Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic relation between co-speech gestures, pitch accents and information status

This study investigates the occurrence of co-speech gestures as a function of prosodic prominence (pitch accents) and discourse meaning (information status) in a clear and engaging speech style. Among several types of co-speech gestures, we examine non-referential gestures, which are claimed to be prosodic in nature (Shattuck-Hufnagel & Ren 2018). In particular, we want to find out to what extent these gestures co-occur with specific accent types and whether they are used to encode referential, lexical, or contrastive information. Our results show that the occurrence of gestures was highest for L+H*, followed by H*, ! H*, and unaccented words. Gestures were accompanied by L* only in continuations. Also, co-speech gestures were more likely to occur with new or accessible, and especially contrastive, information than with given information. The patterns differed between the referential and lexical level of information status, though. In general, this study suggests that co-speech gestures contribute to the probabilistic encoding of a word’s information status in conjunction with pitch accents.
Sparsely Excited Tightly Coupled Dipole Arrays Based on Irregular Array Techniques

An innovative architecture for sparsely excited tightly coupled dipole arrays is proposed, based on the irregular array techniques. In such a framework, an improved maximum-entropy model considering the difference of embedded element patterns is applied to optimize the irregular partition to suppress the grating lobes. Meanwhile, guidelines for the entire design procedure including antenna elements, power dividers, and optimization design of irregular feeding networks are presented. In order to achieve large elevation angle scanning, the differential evolution (DE) algorithm is used to synthesize active pattern and active reflection coefficient simultaneously. Finally, a 192-port prototype operating at 8–12 GHz has been fabricated and measured, where the port spacing is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.576\lambda _{h}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{h}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the free-space wavelength at the highest frequency). Numerical and experimental results show that the prototype array is able to achieve the reduction of gain <1 dB for scanning to near broadside and about 2.7 dB for scanning up to 60°, in comparison with that of conventional Taylor arrays.
Use of nonparametric regression in mode B type measurement model: A simulation study approach

Article history: Received 18 August 2019 Received in revised form 11 November 2019 Accepted 12 November 2019 In the conventional PLS-path modeling, the relationship among latent variables (LVs) is estimated by fitting a simple/multiple linear regression lines. For this purpose, researchers have to assume that the endogenous LV is the linear function of exogenous LVs, which is rarely met in real data analysis. The statisticians have devised a non-linear model-fitting approach to overcome the issue of linearity, but for that purpose, one should assume some specific functional form like quadratic, cubic or some degree of a polynomial in advance. Hence, when the linearity assumption is violated, the only appropriate choice is to use the nonparametric regression approaches. This study is mainly focused on the estimation of the latent variable model by incorporating three nonparametric smoothing procedures: Kernel regression estimate, local polynomial estimate, and smoothing spline estimates. An algorithm for LV models is proposed and presented based on nonparametric regression approaches for the mode B type measurement model (i.e., formative model). From simulation studies, it was clearly concluded that nonparametric based LV modeling approaches perform well for large sample sizes (i.e., for sample size 100 and above) as compared to standard PLS-path modeling procedure. However, for small samples (less than 100 observations), the standard PLS-path modeling procedure was giving better results.
The Effect of Eco-efficiency and Size on Company Value Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

This study aims to empirically examine the effect of eco-efficiency and company size on the value of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The data used are secondary data obtained from annual reports and sustainability reports of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2016. The number of observations in this study is 80. The instrument used to analyze is Partial Least Square. The novelty in this study is that eco-efficiency is calculated by comparing the amount of net sales to energy consumption, and to measure a company size with a proxy for the number of sales. The results of this study indicate that eco-efficiency has an influence on company value. The direction of influence is negative, meaning that the better the eco-efficiency, the lower the value of the company. Company size does not affect the value of the company, in the sense that the sale value does not cause the value of the company to experience better changes, because the value of the company is more influenced by the assets owned by the company. The limitation of this study is that the amount of energy sources used is difficult to obtain, so the study population is limited to companies listed on the IDX that have a Sustainability Reporting and are included in the Sustainability Disclosure Database from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which is not large. In the future it is expected that companies responsible for the environment implement environmental management accounting with eco-efficiency assessment indicators so as to reduce costs and environmental impacts by making more efficient use of resources so as to increase company value.
Role of Pax6 in pancreatic endocrine cell subtype specification.

