Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Causes of Conflict Among Peer Co-Workers in a Non-Governmental Organisation in Kenya

Conflict is an inevitable occurrence in any human interaction setting and organisations are no exception as they are involved in conflict management on a daily basis. Conflict is often viewed as being destructive, but when managed properly it can be constructive, especially in the workplace. Conflict hinders healthy working relations between peer co-workers and the general organisational performance can be affected as well. Peer co-worker conflict is common in organisations and therefore the aim of this article was to explore the causes of conflict among peer co-workers in a non-governmental organisation in Kenya. A qualitative research approach was adopted and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data from fifteen employees of the same hierarchical level who were selected using purposive sampling. The data collected was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis model. The findings revealed that there were various causes of conflict among peer co-workers in the organisation, and the peer co-workers were aware thereof. It was evident that conflict frequency differed among the peer co-workers with the conflict occurrences being from daily to weekly and at times monthly intervals. The findings further revealed that these conflicts hinder healthy working relationships between the peer co-workers. Therefore, the study concluded that peer co-workers should be trained and equipped with skills to aid in conflict management between themselves.
Scalable transformer model based on ladder topological equivalent circuit for Si RFICs

Scalable modeling methodology of on-chip spiral interleaved transformer is proposed. The novel equivalent circuit based on ladder topology is composed of lumped elements and their parameters are completely derived from the physical structure. The circuit topology enables to express the inductive and capacitive coupling effect between half turn segmented wires accurately. The circuit also contributes to obtain the scalability related to wire width/space, length, and diameter. In this model, coupling capacitance between adjacent wires is given by considering parallel paths through oxide layer and Si substrate. The model simulation result matched the measurement result of a fabricated transformer TEG with the error less than 5% for wide frequency range up-to quasi-millimeter wave band.
Landrush: Rethinking In-Situ Analysis for GPGPU Workflows

In-situ analysis on the output data of scientific simulations has been made necessary by ever-growing output data volumes and increasing costs of data movement as supercomputing is moving towards exascale. With hardware accelerators like GPUs becoming increasingly common in high end machines, new opportunities arise to co-locate scientific simulations and online analysis performed on the scientific data generated by the simulations. However, the asynchronous nature of GPGPU programming models and the limited context-switching capabilities on the GPU pose challenges to co-locating the scientific simulation and analysis on the same GPU. This paper dives deeper into these challenges to understand how best to co-locate analysis with scientific simulations on the GPUs in HPC clusters. Specifically, our 'Landrush' approach to GPU sharing proposes a solution that utilizes idle cycles on the GPU to provide an improved time-to-answer, that is, the total time to run the scientific simulation and analysis of the generated data. Landrush is demonstrated with experimental results obtained from leadership high-end applications on ORNL's Titan supercomputer, which show that (i) GPU-based scientific simulations have varying degrees of idle cycles to afford useful analysis task co-location, and (ii) the inability to context switch on the GPU at instruction granularity can be overcome by careful control of the analysis kernel launches and software-controlled early completion of analysis kernel executions. Results show that Landrush is superior in terms of time-to-answer compared to serially running simulations followed by analysis or by relying on the GPU driver and hardwired thread dispatcher to run analysis concurrently on a single GPU.
Efficient ARM for Different Network Data Collection

Association rule mining (ARM) discovers correlations between different itemsets in a transaction database. It provides important knowledge in business for decision makers. Association rule mining is an active data mining research area and most ARM algorithms cater to a centralized environment. Centralized data mining to discover useful patterns in distributed databases isn't always feasible because merging data sets from different sites incurs huge network communication costs. In this paper, an improved algorithm based on good performance level for data mining is being proposed. In local sites, it runs the application based on the improved LMatrix algorithm, which is used to calculate local support counts. Local Site also finds a centre site to manage every message exchanged to obtain all globally frequent item sets. It also reduces the time of scan of partition database by using LMatrix which increases the performance of the algorithm. Therefore, the research is to develop a distributed algorithm for geographically distributed data sets that reduces communication costs, superior running efficiency, and stronger scalability than direct application of a sequential algorithm in distributed databases.
Kinetics , Ca 2 1 Dependence , and Biophysical Properties of Integrin-Mediated Mechanical Modulation of Transmitter Release from Frog Motor Nerve Terminals

