Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TRAINING AND APPLYING A FEEDFORWARD MULTILAYER NEURAL NETWORK IN GPU

This work presents the implementation of Feedforward Multi-Layer Perceptron (FFMLP) Neural Networks on General-purpose computing graphics processing units (GPU) by using CUDA programming language (Compute Unified Device Architecture). The paper presents an introduction to how data is decomposed and processed in a GPU in order to take advantage of its powerful parallel processing capabilities. A feedforward multi-layer perceptron is briefly presented and explained. Since a neural network must be trained in order to solve a particular problem, this work implements a variation of the gradient descent optimization method called backpropagation. The results for both the feedforward implementation and backpropagation training are then compared with their CPU versions.
Supporting Graduate Teaching Assistants’ (GTA) Continual Professional Learning: The Benefits of Using Action Learning

This paper describes the design and delivery of a new programme of support for PhD students who act as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at a research intensive university. Although much attention has been paid to programmes that prepare GTAs for teaching, this scheme was intended to prepare them for continuing professional learning (CPL) about teaching. In this sense, then, the underpinning rationale for the scheme is different to most GTA programmes, and this has implications for the pedagogical approach taken. The design of the scheme was based on the premise that ‘learning in academia’ (i.e. learning about academic work and developing one’s practice) is different from ‘academic learning’, which the PhD participants are both familiar with and successful at (Trevitt, 2008). It follows then that the type of learning most likely to lead to development of practice, is a work-based, experiential approach undertaken by those in other practice-based professions like law, medicine and (non-HE) teaching. The paper describes the rationale and design of a development scheme which aims to prepare and equip GTAs for continuing professional learning during the PhD and on into their later careers. The benefits for the action learning approach are explored, both in terms of what it might offer participants, but also in terms of what it might offer to educational developers as learning set facilitators.
Quantitative elastosonography in the diagnosis of breast nodules: assessment of a multiparametric analysis

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FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE DISCOVERY OF GeV GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM THE VICINITY OF SNR W44

We report the detection of GeV γ-ray emission from the molecular cloud complex that surrounds the supernova remnant (SNR) W44 using the Large Area Telescope on board Fermi. While the previously reported γ-ray emission from SNR W44 is likely to arise from the dense radio-emitting filaments within the remnant, the γ-ray emission that appears to come from the surrounding molecular cloud complex can be ascribed to the cosmic rays (CRs) that have escaped from W44. The non-detection of synchrotron radio emission associated with the molecular cloud complex suggests the decay of π0 mesons produced in hadronic collisions as the γ-ray emission mechanism. The total kinetic energy channeled into the escaping CRs is estimated to be Wesc ∼ (0.3–3) × 1050 erg, in broad agreement with the conjecture that SNRs are the main sources of Galactic CRs.
Isolation: Disconnection, solitude and seclusion in a connected world

Ours is age of plurality in all things. Yet, plurality has always been the case: difference, diversity, multiplicity – that which tends to disconnectedness in whatever sphere of human life – has ever been the lot of humanity. Religion is no exception. Yet while most religions would hold that unity – the uniformity and coherence suggestive of an inherent connectedness – is a sine qua non, the lived reality of religious people everywhere is often the context of, and contention with, a disconnectedness which is consequent upon difference of viewpoint, variety of experience, clash of interpretation, and competing claims for religious allegiance and identity. This can be the case both within any one major religious tradition as well as between them. Given the ubiquitous nature of religion and the pressing need for improved interreligious relations in many parts of the world, the question of how the fact of religious plurality is apprehended from within the religions themselves is critical. Naturally every religion proffers its own hermeneutic of the religiously „other‟. Typically, this has included variations on the themes of exclusivity and inclusiveness. More recently the paradigm of pluralism has been advocated as a positive hermeneutic accounting for the fact of religious plurality. In this paper I shall engage in a brief analytical discussion of exclusivism and inclusivism as models of rejection and incorporation, and then examine models of the affirmation of religious plurality by way of the multiple paradigms of pluralism.
Comparison of Different Exercise Modalities in Improving Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors among Obese Females

