Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collaborative Filtering-Based Film Recommendation Technique Utilizing Time and Film Genres

Due to the uncertainty of users’ preferences for different movies at different times, movie recommendation poses a huge challenge. We present an improved collaborative filtering algorithm for film recommendation whose design was motivated by a need to extract meaningful information for further recommending from film viewing applications. To this end, the method we propose utilises an improved method for analyzing user interest in film genres, which can then be subsequently used to predict users’ ratings of unwatched movies in combination with the current viewing time. In our new algorithm, we extract genre information considering time decay factor and combine it with matrix factorization collaborative filtering algorithm, and propose a novel algorithm structure, the MFTGICF algorithm. Compared with general traditional collaborative filtering algorithms and some other methods, this algorithm has more precision and higher stability. Both the theoretical analysis and extensive experiments show the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
Age and growth of the Lessepsian migrant Lagocephalus spadiceus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Background. The population of Lagocephalus spadiceus (Richardson, 1845), one of the Lessepsian species that migrated from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal, has been growing rapidly in Turkey in recent years. This situation poses a serious danger to fisheries and human health. There is little information about the biology of this species. The presently reported study permits a greater understanding of the age and growth characteristics of the pufferfish L. spadiceus from the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean. Materials and methods. Samples were captured by commercial bottom trawlers at depths of 24–50 m during 9 trawling operations conducted during the fishing seasons between 2012 and 2013 in the Gulf of Iskenderun, northeastern Mediterranean. Age determinations were carried out using vertebrae. Images of vertebrae suitable for age determination were obtained with a dissecting microscope. The index of the mean percentage error (IMPE) was calculated to assess the precision of the age determinations between two independent readers. Growth parameters for all individuals were then determined by fitting observed and length-at-age data using the von Bertalanffy growth equation. In addition, the condition factor (CF) was determined. Results. A total of 1116 specimens (529 females and 587 males) were sampled, ranging from 6.7 to 34.0 cm in total length and from 4.30 to 557.64 g in weight. The female-to-male ratio was 1:1.1. Age determination was conducted using vertebral band counts. The age of the examined specimens ranged from 0 to 10 years. One female individual was determined to be 17 years of age (45.6 cm and 1269.0 g). The von Bertalanffy growth equations were Lt = 47.21[1 – e –0.116(t + 2.04)] and Wt = 1296.18 [1 – e –0.116(t + 2.04)]2.846 for females, Lt = 46.36 [1 – e –0.133(t + 1.76)] and Wt = 1381.86 [1 – e –0.133(t + 1.76)]2.817 for males and Lt = 46.90 [1 – e –0.120(t + 1.97)] and Wt = 1345.67 [1 – e –0.120(t + 1.97)]2.831 for all individuals. The growth performance index (Ф ́) value was calculated as 2.421 for all individuals. The condition factor ranged from 0.890 to 2.768 for females and from 0.899 to 2.767 for males. Conclusions. It is very important to investigate L. spadiceus, an invasive species, in order to prevent its harmful effects on fisheries and human health. As this study is the first study on the age and growth of L. spadiceus in the northeastern Mediterranean, it will significantly contribute to future ecosystem conservation and management strategies.
Apol i pop rote i n changes associated with the p I asm a I i p id- reg u I at i ng activity of gem f i b rozi I in cholesterol-fed rats

Gemfibrozil (Lopid@) is a new plasma lipid-regu- lating drug that decreases very low and low density lipoprotein (VLDL/LDL) and increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations in man. The present experiments tested the effects of gemfibrozil on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in rats fed high fadhigh cholesterol diets. Compared to chow-fed rats, cholesterol feeding for 2 weeks (20% olive oi1/2% choles- terol) produced the expected increases in VLDL and intermedi- ate density lipoprotein (IDL) while lowering plasma HDL. This was documented by using three methods of lipoprotein isolation: sequential ultracentrifugation, density gradient ultracentrifuga- tion, and agarose gel filtration. Gemfibrozil gavaged at 50 mg/kg per day for 2 weeks during cholesterol feeding prevented these changes such that lipoprotein patterns were similar to those in chow-fed animals. Whole plasma apoE and apd-I concentrations were decreased and apoB increased due to cholesterol feeding as determined by electroimmunoassay, but again gemfibrozil treat- ment prevented these diet-induced alterations. Gradient poly- acrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of the total d 1.21 g/ml, lipoprotein-free fraction with gemfibrozil treatment when blood was taken from fasted or post- absorptive animals. Since it was also noted that in chow-fed rats more apd-IV was present in the d > 1.21 g/ml fraction in the postabsorptive or fed state compared to fasted animals, it could be postulated that the shift of apoA-IV into this fraction in gemfibrozil-treated rats is related to an accelerated clearance of chylomicrons.UIt is concluded that gemfibrozil largely prevents the accumulation of abnormal lipoproteins in this model of dyslipoproteinemia, and that apoE may play a critical role in this normalization process. -Krause, B. R. , and R. S. Newton. Apolipoprotein changes associated with the plasma lipid-regulat- ing activity of gemfibrozil in cholesterol-fed rats. J. Lipid Res. 1985. 26: 940-949.
Phylogenetic analysis of colubrid snakes based on 12S rDNA reveals distinct lineages of Dendrelaphis pictus (Gmelin, 1789) populations in Sumatra and Java

