Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Process-Oriented Measurement Using Electronic Tangibles.

This study evaluated a new measure for analyzing the process of children’s problem solving in a series completion task. This measure focused on a process that we entitled the Grouping of Answer Pieces (GAP) that was employed to provide information on problem representation and restructuring. The task was conducted using an electronic tangible interface, to allow for both natural manipulation of physical materials by the children, and computer monitoring of the process. The task was administered to 88 primary school children from grade 2 (M=8.2 years, SD=0.50). GAP was a moderate predictor of accuracy on the series completion task. Averaged over multiple items, GAP, verbalizations and time measures were related to accuracy. On an item level, however, GAP was the only process measure related to item solving success, and this relationship was mediated by item difficulty. Further research is needed to investigate the precise relationship between problem solving and GAP.
Thai Herb Leaf Image Recognition System (THLIRS)

There are many kinds of Thai herb species, so it very difficult to identify them all. The objective of this research was to build a computer system that could recognize some Thai herb leaves, using a process called the Thai herb leaf image recognition system (THLIRS). The system consisted of four main components: 1) image acquisition, 2) image preprocessing, 3) recognition and 4) display of results. In the image acquisition component, the system used a digital camera to take a leaf picture with white paper as the background. A one-baht coin was photographed beside the leaf in order to provide a scale for comparison. In the image preprocessing component, the system applied several image-processing techniques to prepare a suitable image for the recognition process. In the recognition component, the system extracted 13 features from the leaf image and used a k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) algorithm in the recognition process. In the result display component, the system displayed the results of the classification. The experiment involved 32 species of Thai herbs, with more than 1,000 leaf images. The system was trained with 656 herb leaf images and was tested using 328 leaf images for a training dataset and 30 leaf images for an untrained dataset. The precision rate of the THLIRS of the training dataset was 93.29, 5.18 and 1.53% for match, mismatch and unknown, respectively. Moreover, the precision rate of the THLIRS of the untrained data set was 0, 23.33 and 76.67% for match, mismatch and unknown,
Design and development of cyclic hydrostatic stress-generating machine for articular cartilage chondrocytes

Mechanical stimulation of articular cartilage at certain range of loading plays important role in the maintenance of tissue under normal physiological conditions, whereas abnormal forces might lead to its degeneration and pathological condition like osteoarthritis. With an objective to elucidate the role of mechanical stresses and their molecular/cellular correlations on cartilage metabolism, we have designed and developed a custom-made machine for generating hydrostatic load (cyclic and static) on articular cartilage chondrocytes cultured in alginate matrix. The main machine frame consists of three functional units: sample holding unit (to keep the cell sample), loading unit (to generate the load) and control-cum-driving unit (to operate and control the load patterns). The working mechanism of cyclic hydrostatic stress-generating machine is based on cam/follower arrangement and controlled by a two-phase stepper motor. The machine has been developed and used for generating physiological cyclic as well as static pressure ranging from 1–3 MPa under wide frequencies (0.33–3 Hz) at chondrocytes laden alginate beads. Efficacy and accuracy of machine has been evaluated by studying load-related alterations in morphological properties of goat chondrocytes encapsulated in alginate beads.
Cooperative Task Allocation Method of MCAV/UCAV Formation

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) cooperative task allocation under Manned Combat Aerial Vehicle’s (MCAV) limited control is one of the important problems in UCAV research field. Hereto, we analyze the key technical and tactical indices influence task allocation problem and build an appropriate model to maximize the objective function values as well as reflecting various constraints. A novel improved multigroup ant colony algorithm (IMGACA) is proposed to solve the model; the algorithm mainly includes random sequence-based UCAV selection strategy, constraint-based candidate task generation strategy, objective function value-based state transition strategy, and crossover operator-based local search strategy. Simulation results show that the built model is reasonable and the proposed algorithm performs well in feasibility, timeliness, and stability.
Study of Machine Learning Text Based Message Filtering From OSN User Wall

As we know, today everyone is using On-line Social Networks (OSNs) to communicate and share information. Therefore one important need in today On-line Social Networks (OSNs) is to give users the ability to control the messages posted on their own private space to avoid that unwanted content is displayed. OSNs provide little support to this requirement up to now. To provide this, we propose a system allowing OSN users to have a direct control on the messages posted on their walls. This is accomplished through a flexible rule-based system, which allows users to customize the filtering criteria to be applied to their walls, and a Machine Learning based soft classifier which automatically produce membership labels in support of content-based filtering.
Backchannels, appraisal psychology, and second language fluency

