Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amplitude envelope cues as an aid to the speechreading of impaired individuals

The time varying amplitude envelopes of filtered bands of speech have been shown to be effective supplements to speechreading for normal hearing individuals when the envelopes are used to modulate carrier tones. A field study of the effectiveness of these cues for hearing impaired individuals under realistic conditions was conducted. Two impaired subjects were trained for twelve weeks on using the amplitude envelope signals as an aid to speechreading. The subjects were then given wearable aids that were capable of deriving and presenting the amplitude envelope cues. The effectiveness of the aids was evaluated for two combinations of prefilter bandwidth and carrier frequency. The subjects wore the aid for four weeks for each processing scheme. Every two weeks tests were conducted to measure benefits to speechreading of the device as compared to speechreading without the device. Listeners were also completed a survey designed to provide information about their attitudes concerning the usefulness of the aid in a variety of situations. One subject received substantial benefit from the single amplitude envelope producing aid. Her CLARKE sentence intelligibility test scores improved from an average score of 22% SA to post-training maximums of 38% with her old aid, 51% (2 Amplitude Envelopes), and 55% (1 Amplitude Envelope). The subject has replaced her old hearing aid with the single amplitude envelope producing aid. The amplitude envelope signals were not as beneficial to the speechreading of the second subject. Her post-training CLARKE sentence intelligibility scores were 43% SA (averaged over four tests), and maximums of 55% (1 Amplitude Envelope), 47% (2 Amplitude Envelopes) and 97% with her own aid. The results of the study suggest that hearing aids based on the amplitude envelope processing scheme can provide substantial benefit to the portion of the hearing impaired community that has residual hearing at low frequencies, and obtains scores lower than 60% correct with traditional hearing aids on CLARKE sentence intelligibility tests. Thesis Supervisor: Louis D. Braida Title: Henry E. Warren Professor of Electrical Engineering
Investigating Wintertime GPM‐IMERG Precipitation in the North Atlantic

Precipitation is expected to increase in a warming climate, which can have profound impacts on local and global hydrologic budgets. However, the precipitation in high latitudes remains highly uncertain. We compare wintertime precipitation in the North Atlantic using GPM‐IMERG, GPCP, MERRA‐2 and ERA5 between 2000–2019 and show that while interannual variations between products are similar, large differences in magnitudes exist, specifically in areas of higher precipitation where Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) produces an excess of 2 mm day−1. EOF analysis demonstrates observations and reanalyses show similar spatial variability in the most dominant precipitation patterns and are highly correlated (r = −0.6) with the North Atlantic Oscillation. Analysis of IMERG extreme precipitation further shows that it is most densely populated in this same area where large discrepancies in magnitudes between products exist. IMERG extreme precipitation was found to drive the monthly anomalies. Future work needs to be focused on extreme precipitation characteristics, patterns and the driving atmospheric factors.
Testing of a first-generation dynamically programmable gate array

The research community of reconfigurable computing is extending the role of programmable logic devices from that of simply being a convenient way of implementing the system "glue logic" to an increasing ability to implement mainstream system functions. The prototype for a first-generation Dynamically Programmable Gate Array (DPGA) is the first programmable logic device to feature multiple contexts and a high bandwidth for rapid reconfiguration, characteristics that appear to be essential in reconfigurable computing. This prototype, a 250K-transistor custom IC, is designed to demonstrate these unique features to further the research of reconfigurable computing. The DPGA prototype also explores the issues and benefits of resource utilization the means of adding memory with slight incremental silicon real estate. This thesis summarizes the design and implementation of a custom printed circuit board for testing the first generation Dynamically Programmable Gate Array. A custom printed circuit board was built as the testing platform for the DPGA which interfaces to a Sun Workstation using the SBUS protocol. The SBUS-DPGA test board supports single-word transfers from the host workstation to the DPGA via two sets of FIFO's. An on-board variable-clock generator allows the test board and DPGA to operate at a variety of clock frequencies, asynchronous to the SBUS's fixed 25 MHz. Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Thomas F. Knight, Jr. Title: Senior Research Scientist, MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Why am I evaluating this thingummygig

