Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global seismic tomography: the inverse problem and beyond

Global seismic tomography has produced a great amount of robust information concerning the three-dimensional extent of the Earth's internal structure. This has stimulated a multidisciplinary discussion aimed at understanding the mechanisms which govern the internal evolution of our planet. A brief overview of seismic tomography is presented. Since geodynamical understanding is the main purpose of seismic tomography, some suggestions are made on how to evolve from a predominantly qualitative to a more quantitative interpretation of its results. We argue that without a more systematic and realistic error and resolution analysis, interpretations might be misleading. Assuming a steady increase of data quality and coverage, the most challenging aspect of seismic tomography will be to take the nonlinearity of the problem fully into account. It is hoped that this contribution stimulates some discussion in that direction.
Constraining self-interacting dark matter with the Milky Way’s dwarf spheroidals

Self-Interacting Dark Matter is an attractive alternative to the Cold Dark Matter paradigm only if it is able to substantially reduce the central densities of dwarf-size haloes while keeping the densities and shapes of cluster-size haloes within current constraints. Given the seemingly stringent nature of the latter, it was thought for nearly a decade that Self-Interacting Dark Matter would be viable only if the cross section for self-scattering was strongly velocitydependent. However, it has recently been suggested that a constant cross section per unit mass of T=m 0:1cm 2 g 1 is sufficient to accomplish the desired effect. We explicitly investigate this claim using high resolution cosmological simulations of a Milky-Way size halo and find that, similarly to the Cold Dark Matter case, such cross section produces a population of massive subhaloes that is inconsistent with the kinematics of the classical dwarf spheroidals, in particular with the inferred slopes of the mass profiles of Fornax and Sculptor. This problem is resolved if T=m 1cm 2 g 1 at the dwarf spheroidal scales. Since this value is likely inconsistent with the halo shapes of several clusters, our results leave only a small window open for a velocity-independent Self-Interacting Dark Matter model to work as a distinct alternative to Cold Dark Matter.
A Language Modeling Approach for the Classification of Audio Music

The purpose of this paper is to present a method for the classification of musical pieces based on a language modeling approach. The method does not require any metadata and is used with raw audio format. It consists in 1) transforming music data into a sequence of symbols 2) building a model for each category by estimating n-grams from the sequences of symbols derived from the training set. The results obtained on three audio datasets show that, providing the amount of data is sufficient for estimating the transitions probabilities of the model, the approach performs very well. The performance achieved with the ISMIR 2004 Genre classification dataset is, to our knowledge, one of the best published in the literature.
EVALUATION OF NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR DAMAGE DETECTION

Structural systems are usually subjected to degradation processes due to a combination of causes, such as: design or constructive problems, unexpected loading or a natural process of degradation due to the structures ageing. The effects of that dete- rioration results in damaged regions whose main characteristics are localized stiffness decreases of the structure. A common procedure presented in several papers on damage detection to evaluate those localized damages is done using measured vibrational data of the structure as nat- ural frequencies and vibration modes in damaged and/or undamaged states of the struc- ture. Firstly, the present study analyzes the sensibility of the structural vibration charac- teristics as a function of geometrical and quantitative damage variations. Such analysis is done through experimental tests of controlled damages in a cantilever beam. The effects of the localization and magnitude of damages on the structural natural frequencies vari- ation is then estimated and a profile of the sensibility of the vibration data is developed. Secondly, the efficiency of a damage detection technique based on the strain energy deviation between damaged and undamaged structural vibration modes is evaluated by means of the experimental tests. Finally, to circumvent the case of reduced set of experimental data, the applied dam- age detection technique is evaluated through a proposed methodology of damage identi- fication with incomplete modal data.
Social movements in a split: Bolivia's protesters after their triumph

This article takes Bolivia as a case in point to reflect upon the dilemmas and challenges that social movements find themselves confronted with once they, and in particular the party/movement coalition representing their grievances and demands, win power. The point to be made is that a fissure between the governing faction or party of the victorious movements and the remaining constituting movements is inevitable, not so much because of “moderation” of the former, but because governing responsibility will make this faction or party abandon its movement characteristics. After some brief theoretical explorations, the process of constructing the movements and the candidacy of left-wing indigenous President Evo Morales and his MAS party is addressed. The subsequent section presents a discussion of the new challenges faced by MAS after it assumed power, and the doubts, actions, and new “status” of the social movements that back MAS under the current administration. The point is made that a drifting apart inevitably occurred between MAS as governing party and the social movements behind it, because governing is accompanied by obligations that the movements can afford to disregard. The article ends with a discussion of the issues raised in it.
Estudio de los factores que degradan el rendimiento de los sistemas de identificación por radiofrecuencia pasivos

