Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloud Enabled Text Reader for Individuals with Vision Impairment

The paper describes the development of a text reader for people with vision impairments. The system is designed to extract the content of written documents or commercially printed materials. In terms of hardware, it utilizes a camera, a small embedded processor board, and an Alexa Echo Dot. The software involves an open source text detection library called Tesseract along with Leptonica and OpenCV. The system in its current version can only work with English text. By using the Amazon cloud web services, a skill set was deployed, which would read aloud the detected text utilizing a OpenCV program via the Alexa Echo Dot. For this development, a Raspberry Pi was utilized as the embedded processor system.
Sexual behavior of Bothriurus buecherli (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae) and comparison with the B. prospicuus group

Abstract This paper describes the sexual behavior of Bothriurus buecherli San Martín 1963 and compares it with the rest of the B. prospicuus group. The mating behavior was very similar to other species of the group, but B. buecherli presented some differences in the initial stages, one being a long period of inactivity after the male grasps the female pedipalps. Information presented includes reference to the sexual sting, post-partum copulation, and an analysis of a case of cannibalism by the female.
Fatal Disseminated Strongyloidiasis Secondary to Corticosteroid Use: A Report of Two Cases

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode endemic to tropical and subtropical locations, such as most of Latin America, and in the United States, the Appalachian mountain region. Clinical manifestations vary greatly and are non-specific; as a result, cases in regions that do not regularly screen for strongyloides often go undiagnosed. Current research estimates a prevalence of 370 million cases worldwide. Chronically infected patients that become immunosuppressed, particularly from exposure to corticosteroids, are at risk for developing a hyperinfection syndrome or disseminated strongyloidiasis, which carries a mortality rate of up to 87%. We present two cases of fatal disseminated strongyloidiasis. The first case is that of a 66 year old man, originally from Nicaragua, with ulcerative colitis receiving corticosteroids for three months that developed fatal disseminated strongyloidiasis which was complicated by gram-negative bacteremia, a complication associated with the highest mortality rates. The hospital course was additionally complicated by cytomegalovirus infection, Clostridium difficile colitis, severe gastrointestinal bleeding, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, deep venous thromboses, pulmonary emboli, fungemia, bacterial meningitis, multifocal pneumonia with aspergillosis and toxic megacolon. The second case is that of an 87 year old man, originally from Cuba, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis on corticosteroids for an unknown duration that developed fatal disseminated strongyloidiasis. The hospital course was complicated by respiratory failure, anemia and thrombocytopenia, atrial fibrillation with heart failure, acute renal failure, lactic acidosis, alveolar hemorrhage and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Both patients were originally from Latin American countries where strongyloides is endemic. Because chronic infections are typically asymptomatic, both were likely unaware they were infected. Furthermore, use of corticosteroids suppresses the eosinophilic response to infection, which is often the only clinical evidence that prompts clinicians to search for strongyloides. These cases highlight the importance of screening patients from endemic areas prior to initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.
Committed tourists - an attractive market segment

This paper investigates the existence of highly committed tourists as an interesting market segment for the tourism industry. Tourists who see vacations as central to their lifestyle are identified as highly committed tourists and contrasted with tourists who do not attach importance to vacations. Several significant findings between the two groups are reported. Most importantly, highly committed tourists are unlikely to sacrifice their vacations and show a higher willingness to take risks, which makes them an interesting target segment, especially in times of uncertainty. Additionally, these tourists are responsible for planning holidays which allows marketers to directly speak to the decision makers. Implications for tourism marketers and future research are discussed.
Galectin-12 colocalizes with splicing factor-rich speckles and shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm in colon cancer cells

Several members of the glycan-binding family of galectins have been linked to colon cancer initiation and progression while the role of galectin-12 in this malignancy is largely unexplored. In previous studies we observed expression of galectin-12 in normal colon epithelium in contrast to its lack of expression in colorectal cancer tissues. In order to gain insight into its molecular function we established a genetically engineered colon cancer model cell line, which facilitates inducible and reconstituted expression of LGALS12 transgene at physiological levels in an isogenic background. Regulation of transgene expression by doxycycline was confirmed at the transcript- and protein level in a time- and dose-dependent manner for two independent clones. Reconstituted galectin-12 expression did not affect cell morphology and proliferation. Analysis of its subcellular distribution showed that galectin-12 resides in and shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. More detailed analysis by double-immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy revealed colocalization of galectin-12 with splicing-factor rich nuclear speckles, hinting towards a potential role of galectin-12 in pre-mRNA splicing and processing. Therefore, the established model cell line represents a powerful tool to investigate the functional impact of galectin-12 reconstitution on colon cancer tumorigenesis.
A review of spatio-temporal pattern analysis approaches on crime analysis

