Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In search of the frog’s tail : investigating the timecourse of conceptual knowledge activation

Slot-filling theories of conceptual combination assume that both constituent concepts are activated before they are combined. However, these theories have difficulty in explaining why combined phrase features are sometimes more available than the features of the constituent nouns. In this study, we investigate the time course of conceptual knowledge activation. Using three verification tasks of varying complexity we demonstrate that basic taxonomic knowledge is retrieved more quickly than modal specific conceptual features. Applying this finding to conceptual combination, we demonstrate that participants take longer to reject combinations requiring the activation of instance specific features (e.g. frog tail) than those that can be rejected based on more generalized taxonomic knowledge (e.g. daffodil tail). These findings provide convergent evidence that conceptual knowledge is activated dynamically and selectively rather than all at once. We discuss the implications for existing theories.
Outsourcing and Firm Performance: Evidence from the Italian Manufacturing Industry

This study presents an empirical analysis of the production outsourcing effect on firm productivity and profitability in the Italian manufacturing industry. This study uses firm-level panel data that were developed by the Italian National Statistical Institute. Using different estimation strategies, we develop panel data models and correct for possible endogeneity bias of the outsourcing with respect to the target variables. We find a non-significant effect of outsourcing on profitability and a significant negative effect of outsourcing on productivity.
Isolation of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus kolymensis from Monochamus nitens from Japan

An adult male of Monochamus nitens (Bates) was collected from a dead Abies mariesii (Masters) tree on 5 July 2013 on Mount Fuji, Yamanashi, Japan (35°22′52.3′′N, 138°40′56.8′′E, 1750 m a.s.l.). The insect was dissected under a stereomicroscope (S8Apo, Leica Japan, Tokyo). Two species of nematodes, an aphelenchid and a diplogastrid, were isolated from the beetle. The aphelenchid and diplogastrid dauers were transferred to PDA that had been previously inoculated with Botrytis cinerea and to NGM that had been previously seeded with Escherichia coli OP50 strain, respectively. The media were incubated at 20°C and were occasionally observed to examine nematode propagation. Successfully propagated nematodes were subcultured to PDA-B. cinerea or NGM-OP50. The aphelenchid and diplogastrid were morphologically identified as Bursaphelenchus mucronatus Mamiya & Enda, 1979 and an undescribed Diplogasteroides sp. , respectively. Detailed morphological and phylogenetic analyses and a formal taxonomic identification and description of Diplogasteroides sp. will be presented elsewhere; the isolation record and molecular profiles of B. mucronatus are provided here. The general morphology of nematodes from a 2-week-old culture was examined using methods described elsewhere (Kanzaki, 2013). The specimens were confirmed as B. mucronatus kolymensis Korentchencko, 1980 (Braasch, Gu & Burgermeister, 2011) based on the sub-cylindrical female tail with a clearly offset mucron (Mamiya & Enda, 1979; Korentchenko, 1980; Braasch et al., 2011). The molecular profiles of nematodes from the same culture were also examined, i.e., near full length of the
Verifying Capital Asset Pricing Model in Greek Capital Market

This article deals with capital asset valuation on Greek capital market using Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). We examined 32 companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange on a weekly basis for a period from June 2009 to December 2013 under this model. The CAPM model is tested by performing two-pass characteristic regression analyses. The first-pass characteristic line regression was used to estimate stocks of beta. Hence, the second-pass characteristic line regression was taken to analyze the intercept and the slope coefficients of stocks. The two characteristics of line regression verify the adequacy of the CAPM. According to our results, we came to a conclusion that there was a linear relationship between systematic risk and returns. The CAPM would be the verification of our major hypotheses from the time series tests. In order for this to be true, the intercept ought to be approximately equal to zero, supporting the theories for both individual assets and portfolios. However, the testing provides evidence against the CAPM, but do they do? It should be kept in mind that it does not necessarily represent evidence in favor of any alternative model.
Method of Principal Factors Estimation of Optimal Number of Factors: An Information Criteria Approach

