Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tonality and functional equivalence: A multi-level model for the cognition of triadic progressions in 19th century music

The subject of this paper is the cognition of triadic progressions in 19th century tonal music. Music psychological research concerning the cognition of harmonic progressions mainly relies on diatonic music in which triads are easily relatable to a key. Triadic distance is therefore measured in terms of root relationships to the tonal center, the tonic (Krumhansl & Kessler, 1982). This conception is not directly applicable to chromatic music where musical coherence is not only obtained by common a key. Transformational music theory puts strong emphasis on voice-leading parsimony as a measure of distance. The most efficient transformations between major and minor triads are P (parallel), R (relative) and L (leading-tone exchange), which is also in accordance with empirical findings of diatonic triadic relatedness (Krumhansl, 1998). Notably, P and R generate an octatonic scale containing eight major and minor triads which are claimed to be functionally equivalent. Transformational analyses result in sequential patterns of triadic progressions and an overarching key is not required. Based on an extended notion of function and acknowledging that there are compelling arguments for both hierarchical and sequential representations of the cognition of harmonic progressions a multi-level model is proposed that combines both approaches, adopting features of the generative model by Rohrmeier (2011). The two main components of the model are the concept of functional equivalence and the distinction between the hierarchic-syntactic cognition of functional progressions and the schematic cognition of functional values.
de Treball de l ’ IEB 2012 / 37 THE INFLUENCE OF BMI , OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT ON MEDICAL COSTS : A PANEL DATA APPROACH *

This paper estimates the impact of BMI, obesity and overweight on direct medical costs. We apply panel data econometrics and use a two-part model with a longitudinal dataset of medical and administrative records of patients in primary and secondary healthcare centres in Spain followed up over seven consecutive years (20042010). Our findings show a positive and statistically significant impact of BMI, obesity and overweight on annual medical costs after accounting for data restrictions, different subsamples of individuals and various econometric approaches. JEL Codes: I10, I14
High‐resolution projections of 21st century daily precipitation for the contiguous U.S.

Changes in precipitation have the potential to produce wide ranging impacts across human and natural systems. Here precipitation projections from select Atmosphere‐Ocean General Circulation Models and Earth Systems Models participating in Phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project are downscaled to a high‐resolution (0.25° × 0.25°) grid covering the contiguous U.S. to improve spatial and temporal characteristics of the model‐derived projections and derive multiple descriptors of 21st century precipitation climate. Projections for the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains are characterized by increases in total annual precipitation, with the magnitude depending strongly on the level of radiative forcing. Parts of the southern U.S. are projected to experience moderate precipitation decreases under all forcing scenarios. Increases in total annual precipitation are associated primarily with changes in precipitation intensity during the cold season. Significant precipitation decreases are projected for parts of the southern U.S. in all seasons except autumn and are associated primarily with changes in precipitation occurrence. Many locations in the eastern U.S. are projected to experience longer extreme dry spells and longer extreme wet spells, reflecting an increase in the serial correlation of precipitation. Conversely, many western locations are projected to experience shorter dry spells and wet spells, reflecting a decrease in the serial correlation of precipitation. Most locations are projected to experience an increase in extreme precipitation, reflected in increases in the mean annual single‐day maximum precipitation and the number of heavy (>10 mm) and very heavy (>20 mm) precipitation days.
Adaptive Robust Actuator Fault Accommodation for a Class of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Control Gains

An adaptive robust fault tolerant control approach is proposed for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown signs of high-frequency gain and unmeasured states. In the recursive design, neural networks are employed to approximate the unknown nonlinear functions, K-filters are designed to estimate the unmeasured states, and a dynamical signal and Nussbaum gain functions are introduced to handle the unknown sign of the virtual control direction. By incorporating the switching function algorithm, the adaptive backstepping scheme developed in this paper does not require the real value of the actuator failure. It is mathematically proved that the proposed adaptive robust fault tolerant control approach can guarantee that all the signals of the closed-loop system are bounded, and the output converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated by the simulation examples.
The potential role of employers in promoting sustainable mobility in rural areas: Evidence from Eastern Austria*

