Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An investigation of the effect of L1 dialect on the L2 perception of lexical stress

This study explores the effect of Korean learners’ native dialect in discriminating English stress patterns. The nature of Kyungsang Korean (KK; lexical pitch-accent dialect) yields a prediction that KK learners of English would outperform Seoul Korean (SK) learners in identifying English stress, as KK speakers are more sensitive to f0 variation, an acoustic dimension of English stress. We administered two ABX discrimination tasks to three groups of participants (37 KK, 40 SK, 16 L1 English) to examine their accuracy in perceiving English stress location. The tasks consisted of English and Korean nonce words varying in the type of pitch accent. Results showed that the group-averaged accuracies for KK were lower than those for SK, indicating KK’s use of f0 in their native dialect did not positively influence their identification of English stress. Our further acoustic examinations of f0 support this characterization.
SpatIally explIcIt populatIon dynamIcS modelS for antarctIc toothfISh In the roSS Sea regIon

Population modelling software was developed that captures the dynamics of spatial heterogeneity of the population along with age structure, movement and reproductive stage transition in a holistic framework. Using this software, three spatially explicit age-structured models were developed for the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) population in the Ross Sea region and used as operating models to evaluate the performance of single-area assessments. The models were generalised Bayesian population models and were optimised by fitting to fishery observations. Movement was parameterised using preference functions based on spatially discrete environmental layers. The shapes of the preference functions were established through iterative model testing whilst the parameters defining the preference functions were estimated within each model. The spatial structure of the models divided the Ross Sea region into 189 equalarea (24 000 km2) cells. The underlying spatial distribution of the population was either restricted to the 65 cells historically fished, to the 120 cells containing habitable depths, or to the entire Ross Sea region (all 189 cells). Estimates of movement rates were consistent with the results of tagging studies and fits to the other observations (age, reproductive development) were adequate. These operating models were then used to investigate potential biases of the current single-area stock assessment. Simulations based on the three spatial distribution scenarios suggested that the current single-area stock assessment is biased low by 19–43%.
Feature engineering for tweet polarity classification in the 2015 DEFT challenge

Feature engineering for tweet polarity classification in the 2015 DEFT challenge In this paper we present our contribution to the first task of the 2015 DEFT challenge which dealt with polarity classification of French tweets. We explored the impact of a large number of different types of features, such as lexicon-based features, typography-based features, Twitter-specific features and features that incorporate external (world) knowledge. We submitted two runs and achieved macro-averaged precision scores of 0.687 and 0.688 respectively, which is above the average of all submitted runs (0.582) and slightly below the median (0.693). Mots-clés : détection de polarité, analyse de sentiments, DEFT, Twitter, réseaux sociaux.
Investigation , Recording and Assessment of Professional Education Needs of the Health Sector Personnel in Greece via Delphi Technique

Background: Continuing Professional Education is an ongoing pro cess which aims at ensuring that knowledge and skills of an individual are constantly adjusted and meet the evolving job requirements and labor m a ket needs. Purpose: The present study aims to describe, analyze and doc ument the employee training needs, as well as to propose the optimal ways of achieving it, in order to contribute to the enhancement of the quality of the offered training, as well as to the further development of the Health Sector personnel. Material and Method: A three-round e-Delphi method was undertaken, usin g a panel of 103 experienced Health professionals throughout Greece. Results: Through the present study, some of the problems th at hinder CPE were emerged (such as the absence of a systematic personnel training plan by the cent ral administration of the State, the lack of financ i l and human resources, the absence of interconnection between the training process and the employee performance and evaluation). The research study showed that for a b etter and more efficient health system, health work force training should be designed and organized through a systematic plan for the Analysis of Educational Ne eds. The health workforce training should also be holistic i ncluding learning objects related to the population , the employees’ workplace, the patient and the knowledge , with different priority per each personnel catego ry. Conclusions: The present study can be a useful tool for health policymakers in the field of professional training . In times of economic crisis with the lack of financial resources, upgrading and empowering Health Sector personnel according to the demands and needs of soc iety is necessary more than ever.
ommercial harvest and export of snapping turtles (Chelydra erpentina) in the United States: trends and the efficacy of size limits t reducing harvest

As Asian turtle populations have crashed, China has increasingly turned to international import to meet domestic demand, which has increased pressure on global turtle populations. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are being harvested in unprecedented numbers in the United States (US) to meet the needs of this international market. Here we report US snapping turtle live export from 1999 to 2013, and for the first time test the effectiveness of size limits in reducing commercial harvest numbers. Over three million live snapping turtles from farm and wild caught stock were exported from the US to Asia in 2012–14 alone. Increases in the export of wild caught snapping turtles to over 200,000 individuals in 2012 and 2014, compared to under 50,000 in other years, may indicate that farms are becoming unable to keep up with increasing demand. Annual harvest pressure at the state level increased linearly from urtle export 1998 to 2013, mirroring trends in federal export over the same time period. Our model estimates that size-limits were effective at reducing harvest by 30–87% in years with high harvest pressure. However, the majority of size limit regulations result in the removal of larger breeding adults, which has been shown to be detrimental to long term population viability. Regulatory approaches dedicated to the long term management of this iconic species will need to balance the short term gains, in the form of reduced harvest rates, with long term population viability.
Femtocell Gateway Scheduling Based on Coloring

