Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using repeated reading for reading fluency development in a small Japanese foreign language program

ABSTRACT Audio-assisted Repeated Reading (RR) is a method which scaffolds L2 readers to build fluency. This study focused on 27 U.S. college-level learners of Japanese comprising three ability groups from mid-beginner to low-intermediate. It aimed to explore whether a modest semester-long RR program facilitates learners’ fluency growth, and see how the learners perceive the method itself using a questionnaire. We found beneficial effects of audio-supported RR in terms of reading rate growth while learners maintained good comprehension. The study showed a significant practice effect, in which learners increased their reading rates while re-reading the same passage. Further, learners in one of the three groups read significantly faster with a new, unpracticed passages representing transfer of the practice effect. Additionally, questionnaire responses demonstrated that learners perceived beneficial effects from RR. Finally, we make a proposal on measuring learners’ reading comprehension in fluency intervention programs such as RR. We proposed that measurement of learners’ reading comprehension have two different purposes, pedagogical purposes and research purposes. Thus the reading comprehension measures would have different designs and cut scores.
Keeping BPM Simple for Business Users: Power Users Beware

This article is a thought experiment: Invent a simple business process modeling notation suitable for a workshop in which business analysts (BA’s) help business users chart their as-is and to-be processes. The experiment is no idle diversion. True, process languages abound today, and the last thing the world needs is another one. (Besides, Yet Another Workflow Language, or YAWL, has already been invented.) The motivation for the experiment is the goal of continuity in the software lifecycle for BPM projects; in particular, that the process deployed to production is the same model (by then fully developed and tested) as the one created during the initial requirements phase. The movement of this one model through the phases of the cycle is depicted in Figure 1. Figure 1. One Model for the BPM Lifecycle Getting to production requires getting things right in the prior phases. The very first phase (requirements gathering) will fail unless the model is based on an approach that business users can understand. The goal of the experiment is to invent a language that will resonate with business users but can also be used through the remainder of the lifecycle. The second part is the hardest. Will the model created during requirements be in good shape for use case definition, or will the BA need to redraw it in a different form? Will the architect, or design team, for that matter, be able to work with it, or will he or they need to adopt a more technical modeling approach? The goal is to avoid such a break in continuity. What Works in the Workshop In a workshop setting, modeling notation is merely a means to an end. The goal of the session is to talk as a group through processes: The users describe how their business works now and how it should work, the BA’s try to solicit and isolate firm requirements. The talk never stops. During the session, a BA sketches on a whiteboard a crude flowchart that captures the process flow emerging in the discussion. The diagram is, in a sense, yet another voice in the exchange, which the participants understand as plainly as each other’s words. The sketch is continually reworked; by the end of the meeting, it represents crudely the users’ notion of their process, and it gives the BA material to work with when drafting a more carefully constructed business use case document.
High power windows for WR650 waveguide couplers

Based on the robust, pre-stressed planar window concept successfully tested for PEP II and LEDA, a new design for planar ceramic windows to be used with WR650 waveguide fundamental power couplers at 1300 MHz or 1500 MHz has been developed. These windows should operate in pulsed or CW mode and sustain at least 100 kW average power levels. This paper describes an overview of the simulations performed to match the ceramics in WR650 waveguides, design details, as well as the RF measurements and performance assessed by RF power tests on several high power windows manufactured at JLAB. Funding Agency: Authored by Jefferson Science Associates, LLC under U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-AC05-06OR23177, and by The Office of Naval Research under contract to the Dept. of Energy.
Phenotypic and biochemical parameters of four sweet cherry (Prunus Avium L.) cultivars grown in agro-ecological conditions of middle Atlas of Morocco

