Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design by contract of cyber-physical systems driven by simulation and based on properties modeling

Requirements elicitation and analysis is the basis for the successful development of a Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). The misunderstanding of one or more requirements, due to different skills and knowledge between stakeholders and engineers, could com-promise the success of an entire project with harmful consequences. Usually, agreements on the system to be delivered and related expected results are based on textual requirements with a big lack of not being computationally verifiable and difficult to trace. To this purpose, the employment of innovative engineering tools for supporting the modeling and the verification of system requirements represent a viable solution. In this context, the pa-per proposes the exploitation of a Properties Modeling (PM) approach combined with Simulation techniques as Design-by-Contract method for CPS. In particular, PM is adopted for sup-porting the definition and the representation of system requirements and constrains as computable entities, whereas a Simulator is developed and exploited for enabling their automatic verification. Such combination is used as tool for defining requirements and conditions and verify their fulfillment before the sys-tem deployment. The results gathered from the simulation represent the contract on which the parties can agree for the realization of the actual system. The approach is exemplified in the Smart Grid domain.
Time-Series Forecasting Based on High-Order Fuzzy Cognitive Maps and Wavelet Transform

Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) have been successfully used to model and predict stationary time series. However, it still remains challenging to deal with large-scale nonstationary time series, which have trend and vary rapidly with time. In this paper, we propose a time-series prediction model based on the hybrid combination of high-order FCMs (HFCMs) with the redundant wavelet transform to handle large-scale nonstationary time series. The model is termed as Wavelet-HFCM. The redundant Haar wavelet transform is applied to decompose original nonstationary time series into multivariate time series; then, the HFCM is used to model and predict multivariate time series. In learning HFCMs to represent large-scale multivariate time series, a fast HFCM learning method is designed on the basis of ridge regression to reduce the learning time. Finally, summing multivariate time series up yields the predicted time series at each time step. Compared with existing classical methods, the experimental results on eight benchmark datasets show the effectiveness of our proposal, indicating that our prediction model can be applied to various prediction tasks.
Private Equity and Workers' Career Paths: The Role of Technological Change

We analyze a new dataset on workers’ career paths to examine whether private equity (PE) investments can have positive spillover effects on workers. We study leveraged buyouts in the context of recent information technology (IT) diffusion, and find evidence supporting the argument that many employees of companies acquired by PE investors gain transferable, IT-complementary human capital. Our estimates indicate that these workers experience increases in both long-run employability and wages relative to what they would have realized in the absence of PE investment. The findings underscore PE’s role in mitigating the effects of workforce skill obsolescence resulting from technological change.
Tele-proximity: Tele-community of Inquiry Model. Facial Cues for Social, Cognitive, and Teacher Presence in Distance Education

Distance education is expanding in all continents, and the use of video has dominated internet. Synchronous Video Communication (SVC) has not been an option thoroughly investigated and practitioners, who use and design synchronous learning scenarios, are in urgent need of guidance. Distant learners face many barriers, and as a result, they drop out more frequently than on-campus students. Educators seem to be equally affected by the “transactional distance” and the new digital literacies needed for facilitating online learning. This study explores the educators’ perspective on how SVC could offer alternative educational forms and possibilities for distance learning. Findings had indicated that the use of visual communication and human to human contact (prosopogonosia: seeing faces) could have a strong impact on learning and teaching, therefore, a theory called Tele-proximity was formulated. Tele-proximity is defined as online embodiment that explains how instructors and students are connected in synchronous networked environment via tele-operations. SVC creates a sense of place or a stage where online identities perform and highlights recent research on audio-visual signals in communication and team work (Pentland, 2012, 2008). The theory can be seen as an extension of the Community of Inquiry Model (Garrison, Anderson & Archer, 2000) and a theoretical framework according to which learning objectives could be designed. Transactional distance could be minimized and may be implemented to facilitate more synchronous, visual, and humane options in distance education.
Is financial sector development an engine of economic growth? evidence from India

The question whether financial development leads to economic growth is the interest of many studies which have very crucial policy implications. However, there exist conflicting results as to which variable (financial development/economic growth) is causing whom. The purpose of this paper is to predict whether the financial sector development leads to economic growth. India has been taken as an investigation case because, to the best of our knowledge, India has never been the interest of this kind of study by applying time series techniques such as Autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) and VECM methods for the period as recent as from 1960 up until 2013. This study found that there is a long run (co-integration) relationship between economic growth and financial sector development as experienced by India. The study observed causal relationship from financial sector development to economic boom i.e. financial market is found exogenous (leader) while economic growth is endogenous (follower). From the policy point of view, the study suggests that if government wants to enhance economic growth, it can do so by reformations in financial sector. Hence, India should consider financial sector as the policy variable (because of its exogenous nature) to bring reformations that will boost economic growth.
China’s Approach in Territorial Disputes Settlement

