Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Staying at the Roach Motel: Cross-Country Analysis of Manipulative Subscription and Cancellation Flows

Subscribing to online services is typically a straightforward process, but cancelling them can be arduous and confusing -- causing many to resign and continue paying for services they no longer use. Making the cancellation intentionally difficult is recognized as a dark pattern called Roach Motel. This paper characterizes the subscription and cancellation flows of popular news websites from four different countries, and discusses them in the context of recent regulatory changes. We study the design features that make it difficult to cancel a subscription and find several cancellation flows that feature intentional barriers, such as forcing users to type in a phrase or call a representative. Further, we find many subscription flows that do not adequately inform users about recurring charges. Our results point to a growing need for effective regulation of designs that trick, coerce, or manipulate users into paying for subscriptions they do not want.
Three-body decays of $\pi_{2}(1670)$ and $\rho_{3}(1690)$ via the Sill distribution

We present the three-body decays for the resonances $\pi_{2}(1670)$ and $ \rho_3(1690)$. We use an effective model based on the flavor symmetry and have assumed the Sill distribution for describing the lie-shape of intermediate unstable resonances. The vector-pseudoscalar meson decay channel is considered as an intermediate step to explain the decay of three-pseudoscalar meson channels.
Gain-Scheduling Controller Synthesis for Nested Systems With Full Block Scalings

This work presents a framework to synthesize structured gain-scheduled controllers for structured plants whose dynamics change according to time-varying scheduling parameters. Both the system and the controller are assumed to admit descriptions in terms of a linear time-invariant system in feedback with the so-called scheduling blocks, which collect all the scheduling parameters into a static system. We show that such linear fractional representations permit to exploit a so-called lifting technique in order to handle several structured gain-scheduling design problems. These could arise from a nested inner and outer loop control configuration with partial or full dependence on the scheduling variables. Our design conditions are formulated in terms of convex linear matrix inequalities and permit to handle multiple performance objectives.
Normalization by evaluation for modal dependent type theory

Abstract We present the Kripke-style modal type theory, Mint, which combines dependent types and the necessity modality. It extends the Kripke-style modal lambda-calculus by Pfenning and Davies to the full Martin-Löf type theory. As such it encompasses dependently typed variants of system K, T, K4, and S4. Further, Mint seamlessly supports a full universe hierarchy, usual inductive types, and large eliminations. In this paper, we give a modular sound and complete normalization-by-evaluation (NbE) proof for Mint based on an untyped domain model, which applies to all four aforementioned modal systems without modification. This NbE proof yields a normalization algorithm for Mint, which can be directly implemented. To further strengthen our results, our models and the NbE proof are fully mechanized in Agda and we extract a Haskell implementation of our NbE algorithm from it.
Investigation of surface grinding on Inconel under distinct cooling conditions

ABSTRACT Nickel-based alloys are used in marine and aerospace applications due to their mechanical strength and chemical stability at high temperatures. Inconel 800 resists high-temperature corrosion such oxidation and carburization. Inconel 800 is utilised in deaerators, heaters, valves, heat exchangers, pumps, and more. Grinding responses was investigated since these applications demand a clean surface finish. In this study, surface grinding was performed on Inconel 800 under three different cooling conditions: dry, wet, and Nano-MQL. Wheel Speed(vs), feed(f), and Depth of cut(ae) were taken as input parameters, while Surface roughness(ra), the microhardness of the Workpiece, and temperature were taken as output parameters. NMQL circumstances yielded 0.42 μm surface finish and 60–62°C cutting temperature. The microhardness values on the machined surface under different cooling conditions reflect residual stress, which depends on the machining zone temperature. The material's surface residual stresses were tested to determine how grinding affected its mechanical qualities and performance.
Climatological simulations of ozone and atmospheric aerosols in the Greater Cairo region

An integrated chemistry-climate model (RegCM4-CHEM) simulates present-day climate, ozone and tropospheric aerosols over Egypt with a focus on Greater Cairo (GC) region. The densley populated GC region is known for its severe air quality issues driven by high levels of anthropogenic pollution in conjuction with natural sources such as dust and agricultural burning events. We find that current global emission inventories underestimate key pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and anthropogenic aerosol species. In the GC region, average-ground-based NO2 observations of 40-60 ppb are substantially higher than modeled estimates (5-10 ppb), likely due to model grid resolution, improper boundary layer representation, and poor emissions inventories. Observed ozone concentrations range from 35 ppb (winter) to 80 ppb (summer). The model reproduces the seasonal cycle fairly well, but modeled summer ozone is understimated by approximately 15 ppb and exhibits little interannual variability. For aerosols, springtime dust events dominate the seasonal aerosol cycle. The chemistry-climate model captures the springtime peak aerosol optical depth (AOD) of 0.7-1 but is slightly greater than satellite-derived AOD. Observed AOD decreases in the summer and increases again in the fall due to agricultural burning events in the Nile Delta, yet the model underestimates this fall observed AOD peak, asmore » standard emissions inventories underestimate this burning and the resulting aerosol emissions. Our comparison of modeled gas and particulate phase atmospheric chemistry in the GC region indicates that improved emissions inventories of mobile sources and other anthropogenic activities are needed to improve air quality simulations in this region. « less
Occurrence of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism and its association with atherogenic indices in Mexican women from San Luis Potosi, a preliminary study

