Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The efficiency and effectiveness of particular Croatian Students ’ Perception of e-Learning : Research Based on Factor and Discriminant Analysis

Learning and teaching supported by information and communication technologies is designated by different terms, with e-learning being one of the most frequently used. As a result of strategies defined and measures taken, this modern concept has gradually taken an important place also in Croatian higher education, however, the accomplishments of its implementation cannot be viewed as satisfactory as yet. In order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of an e-learning system, one needs to foresee possible problems in its functioning and define adequate activities to overcome those problems, which should then be conducted permanently. A mandatory step in this process is polling users' opinion. Although there have been some attempts, these issues remain underresearched within the Croatian higher education system. The paper presents the results of the research which was intended to at least alleviate the current data insufficiency in this area. In addition, the purpose was to present internationally Croatian experience and student views on certain aspects of e-learning. Different statistical methods were used to analyze the collected data, in particular the factor and discriminant analysis.
Time-Critical Volume Rendering

For the past twelve months, we have conducted and completed a joint research entitled "Time- Critical Volume Rendering" with NASA Ames. As expected, High performance volume rendering algorithms have been developed by exploring some new faster rendering techniques, including object presence acceleration, parallel processing, and hierarchical level-of-detail representation. Using our new techniques, initial experiments have achieved real-time rendering rates of more than 10 frames per second of various 3D data sets with highest resolution. A couple of joint papers and technique reports as well as an interactive real-time demo have been compiled as the result of this project.
Development of a Multimodal MRI Study to Characterize Morpho-Functional Features in Rodent Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, recognized by the World Health Organization as a global public health priority. It is a complex pathology characterized by the accumulation of the Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide as extracellular plaques and of the intracellullar neuro fibrillary tangles (NFT) alongside with different events, such as chronic neuroinflammation and astrogliosis. None of the existing biomarkers is simultaneously specific for the pathology and sensitive to its progression. Metabolic and functional alterations are the earliest events described in the AD pathological cascade but shared with other form of dementia, while specific structural alterations occurs in a later stage of the disease. The use of transgenic models could simplify the development of new imaging biomarkers that would enable early diagnosis and making new treatments more effective. The objective of this work was to develop a multi-modal panel of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques and automated analysis pipelines, characterized by a high translational impact, in order to investigate the metabolic, functional and structural alterations in the brains of AD transgenic models. Results obtained in the APP23 transgenic mouse show that chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging can be used to detect alterations in the brain uptake of the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) with a better resolution than PET and without the need of radioactive tracers. Moreover, a longitudinal study highlighted that significant structural and metabolic alterations can be found only in a late stage of the pathology. Furthermore, an advanced pipeline for the analysis of the rodent brain functional connectivity has been developed. This thesis demonstrates that the advantage to the experimental design adopted is simplifying longitudinal studies of the same animal cohort. The translation of the analysis pipelines adopted in human studies enables more powerful results and reduces the number of animals involved in research.
Research on the Equilibrium of a Revenue Sharing Contract in a Transfer-Operation-Transfer Project Based on the Theory of Share Tenancy

To solve the transfer-operate-transfer (TOT) project contract model selection, contract structure optimization and the largest revenue of government and private partners, a revenue-sharing contract (RSC) structure equilibrium model of a TOT project is constructed based on the theory of share tenancy. According to the key parameters of RSC structure, the algebraic model is constructed by using the Lagrange multiplier method, and the geometric model is built by adopting the dynamic equilibrium method. The equilibrium conditions of the two models are obtained under the constraints of the maximization of income of both parties, and the equilibrium conditions of two models are verified as completely consistent. The result shows that 1) The RSC structure of the TOT project can achieve Pareto optimality and maximize revenue for both parties; 2) As the proportion of participants’ investment or risk sharing increases, their revenue-sharing ratio (RSR) will increase, and vice versa; 3) Regardless of transaction costs, the three contract models are equivalent; considering the transaction costs, the revenue share of the government in the RSC is greater than that in the equilibrium state. 4) Changing the assumptions, the equilibrium model can still provide ideas for revenue sharing contract structure and efficiency optimization.
Robust Polarimetric Adaptive Detector Against Target Steering Matrix Mismatch

