Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The politics of institutional change : Diverging goals for reforming the European legislature

1 Different criteria for joining the Union's club The dynamics of European integration can be looked at from two angles: the extension of the Union's legislative competencies and its enlargement by the accession of additional member states. Over the past forty years competencies have been continuously extended, in particular by the Single European Act in 1987 and the Maastricht Treaty on European Union in 1993. 1 Since 1958 the process of integration has witnessed expansion from a Common Market of six to a Union of fifteen, with a population today of about 372 million. As integration progresses over the next decade it may eventually include more than twenty-seven members. This process, however, will have different implications for European countries. While both present member states and applicant countries expect to profit politically and economically from further integration, the incumbents fear that a wide enlargement will change the Union's functioning. In this contribution our concern is enlargement, and we will theoretically assess the consequences of different accession scenarios on the Union's effectiveness and member states' efficacy. Most accession scenarios focus on the economic performance of the applicant countries (Baldwin 1994; Hagen 1997). Although all applicants from Eastern Europe have been given the status of a formal 'Accession partnership' ,'1. the economic criteria of the Commission's 'Agenda 2000' proposal alone are not sufficient to determine the exact set of new members. The accession of the most promising candidates-Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Estonia from Eastern Europe, and Slovenia and Cyprus from Southern Europe-will depend on their meeting exogenous and endogenous criteria: the applicants for membership not only have to be able to adhere to the aims of political, economic and monetary union, but it was acknowledged early on that the European Union itself must also prepare the institutional conditions for ensuring its proper functioning. It is feared that an extensive enlargement will dilute the Union's capacity to act when twenty or even twenty-seven member states have to reach consensus on European legislation. With regard to the Union's effectiveness, even British Conservatives accepted the extension of member states' majority voting in European legislation, but the debate is about what exactly will constitute a legislative majority. When member First publ. in: Widening the European Union: The politics of institutional change and reform / Bernard Steunenberg (Hrsg.) London/New York: Routledge, 2002, pp. 80-96 Konstanzer Online-Publikations-System (KOPS)
The Galactic Center

Abstract In the past decade high resolution measurements in the infrared employing adaptive optics imaging on 10m telescopes have allowed determining the three dimensional orbits stars within ten light hours of the compact radio source at the center of the Milky Way. These observations show the presence of a three million solar mass black hole in Sagittarius A* beyond any reasonable doubt. The Galactic Center thus constitutes the best astrophysical evidence for the existence of black holes which have long been postulated, and is also an ideal ‘lab’ for studying the physics in the vicinity of such an object. Remarkably, young massive stars are present there and probably have formed in the innermost stellar cusp. Variable infrared and X-ray emission from Sagittarius A* are a new probe of the physical processes and space-time curvature just outside the event horizon.
Identification of a small unmanned helicopter model using genetic algorithms

This paper describes a mathematical model of a small-scale helicopter developed at "Universidad Politecnica of Madrid" as a part of VAMPIRA (multi-sensor aerial vehicle for autonomous inspections) project. A hybrid (analytic and empiric) model of a small helicopter is presented. The stability and response of the model is presented after a brief comparison of different techniques for helicopters dynamic modelling as well as the parameters identification using genetic algorithms. Accuracy of the model is verified by comparing real flight and simulation data obtained during the experiments.
Image- and horizon-guided interpolation

Seismic data are uniformly sampled images of geologic structures, and they spatially cover a big area as opposed to well log data, which are often scattered sparsely within the seismic cube. A common strategy to extend the coverage of the well log data is to interpolate them away from the boreholes on the seismic image grid. Image-guided interpolation is a form of blended neighbor interpolation in which the structural information that guides the interpolation is calculated from a seismic image and represented by structure tensors. Deriving this structural information from only the seismic image might not lead to desirable interpolated results, especially in cases of complex structure, a low-quality seismic image, and few well logs. In such cases, constraining the structure tensors with additional information is beneficial. We have developed a three-step hybrid method in the log-Euclidean domain to use interpreted horizons as well as the seismic image to construct the final structure tensor field. Also, we determined how to incorporate the curvature attributes from horizons for better performance of the algorithm in the presence of faults. Synthetic and real data examples determined the ability of this new technique to achieve better conformance of interpolated properties with the seismic image and interpreted horizons.
Causal Learning With Continuous Variables Over Time