This review aims to summarize spatio-temporal pattern analysis approaches for crime analysis. Spatio-temporal pattern analysis is a process that obtains knowledge from geo-and-time-referenced data and creates knowledge for crime analysts. In practice, knowledge needs vary amongst different situations. In order to obtain relevant types of knowledge, different types of spatio-temporal pattern analysis approaches should be used. However, there is a lack of related systematic review which discussed how to obtain related knowledge from different types of spatio-temporal crime pattern. This paper summarizes spatio-temporal patterns into five major categories: (i) spatial pattern, (ii) temporal pattern, (iii) frequent spatio-temporal pattern, (iv) unusual spatio-temporal pattern and (v) spatio-temporal effect due to intervention. In addition, we also discuss what knowledge could be obtained from these patterns, and what corresponding approaches, including various data mining techniques, could be used to find them. The works of this paper could provide a reference for crime analysts to select appropriate spatio-temporal pattern analysis approaches according to their knowledge needs.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); A useful tool to address climate change in Ghana

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since its inception in 1994 has been responsible for the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulation in Ghana. Many EIA have been performed on major projects such as mining, dams, gas projects but much has not been done in the mitigation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions which is said to be the main driving force of climate change. This reviewed paper therefore proposes the extension of the EIA regulations to small projects or activities such as deforestation, extensive land clearing, small scale mining and emissions from vehicles that have the potential of influencing climate change. The research was carried out by an extensive review of literature, reports, interaction with opinion leaders, lecturers, colleagues and students. The paper has attempted to explain the use of EIA in addressing the numerous environmental challenges by outlining the effect of climate change, EIA procedure in Ghana, the role of EIA in addressing climate change especially the emission of CO2. It was also established that the principle of EIA could be used to regulate pollution abatement, wastes management, conservation of natural resources, proper agricultural practices, development of clean and efficient energy sources. This application of EIA in climate change mitigation will safeguard the environment and improve the standard of living of the people. The paper concludes with some suggested recommendations.
An Investigation of Inference of the Generalized Extreme Value Distribution Based on Record

In this article, the maximum likelihood and Bayes estimates of the generalized extreme value distribution based on record values are investigated. The asymptotic confidence intervals as well as bootstrap confidence are proposed. The Bayes estimators cannot be obtained in closed form so the MCMC method are used to calculate Bayes estimates as well as the credible intervals. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the proposed estimation methods developed here. Keywords: Generalized extreme value distribution, Record values, Maximum likelihood estimation, Bayesian estimation.
Structural DNA Nanotechnology: From Bases to Bricks, From Structure to Function

The two fields of structural DNA nanotechnology and functional nucleic acids have been independently coevolving, with the former seeking to arrange and bring about movement of nucleic acid modules precisely and with control in space and the latter producing modules with incredible diversity in effective recognition and function. Here, we track the key developments in structural DNA nanotechnology that reveal a current trend that is seeing the integration of functional nucleic acid modules into their architectures to access a range of new functions. This contribution will seek to provide a perspective for the field of structural DNA nanotechnology where the integration of such functional modules on precisely controlled architectures can uncover phenomena of interest to physical chemists.
Realism : visual inspection and analysis Projecting appearances Beyond intuition : scientific visualization Dynamic visualization

Visualization and architecture Roles of visualization The democratization of computer technologies ❍ Visualization and modelling Representation Implementation mechanisms Design modelling Abstraction and specificity Compound representations ❍ ● Digital architectural visualization: Title & contents http://10.130. 10.2/ecaade1997/koutam/koutam1.htm (1 von 2) [08.12. 2000 12:41:22] Realism: visual inspection and analysis Projecting appearances Beyond intuition: scientific visualization Dynamic visualization ❍ Future developments References Digital architectural visualization: Title & contents http://10.130. 10.2/ecaade1997/koutam/koutam1.htm (2 von 2) [08.12. 2000 12:41:22]
Earnings management, timely loss recognition and value relevance in Europe following the IFRS mandatory adoption: evidence from Italian listed companies

