Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing intergroup bias through intergroup contact: Twenty years of progress and future directions

Classic research on the contact hypothesis focused on the direct relationship between the antecedents (conditions under which contact occurs) and the outcomes (primarily, the reduction of prejudice) of intergroup contact. Recent work has taken a broader view of contact processes and effects. We review key developments over the past 20 years, identifying different forms of contact, factors that mediate and moderate the effects of contact, and both the nature and temporal stage and the varied outcomes of contact. We then identify several research directions to address pressing theoretical and practical issues. These issues concern (a) group processes and intergroup relations, (b) intergroup contact in the context of multiple categorization, (c) structural- and individual-level processes, (d) a broader range of individual-level outcomes (e.g., health), and (e) impact on social change. Contact theory and research provides a comprehensive conceptual foundation, allied to a range of powerful empirical techniques, for important new advances and practical applications for improving intergroup relations and producing more equitable outcomes across groups.
Competitive Analysis of M/GI/1 Queueing Policies

We propose a framework for comparing the performance of two queueing policies. Our framework is motivated by the notion of competitive analysis, widely used by the computer science community to analyze the performance of online algorithms. We apply our framework to compare M/GI/1/FB and M/GI/1/SJF with M/GI/1/SRPT, and obtain new results about the performance of M/GI/1/FB and M/GI/1/SJF. Carnegie Mellon University, Computer Science Department. Email: nikhil@cs.cmu. edu Carnegie Mellon University, Computer Science Department. Email: acw@cs.cmu. edu This work was supported by NSF Career Grant CCR-0133077 and by Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse Grant 01-1.
Robust digit recognition using phase-dependent time-frequency masking

A technique using the time-frequency phase information of two microphones is proposed to estimate an ideal time-frequency mask using time-delay-of-arrival (TDOA) of the signal of interest. At a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 0dB, the proposed technique using two microphones achieves a digit recognition rate (average over 5 speakers, each speaking 20-30 digits) of 71%. In contrast, delay-and-sum beamforming only achieves a 40% recognition rate with two microphones and 60% with four microphones. Superdirective beamforming achieves a 44% recognition rate with two microphones and 65% with four microphones.
Near Extremal Kerr Entropy from AdS(2) Quantum Gravity

We analyze the asymptotic symmetries of near extremal Kerr black holes in four dimensions using the AdS2/CFT1 correspondence. We find a Virasoro algebra with central charge cR = 12J that is independent from the Virasoro algebra (with the same central charge) that acts on the degenerate ground state. The energy of the excitations is computed as well, and we can use Cardy's formula to determine the near extremal entropy. Our result is consistent with the Bekenstein-Hawking area law for near extremal Kerr black holes.
RF source-seeking by a micro aerial vehicle using rotation-based angle of arrival estimates

We investigate a computationally and memory efficient algorithm for radio frequency (RF) source-seeking with a single-wing rotating micro aerial vehicle (MAV) equipped with a directional antenna. The MAV is assumed to have no knowledge of its position and to have only an estimate of orientation through a magnetometer. A key novelty of our approach is in exploiting the rotation of the MAV and the directionality of its RF antenna to derive estimates of the angle of arrival (AOA) at each rotation. The MAV then follows the estimated direction until the next rotation is complete. We prove convergence of this greedy algorithm under rather weak assumptions on the noise associated with the AOA estimates, using recent results on the property of recurrence for systems governed by stochastic difference inclusions. These convergence results are supplemented by simulations quantifying the amount of excess travel, relative to the straight line distance to the source. Indoor experiments using Lockheed Martin's Samarai MAV demonstrate the efficacy of the greedy algorithm both for static source-seeking, and for the more challenging problem of tracking a moving source.
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration Working Papers Series : Growth and Employment in Europe : Sustainability and Competitiveness Working Paper No

Over the past decades financial investment of non-financial businesses has been rising and accumulation of capital goods has been declining. The first part of the paper offers a novel theory to explain this phenomenon. Financialization, the shareholder revolution and the development of a market for corporate control have shifted power to shareholders and thus changed management priorities, leading to a reduction in the desired growth rate. In the second part the link between accumulation and financialization is tested econometrically by means of a time series analysis of aggregate business investment for USA, UK, France, and Germany. Extensive test of robustness are performed. For the first three countries evidence that confirms the negative effect of financialization on accumulation is found.
Joint Optimization of Condition-Based Preventive Maintenance and Spare Ordering Policy

