Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Engineering Students' Perceptions of and Attitudes Towards Cheating

Academic dishonesty has become a serious problem at institutions of higher learning. This is particularly true in engineering where, according to previous research, engineering undergraduates are among the most likely to cheat in college. To investigate this concern, the authors embarked on a research project whose goal was to develop a better understanding of what students and faculty perceive as cheating and to use this knowledge to help instructors and institutions increase the level of academic integrity among students. The primary instrument for this project was a seven‐page survey that was administered to 643 engineering and pre‐engineering undergraduates at eleven institutions, ranging from community colleges to large research universities. This manuscript provides an overview of the descriptive data from the PACES‐1 Survey organized around the following questions: what is student cheating and how often does it occur; why do students cheat; and what methods can be used to reduce or stop cheating?
Reengineering the Academic Unit's Research Practice: A Stages Model

The paper presents a stages model that guided the efforts of an academic unit at an Australian university to improve its research performance. Aiming to grow the research culture it used the re-engineering approach to bring about a transformation. There are four stages in the model used: establishing the current research presence, facilitating research interaction, increasing research transactions and achieving research transformation. Part of stage 1 was a survey to establish significant gaps between staff research expectations and perceptions. Progress for stages 1 and 2 were able to be managed within the academic unit but stage 3 was largely influenced by university processes. The final stage (stage 4) will only be reached in a year or two when the research expectations-perceptions survey should be repeated to measure the degree of change that has been achieved. The approach outlined in the paper should be of value to other academic units seeking to re-engineer their research efforts.
Black Tea Supplementation Improves Antioxidant Status in Rats Subjected to Oxidative Stress

The protective effect of black tea extract (BTE) against HgCl2-induced oxidative damage in Wistar rats was investigated. Rats were injected with HgCl2 (5 mg/kg body weight in 0.9% NaCl) to induce oxidative stress. The aqueous BTE (2.5%) was prepared from CTC (curl, tear, crush) grade tea. BTE was fed to control and HgCl2-treated rats by gavage at a dose of 1 ml/(100 g body weight d). Biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as the erythrocyte plasma membrane redox system (PMRS) activity, lipid peroxidation, and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), increased by 166, 31, and 373%, respectively, in response to HgCl2 treatment, while intracellular glutathione and plasma antioxidant potential, i.e. ferric reducing ability (FRAP) decreased by 75 and 22%, respectively. BTE protected the rats against HgCl2-induced oxidative damage and raised the antioxidant potential in control rats. Due to its strong antioxidant effect in vivo, black tea intake may provide a significant healthpromoting effect to humans
Appropriate models for the control of the synchronous reluctance machine

This paper presents a complete and exhaustive mathematical model of the synchronous reluctance machine considering all saturation and cross-coupling effects. The parameters for this model have been determined experimentally and its validity was confirmed by laboratory measurements. For the implementation of sensorless control schemes of the synchronous reluctance machine the decoupling of the equations according to the model is necessary. Nevertheless, the model with extensive parameter fields is too complex. Therefore, simpler models are derived from the complete one and their limits of application are shown in the paper.
Molecular epidemiological analysis suggests cross-infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is rare in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

To the Editor: In both cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFBr) chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is adversely prognostic [1, 2]. In CF, epidemic infections with specific clones of P. aeruginosa are associated with further adverse outcomes [3, 4]. This cross-infection risk has led to segregation of patients [5]. There are few data on P. aeruginosa cross-infection in NCFBr. As a result, segregation in NCFBr has not been addressed in guidelines [6]. Our aim was to undertake a cross-infection study in NCFBr. This was undertaken in an adult bronchiectasis service in the north-east of England (UK) that is separated from the regional CF unit (sited 2 miles (3 km) away). The service was initiated in 2007 with a weekly specialist clinic without a Pseudomonas -specific clinic. When NCFBr patients are hospitalised, there is a preference for cubicle-based (single-patient room) management, but when cubicles are unavailable, patients are managed in six-bed bays. All patients had computed tomographic confirmation and had predominantly idiopathic or post-infectious bronchiectasis with CF excluded following current guidelines [6]. The study had ethical permission and Caldicott approval (Newcastle and North Tyneside National Research Ethics Service Committee). 56 isolates were selected for analysis. Six were chosen from CF patients as laboratory controls. 50 were NCFBr isolates collected between 2008 and 2011 from …
Category-based phoneme-to-grapheme transliteration