Some genetic variants (polymorphisms) of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme are considered a susceptibility factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and levels of well-recognized atherogenic indices in a female population from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. A total of 340 women participated in the study, and MTHFR C677T genotypi�cation was assessed using a RT-PCR assay. Also, Framingham risk score (FRS), Castelli risk index (CRI), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were estimated. The allelic frequency detected was 0.43 for the MTHFR 677T-allele in the enrolled women. Besides, the mean value of AIP was signi�cantly higher (p<0.05) for individuals with the mutant genotype (TT; 0.29 ± 0.20) contrasted to AIP values detected in people with the wild-type genotype (CC; 0.15 ± 0.20) and heterozygous genotype (CT; 0.16 ± 0.20). Similar �ndings were observed for CRI through MTHFR C677T genotypes (4.40 ± 1.80; 3.90 ± 1.30; and 3.60 ± 0.90; for CC, CT, and TT, respectively). No signi�cant changes were detected for FRS values across MTHFR C677T genotypes. Lastly, signi�cant statistical associations were identi�ed between the TT genotype and the AIP values (odds ratio: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.95-4.95; p= 0.01). No signi�cant associations were detected between MTHFR C677T genotypes and FRS and CRI indices values. The results found in this research agree with data that support an increased CVDs risk in MTHFR 677T-allele carriers in the human population, as AIP is considered a reliable CVDs risk biomarker.
Diet of Dinocras cephalotes and Perla marginata (Plecoptera, Perlidae) in an Apenninic stream (Orbarina, NW Italy)

Feeding habits of Perla marginata and Dinocras cephalotes (Plecoptera, Perlidae) nymphs have been investigated in the Rio Orbarina (NW Italy). These species are among the largest European carnivorous freshwater invertebrates and they play an important role in the trophic structure of little Apenninic fishless streams. In this study, we examined the gut contents of 60 P. marginata and 60 D. cephalotes nymphs. Aim of this study was to characterize the diet and to investigate the existence of feeding differences between the two species. The diet of both these predaceous stoneflies included vegetal detritus, mainly in the smaller instars. We detected evident trophic preferences in the diet of both species. In particular, few taxa of preys constituted the greater part of the item ingested, independently from their availability in the substratum. Interestingly, we also detected no clear differences in prey selection between nymphs of the two species.
The Influence of Service Quality on Student Loyalty at Budi Bakti Tutoring

: Education is considered one of the important primary human needs. Therefore, people are competing to get the best educational place. This phenomenon encourages parents to register their children with tutoring institutions to get additional classes. Tutoring in Indonesia is included in the Course and Training Institute (LKP). During the pandemic, LKP's growth declined due to the loss of students. The decrease in student enrollment also occurred in one of the tutoring institutions in Bandung Regency, namely the Budi Bakti Tutoring Institute. In services, service quality is an essential factor in the competitiveness and sustainability of institutions. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of service quality at Budi Bakti Tutoring to retain existing students and gain new students by measuring the five dimensions of service quality perceived value, student satisfaction, and student loyalty. The research method used is a quantitative approach. In this approach, data collection was carried out on 222 samples of students and alumni of Budi Bakti Tutoring through the distribution of questionnaires and then analyzed with PLS-SEM. The results showed that there was a positive influence between service quality on perceived value, student satisfaction, and student loyalty. This research is expected to improve the quality of service at Budi Bakti Tutoring.
Evaluation of Multiplexing on the Characteristics of Surveillance Camera Data Traffic

Recently, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become so widespread that the requirements for networking must be re-evaluated. It is expected that the number of devices connected to the network will increase significantly; therefore, characteristics of conventional data traffic flow must be reconsidered. In this paper, we focus on the data traffic flow characteristics of surveillance cameras, which are a type of IoT device. We have investigated the characteristics of data traffic flow multiplexed on wired and wireless networks. We have analyzed statistical data based on the IPFIX protocol at a gateway, which is an aggregation point for this data traffic. We have also clarified the relationship between real multiplexed data traffic and statistical data. Finally, we have shown that our results are useful for IoT network design.
TURBIDITY SUSPENI)ED SEDIMENT, AND WATER CLARITY: A REVIEW 1