A polarimetric scheme is presented for the detection of a range-spread target when the presumed target steering matrix is deviated from the actual one. Following the adaptive beamformer orthogonal rejection test model, the decision statistic of the proposed detector involves the polarimetric clutter-plus-noise covariance matrix, the target component after noise whitening and rotation, as well as the sidelobe interference vectors of multiple range cells. In the practical realization of the detector, the polarimetric clutter-plus-noise covariance matrix is estimated by using the minimum mean-square-error regularized secondary data sample averaging. Taking into account the mismatch involved in the presumed target steering matrix, the target component is obtained by least square fitting subject to multiple separate conic uncertainty set constraints. The estimation of the sidelobe interference vectors is also based on the Bayesian statistics, and the involved polarimetric clutter-plus-noise covariance matrix is ultimately replaced by its Bayesian estimate previously obtained. The performance of the proposed detector has been evaluated and compared with the existing popular polarimetric detectors using both synthetic and real data. The results show that in the presence of target steering matrix mismatch caused by pointing errors, sensor position errors, channel calibration errors, multipath propagation, and random errors, the proposed detector has a superior performance to the current detectors in terms of the probability of detection.
Marriage or Cohabitation? A Survey of Students’ Attitudes in Greece

In recent decades, family patterns have been (more or less rapidly) transformed in all Western societies. This is also the case for Greece, whose society was frequently considered one of the most traditional among European countries, since family stereotypes, secular social norms and – in some ways – religion occupied (and still do) a prominent position. Based on a survey of students’ attitudes towards marriage (or cohabitation), an exploratory data analysis allows the identification of specific factors shaping beliefs and attitudes toward marriage in Greek society. In particular, it is demonstrated that female students are overcoming traditional boundaries and prefer more modern forms of companionship. The results indicate that female students tend to postpone their decision to marry, as traditional family stereotypes seem to have lost their influence on the life course decisions taken by young women. Additionally, a large proportion of female students use cohabitation as a precursor to marriage. Respondents are found to be more emancipated and independent than in years gone by, while social status and financial independence are sought through education rather than marriage. Another important factor is the lack of state policies supporting families and the lack of incentives to have children.
Bearing capacity performance of soft cohesive soil treated by kenaf limited life geotextile

Abstract This article presents the performance of the short-term bearing capacity on soft clay soil treated by Kenaf geotextile under vertical loading via a small-scale modelling test at unit gravity. The ground model was formulated by consolidating kaolin in a rigid testing compartment. In the loading test, the strip footing was represented by a rigid footing. For the treated case, a series of tests were performed to examine the effects of the burial depth of the Kenaf geotextile on the bearing capacity of the soft soil. The Kenaf geotextile was laid beneath the rigid footing (at the ground surface) and at 50, 75 and 100 mm depth from the soil surface. All the measured results of the Kenaf geotextile treated ground were compared with the untreated ground. The incorporation of Kenaf fibre geotextile was observed to enhance the bearing capacity of soft cohesive clay up to 281% depending upon the depth of the installed geotextile. The geotextile at the surface provided the highest bearing capacity and sustained the highest displacement at failure. The outcome of this research will promote the use of natural fibre geotextiles as sustainable earth reinforcement in temporary earthwork applications.
A Utility Optimization Approach to Network Cache Design

In any caching system, the admission and eviction policies determine which contents are added and removed from a cache when a miss occurs. Usually, these policies are devised so as to mitigate staleness and increase the hit probability. Nonetheless, the utility of having a high hit probability can vary across contents. This occurs, for instance, when service level agreements must be met, or if certain contents are more difficult to obtain than others. In this paper, we propose utility-driven caching, where we associate with each content a utility, which is a function of the corresponding content hit probability. We formulate optimization problems where the objectives are to maximize the sum of utilities over all contents. These problems differ according to the stringency of the cache capacity constraint. Our framework enables us to reverse engineer classical replacement policies such as LRU and FIFO, by computing the utility functions that they maximize. We also develop online algorithms that can be used by service providers to implement various caching policies based on arbitrary utility functions.
Asymmetrical $4\times4$ Butler Matrix and its Application for Single Layer $8\times8$ Butler Matrix

