Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic Reviews: Rationale for systematic reviews

Systematic literature reviews including meta-analyses are invaluable scientific activities. The rationale for such reviews is well established. Health care providers, researchers, and policy makers are inundated with unmanageable amounts of information; they need systematic reviews to efficiently integrate existing information and provide data for rational decision making. Systematic reviews establish whether scientific findings are consistent and can be generalised across populations, settings, and treatment variations, or whether findings vary significantly by particular subsets. Meta-analyses in particular can increase power and precision of estimates of treatment effects and exposure risks. Finally, explicit methods used in systematic reviews limit bias and, hopefully, will improve reliability and accuracy of conclusions.
Verb Phrase Types and the Notion of a Phase

This squib investigates the notion of a phase (Chomsky 1998a,b) with respect to the categories vP and VP. Chomsky (1998a,b) introduced the notion of a phase as a self-contained subsection of a derivation defined by the category v or C. According to this proposal, after construction of a phrase marker containing one of these categories (i.e. after construction of a vP or CP), spellout occurs, sending the phase to interpretation at the PF and LF components. At this point, the derivation may terminate, or an additional lexical subarray may be chosen such that the derivation continues to build upon the previous phase. However, subsequent operations are limited in their referal to elements within the previous phase by the Impenetrability Condition. This condition allows visibility only within the edge of the phase, that is any adjuncts or specifiers of the highest v/C and the highest v/C itself. Thus, a version of strict cyclicity is built into the computation. Chomsky’s proposal explicitly makes a sharp distinction between unergative verbs, on the one hand, and passive and unaccusative verbs, on the other, since the former are presumed to consist of a VP dominated by a vP, while the latter are presumed to consist solely of a VP. Thus, the unergative verb phrase would form a phase, while the passive or unaccusative verb phrase would not. It is this distinction that we will question today. The goal of this paper is thus not to question the existence of a phase at the level of the verb phrase, but rather to demonstrate that the tests supporting the notion of a vP phase do not make a crucial split between unergative verbs on the one hand and passive or unaccusative verbs on the other. The conclusion reached will be if there are vP level phases then either there are also VP level phases, or passive and unaccusative verb phrases are also dominated by a vP, albeit one that lacks an external argument.
Testing the cosmic ray content in galaxy clusters

Context. The effective content of cosmic rays ( CR ) in galaxy clusters remains elusive. The evidence of relativistic electrons ( RE ) in the subset of clusters endowed with a radio halo remains hardly quantitative in the absence of robust estimates of the magnetic field $B(r)$, derived from Faraday Rotation (FR) measurements. The content in relativistic protons ( RP ) requires a different approach, the only direct one residing in the detection of their collisional production of gamma rays ( GR ). Aims. Based on the evidence of merging phenomena in clusters, theory predicts a large content of RP , whose energy density could be a large fraction of the thermal energy. This paper aims to estimate a maximum production of both secondary relativistic electrons, SRE , and GR from the RP that have supposedly accumulated throughout the entire history of a cluster. Methods. SRE and GR production is maximized when the RP and the thermal gas share the same radial profile. The production rate is normalized by adopting a reference value of 0.3 for ξ , the ratio of RP to thermal pressure. The SRE content which obtains, when constrained to reproduce the observed radio brightness profile, yields univocally $B(r)$, if the presence of primary RE were negligible. Results. This procedure is applied to four radio-halo clusters (Coma, A2163, A2255, A2319). In these objects, the central value B 0 required is consistent with typical, albeit rather uncertain, values derived from FR, although for A2163 and A2319 no reliable FR estimates are available to strengthen this result. On the other hand, $B(r)$ typically increases beyond the thermal core, a hardly acceptable condition. This problem is alleviated by assuming a mix of SRE and of “primary” RE ( PRE ), with the latter becoming the dominant component beyond the thermal core. These results suggest that in clusters without a radio halo detected so far a diffuse radio-emission should also be observable due to SRE alone, and therefore more centrally condensed, provided that ξ is of the order of 0.3. To encourage deeper radio observations of such clusters, some examples were selected that seem rather promising. Efforts in this direction, if accompanied by FR measurements, could provide highly significant constraints on the CR content in clusters, even before the future GLAST mission will have accomplished the hard task of detecting the GR . A complementary result concerns the excess far UV in the Coma cluster, that some authors have attributed to IC emission from SRE . It is shown that this hypothesis can be excluded, because it requires a RP energy content in excess of the thermal one.
Robust crowdsourced learning