Theobjective of thisstudyis to investigate the phenotypic and biochemicalparameters of selectedsweet cherry (Prunus avium) from middle region of Morocco. Themain biochemical composition, contentsof total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity, were measured in the fruits of four sweet cherry cultivars (ʻBurlat’, ʻVan’, ʻNapoleon’andʻCerisette’) grown in two locations (“Laanoceur”and “Toufselt”) in the MiddleAtlas. The free radical scavenging activity was evaluated spectrophotometrically using 1,1‒diphenyl‒2‒picrylhydrazine (DPPH)and ABTS assay.The fruit weight, and pulppercentagewerestudied and found to range between 237–329 g, 38.14–42.22%, 39.21–44.36g, and 52.27–57.48%, respectively.The total phenolic and total anthocyanin content rangedfrom305.99 and 306.67 mg EqGal/100g D.W, total flavonoid contents were within the range of 481.73-517.67 mgeqRE/100g D.W, and total anthocyanin contents were between 1.09 and 2.89 mg Eqcyanidin 3-glucoside/100g D.W. Antioxidant activity ranged from 17.18 to 18.11 mg EqTrolox/100g D.W for DPPH assayand from 27.97 to 29.60 mg EqTrolox/100f D.W for ABTS method.The highest values of total anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity (DPPH) were recorded in ʻBurlat’. The highest value of total flavonoid content was found in ʻCerisette’. Cherries from “Laanoceur”and “Toufselt” locations are characterized by similar biochemical composition and antioxidant activity, except for total anthocyanin content that shows slightly elevated values in “Laanoceur”. The close correlation between total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities (r2=0.73) show that antioxidant activity of cherry fruit depends on total polyphenols.
The effectiveness of a mobile phone education-based on self-efficacy and DASH diet among patient with high blood pressure: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Hypertension HTN is a global public health problem with an increasing incidence worldwide. On one hand the imperative role of self-efficacy in controlling of chronic disease has been reported; on the other hand, dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) diet reported as one of most appropriate dietary approaches for controlling HTN. Here in present study we aimed to investigate the efficiency of mobile app for improving self-efficacy on adherence of DASH diet in HTN patients. Methods: the present randomized controlled trial conducted on 88 patients with hypertension who referring to public health care centers between Novomber2019 to March 2020. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive mobile app for DASH-related recommendation +usual care; or control group to follow their habitual diets and given usual health care in public health care centers for twelve weeks. Self-efficacy, SBP and DBP, body mass index, physical activity and dietary intakes were assessed at the baseline and the end of trial. The ANCOVA was used to show the differences between the two groups and adjusting for baseline and covariates. Results: Results showed that whilst there were no significant differences in DBP and SBP at the baseline, but intervention lead to significant decrease in both SBP and DBP. Results from self-efficacy showed that baseline values were not significantly different between two groups; however, all five components improved significantly at the end of trial. Conclusion: Here we showed that using mobile apps for educating DASH diet and improving self-efficacy lead to better control of BP among patients whilst their self-efficacy improved simultaneously.Trial registration: Iran Clinical Trials Registry: IRCT20190930044933N1.Date of registration:31.10. 2019URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct. ir/trial/42612
"LEARNING THE ROPES": A SOFTWARE TOOL FOR CLIL COURSES IN MARITIME SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS

This paper outlines a proposal for maritime English language teaching in public and private Nautical Schools and other maritime educational institutions and establishments in Italy, using a content and language integrated learning (CLIL) approach. The courses are addressed in particular to those students who would like to take up a marine career as officers, engineers or other crew members of the Merchant Navy, and thus require an adequate knowledge of seafaring terminology, but can also be interesting for those wishing to explore the origins and development of maritime language. In order to provide a more challenging environment and better opportunity for the learning of seafaring terms and expressions in English, students are supported by Mariterm , a lexical database, organized in semantic relations, available at the Institute for Computational Linguistics (ILC) of the National Research Council (CNR) in Pisa. A total of around 3500 headwords pertinent to the nautical subject, with particular regard to the two sub-fields of maritime navigation and transport, have been included in the database and grouped into approximately 2,500 synsets , which are sets of one or more synonyms, for example “marinaio”, “marittimo” (sailor) . Alongside the translation of each Italian word into English, and the definition of each word in both languages, the database is constantly enriched with idiomatic expressions belonging to the maritime field in the two languages, and with explanations of the origins of the most common phrases, for example “tempesta in un bicchier d’acqua” (storm in a teacup, lit. storm in a glass of water), “prendere un granchio” (make a mistake, lit. to take a crab), “ultima spiaggia” (last resort, lit. last beach) in Italian, and swing the lead , between the devil and the deep blue sea, learn the ropes in English. While it is easy to detect the meaning of many nautical expressions, for instance “andare col vento in poppa” ( fair winds , lit. go with the wind astern ) in Italian, too close to the wind in English, non-specialist users would find it extremely difficult to retrace the origins of other expressions, as for example “d’alto bordo” ( of high rank , of high social class ) in Italian, or at loggerheads in English. The tool can bring a number of advantages to the students, helping them improve the language, providing a motivating context on which to build their knowledge, and introducing real-life situations into the classroom. The vocabulary learnt by the trainee students using the software tool can be integrated and consolidated by a number of exercises ranging from cloze tests, defining words in a text, matching words with their definitions, true/false answers, completion of mind maps, as well as pair-work, group work and classroom work carried out under the guidance of the teacher. Trainees focus on key vocabulary, explore and experiment the language, deal with topics related to their future work, so as to feel that what they are learning is relevant to their future professional sphere.
Test case prioritization

