Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behind the scenes of the BPMN extension mechanism principles, problems and options for improvement

The Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is a standard for modeling business processes that is widely used and accepted both in academia and industry due to its well-defined meta model, its large set of concepts and its extensibility. BPMN is one of very few modeling languages that provides an integrated extension mechanism. However, the mechanism is not often implemented in research articles or in professional practice. We suppose, that both syntactical and methodical aspects within the BPMN extension mechanism may cause misunderstandings and uncertainty regarding its implementation. Therefore, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the extension mechanism in order to rationally figure out problematic aspects. These aspects are consolidated and compared to two existing BPMN extension methods. Based on that, a range of further research topics is finally derived.
The Gluteus Medius Vs. Thigh Muscles Strength Ratio and Their Relation to Electromyography Amplitude During a Farmer’s Walk Exercise

Abstract The strength ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps (H/Q) is associated with knee injuries as well as hip abductor muscle (HAB) weakness. Sixteen resistance trained men (age, 32.5 ± 4.2 years) performed 5 s maximal isometric contractions at 75° of knee flexion/extension and 15° of hip abduction on a dynamometer. After this isometric test they performed a Farmer´s walk exercise to find out if the muscle strength ratio predicted the electromyography amplitude expressed as a percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). The carried load represented a moderate intensity of 75% of the exercise six repetitions maximum (6RM). Electromyography data from the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF) and gluteus medius (Gmed) on each leg were collected during the procedure. The groups selected were participants with H/Q ≥ 0.5, HQ < 0.5, HAB/H ≥ 1, HAB/H < 1, HAB/Q ≥ 0.5 and HAB/Q < 0.5. One way ANOVA showed that Gmed activity was significantly greater in the group with HAB/H < 1 (42 ± 14 %MVIC) as compared to HAB/H ≥ 1 (26 ± 10 %MVIC) and HAB/Q < 0.5 (47 ± 19 %MVIC) compared to HAB/Q ≥ 0.5 (26 ± 12 %MVIC). The individuals with HAB/H < 1 were found to have greater activation of their Gmed during the Farmer’s walk exercise. Individuals with HAB/Q < 0.5 had greater activation of the Gmed. Gmed strength ratios predict the muscle involvement when a moderate amount of the external load is used. The Farmer’s walk is recommended as an exercise which can strengthen the gluteus medius, especially for individuals with a HAB/H ratio < 1 and HAB/Q < 0.5.
Implementing Multi-Viewer Stereo Displays

In this paper we describe our implementations of multi-user stereo systems based on shuttered LCD-projectors and polarization. The combination of these separation techniques allows the presentation of more than one stereoscopic view on a single projection screen. We built two shutter configurations and designed a combined LC-shutter/polarization setup. Our first test setup was a combination of mechanical shutters for the projectors with liquid crystal (LC) shutters for the users’ eyes. The second configuration used LC-shutters only. Based on these configurations we have successfully implemented shuttering of four projectors to support two users with individual perspectively correct stereoscopic views. To improve brightness conditions and to increase the number of simultaneous users, we have designed a combined LC-shutter/polarization filter based projection system, which shows the most promising properties for real world applications.
Anonymous Alone? Measuring Bitcoin’s Second-Generation Anonymization Techniques

This paper contributes a systematic account of transaction anonymization techniques that do not require trust in a single entity and support the existing cryptographic currency Bitcoin. It surveys and compares four known techniques, proposes tailored metrics to identify the use of each technique (but not necessarily its users), and presents longitudinal measurements indicating adoption trends and teething troubles. There is a tradeoff between the choice of users' preferred protection mechanisms and the risk that pertaining transactions can be singled out, which hurts privacy due to smaller anonymity sets unless a critical mass adopts the mechanism.
Panic-driven event detection from surveillance video stream without track and motion features

Modern surveillance systems are becoming highly automated in terms of scene understanding and event detection capabilities, and most existing methods rely on track-and motion-based features for event classification and anomaly detection. However, trajectory-based methods fail in public scenarios due to frequently loosing the object tracks, while the capabilities of motion-based methods are limited in detection of direction and velocity related anomalies. In this paper, a novel feature extraction and event detection method is presented without using any track and motion features where event discriminating characteristics are discovered from the dynamics of multiple temporal features extracted from foreground blobs and then confined in support vector machine based models for real-time event detection. Experimental results on benchmark datasets show that the proposed method can successfully discriminate panic-driven events like sudden split, runaway, and fighting from usual events.
Optimisation for energy reduction of aerial backhauled networks based on cluster aggregation