In general, a large amount of labels are needed for supervised learning algorithms to achieve satisfactory performance. It's typically very time-consuming and money-consuming to get such kind of labeled data. Recently, crowdsourcing services provide an effective way to collect labeled data with much lower cost. Hence, crowdsourced learning (CL), which performs learning with labeled data collected from crowdsourcing services, has become a very hot and interesting research topic in recent years. Most existing CL methods exploit only the labels from different workers (annotators) for learning while ignoring the attributes of the instances. In many real applications, the attributes of the instances are actually the most discriminative information for learning. Hence, CL methods with attributes have attracted more and more attention from CL researchers. One representative model of such kind is the personal classifier (PC) model, which has achieved the state-of-the-art performance. However, the PC model makes an unreasonable assumption that all the workers contribute equally to the final classification. This contradicts the fact that different workers have different quality (ability) for data labeling. In this paper, we propose a novel model, called robust personal classifier (RPC), for robust crowdsourced learning. Our model can automatically learn an expertise score for each worker. This expertise score reflects the inherent quality of each worker. The final classifier of our RPC model gives high weights for good workers and low weights for poor workers or spammers, which is more reasonable than PC model with equal weights for all workers. Furthermore, the learned expertise score can be used to eliminate spammers or low-quality workers. Experiments on simulated datasets and UCI datasets show that the proposed model can dramatically outperform the baseline models such as PC model in terms of classification accuracy and ability to detect spammers.
N, N-Dimethylglycine decreases oxidative stress and improves in vitro development of bovine embryos

The antioxidant effect of N, N-dimethylglycine (DMG) on in vitro-produced (IVP) bovine embryos was examined. After in vitro fertilization, presumptive zygotes were cultured with or without 0.1 μM DMG under different oxygen tensions. The percentage of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage was lowest under a 20% oxygen concentration without DMG, and it was significantly increased (P < 0.05) by applying a 5% oxygen concentration. Under the 20% oxygen concentration, supplementation of the medium with DMG significantly improved blastocyst development, which was nearly equal to that achieved under 5% oxygen without DMG. Furthermore, a tendentious increase (P = 0.06) in blastocyst cell numbers was observed when DMG was applied. In the second experiment, addition of H2O2 (0.5 mM) to the culture medium significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the percentage of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage. However, DMG supplementation prevented this reduction. In conclusion, DMG enhanced the in vitro development of IVP bovine embryos by acting as an antioxidant.
Surveillance of Avian Paramyxovirus in Migratory Waterfowls in the San-in Region of Western Japan from 2006 to 2012

ABSTRACT Relatively little is known about the distribution of avian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) among wild birds in Japan. Surveillance of APMV in migratory waterfowl was conducted in the San-in region of western Japan during winters of 2006 to 2012. A total of 16 avian paramyxoviruses consisting of 3 lentogenic Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs), 12 APMV-4 and 1 APMV-8 were isolated from 1,967 wild-bird fecal samples. The results show that NDV and APMV-4 are relatively widely distributed among wild waterfowl that migrate to Japan from northern regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that there was no genetic relationship between the isolates from wild birds and domestic poultry in Japan. However, surveillance of APMVs in wild waterfowl needs to be conducted due to the pathogenic potential of these isolates in domestic poultry.
SecureCast: A Secure Media Streaming Scheme over Peer-to-Peer Networks