Pax6, a transcription factor from the paired box gene family is expressed in the endocrine pancreas and is required for its proper development. As Pax6 classical and pancreas-specific conditional knockout mice die early after birth, it is not possible to analyze the role of Pax6 in adult endocrine cell function. Therefore, we generated non-inducible alpha-cell-specific and inducible beta-cell-specific Pax6 knockout mice to observe the cell-type-specific effect of Pax6 ablation. Following Pax6 ablation, the adult beta-cells lost their mature differentiation state and function. This was evident by the reduced expression of insulin, MafA, Nkx6.1, Glut2, and GLP-1 receptor and an increased expression of proSAAS and 7B2. Loss of beta-cell function in turn resulted in hyperglycemia in these mice. Furthermore, these Pax6-deficient beta-cells started to express ghrelin and persisted in the islets as immature beta-cell-like cells. Ablation of Pax6 from alpha-cells also resulted in the loss of mature alpha-cell function that was evident by the reduced expression of glucagon and MafB and an increased expression of 7B2. Pax6-deficient alpha-cells also started to express ghrelin. In this study, we confirmed the essential requirement of Pax6 in adult alpha- and beta-cell function in vivo and clearly established the origin of ghrelin+ cells in the respective Pax6 knockout pancreata. Moreover, when overexpressed in the pancreas, Pax6 did not affect the development or function of beta-cells but the numbers of alpha-, PP-, and epsilon-cells were slightly reduced.
Communicative action and supportive behaviors for environmental CSR practices: an attitude-based segmentation approach

While the segmentation approach has been frequently employed to explore individuals' environment-friendly behaviors, the investigation of environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication by using such a method is limited. Given that the importance of the role of public segmentation is well documented in both public relations and environmental management literatures, the present study attempts to fill the gap by exploring whether consumers can be segmented on the basis of attitudinal factors, and, if so, how this segmentation informs communication efforts aimed at promoting companies' environmental CSR programs. ,This segmentation approach is examined based on a survey of 470 participants. Results of a k-means cluster analysis identified three subgroups: active publics, aware publics and latent publics. ,Survey results provide empirical support evidence on how different public segmentation approaches can be used to predict individual communication behaviors on environmental CSR issues. Segmentation approach that considered individuals' attitudes on environmental issues and their perceptions on company environmental CSR practices helps identify three subgroups. Significant differences regarding communicative action and supporting behaviors among the three groups are identified and discussed. ,This study provides key insights about public segmentation and different publics' communicative action, and supportive behaviors provide direction for future research investigations that will strengthen theoretical arguments and best practices in public relations.
Cluster computing‐aided model updating for a high‐fidelity finite element model of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge

Accurate and high‐fidelity finite element (FE) models are in great demand in the design, performance assessment, and life‐cycle maintenance of long‐span cable‐stayed bridges. The structural system of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge is often huge in size and complex with many components connected and various materials constituted. Therefore, the FE model of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge involves a large number of elements and nodes with many uncertainties. The model updating of the FE model to best represent a real bridge is necessary but very challenging. One of the challenging issues is that the numerical computation needed for searching the global optimum of a large set of structural parameters is so extensive that the existing FE (not surrogate) model‐based updating methods cannot fulfill this task. In this study, a cluster computing‐aided FE model updating framework is proposed for the high‐performance FE model updating of large and complex structures. In the framework, several computer software packages, including MSC.Marc, Python, and MATLAB, are interconnected for making use of their respective functions of strength. The shake table test of a scaled physical structure of the Sutong cable‐stayed bridge in China is used to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed framework. The simulated bridge responses based on the updated FE model are in good agreement with the measured ones from the shake table test. The successful application of the proposed framework provides a reference for the model updating of other types of large and complex structures.
Implementation of an Initial Mental Health Assessment for Newly Arrived Refugees

Abstract The U.S. refugee policy relies heavily on the expectation that refugees will achieve self-sufficiency in the short term by obtaining employment. Since physical health is an important factor for employment, the U.S. government requires all refugees to be physically examined immediately after arrival. Mental health is also an important factor, especially for long-term sustainability of employment and overall well-being. Mental health screening is encouraged, but not required, and depends on the availability of services. The goal of this study is to identify refugees’ mental health needs in a refugee resettlement destination in Western New York. Additionally, researchers aim to develop a best practice model for an initial mental health assessment and explore ways to connect refugees with psychosocial services. The Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS15) is a valid and effective screening tool to assess the mental health status of refugees. The tool was administered to 63 refugees who were older than 18 years of age. 41 participants screened positive for mental health support and services. Mental health symptomology is found to be more frequent among older refugees and among the refugees who spent a shorter period of time in refugee camps. The results are disseminated to advocate for the utilization of an initial mental health assessment for all newly arrived refugees in the United States. Future research may better explore what psychosocial factors play a role in lessening the impact of war-related violence among refugees in camps over time through longitudinal designs.
Sepallata genes and their role during floral organ formation

