Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Singular prior distributions in Bayesian D-optimal design for nonlinear models

For Bayesian D-optimal design, we define a singular prior distribution for the model parameters as a prior distribution such that the determinant of the Fisher information matrix has a prior geometric mean of zero for all designs. For such a prior distribution, the Bayesian D-optimality criterion fails to select a design. For the exponential decay model, we characterize singularity of the prior distribution in terms of the expectations of a few elementary transformations of the parameter. For a compartmental model and multi-parameter logistic regression, we establish sufficient conditions for singularity of a prior distribution. For logistic regression we also obtain sufficient conditions for non-singularity. In the existing literature, weakly informative prior distributions are commonly recommended as a default choice for inference in logistic regression. Our results show that some of the recommended prior distributions are singular, and hence should not be used for Bayesian D-optimal design. Additionally, methods are developed to derive and assess Bayesian D-efficient designs for logistic regression when numerical evaluation of the objective function fails due to ill-conditioning.
Automation of JPEG Ghost Detection using Graph Based Segmentation

As JPEG is widespread de facto image format, Most of the images available in computer systems, electronic devices and in the Web are in JPEG format hence forgery detection techniques in JPEG may explore most of the forgeries. As JPEG works on 8 by 8 block cosine transform most of the tampering correlation inherited by tampered image may get destroyed, making forgery detection difficult. In fact it is common practice followed by forger to hide traces of resampling & splicing. However the tampered region usually has a different JPEG compression history than the authentic region. JPEG ghost detection techniques makes use of artefacts introduced in image due to 8 by 8 block DCT transform. It identifies forgery by searching ghost which appears in resultant difference image after subtracting it from its various recompressed version at different quality levels. As number of difference images become very large it becomes difficult for human being to scan these large no of difference image. Hence in this paper we have proposed a technique which will automate ghost detection in image.
Feeding preference of three Collembola species on two plant residues

: This study formed the part of an extended climate change experiment that focuses on the ways climate change may affect the species composition and the ecological processes of vulnerable open sand grasslands. The project is conducted in a natural shrubland-grassland ecosystem in the Kiskunság National Park. This is an arid area, and the members of macrofauna are almost completely lacking from these soils. Collembola presumably plays an important role in the direct decomposition processes, beyond the indirect regulation of the microbiota. Previously, we found a higher decomposition rate for grass leaves as compared to grass roots and faster decomposition of one dominant grass species ( Festuca vaginata ) over the other ( Stipa borysthenica ) in this experimental system. In the present study, we investigated in a laboratory experiment, whether higher decomposition rate may be related to food preference of potential decomposer species in the system, and posed the following questions: (i) is there a preference in the food choice of three springtails species ( Folsomia fimetaria, F. candida, Sinella magyari ) between the roots and leaves of the two dominant plant species ( Stipa borythenica, Festuca vaginata ) and between the roots and leaves of the same species? (ii) can the C/N ratio and lignin content of plants as background variable explain such preference?
ADDING FUEL TO THE "FIRE OF LIFE": ENERGY BUDGETS ACROSS LEVELS OF VARIATION IN ECTOTHERMS AND ENDOTHERMS

Energy metabolism - the "fire of life" - is the sum of the processes by which animals acquire energy, channel energy into useful functions, and dissipate energy from their bodies. Acquisition and allocation processes deal with energy mainly as a quantity, but energy is absorbed or expended over a period of time; therefore, the most relevant way to conceptualize energy budgets is with the use of rate functions. A large number of recent studies have examined co-variation in metabolic and behavioral traits among individuals. A general finding stemming from this body of work is that there is no single cause-and-effect mechanism driving these relationships, but that the direction of the effects is dynamic and shifts in different contexts and environments. However, the remarkable energetic differences between endotherms and ectotherms are an unexploited basis for achieving a further understanding of such relationships.
Monitoring Innovation

This paper examines the benefit of monitoring an agent who works on an innovative project of uncertain quality. The agent is asked to experiment to uncover the quality of the project. The agent has the ability to manipulate the principal's beliefs about the project quality because the effort of the agent may not be observable (moral hazard), and success may not be publicly observed (hidden information). The optimal timing of monitoring trades off the benefit of alleviating the moral hazard problem during the monitoring period (static effect) and a reduction of the agent's rent in periods before monitoring (dynamic effect). If the successful realization of the innovation is observed publicly, the static effect dominates, and monitoring is most beneficial at the beginning of the relationship. If success is private, the dynamic effect becomes pivotal, and monitoring is most beneficial at the end of the relationship.
A Traffic Light Recognition Algorithm Based On Compressive Tracking