Spare provision under preventive maintenance can be an effective way to reduce operating costs. A joint strategy of stock provision and condition-based preventive maintenance is considered. Continuous review ordering policy (s,S) is combined with an inspection period for condition-based preventive maintenance. With a form (T,s,S), the joint strategy is evaluated by costs associated with maintenance and inventory. A general approach to integrating simulation with GA is proposed to search optimal joint strategy, where performance measures for specified strategy are obtained by simulation and then optimal values are searched by GA. Numerical results of an illustrative example for liquid-floated gyros indicate that the joint strategies outperform separate optimization of maintenance and spare provisioning policies when total system cost is to be minimized.
Magnitude of nonlinear sediment response in Los Angeles basin during the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake

The study of nonlinear site response has practical difficulties due to large ambiguities in isolating local response from other competing effects. We chose a sedimentary site LF6 in Los Angeles basin that (1) has the closest reference rock sites available, compared to other stations, allowing an accurate estimation of local amplification, and (2) illustrates clear resonance in the near surface. In our opinion, this case represents the least ambiguity in the identification of possible nonlinearity. The site responses during the Northridge, the 1987 Whittier Narrows events and the Northridge aftershocks are compared. The station shows a fundamental resonance-frequency change between the higher- and lower-amplitude motions in the entire ensemble of 17 events used. The net shear-modulus reduction during the Northridge event is a factor of 1.3 to 1.4 compared to the Whittier Narrows event and is a factor of 1.7 compared to the aftershocks. This result provides guidance of what to expect at other sites in the basin, where the nonlinear response is less easy to characterize.
An Exploration of Creative Arts-Based Self-Care Practices among Music Therapy Students

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop a theory based on the experiences of music therapy students’ use of creative arts as a self-care practice. In addition, this study was intended to determine these students’ perception of self-care and the perceived differences between self-care practices among students and professionals. A grounded theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) was utilized in order to analyze the data gained from semi-structured interviews. From this data, six themes emerged and a formal theory was developed. The main theory emphasizes the importance of incorporating access to and information regarding the utilization of creative arts as a self-care practice while studying in a music therapy program. The theory was developed from participants’ experiences engaging in creative arts self-care practices and the lack of advocacy each participant perceived from her music therapy program. These findings provide support for the benefits music therapy students may experience by learning to utilize creative arts self-care within their music therapy programs.
A semi-distributed localization protocol for wireless sensor and actor networks

We consider a wireless sensor and actor network (WSAN) consisting of a large number of tiny, low-cost sensors uniformly and independently distributed in a two-dimensional geographical region around a few powerful entities, called actors. To save energy, the sensors operate according to sleep/awake schedules in an asynchronous manner. In this setting, we propose a semi-distributed, actor-centric localization algorithm which organizes the sensors in the vicinity of each actor by means of a discrete polar coordinate system. Specifically, each sensor is localized when it acquires the corona and sector coordinates of the region it resides in. To accomplish the localization task, each actor first trains a subset of sensors in its vicinity, which in turn train their neighbors. By modeling the deployed sensors as a two-dimensional Poisson point process and applying well-known results from the Coupon Collector's problem and Chernoff bounds, we derive bounds on the sensor density required to localize with high probability all sensors in the actor's vicinity. Finally, we verify the analytical bounds with results from our simulation experiments.
Análise da distribuição de potência cortical em função do aprendizado de datilografia

RESUMENAnalisis da distribuicion de potencia cortical en funcion delaprendizado de dactilografia El objetivo del presente estudio fue el de investigar alteracionesen los padrones electroencefalograficos de sujetos normales y dies-tros durante el aprendizaje motor de una tarea manual Estudiosrecientes tienen demostrado que en el cortex cervical es suscepti-ble a varias modificaciones en varios aspectos durante el aprendi-zaje, y que tales alteraciones en los padrones electrocorticales sonlos resultados de la adquisicion de habilidades motoras y de la con-sodilacion de la memoria. Para tal, la actividad cortical electrica delos sujetos fue analizada antes y despues de la practica motora.Los datos fueron captados por el “Braintech” 3000 y analizadospor el programa “Neurometrics”. Para el analisis estadistico, varia-bles del comportamiento tales como tiempo y error fueron obser-vadas a traves de un ANOVA “one-way”, bloques como efectoprincipal. En la variable neurofisiologica; potenbcia absoluta, fueutilizado el test-T pareado a fin de poder detectar alteraciones en-tre los momentos pre y post aprendizaje, en diferentes electrodos,CZ-C3/CZ-C4 en teta y alfa y O1-P3/T3-F7 en beta. Los resultadosprincipales demonstraron un cambio en la performance a travesdel tiempo y en el numero de errores Concomitantemente, fueobservado y verificado un aumento de la potencia en la banda alfasobre las areas centrales (CZ-C3/CZ-C4) y una diminuicion en betalocalizada en el area temporo-parietal izquierda (O1-P3/T3-F7). Lasalteraciones en la banda teta, como se han demostrado en otrasexperiencias, no ocurrieron en este estudiotales resultados sugie-ren una adapatacion del la corteza sensorio-motora en la que laalteracion de la actividad electrica cortical es coincidente con unatransmicion al automatismo motor.
Defense Technical Information Center Compilation Part Notice ADP 012048

