Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"I want to party, but my hearing aids won't let me!"

'm not too sure when cocktail parties started, but the now popular " cocktail " was defined in the early 1800s, so let's assume they've been going on for 200 years or so. And I'm betting that, whether it was gold miners at a martini party in San Francisco in the 1860s, or a group of friends sampling Margarita Sames's exotic concoction at her 1948 Christmas party in Acapulco, people have always had trouble understanding each other at these events. In fact, " the cocktail party effect " is considered a scientific term, first written about extensively in the 1950s. You know how it goes. When there are multiple talkers and background noise, you attempt— and sometimes are able—to attend to the talker you consider most important or to something else that draws your attention. Audibility, of course, is a key player here, but how we do this is a bit more complex than just " hearing " everything. And what happens when the listener has a hearing loss, distortions are present, and some of the audibility is lost? To learn all about how we understand speech in difficult listening situations, it seemed only appropriate to bring in an MIT-educated electrical engineer. But before you grab your slide rule, understand that this is an engineer whose research includes studies of auditory attention, sound source separation, spatial hearing, cross-modal integration, neural coding, and perceptual plasticity. Barbara tells us that her interest in helping listeners with hearing impairment was sparked a few years ago when her elderly uncle visited at Christmas—and immediately removed his new high-end hearing aids when he sat down at the dinner table. When not working, she tries to get her husband and two teenaged sons interested in auditory perception by making them listen to her play the oboe. Fortunately , she put down her oboe just long enough tell us all about this so-called cocktail party effect, and most importantly, how it impacts our patients. Cheers. Well, not exactly. but I want to! My background is in electrical engineering, but for the last 25 years I have been studying hearing and auditory perception. My research has been very basic, though, working to understand how normal-hearing, young adults process sound. I started out studying how we can tell the location of a sound source, and gradually got interested in why " spatial hearing " really seems to matter a …
ROLE OF TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM, FLUORESCENT PSEUDOMONAS AND RHIZOBIA IN MANAGING THE ROOT ROT DISEASE OF TOMATO IN SOIL AMENDED WITH MUSTARD CAKE

Due to adverse effect of pesticides, eco-friendly alternate method are gaining popularity. In this study biocontrol agents Trichoderma harzianum, fluorescent Pseudomonas and rhizobia showed significant bio-control activity in screen house experiment against root rotting fungi viz., Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina and F. oxysporum on tomato plant alone or soil amended with mustard cake. Soil amendment of mustard cake separately or mixed with biocontrol agents also significantly (p<0.05) produced positive impact on plant growth in terms of improvement in shoot length, root length and weight.
Asymmetric All-Pay Auctions with Two Types∗

We characterize the unique equilibrium of an asymmetric all-pay auction with incomplete information. The two bidders’ types are independently drawn from different two-point probability distributions: Types as well as probabilities differ among bidders. Next we apply our results to information disclosure in contests. Recent research shows that bidders do not disclose any information if they can only decide between full disclosure or none. In contrast, we find that bidders always disclose some information if disclosure can be partial. JEL Classification: D44, D72, D82.
The prognostic value of CD49d expression in Turkish patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of CD49d expression in Turkish chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Material and Methods: Data for 118 patients from a single center were evaluated. In all, the study included 73 patients for whom complete clinical follow-up data, and flow cytometry test results for CD5/19, CD23/43, CD38, Zap70, Kappa, and Lambda light chains, and CD49d were available. The effect of the level of CD49d expression on overall survival (OS) and time to treatment (TTT) was investigated retrospectively. Results: Patients with high CD49d expression (≥30%) had more advanced disease at the time of diagnosis (median Rai stage 3 vs. Rai stage 1, P = 0.03). Patients resistant to treatment had higher CD49d expression than patients that responded to treatment (mean CD49d expression of 58% vs. 46%, P = 0.08). The level of CD49d expression was not associated with OS or TTT. Conclusion: The study’s findings show that the patients with high CD49d expression at the time of diagnosis had more advanced disease and poorer response to therapy; however, their overall survival did not differ from that of the patients with advanced disease stage, but lower levels of CD49d expression.
Rapidly Solidified Aluminium Alloy Composite with Nickel Prepared by Powder Metallurgy: Microstructure and Self-Healing Behaviour