En este trabajo se presenta un estudio sobtre los factores que degradan el rendimiento de los sistemas de identificacion por radiofrecuencia pasivos y las soluciones que propone la comunidad cientifica. Se analizan las limitaciones impuestas por los estandares y regulaciones, los factores fisicos y del entorno y las limitaciones hardware y software. El estudio parte del caso de estudio de la implantacion de un sistema RFID pasivo en un supermercado o entorno similar.
Motion- and Communication-Planning of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Delay Tolerant Network using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming

Large amounts of data are typically generated in applications such as surveillance of power lines and railways, inspection of gas pipes, and security surveillance. In the latter application it is a necessity that the data is transmitted to the control centre \on-the-y" for analysis. Also missions related to other applications would greatly benet from near real-time analysis and operator interaction based on captured data. This is the motivation behind this paper on coarse oine motion- and communication-planning for cooperating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem is dened in order to solve the surveillance mission. To eciently transmit the data back to the base station the vehicles are allowed to store data for later transmission and transmit via other vehicles, in addition to direct transmission. The paths obtained by solving the optimization problem are analyzed using a realistic radio propagation path loss simulator. If the radio propagation path loss exceeds the maximum design criterion the optimization problem is solved again with a stricter communication constraint, and the procedure is continued in an iterative manner until the criterion is met. The proposed algorithm is supported by simulations showing the resulting paths and communication topologies for dierent choices of delay tolerance.
The software agent paradigm as a powerful simulation tools to support modelling of complex systems

In the talk we will describe how the software agent paradigm can be a powerful and versatile simulation tool to model and study complex systems, allowing to fast prototype approximate solutions to difficult problems and to easily select which ones to take forward at the deployment stage. To support our position, we will introduce two different domains: consumer decisions in fast moving consumers goods and mobile telecom network management applications.
Education Indicators in Quebec

In this article I describe the history, development, and organization of Quebec’s edu- cational indicators. I identify certain weaknesses and recommend using a comprehensive set of indicators for decision making. I discuss school district reactions to indicators and assess the indicators’ effect on education in the province. Dans cet article, l’auteur decrit les origines, le developpement et l’organisation des indi- cateurs en education au Quebec. Il identifie certaines faiblesses et recommande l’utilisa- tion d’un ensemble complet d’indicateurs pour les prises de decisions. Il analyse en outre les reactions des circonscriptions scolaires aux indicateurs et evalue l’effet des indicateurs sur l’education dans la province.
THE INFLUENCE OF SHORT TERM, INTENSIVE HIPPOTHERAPY ON GAIT IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short term hippotherapy on functional gait changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were two boys (ages 12 and 13) with spastic diplegia and a girl (14 yrs) with athetoid CP. Single-subject (ABA) design was used to determine quantitative changes in functional gait parameters (velocity, stride length, and cadence) following three weeks of hippotherapy. The two boys demonstrated improvement in stride length and gait velocity without sustained improvement in cadence. There was increase in stride length and cadence, but most noticeable improvements in velocity for the girl. The results indicated that it is possible that short-term hippotherapy may improve functional gait in children with cerebral palsy.
Beyond the Lipid-lowering Effects of Statins: Renal Effects

Nowadays statins, 3 hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase enzyme inhibitors, are used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Statins have been shown to decrease cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in both coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease. Besides their lipid-lowering effects, statins have pleiotropic effects such as improvement of endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic plaques stabilization, oxidative stress inhibition, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombogenic effects. Some clinical trials have revealed that statin therapy improved renal function. On the other hand, statins have been shown to have no beneficial effects in many studies in renal function. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the effects of statins on renal function.
Fluctuations of Cloud, Humidity, and Thermal Structure near the Tropical Tropopause

Abstract Thermal and humidity structures near the tropical tropopause are studied using microwave satellite retrievals of water vapor, along with contemporaneous dynamical structure in ECMWF analyses and cold clouds in high-resolution global cloud imagery. Examined during November 1991–February 1992, these fields all vary coherently with the outflow from convective centers—in the upper troposphere as well as in the lowermost stratosphere. The outbreak of deep convection is accompanied by diabatic heating below a level between 250 and 150 mb but by diabatic cooling at higher levels. The reversal from heating to cooling is broadly consistent with cumulus detrainment. Through irreversible mixing, that process serves as a heat source for the environment below the level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) but as a heat sink at higher levels. Calculations, inclusive of entrainment, place the LNB very near the observed reversal from heating to cooling. The outbreak of convection is also accompanied by humidification below.
Issues connected on the trade of flowers in Romania