When estimating the strength of the relation between a cause (X) and effect (Y), there are two main statistical approaches that can be used. The first is using a simple correlation. The second approach, appropriate for situations in which the variables are observed unfolding over time, is to take a correlation of the change scores – whether the variables reliably change in the same or opposite direction. The main question of this manuscript is whether lay people use change scores for assessing causal strength in time series contexts. We found that subjects’ causal strength judgments were better predicted by change scores than the simple correlation, and that use of change scores was facilitated by naturalistic stimuli. Further, people use a heuristic of simplifying the magnitudes of change scores into a binary code (increase vs. decrease). These findings help explain how people uncover true causal relations in complex time series contexts.
Oligomeric structures of poliovirus polymerase are important for function

Central to the replication of poliovirus and other positive‐strand RNA viruses is the virally encoded RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase. Previous biochemical studies have suggested that direct polymerase–polymerase interactions might be important for polymerase function, and the structure of poliovirus polymerase has revealed two regions of extensive polymerase–polymerase interaction. To explore potential functional roles for the structurally observed polymerase–polymerase interactions, we have performed RNA binding and extension studies of mutant polymerase proteins in solution, disulfide cross‐linking studies, mutational analyses in cells, in vitro activity analyses and RNA substrate modeling studies. The results of these studies indicate that both regions of polymerase–polymerase interaction observed in the crystals are indeed functionally important and, furthermore, reveal specific functional roles for each. One of the two regions of interaction provides for efficient substrate RNA binding and the second is crucial for forming catalytic sites. These studies strongly support the hypothesis that the polymerase–polymerase interactions discovered in the crystal structure provide an exquisitely detailed structural context for poliovirus polymerase function and for poliovirus RNA replication in cells.
The robustness of content-based search in hierarchical peer to peer networks

Hierarchical <i>peer to peer</i> networks with multiple directory services are an important architecture for large-scale file sharing due to their effectiveness and efficiency. Recent research argues that they are also an effective method of providing large-scale content-based federated search of text-based digital libraries. In both cases the directory services are critical resources that are subject to attack or failure, but the latter architecture may be particularly vulnerable because content is less likely to be replicated throughout the network. This paper studies the robustness, effectiveness and efficiency of content-based federated search in hierarchical <i>peer to peer</i> networks when directory services fail unexpectedly. Several recovery methods are studied using simulations with varying failure rates. Experimental results show that quality of service and efficiency degrade gracefully as the number of directory service failures increases. Furthermore, they show that content-based search mechanisms are more resilient to failures than the match-based search techniques.
Customer Loyalty Measurement Using Burnout and Confidence with Organizational Citizenship Behavior as Antecedent Variables

This study uses latent variables of burnout, confidence, organizational citizenship behavior and customer loyalty. The data used are primary data and collected using an explanatory survey. The total population is 3,841 customers. Samples taken were 200 respondents. The instrument used is a Likert scale at the Bank Lampung Office. The instrument was tested using validity and reliability. Requirements for analysis using tests of normality, homogeneity, linearity, and significance of regression. Data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results found that burnout had a direct negative effect on customer loyalty, confidence had a direct positive effect on customer loyalty, burnout had a direct negative effect on organizational citizenship behavior, and organizational citizenship behavior had a direct positive effect on customer loyalty.
An Instrument for Measuring the Effect of Trusted Electronic Interorganizational Relationships on Customer Loyalty

MIS literature has not adequately addressed the measurement of electronic commerce dimensions and activities. Measures are yet to be proposed to assess the effect of trusted electronic interorganizational relationships on customer loyalty. In this paper, we present the results of a study that was a first effort toward this end. The focus of this study is to develop an instrument for measuring four critical dimensions of electronic commerce: interorganizational relationships, trust, web site characteristics and customer loyalty. Data from 170 information technology (IT) firms were used to assess the measures, using the PLS (Partial Least Squares) techniques and SPSS software.
The GAL Middleware Platform for AAL A Case Study

GAL, the Lower Saxony Research Network Design of Environments for Ageing, investigates how information and communication technology can provide for better environments for ageing. This paper describes a service oriented middleware platform for Ambient Assisted Living and its use in a number of different assistive systems developed in the GAL project: personal activity and household assistant, monitoring of preventive and rehabilitation sports, sensor-based activity determination, and sensor-based fall prevention and recognition. Besides a detailed description of the middleware platform and its elements and interfaces, central infrastructure services and their particularly applications in the different use cases are presented. Keywords-AAL; middleware; service oriented architecture;
Structural and cognitive bottlenecks to information access in social networks

