Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nasty or Nice? Explaining Positive and Negative Campaign Behavior in Taiwan

Elections have constituted important symbolic events throughout the course of democratization, and continue to be one of the most extensively analyzed features of Taiwan’s political landscape. Contemporary elections are fiercely contested and often dramatic events, with high levels of citizen engagement. Analyses of party and candidate behavior during campaigns have also suggested that “Taiwan’s campaign culture thrives on negativity”. Indeed, seldom does a campaign pass without allegations of dirty tricks, petty squabbling and the peddling of hearsay and worse. Such observations have been invoked by researchers concerned by the implications of bitter political competition and unseemly behavior for popular attitudes towards the democratic process and for the quality of Taiwan’s democracy. Observers of Taiwanese elections have interpreted negativity as an indication of deficits in Taiwan’s political culture and the quality of Taiwanese politicians. Popular commentators, frequently looking through partisan lenses, propagate unhelpful stereotypes about the major parties to explain the behavior of their candidates. In short, academic and popular observers are concerned that campaign behavior reflects particular shortcomings in Taiwanese political culture and exacerbates weaknesses in its democratic system. These are important concerns, given the newness of Taiwan’s democracy and evidence of ambiguous attitudes towards democracy at the mass level.
DISCRETE EVENT CONTROL OF TIME – VARYING PLANTS Ernesto

This paper studies the use of Quantized State Control (QSC) in Time– Varying (TV) plants. Making use of a Lyapunov analysis, the stability properties of Time Invariant QSC are extended to the non– stationary case. Then, based on the resulting stability theorem, a design algorithm is developed. Finally, the use of this algorithm –which allows the design of QSC controllers according to stability and convergence speed features– is shown with the design and the simulation of an illustrative example. Keywords— Digital Control, Nonlinear Control, Discrete Event Systems.
Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience: The Geometry of Excitability and Bursting

This book explains the relationship of electrophysiology, nonlinear dynamics, and the computational properties of neurons, with each concept presented in terms of both neuroscience and mathematics and illustrated using geometrical intuition. In order to model neuronal behavior or to interpret the results of modeling studies, neuroscientists must call upon methods of nonlinear dynamics. This book offers an introduction to nonlinear dynamical systems theory for researchers and graduate students in neuroscience. It also provides an overview of neuroscience for mathematicians who want to learn the basic facts of electrophysiology. "Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience" presents a systematic study of the relationship of electrophysiology, nonlinear dynamics, and computational properties of neurons. It emphasizes that information processing in the brain depends not only on the electrophysiological properties of neurons but also on their dynamical properties. The book introduces dynamical systems starting with one- and two-dimensional Hodgkin-Huxley-type models and continuing to a description of bursting systems. Each chapter proceeds from the simple to the complex, and provides sample problems at the end. The book explains all necessary mathematical concepts using geometrical intuition; it includes many figures and few equations, making it especially suitable for non-mathematicians. Each concept is presented in terms of both neuroscience and mathematics, providing a link between the two disciplines. Nonlinear dynamical systems theory is at the core of computational neuroscience research, but it is not a standard part of the graduate neuroscience curriculum - or taught by math or physics department in a way that is suitable for students of biology. This book offers neuroscience students and researchers a comprehensive account of concepts and methods increasingly used in computational neuroscience.
Robust calling performance in frogs infected by a deadly fungal pathogen

Abstract Reproduction is an energetically costly behavior for many organisms, including species with mating systems in which males call to attract females. In these species, calling males can often attract more females by displaying more often, with higher intensity, or at certain frequencies. Male frogs attract females almost exclusively by calling, and we know little about how pathogens, including the globally devastating fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, influence calling effort and call traits. A previous study demonstrated that the nightly probability of calling by male treefrogs, Litoria rheocola, is elevated when they are in good body condition and are infected by B. dendrobatidis. This suggests that infections may cause males to increase their present investment in mate attraction to compensate for potential decreases in future reproduction. However, if infection by B. dendrobatidis decreases the attractiveness of their calls, infected males might experience decreased reproductive success despite increases in calling effort. We examined whether calls emitted by L. rheocola infected by B. dendrobatidis differed from those of uninfected individuals in duration, pulse rate, dominant frequency, call rate, or intercall interval, the attributes commonly linked to mate choice. We found no effects of fungal infection status or infection intensity on any call attribute. Our results indicate that infected males produce calls similar in all the qualities we measured to those of uninfected males. It is therefore likely that the calls of infected and uninfected males should be equally attractive to females. The increased nightly probability of calling previously demonstrated for infected males in good condition may therefore lead to greater reproductive success than that of uninfected males. This could reduce the effectiveness of natural selection for resistance to infection, but could increase the effectiveness of selection for infection tolerance, the ability to limit the harm caused by infection, such as reductions in body condition.
Soft Computing-Based Result Prediction of Football Games