ABSTRACT In industrialized countries, mobility represents one of the most important sources of emissions. Most research on promoting sustainable, climate-friendly modes of transportation has focused on urban areas. Rural areas—although characterized by high dependency on individual car ownership and usage—have received less attention. This article explores the potential role of rural employers in supporting sustainable alternatives to commuting by (single-occupied) motorized vehicles among their employees. We conduct a collective case study that considers five employers located in Eastern Austria (Burgenland), drawing from multiple data sources including structured surveys, expert interviews, focus groups, and site visits. Our analysis shows that employers have little incentive to implement measures that foster sustainable mobility among their employees. On the one hand, the costs accruing to employers for implementing such measures tend to exceed the corresponding benefits by a significant margin (unlike in urban areas where significant cost reductions can arise for employers). On the other hand, also employees generally exhibit little demand for such measures. We conclude that both from a societal and a business perspective, it is not efficient to promote sustainable mobility in rural areas via employers.
Response of the Baiu Rainband to Northwest Pacific SST Anomalies and Its Impact on Atmospheric Circulation

AbstractThe Pacific–Japan (PJ) teleconnection pattern leads to a meridional precipitation dipole between the subtropics and East Asia in the summer of El Nino decaying years. However, observational analysis and model experiments indicate that increased sea surface temperature (SST) in the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE) region, where a strong northward-decreasing SST gradient occurs, induces a northward shift of baiu rainfall with the subtropical jet, forming a tripolar precipitation anomaly pattern over the northwest Pacific. In July, the leading empirical orthogonal function (EOF) mode for precipitation represents the meridional dipole between subtropical and baiu rainfalls, while EOF-2 features the northward-shifted baiu rainband. The PJ atmospheric forcing increases KOE SST, which enhances northward shifts in the subtropical jet and baiu rainband, resulting in oceanic forcing over the KOE. In experiments using a regional climate model the subtropical jet response to KOE SST forcing explains about 20%.
ORNAMENT SIZE AND SYMMETRY: IS THE TAIL A RELIABLE SIGNAL OF MALE QUALITY IN THE RED-COLLARED WIDOWBIRD?

Abstract Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) may provide a direct test of whether sexual selection via “arbitrary traits” or “good genes” is responsible for the evolution of epigamic traits, because FA is an epigenetic measure of stress during development. However, tests of the FA hypothesis have yielded equivocal results, and the debate between arbitrary traits and good genes continues. The FA hypothesis predicts a negative relationship between ornament size and asymmetry. In non-ornamental traits, a U-shaped relationship between trait size and asymmetry is expected. We tested these predictions in the Red-collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens) by examining the relationship between size and asymmetry in the length of the tail, tarsus, and wing. We found no significant linear or second-order polynomial relationships between trait size and asymmetry. Furthermore, no relationship existed between asymmetry and two indices of body condition. This suggests that the tail is not a reliable signal of male quality in the Red-collared Widowbird. However, we argue that the assumptions of the FA hypothesis are too simplistic for this conclusion to be drawn with a high degree of confidence.
Predictors of Attrition and Success in a Weight Management Program for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Aim: To examine the factors that lead to attrition and success in a weight management program for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The current study specifically examines the effect of quality of life, expected weight loss, self-esteem, and early weight loss on attrition and success rates. Methods: Archival data from a study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Weight and Eating Disorders were used. Seventy-nine overweight and obese subjects with type 2 diabetes participated in a lifestyle modification program over 40 weeks. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between early weight loss, expected weight loss, self-esteem, and quality of life on attrition and success rates in this population. Results: Subjects who lost the greatest amount of weight at week five, were significantly more likely to achieve a 5% weight reduction at week 40 and were also significantly less likely to drop out of the program before 40 weeks. No significant relationship was found between self-esteem, expected weight loss, and quality of life in this population. Conclusion: Overweight and obese subjects with type 2 diabetes who show early success in a weight management programs are more likely to stay in the program longer and achieve a significant reduction in weight. Professionals working with this population should encourage early weight loss success (as opposed to concentrating only on long term reductions) as well as provide additional support to patients who are struggling early in the program in order to reduce attrition rates and to increase the likelihood of success.
Relationship between mental skills and anxiety interpretation in female volleyball players

The relationship between mental skills and anxiety direction in sport is a vital topic of sport psychology research, which has been explored in depth over the last two decades. The present study was aimed to examine the relationship between mental skills and anxiety interpretation in female volleyball players. One hundred and twenty female volleyball players were surveyed using modified CSAI-2 and OMSAT-3 inventories. The results revealed that several subscales of mental skills had a significant impact on the success of volleyball players in regard to interpretation of anxiety and selfconfidence as facilitative to their performance. Also, participants perceived anxiety intensity and self-confidence differently from anxiety direction and self-confidence. The study findings show that mental skills are important to reinforcement of self confidence of volleyball players. The conclusion is that coaches and sports psychologists should seriously consider athletes’ mental skills in preparation of volleyball players before competition.
MARC: A code for the retrieval of atmospheric parameters from millimeter-wave limb measurements

