Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
I like it – An Affective Interface for a Multimodal Museum Guide

The optimal multimedia tourist guide should support strong personalization of all the information provided in a museum in an effort to ensure that each visitor be allowed to accommodate and interpret the visit according to his own pace and interests. We claim that an interaction based on expressing affective attitude may improve usability of an interface in particular when, like in museums, the technology should not hinder the “real” experience. In this paper, we discuss an affective interface based on the explicit signal of interest to guide the amount of details presented about the museum exhibits. We discuss an initial design, two user studies and a second design that is better understood by the user.
Design of flight control system in compliance with fling and handling quality requirements

 The un-augmented open loop 6-DOF Aerosonde exhibits poor stability and control characteristics in compliance with MIL-F8785C flying quality standards.  As in most classical fixed wing aircrafts, the control inputs to Aerosonde result in pitch, roll and yaw rate responses (rate command characteristics). This has made manual trimming of the UAV, at a given flight condition, with a human pilot-operator closing the loop, a daunting task.
Course evaluation in e-learning by a comparative analysis of two or more e-learning courses

This paper presents an overview of quality and usability evaluation in e-learning. At the same time, it shows a method for evaluating e-courses by comparing the attributes of two (or more) e-courses using a detailed checklist. In this empirical study, several groups of students evaluated two e-courses with an evaluation survey consisting of a large set of quality and usability related attributes. The results of the evaluation indicated that this kind of comparative analyses of e-course attributes can increase the insight of designers and evaluators regarding the elements of e-courses that need improvement. Furthermore, the use of comparative analysis provides a more qualitative view if selected attributes of two e-courses are inspected side by side after a quantitative analysis of the results of evaluation with a survey. However, it was also found that the results of students’ surveys are partly dependent on the context and modality of such comparative evaluation.
Data Minining : A Path for Effective Counseling and Course Selection

Data mining technologies are used to discover the hidden information from the varying data sets. Data mining methodologies are broadly used in various real life business applications like Banking, Insurance, Medicine, Fraud detection, Product retailing, Security systems etc. data mining methods are used in business process optimization and control. Data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and associations in large data sets. The synchronization between data warehousing and data mining allows the information seekers to improve the quality and effectiveness of their decisions. The biggest challenge in professional education is predicting the paths of students and alumni. Institutions would like to know that which students will enroll in particular course programs, and which students will need assistance in order to graduate. One way to effectively address these student and alumni challenges is through the analysis and presentation of data, or data mining. Data mining enables organizations to use their current reporting capabilities to uncover and understand hidden patterns in vast databases. The patterns are then built into data mining models and used to predict individual behavior with high accuracy. KeywordsData Mining, knowledge management, audio, genetic algorithms, Pattern, Data mining models.
Resource use efficiency of closed plant production system with artificial light: Concept, estimation and application to plant factory

Extensive research has recently been conducted on plant factory with artificial light, which is one type of closed plant production system (CPPS) consisting of a thermally insulated and airtight structure, a multi-tier system with lighting devices, air conditioners and fans, a CO2 supply unit, a nutrient solution supply unit, and an environment control unit. One of the research outcomes is the concept of resource use efficiency (RUE) of CPPS. This paper reviews the characteristics of the CPPS compared with those of the greenhouse, mainly from the viewpoint of RUE, which is defined as the ratio of the amount of the resource fixed or held in plants to the amount of the resource supplied to the CPPS. It is shown that the use efficiencies of water, CO2 and light energy are considerably higher in the CPPS than those in the greenhouse. On the other hand, there is much more room for improving the light and electric energy use efficiencies of CPPS. Challenging issues for CPPS and RUE are also discussed.
Molecular and phylogenetic analyses reveal mammalian-like clockwork in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and shed new light on the molecular evolution of the circadian clock.

The circadian clock of the honey bee is implicated in ecologically relevant complex behaviors. These include time sensing, time-compensated sun-compass navigation, and social behaviors such as coordination of activity, dance language communication, and division of labor. The molecular underpinnings of the bee circadian clock are largely unknown. We show that clock gene structure and expression pattern in the honey bee are more similar to the mouse than to Drosophila. The honey bee genome does not encode an ortholog of Drosophila Timeless (Tim1), has only the mammalian type Cryptochrome (Cry-m), and has a single ortholog for each of the other canonical "clock genes. " In foragers that typically have strong circadian rhythms, brain mRNA levels of amCry, but not amTim as in Drosophila, consistently oscillate with strong amplitude and a phase similar to amPeriod (amPer) under both light-dark and constant darkness illumination regimes. In contrast to Drosophila, the honey bee amCYC protein contains a transactivation domain and its brain transcript levels oscillate at virtually an anti-phase to amPer, as it does in the mouse. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the basal insect lineage had both the mammalian and Drosophila types of Cry and Tim. Our results suggest that during evolution, Drosophila diverged from the ancestral insect clock and specialized in using a set of clock gene orthologs that was lost by both mammals and bees, which in turn converged and specialized in the other set. These findings illustrate a previously unappreciated diversity of insect clockwork and raise critical questions concerning the evolution and functional significance of species-specific variation in molecular clockwork.
School Climate and Public High School Student Achievement

