Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of explicit knowledge on sequence learning: A graded account

In this paper, we study the effect of conscious knowledge on implicit sequence learning. To do so, in three sequence learning experiments, we manipulated (1) the extent to which instructions were intentional vs. incidental—intentional participants were informed of the existence of sequential regularities, and (2) the amount of explicit knowledge given to participants about the stimulus material. Results indicated that explicit knowledge improves sequence learning, as indexed by an increase in reaction times when the training sequence is unexpectedly replaced by another one. To enable us to differentiate between implicit and explicit learning, we applied the process dissociation procedure in a subsequent free generation task. Results indicated that both reaction time and generation results were influenced by different levels of explicit knowledge. However, we failed to find any evidence for an automatic influence on generation performance. We also report on simulation studies using the simple recurrent network, and show that the model can account for the effects of explicit knowledge on both reaction time and generation performance. Because the model uses a single pathway to process information, these simulation results are suggestive that dissociations between implicit and explicit learning might result from continuous, gradual changes in a single dimension rather than from the involvement of different brain networks.
Classification and performance evaluation using data mining algorithms

In this paper, classification of the data collected from students of polytechnic institute has been discussed. This data is pre-processed to remove unwanted and less meaningful attributes. These students are then classified into different categories like brilliant, average, weak using decision tree and naive Bayesian algorithms. The processing is done using WEKA data mining tool. This paper also compares results of classification with respect to different performance parameters.
Are the shareholders in Japanese governance mechanisms getting a benefit from the use of annual incentive plans

This paper studies the economic consequences of choosing two different types of executive compensation contracts. The analysis is based on a two-period agency model in which compensation contracts are subject to renegotiation; compensation is paid based on the agent’s earnings report (e.g., a performance-based contract) or a non-verifiable measure within the firm (e.g., a conventional implicit contract). According to the analysis, conventional implicit contracts can dominate performancebased contracts if the non-verifiable measure is sufficiently informative so that the agent’s earnings report is not significantly considered during renegotiation. However, if the agent has strong bargaining power, the performance-based contract is optimal. The theoretical findings have implications for empirical compensation research. First, the firms’ compensation policy may not serve as a useful test for identifying profitable firms. Second, the combination of the compensation policy and the ownership structure is likely to be associated with the level of executive compensation.
A simplified asymptotic theory for ocean surface electromagnetic wave scattering

The normalized radar cross-section (NRCS) expression of the Local Curvature Approximation (LCA-1) is derived to first order. The polarization sensitivity of this model is compared to the Kirchhoff Approximation (KA), Two-Scale Model (TSM), Small Slope Approximation (SSA-1) and Small Perturbation Method (SPM-1) to first order in the backscattering configuration. Analytical comparisons and numerical simulations show that LCA-1 and TSM could be rewritten with the same formulation and that their polarization sensitivities are comparable. Comparisons with experimental data acquired in C- and Ku-band reveal that the polarization sensitivities of these models are not adequate. However, the NRCS azimuth modulation predicted by LCA-1 is found to be dependent on polarization and sea surface roughness. This property of the LCA-1 model yields to an azimuth modulation for the polarization ratio. Based on the surface curvature correction concept, a simplified electromagnetic model is proposed. The curvature correction is restricted to the resonant wave-number of the sea roughness spectrum. This is found to reproduce the polarization ratio given by experimental data versus incidence angle and wind speed.
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among the Meitei Adolescent of Manipur, India

Abstract The obesity has become a global epidemic. Therefore, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Meitei adolescent in Manipur has been studied. A cross- sectional study of 540 subjects was done during November 2009 to August 2010 in the urban area of Imphal, Manipur. Data on height and body weight were collected. Body mass index (BMI) for each subject was calculated. Prevalence of overweight and obesity are evaluated using both the Asian cut-off point and WHO International standard. Overweight (5.46%) and obesity (1.17%) among boys and overweight (6.69%) and obesity (0.36%) among girls are reported when assessment is done by using Asian cut-off point. When the BMI was assessed according to the WHO standard, 3.12 percentof boys and 3.87 percent girls are found to be overweight. The present study shows an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Meitei adolescent. The possible reason could be changes in dietary intake and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.
Genetic parameters of reproductive traits in Tunisian Holsteins