Why do I need to evaluate the new technologies? In my undergraduate days I doubt if anyone evaluated their teaching and my learning was inspite of their teaching! The long slow haul to change the teaching and learning culture has put excessive pressure on some forms of learning experiences and new technologies is one of them. This makes sense when you consider the amount of money we have been investing in developing computer based learning materials. Ever since we, in First Year Biology, started to develop teaching and learning materials using information technologies we have endeavoured to understand how these materials are being used and what, if anything, do the students gain from using such materials. Early on we did a lot of usability studies and checks on accuracy of content (formative evaluations) and so improved the materials. We also developed expertise in instructional design. With this in place we concentrated more on the impact of the materials on student perceptions (Did they like using them? Did they help them in their understanding? ) Whilst this is also a type of formative evaluation it gave us some ideas on how students were using the materials. The big issue, however, is 'Do the materials have an effect on student learning outcomes? ' such that one would argue they are better than other forms of learning material? This is difficult to answer without fairly exhaustive studies on the use of the computer based learning materials by students. By the time the formative evaluation stage is over, there is often little time available to ask these questions; we are too busy; there are too many students to cope with; etc. In a recent CUTSD-funded study, Shirley Alexander reviewed 104 teaching development projects and reported that in approximately 90% of cases the project leaders indicated that they had the intention of improving student learning outcomes, but only a third could report this as an actual outcome as only this third actually evaluated student learning outcomes (Alexander, 1999; Alexander and McKenzie, 1998). Alexander goes on to argue that most of the project evaluations fell within the first level of the four levels of outcome on which evaluation evidence should focus, as described by Kirkpatrick (1994), that is, 'reaction to the innovation' and a minority of evaluations fell within the second level 'achievement of learning objectives'. Only one project fitted the third level 'transfer of new skills to the job or task' and no project evaluated the 'impact on the organisation', (Alexander, 1999). It would seem that we all need to lift our performance in this area and ensure that at least levels one and two are fulfilled.
Designing for Learning in Use of Everyday Artefacts

A new Bang & Olufsen system is installed in the living room of Paul and Sarah. The B&O sales people do the technical set-up, demonstrate the functionality of the new system for Paul and Sarah, and leave them to explore their new wonder. Not an unusual situation, but nevertheless a situation which fosters a set of concerns at B&O and indeed also for the field of Human Computer Interaction. B&O is concerned with making sure that their customers find B&O systems intuitive to use and over time learn to use the facilities offered by the system. Looking to the field of Human-Computer Interaction, this situation raises more questions than can be answered. These questions drive the work reported in this thesis. The thesis deals with three general challenges for the area of Human-Computer Interaction. First, it investigates the consequences of the proliferation of computers from the workplace into our everyday lives. Secondly it examines the theoretical and practical implications of considering learning-in-use, as opposed to more static views on technology use. Finally, it examines how we can come to design for learning in use of everyday artefacts, i.e. it aims at approaching the first challenges from a design perspective. The work presented in the following comes out of a tradition of action-oriented research. Thus the above problems emerged through collaboration with the interaction design group at Bang & Olufsen. The empirical part of the thesis consists of a long-term study of Bang & Olufsen television use in the home of two families. Furthermore, design workshops have been held with families in their homes, and experiments with design practice have been organised together with Bang & Olufsen. Theoretically, activity theory is explored as a basis for understanding learning-in-use. On this basis, a framework of learning artefacts is developed, and this framework is used to analyse the long-term study of B&O use. The main contributions of this thesis is the framework of learning artefacts and a set of design principles for everyday artefacts, developed on the basis of this framework. In addition, it presents a further development of the perspective of design and use as strongly related and provides an example of how the framework of learning artefacts allow us to evaluate design, not only against use but also against the design practice, which produced it. Finally, the thesis offers a methodological cycle for designing for learning in use and the methods and techniques developed as part of this thesis are framed herein.
Visual design in the online learning environment

1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 2 1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT . 2 1.2 PURPOSE OF STUDY. 3 1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY . 3 1.4 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY . 4 CHAPTER 2: DISTANCE EDUCATION. 5 2.1 DEFINITION OF TERMS. 5 2.2 GROWTH OF E-LEARNING . 6 2.3 ADVANTAGES OF E-LEARNING . 10 2.4 DISADVANTAGES OF E-LEARNING . 12 2.5 POTENTIAL. 13 CHAPTER 3: DESIGNING FOR E-LEARNING . 15 3.1 TYPOGRAPHY . 15 3.1.1 WEB V. PRINT . 15 3.1.2 FONT SELECTIONS. 16 3.1.3 TYPE READABILITY/LEGIBILITY . 18 3.1.4 TYPE HIERARCHY. 19 3.2 COLOR . 21 3.2.1 WEB COLOR LIMITATIONS. 21 3.2.2 COLOR SCHEMES . 23
Does social capital enhance self-rated health of married women? Findings from a population-based study