We present a method to define a clustering of terminals connected to a backhauled network provided by aerial platforms, such as drones or balloons. Our novel optimization method optimizes the choice of clusters. We reduce the former energy consumption achieved by the state of the art. We manage to formulate this problem as an explicit linear optimization program. Thus, by decomposing the energy consumption into a constant and a variable part, we obtain an energy reduction of the variable part from 20% up to almost 50%, when compared with the best known method. We prove that we reach the best lower bound in term of energy consumption. Our method performs 10% to 90% of energy saving compared to an unclustered network.
Sensitivity of MRI Tumor Biomarkers to VEGFR Inhibitor Therapy in an Orthotopic Mouse Glioma Model

MRI biomarkers of tumor edema, vascular permeability, blood volume, and average vessel caliber are increasingly being employed to assess the efficacy of tumor therapies. However, the dependence of these biomarkers on a number of physiological factors can compromise their sensitivity and complicate the assessment of therapeutic efficacy. Here we examine the response of these MRI tumor biomarkers to cediranib, a potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor, in an orthotopic mouse glioma model. A significant increase in the tumor volume and relative vessel caliber index (rVCI) and a slight decrease in the water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were observed for both control and cediranib treated animals. This contrasts with a clinical study that observed a significant decrease in tumor rVCI, ADC and volume with cediranib therapy. While the lack of a difference between control and cediranib treated animals in these biomarker responses might suggest that cediranib has no therapeutic benefit, cediranib treated mice had a significantly increased survival. The increased survival benefit of cediranib treated animals is consistent with the significant decrease observed for cediranib treated animals in the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), relative microvascular blood volume (rMBV), transverse relaxation time (T2), blood vessel permeability (Ktrans), and extravascular-extracellular space (νe). The differential response of pre-clinical and clinical tumors to cediranib therapy, along with the lack of a positive response for some biomarkers, indicates the importance of evaluating the whole spectrum of different tumor biomarkers to properly assess the therapeutic response and identify and interpret the therapy-induced changes in the tumor physiology.
Evidence for defect pairs in SiON pMOSFETs

Detailed time-dependent defect spectroscopy (TDDS) studies have recently demonstrated that recovery following negative bias temperature stress in MOSFETs is to good approximation consistent with a collection of independent (effective) first-order reactions. While the data are largely consistent with the first-order picture, several `anomalies' such as switching traps and disappearing/reappearing traps have already been identified and analyzed. Here, we focus on a newly made observation, namely that emission events apparently belonging to a single defect can in fact be composed of two subsequent emission events if the device is stressed for a long enough time. We analyze this peculiarity as a function of bias and temperature and conclude that it is most likely due to a pair of defects which for some reason have similar configurations and thus similar properties.
L'impact des pratiques de SCM sur la performance de l'entreprise: une étude empirique dans le contexte français

Although there exists numerous studies trying to connect Supply Chain Management (SCM) and the development of a competitive advantage, these studies are most of the time both incomplete and disparate. The purpose of this article is first to clarify the underlying dimensions of SCM (or SCM practices) and then to empirically test the relationship between SCM practices and performance, using a regression analysis. Thus this article tests the impact of 3 SCM practices on 8 different performance metrics, both financial and non financial. Our results show that SCM practices determine performance in different ways and at different levels, both considering the type of practices and the type of performance indicators used.
An Overview of Endogenous Growth Models: Theory and Critique

The inability of neoclassical growth model in explaining long run economic growth is due to the existence of diminishing returns in capital. Therefore endogenous growth theory that models long run economic growth through technological transfers is necessitated. By reason of the obvious complex nature of modeling, the paper focuses on the intuition that the Endogenous Growth Model endeavors to capture. Thus, the paper provides to the reader, a non-technical overview and critique of the endogenous growth model, key literature in the study of the mechanism of the model as well as providing important references. The intended audiences are policy makers and analysts, students and optimistically anyone without a great deal of economic training.
Magnesium supplementation and test anxiety Oral Magnesium Supplementation and Test Anxiety in University Undergraduates

Magnesium (Mg++) has significant potential in the treatment of test anxiety. This study assessed the possibility that oral Mg++ could reduce test anxiety, through the reversal of stress-induced hypomagnesic states that dysregulate the autonomic stress response. Each participant completed two measures of anxiety, and received a five-day course of oral Mg++ (300 mg/day) or matched placebo before the beginning of final exams. Before their first exam, each participant completed the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory. The level of self-reported anxiety before final exams did not differ between the placebo and Mg++ groups (p = 0.69). A number of possible factors could have produced this result, and future research needs to be conducted to determine the specific cause of this finding. Journal of Articles in Support of the Null Hypothesis Vol. 11, No. 2 Copyright 2015 by Reysen Group. 1539-8714 www.jasnh. com
Quantum turbulence—from superfluid helium to atomic Bose–Einstein condensates

