Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sound Symbolism and Synaesthesia: Synaesthetes’ sensitivity to sound symbolism and the role of sound symbolism in lexical-gustatory synaesthesia

Sound symbolism is the phenomenon of cross-modal correspondences non-arbitrarily linking phonological components and semantic meanings in language (e.g., words meaning round contain a high proportion of rounded vowels such as /u/; Mathur, 2010). Our study suggests that this cross-modal phenomenon is related to synaesthesia, a cross-modal phenomenon wherein one sensory or cognitive stimulus (e.g., the written word jail) causes the experience of an additional percept in the same modality (e.g., the colour pink) or across modalities (e.g., the taste of chocolate). In Experiment 1, we found that grapheme-colour synaesthetes (synaesthetes that experience colours in association with letters and/or numbers) were better at determining the meanings of sound symbolic foreign words than nonsynaesthetes, suggesting that synaesthetes possess heightened skills in domains unrelated to their specific form of synaesthesia. In Experiment 2, we discovered that the word-taste associations of lexical-gustatory synaesthete JIW abide by sound symbolic rules, which nonsynaesthetes’ sound-taste associations also follow. Together, these experiments support a relationship between sound symbolism and synaesthesia likely arising from a common set of cross-modal mechanisms. Our paper discusses the implications of these results for the relationship between sound symbolism and synaesthesia as well as for each individual phenomenon.
A COMPACT ULTRAWIDEBAND MONOPOLE ANTENNA WITH 5.5 GHZ NOTCHED BAND

This paper proposes a compact ultrawideband monopole antenna fed by CPW with a 5.5GHz notched band of WLAN/WiMAX systems. The antenna input section is designed by using a gradual curvature central line and ground planes for ultrawideband achievement. In order to reject the unwanted frequency of the existing WLAN/WiMAX band, the C-shaped slit with perimeter length of a half wavelength at center frequency of 5.5GHz has been embedded into the monopole patch. The designed antenna is completely implemented and measured for impedance bandwidth covering UWB range and stably performs omnidirectional pattern in xz plane from 3.1 to 10GHz. The proposed antenna could potentially minimize frequency interference in the WLAN/WiMAX bands.
Permafrost soils and carbon cycling

Abstract. Knowledge of soils in the permafrost region has advanced immensely in recent decades, despite the remoteness and inaccessibility of most of the region and the sampling limitations posed by the severe environment. These efforts significantly increased estimates of the amount of organic carbon stored in permafrost-region soils and improved understanding of how pedogenic processes unique to permafrost environments built enormous organic carbon stocks during the Quaternary. This knowledge has also called attention to the importance of permafrost-affected soils to the global carbon cycle and the potential vulnerability of the region's soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks to changing climatic conditions. In this review, we briefly introduce the permafrost characteristics, ice structures, and cryopedogenic processes that shape the development of permafrost-affected soils, and discuss their effects on soil structures and on organic matter distributions within the soil profile. We then examine the quantity of organic carbon stored in permafrost-region soils, as well as the characteristics, intrinsic decomposability, and potential vulnerability of this organic carbon to permafrost thaw under a warming climate. Overall, frozen conditions and cryopedogenic processes, such as cryoturbation, have slowed decomposition and enhanced the sequestration of organic carbon in permafrost-affected soils over millennial timescales. Due to the low temperatures, the organic matter in permafrost soils is often less humified than in more temperate soils, making some portion of this stored organic carbon relatively vulnerable to mineralization upon thawing of permafrost.
Formalizing Knowledge Creation in Inventive Project Groups

