Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy support vector regression for function approximation with noises

Fuzzy support vector machine (FSVM) have been very successful in pattern recognition problems with outliers or noises. FSVM enhances the SVM in reducing the effect of noises in data points. In this paper, we introduce FSVM to regression problems for function approximation with noises. We apply a fuzzy membership to each input point of SVR and reformulate SVR into fuzzy SVR (FSVR) such that different input points can make different contributions to the learning of decision function.
Internet service differentiation using transport options: the case for policy-aware congestion control

TCP congestion control played a key role in ensuring the stability and smooth operation of the network for many years. However, there are many cases in which current TCP congestion control may be overly conservative, leading to low transfer rates in networks which are practically congestion-free. This paper introduces Transport Options; a simple framework for Internet service differentiation based on different transmission control behaviours. It discusses how Transport Options can be implemented, deployed and used based on policy-criteria, without threatening the stability of the network.
FlexiFont: a flexible system to generate personal font libraries

This paper proposes FlexiFont, a system designed to generate personal font libraries from the camera-captured character images. Compared with existing methods, our system is able to process most kinds of languages and the generated font libraries can be extended by adding new characters based on the user's requirement. Moreover, digital cameras instead of scanners are chosen as the input devices, so that it is more convenient for common people to use the system. First of all, the users should choose a default template or define their own templates, then write the characters on the printed templates according to the certain instructions. After the users upload the photos of the templates with written characters, the system will automatically correct the perspective and split the whole photo into a set of individual character images. As the final step, FlexiFont will denoise, vectorize, and normalize each character image before storing it into a TrueType file. Experimental results demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of our system.
EMUSIM: an integrated emulation and simulation environment for modeling, evaluation, and validation of performance of Cloud computing applications

Cloud computing allows the deployment and delivery of application services for users worldwide. Software as a Service providers with limited upfront budget can take advantage of Cloud computing and lease the required capacity in a pay‐as‐you‐go basis, which also enables flexible and dynamic resource allocation according to service demand. One key challenge potential Cloud customers have before renting resources is to know how their services will behave in a set of resources and the costs involved when growing and shrinking their resource pool. Most of the studies in this area rely on simulation‐based experiments, which consider simplified modeling of applications and computing environment. In order to better predict service's behavior on Cloud platforms, we developed an integrated architecture that is based on both simulation and emulation. The proposed architecture, named EMUSIM, automatically extracts information from application behavior via emulation and then uses this information to generate the corresponding simulation model. We performed experiments using an image processing application as a case study and found that EMUSIM was able to accurately model such application via emulation and use the model to supply information about its potential performance in a Cloud provider. We also discuss our experience using EMUSIM for deploying applications in a real public Cloud provider. EMUSIM is based on an open source software stack and therefore it can be extended for analysis behavior of several other applications. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
"Não fale com estranhos": solidariedade e comunicação entre identidade e alteridade

Este trabalho delineia alguns aspectos da nocao de “comunidade”, a partir de uma perspectiva que entrecruza comunicacao, moral, politica e alteridade. Na medida em que as formas comunicacionais parecem estar diretamente ligadas com a dinâmica das sociabilidades, o trabalho avalia criticamente o argumento de que os vinculos comunitarios sao estabelecidos a partir de uma dicotomia entre as possibilidades de comunicacao dos que estao “dentro” e o silenciamento dos que estao “fora”. Argumentamos que a superacao dessa divisao pode ser obtida no estabelecimento de relacoes comunicacionais menos assimetricas, pautadas na solidariedade e na amizade.
Harvesting SSL Certificate Data to Mitigate Web-Fraud

The present invention provides a means and method of exhausting air from, and sealing a container of the type used for sealing food products. The means includes a self adhering patch for attachment to the exterior side wall of the container, or alternately, a patch that is constructed as part of a commercial container such as a baggie, and a suction probe which may be attached to a source of suction such as a suction pump for drawing air from the container when the suction probe is inserted through the patch and into the container. When the air has been removed, the probe is removed and the patch self-closes to seal the puncture.
The case for DUF1220 domain dosage as a primary contributor to anthropoid brain expansion

