Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SRC: Dynamic Indoor Navigation with Bayesian Filters

Indoor space navigation has always been an issue without GPS localization. Especially for complicated cases such as emergency evacuation and dynamic navigation, there is no existing efficient solution to the best of our knowledge. Localization in indoor spaces has to rely on sensing devices (e.g., Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) readers, WiFi routers, bluetooth beacons) rather than GPS, and indoor floor plans are more complicated than road networks. Consequently, existing spatial outdoor query techniques are not suitable for this new challenge. However, raw data generated by sensing devices suffers from false negatives and errors. As a result, filtering methods are necessary for accurate localization. We propose a novel dynamic shortest path navigation strategy to enable efficient navigation for emergency evacuation in indoor spaces. This strategy achieves optimal time efficiency by: 1) using a Bayesian inference based concurrent model, which integrates dynamic shortest path searching into the filtering process, thus achieving an efficient and accurate search for any time-sensitive situation; 2) storing alternative parent nodes along the shortest path search for a fast, dynamic search. We use both particle filters and the Kalman filter to study which one is more suitable for dynamic environments. In general, we develop an innovative, dynamic shortest path navigation solution based on Bayesian inference localization.
Channel Dominance in Decoding Affective Nonverbal Behavior Displayed by Avatars 1 What You See is What You Get: Channel Dominance in the Decoding of Affective Nonverbal Behavior Displayed by Avatars

Nonverbal expressions of emotions play an important role in social interactions. Regarding virtual environments (VEs) and the transmission of nonverbal cues in avatarmediated communication, knowledge of the contribution of nonverbal channels to emotion recognition is essential. This study analyzed the impact of emotional expressions in faces and body motion on emotion recognition. Motion capture data of expressive body movements from actors portraying either anger or happiness were animated using avatars with congruent and incongruent facial expressions. Participants viewed the resulting animations and rated the perceived emotion. During stimulus presentation, gaze behavior was recorded. The analysis of the rating results and visual attention patterns indicates that humans predominantly judge emotions based on the facial expression and pay higher attention to the head region as an information source to recognize emotions. This implicates that the transmission of facial expression is of importance for the design of social VEs.
Analysis of biomedical signal for patterns identi cation in complex diseases

The human body is made up of many di erent biological systems that give information about their health condition. These information are contained in signals generated by the biological systems. The analysis of these signals is important to extract the information supporting physicians in their daily activity and improving their knowledge on health status. We investigate on biomedical signals for data analysis, as well as for relevant information extraction. Speci cally, we have investigated on biomedical signals such as vestibular signals, voice signals, biological data and EEG signals related respectively to vestibular apparatus, speech impairments and neurological diseases, human papilloma virus and geolocalization, and neurological activity. Data have been stored and organized in speci c database. Finally, relevant information have been extracted by these data by using data mining techniques. CCS Concepts •Computer systems organization Biomedical signal; Signal analysis; ; •Networks signal;
All Hands to the Pumps: The Product Owner Role in Small Companies Lero Technical Report: 2017_1

The Product Owner role in scrum is critical for successful project outcomes. We want to understand how job activities within the Product Owner role might vary between smaller companies and large multi-national enterprises. To address this question we undertake a case study of the Product Owner role in an Irish SME. Using data from observations and interviews, we compared Product Owner activities to those nine identified in an empirical study by Bass of Product Owners in large multinationals. We observed six of the nine activities, and three new activities associated with the Product Owner. To validate these findings, members of the case study company independently assessed the frequency with which they perceived Product Owners perform the twelve tasks. Our study corroborates the importance of product grooming, requirements prioritisation, communicating requirements and release management within the Product Owner role, regardless of company size. Architecture, governance and risk assessment activities observed in largescale enterprises were absent from our case study company. Whereas, Product Owners in the studied team also engage in Customer Relationship Management, serve as Gatekeepers for story acceptance, and occasionally perform quality assurance and testing. We hypothesize that, while Product Owners in large companies can specialize and focus exclusively on Product Owner tasks, Product Owners in small companies may be required to perform multiple activities outside the conventional Product Owner role. The implication of this hypothesis is that small organizations who ask Product Owners to perform extraneous and conflicting activities, may ultimately compromise the overall
Parametric Optimization Suspension System