Summary This paper investigates how participants in cross-functional project groups use a formal work method in their sense making when dealing with the complexity of innovative work, especially in its inventive phase. The empirical basis of the paper is a prospective case study in which three project groups in three different companies are followed as they try to frame and solve their innovation tasks consisting in problems of a relatively general and vague character. The data are analyzed by means of a modifi ed version of the principles of grounded theory. This means that the lessons drawn from the empirical data are guided by a relational sense making perspective in which the formal method used by the participants is seen as a technological artifact. Among the lessons learned by using this frame of reference are that a formal method may be seen as an entity with a meaning depending on the relations it is embedded in; as an enacted cue for interpretation and action; and as a non-human actor. Compared to the tradition of organizational development, these lessons represent an alternative conception of the implementation of a work method and illuminate prevailing notions about
The Compatibilization Effects of Alkylated-grafted-Graphene Oxide on Polypropylene/Polystyrene Blends

Modified graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by covalently grafted alkylated chains on GO sheets and their compatibilization effects on the morphologies and mechanical properties of immiscible polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) blends were investigated. Alkylated-grafted-GO/PP/PS batches were fabricated by melt-mixing approach and displayed different morphologies with various modified GO loadings. When the content of alkylated-grafted-GO is 0.2 wt%, the tensile strength of obtained composite could reach 17.97 MPa, showing a 36.3% enhancement compared to that of pristine PP/PS, indicating the positive compatibilization of modified GO in polymer blends. Moreover, the mixing order also plays an important role in achieving the desired improvement in properties. Due to the preferential location of modified GO in PP phase, a favorable “transition zone” could be formed at the interfacial region of two polymers when alkylated-grafted-GO was premixed with PS and subsequently mixed with PP, leading to an improvement of compatibilization between two polymers and an enhancement of mechanical properties. However, serious phase separation and declined tensile strength were obtained with a reversed mixing sequence.
Exchange Rate Fluctuations and the Margins of Exports

This paper examines the relationship between exchange rate fluctuations and New Zealand export performance. To isolate the impact of the exchange rate, as opposed to contemporaneous (and related) fluctuations in New Zealand’s economic performance or overseas market characteristics, we focus on bilateral export relationships at the firm level and control for both time-invariant country characteristics and changes in aggregate economic conditions. We examine two key margins of export adjustment – the probability of exporting (the extensive margin) and the average value of exports per firm (the intensive margin) – and distinguish between impacts on market incumbents and new or potential entrants. Finally, we specifically take account of the potential for interaction between the level and volatility of the exchange rate to affect exporting, as implied by theories of exchange rate hysteresis.
SEWAGE TREATMENT IN GRAVEL WITH ASSISTING

The sewage economy in numerous villages in Poland and small cities is not well organized. The most common method of removing sewage from apartment and farm buildings is collecting sewage in the septic tank, then transporting it in a sewage truck to a sewage treatment plant, sometimes on a field or to a ditch. Such a sewage system is expensive in the exploitation, the septic tanks are often leaky and improperly exploited. Sewages and sludge, carried away on field without disinfection, create a big sanitary risk because of the presence of pathogenic bacteria and eggs of parasites. Expansion of the country water supply system and increase of the sanitary facilities standard in flats evoked the increase of the sewage amount in households. The construction of cumulative systems to collect and neutralize sewage is impossible in many cases because of buildings dispersion, disadvantages of the terrain topography and big investment costs. In these conditions a small sewage treatment plant can be an alternative. Small sewage treatment plants on country areas are recommended to apply on terrains where the buildings are very dispersed, so the construction of sewage systems is economically ungrounded. Sewage can be carried away to ground if comes from detached houses, located outside of the underground water intake protection zones and when the quantity of sewage does not exceed 5,0 m⋅d (ROZPORZ DZENIE MINISTRA RODOWISKA [ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT] 2006). There is also assumed an optimal unit quantity of sewage on one inhabitant: in small settlement units (village) q = 120 dm⋅d in big settlement units (city) q = 200 dm⋅d (PN-EN 752-4, 2001). The purpose of the elaboration is to assess the effectiveness of sewage treatment in the ground bed (gravel) with assisting layer (dolomite) under subsurface sewage disposal field.
A new Antarctic digital elevation model: data and methods