Background: There is compelling evidence of an obesity phenomenon worldwide and interest in structured physical activity in improvement on overall health. Moderate to high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength resulting from aerobic and strength training appears to be protective against diabetes, CVD, and metabolic syndrome. Aerobic and strength training have also been shown to have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome risk factors by improving in glucose metabolism, lipids profile, blood pressure, and abdominal obesity via different physiological pathways. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of different modes of training on metabolic syndromes risk factors among obese females. A total of 52 participants (22.71± 1.53 years old) participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned into aerobic (n=13), strength (n=13), concurrent (n=13), and control (n=13) groups. Intervention groups (aerobic, strength and concurrent) engaged in training 3 times weekly for 8 weeks, with approximately one hour per session at moderate intensity (aerobic; 50-70% of heart rate reserve, strength; 50-70% 1 repetition maximum). The concurrent training group spent 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, followed by 30 minutes of strength exercise. Triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), resting blood pressure (RBP), and waist circumference (WC) were measured in this study. A significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed in fasting blood glucose (FBG), resting blood pressure (RBP), and waist circumference (WC) in intervention groups. It can be summarized that regular involvement in exercise was associated with a reduction in most metabolic syndrome risk factors among obese females.
Innovative Radiating Systems for Train Localization in Interference Conditions

The design of innovative radiating systems based on the metamaterial technology for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) applications in radio frequency (RF) interference conditions is proposed. To this aim, firstly two typical adaptive array techniques (i.e., nulling and beam-forming) are discussed and tradeed off. Secondly, FRPA (Fixed Radiation Pattern Antenna) and CRPA (Controlled Radiation Pattern Antenna) phased array configurations of miniaturized patch antennas are studied by means of electromagnetic commercial tools and phased array optimization algorithms. This process leads to the identification of a phased array design. Benefits and drawbacks for GNSS applications are highlighted. Finally, the design of the phased array is applied to a GNSS user receiver in a navigation realistic environment. Simulation results are obtained in a realistic scenario for railway applications, comprising of a GNSS satellite constellation, a GNSS user receiver (i.e., on-board train equipment) running along a track in Western Australia, and a constellation of interfering satellites. Navigation service performances (i.e., user location accuracy and service availability) are computed taking into account the adaptive array radiation pattern in two different modes (i.e., FRPA or CRPA) and band-limited white noise interference.
S-SVM and Monte Carlo methods based reliability analysis for settlement of soft layey foundation

A method which adopts the combination of least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is used to calculate the foundation settlement reliability. When using LS-SVM, choosing the training dataset and the values for LS-SVM parameters is the key. In a representative sense, the orthogonal experimental design with four factors and five levels is used to choose the inputs of the training dataset, and the outputs are calculated by using fast Lagrangian analysis continua (FLAC). The decimal ant colony algorithm (DACA) is also used to determine the parameters. Calculation results show that the values of the two parameters, and ı2 have great effect on the performance of LS-SVM. After the east squares support vector machine LS-SVM) onte Carlo (MC) simulation ecimal ant colony algorithm (DACA) training of LS-SVM, the inputs are sampled according to the probabilistic distribution, and the outputs are predicted with the trained LS-SVM, thus the reliability analysis can be performed by the MC method. A program compiled by Matlab is employed to calculate its reliability. Results show that the method of combining LS-SVM and MC simulation is applicable to the reliability analysis of soft foundation settlement. © 2013 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting by
How Many U.S. Jobs Might Be Offshorable

Using detailed information on the nature of work done in over 800 US Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational codes, this paper ranks those occupations according to how easy/hard it is to offshore the work â€“ either physically or electronically. Using this ranking, it is estimated that somewhere between 22% and 29% of all US jobs are or will be potentially offshorable within a decade or two. (No estimate is made of how many jobs will actually be offshored.) Since the rankings are subjective, two alternatives are presented â€“ one is entirely objective, the other is an independent subjective ranking. In general, they corroborate the rankings, albeit not perfectly. It is found that there is little or no correlation between an occupationâ€™s â€˜offshorabilityâ€™ and the skill level of its workers (as measured either by educational attainment or wages). However, it appears that, controlling for education, the most highly offshorable occupations were already paying significantly lower wages in 2004.
Use of a Potential Aerosol Mass (PAM) flow reactor for the measurement of secondary organic aerosol production from vehicle emissions