Following the recent EU Regulation introducing the mandatory adoption of IFRS in Europe, this study examines accounting quality in Italy from 2002 to 2007. An empirical analysis is carried out by using consolidated financial statement data and stock prices information from a sample of 552 firm-year observations concerning a cohort of 92 Italian non-financial companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. Accounting quality is investigated by focusing on three dimensions, namely: a) earnings management, expressed as both earnings smoothing and managing earnings towards a target; b) timely loss recognition; c) value relevance. Each dimension is evaluated by using appropriate metrics introduced in previous literature. Relevant changes in the measurements deriving from these metrics, evaluated by contrasting results obtained for firms operating in the pre-adoption period (i.e., from 2002 to 2004) with those of firms operating in the post-adoption one (i.e., from 2005 to 2007), are interpreted as changes of accounting quality in Italy. Research findings are mixed. They may be particularly useful for investors, regulators and the institutions involved in the accounting harmonization process, since they provide early evidence of the impact of the IFRS mandatory adoption at country level.
The Polar Deposits of Mars

The tantalizing prospect of a readable record of martian climatic variations has driven decades of work toward deciphering the stratigraphy of the martian polar layered deposits and understanding the role of the residual ice caps that cover them. Spacecraft over the past decade have provided a massive infusion of new data into Mars science. Polar science has benefited immensely due to the near-polar orbits of most of the orbiting missions and the successful landing of the Phoenix spacecraft in the northern high latitudes. Topographic, thermal, radar, hyperspectral, and high-resolution imaging data are among the datasets that have allowed characterization of the stratigraphy of the polar layered deposits in unprecedented detail. Additionally, change within the residual ice caps has been monitored with spacecraft instruments for several years. These new data have provided a golden opportunity to understand the interplay between the martian orbit, climate, and polar ice.
How do people cope with an ambiguous situation when it becomes even more ambiguous

As illustrated by the famous Ellsberg paradox, many subjects prefer to bet on events with known rather than with unknown probabilities, i.e., they are ambiguity averse. In an experiment, we examine subjects’ choices when there is an additional source of ambiguity, namely, when they do not know how much money they can win. Using a standard independence assumption, we show that ambiguity averse subjects should continue to strictly prefer the urn with known probabilities. In contrast, our results show that many subjects no longer exhibit such a strict preference. This should have important ramifications for modeling ambiguity aversion.
AUTOMATIC SEGMENTATION OF BROADCAST AUDIO SIGNALS USING AUTO ASSOCIATIVE NEURAL NETWORKS

In this paper, we describe automatic segmentation methods for audio broadcast data. Today, digital audio applications are part of our everyday lives. Since there are more and more digital audio databases in place these days, the importance of effective management for audio databases have become prominent. Broadcast audio data is recorded from the Television which comprises of various categories of audio signals. Efficient algorithms for segmenting the audio broadcast data into predefined categories are proposed. Audio features namely Linear prediction coefficients (LPC), Linear prediction cepstral coefficients, and Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) are extracted to characterize the audio data. Auto Associative Neural Networks are used to segment the audio data into predefined categories using the extracted features. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithms can produce satisfactory results.
Stabilization of Networked Control Systems with Variable Delays and Saturating Inputs

In this paper, less conservative conditions for the synthesis of static statefeedback controller are introduced to stabilize networked control systems subject to actuator saturation. Both of the data loss and latency which deteriorate the performance of the closed-loop system are modeled as the variable delays. Two different techniques are employed to import actuator saturation in the controller design procedure. The novelty of the proposed schemes is to utilize an improved Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, freeweight matrix and parameter tuning method to obtain more efficient conditions to determine state-feedback gain for a constrained system which is controlled over the communication network. Moreover, optimization problem is formulated in order to find the largest possible estimate for the region of attraction corresponding to maximum allowable delays. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the outperformance of the suggested approaches compared to the existing results in the literature.
Modelling of HTR Confinement Behaviour during Accidents Involving Breach of the Helium Pressure Boundary

Development of HTRs requires the performance of a thorough safety study, which includes accident analyses. Confinement building performance is a key element of the system since the behaviour of aerosol and attached fission products within the building is of an utmost relevance in terms of the potential source term to the environment. This paper explores the available simulation capabilities (ASTEC and CONTAIN codes) and illustrates the performance of a postulated HTR vented confinement under prototypical accident conditions by a scoping study based on two accident sequences characterized by Helium Pressure Boundary breaches, a small and a large break. The results obtained indicate that both codes predict very similar thermal-hydraulic responses of the confinement both in magnitude and timing. As for the aerosol behaviour, both codes predict that most of the inventory coming into the confinement is eventually depleted on the walls and only about 1% of the aerosol dust is released to the environment. The crosscomparison of codes states that largest differences are in the intercompartmental flows and the in-compartment gas composition.
Response of Venezuelan Output to Monetary Policy, Deficit Spending, and Currency Depreciation: A VAR Model