The goal of this study was to examine the influence of school ecology, milieu, social system, and culture on public high school student achievement. Utilized data from the ELS:2002 restricted-use dataset, a series of multilevel model analyses were conducted. The results indicate that performance gaps exist between 12th-graders of different ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds, but they are merely reflections of the differences that already existed two years prior in 10th-grade. Further, the gap between high and low achieving students becomes narrower from 10th-grade to 12th-grade. The highest mathematics course taken in 12-grade produces a positive estimate of mathematics achievement in 12th-grade, and ethnic minority and lower SES students are less likely to be enrolled in the advanced level courses. Contradicting to the classic view of school influences on achievement, public high schools exhibit relatively little variability in mathematics performance after controlling for student individual characteristics. Among all school climate variables, school average prior mathematics achievement is significantly positively associated with later mathematics achievement. The nonsignificance of contextual effect, however, suggests that the differences across schools do not matter; rather, the differences among students do. Students in schools locating in economically disadvantaged communities make more gains in advanced mathematics course-taking than their peers in more affluent schools.
Duration and Duration Uncertainty of Trade Agreements: The Case of AGOA

In this paper, we tried to highlight all the kinds of temporal uncertainties that AGOA creates on the eligible countries. With a dynamic model in presence of technologic transfers and irreversibility of investments, we found that long run uncertainty has a negative impact not only on investment decisions but also on wages and on others sides of economy. In addition, when we coupled short run and long run uncertainties, we found that these effects are more horrendous. After running our simulations, we have put forward the following hypothesis, a suppression of short run uncertainty is the optimal framework to enhance the efficiency of AGOA on the eligible countries.
Economic Valuation for Sustainable Development in the Swedish Coastal Zone

Abstract The Swedish coastal zone is a scene of conflicting interests about various goods and services provided by nature. Open-access conditions and the public nature of many services increase the difficulty in resolving these conflicts. “Sustainability” is a vague but widely accepted guideline for finding reasonable trade-offs between different interests. The UN view of sustainable development suggests that coastal zone management should aim at a sustainable ecological, economic, and social-cultural development. Looking closer at economic sustainability, it is observed that economic analyses about whether changes in society imply a gain or a loss should take into account the economic value of the environment. Methods used for making such economic valuation in the context of the Swedish coastal zone are briefly reviewed. It is noted that the property rights context matters for the results of a valuation study. This general background is followed by a concise presentation of the design and results of four valuation studies on Swedish coastal zone issues. One study is on the economic value of an improved bathing water quality in the Stockholm archipelago. The other studies are a travel cost study about the economic value of improved recreational fisheries in the Stockholm archipelago, a replacement cost study on the value of restoring habitats for sea trout, and a choice experiment study on the economic value of improved water quality along the Swedish westcoast.
Coding gain of FEC encoded 21.42Gb/s RZ/DQPSK using an electrical differential quaternary precoder

We report a measured gross coding gain of 6.8 dB for 21.42 Gb/s RZ-DQPSK using standard FEC in combination with differential precoding. Furthermore we show that RZ-DQPSK has approximately a 2 dB higher FEC coding gain than RZ-DPSK. (2 pages)
Improved LMS-type adaptive filtering algorithms using a new maximum eigenvalue bound estimation scheme

This paper proposes a new recursive scheme for estimating the maximum eigenvalue bound for autocorrelation matrices and its application to the stepsize selection in least mean squares (LMS)-type adaptive filters. This scheme is developed from the Gershgorin circle theorem and the recursive nature of estimating the correlation matrix. The bound of the maximum eigenvalue of a L × L correlation matrix can be recursively estimated in O(L) arithmetic complexity. Applying this new recursive estimate to the stepsize selection of LMS-type algorithms, the problem of over-estimating the maximum eigenvalue bound and hence the under-estimation of the stepsize in the conventional trace estimator is ameliorated. This significantly improves the transient convergence and tracking speed of LMS-type algorithms. To lower the extra steady state error caused by the use of bigger stepsizes, an effective switching mechanism is designed and incorporated into the proposed algorithms so that a smaller stepsize can be invoked near the steady state. The superior performance of the proposed algorithms is verified by numerical and computer simulations.
PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING AS A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING TEACHERS’ EFFECTIVENESS: OPINION OF STAKEHOLDERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

