Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of stacked tone-ABR and chirp ABR in individual with normal hearing and sensorineural hearing loss

Background: There are no published studies that compared amplitude of stacked-Tone ABR and Chirp ABR in hearing impaired individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, which need to be investigated. Objective of the study was to know whether amplitude of standard chirp evoked ABR is same as tone burst evoked stacked ABR in individuals with normal hearing listeners and individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: Present hospital based cross sectional study was carried out at Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, from January 2016 to December 2016. Two groups of subjects were taken. Group I consisted of 20 ears (14 males and 6 females) with normal hearing. Group II consisted of 20 ears (11 females and 9 males) with cochlear hearing loss. Results: Wave V Amplitude of stacked tone ABR was higher than Chirp stimuli evoked ABR wave V in both the groups. Amplitude of stacked tone ABR and chirp was smaller for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss than normal hearing. Between the 2 chirp stimuli, standard Chirp ABR amplitude was higher than modified Chirp in normal hearing listeners and individual with sensorineural hearing loss. For modified chirp in individuals with normal hearing and cochlear hearing loss. Latency obtained by standard chirp was longer compared to latency obtained by modified chirp, which is seen in both the groups. Conclusions: Chirp ABR may be opted over stacked tone ABR in neurological investigations due to its lesser variability in amplitude and shorter duration of testing.
Quality Implication for Prognoses Success in Web Applications

Massive increase in usage of World Wide Web makes it affective in every domain of life. Billions of people from different corners of world use internet for diverse purposes on daily bases. Quality acts as important key factor for web applications. Various methodologies have been proposed and many techniques have been deployed but, quality still lags behind. Our study in- focuses a detailed survey based on methodologies, metrics and architecture that are used in modeling of web application. We carried out analysis and comparisons between techniques and evaluate major quality characteristics. Study at conclusion illustrates that beside functional requirements, non-functional requirements are also essential and acts as backbone for quality in web based applications.
Computing Greeks by Finite Difference using Monte Carlo Simulation and Variance Reduction Techniques

Makalah ini membahas penggunaan metode Monte Carlo untuk komputasi Greeks. Algoritma metode beda hingga untuk memperkirakan Greeks menggunakan teknik simulasi Monte Carlo dan teknik reduksi varians (yaitu nomor acak umum dan varians antitetis) disajikan. Model Black-Scholes digunakan sebagai model acuan untuk menganalisa dan menguji metode numerik. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa jumlah simulasi mempengaruhi kinerja yang paling banyak, dan ada beberapa teknik untuk mengurangi kesalahan. Dalam kasus options dengan payoff diskontinu, metode ini tidak berjalan dengan baik saat waktu sekarang mendekati waktu jatuh tempo. Kata kunci : Options, Greeks, Metode Monte Carlo, Metode Beda Hingga, dan Model Black-Scholes
Spatial scales influence long-term response of herbivores to prescribed burning in a savanna ecosystem

Both wild and prescribed fire in savanna ecosystems influence habitat use by herbivores by creating or maintaining spatial and temporal heterogeneity in forage quality and vegetation cover. Yet little is known about how spatial scales influence long-term persistence of fire effects. We examined changes over a 6-year period in herbivore preference for experimentally burned patches that varied in spatial extent and grain. Avoidance for the burns by elephants and preference for the burns by impala and Grant’s gazelle decreased significantly. For the rest of the species (zebra, eland, oryx, hartebeest, warthog and hare), there were no significant changes in preference for the burns. Changes in preference for the burned areas depended on the spatial extent and grain of the burn, with intermediate-size (9-ha) burns and large (8-ha) patchy burns being more preferred 6–7 years after fire. Grain, but not the spatial extent of the burned area, influenced changes in grass height. Fire resulted in a delayed reduced tree density irrespective of the spatial scale of the burn. Results of this study indicate that, depending on the scale of fire prescription, the impacts of fire on herbivores may last longer than previous studies suggest.
Dynamic Cell Clustering in Cellular Multi-Hop Networks

This paper proposes, examines and compares different algorithms for dynamic cell clustering in cellular multi-hop networks. The basic idea is to balance load among different cells by creating cell clusters dynamically. For that purpose, it is distinguished between centralized and decentralized heuristics, which both are compared with results of a numerical optimization. At first, the evaluation is performed based upon a graph-theoretical network model. In a second step, an implementation of the decentralized approach in ns-2 is used to analyze and prove the protocol's behavior and feasibility in a more realistic environment
Challenges, Choices and Change: Towards a Theoretical Model of African Diasporan Women’s Educational Decision Making

