Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LEARNING DIRECTION MATTERS

Abstract This study examines the acquisition process of speech rhythm in Dutch learners of Spanish (DLS) and Spanish learners of Dutch (SLD) at different proficiency levels to determine whether learning direction affects the success of rhythm acquisition in a foreign language (L2). Analyses of lengthening effects showed that the two learner groups followed different developmental paths in their acquisition of accentual and final lengthening: Both groups showed transfer effects from the L1, but while the DLS systematically approached their target until attainment, the SLD showed more variability in their development. In addition, syllable structure complexity affected L2 rhythm acquisition, and to a substantially larger extent for the SLD compared to the DLS. The results support a model of L2 rhythm acquisition in which learning direction is included as a factor, and that allows for the interaction of various language-specific properties that contribute to speech rhythm, like syllable structure complexity.
HIF-dependent regulation of platelet activating factor receptor as a route for Gram positive bacterial translocation across epithelia

Mucosal surfaces, such as the lung and intestine, are lined by a monolayer of epithelia which provides tissue barrier and transport function. It is recently appreciated that a common feature of inflammatory processes within the mucosa is hypoxia (so called inflammatory hypoxia). Given the strong association between bacterial translocation and mucosal inflammatory disease, we hypothesized that intestinal epithelial hypoxia influences bacterial translocation. Initial studies revealed that exposure of cultured intestinal epithelia to hypoxia (pO2 20 torr, 24-48hr) resulted in a increase of up to 40-fold in the translocation of some strains of Gram positive bacteria, independent of epithelial barrier function. A screen of relevant pathway inhibitors identified a prominent role for the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFr) in hypoxia-associated bacterial translocation, wherein pharmacologic antagonists of PAFr blocked bacterial translocation by as much as 80±6%. Extensions of these studies revealed that hypoxia prominently induces PAFr through an hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-dependent mechanism. Indeed, HIF and PAFr loss of function studies (shRNA) revealed that apically expressed PAFr is central to the induction of translocation for the Gram positive bacteria E. faecalis. Taken together, these findings reveal that some strains of Gram positive bacteria exploit HIF-regulated PAFr as a means for translocation through intestinal epithelial cells.
Musical Audio Beat Tracking using Hidden Markov Model

The proposed method describes the beat tracking system of musical audio signals. Here, the beat tracking deals with the explicit modeling of non-beat states and estimates the time between consecutive beat events. The expected accuracy of the estimated beats is also provided additionally. To predict the accuracy of the beat estimate a k-nearest neighbor regression algorithm is used. A database of 222 musical signals of various genres is used to statistically evaluate the performance for beat tracking system. A new perspective for beat detection is presented which can be used to enhance the performance of the proposed algorithm and relates it with the human tapping.
Advantages of the implementation of Service Desk based on ITIL framework in telecommunication industry

This paper describes the significance of the implementation of Service Desk based on ITIL framework. For the reference model is taken a Service Desk in Telecom operator which solves hundreds of users incidents, problems and requests during a one day. The aim of the paper is to compare the results of normal working a Service Desk before the implementation of ITIL and after the implementation of ITIL. The result of this comparison should show that a Service Desk with the implemented ITIL processes has achieved a better results than a Service Desk which doesn't contain processes from ITIL. For the implementation of ITIL Service Desk are chosen all processes which are dealing with users: Service Level Management, Supplier Management, Change Management, Event Management, Incident Management, Request Fulfillment and Problem Management. This paper gives a focus to the implementation of Service Desk solutions based on ITIL framework in any business environment in order to increase the business productivity. Key-Words: ITIL, Service Desk, Service Level Management, Supplier Management, Change Management, Event Management, Incident Management, Request Fulfillment, Problem Management.
Human Emotion Detection via Brain Waves Study by Using Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Human emotion is very difficult to determine just by looking at the face and also the behavior of a person. This research was conducted to detect or identify human emotion via the study of brain waves. In addition, the research aims to develop computer software that can detect human emotions quickly and easily. This study aims at EEG signals of relationship and human emotions. The main objective of this recognition is to develop "mind-implementation of Robots". While the research methodology is divided into four; (i) both visibility and EEG data were used to extract the date at the same time from the respondent, (ii) the process of complete data record includes the capture of images using the camera and EEG, (iii) pre-processing, classification and feature extraction is done at the same time, (iv) the features extracted is classified using artificial intelligence techniques to emotional faces. Researchers expect the following results; (i) studies brain waves for the purpose of emotions, (ii) the study of human emotion with facial emotions and to relate the brain waves, (iii). In conclusion, this study is very useful for doctors in hospitals and police departments for criminal investigation. As a result of this study, it also helps to develop a software package.
A Survey on Security Mechanism using Colors and Armstrong Numbers

