the EU has encountered in attempting to reach a collective position on sensitive cases of recognition – through a complex balance of internal and external considerations – at a time when the norms regarding recognition are increasingly under challenge. Whether the organisation takes a collective European position on recognition or allows its members to adopt individual national positions, acute inconsistencies and tensions have been exposed, with implications for the EU’s standing in the world. Through this, the article identifies a key tension between the EU’s normative commitments and its geopolitical interests. In conclusion, the article argues that while a uniform EU policy on recognition may not be feasible and case-by-case pragmatism will likely continue, a more coherent approach and greater understanding of the impact of the EU’s position on recognition are necessary. The article draws upon interview material and extensive analysis of official EU documentation in order to provide new insights into this complex challenge. By exploring the intricacies of recognition politics, the article also makes an empirical contribution to understanding the practice of international relations in this area.
Estimation of k-Factor GIGARCH Process: A Monte Carlo Study

In this article, we discuss the parameter estimation for a k-factor generalized long-memory process with conditionally heteroskedastic noise. Two estimation methods are proposed. The first method is based on the conditional distribution of the process and the second is obtained as an extension of Whittle's estimation approach. For comparison purposes, Monte Carlo simulations are used to evaluate the finite sample performance of these estimation techniques, using four different conditional distribution functions.
The Tomato Cf-9 Disease Resistance Gene Functions in Tobacco and Potato to Confer Responsiveness to the Fungal Avirulence Gene Product Avr9

The Cf-9 gene encodes an extracytoplasmic leucine-rich repeat protein that confers resistance in tomato to races of the fungus Cladosporium fulvum that express the corresponding avirulence gene Avr9. We investigated whether the genomic Cf-9 gene functions in potato and tobacco. Transgenic tobacco and potato plants carrying Cf-9 exhibit a rapid hypersensitive cell death response (HR) to Avr 9 peptide injection. Cf9 tobacco plants were reciprocally crossed to Avr9-producing tobacco. A developmentally regulated seedling lethal phenotype occurred in F1 progeny when Cf9 was used as the male parent and Avr9 as the female parent. However, when Cf9 was inherited in the maternal tissue and a heterozygous Avr9 plant was used as the pollen donor, a much earlier reaction was caused, leading to no germination of any F1 seed. Detailed analysis of the Avr9-induced responses in Cf9 tobacco leaves revealed that (1) most mesophyll cells died within 3 hr (compared with 12 to 16 hr in tomato); (2) the macroscopic HR was visible at an Avr9 titer five times lower than that which caused visible symptoms in tomato; (3) the HR invariably extended into noninjected panels of the tobacco leaf; (4) no HR occurred in leaves of young tobacco plants; (5) in older plants, the HR was dramatically enhanced by sequential Avr9 challenges; and (6) coexpression of a salicylate hydroxylase transgene (nahG) from Pseudomonas putida reduced the severity of the macroscopic leaf HR and also restored germination to Cf9 × 35S:Avr9 F1 seedlings. Simultaneous introduction of Cf-9 homologs (Hcr9-9 genes A and B or D) along with the native Cf-9 gene did not alter the responses that were specifically induced by Avr9. Various ways to use the Cf-9–Avr9 gene combination to engineer broad-spectrum disease resistance in several solanaceous species are discussed.
Noncoherent iterative (turbo) decoding

Previously, noncoherent sequence detection schemes for coded linear and continuous phase modulations have been proposed, which deliver hard decisions by means of a Viterbi algorithm. The current trend in digital transmission systems toward iterative decoding algorithms motivates an extension of these schemes. In this paper, we propose two noncoherent soft-output decoding algorithms. The first solution has a structure similar to that of the well-known algorithm by Bahl et al. (1974), whereas the second is based on noncoherent sequence detection and a reduced-state soft-output Viterbi algorithm. Applications to the combined detection and decoding of differential or convolutional codes are considered. Further applications to noncoherent iterative decoding of turbo codes and serially concatenated interleaved codes are also considered. The proposed noncoherent detection schemes exhibit moderate performance loss with respect to corresponding coherent schemes and are very robust to phase and frequency instabilities.
Ca2+-linked upregulation and mitochondrial production of nitric oxide in the mouse preimplantation embryo