Nugraha FAD, Fatchiyah F, Smith EN, Nia Kurniawan N. 2018. ­­Phylogenetic analysis of colubrid snakes based on 12S rDNA reveals distinct lineages of Dendrelaphis pictus (Gmelin, 1789) populations in Sumatra and Java. Biodiversitas 19: 303-310. The phylogenetic relationship among the major colubrid snakes, particularly those of the subfamily Colubrinae, has been the subject of much debate. Also, there was limited data on the molecular relationships of Sundaland colubrid snakes. This study aimed to examine the relationships among colubrid snakes from Sumatra and Java based on fragments of 12S rDNA gene. We sequenced 17 specimens of colubrid snakes representing 5 genera and 2 subfamilies: Colubrinae and Ahaetullinae. We used maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods for inferring phylogenetic relationships. The result of our phylogenetic analyses is in line with the previous findings for the separation between Colubrinae and Ahaetullinae. Interestingly, we found two distinct clades of Dendrelaphis pictus species with the high genetic divergence between them where D. pictus from Sumatra and West Java separated from Central and East Java clade. Our divergence time estimation showed that the differentiation between these clades of D. pictus occurred in the late Miocene epoch (8.9 Ma) when Sumatra and Java separated after being inundated in the early Miocene epoch.
Physical, chemical, sensorial and bioactive characteristics of local and standard pear cultivars in Turkey.

Some important physical (fruit external color, flesh firmness, fruit size, fruit weight, fruit volume, stone cell), chemical (ash, pH, soluble solid content, sugars, titratable acidity), sensorial (appearance, firmness, sweetness, grittiness, juiciness and overall quality) and bioactive (antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, total phenolic content, vitamin C) characteristics of eleven local and one standard pear cultivar were investigated. All cultivars were found in national pear repository in Ataturk Horticultural Central Research Institute in Turkey. Fruit weight of pears was between 56.80 g (‘Kirmizi Biber’) and 128.94 g (‘Erkenci Uzun Sap’). Results showed that ‘Bağ’ cultivar had the highest sensorial scores (8.4 overall quality) and antioxidant capacity (21.44 mg ascorbic acid equivalent∙g-1). Stone cell were found between 63.65 (‘Gümüşhane’) and 81.65 mg dry weight∙g-1 (‘Maslovka’). The cultivar ‘Orak’ showed the highest chlorogenic acid (185.98 mg∙kg-1) and epicatechin (108.26 mg∙kg-1) content.
Energy performance certificates and house prices: a quantile regression approach

PurposeA number of studies have investigated the relationship between energy performance certificates (EPCs) and house prices. A majority of studies have tended to model energy performance pricing effects within a traditional hedonic conditional mean estimate model. There has been limited analysis that has accounted for the relationship between EPCs and the effects across the pricing distribution. Moreover, there has been limited research examining the “standard cost improvements EPC score”, or “potential score”. Therefore, this paper aims to quantify and measure the dynamic effects of EPCs on house prices across the price spectrum and account for standardised cost-effective retrofit improvements.Design/methodology/approachExisting EPC studies produce one coefficient for the entirety of the pricing distribution, culminating in a single marginal implicit price effect. The approach within this study applies a quantile regression approach to empirically estimate how quantiles of house prices respond differently to unitary changes in the proximal effects of EPCs and structural property characteristics across the conditional distribution of house prices. Using a data set of 1,476 achieved transaction prices, the quantile regression models apply both assessed EPC score and bands and further examine the potential EPC rating for improved energy performance based on an average energy cost improvement.FindingsThe findings show that EPCs are valued differently across the quantiles and that conditional quantiles are asymmetrical. Only property prices in the upper quantiles of the price distribution show significant capitalisation effects with energy performance, and only properties with higher EPC scores display positive significant effects at the higher end of the price distribution. There are also brown discount effects evident for lower-rated properties within F- and G-rated EPC properties at the higher end of the pricing distribution. Moreover, the potential energy efficiency rating (score) also shows increased effects with sales prices and appears to minimise any brown discount effects. The findings imply that energy performance is a complex feature that is not easily “averaged” for valuation effect purposes.Originality/valueWhile numerous studies have investigated the pricing effects of EPCs, they have tended to provide a single estimate to determine the relationship with price. This paper extends the traditional analytical insights beyond the conditional mean estimate by examining the quantiles of the relationship between EPCs and house prices to enhance the understanding of this esoteric and complex issue. In addition, this research applies the assessed energy efficiency potential to establish whether effective cost improvements enhance the relationship with sales price and capitalisation effects.
Theoretical and Methodical Aspects of Ensuring Sustainable Operation of the Businesses Considering Their Innovative Activity