The growth of global tourism necessitates a better understanding of factors that affect intercultural communication. One factor concerns how people from different sociocultural and linguistic environments use and react to backchannels. Backchannels are verbal and nonverbal messages sent by an interlocutor playing a listeners role in conversation. Verbal backchannels for example consist of � uh‑huh� � mm‑hmoryeahwhile nonverbal messages involve head nods. Sociocultural and linguistic groups have been found to differ with respect to the frequency placement functions and types of backchannels used. To highlight these differences the backchannel behavior of Japanese and American English speakers is contrasted in this paper. Appraisal psychology is discussed to explain how reactions to backchannels may vary across sociocultural and linguistic groups. Then the backchannel output hypothesis is proposed to predict how the fluency of L2 learners of English may be affected by their reactions to English backchannels during classroom oral tasks.
antifying Controversy on Social Media

Which topics spark the most heated debates on social media? Identifying those topics is not only interesting from a societal point of view, but also allows the ltering and aggregation of social media content for disseminating news stories. In this paper, we perform a systematic methodological study of controversy detection by using the content and the network structure of social media. Unlike previous work, rather than study controversy in a single hand-picked topic and use domain-speci c knowledge, we take a general approach to study topics in any domain. Our approach to quantifying controversy is based on a graph-based three-stage pipeline, which involves (i) building a conversation graph about a topic; (ii) partitioning the conversation graph to identify potential sides of the controversy; and (iii) measuring the amount of controversy from characteristics of the graph. We perform an extensive comparison of controversy measures, di erent graph-building approaches, and data sources. We use both controversial and non-controversial topics on Twitter, as well as other external datasets. We nd that our new random-walk-based measure outperforms existing ones in capturing the intuitive notion of controversy, and show that content features are vastly less helpful in this task.
Fundamental limitations in spontaneous emission rate of single-photon sources

The rate of single-photon generation by quantum emitters (QEs) can be enhanced by placing a QE inside a resonant structure. This structure can represent an all-dielectric micro-resonator or waveguide and thus be characterized by ultra-low loss and dimensions on the order of wavelength. Or it can be a metal nanostructure supporting localized or propagating surface plasmon-polariton modes that are of subwavelength dimensions, but suffer from strong absorption. In this work, we develop a physically transparent analytical model of single-photon emission in resonant structures and show unambiguously that, notwithstanding the inherently high loss, the external emission rate can be enhanced with plasmonic nanostructures by two orders of magnitude compared to all-dielectric structures. Our analysis provides guidelines for developments of new plasmonic configurations and materials to be exploited in quantum plasmonics.
QUALITY TRAITS OF CARCASS SIDES AND MEAT OF MORAVKA AND MANGALITSA PIG BREEDS

Objective of this paper was to evaluate phenotypic variability of carcass side traits and quality of meat of fatteners (male castrated heads) of Moravka breed (M) and Mangalitsa (swallow-belly Mangalitsa - LM). The quantity and content of meat were determined based on dissection of left carcass sides (Walstra and Merkus, 1996). Also, nutritive properties of musculus longissimus dorsi (m.l.d.) were established. Obtained data were processed using GLM procedure of the program package SAS 9.1. 3 (SAS Inst.Inc., 2002-2003). Results of the study show that Moravka fatteners had longer carcass sides (+6.82 and + 5.00 cm) compared to Mangalitsa breed, corrected to average body weight at slaughtering. Fatteners of M breed had in average higher total mass of back-loin part (+0.685, P<0.05) and average quantity of muscles in the same part of carcass side (+0.631 kg, P<0.01), compared to fatteners of LM breed. Also, they had higher quantity of muscle in belly-rib part (+0.237 kg, P<0.05) compared to LM. Share of muscle tissue in back-loin and belly-rib carcass side parts corrected for WCC, was higher in M carcass sides than in LM (P<0.01). Conversely, muscle tissue content in shoulders of Mangalitsa was higher (+4.8% ; P<0.05) than in Moravka. Share of muscle tissue in carcass sides of M pigs was by 4.3% higher compared to LM carcass sides. In m.l. d. of Moravka water content was higher (+6.1%, P<0.01), content of total lipids (-6.5%, P<0.05) and cholesterol (-19.68 mg/100 g, P<0.001) was lower than in Mangalitsa.
Analysis of DRB1 exon 2 genotyping by STR size analysis in Suffolk and Texel sheep breeds