Neurotransmitter release from frog motor nerve terminals is strongly modulated by change in muscle length. Over the physiological range, there is an ;10% increase in spontaneous and evoked release per 1% muscle stretch. Because many muscle fibers do not receive suprathreshold synaptic inputs at rest length, this stretch-induced enhancement of release constitutes a strong peripheral amplifier of the spinal stretch reflex. The stretch modulation of release is inhibited by peptides that block integrin binding of natural ligands. The modulation varies linearly with length, with a delay of no more than ;1-2 msec and is maintained constant at the new length. Moreover, the stretch modulation persists in a zero Ca Ringer and, hence, is not dependent on Ca influx through stretch activated channels. Eliminating transmembrane Ca gradients and buffering intraterminal Ca to approximately normal resting levels does not eliminate the modulation, suggesting that it is not the result of release of Ca from internal stores. Finally, changes in temperature have no detectable effect on the kinetics of stretch-induced changes in endplate potential (EPP) amplitude or miniature EPP (mEPP) frequency. We conclude, therefore, that stretch does not act via second messenger pathways or a chemical modification of molecules involved in the release pathway. Instead, there is direct mechanical modulation of release. We postulate that tension on integrins in the presynaptic membrane is transduced mechanically into changes in the position or conformation of one or more molecules involved in neurotransmitter release, altering sensitivity to Ca or the equilibrium for a critical reaction leading to vesicle fusion.
A Review on Segmentation Techniques in Medical Images

- Image segmentation is an essential but critical component in low level vision image analysis, pattern recognition, and in robotic systems. It is one of the most difficult and challenging tasks in image processing which determines the quality of the final result of the image analysis. Image segmentation is the process of dividing an image into different regions such that each region is homogeneous. A precise segmentation of medical image is an important stage in contouring throughout radiotherapy preparation. Medical images are mostly used as radiographic techniques in diagnosis, clinical studies and treatment planning. This review paper defines the limitation and strength of each methods currently existing for the segmentation of Medical images.
Cognitive mentorship: protégé behavior as a mediator to performance

ABSTRACT Researchers have examined the role of cognitive apprenticeship in relation to individual performance in the classroom, but there has been limited quantitative research directly linking cognitive behaviors to mentoring relationships and workplace performance. This study investigates the characteristics of mentoring behavior that influence group performance using data from 52 different organizations. A mediation model was tested and the results indicate that the group-level construct protégé cognitive behavior plays a central role in the mentor-protégé-performance relationship. The findings indicate that the protégés collective articulation of problem solving processes fully mediate unit performance, while exploration partially mediates the relationship. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
A hybrid approach to extraction and refinement of building footprints from airborne lidar data

This work presents a combined bottom-up and top-down approach to extraction and refinement of building footprints from airborne LIDAR data. Building footprints are interesting for many applications in urban planning. The cadastral maps, however, may be limited for certain areas or not be updated frequently. Airborne laser scanning data is therefore considered by many people in the last decade as an important alternative data for change detection and update of building footprints. Laser scanning data of city scenes, however, often shows noise and incompleteness because of, e.g., the clutter by vegetation and the reflection of windows/waterlogged depressions on the roof. Results of the bottom-up detection may thus be limited to incomplete or irregular polygons. We employ 3D Hough transform to detect the building points. An improved joint multiple-plane detection scheme is proposed to find and label the laser points on multiple roof facets synchronously. The bottom-up processing provides not only a rough point segmentation but also additional 3D information, e.g., roof heights and horizontal ridges. Using these as priors, a top-down reconstruction is conducted via generative models. We consider the building footprint as an assembly of regular primitives. A statistical search by means of Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo and Maximum A Posteriori estimation is implemented to find the optimal configuration of the footprint. By these means a robust and plausible reconstruction is guaranteed. First results on point clouds with various resolutions show the potential of this approach.
Primary Defects in β-Cell Function Further Exacerbated by Worsening of Insulin Resistance Mark the Development of Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Obese Adolescents

OBJECTIVE—Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a pre-diabetic state of increasing prevalence among obese adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the natural history of progression from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to IGT in obese adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We determined the evolution of β-cell function, insulin sensitivity (SI), and glucose tolerance in a multiethnic group of 60 obese adolescents over the course of approximately 30 months. Each subject underwent three serial 3-h oral glucose tolerance tests. Dynamic, static, and total β-cell responsivity (Φd, Φs, and Φtot, respectively) and Si were assessed by oral C-peptide and glucose minimal models. The disposition index (DI), which adjusts insulin secretion for Si, was calculated. RESULTS—At baseline, all 60 subjects had NGT. Seventy-seven percent (46 subjects) maintained NGT over the three testing periods (nonprogressors), whereas 23% (14 subjects) developed IGT over time (progressors). At baseline, percent fat and BMI Z score were comparable between the groups. Fasting plasma glucose, 2-h glucose, glucose area under the curve at 180 min, and Φd were significantly different between the two groups at baseline, whereas Si was comparable between the two groups. Over time, although Si remained unchanged in nonprogressors, it steadily worsened by ∼45% (P > 0.04) in progressors. β-Cell responsivity decreased by 20% in progressors, whereas it remained stable in nonprogressors. The DI showed a progressive decline in progressors compared with a modest improvement in nonprogressors (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS—Obese adolescents who progress to IGT may manifest primary defects in β-cell function. In addition, progressive decline in Si further aggravates β-cell function, contributing to the worsening of glucose intolerance.
Malware diffusion behavior analysis in the internet and its immune protection strategies