Information in networks is non-uniformly distributed, enabling individuals in certain network positions to get preferential access to information. Social scientists have developed influential theories about the role of network structure in information access. These theories were validated through numerous studies, which examined how individuals leverage their social networks for competitive advantage, such as a new job or higher compensation. It is not clear how these theories generalize to online networks, which differ from real-world social networks in important respects, including asymmetry of social links. We address this problem by analyzing how users of the social news aggregator Digg adopt stories recommended by friends, i.e., users they follow. We measure the impact different factors, such as network position and activity rate; have on access to novel information, which in Digg's case means set of distinct news stories. We show that a user can improve his information access by linking to active users, though this becomes less effective as the number of friends, or their activity, grows due to structural network constraints. These constraints arise because users in structurally diverse position within the follower graph have topically diverse interests from their friends. Moreover, though in most cases user's friends are exposed to almost all the information available in the network, after they make their recommendations, the user sees only a small fraction of the available information. Our study suggests that cognitive and structural bottlenecks limit access to novel information in online social networks.
Evidence for Coordination and Redox Changes of Iron in Shocked Feldspar from Synchrotron MicroXANES

Shock modification of feldspar has been documented and experimentally reproduced in many studies since the recognition of maskelynite in Shergotty. Experimentally shocked feldspar samples have been well studied using chemical and crystallographic techniques. The crystallographic, site-specific characterization of major and minor elements is less well documented. We present early x-ray absorption (XAS) spectral data for a suite of albitite samples that were experimentally shocked at pressures between 17 and 50 Gpa.
Analysis and tests of a dual three-phase 12-slot 10-pole permanent magnet motor

In order to increase the fault tolerance of a motor drive, multiphase systems are adopted. Since custom solutions are expensive, machines with dual three-phase windings supplied by two parallel converters seem to be more convenient. In the event of fault, one of the two three-phase windings (the faulty winding) is disconnected and the motor is operated by means of the healthy winding only. A fractional-slot permanent magnet motor with 12-slot and 10-pole is considered with two different rotor topologies : the interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotor and the surface mounted permanent magnet (SPM) rotor. Various winding configurations of dual three-phase windings are taken into account, comparing average torque, torque ripple, mutual coupling among phases, overload capability and short-circuit behavior. Considerations are given regarding the winding arrangements so as to avoid excessive torque ripple and unbalanced radial forces in faulty operating conditions. An IPM motor prototype has been built and experimental results are carried out in order to verify the numerical predictions.
USADAFOX : ULTRA-HIGH-SPEED FILE-ACQUISITION-SYSTEM OVER DISTANCE WITH APACHE AND FIREFOX

With the rapid progress of network technology, high-speed networks cover the whole world. It is well known that as the distance grows, data transfer using TCP/IP becomes difficult. A lot of research has tackled this problem and fundamental technologies to solve this problem have been developed. However, it is hard for nonprofessional users to deal with these technologies; therefore, there is a need for an easy data transfer application. The application that we have developed, UsadaFox, is a good example of a way that programmers can develop high-performance applications for data-transfer on LFNs. UsadaFox improves the performance of Firefox so that non-professional users can enjoy the stress-free transfer of data on LFNs using their own, familiar application. UsadaFox attained more than 6.5 Gbps for file download between the United States and Japan where Round Trip Time (RTT) is 136 ms.
Biometric Authentication Using the Motion of a Hand

We propose a hand gesture-based spatial interaction method for biometric authentication. It supports 3D gestures that allow the user to move his/her hand without touching an input device. Using the motions of fingertips and joints as biometric data, the method improves the accuracy of authentication. We present the results of experiments, where subjects performed three types of gestures.
Supplementary materials to accompany Demand for Health Risk Reductions

This document contains supplementary materials to accompany all papers using the â€œprivate choicesâ€ survey associated with our larger project on the valuation of morbidity and mortality risk reductions for policy analysis. This is a â€œliving documentâ€ in that we plan to revise/update/expand its contents as the related research papers move through the review process, so be sure to check the automatic date on the document before comparing versions. A detailed table of contents is provided to guide the reader.
A Quantum Material Model of Static Schwarzschild Black Holes

A quantum-mechanical prescription of static Einstein field equation is proposed in order to construct the matter-metric eigen-states in the interior of a static Schwarzschild black hole where the signature of space-time is chosen as (--++). The spectrum of the quantum states is identified to be the integral multiples of the surface gravity. A statistical explanation of black hole entropy is given and a quantisation rule for the masses of Schwarzschild black holes is proposed.
Turbo decoding performance of spectrally efficient RS convolutional concatenated codes

