Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accounting for inequality in the EU: Income disparities between and within member states and overall income inequality

In fighting inequality and poverty in the EU emphasis has been placed in reducing differences between countries and/or regions regarding certain macroeconomic indicators, such as the GDP per capita. However, from a policy perspective it is important to know the extent to which overall inequality in the EU is attributed to inequality between the individual countries and the extent to which it is attributed to inequality within them. In addition, it is important to know the extent to which income disparities in each individual member state contribute to overall EU inequality. Following certain assumptions, hypotheses and alternative scenarios, this paper investigates the above questions, employing a decomposition analysis of inequality by population subgroup and utilizing data and information provided by the CHER programme. A number of alternative inequality indices were used to capture the different aspects of inequality and test the robustness of the estimates. The suggested typologies of welfare state regimes were also examined to explain the differences in income inequality between countries and their contribution to overall EU inequality. Policy analysts and policy makers could benefit greatly from such information in evaluating, designing and implementing interventions to deal with inequality and poverty in the EU.
Handling uncertainties in image mining for remote sensing studies

This paper presents an overview of uncertainty handling in remote sensing studies. It takes an image-mining perspective and identifies different ways of handling uncertainties. It starts with the pixel, and through object identification and modelling, proceeds towards monitoring and decision making. Methods presented originate both from probability- and fuzzy-logic-based approaches. The paper is illustrated with three examples, one from a geographic information system stored object, one from an object identified from a remotely sensed image directly and a practical case study from the Tibet plateau. An important remaining topic is to combine and integrate errors and uncertainties collected during the whole image-mining process.
Virtual Reality in Maintainability Case study of the possibility to support challenges at Volvo GTT AMT with Virtual Reality

After-sale products and services have become an important part of the vehicle business. Service solutions, which are sold with the product, are a large part of the revenues connected to the product. The focus on the maintainability aspects of the product is then important. The study presented in this master’s thesis is performed at the department of Aftermarket Technology (AMT) at Volvo Group Trucks Technology (GTT) in Gothenburg. Volvo GTT is aiming to give the customers as much up-time as possible by offering service-solutions as an additional product to the sold truck. The service solutions are based on maintainability analyses performed during the development process of the truck. Physical prototypes are built during the process, which are today used by AMT to perform maintainability analyses. Volvo GTT wants to shorten the development process and decrease the number of physical prototypes produced, which requires a new way to perform maintainability analyses. The new way need to give the ability to detect problems and make robust decisions earlier in the development process to shorten its time. The purpose of this master’s thesis is to investigate the use of Virtual Reality as a supportive tool in the area of maintainability. A literature review was conducted in order to investigate earlier research within the field. An empirical study was designed and conducted to identify challenges connected to virtual work in the current process at Volvo GTT AMT. Based on the identified challenges was a Virtual Reality environment built in the software Unity3D with a Head Mounted Display and Leap motion as used technology. Usability tests were conducted with participants from AMT and product development in the Virtual Reality environment to evaluate if Virtual Reality could be used as a supportive tool at Volvo GTT AMT. The conclusions stated in this master’s thesis are that Virtual Reality could support the communication, accessibility analyses and CAD data analyses performed in the development process.
Barrgh-gaining with Somali Pirates

Ransoms paid to Somali pirates are drifting upward and negotiation times are increasing, yet there is huge variation in bargaining outcomes across shipowners. We use a unique dataset of 179 Somali hijackings, and an underlying theoretical model of the bargaining process based on detailed interviews with ransom negotiators, to analyze the empirical determinants of ransom amounts and negotiation lengths. We find that ransom amount and negotiation length depend on the observable characteristics of both pirates and ships and on the "reference ransom" established by previous ransom payments for a specific ship type. International naval enforcement efforts have driven up ransom amounts. We also observe a "hump-shape" in ransoms, with relatively low ransoms being paid following both short and very long negotiations, and the highest ransoms paid following intermediate length negotiations.
A QTL linkage map of safflower for yield under drought stress at reproductive stage

This study reports QTL mapping for seed yield and its components in safflower genome under drought stress. The F3 families derived from the cross Mex.22-191 (tolerant) × IL.111 (sensitive) were evaluated for agronomic traits in safflower. Drought tolerance was evaluated during 10% of the flowering stage. To identify QTLs underlying tolerance to drought, mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) was carried out by composite interval mapping function. A genetic linkage map (LG) assembled from SSR and ISSR markers, was mapped. A total of 145 DNA bands (SSR and ISSR markers) coalesced into 24 LGs which summed to 646 cM in the total map length. This analysis resulted in the identification of 18 QTLs related to seed yield and its components. Based on findings in this study, four major QTLs and three linkage groups (2, 4 and 6) played a crucial role in drought tolerance of safflower. The present linkage map may give a useful framework for mapping agronomic traits in safflower and the framework maps of C. tinctorius can serve as a foundation for future map integration, comparative genomics, QTL analysis and marker assisted breeding for drought tolerance.
Barriers and Facilitators to Using Knee Gait Analysis Report Findings in Physiotherapy Practice

