Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Comparison between Locations of Orthologs in Circular Microbial Genomes

Following an extensive search for orthologous genes between the complete genomes from archaea and bacteria, the spatial association of the orthologs has been investigated in terms of synteny, the conservation of the order of neighboring genes [3, 4]. However, the relationships between the relative locations of remote orthologs over entire genomes have not been shown. Here, we investigate the relationship between locations of the orthologs, in nineteen microbial genomes from archaea and bacteria, by the location to location correspondence based on the genelocation distance [2]. The correspondence reveals that there are many orthologs that are separately located on each genome, but maintain their relative locations between the two genomes. The nature of the correspondence between orthologs is scrutinized in terms of the correlation with replication sites and the gene function.
Development and evaluation of an English language measure of detection of word-final plurality markers: the University of Western Ontario Plurals Test.

PURPOSE This article describes the development and evaluation of The University of Western Ontario (UWO) Plurals Test, which is an English language measure of detection of the word-final fricative cue for plurality. METHOD Normative data are provided for 26 listeners with normal hearing and 24 listeners with hearing impairment (children and adults), as are evaluations of the acoustical properties of the stimuli, the test's test-retest reliability, and the test's sensitivity to changes in hearing aid signal processing (e.g., nonlinear frequency compression). RESULTS Results indicate reliable, repeated outcome measurement at the level of the individual. When compared to a global measure of real-world listening preference, the UWO Plurals Test was found to be somewhat sensitive to the effects of changes in hearing aid signal processing. CONCLUSION Findings suggest potential use of the UWO Plurals Test to evaluate aided and unaided ability of listeners between the ages of 6 and 81 years to detect the word-final fricatives /s/ and /z/ as they occur in English plural nouns.
A “Fast Data” architecture: Dashboard for anomalous traffic analysis in data networks

Fast Data is a new Big Data computing paradigm that ensures requirements such as Real-Time processing of continuous data stream, storage at high rates and low latency with no data losses. In this work we propose a “Fast Data” architecture for a specific kind of software application in which input data arrive very fast and the results for each processed data have to match such input rates. We applied this architecture to build a Dashboard for Anomalous Traffic Analysis in Data Networks. In order to fulfill the requirements of Real-Time processing and no data losses, we carry out a design that consists of a pattern of dynamic tree of process pipelines, where the number of branches increases proportionally to the input data rate. Two different approaches have been followed to implement this design pattern: one based in a well-known set of products from the Big Data ecosystem; and the other built with Kafka, Zookeeper and a set of components designed and implemented by us. These two implementations have been compared in terms of velocity and scalability performance. As a result, the implementation built with our own components is significantly faster and scalable than the traditional one. The good results obtained by using both the design pattern of dynamic tree of process pipelines and our implementation make them very suitable for its use in other scenarios and applications such as smart cities, environment monitoring, industry 4.0, distributed control systems, etc.
Hierarchical Correlation of Multi-Scale Spatial Pyramid for Similar Mammogram Retrieval

In hospitals and medical institutes, a large number of mammograms are produced in ever increasing quantities and used for diagnostics and therapy. The need for effective methods to manage and retrieve those image resources has been actively pursued in the medical community. This paper proposes a hierarchical correlation calculation approach to content-based mammogram retrieval. In this approach, images are represented as a Gaussian pyramid with several reduced-resolution levels. A global search is first conducted to identify the optimal matching position, where the correlation between the query image and the target images in the database is maximal. Local search is performed in the region comprising the four child pixels at a higher resolution level to locate the position with maximal correlation at greater resolution. Finally, this position with the maximal correlation found at the finest resolution level is used as the image similarity measure for retrieving images. Experimental results have shown that this approach achieves 59% in precision and 54% in recall when the threshold of correlation is 0.5.
Exploring Alternative Approaches to Implement an Elasticity Policy

An elasticity policy governs how and when resources (e.g., application server instances at the PaaS layer) are added to and/or removed from a cloud environment. The elasticity policy can be implemented as a conventional control loop or as a set of heuristic rules. In the control-theoretic approach, complex constructs such as tracking filters, estimators, regulators, and controllers are utilized. In the heuristic, rule-based approach, various alerts(e.g., events) are defined on instance metrics (e.g., CPU utilization), which are then aggregated at a global scale in order to make provisioning decisions for a given application tier. This work provides an overview of our experiences designing and working with both approaches to construct an auto scaler for simple applications. We enumerate different criteria such as design complexity, ease of comprehension, and maintenance upon which we form an informal comparison between the different methods. We conclude with a brief discussion of how these approaches can be used in the governance of resources to better meet a high-level goal over time.
Improving overlay control through proper use of multilevel query APC