In the planar case, one possibility to create a high quality curve that interpolates a given set of points is to use a clothoid spline, which is a curvature continuous curve with linear curvature segments. In the first part of the paper we develop an efficient fairing algorithm that calculates the discrete analogon of a closed clothoid spline. In the second part we show how this discrete linear curvature concept can be extended to create a fairing scheme for the construction of a triangle mesh that interpolates the vertices of a given closed polyhedron of arbitrary topology.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: What Are the Big Questions?

Background: Over the past 10–15 years, a substantial amount of work has been done by the scientific, regulatory, and business communities to elucidate the effects and risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment. Objective: This review was undertaken to identify key outstanding issues regarding the effects of PPCPs on human and ecological health in order to ensure that future resources will be focused on the most important areas. Data sources: To better understand and manage the risks of PPCPs in the environment, we used the “key question” approach to identify the principle issues that need to be addressed. Initially, questions were solicited from academic, government, and business communities around the world. A list of 101 questions was then discussed at an international expert workshop, and a top-20 list was developed. Following the workshop, workshop attendees ranked the 20 questions by importance. Data synthesis: The top 20 priority questions fell into seven categories: a) prioritization of substances for assessment, b) pathways of exposure, c) bioavailability and uptake, d) effects characterization, e) risk and relative risk, f ) antibiotic resistance, and g) risk management. Conclusions: A large body of information is now available on PPCPs in the environment. This exercise prioritized the most critical questions to aid in development of future research programs on the topic.
A word-oriented stream cipher for 3rd generation: TAIYI

A word-oriented stream cipher named TAIYI for confidentiality and integrity algorithms of 3G is presented, together with preliminary security analysis and implementation results. The proposal is a clock-controlled filter generator using sigma-LFSR as source part and inverse function to generate key stream. The design is based on simple and well-studied concepts, and it can be easily implemented in hardware, especially for restricted hardware environments such as 3G mobile communications and services.
Compactness of isospectral compact manifolds with bounded curvatures

Suppose that In(C) is the class of all Riemannian metrics on a given n-dimensional closed manifold such that their associated Laplacians (on functions) have the same spectrum by counting multiplicities and their sectional curvatures are uniformly bounded |K| ≤ C by a constant C > 0. We show that the isospectral class In(C) is compact in the C∞-topology. This generalizes our previous C∞-compactness result, which holds for dimensions up to seven.
Induced Churn as Shelter from Routing-Table Poisoning

Structured overlays are an important and powerful class of overlay networks that has emerged in recent years. They are typically targeted at peer-to-peer deployments involving millions of user-managed machines on the Internet. In this paper we address routing-table poisoning attacks against structured overlays, in which adversaries attempt to intercept traffic and control the system by convincing other nodes to use compromised nodes as their overlay network neighbors. In keeping with the fully-decentralized goals of structured overlay design, we propose a defense mechanism that makes minimal use of centralized infrastructure. Our approach, induced churn, utilizes periodic routing-table resets, unpredictable identifier changes, and a rate limit on routing-table updates. Induced churn leaves adversaries at the mercy of chance: they have little opportunity to strategize their positions in the overlay, and cannot entrench themselves in any position that they do acquire. We implement induced churn in Maelstrom, an extension to the broadly used Bamboo distributed hash table. Our Maelstrom experiments over a simulated network demonstrate robust routing with very modest costs in bandwidth and latency, at levels of adversarial activity where unprotected overlays are rendered almost completely useless.
The influence of SHM techniques on scheduled maintenance of aircraft composite structures