The issue of the number of factors to be retained in a factor analysis has been an undefined. Be that as it may, this paper tries to x-ray the number of factors (k) to be retained in a factor analysis for different sample sizes using the method of Principal Factor estimation when the number of variables are ten (10). Stimulated data were used for sample sizes of 30, 50 and 70 and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the Schwarz Information Criterion (SIC) and the Hannan Quinne Information Criterion (HQIC) values were obtained when the number of factors(k) are two, three, and five (2,3 and 5). It was discorvered that the AIC, SIC, and HQIC values are smallest when k = 5, and highest when k = 2 for the sample sizes of 30 and 70. But, for a sample of 50, the values of these information criteria is smallest for k = 3, highest for k=5. Hence, conclusion is drawn that for the sample sizes of 30 and 70, the optimal number of factors to retain is 5 and 3 for the sample size of 70. This implies that, the number of factors to retain is a function of the sample size of the data.
ORDINAL CLASSIFICATION FOR EFFICIENT PLANT STRESS PREDICTION IN HYPERSPECTRAL DATA

Abstract. Detection of crop stress from hyperspectral images is of high importance for breeding and precision crop protection. However, the continuous monitoring of stress in phenotyping facilities by hyperspectral imagers produces huge amounts of uninterpreted data. In order to derive a stress description from the images, interpreting algorithms with high prediction performance are required. Based on a static model, the local stress state of each pixel has to be predicted. Due to the low computational complexity, linear models are preferable. In this paper, we focus on drought-induced stress which is represented by discrete stages of ordinal order. We present and compare five methods which are able to derive stress levels from hyperspectral images: One-vs.-one Support Vector Machine (SVM), one-vs.-all SVM, Support Vector Regression (SVR), Support Vector Ordinal Regression (SVORIM) and Linear Ordinal SVM classification. The methods are applied on two data sets - a real world set of drought stress in single barley plants and a simulated data set. It is shown, that Linear Ordinal SVM is a powerful tool for applications which require high prediction performance under limited resources. It is significantly more efficient than the one-vs.-one SVM and even more efficient than the less accurate one-vs.-all SVM. Compared to the very compact SVORIM model, it represents the senescence process much more accurate.
SLink: An Efficient Point-to-Point Protocol for Chip-to-Chip Interconnection

Multi-chip architectures have been a focal point not only in high-performance computing but also in the new generation of embedded systems. For point-to-point topology, high latency and low bandwidth are always found in existing chip-to-chip protocols. This prevents the efficiency of information communication in mutli-chip system. In this paper, we propose a novel low-latency, low-cost and high-scalability protocol, named SLink. We provide an implementation, including the programming model, the simulation and FPGA prototype verification environment. Compared to PCIe 2.0, the results of experiments demonstrate that the latency decreases by 61.0 percent; the maximum bandwidth increases by 55.6 percent and the area decreases by 97.5 percent.
Shop-Floor Architecture for Effective Human- Machine and Inter-Machine Interaction

Manufacturing equipment for small and medium scale production is often arranged in a setup of a Flexible Manufacturing Cell (FMC). Normally, such cell members are from various manufactures and they have all their specific capabilities when it comes to man-machine and inter-machine interaction. Existing man-machine interfacing is quite simple and is typically done via a screen/keyboard interface while inter-machine communication is carried out through designated I/O lines. Although such communication channels provide us a certain possibility to program and control the cell members, it is not enough to fully utilize the potential of the coordinated control of the complete unit. Especially in smaller production facilities, where often the FMC components are a mixture of older (poorly documented) and newer machines, there exists no ready-to-use solution for communication between the members of the cell. This article discusses and presents a new architecture for man-machine and inter-machine communication and control. This new architecture allows for the integration of both new and old equipment and is especially targeted for efficient man-machine interaction.
OPTION PRICING UNDER STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY MODEL WITH JUMPS IN BOTH THE STOCK PRICE AND THE VARIANCE PROCESSES