The design procedure and measured results of a novel <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times 4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Butler matrix are presented in this paper. This asymmetrical structure provides fairly flexible phase outputs; therefore, the array radiation pattern can be rotated around the array normal axis. The structure of this modified Butler matrix is discussed in detail, and the explicit design formulas are derived to achieve the arbitrary main beams direction. Using the proposed design procedure, the Butler matrix can provide even broadside and endfire beams. In addition, this structure is employed to design two Butler matrices, which generate similar patterns as a conventional <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\times 8$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Butler matrix, using only single layer circuits with significantly lower sizes. Both structures are implemented for Wi-Fi frequency (2.45 GHz), and the measured results are presented. The first structure employs two asymmetrical <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times 4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Butler matrices, while the second one uses only one <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times 4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Butler matrix with single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches added to select the proper constant phase shifts. The measured return loss, the average insertion loss, and the fractional bandwidth for the first structure are ≥23 dB, 6.6 dB, and 24%, respectively. These parameters for the second structure are ≥17 dB, 7.8 dB, and 20%, respectively. Moreover, the size reduction for the first and second structures compared to a conventional <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\times 8$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Butler matrix is about 50% and 80%, respectively.
Modular Hybrid-Full-Bridge DC Transformer With Full-Process Matching Switching Strategy for MVdc Power Distribution Application

This article proposes a modular hybrid-full-bridge dc transformer (MHDCT) with full-process matching switching strategy MHDCT for MVdc power distribution application. The proposed MHDCT merges the advantages of DCTs based on dual-active-bridge and modular multilevel converter, it not only has good reliability, but also has good modularity and flexibility. Especially, full-process matching switching strategy has good voltage regulation ability to ensure the voltage match of high-frequency-link under various states, then circulating current can be decreased and efficiency can be improved. The universal operation and modulation, voltage, current, power, and switching characterizations of MHDCT are analyzed and the control strategy is proposed in this article. Finally, an MHDCT prototype is built and the experimental results verify the correctness and effectively of the proposed solution. The MHDCT will be a practical scheme for MVdc distribution application.
Molecular analysis of sex chromosome evolution in papaya

Papaya is a semi-woody tree that produces fruit rich in vitamins and minerals. It is trioecious with male, female, and hermaphrodite plants. Though many theories have been suggested in the past, papaya sex is determined by a pair of nascent sex chromosomes; females have two X chromosomes, males have an X and a Y, and hermaphrodites have an X and a Y, which varies slightly from the male Y. Any combination of the Y and Y genotype is lethal. The X and Y chromosomes have a small nonrecombining region in the centromeric and pericentromeric region. The hermaphrodite-specific region of the Y chromosome (HSY) is gene poor and has an increased amount of retroelements and chromosomal rearrangements compared to its X counterpart and the genome wide average. The X and Y chromosomes were estimated to have diverged relatively recently about 2-3 million years ago (MYA), and even more recently in the case of the Y and Y (73,000 years ago). Physical maps of the HSY and the corresponding X region have been produced and sequenced, showing the HSY sequence has expanded. Genes in these regions are being mined with a special focus on identifying the two sex determination genes, one promoting maleness and one suppressing femaleness. The impact of identifying the sex determination genes would be substantial for both the commercial production of papaya and the field of sex chromosome evolution. Introduction Sexual reproduction is a common phenomenon in eukaryotes. Across sexually reproducing flowering plants, a variety of breeding systems have arisen. Flowering plant species can be hermaphrodite, containing both male and female parts within the same flower, monoecious, having separate male and female flowers on the same individual, dioecious, having male and female flowers on different individuals, or a combination of the three. Hermaphroditism is the most common sexual type seen in angiosperms, whereas dioecy is only seen in about 6% of species across about 38% of flowering plants families (Renner and Ricklefs 1995). Dioecious angiosperm individuals were thought to have evolved independently in different families from hermaphrodite ancestors (Takhtajan 1969). There are many possible reasons for this shift from hermaphrodite to monoecious or dioecious sex types. 1 This chapter appeared in its entirety in Gschwend AR and Ming R (2011) Papaya Sex Chromosomes in New insights on plant sex chromosomes. ed Navajas-Perez R. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (In Press). This chapter is reprinted with permissions from the publisher.
Constrained Private Mechanisms for Count Data

Concern about how to aggregate sensitive user data without compromising individual privacy is a major barrier to greater availability of data. Differential privacy has emerged as an accepted model to release sensitive information while giving a statistical guarantee for privacy. Many different algorithms are possible to address different target functions. We focus on the core problem of count queries, and seek to design <italic>mechanisms</italic> to release data associated with a group of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi>n</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="kulkarni-ieq1-2912179.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> individuals. Prior work has focused on designing mechanisms by raw optimization of a loss function, without regard to the consequences on the results. This can lead to mechanisms with undesirable properties, such as never reporting some outputs (gaps), and overreporting others (spikes). We tame these pathological behaviors by introducing a set of desirable properties that mechanisms can obey. Any combination of these can be satisfied by solving a linear program (LP) which minimizes a cost function, with constraints enforcing the properties. We focus on a particular cost function, and provide explicit constructions that are optimal for certain combinations of properties, and show a closed form for their cost. In the end, there are only a handful of distinct optimal mechanisms to choose between: one is the well-known (truncated) geometric mechanism; the second a novel mechanism that we introduce here, and the remainder are found as the solution to particular LPs. These all avoid the bad behaviors we identify. We demonstrate in a set of experiments on real and synthetic data which is preferable in practice, for different combinations of data distributions, constraints, and privacy parameters.
Spark plasma sintering of layered γ-Al2O3/graphene reinforced nanocomposites