A new data analysis software is presented that has been developed for the retrieval of atmospheric minor constituents from limb-sounding observations made in the millimeter and sub-millimeter spectral regions. The code, which is called MARC (Millimetre-wave Atmospheric-Retrieval Code), has been designed to analyze the observations of the MARSCHALS (Millimetre-wave Airborne Receivers for Spectroscopic CHaracterisation in Atmospheric Limb-Sounding) instrument which operates on the M-55 stratospheric aircraft. The main objective of the analysis of MARSCHALS observations will be to assess long-wave measurement capabilities for the study of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere regions. The key questions will be the accuracy and spatial resolution that can be achieved by long-wave measurements in presence of clouds and horizontal gradients. MARC performs a global-fit multi-target retrieval, in which optimal estimation is used and errors of the forward model parameters are taken into account for the definition of the cost function minimized in the retrieval. With these features it is easy to use the variables of the problem as either forward model constant parameters or retrieved unknowns with minimum impact on the stability of the retrieval. MARC can perform a wide spectral-band analysis of the observations without a selection of the analyzed channels, and the retrieval process provides an error budget of the retrieved unknowns that includes both the forward model errors and the measurement errors. The error budget obtained in this way is smaller than that obtained when accounting a posteriori for the systematic errors. The new combination of the retrieval features makes possible an efficient and optimal exploitation of the information content of the observations. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Simultaneous Electrochemical Determination of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen at The Glassy Carbon Electrode

The aim of this investigation is to develop an analytical method for the simultaneous estimation of Paracetamol and ibuprofen in commercial tablets using differential pulse stripping voltammetric (DPSV) and square wave stripping voltammetric (SWSV) techniques. The effect of supporting electrolyte, pH and scan rate on voltammetric response of paracetamol with ibuprofen was studied and the optimum experimental conditions were derived. Linear response of peak currents on the concentration in the range between 300 and 700 ppb, good repeatability (RSD of 2.4% for SWSV and 2.7% for DPSV of seven successive measurements) and the detection limit of 200 ppb for DPSV and 100 ppb for SWSV were observed. The method was validated for accuracy, precision and specificity. The practical analytical utility of proposed method was successfully demonstrated by determination of both drugs in pharmaceutical formulations (tablets) with results in a close statistical agreement to those declared by manufactures.
APHASIA AND COMMUNICATION - A Literature review

Aphasia is a common situation where speech is lost and can affect any one either through a stroke or brain injury. The situation where someone losses the speech is sometimes described as “missing speech”. All groups of persons ranging from children, young adults to elderly people can suffer from lose of speech and language. It is common especially amongst the elderly due to some age related factors. It is worth noting that a person with aphasia has lots of difficulties communicating. The purpose of this study is to examine the available tools and strategies that can be used to ease communication between a caregiver and an aphasic person. In order to meet with the aim and objectives of this study the author used Howard Giles (1973) Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) that simply examines what happens when two speakers change their communication styles in order to accommodate each other. The CAT theory supports the use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication systems when communicating with aphasic persons. The study was guided by the following questions; 1What kind of tools and strategies are available to communicate with aphasic persons? 2How can these tools and strategies ease communication between persons with aphasia and their care givers? A qualitative method was used in this study. Deductive content analysis was applied while analyzing the selected articles and the findings were later on being categorized under two headings. Results of this study shows that there are available tools and strategies in forms of AAC systems and these tools can greatly ease communication between a caregiver and an aphasic person.
Community Participation for Urban Solid Waste Management: A Study on Tinsukia Municipality of Assam

Generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and its p oor management is one of the major environmental issues of Indian cities. Poor m anagement and improper regular dumping of solid waste degrades the urban environme nt quality and that creates environmental pollution which has an adverse impact on the quality of life of the inhabitants in the society. This study explores the possibility of community participation approach as an alternative approach to municipal ow n aste management to tackle the MSW problem in Tinsukia Municipality of the State A ssam. This approach will be sustainable if there is proper demand for solid was te management (SWM). This paper also attempts to assess the demand for better SWM. People’s demand is reflected by their willingness to pay through Contingent Valuation Met hod. This paper shows that municipal service of SWM is not sufficient. Due to this insufficient service people are ready to pay for getting better service. The people have a significant demand for better waste management. The willingness to pay is signifi ca tly affected by income and volume
Summarized Results of the Experimental Determination of Heat Losses Through Fixed Supports of Steam Pipelines