Regression testing is an expensive software engineering activity intended to provide confidence that modifications to a software system have not introduced faults. Test case prioritization techniques help to reduce regression testing cost by ordering test cases in a way that better achieves testing objectives. In this thesis, we are interested in prioritizing to maximize a test suite's rate of fault detection, measured by a metric, APFD, trying to detect regression faults as early as possible during testing. In previous work, several prioritization techniques using low-level code coverage information had been developed. These techniques try to maximize APFD over a sequence of software releases, not targeting a particular release. These techniques' effectiveness was empirically evaluated. We present a larger set of prioritization techniques that use information at arbitrary granularity levels and incorporate modification information, targeting prioritization at a particular software release. Our empirical studies show significant improvements in the rate of fault detection over randomly ordered test suites. Previous work on prioritization assumed uniform test costs and fault severities, which might not be realistic in many practical cases. We present a new cost-cognizant metric, APFDC, and prioritization techniques, together with approaches for measuring and estimating these costs. Our empirical studies evaluate prioritization in a cost-cognizant environment. Prioritization techniques have been developed independently with little consideration of their similarities. We present a general prioritization framework that allows us to express existing prioritization techniques by a framework algorithm using parameters and specific functions. Previous research assumed that prioritization was always beneficial if it improves the APFD metric. We introduce a prioritization cost-benefit model that more accurately captures relevant cost and benefit factors, and allows practitioners to assess whether it is economical to employ prioritization. Prioritization effectiveness varies across programs, versions, and test suites. We empirically investigate several of these factors on substantial software systems and present a classification-tree-based predictor that can help select the most appropriate prioritization technique in advance. Together, these results improve our understanding of test case prioritization and of the processes by which it is performed.
Using energy constraints to generate fault candidates in model based diagnosis

The authors demonstrate the use of qualitative modelling techniques for the fault diagnosis of continuous dynamic systems. In addition, they examine the various classes of models of physical systems and their usages within a functional perspective of 'model-based' diagnosis. They outline a scheme for fault diagnosis which integrates the application of multiple models, qualitative and numeric, of the correctly operating and the faulty system. A simulation model of an industrial heat exchanger has been developed and used as a platform to validate the proposed diagnosis scheme. This is briefly described. The results of the model-based diagnosis scheme are presented. Finally, the paper concludes with remarks on the effectiveness of the use of qualitative models in model-based diagnosis and its future extensions. >
Group modeling in a public space: methods, techniques, experiences

This paper overviews methods and techniques useful for building group-adaptive systems and presents an experience of building a system to give news adapted to different group of users in a public space. Starting from the analysis of limits of group modelling strategies and of problems to pass from a user modelling to a group modelling approach in the adaptation of system interaction, we suggest an update of the probabilistic group model to improve the interaction of groups of users with devices devoted to show news. In particular, we analyze the way to build a group model useful to improve the adaptation of a system that provides news on a video wall in a public space which is attended from a group of users with common interests.
FRICTION FACTORS FOR HYDRAULIC DESIGN OF CORRUGATED METAL PIPE

RESULTS OF MODEL TESTS OF TWO TYPES OF CORRUGATED METAL PIPE INCLUDING FRICTION FACTOR-REYNOLDS NUMBER DIAGRAMS AND MEAN FLOW FORMULAS DEVELOPED FROM VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION DATA ARE REPORTED. CALCULATED MAXIMUM VALUES OF THE FRICTION FACTOR DUE TO THE CORRUGATIONS AND THE BOLT NUTS ON THE CRESTS OF THE STRUCTURAL PLATE CORRUGATIONS FOR VARIOUS SIZES OF EACH TYPE OF PIPE ARE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF SIMILAR PROTOTYPES AS REPORTED BY OTHER INVESTIGATORS. RECOMMENDED DESIGN VALUES OF THE FRICTION FACTOR FOR ANNUAL CORRUGATED PIPES WITH CORRUGATION DEPTH-SPACING RATIOS OF 1'3 AND 1'5.33 ARE RELATED TO DIAMETER, AND SIMPLE EMPIRICAL EQUATIONS DESCRIBING THE RELATIONS ARE DEVELOPED. /AUTHOR/
Proceedings of the 18th Australia conference on Computer-Human Interaction: Design: Activities, Artefacts and Environments