Background: Social capital is one of the main concepts that has received attention in the health literature. This study aimed to investigate the association between social capital and self-rated health in married women in four western provinces of Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling method in four main western provinces of Iran. In total, 1531 married women participated in our study. The questionnaire included demographic variables, women's self-rated health, and social capital.Results: The mean (SD) self-rated health was 3.83 (0.77). Pearson correlation test showed that among the social capital subscales, trust had the most (r = 0.116, p<0.001) and networks the least significant correlations (r = 0.095, p<0.001) with self-rated health among the participants. Social capital shows a weak association with self-rated health (Coefficient=0.0030, p=0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that there was a positive correlation between social capital dimensions with the self-rated health among women, however it was relatively weak association. This may be due to the complex nature of health and its related factors such as social capital.
Sustainable Building Design

Sustainable building design has become a wide and multidisciplinary research endeavor including mechanical, electrical, electronic, communication, acoustic, architectural, and structural engineering. It involves the participation of owners, contractors, suppliers and building users. There has been a lot of talk about sustainable buildings in the past few years. Most of the published research is concerned with saving energy and water and making the buildings more environmentally friendly by, say, reducing the carbon emissions. In this article, sustainable building design is reviewed from the viewpoint of structural engineering. Different strategies presented in the literature are summarized. Finally, the authors argue that the next big leap in sustainable building design should come from the integration of the smart structure technology including the use of hybrid and semi-active vibration controllers that can result in substantially lighter and more efficient structures.
On the quantification of joint and muscle efforts in the human body during motion

The accurate quantification of internal forces in the human body in motion is still a challenge and a necessity to better understand motion-linked pathologies. In this context, the objective of this research is to develop a method to quantify the joint efforts and the corresponding muscle forces in the human body in motion. The main originality of the proposed method for the muscle force quantification is the cautious use of electromyographic (EMG) data information, known to be noise-corrupted. The experimental protocol and calculation are divided into two steps: 1. Muscle force static calibration : this process provides a relation between the EMG measurements and the corresponding muscle forces, on the basis of the Hill model, enabling to produce a good initial condition of each muscle force time history for the subsequent optimization process. 2. Muscle force dynamical quantification : this optimization process improves the scale and offset of the above force time history during motion in order to compute the muscle forces and particularly their distribution between the flexor and extensor sets. The objective of this optimization process is to make correspond the resulting joint net torque, Qemg, to the corresponding joint net torque, Qinv, given by inverse dynamics. This method is presently applied to a benchmark-case : the quantification of the flexor and extensor muscle sets of subjects engaged in weightlifting and performing forearm flexion/extension. The results clearly and fortunately show a gradation of the forces according to the weights carried. More fundamentally, an experimental analysis of this muscle effort quantification method was performed with six male and six female subjects carrying five different weights (from 0 to 4 kg) with several flexion/extension frequencies (1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 Hz). This validation shows a good inter-test reproducibility (also showing a fatigue effect) and a very good correlation (correlation factor r = 0.99) between Qinv and Qemg at the end of the identification process. Finally, let us point out that our method is based on muscle activity measurements, which is a promising alternative to the methods based on strategies usually used in the literature, e.g. which maximize the endurance. Finally, we have initiated an extension of this method to the whole human body, enabling to compare the intervertebral torques between a healthy and a scoliotic subject during gait on a treadmill, and also to analyze the forces of muscles that overactuate the knee joint during pedaling on an exercise bike. As a perspective, we suggest a model refinement and an extension of this method, in order to improve the quality of the model and to increase the comprehension of the mechanisms of muscular activation. In parallel, the present applications and database will be extended to complete the present rehabilitation evaluations with internal effort assessments during daily motions, e.g. the assessment of joint efforts of scoliotic patients during gait or the assessment of muscle force of spastic patients during forearm flexion/extension.
A predictive control technique for PWM-rectifier in vector controlled induction motor drives

In the paper, an optimized control technique of an active front-end is described with reference to induction motor drives with a voltage source inverter combined with an active voltage source rectifier. Both the motor-side and line-side PWM power converters employ IGBTs as switching devices. Based on a simplified analytical solution of the system mathematical model in a discrete digital control, a coupled control plus modulation technique is pointed out. It is able to estimate the values of the interesting electrical quantities easily in some switching instants within the control sampling period. This allows one to evaluate the width of the different modulation intervals directly. A very simple method to recognize the modulation sector quickly in the complex plane is also proposed. A numerical analysis is performed in order to test the reaction capability of the active front-end to different heavy variations of the operating conditions of the drive.
Molecular identification of Anaplasma / Ehrlichia spp based on 16S rRNA gene in Hyalomma ticks in border line of Iran-Pakistan