Grapheme-based speech recognition systems are faster to develop but typically do not reach the same level of performance as phoneme-based systems. In this paper we introduce a technique for improving the performance of standard grapheme-based systems. We find that by handling a relatively small number of irregular words through phoneme-to-grapheme (P2G) transliteration – transforming the original orthography of irregular words to an ‘idealised’ orthography – grapheme-based accuracy can be improved. An analysis of speech recognition accuracy based on word categories shows that P2G transliteration succeeds in improving certain word categories in which grapheme-based systems typically perform poorly, and that the problematic categories can be identified prior to system development. We evaluate when category-based P2G transliteration is beneficial and discuss how the technique can be implemented in practice. Index Terms: speech recognition, P2G transliteration, phoneme-to-grapheme rules, grapheme-based ASR
Game Characterizations of Timed Relations for Timed Automata Processes

In this work, we design the game semantics for timed equivalences and preorders of timed processes. The timed games corresponding to the various timed relations form a hierarchy. These games are similar to Stirling's bisimulation games. If it is the case that the existence of a winning strategy for the defender in a game ${\cal G}_1$ implies that there exists a winning strategy for the defender in another game ${\cal G}_2$, then the relation that corresponds to ${\cal G}_1$ is stronger than the relation corresponding to ${\cal G}_2$. The game hierarchy also throws light into several timed relations that are not considered in this paper.
The WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety : towards the years of living less dangerously

The Medical Journal of Australia ISSN: 0025729X 15 May 2006 184 10 69-72 ©The Medical Journal of Australia 2006 www.mja. com.au The safety and quality of health care: where are we now? wide. Here, we provide an overview of the major pr Alliance and identify some of the main challeng patient safety agenda internationally. A body of research evidence stretching back 25 y unsafe care as a significant source of patient m mortality. Publications such as To err is human: b health system by the US Institute of Medicine and A
A Private Cloud Instances Placement Algorithm Based on Maximal Flow Algorithm

With the continuous development of cloud computing, bigger and bigger data processing run in the cloud computing environment. In generally, large companies or organizations have the demand of big data processing. However, these companies or organizations do not want to expose their business processes and data to third parties (Amazon, Google, etc.). The private cloud could meet their needs. In private cloud, if the instances of disk resource consuming are placed in the same physical node, clearly, the disk I/O bandwidth would be used up quickly that would affect the performance of the entire node seriously. In this paper, we propose an instances placement algorithm FFDL that based on the maximal flow method and would adopt the disk I/O load balancing strategy and reduce competition for the disk I/O bandwidth between instances. We have validated our approach by conducting a performance evaluation study on the open source privates cloud platform -- OpenStack. The results demonstrate that our algorithm has immense potential as it provides significant savings in computation time than the Greedy algorithm and demonstrates high potential for the improvement of disk I/O load balancing in the entire private cloud system for the big data processing.
Using Feature Extraction to Recognize Handwritten Text Image

In this paper, a robust technique for identifying and recognizing Handwritten Text images is presented. There are many methods for Handwritten Text, but most of them require segmentation or connected component analysis. The Recognition process utilizes the determinant value that produces the features for the Handwritten Text. Image's determinants values are computed by dividing image into blocks then designed Threshold (T) to extract feature, afterwards, use chain code to find the centric point and direction of text. The least square criterion is then utilized to determine the similarity between the existed (in Database file) Handwritten Text with a new query Handwritten Text's images.
Causes and correlations in cambium phenology: towards an integrated framework of xylogenesis

Although habitually considered as a whole, xylogenesis is a complex process of division and maturation of a pool of cells where the relationship between the phenological phases generating such a growth pattern remains essentially unknown. This study investigated the causal relationships in cambium phenology of black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP] monitored for 8 years on four sites of the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. The dependency links connecting the timing of xylem cell differentiation and cell production were defined and the resulting causal model was analysed with d-sep tests and generalized mixed models with repeated measurements, and tested with Fisher’s C statistics to determine whether and how causality propagates through the measured variables. The higher correlations were observed between the dates of emergence of the first developing cells and between the ending of the differentiation phases, while the number of cells was significantly correlated with all phenological phases. The model with eight dependency links was statistically valid for explaining the causes and correlations between the dynamics of cambium phenology. Causal modelling suggested that the phenological phases involved in xylogenesis are closely interconnected by complex relationships of cause and effect, with the onset of cell differentiation being the main factor directly or indirectly triggering all successive phases of xylem maturation.
The Micromegas detector of the CAST experiment

A low-background Micromegas detector has been operating in the CAST experiment at CERN for the search for solar axions during the first phase of the experiment (2002–2004). The detector, made out of low radioactivity materials, operated efficiently and achieved a very high level of background rejection (5 × 10−5 counts keV−1 cm−2 s−1) without shielding.
Side information refinement scheme in Transform Domain Distributed Video Coding

