Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PolicyMiner: From Oysters to Pearls

Today, a historically unprecedented volume of data is available in the public domain with the potential of becoming useful for researchers. More than at any other time before, political parties and governments are making data available such as speeches, legislative bills and acts. However, as the size of available data increases, the need for sophisticated tools for web-harvesting and data analysis simultaneously grows. Yet, for the most part researchers who are developing these tools come from a computer science background, while researchers in the social and behavior sciences who have an interest in using such tools often lack the necessary training to apply these tools themselves.In order to provide a bridge between these two communities we propose a new tool called PolicyMiner. The objective of this tool is twofold: First, to provide a general purpose web-harvesting and data clean-up tool which can be used with relative ease by researchers with limited technical backgrounds. The second objective is to implement knowledge discovery algorithms that can be applied to textual data, such as legislative acts. With our paper we present a technical document which details the steps of data processing that have been implemented in the PolicyMiner. First, the PolicyMiner harvests the raw html data from publically available websites, such as governmental sites, and provides a unique integrated view for the data. Second, it cleans the data by removing irrelevant items, such as html tags and non-informative terms. Third, it classi es the harvested data according to a pre-de ned standard conceptual hierarchy relying on the Eurovoc thesaurus. Fourth, it applies di fferent knowledge discovery algorithms such as time series and correlation-based analysis to capture the temporal and substantive policy dependencies of the textual data across countries.
Parse tree annotations

A technique for associating rewrite rules with productions so that many high-level transformations of a source file can be generated easily is described. While eclipsed in power by other editing and compiler generation systems supporting management of both synthesized and inherited attributes, this approach is especially simple to employ and is sufficient in power to deal with a wide class of problems arising from practical applications.
Study on Detection Algorithm of DDoS Attack for Cloud Computing

In order to solve the problem of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack for cloud computing, a DDoS attack detection algorithm was proposed based on feature analysis and Kalman filter. According to the difference of the frequency of accessing the cloud servers between ordinary users and distributed denial of service attacks user, the behavioral features were used as the detection objects. The number of accessing the cloud server and the accessing behavior features computed by IP number were counted within a certain time. The linear prediction algorithm was used to predict the behavior features. Kalman filter was used to correct the prediction value. The corrected value and the prediction value were compared with each other. The value which exceeds the specified threshold was judged as the DDoS attack. Simulation result shows that the algorithm has better detection rate and lower false detection rate. It has good application value in network security defense.
The Manumeter: A Wearable Device for Monitoring Daily Use of the Wrist and Fingers

Nonobtrusive options for monitoring the wrist and hand movement are needed for stroke rehabilitation and other applications. This paper describes the “manumeter,” a device that logs total angular distance travelled by wrist and finger joints using a magnetic ring worn on the index finger and two triaxial magnetometers mounted in a watch-like unit. We describe an approach to estimate the wrist and finger joint angles using a radial basis function network that maps differential magnetometer readings to joint angles. We tested this approach by comparing manumeter estimates of total angular excursion with those from a passive goniometric exoskeleton worn simultaneously as seven participants completed a set of 12 manual tasks at low-, medium-, and high-intensity conditions on a first testing day, 1-2 days later, and 6-8 days later, using only the original calibration from the first testing day. Manumeter estimates scaled proportionally to the intensity of hand activity. Estimates of angular excursion made with the manumeter were 92.5% ± 28.4 (SD), 98.3% ± 23.3, and 94.7% ± 19.3 of the goniometric exoskeleton across the three testing days, respectively. Magnetic sensing of wrist and finger movement is nonobtrusive and can quantify the amount of use of the hand across days.
Modal characteristics of ARROW-type vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW-type) vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are designed for high-power single-mode operation. A detailed full-vector finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) study shows strong modal discrimination in favor of the fundamental mode for large aperture (>6 /spl mu/m), large index-step (/spl Delta/n>0.025) simplified ARROW-type devices. The FDTD model identifies the polarization-dependent radiation losses of the higher order modes, which prevent them from reaching laser threshold.
A team-based coevolutionary approach to multi agent learning

A vast amount of the work developed for learning the roles of agents in a multi agent team has focused on the individual. Each agent learns within a selfish reward system. In this paper, we introduce “adaptable auctions”, a cooperative, co-evolutionary mechanism in which agents learn using a team-based reward system with the goal of obtaining the best team for achieving a task in an environment that requires coordination to succeed. The agents use a simple auction mechanism to negotiate their roles dynamically. Each agent bids individually according to their perceptions. The system then chooses the best combination of bids for the team; the chosen bids may not be optimal for each individual, but the system learns to bid as a team and develops the best team-based strategy. Our test-bed is based on the RoboCup Four-Legged Soccer League, and we develop our learning algorithm in a simple, simulated version of this environment.
Replication Fitness and NS5B Drug Sensitivity of Diverse Hepatitis C Virus Isolates Characterized by Using a Transient Replication Assay

