Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
( CAHRS ) 3-1-1996 Multiple Approaches to Absenteeism Analysis

Absenteeism research has often been criticized for using inappropriate analysis. Characteristics of absence data, notably that it is usually truncated and skewed, violate assumptions of OLS regression; however, OLS and correlation analysis remain the dominant models of absenteeism research. This piece compares eight models that may be appropriate for analyzing absence data. Specifically, this piece discusses and uses OLS regression, OLS regression with a transformed dependent variable, the Tobit model, Poisson regression, Overdispersed Poisson regression, the Negative Binomial model, Ordinal Logistic regression, and the Ordinal Probit model. A simulation methodology is employed to determine the extent to which each model is likely to produce false positives. Simulations vary with respect to the shape of the dependent variable's distribution, sample size, and the shape of the independent variables' distributions. Actual data,based on a sample of 195 manufacturing employees, is used to illustrate how these models might be used to analyze a real data set. Results from the simulation suggest that, despite methodological expectations, OLS regression does not produce significantly more false positives than expected at various alpha levels. However, the Tobit and Poisson models are often shown to yield too many false positives. A number of other models yield less than the expected number of false positives, thus suggesting that they may serve well as conservative hypothesis tests.
Executable Calculational Expressions

The calculational style of E. W. Dijkstra and C. S. Scholten is a semi-formal style for the development, both in terms of verification and derivation, of correct programs. This calculational style heavily relies on the symbolic manipulation of expressions involving, for instance, arithmetic, quantifiers, and collections. This manuscript presents Calculational, an executable specification language for a broad class of calculational expressions in the style of Dijkstra & Scholten. The Calculational tool offers support for executable specifications, including: (i) quantifier expressions such as summation and universal/existential quantification, and (ii) data types such as lists, sets, and bags (i.e., multisets). The current implementation of Calculational is executable in the Haskell programming language, offering support also for higher order computation and pattern matching. This implementation is available for download as open source code and as a Haskell library too (which can be embedded in other programming languages). The main features of Calculational, some examples of its use —including the formal processing and querying of relational data—, and details of its implementation are also included.
ESBIR : Extended Semantic Based Boolean Information Retrieval Using Synonyms and Antonyms

Information retrieval (IR) is finding material (usually documents) of associate unstructured nature (usually text) that satisfies an information want from inside massive collections (usually keep on computers). Visiting the cluster of documents over that it tends to perform retrieval because the (document) assortment. It's generally additionally stated as a corpus (a body of texts). The goal of project is to develop a system to handle the unplanned retrieval task. This is often the foremost normal IR task. In it, a system aims to supply documents from inside the gathering that are relevant to an absolute user data want, communicated to the system by means that of a natural event, user-initiated question. A document has relevancy if it's one that the user perceives as containing data useful with reference to their personal data would like. Extended semantic based information retrieval using synonyms and antonyms (ESBIR) aims to retrieve the documents that are semantically similar terms to enhance the Information Retrieval System by improving the recall and precision.
Semantics for Cyber-Physical Systems: A cross-domain perspective

Modern life is increasingly made more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable by the smart systems that surround us: smart buildings monitor and adjust temperature levels to achieve occupant comfort while optimizing energy consumption; smart energy grids reconfigure dynamically to make the best use of ad-hoc energy produced by a host of distributed energy producers; smart factories can be reconfigured on the shop-floor to efficiently produce a diverse range of products. These complex systems can only be realized by tightly integrating components in the physical space (sensors, actuators) with advanced software algorithms in the cyber-space, thus creating so-called Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Semantic Web technologies (SWT) have seen a natural uptake in several areas based on CPS, given that CPS are data and knowledge intensive while providing advanced functionalities typical of semantics-based intelligent systems. Yet, so far, this uptake has primarily happened within the boundaries of application domains resulting in somewhat disconnected research communities. In this paper, we take a cross-domain perspective by synthesizing our experiences of using SWTs during the engineering and operation of CPS in smart manufacturing, smart buildings and smart grids. We discuss use cases that are amenable to the use of SWTs, benefits and challenges of using these technologies in the CPS lifecycle as well as emerging future trends. While non-exhaustive, our paper aims at opening up a dialog between these fields and at putting the foundation for a research area on semantics in CPS.
Question Answering Training on SQuAD ( QATS )

In this paper, we explore question answering in the SQuAD 2.0 framework. We built our end-to-end Question Answering (QA) system by combining ideas from high-performing SQuAD models: BiDAF, R-Net, and QANet. We first improve upon the provided BiDAF baseline with character embedding and a self-attention layer. We also implement QANet which outperforms BiDAF. Our final ensemble model achieved 70.12 F1 and 67.13 EM on the dev set, and 68.10 F1 and 64.75 EM on the hidden test set.
Optically-Active Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications in Ovarian Cancer