Yan & Hanson [8] and Makate & Sattayatham [6] extended Bates’ model to the stochastic volatility model with jumps in both the stock price and the variance processes. As the solution processes of finding the characteristic function, they sought such a function f satisfying f(`, ν, t; k, T ) = exp (g(τ) + νh(τ) + ix`) . We add the term of order ν to the exponent in the above equation and seek the explicit solution of f .
DETERMINATION OF CONTAMINATATED WELLS TO NO3-N: A NOVEL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL

Contamination of well with nitrate-N (NO3-N) posses various threats to human health. This problem becomes even more critical when these wells serve as source of drinking water as in the case of many rural parts of USA. This article employs Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) for determination of non-contaminated and contaminated well with nitrate-N (NO3-N) in Polk County, Florida (USA). This research will provide a regional scale integrated GIS-based modeling approach to predict NO3-N contamination of ground water in a cost effective way. This approach also allows for higher true positive results (TPR) with fewer variables when data are imprecise and full of uncertainty which is common with available regional scale data). RVM technique is a Bayesian extension of the Support Vector Machine (SVM). Here, the RVM has been used as a classification tool. Well water quality data (nitrate-N) from 6,917 wells provided by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (USA) has been used to develop the RVM model. An equation has been also presented from the developed RVM model. The developed RVM has been compared with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and SVM models. This study shows that the developed RVM produces promising result for prediction of non-contaminated and contaminated well with N. The model is important because its real world applications enable water managers to more effectively manage contaminant levels within specific watersheds.
Efficient Numerical Integration of Dynamical Systems based on Structural-Algebraic Regularization avoiding State Selection

Differential-algebraic equations naturally arise in the modeling of dynamical processes, in particular using MODELICA as modeling language. In general, the model equations can be of higher index, i.e., they can contain hidden constraints which lead to instabilities and order reductions in the numerical integration. Therefore, a regularization or remodeling of the model equations is required. One way to obtain the required information on the hidden constraints is a structural analysis based on the sparsity pattern of the system. For the determination of a regular index-reduced system formulation then, usually, a crucial step is the so-called state selection. In this paper, we will present a new approach for the remodeling of dynamical systems that uses the information obtained from the structural analysis to construct a regularized overdetermined system formulation. This overdetermined system can then be solved using specially adapted numerical integrators, in such a way that the state selection can be performed within the numerical integrator during runtime of the simulation.
Nonlinear Decision Weights in Choice Under Uncertainty

In most real-world decisions, consequences are tied explicitly to the outcome of events. Previous studies of decision making under uncertainty have indicated that the psychological weight attached to an event, called a decision weight, usually differs from the probability of that event. We investigate two sources of nonlinearity of decision weights: subadditivity of probability judgments, and the overweighting of small probabilities and underweighting of medium and large probabilities. These two sources of nonli nearity are combined into a two-stage model of choice under uncertainty. In the first stage, events are taken into subjective probability judgments, and the second stage takes probability judgments into decision weights. We then characterize the curvature of the decision weights by extending a condition employed by Wu and Gonzalez (1996) in the domain of risk to the domain of uncertainty and show that the nonlinearity of decision weights can be decomposed into subadditivity of probability judgments and the curvature of the probability weighting function. Empirical tests support the proposed two-stage model and indicate that decision weights are concave then convex. More specifically, our results lend support for a new property of subjective probability ju dgments, interior additivity (subadditive at the boundaries, but additive away from the boundaries), and show that the probability weighting function is inverse S-shaped as in Wu and Gonzalez (1996).
An experimental investigation of rill erosion processes in lateritic upland region: A pilot study