Composite material prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) from a powder mixture of AlCrFeSi rapidly solidified alloy and 5 wt. % of Ni particles was studied in this work. It was proven that during SPS compaction at 500 °C, no intermetallic phases formed on the surface of Ni particles. The material exhibited sufficient mechanical properties obtained by tensile testing (ultimate tensile stress of 203 ± 4 MPa, ductility of 0.8% and 0.2% offset yield strength of 156 ± 2 MPa). Tensile samples were pre-stressed to 180 MPa and annealed at 450 and 550 °C for 1 h. Annealing at 450 °C did not lead to any recovery of the material. Annealing at 550 °C caused the full recovery of 0.2% offset yield strength, while the ductility was decreased. The self-healing behaviour originates from the growth of intermetallic phases between the Ni particle and the Al matrix. The sequence of NiAl, Ni2Al3 and NiAl3 intermetallic phases formation was observed. In particular, the morphology of the NiAl3 phase, growing in thin dendrites into the Al matrix, is suitable for the closing of cracks, which pass through the material.
Installation Guidelines for Vision-based Pothole Detectors

Road pavement aging in the developed countries has caused significant pavement distress such as cracks, potholes, and so on. Such damaged road pavement especially potholes give rise to serious situations such as flat tire, wheel damage and impact on the lower part of a vehicle. Recently, various sensors such as cameras, accelerometers, and lasers have been employed to detect a pothole. Among the sensors, pothole detection using a camera shows impressive results with low costs and wide detection area. In this study, we develop camera installation guidelines as a pothole detector for capturing more informative and clear pothole images. This paper provides the optimal installation position and available camera tilt angle on the basis of detailed analysis and evaluation, which will give feasible information to those developing pothole detection systems with a camera.
Supplementary Material: Recurrent Convolutions for Causal 3D CNNs

Weights of inflated 2D layers in ResNet (base networks) [3] based I3D and our RCN networks are initialised with weights from a pre-trained ImageNet model train on RGB images. In the case of RCN inflation in the third dimension is 1, practically, it is 2D weight matrix with the third dimension being 1. As a result, we do need to replicate the weights like in the 3D layer of I3D. Random initialisation for hidden state parameters resulted in suboptimal training. Thus, in all the experiments with RCN, we used identity matrix initialisation instead. Here we show the result of training RCN with different initilisation of hidden-state whh convolution and spatial wxh convolution in Table 1. The first row of the table where both wxh and whh of all the RCUs in RCN is initialised randomly using normal initialisation process described in [2]. Table 1 show the result of different initialisation of wxh and whh respectively. It is clear from the last row of the table that RCN performs best if wxh and whh are initialised with ImageNet and identity matrix respectively. It is noteworthy that the performance difference is relatively small in first three rows of that table as compared to the last row jump.
ANALYSIS ON DIVIDEND PAYOUT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE OF PROPERTY COMPANIES IN MALAYSIA

This study is attempt to identify the determinants of dividend payout on property companies listed in Malaysia. By employing a static panel data method, this study applying a yearly data for 11 years started from 2004 until 2014 for 50 selected companies in property sector. The dependent variable in this study is dividend paid out ratio while liquidity, leverage, profitability and size of company represent as the independent variables. The data being tested using Pooled Ordinary Least Square (POLS) Regression, Random Effect (BreuschPagan Lagrangian Multiplier Test), Fixed Effect (Hausman Fixed Effect) and Random Effect Generalized Least Square (GLS) Regression and has adopted Random Effect model. The finding shows that only profitability resulted in significant negative relationship with dividend payout while the others have no relationship respectively with dividend payout of property companies.
CONVEX HULLS IN COARSE MEDIAN SPACES

We describe the geometry coarse convex hulls in coarse median spaces. When the space comes equipped with a family of projection maps to hyperbolic spaces satisfying certain natural conditions. These apply, for example, to the mapping class groups and Teichmüller space, which serve to motivate many of the constructions. we show that coarse hulls in such spaces are quasi-isometric to CAT(0) cube complexes. From this we deduce a distance formula, and show the existence of monotone paths connecting pairs of points. In particular, we recover a number of results about hierarchically hyperbolic
Urban Transportation Network Design for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Using GIS–The Case of Bangkok