This paper reviews recent developments in the physics of quantum turbulence (QT). QT was discovered in superfluid 4He in the 1950s, while the research has taken a new direction since the middle of the 1990s. QT is comprised of quantized vortices that are definite topological defects and expected to give a prototype of turbulence much simpler than usual classical turbulence. We give a general introduction and brief review of classical turbulence followed by a description of the dynamics of quantized vortices. After mentioning the modern research trends in QT, we discuss the energy spectra, the energy cascade and the possible dissipation mechanism of QT at very low temperatures. The last part is devoted to QT in atomic Bose–Einstein condensates.
Sodium channel activation in the squid giant axon. Steady state properties

Treatment of giant axons from the squid, Loligo pealei, with pronase removes Na channel inactivation. It was found that the peak Na current is increased, but the activation kinetics are not significantly altered, by pronase. Measurements of the fraction of open channels as a function of voltage (F-V) showed an e-folding at 7 mV and a center point near -15 mV. The rate of e-folding implies that a minimum of 4 e- /channel must cross the membrane field to open the channel. The charge vs. voltage (Q-V) curve measured in a pronase-treated axon is not significantly different from that measured when inactivation is intact: approximately 1,850 e-/micron2 were measured over the voltage range - 150 to 50 mV, and the center point was near -30 mV. Normalizing these two curves (F-V and Q-V) and plotting them together reveals that they cross when inactivation is intact but saturate together when inactivation is removed. This illustrates the error one makes when measuring peak conductance with intact inactivation and interpreting that to be the fraction of open channels. A model is described that was used to interpret these results. In the model, we propose that inactivation must be slightly voltage dependent and that an interaction occurs between the inactivating particle and the gating charge. A linear sequence of seven states (a single open state with six closed states) is sufficient to describe the data presented here for Na channel activation in pronase-treated axons.
Finite Case Series or Infinite Single-case Studies? Comments on Schwartz & Dell in Cognitive Neuropsychology, 2010

Matthew A. Lambon Ralph1, Karalyn Patterson2,3 and David C. Plaut4 1 Neuroscience & Aphasia Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester (UK) 2 Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge and 3MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK 4 Department of Psychology and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University (USA)
Cultural Issues and Opportunities in Computing Education

In this paper, we present an argument about why cultural issues need to be included in Computing curricula. We briefly discuss some of the literature in cultural issues and identify how it is related to diff erent areas of computing. Then we identify opportunities in CC2001 that allow the inclusion of cultural discussions in our courses.
On Finding and Updating Spanning Trees and Shortest Paths

We consider one origin shortest path and minimum spanning tree computations in weighted graphs. We give a lower bound on the number of analytic functions of the input computed by a tree program which solves either of these problems equal to half the number of worst-case comparisons which well-known algorithms attain. We consider the work necessary to update spanning tree and shortest path solutions when the graph is altered after the computation has terminated. Optimal or near-optimal algorithms are attained for the cases considered. The most notable result is that a spanning tree solution can be updated in $O(n)$ when a new node is added to an n-node graph whose minimum spanning tree is known.
English Placement Test As A Predictor of Academic Performance Among ESL Undergraduate Students

In Malaysia, there is requirement for undergraduate students to sit for MUET before they enroll in a degree program, which, is not imposed on students who are pursuing for a diploma program. The study investigated the relationship between English proficiency test and ESL undergraduates’ academic performance. This study was conducted in a local private college in Kuala Lumpur. Participants comprised of students who had completed their pre-diploma program. Correlation coefficient analysis, Expectancy Table, and Scatter plot were used to analyze data. The findings of the study indicated there is a correlation between English proficiency and the core subjects of prediploma program. This study thus, point out the importance of English proficiency test for prediploma students. Keyword: English Proficiency Test, Academic Performance, ESL undergraduates
Robust Beamforming Against DoA Mismatch Using Subspace-Constrained Diagonal Loading

In this study, a new subspace-constrained diagonal loading (SSC-DL) method is presented for robust beamforming against the issue of a mismatched direction of arrival (DoA), based on an extension to the well known diagonal loading (DL) technique. One important difference of the proposed SSC-DL from conventional DL is that it imposes an additional constraint to restrict the optimal weight vector within a subspace whose basis vectors are determined by a number of angles neighboring to the assumed DoA. Unlike many existing methods which resort to a beamwidth expansion, the weight vector produced by SSC-DL has a relatively small beamwidth around the DoA of the target signal. Yet, the SSC-DL beamformer has a great interference suppression level, thereby achieving an improved overall SINR performance. Simulation results suggest the proposed method has a near-to-optimal SINR performance.
Quantitative dissection of hydrogen bond-mediated proton transfer in the ketosteroid isomerase active site