Sprung mass, unsprung mass, tire material sti optimized in order to design a light passenger car suspension system for optimum performance in the uncertain operating atmosphere. Passengers comfort, body stability, and road holding are the prime goals to be achieved as the measure of suspension system performance improvement. Full factorial design of experiments is intended at certain speed levels and at various design parameters. Vertical body acceleration root mean square values are obtained by simulation of 2 deliberated 64 run of experiments. For minimum RMS value of acceleration, an optimum parametric combination is identified among all the 64 parametric combinations specified by the design of experiments. The optimum set of parameters is setup to validate the design. In the fabrication of test setup, the nonlinear hysteretic design parameters have been characterized through the theoretical and experimental analysis. Experimental results obtained from the test setup are closely related to simulation that justifies the viability of derived model for analysis. The proposed methodology ascertain suspension system in a time and cost vibrational characteristics andconvinces the ISO
Application of Two Remote Sensing-Based Surface Energy Balance Models for Estimating Actual Evapotranspiration in the Mascara Plain, Algeria

Accurate characterization of evapotranspiration (ET) and surface energy fluxes is crucial for many agro-environmental applications. Remote sensing based energy balance models are presently most suitable for estimating evapotranspiration at both temporal and spatial scales. This study presents an intercomparison of ET maps over the Mascara plain (western Algeria) obtained with two different models: METRIC (Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution using Internalized Calibration) and T /VI trapezoid (Surface 0 temperature/Vegetation Index Trapezoid Model). These two models are qualified as residual type , because they are based on a physical approach which allows the resolution of energy balance equation, where ET is estimated as the residual term. T /VI trapezoid is the most used model, due to its simplicity, ease of use, few 0 data input requirements and relatively high accuracy. It allows estimating ET directly by using the Priestley-Taylor equation. Whereas METRIC model follow a physical approach, where ET is estimated as the residual term. The data set consists of four Landsat-7 ETM+ images acquired on 3 December 2001, 5 February 2002, 26 April 2002 and 15 July 2002 and some agrometeorological field measurements. In conclusion, the results show that METRIC and T /VI trapezoid models provide comparable outputs and suggest that both the two 0 models are suitable approaches for ET estimation over agricultural areas where ground information is scarce or difficult to collect.
What Matters in Corporate Governance and Innovation

We provide a comprehensive study of how different corporate governance constructs influence innovation. We know that not all corporate governance mechanisms are created equal; we know that different corporate governance mechanisms can proxy for different incentives in different situations. Therefore, our purpose is to disentangle these different constructs and to understand how firms generate innovation. Specifically, we study six different corporate governance constructs: board busyness, interlocked directors, entrenchment, director expertise, board structure and director ownership. We find that busy boards generate less innovation, as do boards with CEOs or Chairs from other companies. We find that boards with more interlocked directors and more entrenched boards generate more innovation. Board structure, such as director independence, does not significantly affect innovation. And director ownership is weakly associated with greater innovation. We contribute two primary policy implications for firms looking to generate greater innovation. First, boards must be incentivized and empowered to focus on long-term strategies. Second, directors’ professional relationships and activities matter. Given that not all corporate governance structures lead to the same outcomes, our findings should help firms design corporate governance structures that will be better aligned with how they can uniquely create value.
The Emergence of GICL, the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership: Engaged Scholarship, Theory and Practice in Cooperative Education

Introduction By the 1950’s, the United States agriculture sector was populated with more than 10,000 marketing and multipurpose cooperatives – a new institutional form of organization born in the early 20th century. Enthusiasm and the intellectual attractiveness for this producer-owned and governed institutional form of collective action was beginning to wane. Agricultural economists, the primary source of research on the impact and competitive role of cooperatives in an increasingly globalized and industrialized food and fiber sector documented the consequences of increased rivalry in numerous subsectors and supply chains. However, their interests were usually limited to the mezzo level (market structure) and seldom expanded to the micro-analytic level of how strategic behavior of these patrons, rather than investor-owned entities, impacted farm decision making and subsequent governance behaviors of their user-owned cooperatives. Agricultural economists noted cooperatives’ positive impact in establishing countervailing market power in output and input markets, particularly at the first handler and increasingly in some of the upstream and downstream processing and manufacturing sectors. Many Nourse inspired, multi-purpose local cooperatives organized into vertically integrated supply chains, particularly in the capital-intensive input industries including petroleum, fertilizer, and chemicals. These multi-purpose federated regional cooperatives had also integrated into grain handling, terminal elevator storage, and commodity trading functions as they extended their reach into the global markets by beginning to acquire export facilities. Additionally, mid-century, Sapiro influenced, single commodity, centralized market-processing cooperatives were well known for their established brands supported by well-coordinated value chains. Meanwhile, academics were involved in debating the Helmberger-Philips discussion of whether a cooperative should be analyzed as an extension of the farm or a separate firm. For the more developed multipurpose and vertically integrated marketing cooperatives, scaling up was the challenge they faced, not starting up. The start-up cooperative role of ameliorating the negative consequences of imperfect markets and the accompanying market failures was accomplished already and cooperatives were now seen by non-cooperatives as rival firms. Consequently, for survival reasons, general managers and boards of directors were incentivized to behave in a more strategic manner. However, university researchers, particularly agricultural economists trained to study markets and market performance, paid little attention to the unique skills and traits and the accompanying tools needed to manage, lead, and govern these patron-owned and controlled entities
The Use of Propolis as Alternative Medicine in Treatment of the Toxicological Insults

