Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semantic Based Query Expansion for Arabic Question Answering Systems

Question Answering Systems have emerged as a good alternative to search engines where they produce the desired information in a very precise way in the real time. However, one serious concern with the Question Answering system is that despite having answers of the questions in the knowledge base, they are not able to retrieve the answer due to mismatch between the words used by users and content creators. There has been a lot of research in the field of English and some European language Question Answering Systems to handle this issue. However, Arabic Question Answering Systems could not match the pace due to some inherent difficulties with the language itself as well as due to lack of tools available to assist the researchers. In this paper, we are presenting a method to add semantically equivalent keywords in the questions by using semantic resources. The experiments suggest that the proposed research can deliver highly accurate answers for Arabic questions.
Graphene field effect transistors on flexible substrate: Stable process and high RF performance

We report a simple and low temperature fabrication process suitable for flexible substrate based graphene field effect transistors (GFETs). Transistors with 300 nm gate length and different channel width (12 μm and 24 μm) were successfully fabricated on Kapton substrate. We report as-measured current gain cut-off frequency of 27 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 12 GHz. The high performance transistors with high yield in this work demonstrate the great potential of our full process for flexible GFETs.
Generation of Stereo Oil Paintings from RGBD Images

Painterly (or stroke-based) rendering is one of the major approaches for the creation of non-photorealistic rendering images. In this paper, a fully automatic algorithm is proposed, which is able to transform a photograph into a pair of oil-style stereo-viewable paintings. The developed stroke-based painting simulation algorithm generates a unique brush stroke each time it paints during the painting process according to the characteristics of the local image region. This special feature is able to reduce the undesirable systematic impression, which appears to be a common artifact of painterly rendering. The mobile imaging devices nowadays are often equipped with depth sensors, which capture depth information while taking a picture. By incorporating with the depth information, the program paints the left and the right images simultaneously. The resulting stereo paintings can be viewed by any type of stereo visualization technique.
Supporting Language Learners with the Meanings Of Closed Class Items

The process of language learning involves the mastery of countless tasks: making the constituent sounds of the language being learned, learning the grammatical patterns, and acquiring the requisite vocabulary for reception and production. While a plethora of computational tools exist to facilitate the first and second of these tasks, a number of challenges arise with respect to enabling the third. This paper describes a tool that has been designed to support language learners with the challenge of understanding the use of closed-class lexical items. The process of learning the Arabic for office is (mktb) is relatively simple and should be possible by means of simple repetition of the word. However, it is much more difficult to learn and correctly use the Arabic equivalent of the word on. The current paper describes a mechanism for the delivery of diagnostic information regarding specific lexical examples, with the aim of clearly demonstrating why a particular translation of a given closed-class item may be appropriate in certain situations but not others, thereby helping learners to understand and use the term correctly.
Exploring the early establishment of employment preparation programmes by harnessing the potential of special needs learners via the special education integrated programme in Malaysia

Employment Preparation Programmes (EPPs) are not part of the Special Education Integrated Programme (SEIP) curriculum in Malaysia, and no specific operational guidance is provided to schools regarding them. EPPs are, however, currently performed in a non-uniform way in some schools. This study concerns the early establishment of EPPs in the SEIP in Malaysia. Within the context of the study it is important to note that the partnership programme between schools and outside collaborators is not yet fully established in all secondary schools in Malaysia as stipulated in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2013-2025). This study aims to explore the implementation of EPPs; delineate the hindrances for special educators, teachers and heads of departments; and, identify the areas of improvement needed to establish vocational educational programmes as early as possible to assist special needs learners towards an independent life through employability. In order to achieve these aims a qualitative study using case study design has been carried out. Semi-structured interviews of Special Education Teachers and Department Heads were undertaken as the main method to elicit data from a purposive sample of fifteen EPP participants. Data was also collected about special needs learners’ activities and other relevant emerging themes using an observational method in a real-life setting that included two observations in each EPP at each of the five schools, making 20 observation sessions in total. Relevant documents including official documents from Ministry of Education, modules outlines were also collected from the respective schools and subsequently subject to documentary analysis. To enhance the trustworthiness of the findings, data was triangulated and analysed in light of the Malaysian Education Blueprint along with other previous literature. Findings indicated that leadership and management; academic background knowledge and mastering vocational skills; the social and physical environment; and, collaboration and coordination play an important role in harnessing the potential of special needs learners. The contribution to knowledge of this study is the formation of a framework to clarify the issues impeding effective the implementation of Employment Preparation Programme, and the establishment of key priorities within that implementation effort. Overall, it is argued that this study exemplifies how important it is that the implementation of EPP needs to become an integral part of schools as organisations. Key words: Employment Preparation Programmes, Special Education Integrated Programme, Special educators, Special needs learners.
Estimation of Motion Vector Fields