China’s growth to prominence in the international community after the end of the Cold War, the upturn in economic power and population numbers projects that China is able to become the leading world power within several decades, regardless of the course its government takes. The article aims to contribute in answering the question whether this rise will be peaceful through a comparative analysis of resolved and unresolved territorial disputes between China and groups of neighboring states between 1986 and 2014. While previous studies have focused rather exclusively on Chinese behavior, this text will examine both sides of the dispute and the parties’ behavior in light of regional dynamics.
Research on effectiveness evaluation method and application of quality management system of manufacturing enterprise based on interval-valued hesitation fuzzy set

Based on acquaintance of effectiveness of quality management system of manufacturing enterprise, the evaluation index system is structured by confirmation of production conditions and other seven respects which include effectiveness of validation, effectiveness of document management, effectiveness of production management, effectiveness of quality assurance and quality control, effectiveness of commissioned production and inspection, effectiveness of Issue and recall of products and effectiveness of self-checking; the assessment model of effectiveness of quality management system of manufacturing enterprise based on interval-valued hesitation fuzzy set is structured and the feasibility of theoretical research was validated by concrete cases.
Amplitude Modulation Approach for Real-Time Algorithms of ECG-Derived Respiration

Este trabajo presenta una metodologia para la extraccion de la actividad respiratoria derivada de un ECG (EDR, por sus siglas en ingles), basado en el enfoque de amplitud modulada (AM). Esto permite redefinir las metodologias actuales para obtener una senal EDR mas continua, con altos factores de correlacion y un retraso menor entre la EDR y la actividad respiratoria. Se implementaron dos algoritmos: uno utilizando la modulacion de la amplitud del pico R (EDRAM) y el otro aplicando un filtro paso-banda en el espectro de frecuencia de la respiracion. A diferencia de otros trabajos en la literatura, se utilizan filtros convencionales de bajo orden pero sin sacrificar el factor de correlacion (0.76 y 0.67) y manteniendo un retardo de ∼0.27s (con EDRAM) en un ciclo de ∼6s. Se realizo una prueba de robustez, donde se muestra una tolerancia a ruido blanco de hasta un 20% del valor maximo antes de que el factor de correlacion bajara considerablemente. El algoritmo EDRAM se aplico con exito en un prototipo de sistema portable. Las dos metodologias propuestas muestran ventajas como el procesamiento en tiempo real y robustez bajo ciertos ruidos. La perspectiva de AM propuesta soporta el uso de ambos algoritmos para aplicaciones tipicas con alta eficiencia, bajo costo computacional y facilidad de implementacion. Estas caracteristicas hacen que esta tecnica facilite el desarrollo de sistemas portatiles, asi como para incrementar la informacion de las bases de datos actuales
Deterministic Echo State Networks Based Stock Price Forecasting

Echo state networks (ESNs), as efficient and powerful computational models for approximating nonlinear dynamical systems, have been successfully applied in financial time series forecasting. Reservoir constructions in standard ESNs rely on trials and errors in real applications due to a series of randomized model building stages. A novel form of ESN with deterministically constructed reservoir is competitive with standard ESN by minimal complexity and possibility of optimizations for ESN specifications. In this paper, forecasting performances of deterministic ESNs are investigated in stock price prediction applications. The experiment results on two benchmark datasets (Shanghai Composite Index and S&P500) demonstrate that deterministic ESNs outperform standard ESN in both accuracy and efficiency, which indicate the prospect of deterministic ESNs for financial prediction.
An Examination of the Relationship between Anger , Stress , Hopelessness and Perceived Social Support in Nursing Students

Objectives: This study aims to examine the relationship between the levels of stress and feelings of anger and hopelessness experienced by nursing students and the perceptions they have of the provision of social support. Methods: The study sample included 231 nursing students studying in the nursing department of a university’s Vocational School of Health from October to November, 2011. Data for the study were collected using a personal information form, the Hopelessness Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Coping with Stress Scale and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. For evaluation of the data, t test, ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation analysis tests were used. Results: Findings from the analysis showed that to cope with stress, female students engaged in social support activities and sought spiritual guidance, while male students applied passive coping mechanisms, such as denial, substance abuse and humor. The levels of perceived social support were determined to be higher in the students who were between the ages of 19 and 21 (p<0.05), and the anger-in scores were found to be higher in the students who were between the ages of 22 and 24 and in fourth-year students (p<0.05). Students whose parents held strong democratic attitudes were demonstrated to have low levels of hopelessness and higher perceptions of social support (p<0.05). Conclusion: The increased number of effective coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and the higher positive perceptions of social support in nursing students leads to the development of suitable behavior for coping with stress and the diminishment of feelings of hopelessness. The study found that when nursing students have a greater perception of social support they express their anger in an appropriate way and are able to cope with stress effectively. Therefore, it is recommended that relevant training programs be organized to individually empower students.
Biotransformation of Flavonol Rut in to Quercetin from Citrus Medica Peel by Using Bacillus Cereus