Many state-of-the-art fabs are operating with increasingly diversified product mixes. For example, at Cypress Semiconductor, it is not unusual to be concurrently running multiple technologies and many devices within each technology. This diverse product mix significantly increases the difficulty of manually controlling overlay process corrections. As a result, automated run-to-run feedforward-feedback control has become a necessary and vital component of manufacturing. However, traditional run-to-run controllers rely on highly correlated historical events to forecast process corrections. For example, the historical process events typically are constrained to match the current event for exposure tool, device, process level and reticle ID. This narrowly defined process stream can result in insufficient data when applied to lowvolume or new-release devices. The run-to-run controller implemented at Cypress utilizes a multi-level query (Level-N) correlation algorithm, where each subsequent level widens the search criteria for available historical data. The paper discusses how best to widen the search criteria and how to determine and apply a known bias to account for tool-to-tool and device-to-device differences. Specific applications include offloading lots from one tool to another when the first tool is down for preventive maintenance, utilizing related devices to determine a default feedback vector for new-release devices, and applying bias values to account for known reticle-to-reticle differences. In this study, we will show how historical data can be leveraged from related devices or tools to overcome the limitations of narrow process streams. In particular, this paper discusses how effectively handling narrow process streams allows Cypress to offload lots from a baseline tool to an alternate tool.
Evidence of price premiums for non-GM grains in world markets

World markets for a number of grains (soybeans, corn, canola and cottonseed) have become differentiated into GM, certified non-GM and organic segments, which has created opportunities and challenges for grain market participants. This paper summarises the evidence to date on the extent of price premiums for non-GM products throughout the world. A broad economic framework is employed to explain the observed pattern of price premiums. The key conclusion of the analysis is that world grains markets for which there are GM variants are dominated by GM grains, but there are niches for certified non-GM and organically produced grains, for which price premiums are paid. With some certified non-GM grains for a specific purpose, price premiums appear to be increasing. Apart from consumer attitudes, the key drivers of price premiums are mandatory labelling of GM products in some key grain consuming countries (particularly high income countries), higher production costs for non-GM crops and the cost of identity preservation.
Detecting and modelling tail dependence with runs tests

The aim of this work is to develop a non parametric tool for detecting dependence in the tails of . nancial data. We provide a simple method to locate and measure serial dependence in the tails, based on the ”runs tests”, a basic statistical tool for testing independence. Our empirical investigation on many . nancial time series reveals a strong departure from independence for daily observations, which is not explained by the usual Garch modelling of the dependence structure. A possible interest in this kind of analysis could be found for simple forecasting or for Value at Risk computation purposes.
The NICHD Study of Early Child Care

Previous research on the effects of early child care had led to controversy and confusion. The most provocative finding was that when infants were in nonmaternal child care 20 or more hours a week, starting in the first year of life, they were less likely than infants without such experience to form a secure emotional attachment to their mothers.
Quadric Polynomial Interpolation Based on Minimum Local Stretching Energy

This paper presents a method to construct C1 polynomial surface with scattered data points. At first the given data points are divided into triangular networks, and then at the adjacent region of each point a C1 piecewise quadric interpolation patch is constructed. Objective function according to the stretching strain energy is constructed. Minimizing the objective function to determine the unknown quantities, and at last achieves fair interpolating surface. The constructed surface has the shape suggested by the given data points. At last comparison examples are included to prove the efficiency of the new method.
The Mind as a Control System

This is not a scholarly research paper, but a ‘position paper’ outlining an approach to the study of mind which has been gradually evolving (at least in my mind) since about 1969 when I first become acquainted with work in Artificial Intelligence through Max Clowes. I shall try to show why it is more fruitful to construe the mind as a control system than as a computational system (although computation can play a role in control mechanisms).
ISO observations of the Galactic center interstellar medium , Neutral gas and dust