This paper presents an approach to the estimation of 2-D motion vector fields from time varying image sequences. We use a piecewise smooth model based on coupled vector/binary Markov random fields. We find the maximum a posteriori solution by simulated annealing. The algorithm generate sample fields by means of stochastic relaxation implemented via the Gibbs sampler.
Determinants and consequences of post‐stroke depression

Post‐stroke depression (PSD) is a very frequent and important consequence of stroke, but, in spite of the high number of papers aiming to clarify various aspects of this disorder, controversies about its incidence, its (biological or psychological) determinants, its consequences and its treatment still persist. In the present survey we have taken separately into account each of these issues, starting from a critical discussion of the main factors which can affect the estimates of the incidence of PSD. We have then surveyed and updated the debate between proponents of a neuroanatomical and a psychological interpretation of PSD. Our conclusions have been that the most recent evidence does not support Robinson's influential neuroanatomical model, assuming that a left frontal stroke could provoke a major PSD, indistinguishable from the functional forms of major depression. In the section devoted to the consequences of PSD, we have particularly taken into account the problem of the deleterious influence that PSD could have on functional recovery. The available evidence does not allow us to conclude if an improvement of PSD also leads to an improvement of the patient's functional status. As for the therapy of PSD, a pharmacological treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors has proven effective and safe, whereas psychological methods of treatment of patients and their families have not yet given conclusive results.
Geometric invariant theory based on Weil divisors Jürgen Hausen

Given an action of a reductive group on a normal variety, we construct all invariant open subsets admitting a good quotient with a quasiprojective or a divisorial quotient space. Our approach extends known constructions like Mumford’s Geometric Invariant Theory. We obtain several new Hilbert-Mumford type theorems, and we extend a projectivity criterion of Bia lynicki-Birula and Świȩcicka for varieties with semisimple group action from the smooth to the singular case.
THE ROLE OF WORD-OF-MOUTH AND CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT IN ONLINE CONSUMER-BRAND RELATIONSHIP: THE CONTEXT OF INSTAGRAM

The aims of this study are to understand the influence of celebrity endorsement on consumers’ word-of-mouth and decision behavior, that is: (i) understand the influence of the number of followers of the celebrity and the positive/negative valence of the messages conveyed by them in the intention to buy and their intention to generate eWoM; (ii) analyzing how the behavior of a celebrity (antisocial vs. pro-social) may affect the perception of its credibility, the intention of the consumers to relate to the celebrity in the social networks and the social identification with it; (iii) understand the impact of celebrity messages on brands and products present in social networks. To achieve this goal a quantitative methodology for the development of research was adopted, selecting the application of a survey as the information collection instrument. The sample is selected by convenience sampling method, collecting 241 responses, 122 females and 119 males. Findings show: (i) concerning the intention to purchase, female seem to be more influenced by the opinions and recommendations of celebrities, while male tend to be more likely to generate e-word-of-mouth into their contact network through social media. (ii) Regarding to antisocial versus prosocial type of celebrity, celebrities with a prosocial behavior seems to have a greater influence for both genders in the way they identify with celebrity and their willingness to relate to them. (iii) Female tends to feel higher purchase intention when exposed to an endorsement, where celebrity promotes a brand or product through its Instagram account.
Preliminary results on the estimation performance of single range source localization

In previous work by the authors a novel estimator was introduced, with asymptotic stability guarantees, for the problems of source localization and navigation based on single range measurements. The aim of this paper is to further study these problems in terms of the performance of the proposed estimators and the trajectories that yield best results. To that purpose, the achievable performance with the proposed estimator is compared with the Bayesian Cramér-Rao Bound (BCRB) for different trajectories of the agent and, in addition, the estimates provided by the Extended Kalman Filter are also computed. It is revealed that the performance of the estimator is close to the BCRB theoretical lower bound and some insight is provided on the effect of the agent trajectory on the estimation performance.
Restoration of the food web of an alpine lake following fish stocking

Trout stocking in the mid‐1960s eliminated the calanoid copepod Hesperodiaptomus arcticus and other large‐bodied crustaceans such as Gammarus lacustris, Daphnia middendorffiana, and Daphnia pulex from many alpine lakes in the Rocky Mountain Parks of Canada. H. arcticus frequently dominates the plankton communities of fishless lakes, preying on rotifers and nauplius larvae. Following the extirpation of H. arcticus, rotifers and small‐bodied cyclopoid copepods dominate the zooplankton assemblages of alpine lakes.
The Australian Business Cycle: A New View