In today's tech-savvy world, electronic media is a basic necessity. Modern ways of communication have replaced the simplest of tasks. As the growing computer use implies a need for automated tools for protecting files and other information. The use of networks and communications facilities for carrying data between users and computers is also growing. Network security measures are needed to protect data during transmission; hence data security is very important. In this paper we analyze different techniques of cryptography to secure the data at the time of transmission and along with newly discovered cryptography algorithm that provides more security in data transmission.
Evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the detection of Aeromonas salmonicida ss salmonicida in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

A PCR-based assay was developed to detect Aerornonas salmonicida ss salmonicida (A.s.s.) in infected fish kidney and gills. Samples processed for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) were 100 ml kidney tissue suspensions and gill swabs. The primers and probes employed were derived from sequences of 16s rRNA as well as from plasmid DNA. In order to estimate in vitro sensitivity, various numbers of colony forming units (CFU) of A.s. s. strains were added to kidney and gill samples. A minimum of 20 and 200 CFU were demonstrated in 10 p1 PCR template by the 16s rDNA and the plasmid primers, respectively. The 20 and 200 CFU per 10 p1 PCR template correspond to 103 and 104 CFU in 100 m1 kidney tissue suspension. The in vitro specificity testing showed that DNA from A.s. s. , A. hydrophila, A. salmonicida ss achromogenes, A. salmonicida ss masoucida, and atypical A. salmonicida were amplified using the 16s rDNA primers. Only A.s. s. and A. salrnonicida ss achromogenes DNA were amplified using the plasmid primers. Altogether 25 Atlantic salmon parr, experimentally challenged by cohabitation, were tested for the presence of A.s. s. by PCR and agar cultivation. The rates of recovery were 13/25 by PCR and 6/25 by agar cultivation. Kidney and gill samples from Atlantic salmon of about 2 kg, obtained at slaughter and considered covertly infected with A.s. s. , were also tested. A.s. s. was detected neither by PCR nor by cultivation. Additionally, kidney samples from feral brood fish were tested. A.s. s. was more frequently, 24/72, detected by PCR than with agar cultivation, 6/72.
The cool-core bias in X-ray galaxy cluster samples - I. Method and application to HIFLUGCS

Aims. When selecting flux-limited cluster samples, the detection efficiency of X-ray instruments is not the same for centrally-peaked and flat objects, which introduces a bias in flux-limited cluster samples. We quantify this effect in the case of a well-known cluster sample, HIFLUGCS. Methods. We simulate a population of X-ray clusters with various surface-brightness profiles, and use the instrumental characteristics of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS) to select flux-limited samples similar to the HIFLUGCS sample and predict the expected bias. For comparison, we also estimate observationally the bias in the HIFLUGCS sample using XMM-Newton and ROSAT data. Results. We find that the selection of X-ray cluster samples is significantly biased (∼29%) in favor of the peaked, cool-core (CC) objects, with respect to non-cool-core (NCC) systems. Interestingly, we find that the bias affects the low-mass, nearby objects (groups, poor clusters) much more than the more luminous objects (i.e massive clusters). We also note a moderate increase of the bias for the more distant systems. Conclusions. Observationally, we propose to select the objects according to their flux in a well-defined physical range excluding the cores, 0.2r500−r500, to get rid of the bias. From the fluxes in this range, we reject 13 clusters out of the 64 in the HIFLUGCS sample, none of which appears to be NCC. As a result, we estimate that less than half (35–37%) of the galaxy clusters in the local Universe are strong CC. In the paradigm where the CC objects trace relaxed clusters as opposed to unrelaxed, merging objects, this implies that to the present day the majority of the objects are not in a relaxed state. From this result, we estimate a rate of heating events of ∼1/ 3G yr −1 per dark-matter halo.
Exploring the dynamic impact zone for conflict prevention in real-time railway traffic management