The decision to participate in adult learning programs is often triggered by life-challenges. The choice for this diverse sample of African diasporan women was adult learning. Components of the decision process, the relationship to ego development level, and resulting changes are examined and a proposed theoretical model is discussed. There has been much discussion of women returning to higher education in the past 20 years, with some authors focusing more recently on black women returning to higher education (Aiken, Johnson-Bailey, & Cervero, 2001; Cohen & Nee (2000). There is indeed a challenge inherent in African diasporan women’s deciding to participate in adult or higher education programs. These challenges can serve as triggers, pushing the women to make choices. One of those choices is to pursue an education. The result of this choice is a fundamental disconcerting (often unanticipated) change created in the relational, cultural and societal systems of which these women are a part. The multifaceted educational decision making process that can ensue is quite complex when scrutinized from socio-cultural, decision making, and adult development theoretical perspectives. What then fuels or drives the process for decision-making that brings them to the metaphorical gates of higher adult education programs? The relatively unknown phenomenon of this decision making process in the literature is problematic, in that critical concerns of these adult learners are not utilized to inform adult/higher education program planning, recruitment, and policy making. This paper examines the components of the decision process of a sample of African diasporan women, places it within a theoretical framework; and describes a theoretical conceptual model of the decision process as they participate in adult degree programs. Theoretical Framework The framework for this study included literature from socio-cultural, adult development, and decision making. An extensive body of literature exists on the socio-cultural history of African diasporan women’s experiences with access to, value of and challenges inherent in their educational pursuit (Gregory, 1995; Kett, 1994; Ladson Billings, 1997; Peterson, 1996). The sociocultural context of the decision maker (governmental, societal, and educational) often exists in dichotomous relationship with the decision-maker: simultaneously they represent both the opportunity to participate and the challenges that must be overcome for them to achieve successful participation (Colin, 1994; Burgess, 1992; Washington, 1995). The link between education and generational, racial, and socio-economic advancement as a histo-cultural and contemporary motivator for these women is clear (Alfred, 2003; Allridge, 1999; Brice-Baker, 1994; Gregory, 1995; Nanton, 2005a; Peterson, 1996). Yet, contemporary under-representation and exclusion still create a marginality syndrome that embodies a feeling of alienation and wearisome attempts to relate and operate in the higher education context (Aiken, Johnson-Bailey,
Image compression using Weighted Average and Least Significant Bit Elimination Approach

Image compression plays a very vital role in the transmission and storage of image information. The main aim of image compression is to represent an image in the smallest number of bits without losing the essential information content contained by an original image. The image compression techniques are used to trim down the file size. The Proposed method for image compression uses Outline detection, wavelet encoding and bit plane encoding. The outline detection is accomplished by determining the maximum gradient value of a pixel from its three adjacent pixels. Wavelet encoding is a weighted averaging and differencing scheme. Bit Plane Encoding uses the data as sets of significant bits: the most significant bit of each piece of data forms the first "bit plane", the second most significant bit of each item forms the second bit plane, and so on. It allows the user to determine the quality of the compressed image during the compression process.
Security Requirements Metrics for Pattern-Lock Applications on Mobile Devices

Pattern-Lock is one of graphical authentication schemes that shows high popularity today. Based on recent research, the security requirements metrics of Pattern-Lock applications have not proposed yet. The goal of this study is to define security requirements metrics for Pattern-Lock applications on mobile devices. Our study has identified 12 threat statements and 18 requirements statements by analyzing STRIDE (Spoofing the identity, Tampering, Repudiation, Information disclosure, Denial of service, Elevation of privilege) and Extended Misuse Case diagram. To develop the metrics we have used Goal-Question-Metric (GQM) paradigm. Based on these, we develop 3 Goals and 7 Questions and resulted in 20 metrics for security requirements. The metrics have been evaluated using 30 App Locker Android applications, and the results show that some metrics have higher values than others. Number of Pattern Characteristics that Successfully Detected, Ability to Relock, and Grid Size metrics have the three highest values. These metrics requires higher priorities to look into when developers need to build the App Locker applications. Moreover, developers should ensure that App Locker applications have values higher than average of security goals and metrics achievements. Index Terms—GQM, Pattern-Lock, Requirement Statements, Security Requirements Metrics, Threat Statements.
Couplings of asynchronously tuned coupled microwave resonators

The paper presents a comprehensive treatment of the couplings of asynchronously tuned coupled microwave resonators. The derived formulation allows one to extract coupling coefficients in terms of four characteristic frequencies that can be easily determined numerically or experimentally. To demonstrate the applications, numerical examples are given for asynchronously tuned microstrip coupled open-loop and dual-mode resonators.
Experimental Study of an Inclined Jet-In-Cross-Flow Interacting with a Vortex Generator