According to the traffic light recognition problem of intelligent vehicle, this paper proposes a traffic light recognition algorithm based on compressive tracking. First, the candidate regions of traffic light are extracted. Second, after extracting the HOG feature of candidate regions, using the machine learning for classification and recognition, compressive tracking algorithm is used to track lights that have been identified a automatically. This algorithm combines feature recognition and tracking identification of traffic light and traffic light changes in scale and color can be identified normally. The algorithm proposed in this paper has been tested on actual road in intelligent vehicle; traffic light recognition effect is good.
Community-Assembly Mechanics and the Structure of an Experimental Species Ensemble

It was relatively easy to produce alternative community states as a function of variability in a sequence of species invasions employed to assemble a community. Numerous mechanisms and processes are capable of producing both temporary and nonrecoverable differences in community structure. They include priority effects, intransitivities, emergent properties (e.g., vulnerability to invasion, specific topologies), and effects specific to differences in assembly sequences themselves. In ecological systems, the existence of alternative states presents a difficult comparative problem in the search for unifying principles that might underlie community-level organization. This problem can be solved only if we understand the cause of alternative states and determine whether such states are persistent or transient. Otherwise, ecological communities appear so variable that general principles and mechanisms elude detection, even if they exert a powerful influence over the structure of the system. Mechanisms that are documented as controlling community organization and the population dynamics of component species are not necessarily the mechanisms responsible for observed patterns. Factors uncovered in any extant community may be responsible only for maintaining the status quo. The reason these factors (e.g., competition, predation, parasitism) are currently operating is often a direct function of community-assembly mechanics. Community-assembly processes and dynamics must be understood if we are to discern properly between maintenance and causal mechanisms.
Detection of Accelerating Targets in Clutter Using a De-Chirping Technique

Abstract : Accelerating targets induce chirped signals in the radar backscatter signal which cannot be efficiently detected by the direct application of the traditional Fourier transform. In this report, we propose a method based on a de-chirping factor and the Fourier transform for detecting accelerating targets in land or sea clutter environments. The method is found to be simple, yet highly effective. The results are demonstrated with both simulated and real data.
Antecedents of Entrepreneurial Processes of Causation and Opportunity Recognition in Building Material Retail Trade in Nigeria

Entrepreneurial opportunity has been a highly contentious construct among entrepreneurial scholars. Some argue that opportunity is objective - it exists independent of entrepreneurs and it can be exploited through the causation process (consistent with opportunity as discovery) which is based on rational decision model. Some argue that opportunity cannot exist independent of entrepreneurs. The basic objective of this study is to conduct a quantitative study to examine the antecedents of causation and study the impact of causation on opportunity recognition. The antecedents examined in this study are: entrepreneur’s education, entrepreneur’s special education, entrepreneur’s personality traits, and entrepreneur’s management skills. The population for this study was Nigerian entrepreneurs dealing in building materials. A questionnaire was designed and sent to 1,950 Entrepreneurs in the Building Material Industry Trade. Results of the study indicate that (1) the antecedents influence causation process and (2) causation process influences entrepreneur’s ability to recognize opportunities. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016. v7n3p66
The Influence of Athletic and Nonathletic Identities on Subclinical Eating and Somatoform Disorder Symptomology in Competitive Hispanic Male Athletes

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relationship of athletic and nonathletic identities and subclinical eating and somatoform disorder symptomology in the competitive Hispanic male athlete population. The researcher administered a survey to eighteen male athletes that assessed athletic and nonathletic identities, and symptomology. Due to a limited sample size, the results are not statistically significant, and there is no evidence that symptomology was influenced more by an athletic or nonathletic identity. However, data do suggest food restrictive patterns in the population.
Gamification elements for intrinsic motivation approach in psychology

Gamification elements for intrinsic motivation appr oach in psychology When designing a product or a service should lead to the user’s volunta ry participation and motivation, “Gamification” can be very powerful tec hniques. In many industry fields, there are various ways to try to increas e between users interaction and activities. Meanwhile, Some researchers have argued that psychological hypothesis about changing human psycholo gical motivation through gamification techniques. And, using various gamifi cation elements didn’t affect the user’s motivation as intended, moreov er that elements dropped the motivation irrelevantly. One such reasons is due to lack of understanding of a process, through which the application s of gamification elements to affect the human psychological works specif ically. In this experiment, we used “Tower of hanoi” task. this task usu ally tested for analysing cognitive problem solving process. Based on this , we set independent variables for two game interface design patterns in gamification elements. Then we figured out relatedness between task perf ormance and motivation belongs subject’s extraversion personality eleme nt. After statistically analysed, leaderboard(one independent variables) in game interface design patterns affects task performance through subject’ s extraversion personality degree and intrinsic motivation as moderated m ediation effect. As results, user’s motivation can interact with human’s personality (Big 5 personality). Furthermore, while designing new product s or services, we can understand how to apply delicately gamification ele ments and help to research more practical design considering human psyc hological aspects.
POTENTIAL OF PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA ISOLATED FROM HEALTHY AND DISEASED CATTLE AND BUFFALOES IN INDUCTION OF DISEASES