The theme of the OZCHI 2006 conference in Sydney, Australia is design: activities, artifacts and environments. The program has been designed to approach this theme from both the research and practitioner worlds. Our keynote speakers, Genevieve Bell, Donna Maurer and William Gaver were selected to provide both academic and industry perspectives on this theme.This year's OZCHI conference received 70 long paper and 72 short paper submissions. From these submissions, 36 long and 36 short papers were selected to appear at the conference. All submitted long and short papers were subjected to double-blind peer review by an international reviewing committee. Long papers were reviewed by at least three peers. Short papers were reviewed by at least two peers. Industry case studies, panels, and workshop and tutorial proposals were reviewed by their respective track chairs.The OZCHI proceedings are a publication of CHISIG, and will also appear as part of the ACM (the Association for Computing Machinery) International Conference Proceedings Series. This means that the OZCHI 2006 Proceedings will be available internationally from the ACM digital library shortly after the conference (http://portal.acm.org/dl.cfm). As in previous years, OZCHI 2006 presents an award for the best long paper, the Gitte Lindgaard award, recognising the best written paper, in combination with the quality of the presentation and discussion at the conference. We are also pleased to offer a dedicated Industry stream, following the theme of the conference and running in a parallel for the first two days.
An intelligent authentication infrastructure for ubiquitous computing environments

Ubiquitous computing is poised to have a profound effect on how humans interact with machines, physical spaces, services, everyday devices, and other humans. Ubiquitous computing envisions a world that features an abundance of embedded processors, wearable computers, smart consumer devices, sensors, and digital communication, which are all tightly coupled to form an "Active Space. " Active spaces enhance education, distance learning, remote collaboration, resource sharing, group activities, and scientific studies. The shift to the ubiquitous computing paradigm brings forth new challenges to security and privacy, which cannot be addressed by mere adaptation of existing security and privacy mechanisms. Instead, novel security mechanisms must be devised. In this work, I identify the challenges and requirements of security in ubiquitous computing environments. I present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive framework that enriches Active Spaces with novel security mechanisms and enable cornerstone security services, including identification, authentication, authorization and privacy. The presented framework is a novel solution that provides fundamentally new possibilities in providing secure and privacy-preserving ubiquitous computing environments, without impairing the value-added services and customizability that make ubiquitous computing environments unique and powerful.
Vibration Time Series Classification using Parallel Computing and XGBoost

This manuscript documents our approach to addressing the data challenge posted by ICPHM23 conference [1]. The task is a time series classification problem. We see two general toolsets can be used to complete the task and produce promising high accuracy for such a large data set. One is deep neural networks, and the other is gradient boosting. We choose gradient boosting. During feature preparation, we developed a customized C++ parallel computing software to extract all desired features. The manuscript includes our thought process and final cross validation results.
ACE DRIVING SIMULATOR AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO EVALUATE DRIVER INTERFACES. IN: HUMAN FACTORS IN DRIVING, SEATING AND VISION

A fixed base driving simulator, operating procedure and software system have been developed by a team of automotive suppliers. The system is designed to provide quick feedback to the product designers in early concept generation and validation phases of new automotive human-machine interface (HMI) architecture strategies and interfaces of in-vehicle devices. This paper presents a description of the simulator system, illustrations on its evaluation performance and results of two experiments conducted to evaluate different radio designs by involving different radio and non-radio tasks (such as increase/decrease radio volume, eject a CD and insert a new CD, answer a cell phone, dial a telephone number, etc.). The simulator consists of a reconfigurable cab with quick-change attachments to mount various controls and displays in package positions. A number of drivers are asked to drive the simulator and perform a number of tasks when prompted by pre-recorded voice commands. The entire data collection and data analysis procedure is developed such that new experiments can be configured, implemented and analyzed quickly and with the least amount of a human analyst's involvement. The system generates reports showing graphs of driver behavior, performance measures, and subjective impressions of drivers for different tasks associated in operating/using various in-vehicle controls and displays. Findings show that the simulator and the HMI evaluation process provide a very powerful method to evaluate tasks associated with new in-vehicle devices and to compare the measures obtained from tests with similar data obtained from the evaluation of other in-vehicle devices.
The Use of Polymeric Reactants for EOR and Waterproofing

Solving the problem of unsustainable production of oil, the main natural resource over the world is sufficiently important and urgent task. Excessive watering of crude oil is one of the main problems that has been faced the oil industry. The most wide world methods used for increasing oil recovery were physical and chemical methods. The use of polymeric reactants can successfully reduce water cut and increase the oil recovery factor. Developing reactants based on nano-particles is an important direction of improving polymeric materials to increase oil recovery.
An Overview of Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) for Military Helicopters

Abstract : The application of HUMS for military helicopters is lagging that for civil helicopters, but military operators are seriously examining the effectiveness of such systems for their fleets. The material presented in this document is based mainly on the author's recent discussions with researchers, manufacturers and military operators. It outlines some of the important issues which operators face and some initiatives in the area.