The paper has been intended to analyze trade of flowers in Romania. The study was focused on dynamics of the supplier countries for importations and destination countries for exportations. In order to design a framework for the international trade there have been assessed several indicators. Further, highlighting the trade of flowers sector, we have chosen to pay attention on the average rate of growth and links among trade figures from data series of the four main categories of flowers. This was done on destination countries and the countries suppliers for the products come from. The data has been provided by the National Statistics Institute (INS), and the Ministry of Agriculture in Romania, and has spread over a period of 10 years, starting in 2002. The results have shown that among the variables analyzed, it was detected an active trend. According to the correlation coefficients, it was stated that pairs of variables analyzed are relatively strongly correlated. The variables that have showed no significant correlation coefficients were the exchange rates for the two main currencies (Euros and the American dollars). The conclusions were that there are real connections among the considered pairs of variables, except the exchange rates which have had their own dynamics and their influence was not found on the other variables analyzed in this study.
Psychotropic Activity of Selective Tetracyclines

Summary Minocycline in addition to its neuroprotective and anti$inflammatory use in neurodegenerative diseases probably would be helpful in treatment of depression associated with these comorbid conditions. The findings of the present study in both the models of depression viz, forced swim test and tail suspension test indicate that minocycline has significant antidepressant activity, comparable to that of amitriptyline. If the findings of the present study are extrapolated to the humans, minocycline may not be a suitable drug to treat depression. Its co$administration with tricyclic antidepressants co uld add to the antidepressant activity of the latter. Whether such synergistic interaction will narrow the therapeutic window of tricyclic antidepressants is not known. To evaluate its role as an antidepressant and to establish safety of its co$administration with tricyclic antidepressant s, further clinical studies are desirable.
QUALITY ANALYSIS OF SINGLE TREE OBJECT WITH OBIA AND VEGETATION INDEX FROM LAPAN SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT MULTISPECTRAL DATA IN URBAN AREA

High-resolution remote sensing data as the acquisition result of LAPAN Surveillance Aircraft (LSA) has the potential to analyze urban areas. The purpose of this study was to develop a method of LSA multispectral data utilization with an analysis of the single tree object in urban areas with OBIA and vegetation index. The method proposed in this study is a hierarchical classification to obtain the specific tree object that will be used further to analyze the quality of vegetation. In particular, analysis of the vegetation quality on the tree object was carried out by calculating the value of vegetation index NDVI. As a result, the overall accuracy of the hierarchical classification of objects in urban areas reached 88 %. In conclusion, the analysis of the quality of vegetation NDVI has been able to perceive the condition of trees in the urban area.
A proposed experimental search for chameleons using asymmetric parallel plates

Light scalar fields coupled to matter are a common consequence of theories of dark energy and attempts to solve the cosmological constant problem. The chameleon screening mechanism is commonly invoked in order to suppress the fifth forces mediated by these scalars, sufficiently to avoid current experimental constraints, without fine tuning. The force is suppressed dynamically by allowing the mass of the scalar to vary with the local density. Recently it has been shown that near future cold atoms experiments using atom-interferometry have the ability to access a large proportion of the chameleon parameter space. In this work we demonstrate how experiments utilising asymmetric parallel plates can push deeper into the remaining parameter space available to the chameleon.
Affordance Perception And Behavior Planning Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process

This paper presents a new behavior planning scheme for autonomous robots, allowing them to handle various objects used in our daily lives. The key idea underlying the proposed scheme is to use affordance concepts that provide a robot with action possibilities triggered by a relation between the robot and objects around it. Specifically, the robot attempts to find the affordances and to determine the most adequate action among them. Through a series of the perception processes, robot motions can be planned and performed to complete assigned tasks. What is of particular importance from the practical point of view is a decision making capability to determine the best choice by comparing the human`s body characteristics and behavioral patterns as criteria with action possibilities as alternatives. For this, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique is employed to systematically evaluate the correlation between the criteria and the alternatives. Moreover, the alternatives arranged in order of priority through the decision making process enable the robot to have redundant solutions for the assigned task, resulting in flexible motion generation. The effectiveness and validity of the proposed scheme are verified by performing extensive simulations using objects of our daily use.
Modeling And Implementation of All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop Based on Vernier Gated Ring Oscillator Time-to-Digital Converter