The deployment of femtocells can effectively improve the capacity of a cellular network without significant increase in the network management costs. However, spectrum allocation policy to reduce the interference is one of the most significant challenges for femtocell deployments. In this paper, we first propose a coloring algorithm to distinguish neighbor femtocell access points (FAPs) with the aid of femtocell gateway. Though neighbor FAPs are colored with different colors, their neighbors result in being colored with the same color with each other. So a coloring algorithm 2 is proposed in this paper to guarantee that FAPs' neighbors are colored with different colors. After the two coloring algorithms have been explored, two subchannel allocation strategies in Long Term Evolution (LTE) are proposed to efficiently schedule resources which only need little overhead and the two strategies are compared with the basic strategy --that is, randomly allocate an unused subchannel to requesting users. Mathematical derivations and simulation results are given, which confirm the promising performance of our resources scheduling algorithms.
Social Network Structures and the Politics of Public Goods Provision: Evidence from the Philippines

We study the relationship between social structure and political incentives for public goods provision. We argue that when politicians—rather than communities—are responsible for the provision of public goods, social fractionalization may decrease the risk of elite capture and lead to increased public goods provision and electoral competition. We test this using large-scale data on family networks from over 20 million individuals in 15,000 villages of the Philippines. We take advantage of naming conventions to assess intermarriage links between families and use community detection algorithms to identify the relevant clans in those villages. We show that there is more public goods provision and political competition in villages with more fragmented social networks, a result that is robust to controlling for a large number of village characteristics and to alternative estimation techniques.
1 Control of Cable Robots for Construction Applications

The Construction Metrology and Automation Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting research to provide standards, methodologies, and performance metrics that will assist the development of advanced systems to automate construction tasks. This research includes crane automation, advanced site metrology systems, laser-based 3D imaging, calibrated camera networks, construction object identification and tracking, and sensor integration and process control from Building Information Models. The NIST RoboCrane has factored into much of this research both as a robotics test platform and a sensor/target positioning apparatus. This chapter provides a brief review of the RoboCrane platform, an explanation of control algorithms including the NIST GoMotion controller, and a discussion of crane task decomposition using the Four Dimensional/Real-time Control System approach.
Digital Image Correlation Techniques for Non-Destructive Evaluation and Structural Health Monitoring

Monitoring and analyzing the integrity of structures, infrastructure, and machines is essential for economic, operational, and safety reasons. The assessment of structural integrity and dynamic conditions of those systems are important to ensure safe operation and achieve or even extend the design service life. Recent advancements in camera technology, optical sensors, and image-processing algorithms have made optically-based and non-contact measurement techniques such as photogrammetry and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) appealing methods for NonDestructive Evaluation (NDE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Conventional sensors (e.g. accelerometers, strain gages, string potentiometers, LVDTs) provide results only at a discrete number of points. Moreover, these sensors need wiring, can be time-consuming to install, may require additional instrumentations (e.g., power amplifiers, data acquisition), and are difficult to implement on large-sized structures without interfering with their functionality or may require instrumentation having a large number of data channels. On the contrary, optical techniques can provide accurate quantitative information about full-field displacement, strain, geometry, and the dynamics of a structure without contact or interfering with the structure’s functionality. This chapter presents a summary review of the efforts made in both academia and industry to leverage the use of DIC systems for NDE and SHM applications in the fields of civil, aerospace, and energy engineering systems. The chapter also summarizes the feasibility of the approaches and presents possible future directions of the measurement approach.
A Nonparametric ACD Model January 2005

We carry out a nonparametric analysis of financial durations. We make use of an existing algorithm to describe nonparametrically the dynamics of the process in terms of its lagged realizations and of a latent variable, its conditional mean. The devices needed to effectively apply the algorithm to our dataset are presented. On simulated data, the nonparametric procedure yields better estimates than the ones delivered by an incorrectly specified parametric method. On a real dataset, the nonparametric analysis can convey information on the nature of the data generating process that may not be captured by the parametric specification. In this view, the nonparametric method proposed can be a valuable preliminary analysis able to suggest the choice of a “good” parametric specification, or a complement of a parametric estimation.
Einsatz von Spielmechaniken in Ideenwettbewerben: Einsatzmotive, Wirkungen und Herausforderungen