Here we present the hypothesis that increasing copy number (dosage) of sequences encoding DUF1220 protein domains is a major contributor to the evolutionary increase in brain size, neuron number, and cognitive capacity that is associated with the primate order. We further propose that this relationship is restricted to the anthropoid sub-order of primates, with DUF1220 copy number markedly increasing in monkeys, further in apes, and most extremely in humans where the greatest number of copies (~272 haploid copies) is found. We show that this increase closely parallels the increase in brain size and neuron number that has occurred among anthropoid primate species. We also provide evidence linking DUF1220 copy number to brain size within the human species, both in normal populations and in individuals associated with brain size pathologies (1q21-associated microcephaly and macrocephaly). While we believe these and other findings presented here strongly suggest increase in DUF1220 copy number is a key contributor to anthropoid brain expansion, the data currently available rely largely on correlative measures that, though considerable, do not yet provide direct evidence for a causal connection. Nevertheless, we believe the evidence presented is sufficient to provide the basis for a testable model which proposes that DUF1220 protein domain dosage increase is a main contributor to the increase in brain size and neuron number found among the anthropoid primate species and that is at its most extreme in human.
METAPERM : A SAS Macro for Permutation Tests of Linear Models in Meta-analysis

With the growing popularity of meta-analytic techniques to analyze and synthesize results across sets of empirical studies, has come concern about the sensitivity of traditional tests in meta-analysis to violations of assumptions. Such violations are particularly distressing because the tenability of such assumptions in primary studies is often impossible to evaluate. Permutation tests for linear models may provide a robust alternative to more traditional tests. A variety of permutation strategies for linear models have been proposed in the literature, and recent research (Kromrey & Hogarty, 2002; Hogarty & Kromrey, 2003) suggests that such approaches provide superior Type I error control when assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variance are violated. This paper presents a SAS macro that calculates four permutation tests of regression weights in linear models applied to meta-analysis (tests developed by Freedman & Lane, 1983; Ter Braak, 1992; Kennedy, 1995; and Manly, 1997), as well as the traditional parametric WLS test of these weights (Hedges & Olkin, 1985). The macro constructs a weighted linear model using a set of observed effect sizes, sample sizes, and values of hypothesized moderator variables that are supplied as inputs, and outputs the parameter estimates and probabilities obtained from the five testing procedures. The paper provides a demonstration of the SAS/IML code, sample output, and examples of applications in simulation studies.
Radiolabeled Cetuximab Conjugates for EGFR Targeted Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy †

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has evolved over years into a main molecular target for the treatment of different cancer entities. In this regard, the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab has been approved alone or in combination with: (a) chemotherapy for treatment of colorectal and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and (b) with external radiotherapy for treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The conjugation of radionuclides to cetuximab in combination with the specific targeting properties of this antibody might increase its therapeutic efficiency. This review article gives an overview of the preclinical studies that have been performed with radiolabeled cetuximab for imaging and/or treatment of different tumor models. A particularly promising approach seems to be the treatment with therapeutic radionuclide-labeled cetuximab in combination with external radiotherapy. Present data support an important impact of the tumor micromilieu on treatment response that needs to be further validated in patients. Another important challenge is the reduction of nonspecific uptake of the radioactive substance in metabolic organs like liver and radiosensitive organs like bone marrow and kidneys. Overall, the integration of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring as a theranostic approach appears to be a promising strategy for improvement of individualized cancer treatment.
Factors influencing the intention of Malaysian working adults towards lifelong learning

Lifelong learning is an option to fulfil societal needs in order to create a dynamic society. The rising in participation in lifelong learning programmes contributed due to the pressure of globalization and technologies in Malaysia’s changing demography. Therefore, this study aimed at identifying the factors that influence the intention of the Malaysian working adults towards lifelong learning and to develop marketing strategies for Malaysian education providers. The foundation of this study is based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. However, two additional variables were included as the extension to the current model which is trust and perceived usefulness. This research was designed as a cross-sectional field survey, where questionnaire were used for data collection. The target population for this study were the Malaysian working adults who are working in different organizations within the Klang Valley area. The sample size for this research is 210. The hypothesized path analysis was conducted through the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). All the hypotheses were accepted due to the fact that they were statistically significant. The study provides the management of lifelong education centre an insight to develop effective marketing strategies to satisfy that value of potential customers. The findings will also be beneficial to government agencies, policy maker and higher education practitioner by creating insight into adult learner perception and building intentional behaviour to purchase the product. Finally, limitations were discussed and future study direction is proposed.
Secure pathways for women in the UK: lessons from the women’s enhanced medium secure services (WEMSS) pilots