Previous studies have demonstrated a role for the signalling agent nitric oxide in regulating preimplantation embryo development. We have now investigated the biochemical mode of action of nitric oxide in mouse embryos in terms of mitochondrial function and Ca2+ signalling. DETA-NONOate, a nitric oxide donor, decreased day 4 blastocyst cell number and oxygen consumption, consistent with a role for nitric oxide in the inhibition mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase. Using live cell imaging and the nitric-oxide-sensitive probe DAF-FM diacetate, nitric oxide was detected at all stages of preimplantation development and FRET analysis revealed a proportion of the nitric oxide to be colocalised with mitochondria. This suggests that mitochondria of preimplantation embryos produce nitric oxide to regulate their own oxygen consumption. Inhibiting or uncoupling the electron transport chain induced an increase in nitric oxide and [Ca2+]i as well as disruption of Ca2+ deposits at the plasma membrane, suggesting that mitochondrial disruption can quickly compromise cellular function through Ca2+-stimulated nitric oxide production. A link between antimycin-A-induced apoptosis and nitric oxide signalling is proposed.
Running in Three Dimensions: Analysis of a Point-mass Sprung-leg Model

We analyze a simple model for running: a three-dimensional spring-loaded inverted pendulum carrying a point mass (3D-SLIP). Our formulation reduces to the sagittal plane SLIP and horizontal plane lateral leg spring (LLS) models in the appropriate limits. Using the intrinsic geometry and symmetries and appealing to the case of stiff springs, in which gravity may be neglected during stance, we derive an explicit approximate mapping describing stride-to-stride behavior. We thereby show that all left-right symmetric periodic gaits are unstable, deriving a particularly simple mapping for sagittal plane dynamics. Continuation to fixed points for the “exact” mapping confirms instability of these gaits, and we describe a simple feedback stabilization scheme for leg placement at touchdown.
Energy-Efficient Collaborative Alamouti Codes

A novel energy-efficient collaborative Alamouti space-time block code (STBC) design is proposed for a wireless communication system having two transmitter antennas and a single receiver antenna. This new design allows us to have more options for variable-rate modulation for fading channels with enhanced performance for signal transmission than the conventional Alamouti coding scheme while having complex-symbol-decodable complexity for the maximum likelihood (ML) detector. Subject to the constraints on a fixed transmission bit rate and unity average energy per each transmitter antenna, the optimal linear constellation combinations with the optimal energy-scales as the coefficients are attained by maximizing the coding gain. It is shown that the optimal coding gain of the newly-designed code is larger than that of the conventional Alamouti code if the transmission bit rate is greater than two bits per channel use.
A Support Vector Classification Model with Partial Empirical Risks Given

A novel model of support vector classification with partial empirical risks given (P-SVC) is proposed. A sequential minimal optimization for P-SVC is also provided. P-SVC is an extension of the classical support vector classification (C-SVC) and can be used in the case where partial empirical risks are requested. The experiments on some artificial and benchmark datasets show P-SVC obtains a better classification accuracy and a more stable classification result than C-SVC does when partial empirical risks are known.
Accurate approximations for European-style Asian options

Abstract : In the binomial tree model, we provide efficient algorithms for computing an accurate lower bound for the value of a European-style Asian option with either a fixed or a floating strike. These algorithms are inspired by the continuous-time analysis of Rogers and Shi. Specifically we consider lower bounds on the option value that are given by the expectation of the conditional expectation of the payoff conditioned on some random variable Z. For a specific Z, Rogers and Shi estimate this conditional expectation numerically in continuous time, and show experimentally that their lower bound is very accurate. We consider a modified random variable Z that gives a strictly better lower bound. In addition, we show that this lower bound can be computed exactly in the n-step binomial tree model in time proportional to n(7). We show that computing the approximation is equivalent to counting paths of various types, and that this can be done efficiently by a dynamic programming technique. We present other choices of Z that yield accurate and efficiently-computable lower bounds. We also show algorithms to compute a bound on the error of these approximations, so that we can compute an upper bound on the option value as well.
Cooperative Behavior Rule Acquisition for Multi-Agent Systems by Machine Learning