The 500 central pc of the Galaxy (hereafter GC) exhibit a widespread gas component with a kinetic temperature of 100-200 K. The bulk of this gas is not associated to the well-known thermal radio continuum or far infrared sources like Sgr A or Sgr B. How this gas is heated has been a longstanding problem. With the aim of studying the thermal balance of the neutral gas and dust in the GC, we have observed 18 molecular clouds located at projected distances far from thermal continuum sources with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). In this paper we present observations of several fine structure lines ((O) 63 and 146 µm, (C) 158 µm, (Si  )3 5µm, (S  )2 5µ ma nd (Fe )2 6µm), which are the main coolants of the gas with kinetic temperatures of several hundred K. We also present the full continuum spectra of the dust between 40 and 190 µm. All the clouds exhibit a cold dust component with a temperature of ∼15 K. A warmer dust component is also required to fit the spectra. The temperature of this dust component changes between 27 and 42 K from source to source. We have compared the gas and the dust emission with the predictions from J-type and C-type shocks and photodissociation region (PDRs) models. We conclude that the dust and the fine structure lines observations are best explained by a PDR with a density of 10 3 cm −3 and an incident far-ultraviolet field 10 3 times higher than the local interstellar radiation field. The fine structure line emission arises in PDRs in the interface between a diffuse ionized gas component and the dense molecular clouds. The (C) 158 µ ma nd (Si) 35 µm lines also have an important contribution from the ionized gas component. PDRs can naturally explain the discrepancy between the gas and the dust temperatures. However, these PDRs can only account for 10-30% of the total H2 column density with a temperature of ∼150 K. We discuss other possible heating mechanisms for the rest the warm molecular gas, such as non-stationary PDRs, X-ray Dominated Regions (XDRs) or the dissipation of supersonic turbulence. The central 600 pc of the Galaxy (hereafter the Galactic center, GC) contain up to 10% of the neutral gas of the Milky Way. In spite of the high gas surface density in the GC (several or- ders of magnitude higher than in the disk of the Galaxy) the star formation rate is 10 times lower than that in the disk and the star formation efficiency is only similar to that in the disk. This is probably due to the particular physical conditions of the � Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, The Netherlands and the UK) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA. �� Figures 1-4 are only available in electronic form at
A New Perspective on Social Netwoks: Research on Social Networks Theory Based on the Angle of Cost

Social networks have been critical areas of social science research. Researchers have focused mainly on how to make use of social networks, while giving little attention to social networks' cost. To address this drawback, we adopt a new perspective of cost analysis to discuss social networks. A cost model is proposed in this paper, which demonstrates the origins of networks cost coupled with cost form and three phases of cost forming.
Cerenkov-Type Second-Harmonic Generation in Two-Dimensional Nonlinear Photonic Structures

We study the Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation in several different two-dimensional nonlinear photonic structures formed in birefringent crystals with the 3 m symmetry. Depending on the degree of birefringence, we observe either single or double Cerenkov-like second-harmonic rings. We discuss the properties of these parametrically generated rings and show that their sixfold azimuthal modulation is associated with the hexagonal symmetry of the individual ferroelectric domains.
A five year longitudinal study of wellbeing in resettlement amongst humanitarian migrants from Burma

This thesis research was conducted to identify factors that impact the psychological well-being of refugees from Burma who have been resettled in Australia. Qualitative analysis of interviews conducted within the first year of resettlement, and again at four years and five years post-resettlement demonstrated that refugee well-being is influenced by the context of resettlement and the continuity of existing relationships. Results have implications for immigration policy and contribute to knowledge of understanding and assisting with the process of resettlement.
An approach to designing software safety systems for rehabilitation robots

This paper presents a system-level approach to the design of a safety-critical robotic system that is sufficiently safe to satisfy human-subject safety criteria. This system design approach utilizes preliminary hazard analysis, and fault tree analysis, and was successfully applied to a dexterous space robot designed to fly on NASA's space shuttle. An application of this approach to a shoulder rehabilitation exoskeleton would be presented and shown to improve the safety of the overall system.
Essays in International Trade