Abstract. Multi-trait Bayesian procedure was used to estimate genetic parameters for reproductive traits in Tunisian Holstein cows. A total of 31 348 lactations of the calving years 2005 to 2012 were analyzed. Fertility traits were the calving interval (CI), days open (DO), days to first insemination (DFI), days from first insemination to conception (FIC), and number of inseminations per conception (NI). Posterior means of heritabilities of CI, DO, DFI, FIC, and NI were 0.047, 0.03, 0.025, 0.024, and 0.069, respectively. Posterior means of repeatabilities of the same respective traits were 0.106, 0.094, 0.051, 0.036, and 0.17. Genetic correlations among female fertility traits were also computed. Calving interval and DO had the highest genetic correlation estimate (0.85) because they have overlapping genetic meanings. The lowest genetic correlation estimate (−0.25) was found between DFI and NI. Genetic parameter estimates are low and are even lower than those reported in most literature, implying that more focus should be put upon improving the management of reproduction in dairy cattle herds in Tunisia.
Prison smoking bans in the United States: current policy, impact and obstacle

Smoking is the leading preventable risk factor of mortality in the United States. The threat of smoking is severer in prisons. Compared with the general US population, prisoners have a higher prevalence of smoking, as well as a higher smoking-related mortality. Nowadays, smoking bans have been enacted in 49 states’ federal correctional facilities, including 100% smoke-free and tobacco-free indoors and outdoors on all grounds (20 states), 100% smoke-free indoors and outdoors on all grounds (1 state), 100% smoke-free and tobacco-free indoors (16 states), and 100% smoke-free indoors (12 states). After implementation, a mortality reduction has been achieved, especially for cancers and respiratory diseases. In addition, a more comprehensive restriction (e.g., smoking and tobacco bans indoors and outdoors) and a longer implementation contribute to a higher reduction of mortality. However, some obstacles should not be ignored, such as the high relapse rate of smoking after release, existence of smoking in smoking-free prisons, nicotine dependence and nicotine withdrawal symptoms led by the bans, potentially high prevalence of mental illnesses among prisoners who also smoke, etc. Given the impact and obstacle of the current smoking bans, the author recommends that: (I) smoking bans should be kept enacting according to the mortality reduction after implementation; (II) more restrictive bans should be considered across the U.S. States, such as smoking-free insides and outsides on the ground; (III) further efforts should be made for reducing the high relapse rate of smoking after release; (IV) other implementations combining with smoking bans should be considered for smoking inmates with mental illnesses.
A snapshot on galaxy evolution occurring in the Great Wall: the role of Nurture at z = 0

With the aim of quantifying the contribution of the environment on the evolution of galaxies at z = 0 we have used the DR7 catalogue of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to reconstruct the 3-D distribution of 4132 galaxies in 420 square degrees of the Coma supercluster, containing two rich clusters (Coma and A1367), several groups, and many filamentary structures belonging to the “Great Wall”, at the approximate distance of 100 Mpc. At this distance the galaxy census is complete to Mi = −17. 5m ag, i.e.∼4 mag fainter than M ∗ . The morphological classification of galaxies into early- (ellipticals) and late-types (spirals) was carried out by inspection of individual SDSS images and spectra. The density around each galaxy was determined in cylinders of 1 Mpc radius and 1000 km s −1 half length. The color-luminosity relation was derived for galaxies in bins morphological type and in four thresholds of galaxy densitycontrast, ranging from δ1,1000 ≤ 0( UL= the cosmic web); 0 20 (UH = the cluster’s cores). The fraction of early-type galaxies increases with the log of the over-density. A well defined “red sequence” composed of early-type galaxies exists in all environments at high luminosity, but it lacks of low luminosity (dwarf) galaxies in the lowest density environment. Conversely low luminosity isolated galaxies are predominantly of late-type. In other words the low luminosity end of the distribution is dominated by red dE galaxies in clusters and groups and by dwarf blue amorphous systems in the lowest density regions. At z = 0 we find evidence for strong evolution induced by the environment (Nurture). Transformations take place mostly at low luminosity when star forming dwarf galaxies inhabiting low density environments migrate into amorphous passive dwarf ellipticals in their infall into denser regions. The mechanism involves suppression of the star formation due to gas stripping, without significant mass growth, as proposed by Boselli et al. (2008a, ApJ, 674, 742). This process is more efficient and fast in ambients of increasing density. In the highest density environments (around clusters) the truncation of the star formation happens fast enough (few 100 Myr) to produce the signature of post-star-burst in galaxy spectra. PSB galaxies, that are in fact found significantly clustered around the largest dynamical units, represent the remnants of star forming isolated galaxies that had their star formation violently suppressed during their infall in clusters in the last 0.5–1.5 Gyrs, and the progenitors of future dEs.
Time of flight measurements based on FPGA using a breast dedicated PET

