Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN PRODUCTION AND SERVICE SECTOR IN IZMIR, THE CITY OF TURKEY

Purpose of the study: This research aims to understand the benefits and challenges of cloud and non-cloud adopter companies of production and service sectors on cloud computing and making recommendations based on companies’ perceptions of the issue in Izmir, Turkey. Methodology: This is a descriptive survey of businesses, forming a questionnaire for 99 companies in the service sector and 66 companies in the production sector to non-cloud or cloud user businesses in the city of Izmir in Turkey. SPSS 26.0 software is used to analyze the perceived benefits and challenges of cloud computing. Main Findings: The descriptive analysis results show that increasing productivity in business processes and working collaboratively from remote are the most important perceived benefits of adopting cloud computing in the production sector and service sector, respectively. On the other hand, business processes adoption issues and concerns about security are the significant perceived challenges and barriers of cloud computing adoption, respectively. Applications of this study: The study is useful for governments to understand the critical points of cloud computing and is believed to give governments the ability to prepare an appropriate environment for businesses. Cloud providers and companies also take a position to contribute to this environment by creating new I.T. products and purchasing these I.T. products conforming to their I.T. needs, respectively. Novelty/Originality of this study: This research provides companies in Izmir with a guide for the adoption considering the appropriate cloud computing deployment models such as public cloud, private cloud, community cloud and hybrid cloud for certain types of applications such as software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service(PaaS) and Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) for developing countries.
Features, Challenges and Issues of Fog Computing: A Comprehensive Study

Fog computing is one of the most important technologies and promising computing model used by many end-users, organizations, and companies. This model has many qualities, characteristics, advantages and offers many services to end-users like compute, and application services. So, it facilitates the services that provided it to the end-users and allows us to increase the number of devices that connect the network. In this research paper, we survey the Fog technology in terms of the architecture and the primary features (i.e. advantages, and disadvantages). Then, we compare this model with Cloud computing, Mobile-Edge Computing, and Cloudlet Computing. Also, this paper is constructed by illustrating the importance of several challenges and issues that facing Fog computing like "privacy and security: issues and solutions", control and management issues, fog networking and task scheduling. Finally, we mention the six aspects of fog computing security and the benefits of merging between Fog computing and other techniques like “Internet of Things and Cloud”. This paper will contribute to providing the researchers who want to study the Fog computing in terms of aspects that previously mentioned.
Relationship between Personality type and EFL Competence: A Case Study of Secondary School Students in One School in Dar es Salaam

The current study sought to establish a relationship between tolerance of ambiguity, introversion – extroversion and field independence, on the one hand, and the competence of EFL students in a secondary school in Tanzania, on the other. To attain this, the study involved 48 students, 28 girls and 20 boys who were in in the ordinary level of secondary education. They were first served with a questionnaire of personality type identification. Then they were served with a cloze assignment which was graded and each component given 100% scores. All the learners were provided with their respective scores in each component. This happened after the candidates were put into their respective personality type categories. The findings have revealed that, no difference existed between the two groups in tolerance of ambiguity except for the sex differences where female tolerants of ambiguity were slightly better than males contrary to intolerants of ambiguity (vocabulary and grammar). In the category of introversion/extroversion, the extroverts were better in grammar than introverts; female introverts were as good as extroverts (both male and female) but males proved poorer. As for field independence, there were no much differences in performance between field dependents and field independents except for the fact that female field dependents were significantly better in vocabulary than their counterparts who are field independents.
The use of azotobacter in organic maize production.

Maize is an important field crop which is mainly grown in the system of conventional production accompanied by the use of mineral fertilizers. Organic maize production is not widespread but it has been getting more attention recently. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of azotobacter on the microbiological activity in the rhizosphere and on the grain yield of various maize hybrids grown in the system of organic production. The experiment was conducted in field conditions at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Department of Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity in Backi Petrovac. Four maize hybrids (ZP 555 su, NS 609b, 620k and NS 6030) and three concentrations of Azotobacter chroococcum were used. The grain yield of maize was determined at the end of the vegetation period. The number of azotobacter, the number of aminoheterotrophs and dehydrogenase activity in the rhizospheric soil were determined, too. The grain yield increased in the variants with azotobacter. The greatest increase in the grain yield was recorded in ZP 555 su hybrid and it amounted to 1000 kg/ha. In NS 6030 hybrid, the increase in yield amounted to 280 kg/ha and in 620k it amounted to 450 kg/ha. In NS 609b hybrid, there was no effect. Azotobacter could increase maize yield by stimulating processes such as seed germination, resistance of seedlings to stress conditions, nitrogen fixation and production of phytohormones. The use of azotobacter did not significantly affect the number of azotobacter or aminoheterotrophs. Dehydrogenase activity increased in the variants with azotobacter. A positive correlational interdependence between dehydrogenase activity and yield indicates the existence of an active microbial population in the maize rhizosphere. In order to achieve the best effects of inoculation, it is necessary to learn about and follow the dynamics of the applied microorganisms in field conditions The paper presents preliminary results of the research conducted during one year. Therefore, no final conclusions can be drawn. Still, the results indicate in which direction further research should be done.
Genomic and multi-tissue proteomic integration for understanding the biology of disease and other complex traits

Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping has successfully resolved some genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci for complex traits. However, there is a need for implementing additional "omic" approaches to untangle additional loci and provide a biological context for GWAS signals. We generated a detailed landscape of the genomic architecture of protein levels in multiple neurologically relevant tissues (brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma), by profiling thousands of proteins in a large and well-characterized cohort. We identified 274, 127 and 32 protein quantitative loci (pQTL) for CSF, plasma and brain respectively. We demonstrated that cis-pQTL are more likely to be shared across tissues but trans-pQTL are tissue-specific. Between 78% to 87% of pQTL are not eQTL, indicating that protein levels have a different genetic architecture than gene expression. By combining our pQTL with Mendelian Randomization approaches we identified potential novel biomarkers and drug targets for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer disease and frontotemporal dementia. In the context of personalized medicine, these results highlight the need for implementing additional functional genomic approaches beyond gene expression in order to understand the biology of complex traits, and to identify novel biomarkers and potential drug targets for those traits.
Casimir Force-Neutral or Electrostatic?

Since Casimir, the attractive force between neutral metal surfaces separated by an evacuated gap has been attributed to the zero point energy (ZPE) of quantum mechanics. But the Casimir theory has difficulty in explaining how contact of neutral surfaces in micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices can cause permanent adhesion without the discharge of the build-up of static charge. A modified Casimir theory is proposed to explain the charge, the theory asserting the ZPE is electromagnetic (EM) radiation that fills the gap at vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) frequencies, the ZPE produced from the thermal kT energy in the surface atoms emitted at infrared (IR) frequencies. Gap surfaces always fluctuate about the nominal gap dimension by atomic dimensions, and if the surface moves a group of atoms into the gap having a VUV resonance, the IR radiation from the group is momentarily suppressed because of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). To conserve EM energy, the thermal kT energy corresponding to the suppressed IR radiation is spontaneously emitted as ZPE at VUV frequencies. Electrons are produced from the absorption of the ZPE by the photoelectric effect, and depending on the relative electron yields, the surface losing more electrons acquires a positive charge, the other gaining the electrons charging negative. The Casimir force is therefore one of electrostatic attraction, the electrical charge produced by the steady conversion of heat from the thermal surroundings mediated by the electrical grounding of the surfaces. Electrical breakdown may induce static discharge causing the permanent adhesion observed in the MEMS device. Because of the dependence of the ZPE on thermal kT energy, neither the Casimir force nor the ZPE in the modified theory exist at absolute zero.
Oviposition and Diapause Behavior in Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Populations from East Central Minnesota and the Valley of the Red River of the North

Abstract Oviposition and diapause behavior were compared among populations of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), from six locations in 1994 and 1995. Locations ranged from Winnipeg, Manitoba (49° 49′ N), to Rosemount in east central Minnesota (44° 44′ N). Newly emerged first summer generation adults were held in field cages at each location for 7–14 d, then observed for 7 d in the laboratory for frequency of oviposition and frequency of burrowing behavior associated with diapause. Females from the Red River Valley seldom oviposited and although frequency of burrowing varied among locations it was independent of field and laboratory conditions. Under long-day laboratory conditions, 9–15% of females from east central Minnesota oviposited with frequency dependent on photoperiod experienced in the field, the critical photoperiod was 15.8 h. Under long-day laboratory conditions, 18–52% of beetles from east central Minnesota burrowed with frequency dependent on cumulative temperatures experienced in the field. Cool conditions were associated with higher frequencies of burrowing. Beetles from Rosemount exhibited identical responses under short-day and long-day laboratory conditions. In contrast, under short-day conditions, beetles from Big Lake did not oviposit and frequency of burrowing was not dependent on field conditions. We concluded that there is local geographic variation in Colorado potato beetle populations not only between the Red River Valley and east central Minnesota, but also among the different locations within these two areas.
Latent Belief Space Motion Planning under Cost, Dynamics, and Intent Uncertainty