In this thesis, a complete design of an All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop (ADPLL) for RF application is presented. A Vernier gated ring oscillator time-to-digital converter (TDC) is utilized in the proposed ADPLL, and a two-dimension architecture is developed for the TDC to improve latency and dynamic range. The proposed TDC is able to achieve a raw resolution of 5 ps while provides a detection range up to 10 ns. Meanwhile, an LC tank based digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) with three tuning banks is employed to realize fast frequency tuning and fine resolution of 4 KHz. The simulation on the presented ADPLL predicts an output frequency ranging from 3 GHz to 6 GHz with a reference input of 50 MHz.
MUSCLE ACTIVATION PATTERNS AT THE KNEE JOINT DURING UNANTICIPATED SIDESTEPPING TASKS

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the muscle activation patterns during preplanned (PP) and unanticipated (UN) sidestepping tasks, with respect to the external moments applied to the joint. Ten healthy male subjects performed running and sidestepping tasks under PP and UN conditions. Activation from ten knee muscles was estimated using surface EMG and averaged across stages of the stance phase. Selective activation of medial and lateral muscles and co-contraction of flexors and extensors were used to stabilise the joint under PP conditions, whereas only generalised co-contraction strategies were employed during the UN condition. Net muscle activation during the UN sidestepping tasks only increased by 10-20%, compared with the 200% increase in external joint load. This study has implications for the prevention of ligament injuries.
The Impact of the South Asia High Bimodality on the Chemical Composition of the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere

Abstract The South Asia High (SAH) is the dominant feature of the circulation in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) during the boreal summer, and the upper tropospheric anticyclonic circulation extends into the lower stratosphere. The preferred locations of the center of the SAH occur in two different regions, and the center can be located over the Iranian Plateau or over the Tibetan Plateau. This bimodality has an impact on the distribution of chemical constituents in the UTLS region. We analyzed water vapor (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) data derived from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and total column ozone data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). For the Iranian Plateau mode of the SAH, the tropospheric tracers exhibited a positive anomaly over the Iranian Plateau and a negative anomaly over the Tibetan Plateau, whereas the stratospheric tracer exhibited a negative and a positive anomaly over the Iranian Plateau and the Tibetan Plateau, respectively. For the Tibetan Plateau mode, however, the distribution of the anomaly was the reverse of that found for the chemical species in the UTLS region. Furthermore, the locations of the extrema within the anomaly seemed to differ across chemical species. The anomaly extrema for H2O occurred in the vicinity of the SAH ridgeline, whereas CO and O3 exhibited a northward shift of 4–8 degrees. These impacts of the variation in the SAH on the chemical constitutes in the UTLS region can be attributed in part to the dynamical structure delineated by the tropopause field and the temperature field at 100 hPa.
A transfer principle and applications to eigenvalue estimates for graphs

In this paper, we prove a variant of the Burger-Brooks transfer principle which, combined with recent eigenvalue bounds for surfaces, allows to obtain upper bounds on the eigenvalues of graphs as a function of their genus. More precisely, we show the existence of a universal constants $C$ such that the $k$-th eigenvalue $\lambda_k^{nr}$ of the normalized Laplacian of a graph $G$ of (geometric) genus $g$ on $n$ vertices satisfies $$\lambda_k^{nr}(G) \leq C \frac{d_{\max}(g+k)}{n},$$ where $d_{\max}$ denotes the maximum valence of vertices of the graph. This result is tight up to a change in the value of the constant $C$, and improves recent results of Kelner, Lee, Price and Teng on bounded genus graphs. To show that the transfer theorem might be of independent interest, we relate eigenvalues of the Laplacian on a metric graph to the eigenvalues of its simple graph models, and discuss an application to the mesh partitioning problem, extending pioneering results of Miller-Teng-Thurston-Vavasis and Spielman-Tang to arbitrary meshes.
Do Markets Value Corporate Social Responsibility?

Renneboog, Ter Horst and Zhang (2008) highlight that the question of whether or not corporate social responsibility (CSR) is priced remains an open one. In this paper, using a comprehensive set of KLD indicators in Ohlson-model framework with robust two-way cluster analysis of standard errors, we show that indicators of corporate social responsibility are valued by markets. We also show that some valuation effects appear to be stronger in the post millennium period. Consistent with other evidence on implied cost of capital and CSR, we show that there are significant differences in factor loadings between high and low CSR stocks. Finally, we show that CSR effects are manifested at least in part by an increased persistence in abnormal earnings. Our evidence is consistent both with high CSR firms having a lower cost of capital and also with high CSR firms having lower expected adverse cash flow shocks.
Measuring the Rate of Return to R&D, Interindustry R&D Spillovers in Korean Manufacturing Industries

This paper estimates the e#ect of R&D on total factor productivity using the panel data of Korean manufacturing industries during the period of 1987-1996. The rate of return to own R&D in Korea is slightly higher than that in developed countries. However, the e#ect of R&D spillovers on the productivity growth in Korea is lower than that in developed countries.