Malware has become the main threat to security of computer and networks. The Internet is the main channel for malware diffusing. According to the diffusing behaviour of malware on the Internet, this research designed a multi-agent simulation model of the malware diffusing. This model took the Internet as a complex network, distinguished large-scale nodes and general nodes in the Internet. It is studied how the autonomous general hosts' learning ability and malware's upgrade influence in the diffusing behaviour of malware. The results showed that ability of large-scale nodes controlling malware to diffuse and learning ability of general hosts played a decisive role in the control of malware diffusing. According to the simulation results, some immune protection strategies to resist malware are presented.
Java Tools for Exploratory Cartographic Visualization in the Internet

Cartographers have long adhered to the view of the map as primarily a medium of communication [1]. Recently, influenced by ideas of scientific visualization and exploratory data analysis, they started to pay more attention to the role of the map as a tool to support visual thinking and decision making [2,3]. To play this role effectively, the map needs two principal additions: interaction and dynamics.
Application of LPV gain scheduling to charge control of a SI engine

This paper presents an application of LPV control to an LFT model of the intake manifold of an SI engine. The gain scheduled LPV controller approach is motivated by the highly nonlinear nature of the system. A nonlinear model of the plant is derived and slightly simplified to construct an LPV model as LFT representation. Using a controller synthesis technique based on K-S iteration a controller is obtained and tested in nonlinear simulations.
A BOINC based System for Global Topographic Structure Extraction Using SRTM Digital Elevation Models

A public computing project named Terrain@home, is built on BOINC for extracting terrain features from global scope DEM data. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), which is a near global scope database of high accuracy elevation data, is selected as test data for Terrain@home. Conventional algorithms for terrain features auto extracting for example slope gradient, delineating drainage networks and etc, have to be reorganized to adapt the public and distributed computing environment. The unique problem that presented in SRTM data is introduced in this paper. The testbed for Terrain@home is described and computing results from DEM blocks in Tibet plateau is established. Performance evaluation is the focus of the last section and it is confirmed that public computing is an effective method to handle massive geographic data.
IPSECvalidate: A Tool to Validate IPSEC Configurations

This paper describes a tool for validating the proper configuration of the IPSEC protocol suite including IKE. The tool validates that two hosts are able to communicate (normal ping functionality) and that this communication is occurring using the proper authentication/encryption transformations as required by IPSEC. IPSEC configuration is very complex, and administrators are often unable to determine if a machine configuration is offering the desired protection. IPSEC and IKE operate in a manner transparent to IP applications; an administrator is therefore unable to check the proper operation of an IPSEC ‘‘security association’’ using traditional IP tools.
Bringing java's wild native world under control

For performance and for incorporating legacy libraries, many Java applications contain native-code components written in unsafe languages such as C and C++. Native-code components interoperate with Java components through the Java Native Interface (JNI). As native code is not regulated by Java's security model, it poses serious security threats to the managed Java world. We introduce a security framework that extends Java's security model and brings native code under control. Leveraging software-based fault isolation, the framework puts native code in a separate sandbox and allows the interaction between the native world and the Java world only through a carefully designed pathway. Two different implementations were built. In one implementation, the security framework is integrated into a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). In the second implementation, the framework is built outside of the JVM and takes advantage of JVM-independent interfaces. The second implementation provides JVM portability, at the expense of some performance degradation. Evaluation of our framework demonstrates that it incurs modest runtime overhead while significantly enhancing the security of Java applications.
An electrophysiologic model for functional assessment of effects of neurotrophic factors on facial nerve reinnervation.