The results of the experimental determination of the heat losses in fixed supports of low, medium and high pressure steam pipelines in firm Lukoil Neftochim Burgas have been summarized. In the conditions of a three-factor experiment, the exponents of the regression equation have been determined. For determination of convective heat exchange coefficient (α), the Newton-Rihmann equation has been used as a boundary condition of a third kind of heat transfer equation. Experimentally obtained α dependency has been shown as a function of the dimensionless temperature and the velocity and angle of the airflow of support. The results obtained shall be considered as part of the effort to structure user-friendly software for heat losses determination of steam pipelines and their components by means of thermal imaging equipment.
CONTAGION : WHAT IS TO BE LEARNT FROM A SIMULATION MODEL ?

The paper introduces a simulation, which was developed by Michael Krassa to model the opinion contagion. Krassa developed his model by using the theory of the spiral of silence that says that the perception of the public opinion influences the opinion assertion of the people and the threshold models that show how much support one person needs for the public assertion of his opinion. With the help of these relationships Krassa integrated the social networks in his model. We applied Krassa’s mathematical model to two cases, the parliamentary elections of 2002 and the EU-parliamentary elections of 2004 in Hungary. We used hypothetical thresholds to examine the data because the actual threshold values are not known. The results of the simulation show that it can happen that we measure the minority opinion to be higher than the real distribution of the opinions as a consequence of the different distribution of the threshold values of the opinion assertion. This can be one explanation of the wrong electoral forecast. The problem is that the model helps little to give a better forecast because we have no data about the threshold values and we do not know the point where the dynamics of the opinion contagion stands at the time of the survey.
Some Essential Issues and Outlook for Industrialization of Cu-III-VI2 Thin-Film Solar Cells

The concept and method of in-line sputtering and selenization become the industrial standard for Cu-III-VI2 solar cell fabrication, but it is a difficult work to control and predict the electrical and optical performances, which are closely related to the chemical composition of the film. This chapter addresses the material design, device design, and process design using chemical compositions relating parameters. Compositional variation leads to change in the poisson equation, current equation and continuity equation governing the device design. To make the device design much realistic and meaningful, we have to build a model that relates the opto-electrical performance to the chemical composition of the film. The material and device structural parameters are input into the process simulation to give a complete process control parameters and method. We calculated neutral defect concentrations of non-stoichiometric CuMSe2 (M-In, Ga) under the specific atomic chemical potential conditions. The electrical and optical performance has also been investigated for the development of full function analytical solar cell simulator. Module instability and their origins are listed. After that progress of CZTS (Cu2ZnS4) is briefed on the future work of CIGS (CuInGaSe2). The future prospects regarding the development of CIGS thinfilm solar cells (TFSCs) have also been discussed.
Approximate Nearest Neighbor Graph via Index Construction

Given a collection of objects in a metric space, the Nearest Neighbor Graph (NNG) associate each node with its closest neighbor under the given metric. It can be obtained trivially by computing the nearest neighbor of every object. To avoid computing every distance pair an index could be constructed. Unfortunately, due to the curse of dimensionality the indexed and the brute force methods are almost equally inefficient. This bring the attention to algorithms computing approximate versions of NNG. The DiSAT is a proximity searching tree. It is hierarchical. The root computes the distances to all objects, and each child node of the root computes the distance to all its subtree recursively. Top levels will have accurate computation of the nearest neighbor, and as we descend the tree this information would be less accurate. If we perform a few rebuilds of the index, taking deep nodes in each iteration, keeping score of the closest known neighbor, it is possible to compute an Approximate NNG (ANNG). Accordingly, in this work we propose to obtain de ANNG by this approach, without performing any search, and we tested this proposal in both synthetic and real world databases with good results both in costs and response quality.
E-Mart: Product Placement and Promotion System to Enhance Sales Promotion Effectiveness

Retailers in supermarkets lacks sufficient information at their fingertips when they are in need of determining the placement of products, designing promotion strategies and hence improving the profit of the supermarket and customer satisfaction. This study presents a web based system and an android application required by retailers to make their decision making process more feasible. A set of data items were obtained from a local supermarket and are mined from association rule mining method using Apriori algorithm in order to generate association rules. The system will predict the optimal price of a product using linear regression algorithm, when to host the next product promotion and which product should be promoted. The goal of this research was to design and implement a web based application to view required information on sales predictions and promotion dates in order to make the decision making process effortless for the retailers in supermarkets. A prototype application is designed and implemented using open source tools and technologies.