This dissertation consisits of two chapters. Both chapters relate to the effects of trade resistence measures commonly used in the International Trade literature. The first chapter investigates the effects of trade costs on the extensive and intensive margins of trade. The second chapter uses a semi-nonparametric estimation technique to include zero trade trade values and adds additional flexibility to the estimation of trade costs. Trade literature has made use of the gravity equation since its introduction by Tinbergen (1962) to measure the impact of trade barriers and country characteristics on bilateral trade flows. The new focus of the literature separates international trade into two separate components: 1) the extensive margin which describe the variety of products exported, and 2) the intensive margin which describes the volume of each variety exported. Research using the traditional gravity equation inherently assumes that for any change in trade cost only affects the intensive margin or variable costs. Industry level data is used to construct a modified gravity specification that allows for the separate analysis of the extensive and intensive margin as well as their specific contribution to the estimates of trade costs. It is shown that the extensive margin or fixed costs do have significant contribution to the estimates in previous research using the gravity equation. Additionally, the changing nature of trade costs investigated in ii past research will be shown to be in part due trade resistance measures increasing or decreasing on the intensive margin. Recently, there has been increased interest in estimation techniques that allow for the presence of zeros for determining the impact covariates on international trade flows. Traditionally, the gravity equation has been used to measure trade resistance and geographic characteristics on bilateral trade. Recent methods have tried to correct for selection and heterogeneity bias created by the use of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). Allowing zero trade values in the estimation process allows for the inclusion potentially useful information in the determination of the effects of trade costs on bilateral trade. This paper will use a semi-nonparametric estimation that will correct for selection and heterogeneity bias. Conditional density estimation (CDE) is a semi-nonparametric approach that allows for the inclusion of bilateral pairs with no observed trade and for an accurate estimate of the change in the expected value of trade given a change in the explanatory variable. The CDE method is a discrete approximation of the density function that mimics a discrete hazard rate analyses on the variable of interest conditional of the explanatory variables. The estimates of geographic distance and GDPs of each country are shown to be lower using the CDE than the standard gravity method of estimation.
Sunk Costs and Mortgage Default

In this paper, we estimate default hazard functions that include standard variables along with borrowers sunk cost: i.e., down payment at loan origination. After testing large numbers of specifications, we find that after controlling for mark-to-market loan-to-value, initial combined loan to value remains an important predictor of default. We also find, contrary to Guiso, Sapienze and Zingales (2009), that there is not a specific point at which one observes a discontinuous default probability, but that it is rather that default is smooth in mark-to-market LTV.
Estimating Mean Disparity of Stereo Images Using Shift-trials of Phase Differences

Disparity can be estimated using the phase differences between a pair of stereo images after Gabor filtering. In this paper a simple method is proposed for target detection, which uses shift-trials of phase differences to detect the mean disparity over the sampling window up to the precision of one pixel (the sampling interval unit). The process is posed as a problem of minimising the phase differences in terms of their matching residue’s norm through direct searching. It involves no computation of the phase derivatives and is therefore robust to noise and phase singularity. Good results are obtained at an acceptable computational cost.
Spiritually Responsive SBIRT in Social Work Education

This article reports the results of a multisite, interprofessional training initiative for social work students focused on using Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) culturally adapted to include elements of faith and spirituality using an interactive Web-based learning management system. A total of 251 undergraduate and graduate social work students completed the 4-hr training with pre- and post-assessments, with 191 completing 30-day follow-up assessments. Significant increases in SBIRT perceived knowledge and confidence in implementing SBIRT were observed among both graduate and undergraduate students. Implications for culturally adapted SBIRT training in social work education are discussed.
Fast indexing for blocked array layouts to reduce cache misses

Several studies have been conducted on blocked data layouts, in conjunction with loop tiling to improve locality of references. In this paper, we further reduce cache misses, restructuring the memory layout of multi-dimensional arrays, so that array elements are stored in a blocked way, exactly as they are swept by the tiled instruction stream. A straightforward way is presented to easily translate multi-dimensional indexing of arrays into their blocked memory layout using quick and simple binary-mask operations. Actual experimental results and simulations illustrate that performance is greatly improved because of the considerable reduction of cache misses.
On the implementation and follow-up of decisions

Postmeeting activities have not had enough research within the decision-making cycle. Perhaps they have been considered trivial or not meaningful in the past. However, without an appropriate follow-up, important decisions made in the previous phase may get lost or be implemented wrongly. This paper proposes computer-based support for postmeeting activities. The support includes the corresponding linkage of activities to the meeting decisions that originated them. The proposed system follows a process pattern approach to design the postmeeting activities and uses a workflow management system for process enactment.
Modelling the value and measuring the risk of private equity

Private equity firms are blamed for quickly extracting all of a target company's cash, and sometimes for going even further by requesting a target company to incur additional debts { in order to be able to pay investors an additional dividend { and thus driving it into bankruptcy. Consequently, there is always a trade-off between the benefit of high extra dividends and the associated risk, due to higher debt obligations, which may cause bankruptcy. In this paper, we apply real-options theory and capital-budgeting techniques to the problem of assessing a private investor's risk. We propose a new continuous time DCF model, which incorporates the four fundamental value drivers, among others a high debt to equity ratio, and typical characteristics for private investments like a high probability to default. We also introduce different risk measures by proposing a new measurement model that is based on the cash flow process, the associated multiple process as well as on the implied IRR of the transaction. Finally, we give some details of how such a model is implemented to provide investors as well as debt lenders with a decision support regarding different investments or investments strategies.