Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asociación entre nomofobia e indicadores de inteligencia en estudiantes de educación superior

Introducción: el uso indiscriminado de los teléfonos móviles puede estar asociado a eventos de igual forma negativos como insomnio, depresión, estrés o tendinitis crónica. La identificación de factores emocionales de riesgo para el desarrollo de nomofobia es importante para poder priorizar estrategias de intervención preventiva en adolescentes, quienes dicho sea de paso se unen cada vez más al grupo de personas adictas al celular o como se define en este estudio, con nomofobia. Objetivo: determinar si existe relación entre la presencia de nomofobia e indicadores de inteligencia entre ellos: a) Inteligencia cognitiva medida a través del IQ; b) Resiliencia; y c) Autoestima. Método: diseño observacional, analítico, transversal, prospectivo, de Casos y Controles pareados por edad y sexo. La muestra se integró por 70 casos y 70 controles, con una edad promedio de 22 (DE = 1.5 años); 60% hombres y 40% mujeres. Resultados: se encontró que en el grupo de personas con IQ promedio o por debajo del promedio es 27 veces más probable el desarrollo de nomofobia, comparado con el grupo de no nomofóbicos. Al realizar este ejercicio con la baja autoestima, se identificó un OR de 58, y con resiliencia promedio o baja, el OR es de 2.2 (ambos con IC 95% estadísticamente significativos). Conclusión: existe asociación entre la presencia de nomofobia e indicadores de inteligencia cognitiva y emocional.
Millimeter-wave CMOS circuit design

We have developed a 27- and 40-GHz tuned amplifier and a 52.5-GHz voltage-controlled oscillator using 0.18-mum CMOS. The line-reflect-line calibrations with a microstrip-line structure, consisting of metal1 and metal6, was quite effective to extract the accurate S-parameters for the intrinsic transistor on an Si substrate and realized the precise design. Using this technique, we obtained a 17-dB gain and 14-dBm output power at 27 GHz for the tuned amplifier. We also obtained a 7-dB gain and a 10.4-dBm output power with a good input and output return loss at 40 GHz. Additionally, we obtained an oscillation frequency of 52.5 GHz with phase noise of -86 dBc/Hz at a 1-MHz offset. These results indicate that our proposed technique is suitable for CMOS millimeter-wave design
Compact Extreme Learning Machines for biological systems

In biological system modelling using data-driven black-box methods, it is essential to effectively and efficiently produce a parsimonious model to represent the system behaviour. The Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is a recent development in fast learning paradigms. However, the derived model is not necessarily sparse. In this paper, an improved ELM is investigated, aiming to obtain a more compact model without significantly increasing the overall computational complexity. This is achieved by associating each model term to a regularized parameter, thus insignificant ones are automatically unselected, leading to improved model sparsity. Experimental results on biochemical data confirm its effectiveness.
COMPETENCIES AND COMPETENCY MODELS: DOES ONE SIZE FIT ALL?

Although competencies are not new, paying for competencies is rapidly gathering attention. In many firms, the rate of change is so great that the individual job has ceased to be useful as the "atom" around which organizations and human resources practices are structured. Job-based pay has outlived its usefulness in such companies. Firms are searching for a new logic to pay and a new basis for salary structures that are better aligned with organizational strategies, structures, cultures and other HR practices. At this point, competency-based pay is the most promising base pay alternative to job-based pay.
Adaptable gait generation for autotomised legged robots

This paper presents an adaptable gait generation method which allows legged robots to walk in a stable fashion after they have shed a combination of legs. By using this technique, robots will be able to continue with their mission even after a combination of their legs has been damaged. The method selects and calculates the final coordinates of a robot’s stance and swing legs by maximising the stable mobility of the robot in the direction of locomotion. As a result, stable straight line locomotion in any desired direction has been generated. In addition, the resulting gaits can accommodate a range of loads carried by the robot. The proposed technique has been tested in a hexapod robot, but results can be extended to robots with any number of legs. Finally, this method intends to reduce the current gap between biological and robot locomotion, extending robots’ resilience to damage and improving autonomy.
Adaptive pragmatic analysis of natural language

Natural language is a mechanism and a way for humans to express himself or herself. In order to understand what has been expressed, language analysis at different levels has to be done. Just like formal languages, natural language also has definite structure and follows a grammar, which may be an exhaustive one. Sometimes it is dynamic, as the natural language, especially English is ever-evolving. All natural languages are inherently ambiguous, but in a given context, a sentence has a single meaning only. So, in addition to syntax analysis and semantic analysis, a higher level mechanism of understanding has to be developed. This is termed by linguists as Pragmatic analysis. The objective of the present paper is to come up with a working model of Pragmatic Analysis over a sample set of sentences, chosen from British English, which could further be extended. The machine learning approach of Neuro-Fuzzy interpretation is used to achieve an adaptive language understanding, with focus on the Intentions of the speaker/writer.
A Method for Fuzzy String Matching