Background: Gait analysis can be used by physiotherapists to better understand the causes and consequences of knee pain. However, its use is not widespread among clinicians working with this clientele. Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators to using a gait analysis data report in the evaluation and treatment of patients with knee pain. Design: A qualitative descriptive study design was used. Methods: Eleven physiotherapists received training on the principles of knee gait analysis assessment and data interpretation. Each physiotherapist was instructed to send two knee patients for a gait analysis assessment and then incorporate these new data into their practice with these patients. A semi-structured interview was conducted to ascertain the physiotherapist’s perception of the barriers and facilitators to using gait analysis. The verbatim transcripts were analyzed using content analysis software (NVivo 9). Results: The main barriers were as follows: 1) difficulty interpreting the gait analysis data report; 2) gait analysis testing procedures appear lengthy and complex; and 3) cost involved. The facilitators were: 1) gait analysis is perceived as being useful, especially for complex cases; 2) assessment protocol and data are perceived as valid and reliable; and 3) favorable perception of kinematic analysis by work colleagues. Conclusion: We were able to pinpoint the barriers and facilitators likely to promote the use of gait analysis in physiotherapy practice among knee injury patients. These barriers and facilitators are more related to the potential user (physiotherapist) and to the organizational and human environment than to gait analysis itself.
Implicit MAC scheme for compressible Navier–Stokes equations: low Mach asymptotic error estimates

We investigate error between any discrete solution of the implicit Marker and Cell (MAC) numerical scheme for compressible Navier-Stokes equations in low Mach number regime and an exact strong solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The main tool is the relative energy method suggested on the continuous level in [7], whose discrete numerical version has been developed in [19]. We get unconditional error estimate in terms of explicitly determined positive powers of the space-time disretization parameters and Mach number in the case of well prepared initial data, and the boundedness of the error if the initial data are ill prepared. The multiplicative constant in the error estimate depends on the suitable norm of the strong solution but is independent on the numerical solution itself (and of course, on the disretization parameters and the Mach number). This is the first proof ever that the MAC scheme is unconditionally and uniformly asymptotically stable at the low Mach number regime.
Grating based devices in polymer optical fibre

We describe recent research into devices based on fibre Bragg gratings in polymer optical fibre. Firstly, we report on the inscription of gratings in a variety of microstructured polymer optical fibre: single mode, few moded and multimoded, as well as fibre doped with trans-4-stilbenmethanol. Secondly, we describe research into an electrically tuneable filter using a metallic coating on a polymer fibre Bragg grating. Finally we present initial results from attempts to produce more complex grating structures in polymer fibre: a Fabry-Perot cavity and a phase-shifted grating.
Exploration of Social Accountability Indicators in Medical Science Schools in Iran

Introduction: Social accountability has received much research attention in recent decades. Social accountability has been identified as an important prerequisite in development; however different development targets each have a particular definition of social accountability. The aim of this study was to provide indicators for application in making assessments for the progress of medical science colleges and institutions towards social accountability. Methods: This research was conducted as a qualitative study in 2015. The research aimed to explore indicators of social accountability in medical science training institutions using three rounds of the Delphi technique. A group of experts was gathered from among all regions of Iran. Prior to the first round of Delphi, some proposed measures were identified from a review of the related literature. In the first round, content validity ratio values were determined for each indicator and accountability assessment was the made by the group of experts. In the second round of Delphi, item-content validity index determinations were made according to relevance and clarity of the indicators. In the third final round, confirmation of indicators was made by the group of experts. Results: The four main domains of organization and performance, educational activities, research activities and cooperation in health services in society and region, were confirmed using the Delphi method. Finally, 58 objective indicators were listed for these 4 domains. Conclusions: Determination of national criteria for evaluating social accountability is a major step toward improving accountability in medical training institutions. Evaluations for medical training institutions based on criteria derived from this study were determined as efficient. But further research is needed on function of the mentioned criteria in relation to fulfilling the needs of society.
Investigating multi-player online video games for brain-injured people