OBJECTIVES To establish a sound objective model for assessing the effects of neurotrophic factors on facial nerve function after injury and to compare the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with its neutralizing antibody on facial nerve function after injury. DESIGN Prospective electrophysiologic analysis of recovery of function 4 weeks after axotomy involving facial nerve transection and primary end-to-end reanastomosis in adult rats and blind comparison with randomized intramuscular injection of either BDNF, monoclonal antibody to BDNF in neutralizing concentration, or control solution. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between groups in latencies, duration, amplitude, area, or conduction velocity before axotomy, and recorded conduction velocities were consistent with previously reported values, which suggests that the recordings were reliable and reproducible. After transection, there was a mean increase in latency 1 and decreases in latency 2, integrated average area, muscle action potential duration, amplitude, and conduction velocity for all 3 groups. When the groups were compared after transection, the anti-BDNF group showed a significant decrease in conduction velocity and muscle action potential duration (Kruskal-Wallis P = .01 and P = .008, respectively) compared with the other groups. There were no statistically significant differences in latencies, amplitude, or area among the groups. CONCLUSIONS We have established an electrophysiologic model for objective assessment of facial nerve function in the rat. Future studies should combine functional electrophysiologic assessment and histologic examination to provide a more robust model for studying the effects of neurotrophic factors on facial nerve reinnervation and synkinesis.
Nelson and Plosser Revisited : A Re-Examination using OECD Panel Data

This paper applies various recent panel unit root tests to 14 macroeconomic variables. These variables, observed for the OECD countries since the 50’s, are the same as those considered in the seminal paper by Nelson and Plosser (1982) for the United States. Two distinct generations of tests are used. The first one is based on a cross-sectional independence assumption. If we consider only tests based on heterogeneous panel specifications as Im, Pesaran and Shin (2003), Maddala and Wu (1999) or Choi (2001), the conclusions are not obvious since the non stationarity is strongly rejected for 5 macroeconomic variables generally considered as non stationary. On the contrary, the results based on the second generation tests, which relax this cross-sectional independence assumption, are more in favor of the unit root hypothesis. However this conclusion must be moderated since the results strongly depend on the specification of the model and the method used to eliminate the cross-sectional correlations. •
Corrections to the abelian Born-Infeld action arising from noncommutative geometry

In a recent paper Seiberg and Witten have argued that the full action describing the dynamics of coincident branes in the weak coupling regime is invariant under a specific field redefinition, which replaces the group of ordinary gauge transformations with the one of non-commutative gauge theory. This paper represents a first step towards the classification of invariant actions, in the simpler setting of the abelian single brane theory. In particular we consider a simplified model, in which the group of non-commutative gauge transformations is replaced with the group of symplectic diffeomorphisms of the brane world volume. We carefully define what we mean, in this context, by invariant actions, and rederive the known invariance of the Born-Infeld volume form. With the aid of a simple algebraic tool, which is a generalization of the Poisson bracket on the brane world volume, we are then able to describe invariant actions with an arbitrary number of derivatives.
WEIGHTED MAJORITY RULE FOR HYBRID CELLULAR AUTOMATA TOPOLOGY AND NEIGHBORHOOD

Evolution rules for Cellular Automata (CAs) able to perform computational tasks which require global coordination highlight an interesting emergent behavior. CAs can generate this complex behavior starting from a simple initial configuration based on the local interaction of simple components that evolve according to some state change rule. However, the detection of rules that exhibit coordinated global information processing is a very challenging task highly important in the study of complex systems. In this paper, we propose a new weighted rule for a cellular automaton with hybrid topology and neighborhood in which the state of a cell changes according to the cell itself and both local and long-distance cells. In the proposed approach, each cell in the neighborhood has a different weight (determined using an evolutionary algorithm) in the decision of changing the state for the current cell. Computational experiments focus on the well-known density classification task for the one-dimensional binary-state CA. Results support a better performance of the proposed weighted rule compared to the standard majority rule applied to the same CA topology.
Scaling Single-Program Performance on Large-Scale Chip Multiprocessors

Due to power constraints, computer architects will exploit TLP instead of ILP for future performance gains. Today, 4–8 state-of-the-art cores or 10s of smaller cores can fit on a single die. For the foreseeable future, the number of cores will likely double with each successive processor generation. Hence, CMPs with 100s of cores–so-called large-scale chip multiprocessors (LCMPs)–will become a reality after only 2 or 3 generations. Unfortunately, simply scaling the number of on-chip cores alone will not guarantee improved performance. In addition, effectively utilizing all of the cores is also necessary. Perhaps the greatest threat to processor utilization will be the overhead incurred waiting on the memory system, especially as on-chip concurrency scales to 100s of threads. In particular, remote cache bank access and off-chip bandwidth contention are likely to be the most significant obstacles to scaling memory performance. This paper conducts an in-depth study of CMP scalability for parallel programs. We assume a tiled CMP in which tiles contain a simple core along with a private L1 cache and a local slice of a shared L2 cache. Our study considers scaling from 1–256 cores and 4–128MB of total L2 cache, and addresses several issues related to the impact of scaling on off-chip bandwidth and on-chip