ABSTRACT The innate genetic variability characteristic of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection makes drug resistance a concern in the clinical development of HCV inhibitors. To address this, a transient replication assay was developed to evaluate the replication fitness and the drug sensitivity of NS5B sequences isolated from the sera of patients with chronic HCV infection. This novel assay directly compares replication between NS5B isolates, thus bypassing the potential sequence and metabolic differences which may arise with independent replicon cell lines. Patient-derived NS5B sequences were similar to those of the established HCV genotypes, but isolates from each patient shared genetic variability specific to that patient, with additional genetic variability observed across the individual isolates. Every sample provided functional NS5B isolates which supported subgenomic replication, frequently to levels comparable to that of laboratory-optimized replicons. All isolates were equivalently sensitive to an active-site nucleoside inhibitor, but the sensitivities to a panel of nonnucleoside inhibitors which targeted three distinct sites on NS5B varied among the isolates. In con1, the original laboratory-optimized replicon, the NS5B S282T substitution confers resistance to the nucleoside inhibitor but impairs replication. This substitution was engineered into both genotype 1a and genotype 1b isolates. Replication was severely debilitated, demonstrating that no compensatory residues were encoded within these genetically diverse sequences to increase the replication fitness of the mutated replicons. This work describes a transient replicon-based assay that can support the clinical development of compounds which target NS5B and demonstrates its utility by examining several patient-derived NS5B isolates for replication fitness and differential sensitivity to NS5B inhibitors.
A Synchronization-Based Hybrid-Memory Multi-Core Architecture for Energy-Efficient Biomedical Signal Processing

In the last decade, improvements on technology scaling have enabled the design of a novel generation of wearable bio-sensing monitors. These smart Wireless Body Sensor Nodes (WBSNs) are able to acquire and process biological signals, such as electrocardiograms, for periods of time extending from hours to days. The energy required for the on-node digital signal processing (DSP) is a crucial limiting factor in the conception of these devices. To address this design challenge, we introduce a domain-specific ultra-low power (ULP) architecture dedicated to bio-signal processing. The platform features a light-weight strategy to support different operating modes and synchronization among cores. Our approach effectively reduces the power consumption, harnessing the intrinsic parallelism and the workload requirements characterizing the target domain. Operations at low voltage levels are supported by a heterogeneous memory subsystem comprising a standard-cell based ultra-low voltage reliable partition. Experimental results show that, when executing real-world bio-signal DSP applications, a state-of-the-art multi-core architecture can improve its energy efficiency in up to 50 percent by utilizing our proposed approach, outperforming traditional single-core alternatives.
Motives of taking part in malay silat, karate-do and taekwondo

background. There are many motives for participating in sports. Three major martial art sports in Malaysia that took part in this study were Karate-do, Silat and Taekwondo. Aim. The present research evaluated the motives that encouraged different martial art to participate in sports, in order to develop sports according to each needs. Methods. The sample of this study consisted of 123 athletes, which included Malay Silat (N=57), Taekwondo (N=35) and Karatedo athletes (N=31). A 46-item questionnaire called Purpose of Sport Questionnaire designed by duda (1989) was used. Results. The result showed that the motives of Malay Silat and Taekwondo athletes were the highest in Physically Active Lifestyle. The result of this research also showed that the motive of Karate-do athletes were the highest in Social Status or getting Ahead. conclusions. Identifying the range of motives given by different martial art participants will help sports psychologists provide adequate and variety of sport programmes to maintain interest among those martial sport. focusing and development on those particular motives can encourage more people to involve in those sports. © Idōkan Poland Association “IdO MOVeMeNT fOR cULTURe. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology”, Vol. 15, no. 3 (2015), pp. 8–21 dOI: 10.14589/ido.15. 3.3
Tightly Packed: Disciplinary Power, the UNODC, and the Container Control Programme in Dakar