ABSTRACT: Suspended sediment causes a range of environmental damage, including benthic smothering, irritation of fish gills, and transport of sorbed contaminants. Much of the impact, while sediment remains suspended, is related to its light attenuation, which reduces visual range in water and light availability for photosynthesis. Thus measurement of the optical attributes of suspended matter in many instances is more relevant than measurement of its mass concentration. Nephelometric turbidity, an index of light scattering by suspended particles, has been widely used as a simple, cheap, instrumental surrogate for suspended sediment, that also relates more directly than mass concentration to optical effects of suspended matter. However, turbidity is only a relative measure of scattering (versus arbitrary standards) that has no intrinsic environmental relevance until calibrated to a ‘proper’ scientific quantity. Visual clarity (measured as Secchi or black disc visibility) is a preferred optical quantity with immediate environmental relevance to aesthetics, contact recreation, and fish habitat. Contrary to common perception, visual clarity measurement is not particularly subjective and is more precise than turbidity measurement. Black disc visibility is inter‐convertible with beam attenuation, a fundamental optical quantity that can be monitored continuously by beam transmissometry. Visual clarity or beam attenuation should supplant nephelometric turbidity in many water quality applications, including environmental standards.
Formation of gypsum and bassanite by cation exchange reactions in the absence of free‐liquid H2O: Implications for Mars

Smectites and hydrated Mg sulfate minerals have been identified in close association at various locations on the Martian surface. The hydration states of sulfates and smectites are dependent on temperature and relative humidity (RH), and therefore these minerals have the potential to affect cycling and bioavailability of H2O on Mars. We have conducted X‐ray powder diffraction experiments to investigate cycling of H2O within mixtures of Ca‐bearing smectites and hydrated Mg sulfate minerals under conditions of varying RH similar to those that exist at or just beneath the Martian surface. Our experiments show that under conditions of varying RH, cation‐exchange reactions occur between these two potential components of the Martian regolith, producing gypsum [CaSO4·2H2O] and bassanite [CaSO4·∼0.5H2O] in the absence of free‐liquid H2O. Cation‐exchange reactions were accompanied by significant loss of porosity, warping of the sample surface and, in some cases, volume expansion. The formation of Ca sulfate minerals in these experiments provides evidence for the development of thin films of H2O at mineral surfaces and suggests that similar processes may operate at the arid surface of Mars. Humidity‐driven cation‐exchange reactions between smectites and hydrated Mg sulfate minerals may therefore play a role in shaping the present‐day Martian surface and could have provided a transient source of H2O and nutrients (e.g., major and trace elements and possibly organic micro/macronutrients) for putative microorganisms.
Rutley's Elements of Mineralogy

A local development of amygdaloidal basalt, basaltic tufts and explosion breccias which overlie the Tertiary sediments in this area of northern Italy contains relatively abundant zeolites. This nicely produced publication describes and illustrates each species, together with morphological drawings and some infra-red spectra. The commoner species are analcime, natrolite, apophyllite, calcite, celadonite and smectite, while gmelinite, heulandite, thomsonite and celestine are less common, and chabazite, erionite, stilbite, phillipsite and levyne are rare.
Cortical Tracking of Vocoded Speech Streams with a Competing Speaker Based on Attentional Selection

The perception of attended speech with multiple competing speakers has been a longstanding challenge for cochlear implant (CI) users. Since brain has the ability to automatically track attended speech with auditory selective attention, this provides an effective strategy to incorporate listeners’ intention to improve the processing of attended speech stream for CI users in competing environments. In this study, two speech streams (two stories narrated by different genders) processed by a vocoder simulating CI speech processing were concurrently presented, and the subjects were demanded to pay attention to one target stream. Four conditions at 3 dB, 0 dB, -3 dB and -6 dB target-to-masker ratios were displayed to investigate the effect of the relative intensity of a competing speaker on the cortical tracking of attended vocoded speech. The electroencephalographic responses were measured and correlated with the slow amplitude fluctuations of the speech signals via a temporal response function. Results showed that the neural responses for attended speech stimuli differed with those for unattended stimuli, indicating the possibility to use robust cortical representation of attentional modulation to classify attended and unattended vocoded speech streams.
Incremental, on-line topological map building with a mobile robot