A fuzzy string matching approach is proposed to solve the pattern recognition problems in this paper. The edit cost is presented as a fuzzy number. The string matching problem with fuzzy edit cost was then equivalent to a shortest path problem with fuzzy weights. By ranking the fuzzy numbers, the object is classified as the reference object that has the minimum fuzzy distance. Some testing objects have been used to show the proposed method can improve the recognition rates.
Titanium Dioxide Thin Film Prepared By Sol-Gel Technique

A titanium oxide thin film was prepared by Sol-gel technique, deposited on glass substrates using TiO2 precursor Titanium (IV)butoxideTi(OCH2CH2CH2CH3)4, . The surface topography and structural properties of these films were studied by using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction techniques. According to the X-ray diffraction spectra, TiO2 thin films were formed with a anatase type phase and tetragonal unit cell with a preferred orientation along (110) plane.Optical and electrical properties of thesesamples were analysed. Parameters such as band gap (Eg), extinction coefficient (k), absorption coefficient (α),dielectric constant (ε), refractive index, (n)and resistivity (ρ) were calculated using the data obtained from different measurements. the optical band gaps found to be 3.56 eV and 3.26 eV for direct and indirect process,respectively. And The optical and structural characterizations showed that the samples have good transmition in the visible and near infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum. The samples have very low reflectance within the visible region and the absorption coefficient decreases with increasing thickens.
BASA: building mobile Ad-Hoc social networks on top of android

Mobile ad-hoc social networks (MASNs) are emerging as a self-configuring and self-organizing social networking paradigm, which enhance local interactions among mobile and handheld device users. However, the MASNs cannot be directly derived on demand for various Android systems from existing social networks (SNs) without having access to end-to-end IT network infrastructure. In this article, we propose a detailed solution called BASA which would help in rapidly building local mobile ad-hoc social networks on top of the current Android platform. BASA establishes a four-layer system architecture according to the underlying challenges and requirements in MASNs. BASA is implemented in an EU project named "SOCITIES". Our prototype shows that BASA is flexible to expedite various services.
A Seamless Modular Approach for Real-Time Video Analysis for Surveillance

In this paper we present a generic, flexible and robust approach for an intelligent real-time visual surveillance system. The proposed architecture integrates advanced video analysis tools, such as segmentation, tracking and events detection. The goal of these advanced tools is to provide help to operators by detecting events of interest in visual scenes. The approach is new because it is a seamless collaboration of many processing techniques from image space to dynamic scene space. We describe thoroughly an important section the vision system and prove its intrinsic modularity. The system is then demonstrated in an antiterrorist scenario of automatic detection of events in public facilities. A performance evaluation of the system is performed.
An optical flow-based sensing system for reactive mobile robot navigation

This work discusses the use of optical flow to generate the sensorial information a mobile robot needs to react to the presence of obstacles when navigating in a non-structured environment. A sensing system based on optical flow and time-to-collision calculation is here proposed and experimented, which accomplishes two important paradigms. The first one is that all computations are performed onboard the robot, in spite of the limited computational capability available. The second one is that the algorithms for optical flow and time-to-collision calculations are fast enough to give the mobile robot the capability of reacting to any environmental change in real-time. Results of real experiments in which the sensing system here proposed is used as the only source of sensorial data to guide a mobile robot to avoid obstacles while wandering around are presented, and the analysis of such results allows validating the proposed sensing system.
Standardization, Compatibility, and Innovation

There are often benefits to consumers and to firms from standardization of a product. We examine whether these standardization benefits can "trap" an industry in an obsolete or inferior standard when there is a better alternative available. With complete information and identical preferences among firms the answer is no; but when information is incomplete this "excess inertia" can occur. We also discuss the extent to which the problem can be overcome by communication.
Bank Credit Risk , Common Factors , and Interdependence of Credit Risk in Money Markets : Observed vs . Fundamental Prices of Bank Credit Risk

This paper empirically reexamines the role of TIBOR/LIBOR as indicators of bank credit risk and investigates the interdependence of bank credit risk in money markets within and across the border since the 1990s. Empirical results are summarized as follows. (i) Observed risk premiums constructed from TIBOR/LIBOR contain two common factors, global and currency factors, which explain most of the variance of the risk premiums; (ii) thus the generalized impulse response of risk premiums from the shocks of the same currency markets are much larger than the responses from then shocks of the same bank groups; and (iii) the conditional correlations, derived from a Multivariate GARCH model, of the same bank groups’ risk premiums between the yen and dollar markets fluctuate around zero, while the correlations between Japanese and foreign banks’ risk premiums in the same currency market are very high; (iv) after controlling for these common factors, we successfully derived the fundamental prices of bank credit risk both particularly for Japanese banks using a state space model; (iv) these fundamental prices show plausible time-series properties such as a high degree of impulse response from the shocks of the same bank groups, and a high conditional correlation of the same bank groups’ credit risk prices between the yen and dollar two markets; (v) however, the fundamental prices account for only a tiny portion of the total variance of risk premiums. JEL Classification: E43, G14, G15
A Threat Model Approach to Attacks and Countermeasures in On-line Social Networks