Quercetin and rutin are a kind of flavonoid drugs which belongs to group Flavonols. Quercetin which is produced mainly by direct extracting from Vegetables, fruits, citrus, red grapes, onions etc, or acid hydrolysing from rutin. In this experiment Bacillus cereus strain was used to transform rutin to Quercetin. Phytochemical analysis of Citrus medica peel shows that they are rich source of flavonoids. Initially Quercetin and rutin were extracted from the Citrus medica peel extract by using soxhlet extractor for 180min and methanol as solvent and later they were purified by using solvent-solvent extraction. Keywords: Quercetin; Rutin; Bacillus Cereus; Biotransformation
Aluminium Phthalocyanine Nanoparticles Application for Fluorescent Diagnostics and Photodynamic Therapy in Dentistry

Early diagnosis of tooth-enamel microcracks is of great importance in modern dentistry for caries prevention. It is known that the accumulation of the bacteria in the enamel microcracks can be reason of caries. A promising substance for early diagnostics of the accumulation of pathogenic microflora on the tooth enamel surface is aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPc). It could be observed that AlPc does not fluoresce in the nanoparticles form but in the monomeric molecular form it does. This allows identification of local pathological microflora accumulation within microcracks of the tooth enamel because AlPc nanoparticles (nAlPc) can be activated by pathological microflora. This paper describes the nAlPc application for fluorescent diagnostics (FD) of the enamel surface in vitro. To reduce the time from the beginning of interaction of nAlPc with the microflora to the appearance of nAlPc fluorescence, Protelan MST-35 surfactant was used as an additional activator. For FD in dentistry a model compound with nAlPc, Protelan MST-35 and with the complementary components was prepared. The following components were used as complementary: the methylparaben, carbopol, carboxymethyl cellulose, titanium dioxide, sodium phosphate, sodium saccharin and sorbitol, which are commonly used in toothpastes. Human teeth were used for the investigation of the interaction between nAlPc colloid and the model compound with nAlPc for the detection of microcracks and the areas of accumulation of pathogenic microflora on the enamel surface. Statistical processing of the experimental results showed the effectiveness of the surfactant usage for the additional activation of nAlPc and a reduction in the FD time. The application of nAlPc as a marker will make it possible to detect microcracks of the enamel tooth surface at the earliest stages and the areas of the pathogenic microflora accumulation, which can lead to the development of a caries. Keywords: fluorescent diagnostics, nanoparticles, aluminum phthalocyanine, Protelan MST-35, surfactants, enamel microcracks, tooth enamel.
Solar System Science with ESA Euclid

The ESA Euclid mission has been designed to map the geometry of the dark Universe. Scheduled for launch in 2020, it will conduct a six-years visible and NIR imaging and spectroscopic survey over 15,000 deg 2 down to mag~24.5. Although the survey will avoid low ecliptic latitudes, the survey pattern in repeated sequences of four broad-band filters seems well-adapted to Solar System objects (SSOs) detection and characterization. We aim at evaluating Euclid capability to discover SSOs, and measure their position, apparent magnitude, and SED. Also, we investigate how these measurements can lead to the determination of their orbits, morphology, physical properties, and surface composition. We use current census of SSOs to estimate the number of SSOs detectable by Euclid. Then we estimate how Euclid will constrain the SSOs dynamical, physical, and compositional properties. With current survey design, about 150,000 SSOs, mainly from the asteroid main-belt, should be observed by Euclid. These objects will all have high inclination. There is a potential for discovery of several 10,000 SSOs, in particular KBOs at high declination. Euclid observations will refine the spectral classification of SSOs by extending the spectral coverage provided by, e.g. Gaia and the LSST to 2 microns. The time-resolved photometry, combined with sparse photometry will contribute to the determination of SSO rotation period, spin orientation, and shape model. The sharp and stable point-spread function of Euclid will also allow to resolve KBO binary systems and detect activity around Centaurs. The depth of Euclid survey, its spectral coverage, and observation cadence has great potential for Solar System research. A dedicated processing for SSOs is being set in place to produce catalogs of astrometry, multi-color and time-resolved photometry, and spectral classification of some 10$^5$ SSOs, delivered as Legacy Science.
A simple solution for improving the effectiveness of traditional information retrieval systems