Multi-layered ceramic composites with alternation of grain sizes in layers were produced by adding thin interlayers of graphene-augmented alumina nanofibres (GAIN) between layers of monolithic α-Al2O3. The composite was mounted layer by layer directly in the graphite mould, using a vacuum filter system to precipitate alumina nanopowder and GAIN layers from the corresponding suspensions. The 30-mm diameter samples were consolidated by the spark plasma sintering technology at 1450 °C in nitrogen atmosphere at 50 MPa pressure. The effect of interlayers on the microstructure of alumina and on the thermal and electrical conductivity of the compact is studied.
Phylogenetic study of endophytic fungi associated with Centella asiatica from Bengkulu and Malaysian accessions based on the ITS rDNA sequence

Abstract. Radiastuti N, Bahalwan HA, Susilowati DN. 2019. Phylogenetic study of endophytic fungi associated with Centella asiatica from Bengkulu and Malaysian accessions based on the ITS rDNA sequence. Biodiversitas 20: 1248-1258. Centella asiatica is one of the medicinal plants which is known to be symbiotic with various endophytic fungi. The purpose of this research was to determine diversity of culturable fungal endophyte from C. asiatica. Identification was conducted using molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS rDNA sequence. The result showed that obtained 145 isolates endophytic fungi (from stolons, leaves, roots, petioles) were grouped into 18 morphotaxa (Bengkulu) and 23 morphotaxa (Malaysian). The fungal endophytic were identified as Aspergillus austroafricanus, Aspergillus oryzae, Acrocalymma vagum, Ceratobasidium cornigerum, Ceratobasidium sp. , Chaetomium globosum, Colletotrichum karstii, C. gigasporium, C. tabaci, Colletotrichum siamense, Eutypella sp. , Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, F. falciforme, F. keratoplasticum, F. striatum, Fusarium sp. , Penicillium capsulatum, Phoma multirostrata, Perenniporia tephropora, Perenniporia sp. , Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phanerochaete stereoides, Phyllosticta capitalensis, Phomopsis asparagi, Peroneutypa scoparia, Phialemoniopsis sp. , Mycochaetophora gentinae, Talaromyces sp. , Earliella scabrosa, and Trichaptum sp. based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. Fusarium (Nectriaceae) were the most found of fungal endophytes in both C. asiatica Bengkulu and Malaysian accession. The majority strain are including Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. The identification of endophytic fungi from medicinal plants is needed as a preliminary study to determine the potential of endophytic fungi producing bioactive compounds.
A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY OF PATCH IMPLANTATION AND MITRAL VALVE MECHANICS

OF DISSERTATION A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY OF PATCH IMPLANTATION AND MITRAL VALVE MECHANICS Myocardial infarction (i.e., a heart attack) is the most common heart disease in the United States. Mitral valve regurgitation, or the backflow of blood into the atrium from the left ventricle, is one of the complications associated with myocardial infarction. In this dissertation, a validated model of a sheep heart that has suffered myocardial infarction has been employed to study mitral valve regurgitation. The model was rebuilt with the knowledge of geometrical changes captured with MRI technique and is assigned with anisotropic, inhomogeneous, nearly incompressible and highly non-linear material properties. Patch augmentation was performed on its anterior leaflet, using a simplified approach, and its posterior leaflet, using a more realistic approach. In this finite element simulation, we virtually installed an elliptical patch within the central portion of the posterior leaflet. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this type of simulation has not been performed previously. In another simulation, the effect of patch within the anterior leaflet was simulated. The results from the two different surgical simulations show that patch implantation helps the free edges of the leaflets come close to one another, which leads to improved coaptation. Additionally, the changes in chordal force distributions are also reported. Finally, this study answers a few questions regarding mitral valve patch augmentation surgeries and emphasizes the importance of further investigations on the influence of patch positioning and material properties on key outcomes. The ultimate goal is to use the proposed techniques to assess human models that are patient-specific.