This article considers a new approach to ensuring the sustainable functioning of a company considering its innovative activity on the basis of the original tools developed by the author, including strictly regulated indicators of the organization's activity, ensuring its stability, and their flexible filling to maintain it through a timely targeted impact on their level. The paper shows the interaction of two different levels of indicators in their quantitative and qualitative cross section.
Tongue Posture, Tongue Movements, Swallowing, and Cerebral Areas Activation: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

The aim of this study was to pinpoint the cerebral regions implicated during swallowing by comparing the brain activation areas associated with two different volitional movements: tongue protrusion and tongue elevation. Twenty-four healthy subjects (11—males 22 ± 2.9 y; 13—females 23 ± 4.1 y; were examined through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing two different swallowing tasks: with tongue protrusion and with tongue elevation. The study was carried out with the help of fMRI imaging which assesses brain signals caused by changes in neuronal activity in response to sensory, motor or cognitive tasks. The precentral gyrus and the cerebellum were activated during both swallowing tasks while the postcentral gyrus, thalamus, and superior parietal lobule could be identified as large activation foci only during the protrusion task. During protrusion tasks, increased activations were also seen in the left-middle and medial frontal gyrus, right thalamus, inferior parietal lobule, and the superior temporal gyrus (15,592-voxels; Z-score 5.49 ± 0.90). Tongue elevation activated a large volume of cortex portions within the left sub-gyral cortex and minor activations in both right and left inferior parietal lobules, right postcentral gyrus, lentiform nucleus, subcortical structures, the anterior cingulate, and left insular cortex (3601-voxels; Z-score 5.23 ± 0.52). However, the overall activation during swallowing tasks with tongue elevation, was significantly less than swallowing tasks with tongue protrusion. These results suggest that tongue protrusion (on inferior incisors) during swallowing activates a widely distributed network of cortical and subcortical areas than tongue elevation (on incisor papilla), suggesting a less economic and physiologically more complex movement. These neuromuscular patterns of the tongue confirm the different purpose of elevation and protrusion during swallowing and might help professionals manage malocclusions and orofacial myofunctional disorders.
Application of the Characterization of Partially Saturated Soils in the Modeling of the Resistant Behavior of Isolated Footings Subjected to Axial Load

This research addresses the aspects related to obtaining the bearing capacity and the settlement of an isolated footing subjected to axial load supported on the soil from the Capdevila formation by using computer modeling. For this purpose, the Abaqus/CAE software was used, which details the modeling process of the partially saturated soil from the Capdevila formation. This research also addresses aspects related to the geometric design of the model, loads, as well as the definition of the boundary and interface conditions between the bodies that make up the system. It addresses the entire mathematical calibration process of the model, associated with the selection of the type of finite element and the appropriate mesh density, according to an adequate computational cost .
An Examination and Survey of Data Confidentiality Issues and Solutions in Academic Research Computing

Author(s): Peisert, Sean | Abstract: In research academic computing, may be natural to emphasize data integrity over confidentiality. However, there are numerous categories of academic research that do have data confidentiality requirements, from research that is simply embargoed until a future publication date to research that contains industry-owned proprietary information or is subject to government regulation. The contents of this report are based on numerous community conversations with leaders in academic research IT, data librarians, computer science researchers, computer security professionals, and others with roles involving using or enabling the use of sensitive data in academic research. The report discusses challenges to conducting research on data that is in some way sensitive, and solutions that are being used or could be used to address those challenges and enable the research to take place. Those solutions include technical solutions as well as administrative and procedural issues. The report concludes with recommendations to campuses on issues to consider in order to enable research on sensitive data while ensuring security and privacy as well as usability and usefulness of the environment hosting that data.
k
 ‐Sparse extreme learning machine

Extreme learning machine (ELM) is a single layer feed-forward neural network with advantages of fast training and good generalization properties. However, when the size of the hidden layer is increased, both of these advantages are lost as the redundant information may cause over ﬁ tting. Traditional way to deal with the issue is to introduce regularisation which promote sparsity but in the output layer weight matrix. In this Letter, we proposed the use of sparsity inside the output of the hidden layer such as to use it as the only non-linearity in the hidden layer. In the proposed formulation, we use linear activation function inside the hidden layer and keep k highest activity-bearing neurons as a measure of sparsity. Using the principal component analysis, we project the resulting output layer matrix onto a low-dimensional space in order to further remove redundant and irrelevant information, and speed up the training process. In order to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, we test and compare it with a number of ELM variants using benchmark datasets. Compared with these methods, our results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves better accuracy performance consistently across many different benchmark datasets.
Cumulative effects of environmental factors on household childhood diarrhoea in Ghana

