Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian inference and prediction for the GI/M/1 queueing system

This article undertake Bayesian inference and prediction for GI/M/1 queueing systems. A semiparametric model based on mixtures of Erlang distributions is considered to model the general interarrival time distribution. Given arrival and service data, a Bayesian procedure based on birth-death Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods is proposed. An estimation of the system parameters and predictive distributions of measures such as the stationary system size and waiting time is given
Effects of Spread Spectrum on Output Filter of Buck Converter

Consideration is being given to the use of spread spectrum technology (SST) as the one for noise suppression and the one with coexisting action on the components of output filter of buck converter. The analysis shows that the use of SST produces an additional stress on the output filter components such as power inductor and output capacitor. For both components switching modulation generates extra power loss (as opposed to unmodulated case) which increases with the growth of frequency deviation. During this more energy is dissipated just within frequencies which are below nominal switching frequency, than is saved within frequencies that are higher than the nominal switching frequency. But this effect is not strong; it is possible to compensate it by slight increase of nominal switching frequency and thus to maintain high efficiency of converter in the case of SST usage as well. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eee. 19.5. 4367
Theory and methods of panel data models with interactive effects

This paper considers the maximum likelihood estimation of panel data models with interactive effects. Motivated by applications in economics and other social sciences, a notable feature of the model is that the explanatory variables are correlated with the unobserved effects. The usual within-group estimator is inconsistent. Existing methods for consistent estimation are either designed for panel data with short time periods or are less efficient. The maximum likelihood estimator has desirable properties and is easy to implement, as illustrated by the Monte Carlo simulations. This paper develops the inferential theory for the maximum likelihood estimator, including consistency, rate of convergence and the limiting distributions. We further extend the model to include time-invariant regressors and common regressors (cross-section invariant). The regression coefficients for the time-invariant regressors are time-varying, and the coefficients for the common regressors are cross-sectionally varying.
Optimality of the Sole Sourcing under Random Yield

Though the supplier diversification is considered as a vital tool to mitigate the risk due to supply chain disruptions, there are results which show the optimality of the sole sourcing. This paper further generalizes the results to show that the sole sourcing is optimal under very mild conditions. Discussion on why the sole sourcing is optimal is given with the insight on the value of supplier diversification.
Clustering seasonal performances of soccer teams based on situational score line

In this research, the basic pattern of seasonal performances of soccer teams is investigated. We propose a clustering method to reveal the seasonal performance. In the proposed method, a new performance indicator called situational score line is used as a feature describing the seasonal performance. It consists of score line, opponent rating, and away rating. Using k -means, the features are clustered into four clusters. Cluster 1, which has a pattern of decreasing performance, is the basic pattern of Italian Serie A and German Bundesliga. Cluster 2 has a stable performance, which is mostly shown in English Premier League, Italian Serie A, and Spanish La Liga. Cluster 3 has the highest competitiveness and is one of the most common patterns in French Ligue 1 and Spanish La Liga. Finally, Cluster 4, which has a rising performance, is the basic pattern of the English Premier League.
Synergistic Benefit of Eugenia Caryophyllata L. and Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Blume Essential Oils Against Oral Pathogenic Bacteria

Eugenia caryophyllata L. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume essential oils offer great potential against the pathogens of oral cavity. Both of these essential oils have recently being used as antibiotics and antiviral agents. This study investigates the synergistic effect of E. caryophyllata and C. zeylanicum oils against known resistant bacteria in oral infection namely Enterococcus faecalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus mutan and Streptococcus salivarius. The combination effect E. caryophyllata and C. zeylanicum were evaluated using checkerboard assays. Amoxicillin at concentration 0.1 mg/mL was used as positive control while each bacteria suspension (105 CFU/mL) was used as negative control. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FIC) were calculated to characterised interaction between the combinations. Both E. caryophyllata and C. zeylanicum oils possess antimicrobial activity against all the four bacteria when used on its own or in combination. In combination, the MIC values were reduced for all bacteria compared when in single form. The synergistic antibacterial effect was significant toward E. faecalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and S. mutans with FIC index is 0.5 and below. Partial synergy was produced in S.salivarus. The acceptable range for synergistic effect is between 0.16 mg/mL and 0.31 mg/mL. Above from 0.63 mg/mL are considered as additive and antagonistic effect. The combinations of these essential oils gave a stronger antibacterial activity and directly can replace the common use of antibiotics like Amoxicillin. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic benefit using the combination of E. caryophyllata and C. zeylanicum oils in the future management of oral infection.
Cost of Equity Capital in Agricultural Organizations: Theoretical Approach and Empirical Analysis