In this work the implementation of a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) using a Nutt delay line FPGA-based and applied on a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) device is going to be presented in order to check the system's suitability for Time of Flight (TOF) measurements. In recent years, FPGAs have shown great advantages for precise time measurements in PET. The architecture employed for these measurements is described in detail. The system developed was tested on a dedicated breast PET prototype, composed of LYSO crystals and Positive Sensitive Photomultipliers (PSPMTs). Two distinct experiments were carried out for this purpose. In the first test, system linearity was evaluated in order to calibrate the time measurements, providing a linearity error of less than 2% and an average time resolution of 1.4 ns FWHM. The second set of measurements tested system resolution, resulting in a FWHM as good as 1.35 ns. The results suggest that the coincidence window for the current PET can be reduced in order to minimize the random events and thus, achieve better image quality.
Why do poor countries suffer costly conflict? Unpacking per capita income and the onset of civil war

Empirical studies on the causes of civil war robustly show that poor countries are more likely to suffer civil war than rich ones. However, the interpretations of this finding differ. The literature proposes three different causal mechanisms: (1) poverty leads to grievances; (2) income proxies the opportunity-cost of rebelling; and (3) income proxies state capacity. Using factor analysis, logistic modeling and multiple imputation, we test which of the three possible explanations can best explain the link between poverty and conflict. We find per capita income to belong to a wealth/poverty dimension, and to have little in common with “pure” measures of grievance and state capacity. Thus our findings support the opportunity-cost argument. The wealth dimension is also shown to be the most important underlying cause of civil war.
Understanding the relationship between attachment style, relationship satisfaction, illness behaviours, and psychological distress in couples

This study examined the individual and dyadic attachment processes and relationship satisfaction ratings among adults in an intimate relationship and their relationship to psychological distress and illness attitudes. Study participants included 104 individuals (52 couples) who completed a questionnaire package which included the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-Revised (ECR-R), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21), and the Illness Attitudes Scale (IAS). Findings from the study showed that attachment anxiety was a significant positive predictor of illness behaviors and psychological distress, that relationship satisfaction was a significant negative predictor of psychological distress, and that relationship satisfaction also partially mediated the relationship between attachment style and psychological distress among individuals in an intimate relationship. A series of One-way Analyses of Variance showed that intra-couple dyadic attachment configurations produce significant differences in relationship satisfaction and psychological distress among dyadic units. Further investigation into intra-couple attachment configurations, relationship satisfaction, and the implications on individual psychological and physical health outcomes is recommended.
The professional development of school principals

Many schooling systems do not fulfil their mandates because of poor management and leadership. Similarly, the rigidity that one finds in schools does not only stunt schools' capacity to develop, but also leads to schools that are dysfunctional and unproductive. As a result, in countries where there is universal transformation, efficacious management and leadership are elevated to the highest rostrum. In this paper I aim at investigating the necessity for professional development of school principals.
Efficient interscanline consistency enforcing method for dynamic programming-based dense stereo matching algorithms

Abstract. The dynamic programming-based dense stereo matching algorithms are faster than other global ones, but they usually suffer from the tangible horizontal “streaks” in their generated disparity maps. This problem takes place due to the independent processing of scanlines, ignoring vertical consistency between them. In this paper the path remembering method, which uses the information of the best paths of previous rows, is employed with new developments to establish more depth similarity between rows, especially along the slanted edges of objects in the scene. Also, a new way for estimating matching costs in the left border of the image is presented based on the information of the right-hand neighboring pixels. Mentioned improvements were applied to a well known and standard dynamic programming-based algorithm called “DP. ” Evaluation of the new proposed algorithm on standard stereo images shows considerable improvements in the depth estimation along the slanted edges and in the left border of the final results. As a more precise report, the average error rate reduces from 14.2% to 10.4%.
BAYESIAN ESTIMATION OF RANDOM PARAMETER MODELS OF RESPONSES WITH NORMAL AND SKEW-t DISTRIBUTIONS EVIDENCE FROM MONTE CARLO SIMULATION

Random parameter models have been found to outperform xed pa-rameter models to estimate dose-response relationships with independent errors. Amajor restriction, however, is that the responses are assumed to be normally andsymmetrically distributed. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Bayesian infer-ence of random parameter response models in the case of independent responseswith normal and skewed, heavy-tailed distributions by way of Monte Carlo simu-lation. Three types of Bayesian estimators are considered: one applying a normal,symmetrical prior distribution, a second applying a Skew-normal prior and, a thirdapplying a Skew-t-distribution. We use the relative bias (RelBias) and Root MeanSquared Error (RMSE) as valuation criteria. We consider the commonly applied lin-ear Quadratic and the nonlinear Spillman-Mitscherlich dose-response models. Onesimulation examines the performance of the estimators in the case of independent,normally and symmetrically distributed responses; the other in the case of indepen-dent responses following a heavy-tailed, Skew-t-distribution. The main nding isthat the estimator based on the Skew-t prior outperforms the alternative estima-tors applying the normal and Skew-normal prior for skewed, heavy-tailed data. Fornormal data, the Skew-t prior performs approximately equally well as the Skew-normal and the normal prior. Furthermore, it is more ecient than its alternatives.Overall, the Skew-t prior seems to be preferable to the normal and Skew-normal fordose-response modeling.
TCS-CAIN: a deep multi-colour NIR survey of the Galactic plane