The clinical management of cancer has principally relied upon surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for many decades. Despite recent advances in molecularly-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic agents, the long-term survival rates in patients with solid malignancies including ovarian cancer have improved only incrementally. Nanotechnologies designed to locally interrogate and modulate the tumor microenvironment offer a promising opportunity to enhance existing treatment modalities and establish new therapeutic paradigms. By virtue of their elemental composition, geometry, and surface chemistry, nanomaterials can be engineered with optical and pharmacokinetic properties which permit these agents to localize, fluoresce, and deposit energy within tumors. Nanomaterials therefore provide a clear route towards future approaches for sensitive diagnosis and imaging of tumors and targeted therapeutic delivery. This thesis describes the development and application of optically-active nanomaterials for non-invasive imaging, localized heating of deep tumors, and enhanced therapeutic delivery, each explored in the context of ovarian cancer. Because effective cytoreduction of ovarian tumors remains one of the most significant prognostic factors for long-term survival, the first part of this thesis explores a nanomaterial-inspired imaging approach for guiding cytoreductive surgery. Single-walled carbon nanotubes are shown to selectively target deep ovarian tumors and through their fluorescence in the second near-infrared window, guide cytoreduction of sub-millimeter tumors. The second component of the thesis focuses on the application of plasmonic gold nanorods for locally heating tumors in clinically-relevant anatomical contexts, including photothermal ablation of a genetically-engineered sarcoma model and milder heating of orthotopic ovarian xenografts using an implanted near-infrared source. Lastly, because therapeutic delivery to solid tumors can be enhanced by heating, the final section of the thesis explores the effects of gold nanorod-mediated heating on therapeutic delivery in ovarian tumor models. In the clinic, chemotherapy is administered in multiple cycles spanning weeks to months, so we investigated multiple exposures to gold nanorod heating; a transient period of thermotolerance was observed and a role for the endothelial heat shock response identified. Collectively, this work demonstrates how next-generation nanomaterials may prove useful in the clinic for diverse applications in cancer management ranging from imaging to drug delivery.
Real World Graphical Reasoning and Compositional Question Answering

There has been much progress in recent years in the field of visual question answering. Many models are running at super-human performance, and progress appears promising. The MAC network’s compositionality-inspired architecture [1] has achieved a startling 98.9% accuracy on the CLEVR dataset, which should indicate that this field is solved. However, recent papers have been shown that these ’superhuman’ models are not learning as much as we, human operators, would like. In the case of the MAC network on the CLEVR dataset, MAC is simply compositionality on CLEVR’s very small answer space. In this paper, we propose modifications to the MAC network by utilizing scene graphs to avoid this overfitting so that it can work in a more general setting. We chose the versatile and real world GQA dataset [2] as a test set to benchmark our results. In this report, to emphasize Natural Language aspects of machine reasoning, we decided to focus on operating over the scene graph data of GQA rather than images.
Improved BiDAF with Self-Attention

We performed machine reading and question answering on SQuAD 2.0 using an improved version of BiDAF model. We added character embedding layer, selfattention layer and a novel designed learnable weighted average-attention layer. The final F1 and EM score of the model were 66% and 62%, respectively. We also tried a two-stage system approach, which in theory can classify whether a question has an answer and convert SQuAD 2.0 to SQuAD 1.1 for the second stage. However, we found no benefit on dividing the system into two stages since neither traditional machine learning nor deep learning can give a high enough accuracy on the binary classification task of the first stage.
A 3 D-Printed Compact High-Efficiency Magneto-Electric Dipole Antenna Sub-Array for Millimeter-Wave MultiBeam Applications

A novel three-dimensional (3D) printed 2 × 2 multi-beam magneto-electric (ME) dipole antenna subarray with a metallic configuration is investigated in the Ka-band. A modified topology of the beamforming network consisting of four air-filled 3-dB couplers is proposed, whose miniaturized size in the horizontal plane is equal to the radiating aperture of the subarray. By combining the beamforming network with the 3D printed waveguide-fed ME-dipoles, the two-dimensional multi-beam subarray is designed, printed and tested. A wide impedance bandwidth of 20%, four stable tilted radiation beams with almost identical radiation patterns in the two orthogonal planes, high radiation efficiency of 87% and high gain performance are achieved successfully. The millimeter-wave subarray-level beam-scanning array with a large size can be implemented based on the presented design. With the compact geometry fabricated in a whole piece and the good operating characteristics, this work is valuable to the emerging millimeter-wave multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) applications. INDEX TERMS Three-dimensional (3D) printing, magneto-electric (ME) dipole, millimeter-wave, multibeam antenna, subarray.
Job satisfaction of community college adjunct faculty at Midwestern Community College