Abstract: This article uses the lens of disciplinary power to analyze the North–South relationships in efforts to govern drug trafficking in Senegal. Disciplinary surveillance shapes the activities of anti-trafficking units through repetitive examination, correction, and persuasion. These practices produce forms of resistance to the ways in which interdiction occurs, which implicate elites in the country. The result of constant international correction, and subsidiary actor resistance, is a frustrated law enforcement team. The argument deepens the literature on police reform in Africa, acknowledging the effects of international discipline on policing agents, while maintaining that immediate political settings heavily constrain disciplinary techniques and their internalizing effects. Résumé: Cet article se base sur le pouvoir disciplinaire pour analyser les relations Nord-Sud dans les efforts visant à gérer le trafic de drogue au Sénégal. La surveillance disciplinaire façonne les activités des groupes de lutte contre la traite à travers un contrôle répétitif, le châtiment et la persuasion. Ces pratiques produisent des formes de résistance à la manière dont l’interdiction se produit et mette en cause les élites du pays. Le résultat d’une constante condamnation internationale et la résistance à l’acteur subsidiaire forme une équipe de force de l’ordre contrarié. L’argument approfondit la littérature sur la réforme de la police en Afrique, en reconnaissant les effets de la discipline internationale sur les agents de police, tout en maintenant que les paramètres politiques immédiats contraints fortement les methodes disciplinaires et leurs effets internes.
Coat Color Variation at the Beginning of Horse Domestication

As part of the domestication process, humans appear to have selectively bred color variants of horses. Not Just Dinner on Legs Several thousand years ago, human beings realized the virtues of domesticating wild animals as easy meat. Soon other possibilities became apparent, and as revealed in a series of papers in this issue, early pastoralists became selective about breeding for wool, leather, milk, and muscle power. In two papers, Gibbs et al. report on the bovine genome sequence (p. 522; see the cover, the Perspective by Lewin, and the Policy Forum by Roberts) and trace the diversity and genetic history of cattle (p. 528), while Chessa et al. (p. 532) survey the occurrence of endogenous retroviruses in sheep and map their distribution to historical waves of human selection and dispersal across Europe. Finally, Ludwig et al. (p. 485) note the origins of variation in the coat-color of horses and suggest that it is most likely to have been selected for by humans in need of good-looking transport. The transformation of wild animals into domestic ones available for human nutrition was a key prerequisite for modern human societies. However, no other domestic species has had such a substantial impact on the warfare, transportation, and communication capabilities of human societies as the horse. Here, we show that the analysis of ancient DNA targeting nuclear genes responsible for coat coloration allows us to shed light on the timing and place of horse domestication. We conclude that it is unlikely that horse domestication substantially predates the occurrence of coat color variation, which was found to begin around the third millennium before the common era.
Statistical Inadequacy of GARCH Models for Asian Stock Markets

This study employs the Hinich portmanteau bicorrelation test (Hinich 1996; Hinich and Patterson 1995) as a diagnostic tool to determine the adequacy of Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models for eight Asian stock markets. The bicorrelation test results demonstrate that this type of model cannot provide an adequate characterisation for the underlying process of all the selected Asian stock markets. Further investigation using the windowed test procedure reveals that the violation of the covariance stationarity assumption as required by the GARCH process is due to the presence of transient epochs of dependencies in the data. The inadequacy of GARCH models has strong implications for the pricing of stock index options, portfolios selection, development of optimal hedging techniques and risk management.
Mixed-Integer Programming for QoS-Based Web Service Matchmaking

QoS-based Web service (WS) discovery has been recognized as the main solution for filtering and selecting between functionally equivalent WSs stored in registries or other types of repositories. There are two main techniques for QoS-based WS matchmaking (filtering): ontology-based and constraint programming (CP)-based. Unfortunately, the first technique is not efficient as it is based on the rather immature technology of ontology reasoning, while the second one is not accurate as it is based on syntactic QoS-based descriptions and faulty matchmaking metrics. In our previous work, we have developed an extensible and rich ontology language for QoS-based WS description. Moreover, we have devised a semantic alignment algorithm for aligning QoS-based WS descriptions so as to increase the accuracy of QoS-based WS matchmaking algorithms. Finally, we have developed two alternative CP-based QoS-based WS matchmaking algorithms: a unary-constrained and n-ary-constrained one. In this paper, we claim that mixed-integer programming (MIP) should be used as a matchmaking technique instead of CP and we provide experimental results proving it. In addition, we analyze and experimentally evaluate our matchmaking algorithms against a competing techniques one in order to demonstrate their efficiency and accuracy.
Multimodal biometric template authentication of finger vein and signature using visual cryptography

In this paper personal verification method using finger-vein and signature is presented. Among many authentication systems finger-vein is promising as the foolproof method of automatic personal identification. Finger-vein and signature image is pre-processed and features are extracted using cross number concept and principle compound analysis. Fusion technique is used to fuse the finger vein and signature images. Then the visual cryptographic scheme is applied for the biometric template to generate the shares. The shares are stored in a separate database, and then the biometric image is revealed only when both the shares are simultaneously available. At the same time, the individual image does not reveal the identity of the biometric image. The proposed work is evaluated with evaluation metrics FAR, FRR and accuracy.
Contribution of Lung Macrophages to the Inflammatory Responses Induced by Exposure to Air Pollutants