Many children under five years still die from diarrhoeal diseases globally even though much progress has been made. The threat to public health posed by diarrhoeal diseases warrants the need to understand the interaction of the disease determinants from a spatio-temporal perspective to inform policy and intervention design. In this study, a pooled regression analysis was carried out using the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data on 15,808 children under five years, to assess the combined effect of environmental factors on childhood diarrhoea prevalence and morbidity over a 21-year period. Childhood diarrhoea prevalence declined steadily from 20% to 16% from 1993 to 2003 but increased to 20% in 2008 and finally decreased significantly to 12% in 2014. The strength of the association between diarrhoea prevalence and each of the predictors presented in decreasing order of magnitude were as follows: current age of child, geographical region, religion, mother’s highest educational level, ethnicity, source of drinking water and toilet facility, residential wellbeing, birth order, age of mother, and sex of child. Regional and temporal heterogeneities in prevalence, rate and distribution of diarrhoea were observed, indicating the need for context-specific interventions and policies.
Rapid Screening Method for Phenolic Off-Flavor (POF) Production in Yeast

Because of an increased interest in complex niche products and the ongoing quest for improved brewing efficiency and quality, the interest in novel yeasts is increasing. However, many of these nonconventional yeasts and newly developed hybrids often produce undesirable off-flavors and, in particular, are characterized by strong production of phenolic aromas such as 4-vinyl guaiacol (4VG). Here, we describe a novel high-throughput, low-cost absorbance-based screening method that allows quick determination of the phenolic off-flavor (POF) production capacity of yeasts. We show that this method correlates well with the standard, more laborious GC-based methods and that it can be used to assess POF production of many different strains in parallel with minimal hands-on labor. This new method therefore opens exciting new routes to select rare variants or mutations that combine desirable phenotypes without showing unwanted production of POFs such as 4VG.
Pareto-Optimal Pilot Design for Cellular Massive MIMO Systems

We introduce a non-orthogonal pilot design scheme that simultaneously minimizes two contradicting targets of channel estimation errors of all base stations (BSs) and the total pilot power consumption of all users in a multi-cell massive MIMO system, subject to the transmit power constraints of the users in the network. We formulate a multi-objective optimization problem (MOP) with two objective functions capturing the contradicting targets and find the Pareto optimal solutions for the pilot signals. Using weighted-sum-scalarization technique, we first convert the MOP to an equivalent single-objective optimization problem (SOP), which is not convex. Assuming that each BS is provided with the most recent knowledge of the pilot signals of the other BSs, we then decompose the SOP into a set of distributed non-convex optimization problems to be solved at individual BSs. Finally, we introduce an alternating optimization approach to cast each one of the resulting distributed optimization problems into a convex linear matrix inequality (LMI) form. We provide a mathematical proof for the convergence of the proposed alternating approach and a complexity analysis for the LMI optimization problem. Simulation results confirm that the proposed approach can significantly reduce pilot power, whilst maintaining the same level of channel estimation error as in a baseline.
Experimental Assessment of Corrugated Rectangular Actuators on Supersonic Jet Mixing

To improve the stealth capability of a military aircraft, the reduction in core length is essential to reduce the heat signature and the noise characteristics of the engine exhaust. The efficacy of rectangular vortex generators in achieving these objectives has been demonstrated by several researchers, owing to their simplicity. One way of producing the mixed-size vortices is by providing corrugations on the edge of the tab (actuator). Therefore, in the current study, two tabs of aspect ratio 1.5, mounted diametrically opposite to each other at the outlet of a Mach 1.73 circular nozzle, are examined at varying levels of expansions, ranging from overexpanded to underexpanded jet states. In addition, to generate the mixed-size vortices, three corrugation geometries, i.e., rectangular, triangular, and semicircular, are configured along the tab edges. Both quantitative and qualitative investigations are carried out by using the pitot probe to measure the stagnation pressures and by utilizing a shadowgraph technique to visualize the flow field. The corrugated tabs generated a significant mixing, and among them, the tabs with triangular corrugations are found to be most effective. A maximum reduction of about 99.7% in the supersonic core is obtained with triangular corrugated tabs at near-correct-expansion, corresponding to nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) 5. Interestingly, the semicircular corrugated tab significantly reduces the asymmetry near the nozzle exit plane. The shadowgraph images confirm the efficacy of different corrugated tabs in reducing the strength of the waves, prevalent in the supersonic core.