Significance Hydrogen bond networks play critical structural and functional roles in proteins but have been challenging to study within this complex environment. We incorporated spectroscopic probes into the active site of the bacterial enzyme ketosteroid isomerase to systematically dissect the proton transfer equilibrium within a key hydrogen bond network formed to bound transition state analogs. Our study provides direct insight into the physical and energetic properties of a hydrogen bond network within an enzyme and presents a simple computational model of electrostatic effects within this protein that succeeds due to detailed knowledge of ionization states and a tightly controlled experimental system. Hydrogen bond networks are key elements of protein structure and function but have been challenging to study within the complex protein environment. We have carried out in-depth interrogations of the proton transfer equilibrium within a hydrogen bond network formed to bound phenols in the active site of ketosteroid isomerase. We systematically varied the proton affinity of the phenol using differing electron-withdrawing substituents and incorporated site-specific NMR and IR probes to quantitatively map the proton and charge rearrangements within the network that accompany incremental increases in phenol proton affinity. The observed ionization changes were accurately described by a simple equilibrium proton transfer model that strongly suggests the intrinsic proton affinity of one of the Tyr residues in the network, Tyr16, does not remain constant but rather systematically increases due to weakening of the phenol–Tyr16 anion hydrogen bond with increasing phenol proton affinity. Using vibrational Stark spectroscopy, we quantified the electrostatic field changes within the surrounding active site that accompany these rearrangements within the network. We were able to model these changes accurately using continuum electrostatic calculations, suggesting a high degree of conformational restriction within the protein matrix. Our study affords direct insight into the physical and energetic properties of a hydrogen bond network within a protein interior and provides an example of a highly controlled system with minimal conformational rearrangements in which the observed physical changes can be accurately modeled by theoretical calculations.
Cholinergic Modulation of Spindle Bursts in the Neonatal Rat Visual Cortex In Vivo

Acetylcholine (ACh) is known to shape the adult neocortical activity related to behavioral states and processing of sensory information. However, the impact of cholinergic input on the neonatal neuronal activity remains widely unknown. Early during development, the principal activity pattern in the primary visual (V1) cortex is the intermittent self-organized spindle burst oscillation that can be driven by the retinal waves. Here, we assessed the relationship between this early activity pattern and the cholinergic drive by either blocking or augmenting the cholinergic input and investigating the resultant effects on the activity of the rat visual cortex during the first postnatal week in vivo. Blockade of the muscarinic receptors by intracerebroventricular, intracortical, or supracortical atropine application decreased the occurrence of V1 spindle bursts by 50%, both the retina-independent and the optic nerve-mediated spindle bursts being affected. In contrast, blockade of acetylcholine esterase with physostigmine augmented the occurrence, amplitude, and duration of V1 spindle bursts. Whereas direct stimulation of the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei increased the occurrence probability of V1 spindle bursts, their chronic immunotoxic lesion using 192 IgG-saporin decreased the occurrence of neonatal V1 oscillatory activity by 87%. Thus, the cholinergic input facilitates the neonatal V1 spindle bursts and may prime the developing cortex to operate specifically on relevant early (retinal waves) and later (visual input) stimuli.
Tag Spotting : communicating beyond carrier sense range Horia

A fundamental difference between wireless and wired networks is the presence of interference among wireless links, which introduces dependencies among flows that do not share a link or node. As a result, when designing a resource allocation scheme, be it a medium access scheduler or a flow rate controller, one needs to consider the interdependence among nodes within carrier sense of each other. In other words, the control plane information needs to reach nearby nodes which often lie outside the communication range, but within the carrier sense range of a node of interest. But how can one communicate control plane information well beyond the existing communication range? To address this fundamental need we introduce tag spotting. Tag spotting refers to a communication system which allows information decoding at SNR values as low as 0 dB. It does this by employing a number of tricks including adding redundancy to multitone modulation, shaping the spectrum to reduce inter-carrier interference, and the use of algebraic coding. Using real-world experiments on an OFDM system built with software radios, we show that we can decode data at the target SNR value with a 6% overhead; that is, 6% of our packet is used for our low-SNR decodable tags (which carry up to a couple of bytes of data in our testbed), while the remaining 94% is used for traditional header and payload data. We also demonstrate via simulations how tag spotting can be used in implementing fair and efficient rate control and scheduling schemes in the context of wireless multihop networks, while pointing out that the idea of tag spotting is useful in the context of any wireless network where control-plane information must travel beyond the communication range of a node.