In this paper, we propose the Side Information refinement scheme for the Transform Domain Wyner-Ziv video codec. As the quality of Side Information affects the Rate-Distortion performance of the Wyner-Ziv coding scheme, recent schemes are based on the refinement of the Side Information in the Wyner-Ziv decoding loop to improve the Rate-Distortion performance. But the schemes are not competitive compared to the low complexity conventional coding schemes(H.264 intra and zero motion codecs) and the conventional H.264 inter coding schemes. As the codec requires huge bit rate to decode the DC band using the initial motion compensated temporal interpolated Side Information, we propose the scheme, by forming the layers with in the DC band and Side Information refinement is applied after decoding coefficients in each layer. The proposed scheme improves the Rate-Distortion performance and results in the WZ bit rate savings upto 7.78 % compared to the recent schemes.
Combination of interval analysis and PSO for optimization

In this paper, a constrained optimization method for various functions such as non differentiable ones based on interval analysis is proposed. The process can be broken down into two distinct parts: the first one that approximates the space satisfying the constraints and the second one that is exclusively in charge of optimizing a given function. The first phase relies on successive bisections of the initial space while discarding the boxes that cannot verify the constraints. The last part of the algorithm is in charge of the unconstrained optimization using a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (commonly known as PSO).
Significant barriers to ICT adoption in the public sector in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs): A case study of Bangladesh

Adoption of ICT in the public sector of the least developed countries (LDCs) is still far from satisfactory, despite many initiatives at international and national levels. In addition to perceived barriers associated with LDCs, such as lack of political will and commitment, leadership, infrastructure, human capacity etc, this empirical study has found new evidence of a deep rooted underlying cause, a lack of proper knowledge and awareness as the major barrier to ICT adoption, in the context of Bangladesh. The study also attempts to uncover the relative effect of different barriers and their inter relationships based on focus group data which gives important direction for further study.
Action classification of 3D human models using dynamic ANNs for mobile robot surveillance

This paper presents an alternative approach on physical human action classification implemented by mobile robots. In contrast with other action recognition methods, this research indicates the best configuration topology of a number of dynamic neural networks to be used in 3D time series classification by showing several comparison performances. In this action recognition investigation we demonstrate high level network granularity on dynamic classification and class discrimination of normal and aggressive action recognition. An interconnection between an ubiquitous 3D sensory tracker system and a mobile robot is set to create a perception to action architecture capable to perceive, process, and classify physical human actions. The robot is used as a process-to-action unit to process the 3D data taken by the tracker and to eventually generate surveillance assessment reports pointing towards action-class matchings as well as generating evaluation statistics which signify the quality of the actions recognized.
Super-Resolution using Regularized Orthogonal Matching Pursuit based on compressed sensing theory in the wavelet domain

We proposed a compressed sensing Super Resolution algorithm based on wavelet. The proposed algorithm performs well with a smaller quantity of training image patches and outputs images with satisfactory subjective quality. It is tested on classical images commonly adopted by Super Resolution researchers with both generic and specialized training sets for comparison with other popular commercial software and state-of-the-art methods. Experiments demonstrate that, the proposed algorithm is competitive among contemporary Super Resolution methods.
Scenarios for the Origin of the Orbits of the Trans-Neptunian Objects 2000 CR105 and 2003 VB12 (Sedna)

Explaining the origin of the orbits of 2000 CR105 (a = 230 AU, q = 44 AU) and 2003 VB12 (a = 531 AU, q = 74 AU, unofficially known as Sedna) is a major test for our understanding of the primordial evolution of the outer solar system. Gladman et al. have shown that 2000 CR105 could not have been a normal member of the scattered disk that had its perihelion distance increased by chaotic diffusion. The same conclusion also clearly applies to 2003 VB12. In this paper, we explore five seemingly promising mechanisms to explain the origin of the orbits of these peculiar objects: (1) the passage of Neptune through a high-eccentricity phase, (2) the past existence of massive planetary embryos in the Kuiper belt or the scattered disk, (3) the presence of a massive trans-Neptunian disk at early epochs that perturbed highly inclined scattered-disk objects, (4) encounters with other stars that perturbed the orbits of some of the solar system's trans-Neptunian planetesimals, and (5) the capture of extrasolar planetesimals from low-mass stars or brown dwarfs encountering the Sun. Of all these mechanisms, the ones giving the most satisfactory results are those related to the passage of stars (4 and 5). An important advantage of both stellar-passage scenarios is that all the resulting objects with large perihelion distances also have large semimajor axes. This is in good agreement with the fact that 2000 CR105 and 2003 VB12 have semimajor axes larger than 200 AU and no other bodies with similar perihelion distances but smaller semimajor axes have yet been discovered. We favor mechanism 4, since it produces an orbital element distribution that is more consistent with the observations, unless 2000 CR105 and 2003 VB12 represent a population more massive than a few tenths of an Earth mass, in which case this mechanism is not viable.
Modeling Aboveground Biomass in Dense Tropical Submontane Rainforest Using Airborne Laser Scanner Data