Abstract Women’s enhanced medium secure services (WEMSS) is a model of care aimed at providing a more appropriate level of security for women and, in so doing, reducing the number of women in high secure psychiatric services. In 2007, three Department of Health commissioned WEMSS pilots became operational. This study compared the clinical outcomes of women in WEMSS with control women in six standard medium secure services and one high secure service matched on key clinical and risk characteristics, in order to examine their pathways of care. Our findings confirm that the WEMSS pilots were successful in transitioning women from high secure services who had previously been thought unsuitable for medium secure services. However, WEMSS showed no additional clinical benefit, suggesting that these women could be cared for equally well within standard medium secure services. We make recommendations about WEMSS and the future shape of women’s secure care in England.
Hub-Model Utilisation in Inbound Logistics – A Case Study from the Finnish Electronics Industry

In today’s electronics industry, outsourcing is a common way for companies to improve their competitiveness and concentrate on their core business. Companies are moving their manufacturing to smaller partner manufacturers or subcontractors, which form new nodes on the inbound logistics chain. This complicates the management of material flows. This paper presents a case study of an inbound logistics development project initiated by a Finnish, globallyoperating electronics manufacturer. The outsourced inbound logistics hub is the project’s main development focus. The hub is operated by a logistics service company and all materials from suppliers to subcontractors are delivered through the logistics hub. Deliveries from subcontractors to the principal for final assembly are also done through the logistics hub. Small and medium-sized subcontractors (SMEs) have difficulties in purchasing materials, because materials and components are expensive for them. One option could be for the principal to take full responsibility for materials and buy them for the subcontractors. Acting in this way moves risk from subcontractors to the principal, lowers the material exposure that subcontractors normally assume and also lowers the overall cost of the supply chain. These choices will be analysed during the development project by using activity-based cost modelling, but also using methods outlined in the literature. Changes in material flows also create challenges for information flow management. For SMEs it is not useful and wise to invest in and implement information and communication technology (ICT) solutions. For example, in many cases the information given from the principal’s extranet could be enough to guarantee effective information sharing in the inbound logistics chain. In this project, the principal’s ICT will be utilised for managing the whole inbound logistics chain, and the aim is to make the same information available to all players in the chain and to ensure visibility throughout the networked companies. The last phase of the project focuses on the initiation of a new operations model with a new hub model and the utilisation of ICT. This paper presents the case study, its challenges, research methodology and solutions to managing inbound logistics using an outsourced logistics hub.
An exploration of educators' experiences in teaching learners with learning disabilities in three primary schools in Lesotho : case study.

In Lesotho the provision of education and care for learners with special educational needs was primarily the responsibility of non-governmental organizations, churches and individuals until the Lesotho Ministry of Education took an active interest in the early 1980s. Inclusive education has, since then, become a critical aspect of the Lesotho education system. This study explores educators‟ experiences in teaching learners with learning disabilities in three primary schools in Lesotho. Using a qualitative, descriptive and theoretical research design, the study employs a case study approach to answer the following questions: What are educators‟ understandings of learning disabilities in the classroom? What are the challenges that educators experience in teaching learners with learning disabilities? The data was collected from a sample of six educators from three primary schools (two educators from each school) through semi-structured interviews, observations, document reviews and questionnaires. The study revealed that the educators have not been properly prepared for implementation of the policy of inclusive education; this is reflected by their limited understanding of inclusive education. It also shows a weakness in dissemination of inclusive education policies as educators are not well trained, especially to assist learners with learning disabilities. The focus tended to be only on children with hearing impairment, sight impairment and physical disability. Therefore there is a need for the Lesotho Ministry of Education, not only to review the policy and curriculum of inclusive education, but also unpack the dissemination process so that it empowers and supports educators with knowledge and practical strategies. There are many learning disabilities which educators do not seem to know and the training of educators for the implementation of IE should address the issue.
Tracking control of pneumatic artificial muscle actuators based on sliding mode and non-linear disturbance observer