The paper presents the methodology for estimation of the cost of equity capital in agricultural organizations. This methodology consists of two methods: modified CAPM and long-term ROE. The organizations in this sector of industry – family farms and agri-cultural companies – are family controlled or closely held. Being undiversified investors the owners of such organizations assume to-tal risk, not only systematic one. Considering the undiversification of investors, systematic risk is replaced by total risk in CAPM, and accounting information is used instead of market information. OMXBB index is chosen as a market portfolio. As it is dangerous to rely on one method, long-term ROE is applied as additional method. The cost of equity capital is calculated in all Lithuanian agri-cultural organizations, in family farms and in agricultural companies. The research results show that modified CAPM is applicable for estimation of cost of equity capital in agricultural companies, but there are some problems with the application of modified CAPM in family farms.
Hydraulic Power Take-off and Buoy Geometries Charac-terisation for a Wave Energy Converter

In the past few decades, world energy consumption grew considerably. Regarding this fact, wave energy should not be discarded as a valid alternative for the production of electricity. Devices suitable to harness this kind of renewable energy source and turn it into electricity are not yet commercially competitive. The work described in this paper aims to contribute to this field of research. It is focused on the design and construction of robust, simple and affordable hydraulic Power Take-Off using hydraulic commercial components.
Predictive parameter control

In stochastic optimisation, all currently employed algorithms have to be parameterised to perform effectively. Users have to rely on approximate guidelines or, alternatively, undertake extensive prior tuning. This study introduces a novel method of parameter control, i.e. the dynamic and automated variation of values for parameters used in approximate algorithms. The method uses an evaluation of the recent performance of previously applied parameter values and predicts how likely each of the parameter values is to produce optimal outcomes in the next cycle of the algorithm. The resulting probability distribution is used to determine the parameter values for the following cycle. The results of our experiments show a consistently superior performance of two very different EA algorithms when they are parameterised using the predictive parameter control method.
Biomonitoring of Trace Metals in the Coastal Waters Using Bivalve Molluscs

Several environmental contaminants including toxic trace metals are being discharged into the coastal environment causing serious threat to marine organisms and posing public health risk. Marine bivalves (mussel, oyster, and clam) have been successfully used as sentinel organisms for monitoring contaminant levels, including trace metals, in coastal waters around the globe. Chemical analyses measure the contaminants present in the biota but do not necessarily reveal potential biological efects. Therefore, the need to detect and assess the efects of contaminants, especially at low concentrations, has led to the development of molecular markers of contaminant efects called biomarkers. Owing to their short time of response, biomarkers in marine bivalves are used as early warning signals of biological efects caused by environmental pollutants. Research into the development and application of accurate biomarker-based monitoring tools for the environmental contaminants has been intensiied in several developed countries.
Anti-hepatotoxic and anti-oxidant effects of extracts from Piper nigrum L. root

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Piper nigrum L. root extracts on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced rat liver injury. Among the three different extracts (water, ethanol and chloroform extract), ethanol extract exhibits the highest hepatoprotective activity (p < 0.05). When using the ethanol extract at a dose of 120 mg/ kg to treat the CCl 4 -intoxicated rat, the activities of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transanimase (AST) in rat serum decreased to 65.7 and 84.5%, respectively. At the same time, the lipid peroxidation (MDA) decreased to 52.3% and glutathione (GSH) increased to 55.8% in the rats liver homogenate, as compared with those of the CCl 4 positive control rats. The hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extract was also supported by the histopathological observations. Moreover, the ethanol extract was studied for its in vitro antioxidant activity using the methods of ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA). The findings indicate that the ethanol extract of P. nigrum L. root is an efficient hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent against CCl 4 -induced liver injury. Keywords: Piper nigrum L. root, ethanol extract, carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ), hepatoprotective, antioxidant
Geoid determination for the area of Poland by the least squares modification of Stokes_s formula

Previous geoid/quasigeoid models calculated for the area of Poland were based on the traditional “remove-compute-restore” procedure. One of the modifications of this method is the least squares modification of Stokes’ formula with additive corrections method (LSMSA), which was developed at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm in Sweden. The modified Stokes integral combines the regional terrestrial gravity data with a global geopotential model (GGM) giving the approximate geoid heights. To obtain the gravimetric geoid, four additive corrections, topographic, downward continuation, atmospheric and ellipsoidal, are calculated and applied. This paper presents the results of computation of a new gravimetric geoid model for Poland using the KTH method. In computations terrestrial gravity anomalies derived from nine different gravimetric data sets, global geopotential model EGM2008 and global elevation data SRTM v. 4.1 were used. The determined gravimetric geoid model was evaluated with GPS/levelling points of the Polish ASG-EUPOS network. After fitting the geoid model to the GPS/levelling data using a 7-parameter model, the standard deviation of differences was estimated to 2 cm. ARTICLE INFO
Inequality and Local Government: Evidence from U.S. Cities and School Districts, 1970-2000.