Adjunct faculty constitutes the majority of faculty in higher education. Their large numbers make them a force in community colleges and four-year universities. The role that adjunct faculty play is impressive and their role should not be overlooked. Studying the background of adjunct faculty assists in providing an overview of gender, age, and ethnicity amongst adjunct faculty. College administrators and support professionals can benefit from understanding the levels of support adjunct faculty expect and their satisfaction with support that already exists in community colleges. The overall level of job satisfaction of adjunct faculty also assists college personnel in understanding adjunct faculty. This dissertation reports an in-depth examination of adjunct faculty characteristics as well as faculty thoughts about services and support they receive, and their level of job satisfaction. The data collected and analyzed through this study will add to the literature regarding adjunct faculty and help community college administrators understand the levels of satisfaction adjunct faculty feel related to support and their work.
Attempt to improve the total performance of sound field reproduction system : Integration of wave-based methods and simple reproduction method

The sound field reproduction system can be applied to various applications. The primary objective of the system is to physically reproduce an arbitrary sound field correctly. However, physical accuracy is not the only requirement in a situation where the system is actually used. Through several applications, we assumed the following four factors as total performance; A) physical accuracy, B) robustness against disturbances, C) flexibility for additional direction, and D) capability of integration with visual media. We used 24-channel narrow directional microphone array and 24-channel loudspeaker as a platform to be considered and worked to improve overall performance. As one of the reproduction methods, directional information can be easily reproduced by amplitude panning which relies on the directivity of the microphone themselves, but the microphone leakage effect occurs in the low frequency. On the other hand, wave-based methods such as boundary surface control or higher-order ambisonics are effective for physical accuracy, but control of high frequency is difficult. Therefore, if wave-based method and simple reproduction method are combined, there is a possibility to reproduce a wide frequency range well. We discuss the total performance of this reproduction method through ITD/ILD measurement and visualization of a wide range of wavefront.
User Inputs Parton ShowersMatrix Elements Soft Physics The SHERPA 2 . 2 event generator framework

SHERPA is a general-purpose Monte Carlo event generator for the simulation of particle collisions in high-energy collider experiments. We summarise essential features and improvements of the SHERPA 2.2 release series, which is heavily used for event generation in the analysis and interpretation of LHC Run 1 and Run 2 data. We highlight a decade of developments towards ever higher precision in the simulation of particle-collision events. Copyright E. Bothmann et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Published by the SciPost Foundation. Received 26-05-2019 Accepted 10-09-2019 Published 18-09-2019 Check for updates doi:10.21468/SciPostPhys.7. 3.034
MICROWAVE ASSISTED , LIQUID PHASE SYNTHESIS OF SUPERCONDUCTING MATERIAL

In this work we present the synthesis of high temperature superconducting material YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO-123) using microwave synthesis in liquid phase. For this we used as starting materials aqueous solutions of yttrium, barium and copper nitrates with molar ratios of 1:2:3. Nitrates solution is mixed with a NaOH solution and para amino benzoic acid (PABA) as shell formation agent for precursor oxidic nanopaticles. The mixture thus obtained is heated under the microwaves until the reaction is completed and a black powder is obtained in aqueous suspension. The resulting material was calcined at 900°C for one hour, after preliminary drying and analyzed using XRD, FT-IR and SEM.
Safety of Probiotics to Reduce Risk and Prevent or Treat Disease