In real-time, dispatchers have the challenging task to perform railway traffic management. The goal is to update the timetable in order to reduce delays in case of unexpected events, by means of rescheduling or rerouting some of the trains. In order to support them in making decisions, a Traffic Management System (TMS) is required that is capable of predicting train movements, detecting potential conflicts and deciding on how to prevent these conflicts. A conflict occurs when two trains require the same part of the infrastructure at the same time. However, for dispatchers it is almost impossible to anticipate the impact of their preventing actions on the entire network. This paper therefore examines the dynamic impact zone created and used in a retiming/reordering heuristic. This heuristic is part of a conflict prevention strategy (CPS) aimed at assisting dispatchers by considering the relevant part of the network and the traffic when preventing conflicts. The CPS is extended such that also passenger delays and cancellations of passenger trains can be considered. This CPS is validated on a large study area of the Belgian network. The proposed CPS outperforms FCFS by, on average, 41 % in secondary delays and 33 % in passenger delays while delivering solutions in 2.1 seconds on average and in 12.3 seconds at maximum.
FUZZY DISCRETIZATION TECHNIQUE FOR BAYESIAN FLOOD DISASTER MODEL

The use of Bayesian Networks in the domain of disaster management has proven its efficiency in developing the disaster model and has been widely used to represent the logical relationships between variables.Prior to modelling the correlation between the flood factors, it was necessary to discretize the continuous data due to the weakness of the Bayesian Network to handle such variables.Therefore, this paper aimed to propose a data discretization technique and compare the existing discretization techniques to produce a spatial correlation model.In particular, the main contribution of this paper was to propose a fuzzy discretization method for the Bayesian-based flood model. The performance of the model is based on precision, recall, F-measure, and the receiver operating characteristic area.The experimental results demonstrated that the fuzzy discretization method provided the best measurements for the correlation model. Consequently, the proposed fuzzy discretization technique facilitated the data input for the flood model and was able to help the researchers in developing effective early warning systems in the future. In addition, the results of correlation were prominent in disaster management to provide reference that may help the government, planners, and decision-makers to perform actions and mitigate flood events.
When Your World Must Be Defended: Choosing Products to Justify the System

Consumers are often strongly motivated to view themselves as part of a legitimate and fair external system. Our research focuses on how individuals adopt distinct ways of defending their system when it is threatened and, in particular, how this is revealed in their consumption choices. We find that although individuals differ in how confident they are in the legitimacy of their system, they do not differ in their motivation to defend the system when it is threatened. Instead, they simply adopt different methods of defense. Specifically, when an important system is (verbally) attacked, individuals who are the least confident in the legitimacy of the system seek and appreciate consumption choices that allow them to indirectly and subtly defend the system. Conversely, individuals who are highly confident in the system reject indirect opportunities of defense and seek consumption choices that allow them to defend the system in direct and explicit ways.
Athens Institute for Education and Research ATINER ATINER ' s Conference Paper Series PSY 2016-1914

Center-periphery interactions in visual processing of dynamic stimuli have been considered as an example of surround modulatory effects on receptive field properties. Such effects have been observed in different areas of the visual system and their functional role has been related to figure-ground segregation, noise reduction, sparse coding or metabolic efficiency. We investigated the effects of surround motion direction, speed, and orientation of elongated moving elements on fine motion direction discrimination. The moving elements were Gabor patches with an orientation along the motion direction in the surround and at an angle of 0°, 45°, 90° or 135° from the motion direction of the central stimulus. Two different sizes of the center stimulus were used. The surround motion direction varied from 0° to 315° with a step of 45°. The direction of the central stimulus was changed with adaptive staircase procedure. The Subject’s task was to discriminate whether the central motion was to the left or to the right from the vertical downward. The results show higher bias and reduced sensitivity when the center and surround motions were orthogonal and when the orientation of the elements and motion direction differed. The contribution of V1 and MT in the observed context modulatory effects is discussed.
Automated Student Attendance System using Fingerprint Recognition

The project work aims at designing a student attendance system which could effectively manage attendance of students of the department of Computer Science and Engineering at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University. In this project work, attendance is marked after student’s biometric identification. For student identification, a fingerprint recognition based identification system is used. Fingerprint features are considered to be the best and fastest method for biometric identification. These features are more secure to use and unique for every person that don’t change in one's lifetime. Fingerprint recognition is a mature field today, but still identifying individual from a set of enrolled fingerprints is a time taking process. It was very necessary to improve the fingerprint identification system for implementation on large databases, e.g. of an institute or a country. In this project, the minutiae algorithm is used to develop the identification system which is faster in implementation than any other available today in the market. The proposed automated attendance system based on fingerprint recognition was tested on a class of student fingerprint databases and achieved significant results for taking an attendance of the students of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The proposed system has been implemented using C# programming paradigm platform.
How Smart Are ‘Smart Banners’?