Background Anaplasmosis / Ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases affecting human and livestock in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to infection both animals and humans and monitoring of ticks and the pathogens they carry, an extensive survey was conducted in border line of Iran-Pakistan of Sistan and Baluchistan, southeast corner of Iran in 2016-2017, where animal husbandry is the main activity of people and every week thousands of cattle cross the borders into the countries. The aim of the survey was to determine the prevalence and geographical distribution of Anaplasmosis / Ehrlichiosis agents in Hyalomma spp hard ticks. Ticks were collected, identified and processed for Anaplasma / Ehrlichia spp DNA detection. Results Six Hyalomma species were found in the region, where Hy. anatolicum was the most prevalent species collected on goats, cattle, and camel. Anaplasma / Ehrlichia genomes were found in 68.3% of the specimens. Anaplasma ovis, A.marginale, and E.ewingii DNAs prevalence were 81.82, 9.09, and 9.09% in the infected ticks respectively. DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the 16SrRNA gene confirmed the detection of these three anaplasmosis agents while they had 99-100% identity with the strains previously reported in genbank from different parts of the world. Conclusion Because A.ovis and A.marginale are important livestock pathogens, and E.ewingii is an important human pathogen, both farmers and people in border line of the countries which engaged in livestock need to be made aware of the risks of tick infestation and the tick-borne disease they transmit.
Computer-Aided Palaeography, Present and Future

The field of digital palaeography has received increasing attention in recent years, partly because palaeographers often seem subjective in their views and do not or cannot articulate their reasoning, thereby creating a field of authorities whose opinions are closed to debate. One response to this is to make palaeographical arguments more quantitative, although this approach is by no means accepted by the wider humanities community, with some arguing that handwriting is inherently unquantifiable. This paper therefore asks how palaeographical method might be made more objective and therefore more widely accepted by non-palaeographers while still answering critics within the field. Previous suggestions for objective methods before computing are considered first, and some of their shortcomings are discussed. Similar discussion in forensic document analysis is then introduced and is found relevant to palaeography, though with some reservations. New techniques of "digital" palaeography are then introduced; these have proven successful in forensic analysis and are becoming increasingly accepted there, but they have not yet found acceptance in the humanities communities. The reasons why are discussed, and some suggestions are made for how the software might be designed differently to achieve greater acceptance. Finally, a prototype framework is introduced which is designed to provide a common basis for experiments in "digital" palaeography, ideally enabling scholars to exchange quantitative data about scribal hands, exchange processes for generating this data, articulate both the results themselves and the processes used to produce them, and therefore to ground their arguments more firmly and perhaps find greater acceptance.
Mulberry Leaf Disease Detection using Deep Learning

Disease diagnosis and classification in a mulberry plant using deep learning is an interesting technique which can be useful for farmers and researchers to identify and classify diseases. It helps to manage plant pathogens within fields effectively and automatically at a minimal cost. Major mulberry diseases usually express their symptoms on leaf area at the early stage of infection. Infections can be analysed and classified by processing the image using a computer or machine using different algorithms to interpret the information. This paper gives us a brief knowledge of mulberry leaf diseases which is used for automatic detection of disease. It presents in detail that the algorithm and techniques which are involved in classification based on different criteria for image segmentation. Our goal is to develop a more suitable deep algorithm for our task. These convolutional layers are mostly used for image processing. The system identifies and classify mulberry leaf diseases effectively with complex scenarios from the affected areas using CNN.
Modular Antenna Array Concept for Millimeter-wave Beam-steering Applications

Steerable antenna arrays are of particular importance for consumer electronics applications in the millimeter-wave band. However, the exact array size depends on the speciflc application scenario. Therefore, a modular array concept is proposed in this paper that meets the cost requirements of the consumer electronics market. Moreover, since circular polarization is desired due to the line-of-sight nature of the communication channel at those frequencies, special attention is placed on the construction of circularly-polarized antenna arrays. Finally, a de∞ector design is proposed that allows to extend the scan-range of the proposed modular antenna array.
Gas-grain simulation facility: Aerosol and particle research in microgravity

This document reports on the proceedings of the Gas-Grain Simulation Facility (GGSF) Science Workshop which was co-hosted by NASA Ames Research Center and Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada System, and held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 4-6, 1992. The intent of the workshop was to bring together the science community of potential GGSF experimenters, Science Working Group and staff members, and the Phase A contractor to review the Phase A design with the science participants and to facilitate communication between the science community and the hardware developers. The purpose of this report is to document the information disseminated at the workshop, to record the participants' review of the Phase A GGSF design concept and the current science and technical requirements for the Facility, and to respond to any questions or concerns that were raised at the Workshop. Recommendations for the future based on numerous discussions with the participants are documented, as well as science presentations and poster sessions that were given at the Workshop and a summary of 21 candidate experiments.