UC Berkeley Law and Economics Workshop Draft: February 10, 2010 Inequality and Local Government: Evidence from U.S. Cities and School Districts, 1970-2000 Leah Boustan, UCLA and NBER Fernando Ferreira, Wharton and NBER Hernan Winkler, UCLA Eric M. Zolt, UCLA School of Law
Avoidance Mediates the Relationship Between Perceived Criticism in the Family of Origin and Psychological Distress in Adulthood

ABSTRACT This study examined a mediational model whereby avoidance was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between higher perceived criticism in the family of origin and psychological distress in adulthood. Undergraduate women (N = 141) completed self-report instruments assessing perceptions of criticism in the family of origin, avoidant coping, experiential avoidance, and psychological distress. The mediational model was tested using procedures outlined by Baron and Kenny (1986). Support was found for the hypothesized model: (a) Higher perceived criticism was associated with higher avoidance, (b) higher avoidance was associated with greater distress, (c) higher perceived criticism was associated with greater distress, and (d) the relationship between perceived criticism and distress was non-significant when adding avoidance into the model. Results suggest that avoidance may be an emotion regulation strategy associated with perceived criticism in the family of origin that exacerbates psychological problems in adulthood.
DATA ARCHIVING IN EPICS

The Data Archiver is operational at the Low Energy Demonstrator Accelerator (LEDA) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). In the original design, several data taking engines were foreseen. In the implementation, the periodic engine and the monitorbased engine were combined. This paper discusses the performance, disk utilization, and use of the Archiver. It will also talk about plans for data management, the integration of the archive viewer from Jefferson Laboratory, and modularization to support other data storage methods.
Design on Wrist and Gripper of manipulator Based on Kinematics Analysis

Joint-manipulator installed on the intelligent wheelchair robot decides the whole system capability. The kinematics analysis and structure design about mechanical wrist and gripper for joint-manipulator are discussed in this paper. Based on the D-H coordinate method, the kinematic equation of joint-manipulator is determined firstly, and its correctness is verified by doing the MATLAB simulation experiment. Then, according to the experimental results, the BR wrist of the manipulator is chosen and the gripper which can clamp both cylindrical and box objects is designed. In addition, the corresponding analysis is made by ANSYS software.
Crosstalk between VEGF and BMP9 Signalling in the Context of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy related disorder, characterized by proteinuria and hypertension. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is poorly understood; however, two proteins, called sFlt-1 and sEng, were found to be highly elevated in the maternal plasma weeks prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. sFlt-1 and sEng are thought to inhibit VEGF and TGF-β receptor signalling respectively. In order to elucidate how these proteins may contribute to preeclampsia, we looked at their ability to affect the secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a powerful vasoconstrictor, shown to be dysregulated in preeclampsia. We found that both TGF-β1 and BMP9, a recently described ligand for sEng, induce ET-1 secretion through Smad1/5/8 and p38 pathways. Moreover, we report that sEng and VEGF can efficiently block ET-1 secretion, induced by BMP9. We propose that the balance between VEGF and BMP9 signalling is disturbed during preeclampsia, leading to excessive release of ET-1, which in turn may cause hypertension.
Testing supernovae Ia distance measurement methods with SN 2011fe

Aims. The nearby, bright, almost completely unreddened Type Ia supernova 2011fe in M101 provides a unique opportunity to test both the precision and the accuracy of the extragalactic distances derived from SNe Ia light curve fitters. Methods. We applied the current, public versions of the independent light curve fitting codes MLCS2k2 and SALT2 to compute the distance modulus of SN 2011fe from high-precision, multi-color (BVRI) light curves. Results. The results from the two fitting codes confirm that 2011fe is a “normal” (not peculiar) and only slightly reddened SN Ia. New unreddened distance moduli are derived as 29.21 ± 0.07 mag (D ∼ 6.95 ± 0.23 Mpc, MLCS2k2), and 29.05 ± 0.07 mag (6.46 ± 0.21 Mpc). Conclusions. Despite the very good fitting quality achieved with both light curve fitters, the resulting distance moduli are inconsistent by 2σ. Both are marginally consistent (at ∼1σ) with the Hubble Space Telescope key project distance modulus for M101. The SALT2 distance is in good agreement with the recently revised Cepheid- and TRGB-distance to M101. Averaging all SN- and Cepheid-based estimates, the absolute distance to M101 is ∼6.6 ± 0. 5M pc.
Flexible Modeling of Dependence in Volatility Processes