Charles Darwin called the ability and success of angiosperms to colonise various parts of the earth even under unfavorable conditions an abominable mystery. This mystery is still not solved but one idea to explain the success of angiosperms is the development of the flower. SEPALLATA genes are common across angiosperms and play a major role in the development of all four floral organs and meristem determinacy. SEP genes occurred via Whole Genome Duplication (WGD) and are described as redundantly acting genes in the model organism A. thaliana. However, this study shows non-redundant functions affecting all floral organs for all four genes, especially under elevated growth conditions affecting the robustness and reproductive fitness of the plant, suggesting a diversification. SEPALLATA4 in particularly has a specific role within this gene family based on its early expression pattern compared to the other SEPs and its effect on flowering time, floral meristem maintenance, floral organ identity and organ number. The identification of genome wide targets of SEP4 and expression analysis revealed a bi-functional role for this transcription factor during flower development. Comparison between SEP3 and SEP4 targets revealed a large number of common but also independent targets, indicating that flower development is regulated to a large degree redundantly but also has independent ways of regulation. This suggests that maintenance of multiple genes after a WGD event in angiosperms causes diversification in-between these genes and contributes to the robustness of the plant to environmental perturbations and has influenced their ability to radiate and occupy different ecological niches. This might be one explanation to explain the tremendous success of flowering plants.
Futures literacy theatre lab with unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors

This article discusses a Practice as Research project, the design and implementation of a Futures Literacy Lab in which tools derived from the arsenal of the Theatre of the Oppressed were applied. The lab involved asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors, and took place in the island of Lesvos, Greece in July, 2019. Applied theatre practices often deal with communities and individuals in a transformational manner, which is, by definition, future-oriented. In this respect, the work undertaken served as a first case study for potential interdisciplinary collaboration between Performance Studies and Futures studies. This exercise is not without its ethical implications, though. This paper will discuss some of the challenges, pitfalls and successes of this process.
Staphylococcal β-Hemolysin I. Purification of β-Hemolysin

The purification of staphylococcal β-hemolysin was accomplished by the successive use of three protein fractionation methods. The first method employed was a double precipitation with the use of ammonium sulfate at 65% saturation. The second phase of purification used Sephadex G-100 column fractionation. The third phase utilized either carboxymethyl cellulose or diethylaminoethyl cellulose fractionation. The last two fractionation methods both resulted in the separation of a relatively high concentration of cationic hot-cold lysin and a low concentration of anionic hot-cold lysin. Because of the low concentration of the anionic component, its purity could not be assessed. However, the purity of the cationic component was demonstrated by immunodiffusion, microimmunoelectrophoresis, and by disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, antisera against purified cationic β-hemolysin yielded one line of precipitate when tested against the original crude β-hemolysin. The purified cationic β-hemolysin was stable in the lyophilized state. Crude β-hemolysin was dermonecrotic, whereas purified cationic β-hemolysin was not dermonecrotic even after Mg++ activation.
Actividad física en el tiempo libre previene enfermedades cardiacas/cardiovasculares: una revisión sistemática

This systematic review examines the incidence of physical activity during leisure time (PALT), in the prevention of risk and mortality from cardiac and cardiovascular disease. The PALT reported in each of the 29 observational studies selected, were classified according to the types of recreational activities present in the literature. Therefore, after the analysis, four categories emerged: physical recreation, artistic recreation, outdoor recreation and recreation due to hobbies. Likewise, it is established that PALT, especially those of high intensity such as physical and outdoor recreation, contribute to prevent risk factors and mortality due to cardiovascular and cardiac disease. For future research, it is important to incorporate the classification of recreational activities and analyze the influence that each type of these activities can have on the prevention of cardiovascular and cardiac coronary disease.
Examining Luxury Restaurant Dining Experience towards Sustainable Reputation of the Michelin Restaurant Guide