The present paper is based on field investigation and measurement of rill erosion processes at Rangamati Experimental Station (Medinipur, West Bengal in India). In rill experiments, three different natural rills were studies in field for understanding of the dynamics of soil erosion processes of a rill catchment area. Geometric and morphological characteristics of each rill catchment area were analyzed. Results showed the widening, deepening and extended of rills because of sidewall sloughing, knick-points and head-ward erosion during surface runoff process. Progressive increases of rill volume were observed in the upper, middle and lower catchment with the change of time. Rill area has increased by runoff processes of 4.2 % and 6.8 % for Rill-A and Rill-B respectively. These processes are depends on surface coverage, soil texture, slope gradients and runoff velocity.
Consumer Legal Literacy, Values and Consumerism Practices among Members of Consumer Association in Malaysia

Self-protection is an important component that has been outlined under the Malaysian National Consumer Policy(NCP). It is essential to achieve government’s vision through promoting the community of consumers who areconstantly aware and knowledgeable of their rights and responsibilities. Respondents are comprised of membersof consumer association (GPS) found in Institute of Higher Education. Therefore, this study aims to determinethe level of consumer legal literacy, values of the consumers and their consumerism practices in the marketplace.A total of 400 respondents among the members of GPS have been selected through systematic samplingtechnique and the data were collected using a survey. It was found that the respondents were more aware of theirrights rather than their responsibilities. Respondents also have poor in knowledge regarding logos and consumerlegal literacy. While the value that possessed by the respondents is focused on the environmental values andconsumerism practices are more likely to seek information. Based on profiling of the respondents, it can beconcluded that the characteristics of respondents who should have given emphasis to are the member of GPS,aged between 18-20 years, studying at public universities, pursuing in Arts, member with less than one year ofmembership and only being ordinary members in the association. Accordingly, the results of this study can bebeneficial to the government, consumer organizations and universities in the development of policy, conductingeducational activities, improves the current learning modules so that consumerism programs in the future couldbe upgraded.
Reliable algorithm for slab region localization using robust features

In steel making production line, steel slabs are marked with slab management number (SMN). Identification of SMN has been done by workers, but this is expensive and not accurate. Consequently, to improve efficiency, automatic recognition system is desirable. In order to expect a high recognition rate, text localization is a prerequisite. However, because of many text-like patterns in a complex background and high fuzziness between the slab and background, directly extracting text region is difficult to process. This paper describes about the slab region localization using SIFT features in the image. First, SIFT algorithm is applied the captured background and slab image, then features of two images are matched by using geometric locations of the feature points. Finally, search rectangle method is performed, and then the top boundary and side boundaries of the slab region are determined. Thus, we can reduce search region for extraction of SMN from the slab image. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has a good performance.
Tyrannosaurus Rex Running? Estimations of Efficiency, Speed and Acceleration

Background. The estimations of maximum speed of Tyrannosaurus Rex vary from 5 20 m/s and higher and still are the subject of scientific discussion. Some scientists consider T. Rex the largest terrestrial super-predator that needed speeds greater than60 km/h (17 m/s) to capture its prey. Some recent publications indicate that it wasn’t able to run at all due to its large mass and significant loads on the skeleton and limit its walking speed to 5–7.5 m/s. Objective. We will try to answer the question of whether large animal or robot sizes are an obstacle to rapid running and to evaluate the maximum possible speed of T. Rex. Methods. We will use: a) two energy efficiency indicators - the drag-to-weight ratio or the cost of motion and the recently developed capacity-efficiency (connected with the power-to-weight ratio or metabolic rate); b) the vertical acceleration estimations; c) the available data about the speed, the stride and the leg length of human and animals. Results. The drag-to-weight ratio and the capacity-efficiency were estimated for running of different animals and humans. It was shown that the maximal running speed of T. Rex may reach the values 21–29 m/s. The values of its vertical acceleration are typical for bipedal running. Conclusions. Large dimensions of Tyrannosaurus Rex couldn’t be an obstacle to achieving rather high speeds during short intervals of fast running. Such conclusions allow us not to abandon the assertion that the dinosaur was a super-predator. Presented approach could be useful for studying locomotion in modern and fossil animals, human sport activity and for design of fast bipedal robots.
The European Youth Heart Study— Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Children: Rationale, Aims, Study Design, and Validation of Methods