In this paper I address the following questions. - Has the business cycle become longer and shallower? And why? - How stabilizing is monetary policy. In answering these questions I summarize recent research undertaken by Adrian Pagan and myself that formalizes the procedures developed by Burns and Mitchell at the NBER. Defence of our position goes beyond continuity with the past and is based on the view that the way in which these investigators defined the business cycle is a very natural one that connects with the way policy makers and commentators discuss the cycle. After discussing how to extract cyclical information my attention then turns to describing the features of the Australian business cycle. Here I employ recently constructed data on annual GDP that goes back to 1861. The recurrent pattern of peaks and troughs in this annual data marks out recessions that are somewhat more severe than that seen in quarterly data. I find little evidence that these major contractions are shorter in the second half of the 20th century than they were in the second half of the 19th century. Major expansions in the late 20th century were, however, longer than for any previous period. I find that the volatility of annual GDP growth rose markedly in the first half of the 20th century but declined to an all time low in the second half of that century. However, the decline in volatility between the late 19th and late 20th centuries is not very marked. After examining the quarterly data available from 1959.3 to 2001.4 I find little evidence that contractions are shorter but there is some very weak evidence that the amplitude of these contractions has moderated. The apparent decline in volatility of Australian GDP is shown to be explained by two statistical factors viz there is some residual seasonality in GDP which seems to be more pronounced in the 1960 and 70s and the ABS has reduced the extent of measurement error in GDP. After accounting for these no long run trend is discernable in volatility.
Visual Attention in Quality Assessment

Perceptual quality metrics are widely deployed in image and video processing systems. These metrics aim to emulate the integral mechanisms of the human visual system (HVS) to correlate well with visual perception of quality. One integral property of the HVS is, however, often neglected: visual attention (VA) [1]. The essential mechanisms associated with VA consist mainly of higher cognitive processing, deployed to reduce the complexity of scene analysis. For this purpose, a subset of the visual information is selected by shifting the focus of attention across the visual scene to the most relevant objects. By neglecting VA, perceptual quality models inherently assume that all objects draw the attention of the viewer to the same degree.
Evolution of Water Transport and Xylem Structure

Land plants need water to replace the evaporation that occurs while atmospheric CO2 is diffusing into photosynthetic tissue. The water‐for‐carbon exchange rate is poor, and evolutionary history indicates a progression of innovations for cheap water transport—beginning in order with capillary suction at cell walls, stomatal regulation, hydroids, tracheids, secondary xylem, endodermis, and vessels. The radiation of plants in the Silurian and Devonian occurred when the need for water was at an all‐time low because of high CO2 concentration. Transport improvements appeared as water demand increased and CO2 dropped to current values in the Carboniferous and Permian. Stomatal regulation and high‐conductivity conduits permitted larger plants and a transition from poikilohydric to homoiohydric water relations. The evolution of conduits from hydroids through tracheids to vessels reflects the need to balance resistance to implosion and cavitation versus maximum hydraulic conductance and minimum conduit investment. Localization of rigidifying lignin away from the lumen surface and porous wall regions during tracheid evolution, and the origin of pits, acted to maintain wall strength and permeability while minimizing cavitation. Vessels mark the pinnacle of efficiency, making vines and dense, stiff woods possible without sacrificing conductivity or cavitation resistance. However, vessels make cavitation‐resistant wood more expensive and may compromise refilling efficiency versus tracheids. Vascular networks maximize hydraulic conductivity and protection from cavitation at minimum investment by following Murray’s law and localizing resistances to the periphery. A future challenge is to quantify the significance of xylem structure in terms of the carbon cost of transpiration and the net carbon profit via gas exchange.
Social capital at the tourist destination level: Determining the dimensions to assess and improve collective action in tourism

A tourist destination, as a collective of actors trying to act together, faces the challenges of shaping a common future and self-determining its development path. This depends on its actors’ capacity to act towards collective goals. Social capital (SC) theory explains how resources are mobilised for common purposes, representing a key notion for understanding collective action. Non-tourism- and tourism-related literature on SC were analysed, finding that SC theory is used mostly as a means to study other aspects in tourism. Little has been discussed about SC itself as the object of interest. This article, therefore (1) identifies the key dimensions and levels of scope of a tourist destination’s SC, and (2) presents a structured assessment framework as the basis to reflect upon the improvement of the destination’s capacity for self-determination. The article contributes to tourist destination’s SC theory building and as the basis for further research on the subject.
Decoding Reed Solomon Codes beyond the Error-Correction Diameter