Soft computing methods for result prediction of football games based on fuzzy rules, neural networks and genetic programming techniques, are proposed in the article. The models are taking into account the following features of football teams: difference of infirmity factors; difference of dynamics profile; difference of ranks; host factor; personal score of the teams. Testing shows that the proposed models achieve a satisfactory estimation of the actual game results. The current work concludes with the recommendation of soft-computing techniques as a powerful approach, either for the creation of result prediction models of diverse sport championships, or as effective data extrapolation mechanisms in case of limited available statistics.
Ideas about VR&AR as a new genre in fine arts

Virtual and augmented reality is a specific part of computer arts. Computer art is a wide term, which subsumes a few branches that have found their artistic expression, like Software art, Net art, Algorithmic art. Does a VR&AR art exist? VR&AR come from an artistic deflection of a technology. Combination of immersion, interactivity and virtual world gives opportunity for specific expressions of artistic themes like mixing of illusion and truth, blurring borders between virtuality and reality, imaginary and realistic representations, questioning nature, the world, the relationship between humans and their power, contemporaries techniques and modes of perceptions, and typically the uncanny valley limit.
Immunohistochemical and molecular assessment of human herpesvirus type 8 in gastrointestinal tumours

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, histologically identified as highly cellular spindle or epithelioid cell tumours, and often positive for CD34 (60–70%). Kaposi’s sarcomas (KSs) are similar to GISTs: they are most often found in the gastrointestinal tract (although cutaneous lesions do occur), they are also composed of spindle or epithelioid cells (although erythrocytes are also seen), and the tumour cells are nearly all positive for CD34. Human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) DNA has been found consistently in all types of KS, in particular in CD34 positive KS tumour cells. However, the association between HHV-8 and GIST has not been investigated. Aims: To assess the presence of HHV-8 in GISTs. Methods: Paraffin wax embedded tissues of 86 primary GISTs and their recurrent or metastatic tumours were analysed immunohistochemically for the CD34 antigen and HHV-8 latent nuclear antigen 1 (LNA-1) and by means of the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real time PCR for HHV-8 DNA. Results: None of the 86 GISTs contained HHV-8 DNA sequences or LNA-1 positive cells. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the lack of HHV-8 infection in GIST tumour cells. HHV-8 does not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of GIST, irrespective of the status of the tumour.
AIR TRANSPORT LIBERALIZATION IN EUROPE: THE PROGRESS SO FAR

In April 1997, the final phase of a series of measures were implemented which were aimed at liberalizing air transport within the European Union (EU). These measures were introduced on a phased basis, the first package coming into force in 1988, the second in 1990, and the most significant third package in 1993 (which included a delayed 1997 lifting of cabotage protection). These applied on a multilateral basis within the European Community (with some exclusion clauses), and followed progress towards liberalization on a bilateral basis between 1985 and 1988, most notably on routes between the UK and a number of EU countries. This paper examines the progress so far in the achievement of liberalization and greater competition within Europe. It is based on extensive research carried out by the author and a team from Cranfield University over 1995 and 1996.
Organizations in economic analysis

Three economic environments are reviewed, and in each organizations play an essential role. For an adverse selection insurance economy, we find that when mutual insurance arrangements are permitted an equilibrium necessarily exists and is optimal. This example, and the two others, illustrate the problems that may result from imposing organizational structure on an environment rather than permitting the structure to be determined endogenously.
RISK FACTORS FOR SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED DEATH IN EPILEPSY

Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy or SUDEP is the term used to describe when a person with epilepsy dies unexpectedly without a clear cause. The condition was first observed in 1854, however, a formal definition is still being debated today. Nashif (1997) presented one of the most widely accepted definitions within the scientific community, which is " the sudden, unexpected, witnessed or un witnessed, non-traumatic, and non-drowning death in patients with epilepsy with or without evidence for a seizure, and excluding documented status epilepticus (a seizure lasting more than 30 minutes), in which post mortem examination does not reveal a structural or toxicological cause for death ". 1,2 The main problem with this definition is that it requires a post-mortem autopsy, whose quality and timing vary considerably among countries. Furthermore, this definition may not be useful in epidemiological or statistical studies that attempt to understand why the condition occurs and identify risks for SUDEP. Therefore, the Annegers (1997) criteria are used in the absence of an autopsy for these types of studies. These are 1) a patient with epilepsy dies suddenly while in a reasonable state of health; 2) the death occurred within minutes; 3) the death occurred while performing normal, everyday duties; 4) no obvious cause of death was found; and 5) the death was not directly caused by a seizure or status epilepticus. 3,4 Regardless of the definition, many who have epilepsy, their friends and family are not aware of the possibility of SUDEP until it is too late. Furthermore, the word " unexplained " in the definition points to the multitude of unknown factors surrounding this devastating event.
Study of Face-Recognition Parameters and its finding using DSP Software