In an effort to explore possible ways of improving teacher professional practice in Nigerian schools, this study sought to determine the opinion of teachers and parents of students on a proposal to introduce performance contracting in the Nigerian school system. Performance contracting is synonymous with pay-for-performance, performance-based-pay, merit-pay, and differentiated pay. The study was guided by 3 research questions and 2 hypotheses. 300 teachers and 300 parents purposively selected from literate ones, constituted the subjects for the study. The instrument for data collection was a 10 -item questionnaire constructed by the researcher and validated by competent and teachers’ lectures. The questionnaire requested respondents to indicate their preference for any of the 10 suggested compensation options they would want to be introduced into the Nigeria schools system. The reliability of the instrument was 0.95 using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. In addition to the questionnaire 2, free-response questions were posed to the respondents to determine their news on the pay-for-performance proposal and the reasons for views. Data were collected from the teachers and parents, and analyzed using means and standard deviations for the research questions and Z-test for the hypotheses. Results showed that all the teachers disagreed with the proposal to introduce all the 10 options while all parents wanted all the ten to be introduced. The results further showed that the more and less experienced teachers did not differ in their negative opinion about the proposal. Respondents expressed their opinions freely. Recommendations were made accordingly. Article visualizations:
Channel Capacity of 60 GHz Wireless Communication Systems over Indoor Line-of-Sight and Non-Line-of-Sight Channels

This paper calculates the channel capacity of 60GHz wireless communication systems over indoor line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) channels based on a 60GHz link budget model. The SNR and therefore capacity varying according to the communication distance are researched. The simulation result shows that the channel capacity falls sharply as distance increasing, especially in NLOS channel. The ideal communication distance of 60GHz wireless communication system is less than 20m in indoor NLOS channel and less than 100m in indoor LOS channel.
Toward a Competitive Pakistan: The Role of Industrial Policy

This paper’s basic premise is that an improvement in Pakistan’s export performance is crucial to raising economic growth. After examining the reasons generally given for Pakistan’s poor export performance, we conclude that the country’s very slow productivity growth was the single most important factor that hurt competitiveness. We argue that a coherent and articulated industrial policy is required to overcome this disadvantage. While the experience of the East Asian economies offers useful lessons, Pakistan’s policy must accord with its own conditions, which are, in many ways, different. The formulation of industrial policy should involve key stakeholders, particularly the private sector. The paper identifies certain factors that should underpin the new industrial policy, notably the changed basis of international specialization and rules governing world trade.
Requirements for Electronic Commerce Applications are Created Rather than Elicited

Electronic commerce applications are a challenging new class of information systems. Due to the everincreasing technical possibilities, new, yet undiscovered ways of doing business are possible. Therefore, requirements for e-commerce systems can hardly be elicited but instead need to be created because elicitation requires a dormant view of users on requirements. Also, E-commerce systems are, in contrast to other information systems, an intrinsic part of the product or service a company offers to others. Therefore, developing the business model, which represents the offering, and defining the requirements for a supporting e-commerce system, is not a sequential process and, neither can it be done in a decoupled way. Current requirements engineering methodology does not support requirements creation nor deals with information system requirements as an intrinsic part of developing business models. We outline a structured approach to e-commerce requirements creation called e-VALUE. This approach identifies three views to be developed: (1) the e-business model view, (2) the e-business process view and (3), the esoftware architecture view. We discuss the e-business model view in more detail and discuss a more formal way to represent business models. In our interpretation of ‘business model’, the notion of value is a central theme. We illustrate our e-VALUE by presenting an experience report.
International Development of Librarianship and Information Science Education and the Role of Research

This paper considers the role of research in international development programmes. It considers the activities that have been undertaken to establish and develop Schools of Librarianship and Information Science, and some of possible reasons why many have failed to develop once the external support was terminated. It notes that the development of a research profile rarely featured in previous activities, and contrasts this with other disciplines in which the research capacity has made university departments critical to social and economic progress. It notes the real and imaginary obstacles to research and to international cooperation, and outlines the benefits to individuals and institutions of engaging in this type of international collaborative research. Finally, it urges a combined effort to take advantage of the current global interest in information transfer to persuade the development agencies to support research efforts in the applications of librarianship and information sciences.
Domain analysis: an introduction