OBJECTIVES: To catalog what is known about the safety of interventions containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and/or Bacillus strains used as probiotic agents in research to reduce the risk of, prevent, or treat disease. DATA SOURCES: We searched 12 electronic databases, references of included studies, and pertinent reviews for studies addressing the safety of probiotics from database inception to August 2010 without language restriction. REVIEW METHODS: We identified intervention studies on probiotics that reported the presence or absence of adverse health outcomes in human participants, without restriction by study design, participant type, or clinical field. We investigated the quantity, quality, and nature of adverse events. RESULTS: The search identified 11,977 publications, of which 622 studies were included in the review. In 235 studies, only nonspecific safety statements were made ("well tolerated"); the remaining 387 studies reported the presence or absence of specific adverse events. Interventions and adverse events were poorly documented. A number of case studies described fungemia and some bacteremia potentially associated with administered probiotic organisms. Controlled trials did not monitor routinely for such infections and primarily reported on gastrointestinal adverse events. Based on reported adverse events, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed no statistically significantly increased relative risk (RR) of the overall number of experienced adverse events (RR 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93, 1.07, p=0.999); gastrointestinal; infections; or other adverse events, including serious adverse events (RR 1.06; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.16; p=0.201), associated with short-term probiotic use compared to control group participants; long-term effects are largely unknown. Existing studies primarily examined Lactobacillus alone or in combination with other genera, often Bifidobacterium. Few studies directly compared the safety among different intervention or participant characteristics. Indirect comparisons indicated that effects of delivery vehicles (e.g., yogurt, dairy) should be investigated further. Case studies suggested that participants with compromised health are most likely to experience adverse events associated with probiotics. However, RCTs in medium-risk and critically ill participants did not report a statistically significantly increased risk of adverse events compared to control group participants. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of assessment and systematic reporting of adverse events in probiotic intervention studies, and interventions are poorly documented. The available evidence in RCTs does not indicate an increased risk; however, rare adverse events are difficult to assess, and despite the substantial number of publications, the current literature is not well equipped to answer questions on the safety of probiotic interventions with confidence.
PR ] 9 S ep 2 01 9 Loop-erased walks and random matrices

It is well known that there are close connections between nonintersecting processes in one dimension and random matrices, based on the reflection principle. There is a generalisation of the reflection principle for more general (e.g. planar) processes, due to S. Fomin, in which the nonintersection condition is replaced by a condition involving loop-erased paths. In the context of independent Brownian motions in suitable planar domains, this also has close connections to random matrices. An example of this was first observed by Sato and Katori (Phys. Rev. E, 83, 2011). We present further examples which give rise to various Cauchy-type ensembles. We also extend Fomin’s identity to the affine setting and show that in this case, by considering independent Brownian motions in an annulus, one obtains a novel interpretation of the circular orthogonal ensemble.
Effects of benzylaminopurine and irradiance on cytokinin contents , α-tubulin gene expression and cucumber cotyledon expansion

The fluctuation of endogenous cytokinins was determined in the excised cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.) cotyledons incubated with benzylaminopurine (BA) under irradiance or in darkness. The data indicated that light stimulated the cotyledon expansion compared with dark and BA further enhanced the expansion of cotyledons. However, only BA treatment markedly increased the contents of endogenous cytokinins and induced α-tubulin gene expression. Actinomycin D, a well-known inhibitor of gene transcription, strongly inhibited both lightand BA-induced cotyledon expansions and increase of endogenous cytokinin contents and α-tubulin gene expression. Colchicine, an antimicrotubular reagent, partially inhibited the cotyledon expansion without affecting the cytokinin contents. Additional key words: actinomycin D, colchicine, Cucumis sativa.
Prediction of residential real estate selling prices using neural networks

With the rising housing prices of the last 20 years, the appraisal of real estate has become more difficult. Underlined by the large differences between listing and selling prices, the valuation process brings a level of uncertainty. With the advances within the field of machine learning in recent years, attempts have been made to apply these techniques to the real estate market. This thesis investigates the potential of using neural networks to predict selling prices of apartments in Stockholm, based on apartment parameters. Networks are trained to either make an improved valuation, based on a listing price, or make a new valuation of an apartment. The results are promising, and in line with contemporary findings; however, the worst-case performance of the models could make them unsuitable for many purposes.
Rational Expectation Bubbles : Evidence from Hong Kong ’ s Sub-Indices Miyakoshi

This paper uses Hong Kong stock market’s four sub-indices to examine the existence and causes of rational expectation bubbles. The unit root test is applied to the rational bubble hypothesis. Various causality test methods are used to examine the causality of bubble among the four sub-indices. The empirical results show that in the sub-periods of 1986-2002 and 2000-2012, the bubbles of Commerce & Industry and Utilities industries are consistent with rational expectation bubbles, but not so in the Finance and Properties industries. In general, the rational expectation bubbles in the two sub-periods seemed to have caused by expectations in other growing foreign economies.
User dropout in a Spanish sports center : segmentation

*School of Sports. Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Seville, Spain. E-mail: rteva@upo.es **School of Sports. Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Seville, Spain. E-mail: rperord@upo.es ***School of Sports. Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Seville, Spain. E-mail: agracru@upo.es ****School of Education. University of Huelva. Huelva, Spain. E-mail: tamayo@uhu.es *****School of Sports and Computer Science. Pablo de Olavide University. Sevilla, Spain. E-mail: romanescarbo@hotmail.com ******School of Sports. Pablo de Olavide University. Sevilla, Spain. E-mail: anuvnuv@upo.es User dropout in a Spanish sports center: segmentation