On-line Social Networks (OSN) have become the most popular Internet service today. OSN are being embraced by companies and organisations to help connecting people, assist dealing with cooperative tasks, and develop marketing and public relations campaigns. Despite all their benefits and advantages, as happens with every new technology, they are prone to several security issues. In addition to privacy concerns, there are many other dangerous vulnerabilities that affect security. In this paper, we present our Threat Modelling in OSN, which focuses on identifying attacks against users of OSN and possible countermeasures to mitigate the risks.
Invertebrates as model organisms for research on aging biology

Invertebrate model systems, such as nematodes and fruit flies, have provided valuable information about the genetics and cellular biology involved in aging. However, limitations of these simple, genetically tractable organisms suggest the need for other model systems, some of them invertebrate, to facilitate further advances in the understanding of mechanisms of aging and longevity in mammals, including humans. This paper introduces 10 review articles about the use of invertebrate model systems for the study of aging by authors who participated in an ‘NIA-NIH symposium on aging in invertebrate model systems’ at the 2013 International Congress for Invertebrate Reproduction and Development. In contrast to the highly derived characteristics of nematodes and fruit flies as members of the superphylum Ecdysozoa, cnidarians, such as Hydra, are more ‘basal’ organisms that have a greater number of genetic orthologs in common with humans. Moreover, some other new model systems, such as the urochordate Botryllus schlosseri, the tunicate Ciona, and the sea urchins (Echinodermata) are members of the Deuterostomia, the same superphylum that includes all vertebrates, and thus have mechanisms that are likely to be more closely related to those occurring in humans. Additional characteristics of these new model systems, such as the recent development of new molecular and genetic tools and a more similar pattern to humans of regeneration and stem cell function suggest that these new model systems may have unique advantages for the study of mechanisms of aging and longevity.
Comprehensive Characterization of Serum MicroRNA Profile in Response to the Emerging Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection in Humans

A novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus recently occurred in China and caused 137 human infection cases with a 32.8% mortality rate. Although various detection procedures have been developed, the pathogenesis of this emerging virus in humans remains largely unknown. In this study, we characterized serum microRNA (miRNA) profile in response to H7N9 virus infection using TaqMan Low Density Arrays. Upon infection, a total of 395 miRNAs were expressed in the serum pool of patients, far beyond the 221 in healthy controls. Among the 187 commonly expressed miRNAs, 146 were up-regulated and only 7 down-regulated in patients. Further analysis by quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the serum levels of miR-17, miR-20a, miR-106a and miR-376c were significantly elevated in patients compared with healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to show that each miRNA could discriminate H7N9 patients from controls with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.622 to 0.898, whereas a combination of miR-17, miR-20a, miR-106a and miR-376c obtained a higher discriminating ability with an AUC value of 0.96. Our findings unravel the significant alterations in serum miRNA expression following virus infection and manifest great potential of circulating miRNAs for the diagnosis of viral diseases.
Chukwa: A large-scale monitoring system

We describe the design and initial implementation of Chukwa, a data collection system for monitoring and analyzing large distributed systems. Chukwa is built on top of Hadoop, an open source distributed ﬁlesystem and MapReduce implementation, and inherits Hadoop’s scalability and robustness. Chukwa also includes a ﬂexible and powerful toolkit for displaying monitoring and analysis results, in order to make the best use of this collected data
Facilitating Access to Information through Collaboration : Examination of the Role of Collaborative Technology in Competitive Intelligence

Few attempts have been made to establish conceptual links between collaboration, collaborative technology, information access and competitive intelligence. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework and a number of starting premises for studying collaboration and the role of collaborative technology in the context of competitive intelligence. Résumé: Peu de tentatives ont été faites pour établir des liens conceptuels entre les notions de collaboration, technologie de collaboration, accès à l’information et veille concurrentielle. L’objectif ici est de proposer un cadre d’analyse et plusieurs prémisses utiles pour l’étude du concept de collaboration et le rôle de la technologie supportant cette activité dans le cadre de la veille concurrentielle.
Translating Research into Practice in Low-Resource Countries: Progress in Prevention of Maternal to Child Transmission of HIV in Nigeria