Successful implementation of projects under the REDD+ mechanism, securing payment for storing forest carbon as an ecosystem service, requires quantification of biomass. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) is a relevant technology to enhance estimates of biomass in tropical forests. We present the analysis and results of modeling aboveground biomass (AGB) in a Tanzanian rainforest utilizing data from a small-footprint ALS system and 153 field plots with an area of 0.06–0.12 ha located on a systematic grid. The study area is dominated by steep terrain, a heterogeneous forest structure and large variation in AGB densities with values ranging from 43 to 1147 Mg·ha−1, which goes beyond the range that has been reported in existing literature on biomass modeling with ALS data in the tropics. Root mean square errors from a 10-fold cross-validation of estimated values were about 33% of a mean value of 462 Mg·ha−1. Texture variables derived from a canopy surface model did not result in improved models. Analyses showed that (1) variables derived from echoes in the lower parts of the canopy and (2) canopy density variables explained more of the AGB density than variables representing the height of the canopy.
A Network Management Solution Based on OpenFlow Towards New Challenges of Multitenant Data Center

With ever increasing applications emerging into the cloud environment, more advanced requirements have drawn much attention. Cloud data center network is required to be multitenant, low cost, easy-to-operate and easy-to-configure. But existing network architectures still cannot meet all above requirements. In this paper, we explore new challenges of multitenant data center and propose our network solution based on OpenFlow to meet their requirements. The experiment results demonstrate that it is a performance efficient multitenant-ready network solution.
The robustness of some scale -

There are several methods for forming a scale-space and they may be classiied as being based on diiusion or morphology. However it is rare for the methods to be compared. Here we outline a method for such a comparison based on robustness and give results for linear diiusion, the most widely studied method, and a sieve (a new morphological method). We nd that the standard diiusion-based systems are not as insensitive to noise and occlusion as one might wish.
Consensus of Multi-agent Systems via Intermittent Control ⋆

This paper investigates the consensus problem of high order multi-agent systems by means of periodically intermittent control. The interconnection topology among the agents is assumed to be switching and undirected. It is shown that under suitable conditions on communication, all agents approach a prescribed value under the designed intermittent controller. An illustrative example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Pulmonary Septic Emboli due to Azygos Vein Septic Thrombosis

The triad of extrapulmonary infection, contiguous septic vein thrombosis, and septic pulmonary embolism is a rare complex but associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Septic azygos vein thrombosis is extremely rare and potentially serious since it may also cause pulmonary emboli and sudden death. We report a case of a 32-year-old woman with history of IV drug abuse who presented with epidural abscess and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. Later she developed signs of septic pulmonary embolism secondary to septic azygos vein thrombosis. With early diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and control of the infectious source, resolution of the illness can be expected for most patients with avoidance of potential complications.
Delayed Overshooting: It's an 80s Puzzle

We re-investigate the delayed overshooting puzzle. We find that delayed overshooting is primarily a phenomenon of the 1980s when the Fed was under the chairmanship of Paul Volcker. Related findings are as follows: (1) Uncovered interest parity fails to hold during the Volcker era and tends to hold in the other periods considered. (2) US monetary policy shocks have substantial impacts on exchange rate variations but misleadingly appear to have small impacts when monetary policy regimes are pooled. In brief, we confirm Dornbusch’s overshooting hypothesis.
A cooperative sensing system for air quality monitoring in urban areas

Air quality has a serious impact on the public health and the environment. Therefore, real-time and accurate monitoring tools are necessary in order to measure the air pollution level and take appropriate and timely decisions. In this paper we present uSense, a cooperative sensing system for real-time and fine-grained air-quality monitoring in urban areas. uSense allows people to measure the air quality in the places where they live and spend much of their time (e.g. nearby their homes or workplaces), by just deploying small, low-cost sensor nodes. These sensor nodes periodically measure the concentrations of polluting gases and send the acquired data to a server. The collected data are then shared among the users, using a social networking approach, so that each person can contribute to monitor the area where she/he lives and, at the same time, can check the air quality in other parts of the city. uSense has been tested in a field test, performed on four different urban areas, and proved to be both reliable and efficient.