Alleles of the DRB1 exon 2 locus of the major histocompatibility complex have recently been associated with genetic resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. While sequence-based typing is the standard method for allele discrimination, a rapid, high throughput method for DRB1 exon 2 genotyping is required if such information is to be incorporated into national breeding programmes. Previous studies have highlight ed a simple tandem repeat (STR) located within intron 2 of the DRB1 gene, which could potentially be used to accurately assess the allele present within the adjacent exon 2. The aims of this study were firstly to compare two methods of STR analysis, Genescan and autoradiography, and secondly to investigate if STR analysis of DRB1 intron 2 could be used to accurately assess the profile of DRB1 exon 2. Six DRB1 exon 2 alleles were identified by sequence-based typing in Suffolk (n = 31) and eight in Texel (n = 60) sheep. The results indicated that Genescan was a more accurate method of STR analysis than autoradiography. The expected 1:1 correspondence between STR size, analysed by Genescan and DRB1 exon 2 allele, determined by sequence-based typing, was not observed. However, the correspondence was found to be degenerate, whereby some alleles were associated with two STR sizes. Thus, irrespective of the STR size identified, STR analysis by Genescan identified the correct allele in all cases within both populations of animals studied. However, the Genescan method of allele identification cannot be used for Suffolk x Texel crossbred progeny or in other breeds where the relationship between STR size and DRB1 exon 2 allele is not known.
Reducing of Alkaloid Contents During the Process of Lactic Acid Silaging

The current study is conducted to investigate whether lupine grains can successfully be ensiled with residual moisture contents of around 65% and alkaloid contents can be reduced during the process of lactic acid formation by native and added lactic acid bacteria, respectively. Based on the fermentation quality of the sampled grain meal silage in the dry mass of 65% and further results, silaging is shown to be a suitable method of preservation. A reduction in the alkaloid content during the silaging cannot be assumed (statistical) due to the irregular dynamic of the observed content.
Factors affecting private rangeland lease rates.

Private rangeland lease rates have been used historically as an indication of the price of public grazing lease rates. The ability of these prices to adequately reflect short-term fluctuations in the rancher's ability to pay for forage has been questioned by policy makers and researchers. Multiple regression techniques were used in this study to evaluate how responsive private rangeland lease rates have been to short-term (yearly) fluctuations in market conditions. Independent variables included yearling prices, cattle numbers, hay prices, production cost index, land prices, forage condition index, and the previous year's lease rate. Yearling prices lagged 1 year, hay prices, production cost index lagged 1 year, and lease rates lagged 1 year statistically (P < 0.10) explained lease rates. The previous year's lease rate was the most influential explanatory variable, with more than half of the previous year's lease price reflected in the current year's rate. Statistically significant (P <0.10) differences in lease rates were also found between western regions.
African indigenous plants with chemotherapeutic potentials and biotechnological approach to the production of bioactive prophylactic agents

Undoubtedly medicinal plants are relevant in both developing and developed nations of the world as sources of drugs or herbal extracts for various chemotherapeutic purposes. Also the use of plantderived natural compounds as part of herbal preparations as alternative sources of medicaments continues to play major roles in the general wellness of people all over the world. The African continent contains some of the richest biodiversity in the world, and abounds in plants of economic importance and plants of medicinal importance which when developed would reduce our expenditure on imported drugs to meet our health needs. Herbal-based and plant-derived products can be exploited with sustainable comparative and competitive advantage. This review presents some indigenous African plants with chemotherapeutic properties and possible ways of developing them into potent pharmacological agents using biotechnological approaches.
Cancer of the cervix and cervical screening: Current knowledge, attitude and practices of female health workers in Sokoto, Nigeria

This descriptive cross sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices of female health workers at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto with respect to cervical cancer Pap smear screening. A multistage sampling method was used to select a total of 240 subjects. Data was collected using a set of structured, self administered questionnaire which sought information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, knowledge of cervical cancer screening and uptake of screening services amongst the respondents. Data was analysed using Epi-info statistical software with level of statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Almost all [217 (98.6%)] of the respondents had ever heard of cervical cancer, 217 (98.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge (≥ 50%) about cancer of the cervix, while 199 (90.5%) knew that it can be detected by cytological screening. The mean knowledge score was 82.2 ± 13.8. Of the 220 study subjects, only 22 (10%) had ever done the screening test. The most common reason for not assessing Pap smear screening services was the perception that the subjects were not at risk of the disease. Education of female health workers on the dangers posed by the disease, and reassurance to overcome all possible barriers towards acceptance of the screening test are recommended. Key words: Cervical cancer, Pap smear, female health workers, knowledge.
Optimal Financing Order Decisions of a Supply Chain under the Retailer's Delayed Payment

In real supply chain, a capital-constrained retailer has two typical payment choices: the up-front payment to receive a high discount price or the delayed payment to reduce capital pressure. We compare with the efficiency of optimal decisions of different participants, that is, supplier, retailer, and bank, under both types of payments based on a game equilibrium analysis. It shows that under the equilibrium, the delayed payment leads to a greater optimal order quantity from the retailer compared to the up-front payment and, thus, improves the whole benefit of the supply chain. The numerical simulation for the random demand following a uniform distribution further verifies our findings. This study provides novel evidence that a dominant supplier who actively offers trade credit helps enhance the whole efficiency of a supply chain.
PICALM, ABCA7, BIN1, CD2AP, CD33, EPHA1, and MS4A2, and Their Relationships with Herpes Simplex, C. Pneumoniae, Other Suspect Pathogens, and the Immune System

Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility genes, APP and gamma-secretase, are involved in the herpes simplex life cycle, and that of other suspect pathogens (C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, C. neoformans, B. burgdorferri, P. gingivalis) or immune defence. Such pathogens promote beta-amyloid deposition and tau phosphorylation and may thus be causative agents, whose effects are conditioned by genes. The antimicrobial effects of beta-amyloid, the localisation of APP/gamma-secretase in immunocompetent dendritic cells, and gamma secretase cleavage of numerous pathogen receptors suggest that this network is concerned with pathogen disposal, effects which may be abrogated by the presence of beta-amyloid autoantibodies in the elderly. These autoantibodies, as well as those to nerve growth factor and tau, also observed in Alzheimer’s disease, may well be antibodies to pathogens, due to homology between human autoantigens and pathogen proteins. NGF or tau antibodies promote beta-amyloid deposition, neurofibrillary tangles, or cholinergic neuronal loss, and, with other autoantibodies, such as anti-ATPase, are potential agents of destruction, whose formation is dictated by sequence homology between pathogen and human proteins, and thus by pathogen strain and human genes. Pathogen elimination in the ageing population and removal of culpable autoantibodies might reduce the incidence and offer hope for a cure in this affliction.
Development Practices for Municipal Pavement Management Systems Application

Pavement Management Systems (PMS) are widely used by transportation agencies to maintain safe, durable and economic road networks. There are many PMS software packages that have been developed over the past decades for provincial/state road agencies. However, sometimes due to lack of budget and experience, adopting the existing PMS for a road agency is not cost effective. Thus, it is important to introduce a simple, effective, and affordable PMS for a local agency and municipality. This research is carried out in partnership between the City of Markham and the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT) located at the University of Waterloo. For the purpose of developing a PMS for local agencies, an extensive literature review on PMS components was carried out, with emphasizing data inventory, data collection, and performance evaluation. In addition, the literature review also concentrated on the overall pavement condition assessment. In July 2011, a study on “Evaluation of Pavement Distress Measurement Survey” was conducted as a part of this research and was distributed to cities and municipalities across Canada. The study focused on the current state-of-the-practice in pavement distress and condition evaluation methods used by local agencies to compare the results from the literature review. The components of the proposed PMS framework are also developed based on the literature review with some modifications and technical requirements. The City of Markham is selected as a case study, since it represents a local agency and provides all the data, to illustrate the validation of the proposed PMS framework.
Image Enhancement of Medical Images Based on an Efficient Approach of Morphological and Arithmetic Operations

— This paper presents a new approach for a medical image pre-processing and enhancing to further segmentation and classification. An idea of this technique is helpful to improve the image contrast and quality as well as to extract if any abnormal part in a brain image. Then the size of structuring element choice, top-hat, bottom-hat morphological operation and some arithmetic operation are used for an image enhancement to increase the image contrast and quality. And image complement operation has incorporated with this process for separate the abnormal tissues from enhanced image when it is needed. The choice of the best size of structuring element in the disk-shaped mask is helpful to increase the image contrast as well as improves the Correct Classification Rate or accuracy for MRI brain-image diagnosis.
Engineering Approaches for Studying Myogenesis

Muscle wasting disorders such as sarcopenia and muscular dystrophy cause severe degradation to life quality or even an early death. These disorders are not only severe, they are currently also incurable. Successful development of a cure requires a better understanding of muscle development. Three different perspectives of myogenesis are investigated within this thesis in three different parts. The first part unravels fundamental aspects of myogenesis. The second part is of engineering nature. The third and last part presents an application of myoblasts that could potentially be used in clinical practice. The first part of this thesis is detailed in three chapters. In the first results chapter, structural investigation of adherens junctions and of the actin cytoskeleton provided insights in the process of myoblast fusion. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to capture images and cross sections from fixed and stained myoblasts during three different stages of myogenesis: 1) initial cell-cell contact formation, 2) myoblast-myoblast fusion and 3) the final stage of mature myofibers. The results indicated that an up to now unknown tubular cytoskeletal support was formed at the fusion site. This support appeared to be actin based and shared with the two fusing cells. Actin filaments from both cytoskeletons were linked through cadherins. A combined setup of atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to image live myoblasts during fusion. The results indicated that a cytoskeletal support was already in place before cytosolic exchange took place. That is, before the fusion pore opened up. Counting of nuclei belonging to the different stages of myogenesis let us conclude that the fusion process was fast in comparison with all other stages. Finally, a proposed model of the mechanisms behind the cytoskeletal arrangements is presented. After studying the fusion stage of myogenesis we switched focus to another phase of muscle tissue formation: the initial stages of myoblast-myoblast contact formation.