As one of the most successful applications of image analysis and understanding, face recognition has recently received significant attention, especially during the past several years. Recently face recognition is attracting much attention in the society of network multimedia information access. This paper presents a algorithm for rapid and accurate facedetection, extraction & recognition. The algorithm can be transferred from a PC to embedded devices, such as a Digital Signal Processing platform using MATLAB software. This system-level implementing ability brings great potential to customized and reusable applications as well as miniature systems.
Calibration of Photovoltaic Module Performance Models Using Monitored System Data

Calibration of a photovoltaic module performance model currently relies on measurements of electrical output taken with the module outdoors on a two-axis tracker, or indoors using a solar simulator. These measurements require expensive infrastructure. By contrast, measuring electrical performance for systems outdoors on fixed racking is substantially cheaper, yet no method currently exists to translate these meaurements to model coefficients. We present and validate methods to calibrate the Sandia Photovoltaic Array Performance Model and the California Energy Commission model using data collected outdoors for modules at fixed tilt orientation. A method to successfully calibrate module performance models without recourse to a two-axis tracker or a solar simulator expands the ability to rapidly characterize photovoltaic modules in actual operating conditions.
Who is the Usual Suspect? Evidence of a Selection Bias Toward Faces That Make Direct Eye Contact in a Lineup Task

The speed and ease with which we recognize the faces of our friends and family members belies the difficulty we have recognizing less familiar individuals. Nonetheless, overconfidence in our ability to recognize faces has carried over into various aspects of our legal system; for instance, eyewitness identification serves a critical role in criminal proceedings. For this reason, understanding the perceptual and psychological processes that underlie false identification is of the utmost importance. Gaze direction is a salient social signal and direct eye contact, in particular, is thought to capture attention. Here, we tested the hypothesis that differences in gaze direction may influence difficult decisions in a lineup context. In a series of experiments, we show that when a group of faces differed in their gaze direction, the faces that were making eye contact with the participants were more likely to be misidentified. Interestingly, this bias disappeared when the faces are presented with their eyes closed. These findings open a critical conversation between social neuroscience and forensic psychology, and imply that direct eye contact may (wrongly) increase the perceived familiarity of a face.
Multiple Textured Objects Segmentation Using DWT Based Texture Features in Geodesic Active Contour

This paper addresses the issue of segmentation of multiple textured objects in presence of background texture using active contours. It first comments on the parametric and geodesic active contours in view of their abilities to handle multiple objects segmentation, in general and then proposes a technique based on geodesic active contours for the multiple textured objects segmentation. The proposed approach is based on the generalization of the geodesic active contour from one dimensional intensity based feature space to multidimensional texture based feature space. The main contributions of this work are as follows. First, it develops new scalogram based texture features which have good texture discriminating power and second, use of these features to define a good "texture edge indicator" function to be used in geodesic active contour algorithm. Proposed technique is validated using a set of synthetic and natural texture images. To show the effectiveness of the proposed technique, obtained results are compared with other techniques suggested in the literature.
The search for the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB 000214

We present UBVRI-band observations taken ~300 days after the BeppoSAX γ-ray burst GRB 000214. This GRB did not show a detectable optical afterglow; however, due to the localization of a previously unknown, fading X-ray source at a tentative redshift in the range 0.37–0.47, we searched with the ESO 3.6 m telescope for objects with photometric redshifts consistent with the mentioned X-ray redshift range. We report four host galaxy candidates, which might be the subject of future spectroscopic observations, in order to confirm their redshifts.
Coupled field finite element analysis of switched reluctance motor with soft magnetic composite material for thermal characterization

This paper describes a more precise technique for thermal analysis due to joule heat loss in switched reluctance motor with soft magnetic composite material (SMC) by two dimensional (2-D) coupled field finite element analysis. The finite element model is solved in tandem by a cascaded procedure comprising electromagnetic and thermal analysis. The results of the coupled field finite element analysis of two configurations viz (a) Switched reluctance motor made of lamination sheet steel (SRM-M19) and (b) Switched reluctance motor made of soft magnetic composite material (SRM-SMC) are presented.
Representations of body schemas for infant robot development