Autonomous agents are limited in their ability to observe the world state. Partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) formally model the problem of planning under world state uncertainty, but POMDPs with continuous actions and nonlinear dynamics suitable for robotics applications are challenging to solve. In this paper, we present an efficient differential dynamic programming (DDP) algorithm for belief space planning in POMDPs with uncertainty over a discrete latent state, and continuous states, actions, observations, and nonlinear dynamics. This representation allows planning of dynamic trajectories which are sensitive to structured uncertainty over discrete latent world states. We develop dynamic programming techniques to optimize a contingency plan over a tree of possible observations and belief space trajectories, and also derive a hierarchical version of the algorithm. Our method is applicable to problems with uncertainty over the cost or reward function (e.g., the configuration of goals or obstacles), uncertainty over the dynamics (e.g., the dynamical mode of a hybrid system), and uncertainty about interactions, where other agents' behavior is conditioned on latent intentions. Benchmarks show that our algorithm outperforms popular heuristic approaches to planning under uncertainty, and results from an autonomous lane changing task demonstrate that our algorithm can synthesize robust interactive trajectories.
Computational Prediction of Kinase-Substrate Interactions with Scansite 3 and the Enrichment of well-known Protein-Protein Interaction Networks with Novel and Relevant Interactors Masterarbeit

Living cells are complex systems that are highly dependent on a properly functioning cell signalling apparatus. All signalling events are based on the interaction of proteins with one another or with other molecules. One of the most important types of interactions is phosphorylation, a process that is catalysed by protein kinases. Many databases of experimentally verified kinase-substrate interactions are available online, but these by far do not cover all phosphorylation events that happen in living cells. Therefore, computational tools are needed to fill these gaps. Here, a new version of an in silico kinase-substrate interaction prediction tool that is based on short-linear sequence motifs is presented: Scansite 3 (http:// scansite3.mit.edu/ ) has a new user interface, a number of new features, and includes a web service that allows computational access. This work describes how Scansite works and how it can be used to assist in answering different scientifically relevant questions. In addition, a method is presented that allows the association of a set of genes with an interaction network of interest which also reduces this network to only the most important interactions. In order to be able to identify novel signalling pathways, it includes predictions of Scansite 3 to include new interactions. Here, this strategy is applied to prepare an algorithmic pipeline that links RNAi-screen results with the DNA damage response interaction network. Since no interaction network like this has been published so far, a manually curated DNA damage response interaction network is presented here too. This network may be a useful resource for scientists that do work related to the molecular response to DNA damage.
Online IMU Intrinsic Calibration: Is It Necessary?

—This paper addresses the problem of visual- inertial self-calibration while focusing on the necessity of online IMU intrinsic calibration. To this end, we perform observability analysis for visual-inertial navigation systems (VINS) with four different inertial model variants contain- ing intrinsic parameters that encompass one commonly used IMU model for low-cost inertial sensors. The analysis theoretically conﬁrms what is intuitively believed in the literature, that is, the IMU intrinsics are observable given fully-excited 6-axis motion. Moreover, we, for the ﬁrst time, identify 6 primitive degenerate motions for IMU intrinsic calibration. Each degenerate motion proﬁle will cause a set of intrinsic parameters to be unobservable and any combination of these degenerate motions are still degenerate. This result holds for all four inertial model variants and has signiﬁcant implications on the necessity to perform online IMU intrinsic calibration in many robotic applications. Extensive simulations and real-world experiments are performed to validate both our observability analysis and degenerate motion analysis.
Online Domain Adaptation for Occupancy Mapping

Creating accurate spatial representations that take into account uncertainty is critical for autonomous robots to safely navigate in unstructured environments. Although recent LIDAR based mapping techniques can produce robust occupancy maps, learning the parameters of such models demand considerable computational time, discouraging them from being used in real-time and large-scale applications such as autonomous driving. Recognizing the fact that real-world structures exhibit similar geometric features across a variety of urban environments, in this paper, we argue that it is redundant to learn all geometry dependent parameters from scratch. Instead, we propose a theoretical framework building upon the theory of optimal transport to adapt model parameters to account for changes in the environment, significantly amortizing the training cost. Further, with the use of high-fidelity driving simulators and real-world datasets, we demonstrate how parameters of 2D and 3D occupancy maps can be automatically adapted to accord with local spatial changes. We validate various domain adaptation paradigms through a series of experiments, ranging from inter-domain feature transfer to simulation-to-real-world feature transfer. Experiments verified the possibility of estimating parameters with a negligible computational and memory cost, enabling large-scale probabilistic mapping in urban environments.
Why are females ornamented? A test of the courtship stimulation and courtship rejection hypotheses