A new 1 km digital elevation model of the Antarctic derived from combined satellite radar and laser data – Part 1: Data and methods J. L. Bamber, J. L. Gomez-Dans, and J. A. Griggs Centre for Polar Observations and Modelling, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK now at: Environmental Monitoring Group, Department of Geography, King’s College London, UK and Remote Sensing Unit, Department of Geography, University College London, UK Received: 18 September 2008 – Accepted: 26 September 2008 – Published: 25 November 2008 Correspondence to: J. L. Bamber (j.bamber@bristol.ac) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.
FFA-CONTEXT AWARE ENERGY EFFICIENT ROUTING USING FAST REACTIVE AND ADAPTIVE ALGORITHM

A vital issue of routing is how to efficiently stre ngthen energy consumption of the whole network and to avoid the energy-hole which leads to node failure o r node death; this scenario makes the network to wo rk improperly and leads to network death, Here we proves our hypothesis with linearity between routing an d linear principles. Our proposed work effectively ut ilizes the adaption of Optimized particle swarm algorithm (Fast Reactive and fast adaptive algorith m) in order to solve the routing problem in wireles s sensor networks to avoid the energy hole. Our appro ach effectively defines the node leader based on en ergy level and path optimization for node traversing usi ng particle swarm which effectively utilizes the so lution for problem in linearity into routing problem. Our algorithm FFA redefines the particle swarm rules wh ich are reliable in routing strategies and adapts to th e working principle. The optimization in our algori thm is to balance energy level and to withstand for its conte xt. This study proves the accuracy using our algori thm respectively by theoretical survey and analysis wit h simulated results.
Pesticide Productivity: Of Bugs and Biases

Pesticide productivity is both important and difficult to measure. Typically, pesticide marginal products are estimated without information on the pest pressure. Three theoretical models are developed which suggest absence of such information may cause an underestimation of pesticide productivity. Using application frequency variables as a proxy for pest populations, we show that pesticide marginal products are higher when pest pressure is accounted for.
Diffusion theory can be applied to antibodies attaching to ligand sites

Abstract Humoral immunity is that aspect of specific immunity that is mediated by B lymphocytes and involves the neutralising of disease-producing microorganisms, called pathogens, by means of antibodies attaching to the pathogen's binding sites. This inhibits the pathogen's entry into target cells. We present a master equation in both discrete and in continuous form for a ligand bound at n sites becoming a ligand bound at m sites in a given interaction time. To track the time-evolution of the antibody-ligand interaction, it is shown that the process is most easily treated classically and that in this case the master equation can be reduced to an equivalent one-dimensional diffusion equation. Thus well-known diffusion theory can be applied to antibody-ligand interactions. We consider three distinct cases depending on whether the probability of antibody binding compared to the probability of dissociation is relatively large, small or comparable, and numerical solutions are given.
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF ADHOC ON DEMAND DISTANCE VECTOR ROUTING (AODV) IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK USING NEURAL NETWORK

Recently, Wireless sensor networks became a hot research topic among researchers due to their flexibility and independence of network infrastructures, such as base stations. Due to unique characteristics, such as dynamic network topology, limited bandwidth, and limited battery power, routing in WSN is a particularly challenging task compared to a conventional. And it has experienced serious security problems due to their particular characteristics. Wireless communication can endure interferences or malicious interceptions; whereas, multi-hop communication assumes that each node will perform properly its functions to support network services. Further, self-organization increases the complexity of security management operations as access control, node authentication, secure routing and cryptographic key distribution. Network early work in WSN research has mainly focused on developing an efficient routing mechanism in such a highly dynamic and resource-constrained network. At present, several efficient routing protocols have been proposed for WSN. Most of these protocols have assumed a trusted and cooperative environment. However, in the presence of malicious nodes, the networks are vulnerable to various kinds of attacks. AODV protocol gives high performance gain. In WSN, routing attacks are particularly serious. Aims and objectives of this thesis work is to design and implement NN protocol with SINK hole attack and prevent the system for threat using this hybridisation.
Seasonal changes in Baltic Sea seston stoichiometry : the influence of diazotrophic cyanobacteria