Psychological studies have often suggested that internal models of the body and its structure are used to process sensory inputs such as proprioception from muscles and joints. Within robotics, there is often a need to have an internal representation of the body, integrating the multi-modal and multi-dimensional spaces in which it operates. Here we propose a body model in the form of a series of distributed spatial maps, that have not been purpose designed but have emerged through our experiments on developmental stages using a minimalist content-neutral approach. The result is an integrated series of 2D maps storing correlations and contingencies across modalities, which has some resonances with the structures used in the brain for sensorimotor coordination.
Experimental Evaluation of Network Properties in Public Transportation Systems

Public transportation systems across the United States serve millions of riders every day, forming crucial links between people and their daily destinations. In this work, we develop a method for modeling public transportation systems as network graphs. We use the resultant graphs to study the properties of 18 public transportation systems from cities and counties in the United States and Canada. Furthermore, we develop a simple model for passenger behavior and use it to test the relative robustness of these networks.
Genome-Wide Gene Expressions Respond Differently to A-subgenome Origins in Brassica napus Synthetic Hybrids and Natural Allotetraploid

The young allotetraploid Brassica napus (2n = 38, AACC) is one of models to study genomic responses to allopolyploidization. The extraction of AA component from natural B. napus and then restitution of progenitor B. rapa should provide a unique opportunity to reveal the genome interplay for gene expressions during the evolution. Herein, B. napus hybrids (2n = 19, AC) between the extracted and extant B. rapa (2n = 20, AA) and the same B. oleracea genotype (2n = 18, CC) were studied by RNA-seq and compared with natural B. napus donor, to reveal the gene expression changes from hybridization and domestication and the effects of A genome with different origins. Upon the initial merger of two diploid genomes, additive gene expression was prevalent in these two hybrids, for non-additively expressed genes only represented a small portion of total expressed genes. A high proportion of genes exhibited expression level dominance, with no preference to either of the parental genomes. Comparison of homoeolog expressions also showed no bias toward any genomes and the parental expression patterns were often maintained in the hybrids and natural allotetraploids. Although, the overall patterns of gene expression were highly conserved between two hybrids, the extracted B. rapa responded less and appeared more compatible for hybridization than the extant B. rapa. Our results suggested that expression level dominance and homoeolog expressions bias were balanced at the initial stage of genome merger, and such balance were largely maintained during the domestication of B. napus, despite the increased extent over time.
E-business Performance and Strategy Planning E-Valuation Based on Adaptive Algorithmic Modelling Methods: Critical Factors Affecting E-Valuation and Strategic Management Methodologies

This article describes an innovative e-business strategy planning e-valuation approach, based on adaptive algorithmic modeling methods for solving a wide class of e-business and strategic management problems. The proposed methodology is based on basic ideas and concepts of four key-field interrelated sciences, i.e. Computing Science, Applied Mathematics, Management and Economic Sciences. Furthermore, the fundamental scientific concepts of adaptability and uncertainty are shown to play a critical role of major importance for a (near) optimum solution of a class of complex e-business/services and strategic management problems. A characteristic case study of adaptive algorithmic schemes containing several distinct e-valuation procedures corresponding to e-business performance models under certain environmental pressures, organizational constraints and describing the relationships between technology, innovation and firm performance, is presented in the proposed adaptive algorithmic modeling approach. The new hybrid algorithmic model includes six dynamic modules, can be optimized and used effectively in e-business performance and strategic planning e-valuation of various e-services in very large organizations. This new methodology incorporating critical factors for e-business performance can play a significant role of major importance for (near) optimum solutions of a class of complex e-business/services and strategic management problems.
Energy analysis of symbiotic organisms search optimization based task scheduling algorithm

Cloud computing is a technique of utilizing resources over internet to achieve a certain goal. With massive increase in the number of users and their variable demand of different services, hundreds to thousands of servers have to be deployed. Equally massive cooling systems are required to keep the servers working under normal temperatures. This leads to high CO2 emission and following current trends it is only expected to rise in the coming years. Thus cloud computing services are directly or indirectly contributing to global warming. Green computing is the solution to this problem in which same amount of weightage is given to makespan optimization as to the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of a machine. In this paper, we perform energy analysis of a makespan-efficient algorithm Discrete Symbiotic organisms search (DSOS) and based on the results, we conclude that this algorithm can be made more energy-efficient which is also our area of future research.