Female ornamentation was initially thought to reflect genetic correlation with the more elaborate male trait. However, this cannot explain female-specific ornamentation, such as the conspicuous coloration displayed by females of many species during breeding. Females may exhibit distinctive, reproductive coloration to 1) advertise receptivity and stimulate male courtship or 2) advertise nonreceptivity when gravid to reduce male courtship, harassment, and potentially costly copulations. We tested both hypotheses in the Lake Eyre dragon lizard (Ctenophorus maculosus) by quantifying female coloration, using spectroradiometry and a model of lizard color perception, and male and female behavior across the female reproductive cycle. Females develop bright orange coloration on their throat and abdomen during the breeding season, whereas males remain cryptically colored. The onset of orange coloration was associated with enlarging follicles, acceptance of copulations, and escalation of male courtship. Rather than fading once females were no longer receptive, however, the intense orange coloration remained until oviposition. Furthermore, despite maximal coloration associated with nonreceptivity, males persisted with courtship and copulation attempts, and females increased rejection behaviors comprising lateral displays and flipping onto their backs (to prevent forced intromission), both of which emphasize the conspicuous ventrolateral coloration. These apparently costly rejection behaviors did not reduce male harassment but did decrease the frequency of potentially costly copulations. These results suggest that 1) males do not determine female receptivity based on coloration alone and 2) the potentially costly rejection behaviors may have evolved to reduce the direct costs of mating. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Factors Influencing the Quality of Life of Malaysian Fishermen

The quality of life for fishermen is a significant issue in Malaysia and abroad. The Malaysian government has introduced many programs to improve the living standard of fishermen. However, their level of poverty remains high and the quality of life low. Therefore, this study investigates the factors influencing the quality of life of Malaysian fishermen. It uses a cross-sectional and mixed methodology design based on quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources. Direct observation, interview and focus group discussions (FGD) through clustered purposive sampling was used to collect the primary data. There 510 respondents participated in this study across the five states of Terengganu, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Johor and Sabah. This study found that income, expenses, saving, ownership, housing, and religion significantly influenced the quality of life of fishermen, while government policies were insignificant. Hence, a new quality of life indicator is developed to suit the needs of the fishermen community. Key-Words: Actual needs, quality of life, quality of life indicators, Malaysian fishermen
Displacement of Water Droplets Induced by the Superposition of Shear Flows and Mechanical Vibrations

Droplet motion induced by mechanical vibrations and superposed shear flows has not yet been investigated in detail, despite its major importance in many applications. The current study introduces a novel experimental setup for this purpose. Furthermore, droplet motion measurements on acrylic glass surfaces are presented. This study observes mechanical vibrations and shear flows separately as well as in combination. Measurements with shear flows indicate that droplet motions are initiated when a critical flow velocity is reached. The flow velocity required to initiate drop motions decreases when the droplet volume is increased. Separate experiments with sinusoidal vibrations show that the droplets overcome contact angle hysteresis, when vibrational acceleration is increased above a certain threshold. Consequently, droplets experience a lateral motion, particularly if the vibrational frequency matches their natural frequency. Superposing shear flow with vibration results in an inconvenient droplet contour and motion, the shaking slip motion. Additionally, the required flow velocity for droplet motions reduces noticeably. Furthermore, the influence of vibrations on the initial droplet motion increases with higher droplet volume. The study concludes that the mobility of water droplets on acrylic glass surfaces increases significantly when a superposition between vibrational forces and shear flows exists.
Three-Dimensional Mapping of Medial Wall in Unstable Pertrochanteric Fractures

Objective Unstable pertrochanteric fractures are usually treated with internal fixation, and the integrity of the anteromedial cortex is an important factor for stability and healing. In this study, we described and analyzed the three-dimensional mapping technology and morphological characteristics of pertrochanteric fractures. Methods Fifty-nine pertrochanteric fractures (OTA/AO 2007 types 31A2) were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomographic (CT) images for all fractures were superimposed on a standard template. Medial wall integrity was analyzed, and three-dimensional fracture maps were created. Results Pertrochanteric fractures always have a posterior defect in the medial cortex. The mean width of the defect, in our study, was 21.5 mm (SD: 6.1 mm, range: 10–40 mm), 56.3% (SD: 13.7%, range: 27.5-100%). Bone segments that contact by the anteromedial cortex were 16.5 mm (SD: 5.3 mm, range: 0-29 mm). Conclusion The integrity of the anteromedial cortex should be considered during internal fixation of femoral trochanteric fractures. These morphological characteristics could be used to form postoperative cortical contact and improve stability of the fixation. Three-dimensional mapping technology can help establish a typical fracture model, thereby improving doctors' understanding of fracture characteristics.