Twenty-six isolates of Pasteurella multocida were recovered from cattle and buffaloes in Iran. The identification of the isolates was carried out using morphological and biochemical tests. Among eight different biochemical biovars, 17 (65.38%) of them were assigned to biovar 3 and the rest belonged to biovars 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 15. Capsular typing of isolates by PCR demonstrated three capsular types (A, B, and D), among which type B was the most common (46.15%) and was found in 10 (38.46%) cattle and in two (7.69%) buffalo samples. A notably high prevalence of Pasteurella filamentous haemagglutinin A (PfhA) and transferrin binding protein encoding (tbpA) genes among three virulence genes detected by multiplex PCR were found. The high prevalence of these genes owning association of disease status among healthy animals showed high potential of the strains in induction of disease among cattle and buffalo herds. The results of this study imply that the role of environmental and host factors are more important than bacterial virulence factors (PfhA and tbpA) in disease induction.
A Simple Unified Coordinate Method for Compressible Homogeneous Two-Phase Flows

Our goal is to present a simple moving grid approach for the efficient numerical resolution of compressible multiphase flows with real materials in more than one space dimension. We consider a model homogeneous two-phase flow problem as an example, where the constitutive law for the thermodynamic property of the fluid component of interest is taken to fulfill a stiffened gas equation of state of the form
Using Structure Holes for Determining Key Factors: An Illustration of Reporting Eradication of Amoebiasis

Background: Many researches aim to determine key factors affecting their concerns of interest using traditional statistical techniques, such as logistical or linear regressions. Social network analysis (SNA) is a newly novel way determining key roles through the use of network and graph theories recently. An example of commonly visualized through SNA is the disease transmission path of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Purpose: To determine key roles using structure holes of SNA for further improvement, and to show the SNA advantage over traditional classic test theory. Methods: Data were records regarding 443 adult mentally retarded residents who were infected with amoebiasis and distributed in 10 houses in past 10 years. A series of intensive mass screenings and treatment interventions were conducted. Structure holes were applied to verify the efficacy of determining key roles and strong associations for the domains of interest in a network and compared with the result obtained from the traditional Chi-square statistics. Results: The classification of key roles in a network (e.g., with which year the residency room with amoebiasis cases has strongly association) can be effectively discriminated through the structure holes of SNA. Though the result is similar to the traditional Chi-square statistics, the structure holes can release much more useful and valuable information for further investigation. Conclusions: Because of advances in computer technology, the number of healthcare studies for the group classification and association assertion continues to increase and benefit comparisons of data if structure holes of SNA are applied.
Evaluation of Two Different k-e-vv-f Turbulence Models for Natural Convection in a Rectangular Cavity

Abstract : A numerical study of natural convection in a rectangular cavity with the k-e-vv-f models is presented. The primary emphasis of the study is placed on the investigation of accuracy and numerical stability of the k-e-vv-f models for a natural convection problem. Both the original vv-f model [1] and its modified one [2] are considered. Both models are applied to the prediction of natural convection in a rectangular cavity together with the two-layer model [3]. The original model exhibits the numerical stiffness problem when used with the segregate solution procedure like the SIMPLE algorithm and a simple remedy for this problem is proposed. The computed results are compared with the experimental data commonly used for validation of the turbulence models. It is shown that the original vv-f model predicts accurately the mean velocity, velocity fluctuation, Reynolds shear stress, turbulent heat flux and the local Nusselt number at the hot wall. The modified vv-f model predicts well all the quantities, but the accuracy of solution is a little deteriorated than that of the original model. The two-layer model predicts poorly the mean vertical velocity component and underpredicts the turbulent quantities. As is already known in the literature, the modified vv-f model enhances greatly the numerical stiffness problem of the original model.
Psychometric Properties of the Icelandic Version of the Denison Organizational Culture Survey