The objective of this paper is to provide a brief introduction to the area of domain analysis as seen from the software engineering perspective. The approach is by illustrating the concepts through selected reported experiences and to point out the specific characteristics of these experiences that relate to domain analysis. Definitions are introduced after the examples to avoid over explaining the concepts. A model for the domain analysis process is also proposed. The concept of a library based domain infrastructure is introduced as an attempt to show how domain analysis is integrated into the software development process.A second objective in this paper is to give a perspective on some of the research issues facing domain analysis. The nature of the process calls for a variety of multidiciplinary issues ranging from knowledge acquisition and knowledge representation to management and methodologies to cultural and social questions.
An Improved Algorithm of 3GPP MBMS Raptor Codes

In this paper, an improved Raptor decoding algorithm of 3GPP MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast /Multicast Services)standard is presented. Compared with the algorithm suggested in 3GPP, the improved algorithm adds preprocessing in the generator matrix. The simulation results demonstrate that the algorithm presented in the paper greatly improves the decoding speed of Raptor code rather than the standard algorithm.
Optimal Distribution Reconfiguration and Demand Management within Practical Operational Constraints

This dissertation focuses on specific aspects of the technical design and operation of a ‘smart’ distribution system incorporating new technology in the design process. The main purpose of this dissertation is to propose new algorithms in order to achieve a more reliable and economic distribution system. First, a general approach based on Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) is proposed to formulate the reconfiguration problem for a radial/weakly meshed distribution network or restoration following a fault. Two objectives considered in this study are to minimize the active power loss, and to minimize the number of switching operations with respect to operational constraints, such as power balance, line flow limits, voltage limit, and radiality of the network. The latter is the most challenging issue in solving the problem by MIP. A novel approach based on Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithm is implemented to avoid cycles and loops in the system. Due to insufficient measurements and high penetration of controllable loads and renewable resources, reconfiguration with deterministic optimization may not lead to an optimal/feasible result. Therefore, two different methods are proposed to solve the reconfiguration problem in presence of load uncertainty. Second, a new pricing algorithm for residential load participation in demand response program is proposed. The objective is to reduce the cost to the utility company while mitigating the impact on customer satisfaction. This is an iterative approach in which residents and energy supplier exchange information on consumption and price. The prices as well as appliance schedule for the residential customers will be
MANGEMENT OF BIPOLAR DISORDER (BD) TROUGH MEDICATION AT PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITAL IN LAHORE

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness where changes in brain functions transform normal emotions/sentiments to dramatic mood swing between mania and depression. Severity in mood swing may lead to impair normal functioning at work, at school and in relationships etc. The common interventions for management for bipolar disorder include medication, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as per need of patient. This observational study was carried out on 40 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder at Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), Lahore. The main aims included, evaluation of the rationality of prescribing/use of medicines and patient – health care provider’s interaction. The results indicated that three mood stabilizers, namely, Sodium Valproate (55% patients), Carbamazepine (27.50%patients), Lithium (5% patients) and combination of two mood stabilizer (5% patients) were prescribed /used. The combination of the antipsychotic, mood stabilizer and benzodiazepines was the main treatment regimen of bipolar disorder (85% Patients) in PIMH. Non-compliance/adherence was the vital issue in about 62.5% patient. 67.5% relapse was a big issue in BD at PIMH. The effective patient – health care provider’s interaction was practically non-existent. Neither pharmaceutical care practiced nor the pharmacists were involved in drug use process. PIMH, Lahore is a blessing for poor people of Pakistan, but authorities need to rationalize management of BD for best interest of patient as well as society.
Automatic cue-enhancement of natural speech for improved intelligibility.

In previous work, ‘cue-enhancement’ was found to significantly increase the intelligibility of speech in noise. However, the practical application of the technique was limited by the fact that the regions of the speech signal to be enhanced needed to be manually labelled. The principal aim of this project was therefore to automate the identification and enhancement of ‘landmark’ regions containing a high density of acoustic cues and to demonstrate improvements in intelligibility at least equal to that obtained for manually-enhanced materials. We have implemented a technique for automatic cue-enhancement via the automatic identification of potential enhancement regions (PERs), and evaluated intelligibility for automatically-enhanced speech, relative to natural or manually-enhanced speech. Little loss in intelligibility was seen between the manually-tagged and automaticallyenhanced materials. However, there was little evidence of statistically-significant improvements as a result of the enhancements. This may have been due in part to the fact that amplification levels across consonantal regions had to be standardised, due to the limitations of the automatic tagging.