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report a pilot experiment to test if multi-player online video games could provide a measurable cognitive therapeutic benefit for brain-injured people. Design/methodology/approach – Single-subject research design with n=3 brain-injured participants. Four alternating intervention and non-intervention weeks. Battery of cognitive tests taken at the start of the experiment and at the end of each week. Findings – Widely varying results with large standard deviation overall. Research limitations/implications – The experimental design was heavily reliant on multiple participants logging in at the same time. Server logs showed that this happened relatively rarely. Practical implications – Implications for the next iteration of the experiment are to refine the game design to avoid the need to synchronise the participants. The findings presented may be of practical use to other researchers in this area. Social implications – Acquired brain injury has been described as an ep.
Euler-Poincaré Formalism of (Two Component) Degasperis-Procesi and Holm-Staley type Systems

Abstract In this paper we propose an Euler-Poincaré formalism of the Degasperis and Procesi (DP) equation. This is a second member of a one-parameter family of partial differential equations, known as b-field equations. This one-parameter family of pdes includes the integrable Camassa-Holm equation as a first member. We show that our Euler-Poincaré formalism exactly coincides with the Degasperis-Holm-Hone (DHH) Hamiltonian framework. We obtain the DHH Hamiltonian structues of the DP equation from our method. Recently this new equation has been generalized by Holm and Staley by adding viscosity term. We also discuss Euler-Poincaré formalism of the Holm-Staley equation. In the second half of the paper we consider a generalization of the Degasperis and Procesi (DP) equation with two dependent variables. we study the Euler-Poincaré framework of the 2-component Degasperis-Procesi equation. We also mention about the b-family equation.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in the perinatal period: epidemiology, phenomenology, pathogenesis, and treatment

The aim of this review is to describe the main theoretical find- ings and research conclusions about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the perinatal period. On one hand, epidemiological studies show that the risk of OCD onset and/or exacerbation could increase in this period, par- ticularly in the puerperium. Phenomenologically, in this stage aggressive and contamination obsessions are very common and are related to the fe- tus or newborn. On the other hand, regarding OCD pathogenesis in this period, there is indirect evidence to suggest the participation of neuroendo- crine (e.g. female gonadal steroids and oxytocin) and cognitive behavioural variables (e.g. hyper-responsibility, threat overestimation, and mental con- trol). In terms of research, more empirical studies are needed to contrast these specific vulnerability factors. Moreover, no empirically validated psy- chotherapeutic treatments (controlled trials) adapted to this OCD sub- group were found, although some studies highlight the role of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an effective intervention in the context of se- lective primary prevention.
Space oddities: aliens, futurism and meaning in popular music

Despite the rampant popularity of space, alien and futuristic imagery in popular culture, little scholarship has recognised the impact of such themes on popular music. This article explores the complex relationship between the numerous uses of space, alien and techno futuristic themes in popular music and the construction of various marginalised identities. Arranged roughly chronologically from early 1950s rock and roll to late 1990s techno, I discuss how many artists, such as Bill Haley, David Bowie and George Clinton, have used such imagery to promote various nonconformist ideologies and identities ranging from African-American empowerment to Gay and Lesbian agendas. This article also relates developments in scientific space research and popular science fiction culture to corresponding uses of space and alien imagery in various forms of popular music. In general, popular music's use of futuristic space and alien themes denotes a related neo-Gnostic withdrawal and alienation from traditionally dominant cultural structures in an attempt to unite us with a common ‘other’ that transcends divisions of race, gender, sexual preference, religion or nationality.
Graphs associated with nilpotent Lie algebras of maximal rank

In this paper, we use the graphs as a tool to study nilpotent Lie algebras. It implies to set up a link between graph theory and Lie theory. To do this, it is already known that every nilpotent Lie algebra of maximal rank is associated with a generalized Cartan matrix $A$ and it is isomorphic to a quotient of the positive part $\mathfrak{n}_+$ of the Kac-Moody algebra $\mathfrak{g}(A)$. Then, if $A$ is affine, we can associate $\mathfrak{n}_+$ with a directed graph (from now on, we use the term digraph) and we can also associate a subgraph of this digraph with every isomorphism class of nilpotent Lie algebras of maximal rank and of type $A$. Finally, we show an algorithm which obtains these subgraphs and also groups them in isomorphism classes.
Finnish Mentor Mathematics Teachers' Views of the Teacher Knowledge Required for Teaching Mathematics.