We describe a deep multi-colour NIR survey (TCS-CAIN) that has been recently completed at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (Spain). The survey is of selected areas distributed along the Galactic plane and it goes deeper than 2MASS or DENIS. Its aim was to explore the large-scale structure of the Milky Way and the Galactic components, in particular the Galactic bar. This survey has ~10 million point-source detections in J , H , and K s filters with a photometric accuracy of ~0.1 mag in the three bands and a positional accuracy of ~0.2´´ (based on the 2MASS catalogue as the astrometric reference). Approximately 530 fields have been observed in near plane regions of the Galaxy covering a total area of ~41 deg 2 in the sky. This survey is at least one magnitude deeper than 2MASS, and even more in the inner Galaxy where it is less limited by source confusion.
The Effects of a Clinical Prevention Program on Bullying, Victimization, and Attitudes toward School of Elementary School Students

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a bullying prevention program that involved eleven 90-minute, highly structured workshops conducted at the classroom level on a weekly basis. The intervention aimed to increase student awareness of bullying and its impact, increase empathy toward victims, and enhance positive attitudes toward school and academic achievement. Participants were 666 students who were selected from 20 elementary schools using stratified random-sampling procedures from a large metropolitan area of southern Greece. Students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups and were provided measures of bullying and victimization behaviors at pretest and posttest (Olweus, 1996). Results indicated that there were statistically significant decreases in bullying and victimization behaviors from pretest to posttest. Specifically, victimization rates in the experimental group were reduced from pretest to posttest by 55.4%. The respective decreases in the control group were 23.3%. Similarly, bullying rates decreased by 55.6% at posttest compared with pretest in the experimental group, and the combined type decreased by 66.7%. Furthermore, a latent class analysis provided qualitative means on the specific categories in which decreases of negative behaviors were observed. Additional positive effects were observed with increases in positive attitudes toward school (school liking). We conclude that the current prevention program effectively reduced bullying and victimization in the elementary schools in Greece and holds promise for influencing the overall school experience.
Hydrological and hydraulic modelling of the Nyl River floodplain : part 2 : modelling hydraulic behaviour

Catchment land-use and water resource developments may threaten the ecological integrity of the Nyl River floodplain, a world-renowned conservation area. The effect of developments on the water supply regime to the floodplain can be predicted by hydrological modelling, but assessing their ecological consequences requires transformation of discharge into ecologically-relevant hydraulic characteristics. Studies of Wild Rice (Oryza longistaminata) have indicated that the important variables are the extent, depth, duration and timing of flood inundations. One-dimensional hydraulic modelling has been successfully applied to predict these flood characteristics, using a suite of models comprising Quicksurf, RiverCAD, HEC-RAS and HEC-DSSVue. Separate but linked models were developed for three contiguous portions of the large floodplain. The topography was surveyed by airborne laser mapping, and extensive discharge, water level, rainfall, infiltration and evapotranspiration data were collected for model calibration and verification. The models were successfully calibrated through adjustment of Manning's n for the main channel and floodplain in each portion, and are able to predict flooding characteristics at a resolution appropriate for ecological interpretation.
Lyapunov Exponent Testing for AWGN Generator System

Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) is common to every communication channel. It is statistically random radio noise characterized by a wide frequency range with regards to a signal in communication channels. In this paper, AWGN signal is generated through design an analogue circuit method, and then the multiple recursive method is also used to generate random data signal that is used for testing by Lyapunov exponent. Furthermore an algorithm for software generating of Additive White Gaussian Noise is presented. Lyapunov exponent test for chaos is used to distinguish between regular and chaotic dynamics of the generated data by the two methods. Simulation results are enhanced with the use of Microcontroller chip, since the hardware of the application is implemented by microcontroller-embedded system to obtain computerized noise generator. The results show that the generated AWGN signal by the analogue method and the multiple recursive method is chaotic which implies the random like-noise behavior.
A Data Collection Method for Long-Term Field Studies of Visual Comfort in Real-World Daylit Office Environments

With the current development towards increased daylighting in buildings and the related progress in daylight evaluation methods, real life monitoring data becomes an urgent need to better support our understanding of the link between daylight and visual comfort. A data collection methodology is presented that links the physical measurements, using luminance maps derived from High Dynamics Range images, with the collection of user perception data at office workstations. The methodology has been developed to facilitate long-term monitoring of visual comfort in real world working environments. The measurement setup represents a compromise, i.e. the measurement position is not as ideal as that in a laboratory environment, but nevertheless provides useful data for situations where the laboratory approach is not viable. It thus opens a wider range of environments for visual comfort studies.