A cold chain for perishable fresh products aims to preserve the quality of the products under the control of a predefined temperature range. To satisfy the delivery conditions within appropriate time windows, the most critical operations in cold chain management is the transportation and distribution of fresh products. Due to rapid population growth and increasing demand for high-quality fresh foods, it becomes critical to develop advanced transportation and distribution networks for fresh products, particularly in urban areas. This research aims to design different scenarios based on mathematical models for fresh products transportation and distribution network in the Bangkok metropolitan area using Geographic Information system (GIS). The proposed methodology integrates location–allocation and vehicle routing problem analysis. The performance of all possible scenarios is evaluated and compared by considering the number of required distribution centers and trucks, total travel time, total travel distance, as well as fairness among drivers. The results of the scenario analysis highlight that the alternative scenarios show a better performance as compared to the current network. In addition, the administrator can make a different decision among several alternatives by considering different aspects, such as investment cost, operating cost, and balance of using available resources. Therefore, it may help a public officer to design the fresh products logistics network considering actual demand and traffic conditions in Bangkok.
Antiemetic Prophylaxis with Ondansetron for Post-discharge Nausea and Vomiting after Hip Arthroscopy Performed under Neuraxial Anesthesia: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: Post-Discharge Nausea and Vomiting (PDNV) remain common complaints after ambulatory surgery. This study investigated whether continuation of an anti-emetic regimen for two days postoperatively would reduce PDNV. Methods: A prospective, randomized placebo-controlled trial of 76 patients undergoing ambulatory hip arthroscopy was initiated. All patients received a spinal or combined spinal epidural and intravenous sedation. No intraoperative opioids were given. Prophylatic anti-emetics (dexamethasone, ondansetron) were given. Postoperatively, two groups either received oral placebo or ondansetron for two days. Results: On postdischarge day 1, nausea occurred in 54% of the placebo group and 46% of the oral ondansetron group (p=0.49). On postdischarge day 2 and 3, nausea occurred in 16% and 11% of the placebo group; 18% and 10% of the oral ondansetron group (p=0.84 and p=0.94), respectively. Conclusion: Postdischarge prophylactic oral ondansetron, administered for two days, did not reduce the incidence or severity of nausea in ambulatory hip arthroscopy patients.
Effect of temperature on pollen germination for several Rosaceae species: influence of freezing conservation time on germination patterns

Between February 2018 and April 2018, flowers were collected from eight Rosaceae species. Flowers were kept in a freezer at −20 °C for three freezing times (Treatment 1, two months; Treatment 2, four months; Treatment 3, six months). After extracting pollen, in vitro germination was induced in a culture medium and incubated at six different temperatures for 72 h. The percentage of pollen germination, average pollen tube length and maximum pollen tube length were measured. Pollen germination was maximum for all species between 15 °C and 30 °C. Cydonia oblonga, Malus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Prunus domestica, Prunus dulcis, Prunus persica and Pyrus communis obtained 30–52% pollen germination between 15 °C and 20 °C. Prunus cerasifera had 40% pollen germination at 30 °C. All species studied reached the maximum pollen tube length between 10 °C and 25 °C. Germination did not change significantly for any of the species with freezing time, but we found significant differences in the three parameters measured between treatments. The highest germination percentages were obtained in Treatment 2 (four months frozen at −20 °C), while the maximum pollen tube length was reached in Treatment 1 (two months frozen at −20 °C). According to our results, freezing time affected the germination-temperature patterns. This could indicate that studies on the effect of temperature on pollen germination should always be carried out with fresh pollen to obtain more conclusive data.
Design of microreactors for tuneable core-shell nanoparticles synthesis

Nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted the scientific interest during the last decades and are currently being used and explored for a large number of applications, such as catalysis [1] and biomedical drug delivery [2]. Despite their potential, their deployment in large scale application requires overcoming of a number of hurdles related to complicated scale-up of multi-stage batch methods. Furthermore, a tight control on their size distribution is necessary as their properties are highly size-dependent. In this context, microreactors are presented as an attractive alternative where continuous NPs synthesis can be carried out in a repeatable, robust and accurate manner, desirable for industrial production. Moreover, their inherent laminar flow can be used to tune the size of the NPs without employing surfactants.
A Comparison of Electricity-Pricing Schemes: Equity, Cost Recovery, and Economic Efficiency

Electricity pricing is the main economic instrument used to charge for residential electricity and to manage its consumption. A regulated price in general cannot reflect the true value of electricity. However, a market-based electricity-pricing scheme for residential electricity is efficient while it is also criticized due to its unaffordability to the poor. This article empirically compares four electricity-pricing schemes, namely, increasing-block pricing (IBP), floating increasing-block pricing (FIBP), free market pricing (FMP), and a price-cum-trade incentive system (PTS), in terms of the aspects of efficiency, equity, and cost recovery by using electricity-related data for Taiwan. The research results show that IBP and FIBP suffer from the same problem in that it is hard to be cost-neutral, and FMP is economically efficient while preferring utility to the households. PTS performs the best, in that it can be economically efficient, as well as cost-neutral, and it can also improve income distribution.
Dynamical Analysis and System Identification of the Gantry-Tau Parallel Manipulator

This report presents work done in the field of linear and nonlinear system identification on robots. The subject of study has been a new parallel manipulator called Gantry-Tau. The work shall be seen as one of the first steps in the dynamical analysis of the robot. All practical work presented in the report was conducted on a prototype situated at University of Queensland. The actuators have been analysed and modelled with the aim to gain knowledge of weaknesses and dynamical behaviour. The analysis resulted in a study of nonlinear grey-box identification of hysteresis in the drive train of the actuators. A very compact nonlinear hysteresis model was used together with a three-step identification procedure. The results show that a model of the nonlinear system can be successfully identified from measurement data. Finally a method for estimation of parameters in the model for the inverse dynamics of the leg structure has been investigated. It turns out that the investigated method is not able to give accurate estimates. This is thought to be a result of unmodelled behaviour in the system and noisy data.
The Influence of Sharia Compliance and Islamic Corporate Governance on Financial Performance of Sharia Commercial Bank