Kunden generieren, entwickeln und bewerten Ideen fur Produkte und Dienstleistungen in Online-Ideenwettbewerben und verhelfen Unternehmen so zu einem entscheidenden Wettbewerbsvorteil. Der Einsatz von Spielmechaniken bietet eine Moglichkeit dieser Herausforderung zu begegnen. Im Rahmen dieser Studie wurden Experten zum Einsatz und zu den gewonnenen Erfahrungen mit Spielmechaniken in Ideenwettbewerben befragt. Spielmechaniken erweisen sich dabei als hilfreiches Instrument, um Motivation und die Qualitat der Teilnahme zu beeinflussen. Allerdings zeigen die Erkenntnisse ebenfalls, dass der Einsatz von Spielmechaniken bisher noch wenig fundiert erfolgt, die Messung des Erfolgs verbessert werden kann und der Einsatz von Spielmechaniken Unternehmen und Wissenschaft mit neuen Herausforderungen konfrontiert.
Metabolite profiling of four different tissue locations in grape leaf of brown spot disease caused by Pseudocercospora vitis

Infected ‘Campbell Early’ grape leaf tissues were collected according to four different tissue locations of brown spot disease: center of the lesion (A), lesion border (C) the uninfected leaf tissue (D) and tissue from A and C as well as the lesion halo (B). A total of 118 metabolites were identified using polar phase GC-MS analysis with sample derivatization and annotated four different sampling tissues. Metabolites were clustered into three groups according to tissues (tissue A, tissue B, and tissues C and D) in the PCA score plot. Tissues C and D were separated in the PCA plot; therefore, they had similar metabolite contents variations. 20 of the metabolites were significantly related to tissues A and C in the S-plot of OPLS-DA. Most of the metabolites, including caffeic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid, were increased in related contents in uninfected tissues (C and D) compared with lesions (A and B). In contrast, D-mannitol, xylitol, and raffinose were increased in the lesion tissues (A and B). Neohesperidin, lactulose, and dehydroascorbic acid were found in the tissue B. As a result, those three metabolites can be expected to relate to the defense mechanism of grapes against brown leaf spot disease.
HYDROLOGIC REGIME AND DOWNSTREAM MOVEMENT OF CATFISH LARVAE IN THE MADRE DE DIOS RIVER

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science HYDROLOGIC REGIME AND DOWNSTREAM MOVEMENT OF CATFISH LARVAE IN THE MADRE DE DIOS RIVER, SOUTHEASTERN PERU By Carlos M. Cañas August 2007 Chair: Peter R. Waylen Major: Geography Seasonal flow conditions and catfish larvae production were evaluated in the Madre de Dios River (southeastern Peru) in order to understand the influence of environmental conditions on the reproductive behavior of a group of large catfishes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), important species in commercial fisheries, that annually arrive into this headwater region for spawning. A simple stochastic model is presented to describe the influence of the natural flow regime of this river on the downstream transportation of catfish larvae. Temporal and spatial drifting patterns of these catfish larvae were also analyzed and described within the river channel, and the significant ecological role of this region was emphasized in the completeness of life cycle of this important Amazon fish resource. One year of daily river stage records were related to weekly larval catches to determine the association between floods and spawning events, and on the basis of hydro-climatologic characteristics of Andean-Amazon regions, available long-term historical rainfall records were employed to determine the inter-annual variability of floods within the Madre de Dios Basin. Larval catches obtained from five cross sectional transects placed in a 12 km-section of the channel of Madre de Dios River, and surface and deep samples, were employed to assess larvae drifting within the channel.
Resources and competences for franchising innovation Recursos y competencias para la innovación en franquicias

In Brazil, franchising invoices R$55 billion/year; there are 71,950 franchised units of 1,380 chains. Entrepreneurs prefer franchising for the support and lower firm mortality, especially during these times of financial crisis. The Resource-Based View regards resources, capabilities and expertise to create competitive advantages. Which resources and competences can provide franchising innovation? and how can one sustain the competitive advantages of these innovations? The propositions reveals: (P1) Professionalization of the franchise chain can generate advantages in terms of innovations; (P2a,b) Franchised entrepreneurs can generate innovations and use knowledge management to spread innovation; (P3) Networking generates innovations in franchises; (P4) M&A within the chain create competitiveness that generate innovations; (P5a,b) An organizational culture that encourages entrepreneurship generates innovation. Key-words: Franchising, Entrepreneurship, Innovation. RESUMEN: En Brasil, el franchising factura R$ 55 millones/año; hay 71,950 unidades de 1,380 cadenas. Los empresarios prefieren el franchising por el apoyo y baja mortalidad, sobretodo durante estos tiempos de la crisis financiera. La Resource-Based View considera recursos, capacidades y la maestría de crear ventajas competitivas. ¿Qué recursos y competencias pueden proporcionar la innovación en franchising? ¿y cómo puede uno sostener las ventajas competitivas de estas innovaciones? Las proposiciones revelan: (P1) La profesionalización de la cadena de franchising puede generar ventajas en términos de innovaciones; (P2a,b) Los empresarios franqueados pueden generar innovaciones y usar la dirección de conocimiento para extender la innovación; (P3) Gestión de redes genera innovaciones en franchising; (P4) F&A dentro de la cadena crean el espíritu competitivo que generan innovaciones; (P5a, b) una cultura organizativa que anima el espíritu emprendedor genera la innovación. Palabras clave: Franchising; Emprendedor; Innovación
SYNTHESIS AND IDENTIFICATION OF HIDDEN MARKOV MODELS BASED ON A NOVEL STATISTICAL TECHNIQUE IN CONDITION MONITORING