Multi-agent systems are the systems in which several interacting, intelligent agents pursue some set of goals or perform some set of tasks (Wooldridge, 2000). In multi-agents systems, each agent must behave independently according to its states and environments, and, if necessary, must cooperate with other agents in order to perform a given task. Multi-agent systems have more robustness and flexibility than conventional centralized management one. However, it is difficult to beforehand predict the action of the agent and give the action rule for the multi-agent systems, because the interaction between agents is complicated. The acquisition of an autonomous agent’s intellectual action rule is a very interesting topic. Recently, extensive research has been done on models such as Robocap (Stone & eloso, 1996, Matsubara et al., 1998). Studying computation models of cooperative structure to accomplish a given task is known to be a difficult problem (Jeong & Lee, 1997). In the field of self-learning reactive systems, it is not even desirable to have a clear idea of a computational model. Thus, being adaptable, autonomous agents imply minimally pre-programmed systems. Numerous studies regarding autonomous agents in the multi-agent systems have been conducted. Nolfi and Foreano (Nolfi & Floreano, 1998) simulated a pursuit system with two agents (predator and prey) in real environments. They evolved both agents reciprocally using a genetic algorithm. Jim and Lee (Jim & Lee, 2000) evolved the autonomous agents with a genetic algorithm. Zhou (Zhou, 2002) used both a fuzzy controller and a genetic algorithm. The fuzzy function displayed the position of the agent, and the genetic algorithm was used for learning. Fujita and Matsuo (Fujita & Matsuo, 2005) learned the autonomous agent using reinforcement learning. The reinforcement learning method involves developing an agent’s behavior by means of the interrelationship with the environment and resulting reinforcement signals. The reinforcement learning method can guarantee learning and adaptability without precise pre-knowledge about the environment. In this chapter, we focused on the problem of “trash collection”, in which multiple agents collect all trash as quickly as possible. The goal is for multiple agents to learn to accomplish a task by interacting with the environment and acquiring cooperative behavior rules. Therefore, for a multi-agent system, we discuss how to acquire the rules of cooperative action to solve problems effectively. First we used a genetic algorithm as a method of acquiring the rules for an agent. Individual coding (definition of the rule) methods are performed, and the learning efficiency is evaluated.
IGroup: presenting web image search results in semantic clusters

Current web image search engines still rely on user typing textual description: query word(s) for visual targets. As the queries are often short, general or even ambiguous, the images in resulting pages vary in content and style. Thus, browsing with these results is likely to be tedious, frustrating and unpredictable. IGroup, a proposed image search engine addresses these problems by presenting the result in semantic clusters. The original result set was clustered in semantic groups with a cluster name relevant to user typed queries. Instead of looking through the result pages or modifying queries, IGroup users can refine findings to the interested sub-result sets with a navigational panel, where each cluster (sub-result set) was listed with a cluster name and representative thumbnails of the cluster. We compared IGroup with a general web image search engine: MSN, in term of efficiency, coverage, and satisfaction with a substantial user study. Our tool shows significant improvement in such criteria.
A Novel Collaborative Spectrum Sensing Scheme Based on Covariance Matrix

The statistical covariance matrixes of received signal and noise are usually different, thus the distinguishing property can be used to detect whether the primary user exists or not. In this paper, according to the multivariate statistical theory, a collaborative spectrum sensing method based on covariance matrix is introduced. The proposed scheme exhibits better performance than the conventional cooperative scheme for correlated signal or correlated noise case, especially for correlated noise case. On the other hand, it approaches to the OR-rule fusion scheme when both signal and noise are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.). In addition, the decision threshold can be easily obtained through theoretical computing whether the received noise samples at cognitive users are correlated or not. Simulations based on various types of received signals are given to verify the method.