We studied nutrient deficiency of Baltic Sea phytoplankton, as indicated by C:N:P ratios in filamentous N-2-fixing (diazotrophic) cyanobacteria and size-fractions of seston. Samples were collected during an annual cycle in the NW Baltic proper (1998, Landsort Deep) and in 2 summers in the central Baltic proper (1997 and 1998, Gotland Basin). Generally, seston C:N:P ratios in the top 20 m were close to Redfield values. There was a transient increase in the C:N ratio at the end of the phytoplankton spring bloom (to similar to 9 mol:mol), concomitant with the depletion of dissolved inorganic N (DIN), but not dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), indicating that phytoplankton became N-limited at the end of the spring bloom. In early summer (May-June), seston C:N:P ratios indicated weak N limitation of the community of small phytoplankton. From June through summer, seston size-fractions < 10 mu m accumulated mainly C and N, resulting in a September peak in seston C:P and N:P ratios (201 and 23 mol:mol, respectively) in the surface water. This change occurred in parallel with an increase in C:P and N:P ratios of diazotrophic filamentous cyanobacteria to levels indicative of severe P limitation of cyanobacterial growth. This suggests that the cyanobacterial P demand and new N from their N-2 fixation caused a weak P deficiency also in non-diazotrophs. However, the small increase in seston N:P, as well as a seston C:N above the Redfield ratio, indicate that N and P are nearly co-limiting for non-diazotrophs at the culmination of the cyanobacterial bloom in late summer.
A Tailored Anti-Forensic Approach for Digital Image Compression

The influence of digital images on modern society is incredible; image processing has now become a significant component in almost all the areas. But storing images in a safe and sound way has become very complicated. Sometimes, for processing we can only use raster bitmap format. Therefore processing of such images should be carried out without knowledge of past processing on that image. Even though many image tampering detection techniques are available, the number of image forgeries is increasing. Therefore it is important to find the weaknesses of offered detection methods to prevent further forgeries. In this paper, a new approach is designed to prevent the bitmap compression history. The existing methods for identification of bitmap compression history are JPEG detection and Quantizer estimation. The JPEG detection is used to find whether the image has been previously compressed. But the proposed method indicates that proper addition of noise to an image's transform coefficients can adequately eliminate quantization artifacts which act as indicators of JPEG compression. Using the proposed technique the modified image will appear to have never been compressed. Therefore this technique can be used to cover the history of operations performed on the image in the past and there by rendering several forms of image tampering.
Echocardiographic assessment of the impact of exercise training at different time points of the development of experimental pulmonary arterail hypertension

Background: Pulmonary hypertension triggers right ventricle remodeling that inexorably leads to its failure. Although it selectively overloads the right ventricle, left ventricular dysfunction also manifests in the course of primary PH. We investigated whether exercise training at different time points could act as a modulator, preventing bi-ventricular dysfunction in a monocrotaline (MCT) model of PAH. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups and submitted to echocardiographic protocol: SED+CONT, SED+MCT (n=5; submitted to normal cage activity and injected with saline or monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg / kg), n=7, respectively) or to treadmill chronic exercise training during (EXafter+MCT, n=6) and after (EXtreat+MCT, n=7) the establishment of RV pressure overload. Results: Exercise averted RV remodeling with significant systolic function (TAPSE, S’ RV and AIV, P<0.05 vs. SED+MCT) and diastolic function (IVRT, right atrium, end-diastolic pressure and Tau, P<0.05 vs. SED+MCT) improvement in all MCT-trained groups. This effects lead to a significant increase in cardiac output (SED+CONT 4.7±0.8 L/min, EXafter+MCT 3.6±0.6 L/min, EXtreat+MCT 2.1±0.5 L/min and SED+MCT 1.7±0.2 L/min) and exercice tolerance in MCTtrained groups. Conclusions: These data demonstrate the beneficial effects of chronic exercise in bi-ventricular cardiac function in an experimental model of PAH, emphasizing its potential as a possible adjunctive treatment option.
Pricing Black–Scholes options with correlated interest rate risk and credit risk: an extension