Background. Research related to prevention of maternal to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV is dynamic and rapidly changing and has provided evidence-based interventions and policies for practitioners. However, it is uncertain that research and policy guidelines are adequately being disseminated and implemented in resource-constrained countries with the largest burden PMTCT. This study examined current PMTCT practices in 27 public health facilities in Nigeria. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of 231 practicing nurses was conducted. Current PMTCT care practices were evaluated and compared to WHO and national PMTCT policy guidelines. Linear mixed models evaluated the association between PMTCT care practices and training in PMTCT. Results. Most nurses (80%) applied practices involving newborn prophylaxis; yet significant gaps in maternal intrapartum treatment and infant feeding practices were identified. PMTCT training explained 25% of the variance in the application of PMTCT care practices. Conclusion. Key PMTCT practices are not being adequately translated from research into practice. Researchers, policymakers, and clinicians could apply the study findings to address significant knowledge translation gaps in PMTCT. Strategies derived from an implementation science perspective are suggested as a means to improve the translation of PMTCT research into practice in Sub-Saharan African medical facilities.
The Sociology Literacy Framework and Students’ Views of Learning in Introductory Sociology

Discussions of the core in sociology have focused on faculty members’ perspectives regarding what should be taught in introductory sociology courses. Because the development of curricula is and should be a social process, we argue that students’ perceptions of learning outcomes also should be considered when curricula are developed. This study utilizes a content analysis of 461 student-authored, end-of-semester reflective essays concerning the most memorable learning that occurred in an introductory sociology course. Collected between 2006 and 2015, the assignment was utilized in each of 12 introductory sociology course sections taught by the same instructor at two universities. We then map student essay topics onto the Sociological Literacy Framework (SLF) to identify the themes most memorable to students, comparing responses of online, regional campus students with residential campus students. Results suggest the instructor placed the greatest emphasis on the SLF Sociological Eye theme and the least emphasis on the SLF Social Change and Reproduction theme. Students found topics within the SLF Socialization theme most memorable and rarely cited the SLF Social Change and Reproduction theme.
Ab initio molecular-dynamics study of electronic and optical properties of silicon quantum wires: Orientational effects.

We analyze the influence of spatial orientation on the optical response of hydrogenated silicon quantum wires. The results are relevant for the interpretation of the optical properties of light-emitting porous silicon. We study (111)-oriented wires and compare the present results with those previously obtained within the same theoretical framework for (001)-oriented wires [F. Buda, J. Kohanoff and M. Parrinello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 1272 (1992)]. In analogy with the (001)-oriented wires and at variance with crystalline bulk silicon, we find that the (111)-oriented wires exhibit a direct gap at k=0, the value of which is largely enhanced with respect to that found in bulk silicon because of quantum confinement effects. The imaginary part of the dielectric function, for the external field polarized in the direction of the axis of the wires, shows features that, while being qualitatively similar to those observed for the (001) wires, are not present in the bulk. The main conclusion which emerges from the present study is that, if wires a few nanometers large are present in the porous material, they are optically active independent of their specific orientation. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Adaptive feedback canceller with howling detection for hearing aids

Howling is a very annoying problem to hearing aid users because it restricts the maximum gain of a desired signal to the hearing aid users. In general, howling can be eliminated by using an adaptive feedback canceller which estimates the feedback path from the loudspeaker to the microphone equiped in the hearing aid. When the desired signal is a correlation signal, the feedback canceller often degrades the speech quality which is called as entrainment. To prevent the generation of the entrainment, an adaptive feedback canceller with prediction error filter has been proposed. Since the prediction error filter removes the correlation components from the desired signal, this feedback canceller works for the uncorrelated signal and the entrainment does not occur. Unfortunately, the prediction error filter gives only zeros when the desired signal is a periodic signal. In this case, howling cannot be eliminated because howling is also periodic. In this paper, we propose a feedback canceller that switches two conventional systems, where one eliminates howling and the other eliminates entrainment. The key technology of the proposed method is howling detection which utilizes saturation characteristics of the observed signal. Simulation results show that the proposed method works effectively to cancel both howling and entrainment in comparison to the conventional methods.
Rank-two transmit beamformed Alamouti space-time coding for physical-layer multicasting

In physical-layer multicasting over a multiuser MISO downlink channel, transmit beamforming using semidefinite relaxation (SDR) has been a popular approach. In this paper, we propose a rank-2 transmit beamformed Alamouti space-time code scheme, which may be seen as a generalization of the previous SDR-based beamforming framework. The beamforming problem arising from the proposed scheme is a rank-2 constrained semidefinite program (SDP). We deal with it using the SDR technique, but this time using rank-2 approximation rather than rank-1 approximation in the previous transmit beamforming. An analysis on the worst-case approximation accuracy of the rank-2 SDR approximation is provided, which reveals that the approximation accuracy degrades at a rate of √M, where M is the number of users served. This improves upon the case of transmit beamforming, where the worst-case approximation accuracy degrades at the higher rate of M. Simulation results further show that the proposed scheme performs better than the transmit beamforming scheme.