Seven Finnish mentor mathematics teachers were interviewed about their views regarding the teacher knowledge required for teaching mathematics. The results of the interviews revealed not only the teachers' spontaneous views of the knowledge base needed for effective mathematics teaching but also their views of the particular types of teacher knowledge required for teaching mathematics that have been emphasized in the research literature. When the teachers freely described their views, issues related to content knowledge and the requisite knowledge for teaching mathematics were emphasized. The teachers valued most of the knowledge types available, even if only a few of them had highlighted them earlier in the interview. Some types, however, remained ambiguous from the teachers’ perspective. Our findings suggest that even if the mentor teachers are considered experts in mathematics teaching, they are not necessarily able to conceptualize their view of the knowledge required for mathematics teaching, or they may have their own views of the necessary types of knowledge. This in turn may impede student teachers in connecting their educational studies with mathematics studies during student teaching. In addition, it was found that mentor teachers frequently hold personal views about the importance of the types of mathematics teacher knowledge that may be valuable for student teachers when they are reflecting their own view of the requisite knowledge for teaching and the type of a teacher they want to become.
2 Active Prototype Model and Optimal Active Prototype Model

A novel recognition method called Active Discriminant Function (ADF) for handwriting recognition is presented. First, statistical feature based Active Prototype Model (APM) in the principal subspace is proposed and an optimal APM corresponding to an unknown pattern is obtained. Second, ADF that is a weighted summation of two distances is proposed. One measures the distance between an unknown pattern and the principal subspace; the other measures the distance between an unknown pattern and the minor subspace. Third, as parameters of ADF, constraints for APM are optimized by applying Minimum Classification Error (MCE) criterion. The optimal constraints help to improve recognition accuracy of ADF. Finally, experiments are conducted on handwritten financial Chinese characters used in bank bill, and empirical results demonstrate that ADF is fairly promising for handwriting recognition.
The time lag between introduction and escape from cultivation of alien woody plant species decreases with polyploidization

Abstract. The time between introduction of an alien species and escape from cultivation shows considerable variation among species. One hypothesis to explain this variation of the time lag invokes the evolution of genotypes adapted to the conditions of the new environment. Here, we analyse the variation in time lags among 53 alien woody plant species in Germany. Accounting for the effects of time since introduction, growth form (trees versus shrubs), biogeography and taxonomic isolation (presence or absence of a native congener in the adventive area) we found that the time lag decreases with increasing polyploidization. By contrast, the haploid chromosome number was not significantly related to the time lag. These results provide evidence for the hypothesis that recent genome duplication events are important for a fast escape from cultivation of an alien woody plant species. We suggest that a large number of duplicated chromosomes increase the partitioning of the genome and hence the average rate of recombination between loci facilitating the formation of adaptive genotypes.
Coupling carbon allocation with leaf and root phenology predicts tree-grass partitioning along a savanna rainfall gradient

Abstract. The relative complexity of the mechanisms underlying savanna ecosystem dynamics, in comparison to other biomes such as temperate and tropical forests, challenges the representation of such dynamics in ecosystem and Earth system models. A realistic representation of processes governing carbon allocation and phenology for the two defining elements of savanna vegetation (namely trees and grasses) may be a key to understanding variations in tree–grass partitioning in time and space across the savanna biome worldwide. Here we present a new approach for modelling coupled phenology and carbon allocation, applied to competing tree and grass plant functional types. The approach accounts for a temporal shift between assimilation and growth, mediated by a labile carbohydrate store. This is combined with a method to maximize long-term net primary production (NPP) by optimally partitioning plant growth between fine roots and (leaves + stem). The computational efficiency of the analytic method used here allows it to be uniquely and readily applied at regional scale, as required, for example, within the framework of a global biogeochemical model. We demonstrate the approach by encoding it in a new simple carbon–water cycle model that we call HAVANA (Hydrology and Vegetation-dynamics Algorithm for Northern Australia), coupled to the existing POP (Population Orders Physiology) model for tree demography and disturbance-mediated heterogeneity. HAVANA-POP is calibrated using monthly remotely sensed fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fPAR) and eddy-covariance-based estimates of carbon and water fluxes at five tower sites along the North Australian Tropical Transect (NATT), which is characterized by large gradients in rainfall and wildfire disturbance. The calibrated model replicates observed gradients of fPAR, tree leaf area index, basal area, and foliage projective cover along the NATT. The model behaviour emerges from complex feedbacks between the plant physiology and vegetation dynamics, mediated by shifting above- versus below-ground resources, and not from imposed hypotheses about the controls on tree–grass co-existence. Results support the hypothesis that resource limitation is a stronger determinant of tree cover than disturbance in Australian savannas.