It has become a hot topic that how to construct an efficient and secure media streaming overlay over a highly diverse and dynamic peer-to-peer networks recently. SecureCast proposed in this paper is a secure peer-to-peer media streaming system, which adopts an overlay optimization scheme. The streaming model is based on an efficient peer selection algorithm and a set of dynamic maintenance protocol. It leverages the performance information and synchronization estimation between peers to select the best subset of peers as senders. SecureCast also presents a scalable streaming protection scheme based on credentials and filters. With the dynamic peer management protocol, SecureCast is resilient to network dynamic. The valuation of the prototype system shows good performance and security.
Doubly Fed Induction Machines Diagnosis Based on Signature Analysis of Rotor Modulating Signals

This paper introduces an advanced monitoring and diagnosis system for the detection of incipient electrical faults in doubly fed induction generators used in wind turbines. In this application, the rotor is supplied by a static converter for the control of active and reactive power flows from the generator to the electrical grid. A new diagnostic method based on the frequency analysis of the rotor modulating signals is proposed. Simulation and experimental results confirm that a convenient frequency analysis of these signals and a simple interpretation lead to an effective diagnostic procedure. The proposed system is suitable to be easily embedded in the power-converter digital control system at very low cost.
High Quality Template-Based Volume Rendering

Volumetric representation of 3D scenes is becoming widely used in scientific visualization and computer graphics. Volume rendering confronts performance hurdles due to the voluminous nature of the data, and quality hurdles due to its discreteness. In this paper we present a three-phase template-based algorithm for expediting parallel viewing of volumetric datasets. Our approach exploits coherency between rays in parallel views by storing, in a ray-template, information that is common to all rays. From an axis-aligned plane, and within the projected region of the volume, parallel rays are cast into the volume by repeating the sequence of steps specified by the ray-template. We show that the template can also store information that is used to expedite screen-space and object-space supersampling. Finally, we utilize templates to support adaptive volume traversal. 1: Introduction Visualization is the process of converting complex information to a format that is amenable to human understanding, while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the information. One type of information that can benefit from visualization techniques is volumetric data which consist of information on three dimensional phenomenon. Volumes are commonly composed of a set of values sampled or computed at the integral points of a 3D Euclidean grid. The process of determining, for a given view point, which parts of the volume are visible is calledvolume viewing . Algorithms for volume viewing operate by scanning through the data points, calledvoxels, in a strict order designed to achieve hidden voxel removal. Volume viewing algorithms can be classified according to the partial voxel occupancy they support. Many early algorithms [Herman and Liu 1979, Reynolds, Gordon, and Chen 1987, Tuy and Tuy 1984] assume uniform (binary) occupancy , that is, a voxel is either fully occupied by some object or it is devoid of any object presence. In contrast to uniform occupancy, methods based on partial occupancyassume that data values represent partial voxel occupancy by an object of homogeneous material. This provides a mechanism for the representation and display of objects that are smaller than the acquisition grid or that are not aligned with
Evaluating environmental impact assessment procedures in the Nigerian maritime oil and gas sector