Reed-Solomon convolutional concatenated (RSCC) codes have been widely used in wireless and space communications. Turbo decoding of the concatenated code has been recently developed and shown that the code's error-correction capability can be significantly improved. Particularly, turbo decoding of RSCC codes yields a competent performance when the codeword length is limited. This makes the code a very good candidate for certain communication scenarios in which short packet length is preferred and strict decoding latency and energy consumption constraints are applied, such as the wireless sensor networks (WSN) and high mobility communications (HMC). However, code concatenation inevitably results in rate loss which affects the transmission spectral efficiency. Therefore, this paper investigates the turbo decoding performance of RSCC codes that is integrated with high order modulation schemes to realize spectrally efficient transmissions. The EXtrinsic Information Transfer (EXIT) analysis of the turbo decoding mechanism is performed in order to design the inner convolutional code which can optimize the concatenated code's error-correction performance. Our simulation results obtained in both the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading channels show turbo decoding of RSCC codes achieves significant performance improvements over the existing non-iterative decoding schemes.
Latent ability to manipulate phonemes by Japanese preliterates in roman alphabet

Recent studies in spoken word recognition show that Japanese listeners with or without alphabetic knowledge are accessible to phonemes during word activation. This suggests that even mora-based language users can recognize a submoraic unit. The present study investigates a possibility of latent ability to manipulate phonemes to search and to construct new words by Japanese preliterates in Roman alphabet. Three experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1 it was tested whether they could search embedded words by deleting word initial consonants. In Experiments 2 and 3 it was tested whether they could construct new words by manipulating consonants and vowels at word initial and medial positions. The results show that they could successfully manage these tasks with high accuracy. These results suggests that they are likely to have latent ability to manipulate phonemes to search and to construct new words.
Human capital, international migration, R&D spillovers, and productivity growth: A panel data analysis

This paper focuses on the role of R&D efforts – both domestic and foreign – and human capital investments to the development of national productivity. As technology is also embodied in human capital, the paper empirically investigates the significance of labour mobility as an effective channel of R&D spillovers based on panel cointegration method. Estimates of specifications on a cross-section of 19 OECD countries during the period 1980- 1990 lend strong support to this thesis. Data indicate that international labour movement transfer technology across borders in both directions: from donor countries to host countries and vice versa. Other findings are that human capital has significant impact in R&D diffusion process as it enhances a country’s capacity to learn from a foreign technology base, and that small countries tend to benefit more from foreign R&D than large countries. The results confirm that having a better education system and more open trade and migration policies will help a country to benefit more from foreign R&D.
A Fingerprint Minutiae Matching Method Based on Line Segment Vector

Minutiae-based fingerprint matching is the most commonly used in an automatic fingerprint identification system. In this paper, we propose a minutia matching method based on line segment vector. This method uses all the detected minutiae (the ridge ending and the ridge bifurcation) in a fingerprint image to create a set of new vectors (line segment vector). Using these vectors, we can determine a truer reference point more efficiently. In addition, this new minutiae vector can also increase the accuracy of the minutiae matching. By experiment on the public domain collections of fingerprint images fvc2004 DB3 set A and DB4 set A, the result shows that our algorithm can obtain an improved verification performance.
Object-Oriented Toolset for Distributed Simulation of Discrete Event Systems

Distributed simulation is one of the obvious ways how to deal with the growing complexity of many problems solved using simulation approach. We have proposed and implemented an object-oriented toolset for developing both sequential and distributed simulation architectures, based on a sound formal background and our previous experience. Model hierarchy based on abstract object classes for derivation of specific application models was implemented. Hierarchical structuring of model components is supported. Different distributed simulation mechanisms may be chosen for synchronisation of simulation processors.
Managing Open Innovation

OVERVIEW: Industrial innovation is becoming more open, requiring changes in how firms manage innovation. External sources of knowledge become more prominent, while external channels to market also offer greater promise. This complicates the evaluation of early-stage technology projects, which often involve significant technical and market uncertainty. In such circumstances, companies need to “play poker” as well as chess. Measurement errors (false positives, false negatives) are likely to arise from judgments about the commercial potential of early-stage projects. Most companies' policies consciously limit “false positives” in assessing a project's commercial potential, but few companies take steps to manage the risk of “false negatives. ” New metrics may help a firm focus more upon external sources of innovation to enhance its business model, and enable the firm to salvage value from false negatives that otherwise would be lost.