The study aims to investigate the formation of customer loyalty among luxury restaurant patrons in Korea. Moreover, the study investigated how the restaurants’ performance could contribute to the trust and sustainability of the Michelin restaurant guide’s reputation. The study identified meal experience, brand credibility, and brand love to influence customers’ revisit intention and willingness to pay a premium. The study surveyed 400 luxury restaurant patrons in Korea. The Michelin restaurant guide was used to classify fine dining restaurants. Measurement items from previously validated studies were adopted. The results of the study showed the meal experience scale satisfactorily measures service performance and leads to the formation of brand credibility. Subsequently, brand prestige and brand love significantly predicted customers’ loyalty intentions. Additionally, brand credibility helps form the trust of the Michelin guide and eventually predicts the long-term reputation of the guide.
Assessing the Use of Reinforcement Learning for Integrated Voltage/Frequency Control in AC Microgrids

The main purpose of this paper is to present a novel algorithmic reinforcement learning (RL) method for damping the voltage and frequency oscillations in a micro-grid (MG) with penetration of wind turbine generators (WTG). First, the continuous-time environment of the system is discretized to a definite number of states to form the Markov decision process (MDP). To solve the modeled discrete RL-based problem, Q-learning method, which is a model-free and simple iterative solution mechanism is used. Therefore, the presented control strategy is adaptive and it is suitable for the realistic power systems with high nonlinearities. The proposed adaptive RL controller has a supervisory nature that can improve the performance of any kind of controllers by adding an offset signal to the output control signal of them. Here, a part of Denmark distribution system is considered and the dynamic performance of the suggested control mechanism is evaluated and compared with fuzzy-proportional integral derivative (PID) and classical PID controllers. Simulations are carried out in two realistic and challenging scenarios considering system parameters changing. Results indicate that the proposed control strategy has an excellent dynamic response compared to fuzzy-PID and traditional PID controllers for damping the voltage and frequency oscillations.
Gases emissions estimation and analysis by using carbon dioxide balance method in natural-ventilated dairy cow barns

Contaminated gases emissions from livestock industry are becoming one of the most significant contributors to the increasingly serious environmental pollution. To find a way to reduce gases emissions, it is essential to reveal the factors that can affect the gases emissions. In this study, the concentrations of typical gases (including ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)) generated from naturally-ventilated dairy cow barns were detected through the sample-data method in Tianjin, northern China. Indoor environmental conditions, such as temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH), were measured simultaneously. After applying the carbon dioxide mass balance method, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide emissions were determined. The correlation analysis and regression analysis between the climate condition and gas emissions were conducted to assess the data collected in dairy cow barns during the whole study period. There was a significant relationship between environmental conditions and gas emissions. NH3, H2S and SO2 emissions from the building are in the range of 0.98-2.36 g/LU·h, 0-0.034 g/LU·h, and 0-0.069 g/LU·h, respectively. The numerical analysis shows that the NH3 emission is highly correlated with the temperature and relative humidity. The ventilation rate shows a positive correlation with all the three gases. Keywords: gas emissions, environmental conditions, correlation analysis, regression analysis, carbon dioxide, H2S emission, NH3 emission, SO2 emission DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe. 20201302.4802 Citation: Zou B, Shi Z X, Du S H. Gases emissions estimation and analysis by using carbon dioxide balance method in natural-ventilated dairy cow barns. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(2): 41–47.
Using a Citizen Science Approach with German Horse Owners to Study the Locomotion Behaviour of Horses on Pasture

Engaging farmers as citizen scientists may be a cost-efficient way to answering applied research questions aimed at more sustainable land use. We used a citizen science approach with German horse farmers with a dual goal. Firstly, we tested the practicability of this approach for answering ‘real-life’ questions in variable agricultural land-use systems. Secondly, we were interested in the knowledge it can provide about locomotion of horses on pasture and the management factors influencing this behaviour. Out of 165 volunteers, we selected 40 participants to record locomotion of two horses on pasture and provide information on their horse husbandry and pasture management. We obtained complete records for three recording days per horse from 28 participants, resulting in a dataset on more individual horses than any other Global Positioning System study published in the last 30 years. Time spent walking was greatest for horses kept in box-stall stables, and walking distance decreased with increasing grazing time. This suggests that restrictions in pasture access may increase stress on grass swards through running and trampling, severely challenging sustainable pasture management. Our study, involving simple technology, clear instructions and rigorous quality assessment, demonstrates the potential of citizen science actively involving land managers in agricultural research.