Large population cohort studies have indicated an association between exposure to particulate matter and cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. The inhalation of toxic environmental particles and gases impacts the innate and adaptive defense systems of the lung. Lung macrophages play a critically important role in the recognition and processing of any inhaled foreign material such as pathogens or particulate matter. Alveolar macrophages and lung epithelial cells are the predominant cells that process and remove inhaled particulate matter from the lung. Cooperatively, they produce proinflammatory mediators when exposed to atmospheric particles. These mediators produce integrated local (lung, controlled predominantly by epithelial cells) and systemic (bone marrow and vascular system, controlled predominantly by macrophages) inflammatory responses. The systemic response results in an increase in the release of leukocytes from the bone marrow and an increased production of acute phase proteins from the liver, with both factors impacting blood vessels and leading to destabilization of existing atherosclerotic plaques. This review focuses on lung macrophages and their role in orchestrating the inflammatory responses induced by exposure to air pollutants.
People over process: key people challenges in agile development

There is a common perception that, while there may be some ‘teething’ problems experienced during the initial transition to agile, people are much happier, engaged and ultimately more productive in these environments. This study shows that this belief may not always hold true, identifying many serious ‘people’ challenges experienced by 17 large multinational organisations, all using agile for more than three years. The cases provide an interesting insight in that they involve instances where agile was implemented in a top-down manner across the organisations or at least across business units. This is in contrast to most accounts of agile which involve voluntary, bottom up adoption on small co-located teams developing systems deemed to be suitable for agile development. The people issues uncovered include a broad range of problems from recruitment of agile staff, to training, motivation and performance evaluation among others. The paper will conclude with a set of actionable recommendations as to how organisations can overcome these challenges, based on the better practices uncovered in the cases studied.
Toward Mapping the Detailed Density Structure of Classical Be Circumstellar Disks

The first results from a near-contemporaneous optical and infrared spectroscopic observing program designed to probe the detailed density structure of classical Be circumstellar disks are presented. We report the discovery of asymmetrical infrared emission lines of He I, O I, Fe II, and the Brackett, Paschen, and Pfund series lines of H I that exhibit an opposite V/R orientation (V > R) to that observed for the optical Balmer Hα line (V < R) in the classical Be star ζ Tau. We interpret these data as evidence that the density wave that characterizes ζ Tau's disk has a significantly different average azimuthal morphology in the inner disk region as compared to the outer disk region. A follow-up multiwavelength observational campaign to trace the temporal evolution of these line profile morphologies, along with detailed theoretical modeling, is suggested to test this hypothesis.
Under Review as a Conference Paper at Iclr 2017 Delving into Transferable Adversarial Ex- Amples and Black-box Attacks

An intriguing property of deep neural networks is the existence of adversarial examples, which can transfer among different architectures. These transferable adversarial examples may severely hinder deep neural network-based applications. Previous works mostly study the transferability using small scale datasets. In this work, we are the first to conduct an extensive study of the transferability over large models and a large scale dataset, and we are also the first to study the transferability of targeted adversarial examples with their target labels. We study both non-targeted and targeted adversarial examples, and show that while transferable non-targeted adversarial examples are easy to find, targeted adversarial examples generated using existing approaches almost never transfer with their target labels. Therefore, we propose novel ensemble-based approaches to generating transferable adversarial examples. Using such approaches, we observe a large proportion of targeted adversarial examples that are able to transfer with their target labels for the first time. We also present some geometric studies to help understanding the transferable adversarial examples. Finally, we show that the adversarial examples generated using ensemble-based approaches can successfully attack Clarifai.com, which is a black-box image classification system.
Brown dwarfs and the cataclysmic variable period minimum

ABSTRA C T Using improved, up-to-date stellar input physics tested against observations of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, we calculate the secular evolution of low-mass donor cataclysmic variables (CVs), including those that form with a brown-dwarf donor. Our models confirm the mismatch between the calculated minimum period OPmin . 70 minU and the observed short-period cut-offO. 80 minU in the CV period histogram. We find that tidal and rotational corrections applied to the one-dimensional stellar structure equations have no significant effect on the period minimum. Theoretical period distributions synthesized from our model sequences always show an accumulation of systems at the minimum period, a feature absent from the observed distribution. We suggest that non-magnetic CVs become unobservable as they are effectively trapped in permanent quiescence before they reach Pmin, and that smallnumber statistics may hide the period spike for magnetic CVs.