We describe a new algorithm for the decoding of Reed Solomon codes. This algorithm was originally described in 12. While the algorithm presented in this article is the same, the presentation is somewhat diierent. In particular we derive more precise bounds on the performance of the algorithm and show the following: For an n; n; 1,n q Reed Solomon code, the algorithm in 12 corrects ,o1n errors in polynomial time, where = 1 , 1 1 + , k 2 where = $ r 2 + 1 4 , 1 2 : We also present the following two hopefully useful lower bounds on : 8 2 0; 11 1 , s 2 + 2 4 + 2 1 , p 2:
Self-Care for Caring Practice: Student Nurses’ Perspectives

This study took place in Western Canada; it examined undergraduate nursing students’ self-care behaviors. The researchers developed a 27-item questionnaire asking students about sleep, exercise, diet, fluid intake, weight, checkups, relaxation, complementary therapy use, alcohol intake, health goals, and smoking habits. Of 330 degree, diploma, and post-diploma nursing students, 211 students responded to the questionnaire. The majority of students reported that they engaged in health-promoting selfcare behaviors. However, it seems that busy schedules often prevented students from having enough sleep, fluid, exercise, and self-care activities. The majority of the students reported that they used complementary therapies.
Large Capital Inflows, Sectoral Allocation and Economic Performance

This paper describes the stylized facts characterizing periods of exceptionally large capital inflows in a sample of 70 middle- and high-income countries over the last 35 years. We identify 155 episodes of large capital inflows and find that these events are typically accompanied by an economic boom and followed by a slump. Moreover, during episodes of large capital inflows capital and labor shift out of the manufacturing sector, especially if the inflows begin during a period of low international interest rates. However, accumulating reserves during the period in which capital inflows are unusually large appears to limit the extent of labor reallocation. Larger credit booms and capital inflows during the episodes we identify increase the probability of a sudden stop occurring during or immediately after the episode. In addition, the severity of the post-inflows recession is significantly related to the extent of labor reallocation during the boom, with a stronger shift of labor out of manufacturing during the inflows episode associated with a sharper contraction in the aftermath of the episode.
The reliability of a structured examination protocol and self administered vaginal swabs: a pilot study of gynaecological outpatients in Goa, India

Objectives: Low participation rates for gynaecological examination and low reliability of clinical reporting of gynaecological examination findings are problems in community studies of gynaecological morbidity in India. This pilot study aimed to describe the reliability of a new examination protocol for recording the findings of gynaecological examination and the reliability and acceptability of the use of self administered vaginal swabs for the diagnosis of reproductive tract infections. Method: 75 women attending a gynaecology outpatient clinic were purposively sampled. Each woman was examined by two gynaecologists independently who recorded findings on the new examination protocol. Two swabs were collected from each woman, one by the gynaecologist and one by the woman. Swabs were smeared on separate slides which were stained and read for bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis by laboratory technicians blind to the mode of collection of the slides. Results: The study showed a high inter-rater reliability for most of the items of the examination protocol. The interslide agreement for the diagnosis of the two RTIs was high. One third of women preferred the self administered swab. Conclusions: The examination protocol is a reliable method of recording gynaecological examination findings, and self administered swabs a useful way of obtaining vaginal specimens from women who did not wish to undergo gynaecological examinations in studies in the Indian setting.
Time-Chunking and Hyper-Refocusing in a Digitally-Enabled Workplace: Six Forms of Knowledge Workers

Until the turn of the millennium, switching tasks required moving locations or reconfiguring physical workspaces. However, contemporary digital tools and workspaces allow knowledge workers to perform an increasingly diverse set of tasks, with an increasingly extending arm of influence, all from the same physical location without any physical reconfigurations or traversing of physical space. Along with this increased ambidexterity comes an increase in the quantity and frequency of demands on the time of knowledge workers. This digitalization of work now tethers their ability to perform largely to their ability to intensely focus in small chunks, and then “hyper-jump” that focus to another task without traversing the cognitive cool downs or warm ups required to reconfigure their train of thought from one task to another. Accordingly, they must become more like the hyper-functioning tools they employ if they are to avoid becoming the bottleneck resource in the configuration of socio-technical elements comprising their work routines. In order to better understand how knowledge workers manage their time and maintain focus across multiple and interrupting tasks, we leverage current time prioritization literature to propose and theorize around two key constructs: time-chunking and hyper-refocusing. By combining the possible values for these two constructs, we hypothesize the emergence of six forms of knowledge workers and their relative expected performance. The effects of digitalization on these new worker forms are discussed. We conclude by discussing opportunities for new research questions regarding time-chunking strategies and the hyper-refocusing ability.