An experiment is conducted on the effectiveness of a vortex generator (VG) in preventing lift-off of a jetin-cross-flow (JICF), with film-cooling application in mind. The jet issues into the boundary layer at an angle of 20 to the free-stream. The effect of a triangular ramp-shaped VG is studied while varying its geometry and location. Detailed flow-field properties are documented for a specific case in which the height of the VG and the diameter of the orifice are comparable to the approach boundary layer thickness. This combination of VG and JICF produce a streamwise vortex pair with vorticity magnitude three times larger (and of opposite sense) than that found in the JICF alone. Such a VG appears to be most effective in keeping the jet attached to the wall. While most of the data are taken at a jet-to-freestream momentum flux ratio (J) of 2, limited surveys are done for varying J. The VG is found to have a significant effect even at the highest J (=11) covered in the experiment. Effect of parametric variation is studied mostly from surveys ten diameters downstream from the orifice. When the VG height is halved there is a lift-off of the jet. On the other hand, when the height is doubled, the jet core is dissipated due to larger turbulence intensities. Varying the location of the VG, over a distance of three diameters from the orifice, is found to have little impact. Rounding off the edges of the VG with increasing radius of curvature progressively diminishes the effect. However, a small radius of curvature may be quite tolerable in practice.
3D reconstruction in PET cameras with irregular sampling and depth of interaction

Summary form only received as follows: Presents 3D reconstruction algorithms that address fully 3D tomographic reconstruction using septaless, stationary, and rectangular cameras. The field of view (FOV) encompasses the entire volume enclosed by detector modules capable of measuring depth of interaction (DOI). The Filtered Backprojection based algorithms incorporate DOI, accommodate irregular sampling, and minimize interpolation in the data by defining lines of responses between the measured interaction points. The authors use fixed-width, evenly spaced radial bins in order to use the FFT, but use irregular angular sampling to minimize the number of unnormalizable zero efficiency sinogram bins (ZEB). To address persisting ZEBs, the authors perform 2D nearest neighbor radial smoothing, employ a semi-iterative procedure to estimate the unsampled data, and mash the "in plane" and the first oblique projections to reconstruct the 2D image in the 3DRP algorithm. The authors present artifact free, essentially spatially isotropic images of Monte Carlo data with FWHM resolutions of 1.50 mm, 2.25 mm, and 3.00 mm at the center, in the bulk, and at the edges and corners of the FOV respectively.
Justice for Girls: Are We Making Progress?

Over the course of more than a century, structural gender bias has been a remarkably durable feature of United States juvenile justice systems. Consequently, as these systems have developed over the years, reducing gender bias and addressing girls in helpful, rather than harmful, ways has required specific and concerted efforts on the part of federal and state governments. Currently, there are a number of positive trends in juvenile justice, including policy and practice that is increasingly developmentally centered and data-driven. The question for those focused on girls in the juvenile justice system is how to ensure that girls are the beneficiaries of these positive trends. This article discusses the history of federal leadership on girls’ issues and then considers the impact on girls of current trends toward developmentally centered and data-driven juvenile justice. It considers the application of developmentally centered policy in relation to girls who experience family violence and those who are commercially sexually exploited. The movement toward data-driven decision-making is examined for its potential to reduce embedded gender bias and particularly bias at the intersection of race and gender. It examines the impact on girls of the increasing use of assessment instruments and the consequences of greater reliance on evidence-based practice as further illustrations of the new data-driven approaches. Throughout, the Article discusses the implications of these trends for girls and suggests ways that systems can ensure that girls’ issues are considered and addressed.
The Stochastic Factor-Augmented Nelson-Siegel Model a comparison between the extended and unscented kalman filter Master ’ s Thesis

Accurately modeling and forecasting the term structure of interest rates is relevant for both academics and practitioners in the industry. The dynamic Nelson-Siegel model is suitable for this. Although the amount of research on the in-sample fit of the NelsonSiegel model and its extensions is substantial, the number of studies examining the out-ofsample performance of these models is relatively little, particularly for the nonlinear class of Nelson-Siegel models. For this reason, the focus of this thesis is twofold. First, I examine the predictive performance of various extensions in the Nelson-Siegel framework relative to the standard dynamic Nelson-Siegel model. Second, I study the differences between the extended Kalman filter and the unscented Kalman filter in the context of nonlinear NelsonSiegel models. I find that the results are maturityand subsample-dependent. The greatest gain in predictive accuracy is found for the stochastic factor augmented Nelson-Siegel model, for which the improvement over the standard model attains values of a 28% decrease in the RMSPE when the yields are relatively volatile. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the use of the unscented Kalman filter rather than the extended Kalman filter for fitting nonlinear Nelson-Siegel models is beneficial for both ends of the yield curve and could have a positive impact on the accuracy in the predictive framework in some cases.
Hidden on-shell mediators for the Galactic Center $\gamma$-ray excess