Background: The aim of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) is to establish the nature, strength, and interactions between personal, environmental, and lifestyle influences on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in European children. Methods: The EYHS is an international study measuring CVD risk factors, and their associated influences, in children. Relationships between these independent factors and risk of disease will inform the design of CVD interventions in children. A minimum of 1000 boys and girls ages 9 and 15 y were recruited from four European countries—Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Portugal. Variables measured included physical, biochemical, lifestyle, psychosocial, and sociodemographic data. Results: Of the 5664 children invited to participate, 4169 (74%) accepted. Response rates for most individual tests were moderate to high. All test protocols were well received by the children. Conclusions: EYHS protocols are valid, reliable, acceptable to children, and feasible for use in large, fi.
The investigation of calpastatin and thyroglobulin gene polymorphisms in some native cattle breeds

Turkiye’de bulunan bazi yerli sigir irklarinda (Yerli Kara-YK, n=36; Dogu Anadolu Kirmizisi-DAK (n=51) ve Boz IrkBI (n=52) et kalite ozelliklerinden gevreklesme uzerine etkili kalpastatin ve mermerlesme derecesi uzerine etkili thyroglobulin gen polimorfizmleri, polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu-restriksiyon parca uzunluk polimorfizmi (PCR-RFLP) metodu kullanilarak arastirilmistir. Kalpastatin geninde et gevrekligi uzerine olumlu etkisi olan C allelinin yuksek frekansta (0.67) bulundugu ve yerli sigir irklarinin yuksek potansiyel tasidigi ,thyroglobulin icin ise faydali T allelinin nisbi olarak dusuk frekansta bulundugu (0.23) marker destekli seleksiyonla frekansinin artirilabilecegi ortaya cikmistir. Yerli sigir irklarinin ozellikle DAK’in kaliteli kirmizi et uretimi icin potansiyel tasidigi tespit edilmistir. Genetik analizler sonucunda FIS, FIt ve FSt degerleri sirasiyla -0, 010, 0,045 ve 0,055 olarak tespit edilmistir. Bu sonuclara gore incelenen genler bakimindan yerli sigir irklarinin yuksek genetik cesitlilige sahip oldugu belirlenmistir. Ayrica allel frekanslari Hardy-Weinberg denge kuralina uygun olarak hesaplanarak irklar arasinda farkin onemli oldugu bulunmustur
Quasi-steady vortices in protoplanetary disks - I. From dwarfs to giants

Aims. We determine the size, structure, and evolution of persistent vortices in 2D and inviscid Keplerian flows. Methods. A Gaussian model of the vortices is built and compared with numerical solutions issued from non-linear hydrodynamical simulations. Test vortices are also produced using a fiducial method based on the Rossby wave instability to help explore the vortex parameters. Numerical simulations are performed using a second order finite volume method. We assume a perfect-gas law and a non-homentropic adiabatic flow. Results. The new model nicely fits the numerical vortex solution. In the vortex centre it is consistent with existing models, whereas in the outer regions it enables the vortex to be connected with the background flow. Two families of vortices can be distinguished following the importance of the compressional effects. The model also permitted a new class of vortices to be discovered corresponding to huge perturbations of pressure and density and whose radial sizes are significantly larger than the disk scale height, in contrast with the standard way to define the maximum vortex size. Conclusions. Our Gaussian model of the vortex solutions of the 2D Euler’s equations is a useful tool for studying vortex properties. Among the large number of vortex solutions, the possible existence of giant vortices could open interesting perspectives in planetary formation, particularly during the building stage of the giant gas planets.