This article proposes a novel stochastic volatility (SV) model that draws from the existing literature on autoregressive SV models, aggregation of autoregressive processes, and Bayesian nonparametric modeling to create a SV model that can capture long-range dependence. The volatility process is assumed to be the aggregate of autoregressive processes, where the distribution of the autoregressive coefficients is modeled using a flexible Bayesian approach. The model provides insight into the dynamic properties of the volatility. An efficient algorithm is defined which uses recently proposed adaptive Monte Carlo methods. The proposed model is applied to the daily returns of stocks.
Enhancing Text Compression Method Using Information Source Indexing

Text compression methods where the original texts are directly mapped into binary domain are attractive to compress English text files. This paper proposes an intermediate mapping scheme in which the original English text is transformed firstly to decimal domain and then to binary domain. Each two-decimal-digit value in the resulting intermediate decimal file represents the index to the location of each alphabet found in the original text. If the already indexed alphabet is seen again, it will be replaced by the previously given decimal-index number. The decimal file is converted into binary domain by assigning each decimal digit a 4-bit weighted code in according to its frequency of occurrence that is akin to BCD code. The assigned codes aim at generating an equivalent binary file with entropy as close as much to that of the original one. Thereafter, any conventional compression algorithm such as Lempel-Ziv algorithms can be applied to the generated binary file. The obtained compression ratios outperform those ones obtained when applying the same compression algorithm to the binary files generated either via direct mapping of the original text or via mapping the decimal file using Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) codes. Keywords: Lossless data compression; Source encoding, LZW coding, Hamming weights, Compression ratio.
Critical design for discussion about public space

This research focuses on Critical Design and the use of provocative design objects to create discussion about public space. The project sets out to develop a design approach and a critical design method for making conceptual design proposals and objects that encourage meaningful reflection on design and public space. The outcome is the development of a method and a set of tools to understand and try to create a language of critical design. The results have some common features and thematic categories that will be developed further in the project for the use of design as tools for various critiques in public space. By visualizing possible futures in public space and redefining the functions and conventions, the further research and findings will discuss how critical design can be structured and how it can contribute to design for public space. The intention of the research conducted and the following project was to design a collection of several conceptual design proposals that shift focus from design and object, to the idea and concept, challenging ideas, traditions and the users. The experiments were not for the object to be a set of practical proposals, but to open for conversations among the collaborators and viewers about the value that they might embody. The imaginative encounters staged by the object reflect the mission to provoke a dialogue about the role of objects and the state of design of this time.
Confucian Heritage Cultural Background (CHCB) as a Descriptor for Chinese Learners: The Legitimacy

This paper critically reviews the commonly referenced idea of the Confucian Heritage Cultural Background (CHCB) Chinese learners from a cultural and historical perspective. It challenges the legitimacy of using this idea as a central reference point to explain Chinese learners’ learning. Instead it examines the influence and the cultural and historical significance of the examination heritage framework. It argues that despite the continuous changes and external pressures that China is subjected to in today’s globalization and rapid changing education scene, assessment still plays a vital role.
Antioxidative and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor potential of selected honey of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Honey is a sweet substance that can be obtain from flower nectar and secretes through transformations process by honey bees. The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities of 4 wild honey (wild honey produced by different species of bees: Apis cerana, Apis andreniformis, Apis koschevnikovi and Apis nuluensis) collected from the secondary forest and 6 commercial (young and old Mangrove, young and old Upper mountain, Tropical, Potiukan) honey of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Antioxidant activities were determined using FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), DPPH free radical scavenging and ABTS decolourization assays. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition effect was determined by enzyme inhibition method. The results of this study showed that wild honey produced by A.cerana collected from the Acacia tree extracted using 80% methanol displayed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ABTS decolorization assays. Whereas wild honey produced by A.nuluensis collected from the Chestnut tree extracted using 80% methanol displayed the highest FRAP activity. The wild honey produced by A. nuluensis also displayed the highest acetylcholinesterase properties as the antioxidant compounds contributed to the inhibitory properties of the enzyme. Manuka honey (produced from tea tree) found to be higher in antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase properties as compared to all other samples. The same trend of bioactivity was also observed in absolute methanol extracts. Strong positive correlation was found between antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase activity. Therefore, honey has the potential as natural antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition sources with promising potential benefits to human’s health.