Mitigating maritime pollution linked to the oil and gas sector is increasingly seen as a priority issue in national and international contexts alike. A key policy tool that has been used to address this issue is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It has become the primary means by which potentially adverse environmental impacts can be assessed and mitigated, and in theory, provides a variety of mechanisms for stakeholder engagement in the policy process. However, the governance of EIA in developing countries is embryonic, emergent, and in parts contradictory. This thesis reviews and evaluates EIA procedures as they relate to the Nigerian Maritime Oil and Gas Sector (NMOGS), relying, in particular, on Matland’s work on ambiguity and conflict in policy implementation. I argue that Matland’s scholarship affords valuable new insights into EIA implementation processes, particularly in terms of understanding the complex interactions among policy, business and civil society actors both within and beyond implementing agencies. Thus, the thesis’s broader contribution is to consider how the complex institutional mosaic sorrounding EIA might be conceptualised and understood theoretically by drawing on the rich literature on policy implementation. The empirical analysis utilises semi-structured face-to-face interviews with fifty-six respondents in key government implementing agencies, academia, and civil society. This is supplemented by secondary data on national level environmental policies, as well as surveys of EIA reports of multinational and national oil company projects in two Nigerian states. The thesis has demonstrated that the institutional context of NMOGS is characterised by high levels of interagency conflict and policy ambiguity. A key cause of the ambiguity is that two EIA systems operate in parallel at the national scale, thus making it difficult for the country to achieve its stated aim of attaining sustainable development in the domestic oil and gas sector. I have also found ample evidence of conflict over the roles, responsibilities and duties of Government actors across the whole spectrum of EIA implementation activities.
Pinniped phylogeny enlightened by molecular hybridizations using highly repetitive DNA

Four non-cross-hybridizing, highly repetitive DNA components of the Weddell seal were cloned and used for Southern blot hybridizations in order to clarify pinniped phylogeny. Each of the components was present and possessed the identical fragment length in all pinnipeds, representing true seals, walrus, and sea lions. Three of the four components also hybridized to fragments of the same length in all mustelids except skunk. Limited hybridization also occurred to raccoon DNA. Hybridization to DNA of other terrestrial carnivores (polar bear, dog, cat) was barely recognizable. The fourth component was pinniped specific. The results are compatible with the mustelids and pinnipeds being sister groups. The findings also suggest that the pinnipeds are monophyletic, having separated from mustelid ancestors as one lineage that later differentiated into otariids, odobenids, and phocids. The hybridizations indicated clear differences between the skunk and other mustelids.
Towards a Hybrid Approach to Semantic Analysis of Spontaneous Arabic Speech

The automatic speech understanding aims to extract the useful meaning of the oral utterances. In this paper, we propose a hybrid original method for a robust automatic Arabic speech understanding. The proposed method combines two approaches usually used separately and not considered as complementary. This hybridization has the advantage of being robust while coping with irregularities of oral language such as the non-fixed order of words, self-corrections, repetitions, false departures which are called disfluencies. Through such a combination, we can also overcome structuring sentence complexities in Arabic language itself like the use of conditional, concession, emphatic, negation and elliptical forms. We provide, in this work a detailed description of our approach as well as results compared with several systems using different approaches separately. The observed error rates suggest that our combined approach can stand a comparison with concept spotters on larger application domains. We also present, our corpus, inspired from MEDIA and LUNA project corpora, collected with the Wizard of Oz method. This corpus deals with the touristic Arabic information and hotel reservation. The evaluation results of our hybrid spontaneous speech analysis method are very encouraging. Indeed, the obtained rate of F-Measure is 79.98%. 166 CHAHIRA LHIOUI, ANIS ZOUAGHI, MOUNIR ZRIGUI
#VanLife: materiality, makeovers and mobility amongst digital nomads.

Information and communication technologies enable the emergence of new digital lifestyles that are characterized by high mobility. This paper explores #vanlife as an emerging phenomenon that inspires a hyper-mobile life on the road. It connects it to digital nomadism and compares and contrasts it to RVing/camping. Using the visual components and hashtags of 200 Instagram posts, it specifically delves into the role materiality plays for vanlifers and discusses how the seemingly opposite of materiality and mobility are reconciled in this context. The resulting portrait painted of #vanlife adds significant knowledge to the mobility, digital nomadism and online consumer tribe literatures. Methodological and practical implications are also discussed.
Multi-dimensional Analysis and Design Method for Aerospace Cyber-physical Systems