Author(s): Abdullah, M; Difranzo, A; Rajaraman, A; Tait, TMP; Tanedo, P; Wijangco, AM | Abstract: We present simplified models for the galactic center γ-ray excess where Dirac dark matter annihilates into pairs or triplets of on-shell bosonic mediators to the standard model. These annihilation modes allow the dark matter mass to be heavier than those of conventional effective theories for the γ-ray excess. Because the annihilation rate is set by the dark matter-mediator coupling, the standard model coupling can be made parametrically small to "hide" the dark sector by suppressing direct detection and collider signals. We explore the viability of these models as a thermal relic and on the role of the mediators for controlling the γ-ray spectral shape. We comment on ultraviolet completions for these simplified models and novel options for standard model final states. © 2014 American Physical Society.
THE LINKAGES BETWEEN SERVICE QUALITY, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN MALAYSIAN ISLAMIC BANKS

This study attempts to examine the linkages of service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the Malaysian Islamic banking industry. In this study, respondents are the customers (Muslim and nonMuslim customers) visiting the banks counters and have an account with one of the full-fledged Islamic banks and dual-window banks. A total of 660 questionnaires were distributed, and 440 were returned. The finding showed that the linkage between service quality and customer satisfaction is significant. The result revealed that customer satisfaction is the most important driver to enhance customer loyalty.
Controversy Over the Federal Budget Deficit: A Theoretical Perspective

Recently, the Office of Management and Budget projected that the fiscal 1985 federal budget deficit would exceed $200 billion and that out-year reductions would be gradual at best. These prospects have engendered a debate concerning the economic effects of government deficits and the attendant high level of government borrowing. In this article, Michael Dotsey investigates this topic theoretically using alternative macroeconomic models. Dotsey first examines a standard Keynesian model and finds that its prediction of a depressing future effect of government borrowing stems from its unrealistic view of the determinants of consumption. He then discusses the Ricardian equivalence idea that the economic effects are the same whether the government finances its expenditures by taxation or by borrowing. His discussion includes an evaluation of several objections that have been raised against Ricardian equivalence. Dotsey also suggests that one must estimate the optimal size of the government deficit as a necessary first step in evaluating current deficit levels.
Issues Related to Incorporating Northern Peatlands into Global Climate Models

Northern peatlands cover ~3-4 million km 2 (-10% of the land north of 45°N) and contain ~200-400 Pg carbon (~10-20% of total global soil carbon), almost entirely as peat (organic soil). Recent developments in global climate models have included incorporation of the terrestrial carbon cycle and representation of several terrestrial ecosystem types and processes in their land surface modules. Peatlands share many general properties with upland, mineral-soil ecosystems, and general ecosystem carbon, water, and energy cycle functions (productivity, decomposition, water infiltration, evapotranspiration, runoff, latent, sensible, and ground heat fluxes). However, northern peatlands also have several unique characteristics that will require some rethinking or revising of land surface algorithms in global climate models. Here we review some of these characteristics, deep organic soils, a significant fraction of bryophyte vegetation, shallow water tables, spatial heterogeneity, anaerobic biogeochemistry, and disturbance regimes, in the context of incorporating them into global climate models. With the incorporation of peatlands, global climate models will be able to simulate the fate of northern peatland carbon under climate change, and estimate the magnitude and strength of any climate system feedbacks associated with the dynamics of this large carbon pool.
SURF MUSIC: SONIFICATION OF OCEAN BUOY SPECTRAL DATA

The Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) has been collecting data on ocean wave conditions since late 1975, first using arrays of pressure sensors, and more recently directional buoys. Fourier analysis of the data reveals the spectral and directional content of the wave-driven motions measured by the buoy. Shifting the spectrum to an audible range and synthesizing a time-domain signal creates an aurally interesting and illuminating sonification of ocean wave dynamics. The work done so far has been guided by artistic curiosity; but input from a senior oceanographer has given guidance toward interpretation and elaboration of the methodology. Examples of ocean buoy spectral data sonification are presented, each illustrating important aspects of physical oceanography. Three forms of the data are sonified, from the least detailed to the most. The obvious sonic events are the effects of energy from storms, both local and far away. From the sonification one can estimate the energy of the storm, and the distance it originated. Entire years of data have been sonified in one to thirty minute durations for buoys in different regions, which demonstrate dramatic seasonal and regional differences. Also displayed are the time-lags of South moving storm energies at three distantly separated points on the West Coast of the United States.