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from dilute gasoline vehicle exhaust was investigated using a Potential Aerosol Mass (PAM) oxidation flow reactor during chassis dynamometer testing. The test fleet consisted of 16 vehicles, including 10 vehicles equipped with gasoline direct injection engines (GDI vehicles) and 6 vehicles equipped with port fuel injection engines (PFI vehicles). These vehicles spanned a wide range of emissions standards from Tier0 to Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV). We measured less SOA production from vehicles that met more stringent emissions standards. Emissions from GDI and PFI vehicles certified to the same emissions standard have similar SOA production. If one accounts variable gas/particle partitioning, our results indicate similar effective SOA yields across different vehicle classes, consistent with results of smog chamber experiments. Therefore, the tightening of emissions standards effectively reduces SOA production from gasoline vehicle exhaust. The PAM offers the potential to serve as a rapid screening tool to quantify SOA production from the gasoline vehicles. However, our results show that SOA production in the PAM reactor depends on multiple factors, including background concentrations, organic aerosol concentrations, and hydroxyl radical concentrations. These factors can vary widely from vehicle to vehicle and between different engine operations (e.g. cold vs. hot starts), which complicates interpretation of the PAM data and its use as a screening tool. We conclude with suggestions for future research with PAM reactors.
Preparation and Biological Activity of New Collagen Composites Part II: Collagen/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites

With the idea of exploring the biological activity of some newly synthetized chemical compounds and their combinations for development of novel antimicrobial collagen biomaterials, a serial investigation was initiated, starting with the preparation and biological activity study of Collagen/ZnTiO3 nano-composites. This serial investigation continued with the preparation and biological activity study of new collagen-based composites in which self-prepared reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets were included as an antimicrobial agent. The new porous collagen/RGO composites demonstrated specific antimicrobial activity to different types microbial species; well pronounced activity against Gram-positive microorganisms (Listeria innocua and Bacillus cereus, both bacteria with typical chains forming, large size cells, and Candida lusitaniae, fungus with specific micelle organization) and lack of activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas putida, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli; all bacteria with small size cells) combined with lack of cytotoxicity to eukaryotic cells. For the first time, well-pronounced antifungal activity of collagen/RGO composites, depending on the RGO concentration was observed. Sterile zone of 17 mm was measured for C. lusitaniae on collagen/RGO composite, 2:1 wt/wt. The possible mechanism of the biological activity of the new collagen/RGO composites was correlated with their characteristics and the specific cell morphology and size of the test microorganisms. The results of this investigation demonstrated that with their specific and adjustable bioactivity, the new collagen/RGO composites are promising antimicrobial biomaterial for variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering.
Exploitation of host mechanisms for parental care by avian brood parasites

Exploitation of host mechanism for parental care by avian brood parasites. ­ Parasitic birds and their hosts engage in a coevolutionary arms race in which hosts have evolved fine egg discrimination that has in turn selected for sophisticated egg mimicry in many parasites. Paradoxically, however, very few have evolved chick mimicry. This has been traditionally interpreted as evidence that hosts fail to discriminate between chicks because of the existence of an evolutionary lag or equilibrium (costs) in the host-parasite arms race. Here, I show that none of these hypotheses can satisfactorily explain the nearly total lack of chick mimicry. Alternatively, parasitic chicks may be highly constrained to evolve mimicry of host young when both belong to phylogenetically-distant taxa with very different developmental pathways. Data on genomic divergence from DNA hybridization studies support this possibility. I suggest that nonmimetic parasites prevent rejection by exploiting a set of "imperfect" behavioural mechanisms in hosts. First, perceptual and developmental constraints, among other factors, limit the efficiency of chick-recognition mechanisms, particularly prior to fledging. The scarce evidence available on chick discrimination across different bird groups is consistent with this assumption. Second, nonmimetic parasites might evolve manipulative signals that elicit preferential care by hosts to compensate for their odd appearance, in order to decouple the recognition and rejection mechanisms. Some experimental and observational data suggest that hosts may favour parasitic chicks over conspecific young of similar characteristics. Thus, unless we take into consideration the proximate mechanisms involved, i t will not be possible to obtain a comprehensive view of this problem from an evolutionary perspective.
Research on Antecedents and Consequences of Factors Affecting the Bike Sharing System--- Lessons From Capital Bike Share Program in Washington, D.C.