In this paper, we propose a multi-dimensional specification and modeling method of aerospace cyber-physical system. This method is proposed according to seven views of systems so that their physical and computational parts of aerospace cyber-physical system are modeled correctly. The physical world analysis is considered to be one fundamental stage of our proposed method. The proposed method is illustrated by the modeling of the lunar rover system, which involves a broad range of mechanical, electronic, control, communications, computing, mechanics, and physics. In this paper, we specify and model the lunar rover system by extending Modelica and AADL.
ESTIMATING THE HOME RANGE AND CARRYING CAPACITY FOR TAKAHE ( PORPHYRIO MANTELLI ) ON PREDATOR-FREE OFFSHORE ISLANDS : IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT

New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1998) 22(1): 17-24 ©New Zealand Ecological Society enrichment and captive rearing and reintroduction (Crouchley, 1994). However, since 1983 takahe conservation has also involved the use of offshore islands, with great success in many respects. Despite the relatively low reproductive success of takahe on islands compared to those living on the mainland in terms of both chicks per egg (0.26 ± 0.29 and 0.61 ± 0.37 respectively) and juveniles per year (0.56 ± 0.68 and 0.86 ± 0.59), juvenile and adult survival is high and overall numbers are increasing steadily (Bunin, Jamieson and Eason, 1997). Reports of annual adult survival of takahe in Fiordland range from 73% to 97%, depending on year and location (Reid, 1967; Mills, 1975; Mills, 1978) while estimated annual adult survival of takahe on islands ranged from 83% in 1986 to 100% in four different years (mean = 94.1% ± 5.6%, 1986 – 1995) (Bunin et al., 1997). This creates a need for the future role of islands in takahe conservation to be reviewed. Clout and Craig (1995) endorsed the natural build-up of takahe numbers on offshore islands, rather than captive-rearing, as a more cost-effective method of increasing the overall population. Takahe are highly territorial and defend large breeding areas in Fiordland (range 2 – 80 ha, Reid and Stack, 1974; Introduction
Cellular response of limbal epithelial cells on electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone nanofibrous scaffolds for ocular surface bioengineering: a preliminary in vitro study

Purpose The aim of this study was to develop a synthetic stromal substrate for limbal epithelial cell (LEC) expansion that can serve as a potential alternative substrate to replace human amniotic membrane (HAM). Methods Nanofibers were fabricated using 10% poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) solution dissolved in trifluoroethanol (TFE) via an electrospinning process. Nanofibers were characterized for surface morphology, wetting ability, pore size, mechanical strength, and optical transparency using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurement, microtensile tester, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer, respectively. The human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) cell line was used to evaluate the biocompatibility of nanofibers based on their phenotypic profile, viability, proliferation, and attachment ability. Subsequently, human LECs were cultivated on biocompatible nanofibers for two weeks and their proliferation capability analyzed using MTT ((3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a yellow tetrazole)) proliferation assay. Immunofluorescent (IF) staining and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) were performed to check the molecular marker expression; SEM was used to study the morphology. Results The average fiber diameter of PCL was 132±42 nm. Pore size varied from 0.2 to 4 microns with a porosity of 85%. The tensile strength of the PCL membrane was 1.74±0.18 MPa (Mega Pascal); strain was 30.08±2.66%. The water contact angle was 90°. Biocompatibility results indicated that the polymer surface was highly biocompatible, as HCE-T cells could favorably attach and proliferate on the polymer surface. SEM figures showed that the corneal epithelium was firmly anchored to the polymer surface via a continuous cell sheet and was able to retain a normal corneal phenotype. MTT assay confirmed that cells were metabolically active on nanofibers (p˂0.05) and gradually increased in their number for up to two weeks. IF and RT–PCR results revealed no change in the expression profile of LECs grown on nanofibers when compared to those grown on glass coverslips and human amniotic membrane (HAM). Confocal microscopy illustrated that cells infiltrated the nanofibers and successfully formed a three-dimensional (3D) corneal epithelium, which was viable for two weeks. Conclusions Electrospun nanofibers provide not only a milieu supporting LEC expansion, but also serve as a useful alternative carrier for ocular surface tissue engineering and could be used as an alternative substrate to HAM.