This study aims to examine the effect of Sharia Compliance and Islamic Corporate Governace on Financial Performance in Islamic Commercial Banks. The population in this study were all Sharia Commercial Banks (BUS) registered at Bank Indonesia in the period 2013 to 2017. The samples were selected using the purposive sampling method. The total sample used in this study amounted to 8 Islamic Commercial Banks with a 5year research period. The analytical method used in this study is multiple regression that is processed using SPSS version 20. The results of this study indicate that the Sharia Compliance variable has a significant negative effect on Financial Performance in Islamic commercial banks and the Islamic Corporate Governance variable has a significant negative effect on Financial Performance at sharia commercial bank. While simultaneously, Sharia Compliance and Islamic Corporate Governance have a significant positive effect on Financial Performance at Islamic commercial banks.
A-CDM Lite: S ituation A wareness and D ecision - making for S mall A irports based on ADS-B D ata

—The data-driven analysis of aircraft movement data from public available sources provides further insights into the complex airport operations, beyond the capabilities of analytical and model-based methods. In the context of airport collaborative decision making, these data-driven approaches will allow cost efﬁcient implementations, which are a key enabler for an appropriate integration of small/medium sized airports into the air transportation network. We propose an operational milestone concept based on Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast messages emitted by approaching and departing aircraft. Since aircraft have to be equipped with a compliant transponder from 2020, airports only need cheap receivers to observe operations at the runway/taxiway system and at the apron (including parking positions). These observations will allow for a systematic monitoring (using operational milestones) and predictive analytics to provide estimated values for future system states. This contribution aims at providing a reliable basis to develop innovative approaches for small/medium airports, which are both beneﬁciary for the air transportation network and cost efﬁcient for local operators. In this contribution, we process aircraft movements in the vicinity and on the ground of Gatwick airport and address our approach to provide an enhanced situational awareness. The reasons for using Gatwick airport are threefold: (a) good data coverage, (b) simple runway layout, and (c) basis for upcoming validation studies, since Gatwick already runs a full airport collaborative decision making implementation.
THE IMPORTANT OF SERVICE QUALITY AND THE TRUST IN TECHNOLOGY ON USERS PERSPECTIVES TO CONTINUES USE Of MOBILE SERVICES

Delivering government services through the mobile applications is popular in developed countries, which benefit the citizens and governments. However, the user’s acceptance of services via mobile applications still challenging for the government. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors that influence citizens acceptance of mobile government services, based on the relative variables to help government to maintain the services and fulfill the citizen’s needs. A sample of 536 participants has shared their thought and participate in the online survey. Structural equation modeling (AMOS) implemented is conducted to validate the research model and test the research hypotheses. This research provides evidences to show that mobile governments can facilitate and assist citizens to access government services. In general, user acceptance can be viewed as the intention of user to use a new technology, together with an understanding of how to find it and how to use it. Citizens acceptance should be investigated based on major factors such as self-efficacy, trust in technology and service quality. The results of this research contribute to the user acceptance theory and to the marketing of mobile services by providing a clear picture and more understanding of the user perspective of using mobile services.
The Impact of Food and Wine Knowledge , Wine Acidity Level , Wine Sweetness Level , and Wine Tannin on perceived Match with Food

Overall goal of this study was to evaluate the direct and interacting impact of food and wine knowledge, wine acidity level, wine sweetness level, and wine tannin on perceived match with food. Overall, the highest perceived match for each food item were 1) chêvre and Sauvignon Blanc, 2) brie and Chardonnay, 3) spicy salami and Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4) milk chocolate and Port. Food and wine expertise, wine acidity, wine sweetness and tannin levels had significant relationships on match perceptions with food. Food and wine expertise level also had interacting effects on perceived levels of match among Sauvignon Blanc acidity with spicy salami and Port acidity with milk chocolate. Implications from this study highlight the importance of key wine elements and food and wine expertise levels associated with perceptions of match with a variety of foods.
A note on the ovulation rate of sheep following treatment with clomiphene citrate

The use of the ‘anti oestrogen’ clomiphene to increase the ovulation rate of the sheep was investigated. Although in most trials clomiphene had a positive effect, this effect was small and inconsistent—especially n i relation to dose. It was concluded that the present approach would not lead to a simple technique to increase ovulation rate and the number of lambs born.