Propolis (bee glue) is a collected natural mixture from the flowers and leaf buds of the plant via the honeybees. It is an adhesive and resinous substance wherein it mixes with the salivary secretions and wax of honeybees to seal the holes of honeycombs. It is utilized in the foods to promote human health as well as a protective agent against some medical perturbations. It has several therapeutic effects such as antiinflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant .
Low level laser therapy efficacy on orthodontic induced pain management: A narrative review

Introduction: Pain control in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment is one of the major challenges of such treatments. The use of new technologies such as Laser offers promising results in this field. The goal of this study is to survey the works on effect of low-power laser on pain relief during orthodontic treatments. Methodology: The key terms including “orthodontics, reduction, pain, low level, power, laser and laser therapy” alone as well as combinations. those key terms were used to search the databases including “Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed”. The review of collected sources was done which led to selection of 557 papers. The validation was done through CONSORT guidelines. Results: After review of selected papers, 34 studies including 32 human studies and 2 animal studies were selected. Conclusion: The positive findings of reviewed studies on use of laser therapy suggest that low power laser could be effective on pain relief. Conducting further studies on this subject will be beneficial.
Modeling the YouTube Stack: from Packets to User-Perceived Quality

Florian Wamser ∗, Pedro Casas †, Michael Seufert ∗, Christian Moldovan ‡, Phuoc Tran-Gia ∗, Tobias Hossfeld ‡ ∗ University of Würzburg, Institute of Computer Science, Würzburg, Germany email: {wamser | seufert | trangia}@informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de † FTW Telecommunications Research Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria email: casas@ftw.at ‡ University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany email: {christian.moldovan | tobias.hossfeld}@uni-due.de
Parallelization of the Quadratic Assignment Problem on the Cell

The mapping problem involves the assignation of a set of tasks of a parallel application onto a set of computational nodes. This problem can be formulated as an instance of the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP), being this one of the most difficult combinatorial optimization problems. The solution for the QAP is a permutation that minimizes an objective function. This paper proposes two algorithms to generate sequences of permutations with distance one between them, and to map each permutation of size n with a number in the range {1,n! }. This is very important because, once the objective function for a given permutation has been computed, the computation for the next permutation is very simple. Once we have a fast solution to the QAP, we can use it to solve non-trivial cases of mapping problems, in this case checking the complete permutation space. Keywords— Mapping Problem, Quadratic Assignment Problem, Permutations Set Parallelization.
Monitoring and Prediction of Land Cover Changes in the Island of Corfu in Greece

Land cover change detection has been one of the most important applications of remote sensing since the first launch of Landsat satellite in 1972. The use of satellite remote sensing allows to monitor land cover changes, to make predictions and even to prevent future evolutions. It also helps using the natural resources in good effect, identifying new resources and protecting the existing ones from natural or human interference. This study examines the land cover changes in the island of Corfu in Greece for nearly 20 years. Two Landsat satellite images, dated back to 1990 and 2000, are used and a land cover change prediction is made for the future. The main analysis of this work involves a change detection modelling of the potentials through multi-layer perceptron neural network classification and a dynamic change prediction process, by means of Markov chain analysis. In order to estimate the prediction accuracy, the predicted image of 2007 is compared to the classified Landsat image of the same year. It is noticed that the urban sprawl and the economical development through tourism, is an indicator of land cover change detection, whereas the forestry and the natural environment to a large extent is preserved for the last 20 years and so does for nearly the next decade.
PUTTING THE TACTILE FEEDBACK TO QURANIC VERSES AND TAJWEED RULES