Under consideration are technologies for synthesis and identification of trained hidden Markov models based on a novel statistical technique and applied in condition monitoring. The approach can be used for both continuousand discrete-time models of technical and non-technical systems. An initial rough model results from statistical multivariate analysis of observed data or their analysis by means of Kohonen self-organizing feature maps. Then it suffers proper corrections. Histograms of observed frequencies of being in different system states after the given exploitation periods are employed to train the constructed models. Free network parameters are identified by the chi-square minimum method. The synthesis may be carried out in case of some uncertainties: absence of complete information on system states and their connections is assumed. Undefined observed cases are partially identified by the classification propagation method with the aid of either self-organizing feature maps or cluster analysis. Connections between different system states are determined according to contiguity of their clusters or areas of winning units on the topological maps and statistical goodness-of-fit tests. In case of models represented by discrete-time structures (Markov chains) conversion to continuous-time trained structures (Markov networks) is performed to obtain more reliable results with the following return to discrete time and identification of transition probabilities. The methods presented are available for specialists responsible for maintenance of technical products. Obtained Markov models are useful for diagnostics, pattern recognition, structure service lives forecasting and establishing the justified routine maintenance. An example of synthesis and identification of Markov models representing fatigue failures of an aircraft air-intake panel is given for illustration.
SUB-REGIONAL VARIATION IN POSITIONING AND DEGREE OF NASALIZATION OF /æ/ ALLOPHONES IN CALIFORNIA

We examined the phonetic realization of oral and prenasal /æ/ in speakers from three distinct sub-regions of California: Southern California, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley. Four acoustic variables were measured: two midpoint formant values (F1, F2), diphthongization, and acoustic nasality. Results show that speakers from the sub-regions exhibit distinct patterns: Bay Area speakers showed the largest differences in height, frontness, and diphthongization for oral and pre-nasal /æ/. Meanwhile, Central Valley and Bay Area speakers show differences in nasalization between oral and pre-nasal /æ/ productions, suggesting that nasalization is increasing in “ban” for these speakers relative to Southern Californians.
The distribution of the subgenus Coptoformica MÜLLER, 1923 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Palaearctic region

Ten described and two undescribed Coptoformica MÜLLER, 1923 species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, genus Formica) are currently known from the Palaearctic Region. Three of them – Formica exsecta NYLANDER, 1846 et mesasiatica DLUSSKY, 1964, F. pressilabris NYLANDER, 1846, and F. forsslundi LOHMANDER, 1949 – are distributed in both the West and East Palaearctic. Formica exsecta et mesasiatica has the widest distribution of all Coptoformica species. We have chosen this composite name to avoid executing here a formal synonymisation of F. mesasiatica under F. exsecta. A thorough argumentation in favour of this synonymy, using morphological, chorological and genetic evidence will be presented elsewhere (B. Seifert & A. Goropashnaya, unpubl.). Six species are restricted to the West Palaearctic: Formica bruni KUTTER, 1967, F. fennica SEIFERT, 2000, F. foreli BONDROIT, 1918, F. suecica ADLERZ, 1902, and two undescribed species. Formica bruni and F. foreli extend east directly to the Johansen Line. Formica fennica is known from Finland and the Caucasus. Formica suecica has been found in Fennoscandia, the Alps and West Siberia. Not much is known about the distribution of the two undescribed species. Three species are East Palaearctic: Formica fukaii WHEELER, 1914, is endemic to the Japanese islands; F. manchu WHEELER, 1929 and F. pisarskii DLUSSKY, 1964 are of more or less Central Asian distribution. Formica manchu and F. pisarskii, probably with the same basic type of distribution, inhabit the forest-steppe zone of Russia between the Altai Mountains and Lena River, Mongolia, Manchuria and, in the case of F. manchu, also Tibet. This contribution provides an overview of the known locations of the Coptoformica species and attempts to construct patterns of distribution.