ABSTRACT Smart banners, or keyword–activated banners that are tied to internet user search keywords, are becoming increasingly popular with major search engines and their advertisers. Understanding how smart banners work best is a challenge facing the online advertising industry. This paper examines how specificity in the meaning of search keywords may affect the accuracy of banner matches. Through analysis of banner matches obtained from 12 major search engines, the authors found that as search keywords became more specific, search engines returned fewer exact banner matches and more general banner matches. Implications of these findings for search engines and their advertisers are discussed.
In situ magnetotail magnetic flux calculation

Abstract. We explore two new modifications of the magnetotail magnetic flux (F) calculation algorithm based on the Petrinec and Russell (1996) (PR96) approach of the tail radius determination. Unlike in the PR96 model, the tail radius value is calculated at each time step based on simultaneous magnetotail and solar wind observations. Our former algorithm, described in Shukhtina et al. (2009), required that the "tail approximation" requirement were fulfilled, i.e., it could be applied only tailward x ∼ −15 RE. The new modifications take into account the approximate uniformity of the magnetic field of external sources in the near and middle tail. Tests, based on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations, show that this approach may be applied at smaller distances, up to x ∼ −3 RE. The tests also show that the algorithm fails during long periods of strong positive interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz. A new empirical formula has also been obtained for the tail radius at the terminator (at x = 0) which improves the calculations.
The association between technology type and diffusion pattern under duopolistic competition

Many firms consider adopting new technologies as a means for enhancing competitive advantages. Therefore, the subject of technology diffusion has been studied by many researchers from different disciplines in order to explore the diffusion profiles throughout the industry or the country. The argument has frequently been made that the pattern of diffusion associated with most new technologies will typically have certain characteristics. In general, the diffusion pattern within an industry will depend on the competitive arena and technology characteristics. Based on a duopolistic game-theoretic model, this paper tries to explore the association between technology type and diffusion pattern. The results show that the cost-reducing technologies are adopted sequentially within a duopoly. On the other hard, strategic technologies diffuse over time or in a swarm. Although both technologies might be adopted sequentially, the rate for strategic technologies is faster than that for cost-reducing technologies Keywords: Game of timing, technology diffusion, Nash equilibrium
Development and Psychometric Validation of the Family Outcomes Survey-Revised

Few psychometrically valid scales exist to assess family outcomes and the helpfulness of early intervention. This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Family Outcomes Survey—Revised. The revision was prompted by the need to (a) create a new format that would be easier for parents to understand, (b) revise and expand the survey items to provide more information for states to use in planning for program improvement, and (c) demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties. Input from stakeholders and experts was used to identify concepts and develop candidate items. Data from a web-based survey conducted with 265 families in Illinois and Texas were used to assess the psychometric properties of candidate items. These activities produced a revised survey with sound psychometric integrity that can be used to document family outcomes and identify areas for program improvement.
LINEAR POLARIZATION OF CLASS I METHANOL MASERS IN MASSIVE STAR-FORMING REGIONS

Class I methanol masers are found to be good tracers of the interaction between outflows from massive young stellar objects with their surrounding media. Although polarization observations of Class II methanol masers have been able to provide information about magnetic fields close to the central (proto)stars, polarization observations of Class I methanol masers are rare, especially at 44 and 95 GHz. We present the results of linear polarization observations of 39 Class I methanol maser sources at 44 and 95 GHz. These two lines are observed simultaneously with one of the 21 m Korean VLBI Network telescopes in single-dish mode. Approximately 60% of the observed sources have fractional polarizations of a few percent in at least one transition. This is the first reported detection of linear polarization of the 44 GHz methanol maser. The two maser transitions show similar polarization properties, indicating that they trace similar magnetic environments, although the fraction of the linear polarization is slightly higher at 95 GHz. We discuss the association between the directions of polarization angles and outflows. We also discuss some targets having different polarization properties at both lines, including DR21(OH) and G82.58+0.20, which show the 90° polarization angle flip at 44 GHz.
On Advancing the Field of Organizational Diagnosis based on Insights from EntropyMotivating the Need for Constructional Models

In this paper, we explore how the field of organizational diagnosis can benefit from lessons learned from entropy reduction in other fields. In an organizational context, entropy is related to the lack of knowledge concerning the way of how management-level KPIs (observable system macrostate) are brought about by operational elements (which are considered to be the causing microstate). Because of this lack of knowledge, the goal and scope of projects to remedy problematic KPIs cannot be determined unambiguously. Organizational diagnosis aims to further the insight in these decisions by providing conceptual models to find causal explanations between observations and their causes. In related fields, reduction of entropy is achieved by introducing and analyzing structure in a system, which is described in a constructional perspective. However, we will show in this paper that many diagnostic approaches do not support this constructional perspective adequately.