Bike sharing has drawn significant attention in academia and business. People can use bike sharing system to rent a bike at one of many rental stations traveled around the city for a short journey and return it at any station in the city. However, there have been problems raising with the application of the system. This research focuses on what factors affect the bike sharing system operation. Specifically, the research model is combined of Multiple linear regression, Poisson and Topology method. The multiple linear regression is used to analyze the qualitative data, poisson and topology method for quantitative data. Additionally, the antecedents and consequences of each aspect are examined by studying the case in 2011 Washington, D.C., the influence for each individual factor is also measured. By running the method into software R, three facets of environment are concluded as important factors for the bike sharing system. The results indicate that combination of sensory temperature, season and weather impacts the bike sharing system. At the same time, the suitable schedule for stations to reposition or repair the sharing bike can be concluded. The methodology also offers specific insights to city managers for operating the bike sharing systems. Keywords-bike sharing system; reposition; multiple linear regression; partial regression plot; poisson; topology.
Data Prediction Quantization Variable-length Encoding Unpredictable Data Compression Dictionary-based Encoding SZ Compression Framework

Because of the vast volume of data being produced by today’s scientific simulations, lossy compression allowing user-controlled information loss can significantly reduce the data size and the I/O burden. However, for large-scale cosmology simulation, such as the Hardware/Hybrid Accelerated Cosmology Code (HACC), where memory overhead constraints restrict compression to only one snapshot at a time, the lossy compression ratio is extremely limited because of the fairly low spatial coherence and high irregularity of the data. In this work, we propose a pattern-matching (similarity searching) technique to optimize the prediction accuracy and compression ratio of SZ lossy compressor on the HACC data sets. We evaluate our proposed method with different configurations and compare it with state-of-the-art lossy compressors. Experiments show that our proposed optimization approach can improve the prediction accuracy and reduce the compressed size of quantization codes compared with SZ. We present several lessons useful for future research involving pattern-matching techniques for lossy compression.
Frequency of recirculation of nutrient solution in hydroponic cultivation of coriander with brackish water

The present study used a hydroponic system with leveled channels, in order to evaluate coriander cultivation under different intervals of nutrient solution recirculation and the use of freshwater and brackish water. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with five replicates, in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme, from February to March 2014. Two levels of electrical conductivity (EC) of water (0.32 and 4.91 dS m-1) and four frequencies of nutrient solution recirculation (at intervals of 0.25, 2, 4 and 8 h) were evaluated. This experimental design was adopted in the evaluations performed at 10, 15 and 25 days after transplantation (DAT). Additionally, at 21 DAT subplots were established for the evaluation of plant position (initial, intermediate and final) along the hydroponic channels. It is viable to use nutrient solution recirculation every 8 h, without production losses. The use of brackish water (EC = 4.91 dS m-1) may be an alternative for the hydroponic cultivation of coriander, despite the reduction in production, but without any damage on the visual aspect of the product. Plants grown at the initial and intermediate positions along the hydroponic channels showed higher production.
5 Spanish Psychological Predicates

This paper examines syntactic valency, semantic argument structure and subject/verb agreement in Peninsular Spanish psychological predicates, and related constructions in other languages. We formalize our approach in HPSG. We also propose solutions to some HPSG theory-internal problems connected to interfaces between these aspects of grammar. Spanish is an SVO language. Our operational de nition of a subject NP is that it be a nominal satisfying the following conditions: A) it requires nominative case upon pronominal substitution; B) it appears as the rst NP in an unmarked nite clause; C) it is semantically coindexed with the \logical subject"; D) it exhibits agreement coindexing with the nite V. However, certain emotion verbs in Spanish test this de nition. In (1a), apetecer accepts the object of fancy as a canonical subject, but this is a highly marked structure; (1b) is more acceptable. It has as its rst NP a dative NP (A m ) rather than a nominative, and agreement features are shared between the verb and the nominative NP which follows it, even though the dative is the logical subject. If the rst NP is the subject, then conditions A and D are violated, and if the postverbal NP is the subject then conditions B and C are violated.