This study applies the VAR model to find possible responses of real GDP to selected macroeconomic variables in Venezuela. Based on an annual sample during 1961 - 2001, the author finds that the real GDP responds positively to a shcock to real M2 , goverment deficit spending, exchange rate depreciation, and the lagged output and negatively to a shick to the inflation rate during some of the time periods. Except for the lagged output, government deficit spending and the inflation rate are the most influential variable in the first year, and real M2 and the real exchange rate are more influential and have longer - term after the first year.
Cutting performance of alumina-graphene oxide composites

This paper discusses the influence of graphene oxide (GO) addition to alumina matrix and its impact on mechanical and cutting performance of obtained composites. The composites were prepared via powder metallurgy processing using the SPS method to consolidate powder mixtures. Applied method due to lowering the sintering temperature and time (in comparison to conventional sintering methods) leads to limiting the grain growth of alumina matrix. It has great impact on physical properties of produced sinters. Physical properties of Al2O3-GO composites such as density, hardness, Young’s modulus and fracture toughness were analyzed. The maximum value of KIC = 3.3 MPa*m was reached for Al2O3+1 wt. % GO and for that sinter dry machining tests (performed on hardened 145Cr6 steel) were made. The results show that produced cutting tools are characterized with good cutting performance comparable with commercial cutting tool.
Musical Parameters and Children's Movement Responses

The effects of dynamic musical parameters (e.g., pitch rise/fall, crescendo/diminuendo) on aspects of bodily motion, such as spatial directions or speed, have recently been investigated empirically, as Eitan & Granot (2006) examined, using participants' verbal reports, how such relationships affect motion imagery. Here we examine the effects of musical parameters on actual bodily movement. 106 children (46 aged 5, 60 aged 8) heard 9 short musical stimuli (4 synthetically constructed, 5 excerpts from classical repertory) involving bi-directional changes in pitch, loudness and tempo. Participants were asked to move to each excerpt in an "appropriate way. " Movement responses were videotaped, and their spatio-kinetic features analyzed independently by 3 referees (watching with sound muted), applying bi-polar categories based on Laban Movement Analysis, including spatial directions, speed and muscular energy. Results indicate that different musical parameters activate different motion dimensions: pitch changes are mainly associated with vertical motion, loudness change with both muscular energy and vertical motion, and tempo change with speed and muscular energy. The direction of change in each musical parameter was significantly associated with the direction of change in motion dimensions, e.g., increase in loudness is associated with increasing speed, increase in muscular energy, and spatial rise. While there was no age effect on the choices of movement dimensions, age did affect the choice of directions within these dimensions, particularly regarding the movement in vertical plane. This suggests a two-stage process, in which overall relationships of auditory and movement dimensions develop early, while associations of auditory and motion directions
Human Enthesis Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells

Objective Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) play a pivotal role in barrier tissues such as the gut and the skin, two important sites of disease in spondyloarthropathy (SpA). It was investigated whether normal and injured human enthesis, the key target tissue in early SpA, harboured ILC3s in entheseal soft tissue (EST) and adjacent peri-entheseal bone (PEB). Methods Interspinous ligament and spinous process bone was collected from donors with no systemic inflammatory disease, enzymatically digested and immunophenotyped. The immunological profile of entheseal cells was examined and the transcriptional profile of sorted ILC3s was compared to those isolated from SpA synovial fluid. To assess the ability of entheseal tissue to produce IL-17 and IL-22 entheseal digests were stimulated with IL-23 and IL-1β. Osteoarthritic and ruptured Achilles tissue was examined histologically.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN GERMANY SECTION 3 THE EFFECTS OF OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION ON SUSTAINABILITY : A CASE OF LISTED FIRMS FROM USA , UK AND GERMANY

How to cite this paper: Younas, Z. I. , Klein, C. and Zwergel, B. (2017). The Effects Of Ownership Concentration On Sustainability: A Case Of Listed Firms From USA, UK And Germany. Corporate Ownership & Control, 14(3), 113-121. http://dx.doi. org/10.22495/cocv14i3art1
Net feed conversion efficiency and its relationship with other traits in beef cattle

Data on 574 weaned British breed bulls and heifers were used to evaluate variation in net feed conversion efficiency (Net FCE) and its relationship with other production traits. The animals were part of a major research project investigating the potential of reducing the cost of beef production through the genetic improvement of Net FCE. Net (residual) feed intake was used as the measure of Net FCE, and is defined as the difference between actual feed intake and expected feed requirements for maintenance of body weight and growth. Significant variation existed among individual animals and among sire progeny groups for postweaning net feed intake. The trait was not significantly correlated with any of the production traits measured, except actual feed intake, feed conversion ratio and measures of fat depth, with correlation coefficients being 0.49, 0.47 and 0.24, respectively.