In this paper we present a system based on the LSA paradigm to improve the performance of a traditional information retrieval system. The proposed system aims to improve both the recall and the precision capabilities of traditional search engines thanks to a semantic query expansion and a subsequent semantic results filtering. A collection of 650 documents has been used to compare the performances of the proposed system with a traditional search engine. Experimental trials show the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
A partial theory of holistic firm-level marketing capability: An empirical investigation

The American Marketing Association (AMA) revised (December 2007 and approved it again in July 2013) the definition of marketing wherein marketing is considered an organizationwide "activity" instead of just a "function. " This encouraged us to investigate the role of marketing at the firm level. In this paper, we introduce a new abstract concept termed ‘Holistic Firm-Level Marketing Capability’ (HFMC), that is consistent with the view of marketing as an organization-wide activity, and further analyze how organizational learning impacts the HFMC which in turn affects firm performance in the context of various strategic orientations of the firm. We incorporate a novel methodology through the use of secondary data proxies and find empirical evidence of existence of the holistic firm-level marketing capability. Therefore, this research can be described as a positive research and enhances current knowledge of marketing science in both the context of discovery and the context of justification (Hunt, 2002). This study reports sometimes positive and more inverted U type (i.e. positive up to a certain point) relationship between the HFMC and firm performance both in reasonably stable (Years 2002-2007) and unstable (Years 2008-2011) environment. There is a strong opportunity for scholars to investigate the optimal point beyond which spending in holistic marketing related activities may not be desirable. Finally, it is suggested that this model can be considered as a partial theory of holistic firm-level marketing capability. We evaluate this claim based on the literature from the philosophy of science discipline.
A Transition to Physical Retail from E-Business: A Case Study

Nowadays, “e-business” leads to fundamental changes in methods of doing business. Recently, a lot of traditional businesses change their business method from the current models to the combination of place and virtual space. For example, new economy created virtual companies like amazon.com which don’t have physical environment. Due to reduction in the costs and increases in the profit, lots of consultants and academicians guide entrepreneurs to establish a theory to shift from traditional company (brick and mortar towards bricks and clicks). Specifying the shifting from traditional companies to virtual company and the profits of it is a known and familiar case. The purpose of this study is to examine the e-bebek company as a case and analyze its business model. With this study, apart from many companies that have carried their physical environment to virtual one, the actions, strategies and decision processes of a virtual company that has shifted to physical environment will be examined. Also, by examining the exceptional situation of the company e-bebek which turned into a traditional company, our study aims developing Enders and Jelassi’s (2000) model of shifting from clicks to bricks and clicks providing theoretical contributions to the related literature.
The Effectiveness of E-Learning: Academic And Business Comparison

Countries‘ success in the knowledge economy increasingly rely on highly-skilled and qualified people, which in turn, requires rapid, effective, and less expensive education and training. In this context, e-Learning has emerged; e-Learning is scalable, less expensive than traditional learning, and clearly advantageous for learners to access educational information and content anywhere and anytime. However, for evaluating the effectiveness of e-learning programs, a definition of ‗effectiveness‘ should to be established. In addition, understanding the factors influencing the effectiveness of e-Learning programs will help learning institutions to channel resources to significant factors rather than unimportant ones. Accordingly, this study intends to develop measures for the effectiveness of e-Learning and define the factors influencing them, and how both –the effectiveness measures and influencing factors- are perceived by different e-Learning practitioners, in particular, business and academic ones. More importantly, a comparison of both groups‘ perceptions is examined.
Why Chinese Companies Go Abroad? A Theoretical Model to Explain the Drivers of the Internationalization Strategy of Chinese MNEs

China is today considered the second power in the world after the USA and recently many Chinese companies became global leaders in their specific industries. This success is also realized thanks to the expansion strategy adopted by many Chinese multinationals that have realized FDIs both towards other developing countries and towards advanced economies. What are the determinants that push the Chinese companies to go abroad? Are the traditional internalization theories based on the concept of ownership advantage able to explain the internationalization of Chinese MNES? Accordingly aim of this paper is to describe the determinants that induce the Chinese companies to realize FDIs and the characteristics that distinguish their internationalization strategy by the strategy adopted by developed countries multinationals.