This article provides a closed-form valuation formula for the Black–Scholes options subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. Not only does our model allow for the possible default of the option issuer prior to the option's maturity, but also considers the correlations among the option issuer's total assets, the underlying stock, and the default-free zero coupon bond. We further tailor-make a specific credit-linked option for hedging the default risk of the option issuer. The numerical results show that the default risk of the option issuer significantly reduces the option values, and the vulnerable option values may be remarkably overestimated in the case where the default can occur only at the maturity of the option.
Should we tax or let firms trade emissons? An experimental analysis with policy implications for developing countries

In this paper we use laboratory experiments to test the theoretical predictions derived by Villegas-Palacio and Coria (2010) about the effects of the interaction between technology adoption and incomplete enforcement. They show that under Tradable Emissions Permits (TEPs), and in contrast to taxes, the fall in permit price produced by adoption of environmentally friendly technologies reduces the benefits of violating the environmental regulation at the margin and leads firms to improve their compliance behavior. Moreover, when TEPs are used, the regulator can speed up the diffusion of new technologies since the benefits from adopting the new technology increase with the enforcement stringency. Our experimental results confirm these theoretical predictions. While the aggregate emissions do not statistically differ between the two policy instruments, the fraction of firms violating the regulation and the aggregate extent of violation are lower under TEPs than under emission taxes regardless of the monitoring probability. Hence, in contrast to previous studies, our results indicate that TEPs would appear to be a feasible policy alternative in weak regulatory contexts.
Effects of buffer and isopropanol alcohol concentration on detection of quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) birefringence and DNA.

The long term effects of sample preservation on dreissenid veliger detection by cross polarized light microscopy (CPLM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is poorly understood. This study examined how buffer and isopropanol alcohol impact veliger morphology and detection. Veliger detection by CPLM was completely inhibited after 14 days in acidic deionized (DI) water without buffer or alcohol, but veligers were still detectable by PCR. Veliger detection by CPLM increased when the pH of samples was buffered with 0.2 grams of sodium bicarbonate per 100 mL of raw water sample, but long term deterioration was not completely prevented without the addition of isopropanol alcohol and buffer. After 36 days, 100% of veligers were detected by CPLM in samples preserved with 20, 50, and 70% isopropanol alcohol and 0.2 grams of sodium bicarbonate per 100 mL. This study indicates the significant role that sample preservation plays in the accurate identification of veligers in early detection sampling.
Radiation-Hardened Delay-Insensitive Asynchronous Circuits for Multi-Bit SEU Mitigation and Data-Retaining SEL Protection

Radiation can have highly damaging effects on circ uitry, especially for space applications, if designed without radiation-hardeni ng mechanisms. Delay-insensitive asynchronous circuits inherently have promising pot entials in mitigating the effects of radiation due to their delay insensitivity. This thesis prop oses the use of two delay-insensitive asynchronous logic architectures to mitigate the ef f cts of up to two single-event upsets (SEU) and a single-event latch-up (SEL). The multi-bit S EU mitigation with SEL protection architecture improves the original design by provid ing more integrity against data corruption and lock-ups caused by multi-bit SEUs, and it is expand ed to simultaneously provide protection against SEL. The multi-bit SEU mitigation with dat a-retaining SEL protection architecture extends the original architecture by guaranteeing n o data loss during the power cycling for mitigating SEL. The results show that the proposed architectures function correctly, at the transistor level, in mitigating up to two SEUs and an SEL without data loss. Acknowledgments I thank Dr. Jia Di for allowing me to work in this area. I would not have accomplished so much without his support and guidance. Additionall y, I thank my fellow lab members for sharing their technical experience and helping to s olve the day-to-day issues. I would also like to thank Dr. J. Patrick Parkerson and Dr. Dale Thompso n for taking the time to be involved with my work. Table of