Technology has enabled many physical books including Al-Quran to be presented in a software form. The digitized holy book comes with a complete colour-coded to assist readers read correctly without having to memorize each letter that forms the tajweed rules. Unfortunately, those with visual impairment are not able to enjoy fully such a feature because there are not many systems that could support the readers’ different reading capabilities. Accessibility with regards to information visualization representing the colour-coded tajweed codes using sensory modalities other than vision is the issue in question. This paper investigates whether by providing tactile feedback to the Quranic verses together with the tajweed rules could add value to these readers. An interview and, observation on visually impaired readers learning AlQuran were conducted to understand and capture the design requirements. The initial study findings revealed that those with low vision and very new to reading Al-Quran Braille are in favour of the prototype while the more experienced readers did not find the tactile tajweed rules necessary. These findings led to the development of a prototype using Brailleline 20. The prototype incorporates tactile feedback into the Al-Quranic Braille and the associated tajweed rules. A user testing was conducted with a group of visually impaired people to elicit their opinions on the prototype. The study findings signal for the prototype having potential as a promising learning tool.
LSA based approach to TASS 2013 ∗ LSA aplicado a TASS 2013

This work describes the participation of the CESA team of the SINAI research group in the TASS 2013 workshop, organized as part of the SEPLN congress in 2013. Our system proposes a solution based on Information Retrieval, by applying Latent Semantic Analysis. Results are not very promising compared to other competitors, but the method opens a new approach in the use of social web publications as resource for sentiment polarity classification.
Exploring Social Bias in Chatbots using Stereotype Knowledge

Exploring social bias in chatbot is an important, yet relatively unexplored problem. In this paper, we propose an approach to understand social bias in chatbots by leveraging stereotype knowledge. It allows interesting comparison of bias between chatbots and humans, and provides intuitive analysis of existing chatbots by borrowing the finer-grain concepts of sexism and racism.
Assessing the Impact on Critical Reading and Critical Thinking: Using Commonplace Books and Social Reading Practices in a First-Year Writing Classroom

Abstract:Although much has been written about the history of commonplacing, there is a lack of evidence- based research to show the extent to which this historical practice may still be valuable today as a pedagogy that educates citizens in critical reading for democracy. This article describes an institutional-review-board-approved, experimental study to answer this question. Three sections of the same first-year reading and writing course were compared: one section did not use commonplace books, a second section used commonplace books that included quotations only, and a third section used commonplace books with reflective writing. We expected to find that students who used commonplace books would perform better in end-of-tudy assessments than those who did not. Instead, we were surprised to find that many of the students who were not required to use commonplace books created their own note-taking methods that performed a similar function. In essence, they developed their own commonplace book culture and methodology using Google Docs and other social reading practices. Their performance was as strong as the students who used commonplace books.
MCMC notes by Mark Holder Bayesian inference

Markov chain Monte Carlo is (by far), the dominant computational approach to conducting Bayesian inference. The “Monte Carlo” part of the name reflects the fact that we are going to perform a random simulation – the algorithm uses a pseudo-random number generator to explore parameter space. The “Markov chain” part of the name refers to fact that we are going to conduct the simulation by iteratively updating the state of the simulator using rules that depend only on the current state of the system. This type of stochastic system (one which “forgets” its history) is referred to as a Markov chain.
Behavioral Intention to Adopt Islamic Banking in Pakistan: A Study Based on Theory of Planned Behavior

Received: 10 August 2018 Accepted: 04 September 2018 Abstract. The current study aims to examine the behavioural intentions to adopt Islamic banking in Pakistan. The proposed model is grounded on ‘Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)’ which is widely applied in consumer behaviour studies. This theory comprises behavioural, normative and control belief structures which shape consumers’ intentions. The data collection was carried out from two cities of Pakistan, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, through survey from 186 individuals. For data collection, non-probability, judgmental sampling technique has been used. The data has been analysed by using Partial Lease Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The result of the study reveals that behavioural, normative and control beliefs are significant determinants of adoption of Islamic banking in Pakistan. It has been found that behavioural beliefs are very important for Islamic banking adoption. However, control beliefs appear to be the most significant in adoption of Islamic banking.
Assessing Performance of Morningstar’s Star Rating System for Stocks

Morningstar is one of the most prominent providers of stock ratings. This is the first study evaluating the performance of portfolios formed using Morningstar’s Star rating system for stocks. Our results provide evidence that this rating system allows an investor to build a portfolio that outperforms the market average over a long period of time. This outperformance is reduced, but not eliminated, after adjusting for risk and style factors. We show that this outperformance is also robust to modest transaction costs. Overall, the results are consistent with Morningstar analysts providing value to investors who rely on their ratings.