The dynamic properties and non-linear control of the pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) were investigated in this study for use in a specially designed hand rehabilitation device. The phenomenological model of PMA was established in the lower pressure range applicable for hand rehabilitation. The experimental results show that PMA's characteristics can be approximated by piecewise functions. In order to improve the performance and robustness of control for accurate trajectory tracking, a sliding mode control based on non-linear disturbance observer (SMCBNDO) was designed. The simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the model and the sliding mode control achieved the desired performance in tracking a desired trajectory within guaranteed accuracy. The work indicates that the model and the non-linear control proposed in this study can be applied in PMA-driven hand function rehabilitation devices requiring lower pressures.
US airport fi nancial reform and its implications for airport ef fi ciency : An exploratory investigation

This study investigates the effect on airport productive efficiency of two major funding sources used by US airports, namely the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants and the Passenger Facility Charges (PFC). A two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) modeling approach is employed for this purpose. In the first stage, we estimate airport productive efficiency using a variable returns-to-scale DEA model with both desirable and undesirable outputs. In the second stage, random effects regression models are estimated with airport efficiency scores from the first stage as the dependent variable and PFC and a proxy for AIP grants as two of the explanatory variables. By applying the two-stage DEA model to 42 primary US airports, it is found that PFC use has a positive impact on airport productive efficiency, whereas the impact of AIP grants is negative. Multiple counterfactual scenarios are examined by altering the mix of the two types of funding sources. The results show that simultaneously raising the PFC ceiling and decreasing AIP grants could lead to greater airport productive efficiency. The US federal aviation authority would also benefit from realizing these scenarios, especially given the budgetary constraints it faces. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A combined experimental and theoretical study of the electronic and vibrational properties of bulk and few-layer Td-WTe2

The recent discovery of non-saturating giant positive magnetoresistance in Td-WTe2 has aroused great interest in this material. We have studied the structural, electronic and vibrational properties of bulk and few-layer Td-WTe2 experimentally and theoretically. Spin-orbit coupling is found to govern the semi-metallic character of Td-WTe2. Its structural link with the metallic 1T form provides an understanding of its structural stability. We observe a metal to insulator transition and a change in the sign of the Seebeck coefficient around 373 K. Lattice vibrations in Td-WTe2 have been analyzed by first principle calculations. Out of the 33 possible zone-center Raman active modes, five distinct Raman bands are observed around 112, 118, 134, 165 and 212 cm-1 in bulk Td-WTe2. Based on symmetry analysis and the calculated Raman tensors, we assign the intense bands at 165 cm-1 and 212 cm-1 to the A_1^' and A_1^" modes respectively. We have examined the effect of temperature and the number of layers on the Raman spectrum. Most of the bands of Td-WTe2 stiffen, and the ratio of the integrated intensities of the A_1^" to A_1^' bands decreases in the few-layer sample, while all the bands soften in both bulk and few-layer samples with increasing temperature.
Recommending Products When Consumers Learn Their Preferences

Novice consumers, even when rational, sometimes discover and revise their preferences for certain product attributes as they evaluate products. Such preference discovery modifies consumers’ decisions with respect to (1) which products to evaluate in optimal sequential search and (2) which products to purchase. We develop a model of sequential search with preference discovery, and derive several key insights. First, we show that novice consumers may achieve higher rewards net of search cost when there is more noise in initial beliefs about product attributes. For expert consumers, less noise is better. Second, product recommendations can influence the future search path of the consumer, not merely introduce the recommended product into their consideration set. If a product exposes the consumer to a new, previously undiscovered attribute, the consumer may shift his search to a new part of the product space. Third, the value of a product recommendation is not necessarily directly related to the quality of the product. Counter to the literature on recommender systems, it is sometimes better to recommend an inferior product with the goal of helping consumers discover preferences. Non-benevolent agents can direct consumers to profitable products even though the consumer believes he is searching endogenously and rejects the agent’s recommendation. Finally, I present data from an incentive-aligned experiment to suggest that real consumers discover preferences.
Formal Metadata Semantics for Interoperability in the Audiovisual Media Production Process

In the different stages of the production process of audiovisual media such as movies, a number of different metadata properties exist. Different metadata formats and standards are used in the stages of the process, containing metadata properties with similar and partly overlapping semantics, though not fully identical. We attempt to model the metadata properties used throughout the production process in a format independent way by creating an ontology that models these properties and the relations between them. Modeling is done on a high level, considering grouping and definition relations between the properties. We apply the proposed approach to the problem of verifying whether a set of metadata properties can be unambiguously derived from another and present a web based demo application for this use case.