Scheduled maintenance procedures for civil aircraft structures went through decades of evolution from hard time replacement to time-based inspection. Currently, different inspection tasks are carried out at predetermined intervals to check the condition of structural components. If the condition of the structure exceeds a certain threshold, repair activities are initiated. The two key parameters in scheduled maintenance are the inspection interval and the repair threshold. The development of new materials such as composites and the introduction of advanced Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques, will have a profound effect on scheduled maintenance. Considering the current level of maturity of SHM technologies, several combinations of SHM and scheduled maintenance are proposed in this paper and a probabilistic analysis is performed to quantify the savings on maintenance cost.
PROUD-Public road urban driverless test: Architecture and results

The presence of autonomous vehicles on public roads is becoming a reality. In the last 10 years, autonomous prototypes have been confined in controlled or isolated environments, but new traffic regulations for testing and direct automotive companies interests are moving autonomous vehicles tests on real roads. This paper presents a test on public urban roads and freeways that was held in Parma on July 12, 2013. This was the first test in open public urban roads with nobody behind the steering wheel: the vehicle had to cope with roundabouts, junctions, pedestrian crossings, freeway junctions, traffic lights, and regular traffic. The vehicle setup, the software architecture, and the route are here presented together with some results and possible future improvements.
Quadrature channel calibration with a pendulum for accurate displacement measurement with CW Doppler radar

A microwave radar sensor has been proposed for measurement of cardiac and respiratory activity in several applications. However for accurate displacement measurement with quadrature Doppler radar, the quadrature channel imbalance needs to be measured and compensated. Moreover, the imbalance factors do not necessary remain constant, and the imbalance should be calibrated from time to time. The previous imbalance measurement methods require hardware modifications. Thus, they are not easily performed on site at home or in hospital environment, but require a laboratory setting. In general, the requirement of hardware modifications is not practical for commercial radar sensor modules. In this paper, we show that the quadrature imbalance compensation is possible also with a simple set up. A freely hanging sphere is used as a pendulum to generate the calibration signal, and a previously presented ellipse fitting method is utilized to estimate the imbalance factors.
A Simple Algorithm to Identify Irrigated Croplands by Remote Sensing

− The identification of irrigated cropland is essential for crop monitoring, yield estimation and water management assessment in drylands. The standard approach is to use supervised classification on multispectral bands, vegetation indices or the Principal Components or, more recently, the combination of optical images with radar data. More complex methods, such as time-series analysis, sub-pixel calculation method and decision-tree based supervised classification have been proposed to differentiate the irrigated areas and identify the irrigation system. As an alternative approach to identify irrigated land, this paper introduces a simple and easily implemented algorithm, based on the logical operation and thresholding of a combination of thermal temperature (Ts) and vegetation indices (e.g. NDVI). This approach is illustrated through a case study in northern Syria using Landsat TM images. The results show a good consistence with the field observations (99%).
Evidence-based measures to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections: a systematic review 1

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify evidence-based care to prevent CLABSI among adult patients hospitalized in ICUs. Method: systematic review conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cinahl, Web of Science, Lilacs, Bdenf and Cochrane Studies addressing care and maintenance of central venous catheters, published from January 2011 to July 2014 were searched. The 34 studies identified were organized in an instrument and assessed by using the classification provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: the studies presented care bundles including elements such as hand hygiene and maximal barrier precautions; multidimensional programs and strategies such as impregnated catheters and bandages and the involvement of facilities in and commitment of staff to preventing infections. Conclusions: care bundles coupled with education and the commitment of both staff and institutions is a strategy that can contribute to decreased rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections among adult patients hospitalized in intensive care units.
A Case Study on the Utilization of Problem and Solution Domain Measures for Software Size Estimation

Detailed requirements is the primary input of software size measurement and effort estimation methodologies and a significant amount of time and expertise is needed for size measurement. In order to streamline size measurement and effort estimation, this study exploits the correlations between the problem domain measures such as the number of distinct nouns and distinct verbs in the requirements artifacts and the solution domain measures such as the number of software classes and methods in the corresponding object oriented software. In this case study, 12 commercial software projects are analyzed and multiple regression analysis is carried out to develop an estimation model for the solution domain metrics in terms of problem domain metrics. The results suggest that, for the projects examined, it is possible to use problem domain measures to make plausible predictions for the solution domain metrics.
Group inverses of matrices with path graphs

A simple formula for the group inverse of a 2 × 2 block matrix with a bipartite digraph is given in terms of the block matrices. This formula is used to give a graph-theoretic description of the group inverse of an irreducible tridiagonal matrix of odd order with zero diagonal (which is singular). Relations between the zero/nonzero structures of the group inverse and the Moore-Penrose inverse of such matrices are given. An extension of the graph-theoretic description of the group inverse to singular matrices with tree graphs is conjectured.