We present a behavior-based technique for incremental on-line mapping and autonomous navigation for mobile robots, speci cally geared for time-critical indoor exploration tasks. The experimental platform used is a Pioneer AT mobile robot endowed with seven sonar transducers, a drift-stabilized gyro, a compass and a pan-tilt color camera. While the thrust of our work is the autonomous generation of real-time topological maps of the environment, both metric and topological descriptions of the environment are created in real time, each preserving its unique representational power and ease-of-use. We also present initial results on multi-robot cooperative topological mapping. The building blocks of the topological map are corridors, junctions and open/closed doors, augmented with absolute heading and metric information. Since the robot does not begin with an a priori map, all environmental features have to be evaluated at run-time to ensure safe navigation and e cient exploration. Our enhanced deadreckoning algorithm is backed up by the cyclic nature of indoor environments that provides additional hints for self-localization corrections. In addition, domain knowledge (such as perpendicular hallways) is used to actively correct maps as they are built on-line. All navigation, exploration, map building and self-localization capabilities are implemented as tightly-coupled behaviors, run by the onboard CPU.
Speleothems and climate: a special issue of The Holocene

Speleothems (cave dripstones) are formed as a part of the meteoric water cycle and therefore vari ations in their growth rate and composition reflect environmental changes on the land surface above the cave. Since they are continental deposits, and possess a remarkably accurate dating potential, using TIMS U-series techniques, speleothems are important palaeoclimatic archives for the terrestrial environment, complementing the marine and ice-core records. The climatic proxies that can be deciphered from speleothems are growth rate, stable isotope composition (d18O, d13C), organic (humic) matter and trace element composition, as well as luminescent laminae, which may display annual rhythms. The nine papers in this special issue ofThe Holocene present the latest results in palaeoclimatic analysis from speleothems.
WSBCL: Web Services Based Classloader

This paper presents a model, implementation and performance evaluation of a class loader for Java Platform entirely based on web services (WSBCL). Designed to address the needs of desktop grid computing middle wares, WSBCL can be integrated and used by any Java solution for distributed systems. This class loader allows low computational power devices to act in the role of class repository without the installation of conventional servers. The model allows devices located behind firewalls and NATs to act as class servers answering external requests.
Lava flow identification and aging by means of lidar intensity: Mount Etna case

[1] An application of light detection and ranging (lidar) intensity for the identification and mapping of different lava flows from the Mount Etna (Italy) active volcano is described. In September 2004 an airborne lidar survey was flown over summit sectors of Mount Etna. The information derived from lidar intensity values was used to compare the lava flows with respect to their age of emplacement. Analyzed lava flows vary in age between those dating prior to A.D. 1610 and those active during the survey (2004–2005 eruptions). The target-emitter distance, as well as surface roughness and texture at the lidar footprint scale, is the main parameter controlling the intensity response of lava flows. Variations in the roughness and texture of surfaces at a meter scale result from two main processes, initial lava cooling and subsequent surface weathering; both lead to variations in the original surface roughness of the flow. In summary: (1) initially, from the time of emplacement, the lidar intensity of lava flow surfaces decreases and (2) about 6 years after emplacement the lidar intensity of lava surfaces starts to increase with the age of flows. Lidar capability in terms of geometric (accuracy of ∼1 m in plan position and less than 1 m in elevation) and spectral (lidar intensity depends on surface reflection at λ = 1.064 μm) information can thus be effectively used to map lava flows and to define a relative chronology of lava emplacement.
Classification of Fundus Images For Diabetic Retinopathy using Artificial Neural Network

People with diabetes may suffer from an eye disease called Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). This is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (i.e retina). Fundus images obtained from fundus camera are often imperfect; normally are in low contrast and blurry. Hence, causing difficulty in accurately classifying diabetic retinopathy disease. This study focuses on classification of fundus image that contains with or without signs of DR and utilizes artificial neural network (NN) namely Multi-layered Perceptron (MLP) trained by Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) and Bayesian Regularization (BR) to classify the data. Nineteen features have been extracted from fundus image and used as neural network inputs for the classification. For analysis, evaluation were made using different number of hidden nodes. It is learned that MLP trained with BR provides a better classification performance with 72.11% (training) and 67.47% (testing) as compared to the use of LM. Such a finding indicates the possibility of utilizing BR for other artificial neural network model.
Spatial Patterns of Global Precipitation Change and Variability during 1901–2010

AbstractThis study examines global precipitation changes/variations during 1901–2010 by using the long-record GPCC land precipitation analysis, the NOAA/Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites (CICS) reconstructed (RECONS) precipitation analysis, and the CMIP5 outputs. In particular, spatial features of long-term precipitation changes and trends and decadal/interdecadal precipitation variations are explored by focusing on the effects of various physical mechanisms such as the anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) and aerosol forcings and certain internal oscillations including the Pacific decadal variability (PDV) and Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO). Precipitation increases in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) mid- to high-latitude lands observed in GPCC can also be found in RECONS and model simulations. Over tropical/subtropical land areas, precipitation reductions generally appear in all products, but with large discrepancies on regional scales. Over ocean, consistent spatial structures of preci.
Trade Agreements in South Asia Towards a Successful Story in the Developing World

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.