The aim of the study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the Denison Organizational Culture Survey. It consists of four factors; involvement, consistency, adaptability and mission. Each factor is further divided into three sub-factors derived from five items each. The sample included 1,132 managers and employees in 13 Icelandic firms. The majority of the participants were males or 59.3% (n=658), and 40.7% (n=452) were females. The factors and sub-factors showed good internal consistency and item-total correlation was within an acceptable range for all but two items. Factor structure was evaluated by conducting confirmatory factor analysis. Results showed acceptable goodness of fit of the original structure within involvement and consistency but not adaptability and mission. Factor analysis of the 12 sub-factors showed acceptable goodness of fit for the original four factor model, which were in line with previous studies. The psychometric properties of the survey are satisfactory.
The formation of concentric vorticity structures in typhoons

Abstract An important issue in the formation of concentric eyewalls in a tropical cyclone is the development of a symmetric structure from asymmetric convection. It is proposed herein, with the aid of a nondivergent barotropic model, that concentric vorticity structures result from the interaction between a small and strong inner vortex (the tropical cyclone core) and neighboring weak vortices (the vorticity induced by the moist convection outside the central vortex of a tropical cyclone). The results highlight the pivotal role of the vorticity strength of the inner core vortex in maintaining itself, and in stretching, organizing, and stabilizing the outer vorticity field. Specifically, the core vortex induces a differential rotation across the large and weak vortex to strain out the latter into a vorticity band surrounding the former. The straining out of a large, weak vortex into a concentric vorticity band can also result in the contraction of the outer tangential wind maximum. The stability of the out.
Re-examination of the Theoretical Model for Global-Flow-of-Funds Analysis

The aim of this paper is to correct the model of the global-flow-of-funds which was built in 2005. Also it presents a more specific idea of the global-flow-of-funds, and explains the outlines of theoretical analysis from three different viewpoints, the balance of savings-investment, current balance flows, and international capital flow. Then this paper investigates the issues that arise in interpreting and estimating multiple-equation models. Special characteristics of model of global-flow-of-funds are examined as well.
Design the Structure of Vertical Multilayer Hybrid Silicon Waveguide to Work in Anomalous Dispersion Region

In order to decrease the dispersion of the silicon vertical slot waveguide, we propose a vertical multilayer hybrid silicon waveguide. The optical mode distribution of the multilayer waveguide is simulated by a finite element method. By a proper design of the waveguide parameters, the dispersion of waveguide can in the range of ±300 ps/nm/km in 1510-1590 nm, with one zero-group-dispersion point in the C band. This waveguide can be an alternative in on-chip nonlinear application, such as all optical signal processing.
Effect of a Microscopic Roughness on Biological Adhesion of a Spherical Capsule

By means of computer simulations, this work addresses adhesion of a deformable spherical capsule to a micro-rough surface consisting of a periodic array of pillars. Depending on the micro-relief topography, three different adhesion regimes have been observed: 1) weak adhesion without deformation of the membrane (fakir state); 2) strong adhesion with deformation of the capsule membrane and binding to the bottom wall (nested or contacting state); 3) impalement of the capsule by micropillars. It has been found that a periodic micro-relief implies a favorable positioning of the capsule on rough surfaces.
Genotypically defined b-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant isolates of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae are associated with increased invasion of bronchial epithelial cells in vitro

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the presence of altered penicillinbinding protein 3 (PBP3) in non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and an increased capacity to invade bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. A collection of 40 clinical isolates of NTHi comprised of 20 with normal PBP3 and 20 with altered PBP3 (defined by an N526K substitution) was established. The isolates were tested for the ability to invade bronchial epithelial cells in vitro using a 4 h gentamicin survival assay. Invasion was measured as the percentage of intracellular organisms relative to the initial inoculum. The mean invasion rate was 0.00–14.79 % in the normal PBP3 isolates and 0.02–36.69 % in the altered PBP3 isolates. The altered PBP3 isolates had a higher (P50.003) mean invasion rate (6.86 %, n520) than the normal PBP3 isolates (1.31 %, n520). Subsequently, two variants of altered PBP3 (transformant 1, N526K; transformant 2, M377I, S385T, L389F and N526K) were cloned into three of the initial isolates (parents) with normal PBP3 and relatively low invasive ability, and the parents and transformants tested for invasion as above. There was no difference (P50.89) in the mean invasion rates for the parents (0.81 %, n53), transformants 1 (0.90 %, n53) and transformants 2 (1.38 %, n53). There was an association between the presence of altered PBP3 in NTHi and an increased capacity to invade BEAS-2B cells in vitro, but cloning experiments suggested that the altered PBP3 was not involved directly in enhanced invasion.