Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aiding Human Discovery of Out-of-the-Moment Handwriting Recognition Errors

Handwriting recognizers frequently misinterpret digital ink input, requiring human verification of recognizer output to identify and correct errors, before the output of the recognizer can be used with any confidence int its correctness. Technologies like Anoto pens can make this error discovery and correction task more difficult, because verification of recognizer output may occur many hours after data input, creating an “out-of-the-moment” verification scenario. This difficulty can increase the number of recognition errors missed by users in verification. To increase the accuracy of human verified recognizer output, methods of aiding users in the discovery of handwriting recognition errors need to be created. While this need has been recognized by the research community, no published work exists examining this problem. This thesis explores the problem of creating error discovery aids for handwriting recognition. Design possibilities for the creation of error discovery aids are explored, and concrete designs for error discovery aids are presented. Evaluations are performed on a set of these proposed discovery aids, showing that the visual proximity aid improves user performance in error discovery. Following the evaluation of the discovery aids proposed in this thesis, the one discovery aid that has been proposed in the literature, confidence highlighting, is explored in detail and its potential as a discovery aid is highlighted. A technique is then presented, complimentary to error discovery aids, to allow a system to monitor and respond to user performance in errors discovery. Finally, a set of implications are derived from the presented work for the design of verification interfaces for handwriting recognition.
Interaction between physical, psychosocial, and organisational work factors for low back symptoms and its consequences amongst Indonesian coal mining workers

Although there is strong evidence that single physical, psychosocial and organisational risk factors are each inde- pendent predictors of low back symptoms (LBS) and its consequences, little is known about their combination/interaction. A preliminary study was conducted among 673 workers as part of a larger study (n=1294) in a coal mining company in Indo- nesia. A self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain physical and psychosocial exposures, and organisational factors. Each participant was grouped into one of four combination exposure groups: 1) high physical (working with bent trunk, whole body vibration exposure, lifting) and high psychosocial (high effort, low reward, work stress), 2) high physical and low psychosocial, 3) low physical and high psychosocial, 4) low physical and low psychosocial (as the reference group). Individuals in the high physical and high psychosocial group were the most likely to report LBS (OR 3.47 95% CI 1.81- 6.64), reduced activities (OR 6.94 95% CI 1.58-30.49) and absenteeism (OR 7.01 95% CI 2.04-24.10). Permanent workers were more likely to report LBS and its consequences whereas night shift work increased the risk of LBS consequences. Interventions to reduce LBS and its consequences should address both physical and psychosocial factors, with a focus on permanent and night shift workers.
Enhanced Phylogenetic Diversity of Anuran Communities: A Result of Species Loss in an Agricultural Environment

The great environmental changes induced by anthropogenic activities reshaped many ecosystem processes. Thus, the previously natural landscapes have been turned into mosaics of natural and seminatural lands embedded into human-modified landscape. To understand effects of these landscape modifications on the anuran communities, we aimed to compare pond-breeding anuran communities in a well-preserved forest with communities in agricultural landscape. We tested the values of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity, by analyzing four data matrixes containing environmental, phy- logenetic, morphological and abundance information from 15 anuran species along this environmental gradient. Our analysis showed that only the phylogenetic component of the diversity was linked to the changes on the gradient and that the loss of environmental quality generates enhanced phylogenetic diversity. We showed that the anthropogenic disturbance acts negatively on anuran communities, forcing the species to adapt and behave like generalist species in order to survive at the modified places now available, where there were well-preserved forests before the humans changed it.
Seismic Performance Evaluation of Double-Skin Semi-Base-IsolatedBuildingUsing IncrementalDynamicAnalysis

Base isolation is a widely accepted earthquake damage prevention technique. )is method decouples the superstructure from the base by putting a flexible layer under each column, thereby elongating the time period of structures. Semi-base isolation (SBI) in double-skin structures is an effective technique to reduce the dynamic responses of structures due to earthquake motions, by utilizing the isolation devices in part of it instead of the entire base. )is study presents a double-skin structure consisting of outer fixed base frames with shear walls that have been detached from the inner core with a minor gap. )e inner core of the structure has been dissociated from the base using the elastomeric bearings. Seismic response of 10-story double-skin structure with inner isolated core was compared to that of inner fixed base core to consider the yielding and collapse probability of the structure using the incremental dynamic analyses (IDA). )e results showed that the time period in SBI buildings can be adjusted with the use of coupling beams between the inner and outer frames. Also, the time period and interstory drift ratio are both reduced as more floors are given coupling beams. However, these coupling beams are the most effective at the topmost floors.
Wind Energy Resources of the South Baltic Sea

The wind resources of the South Baltic Sea in the area between latitude 54 and 58 degrees North and longitude 10 to 22 degrees East are quantified from state-of-the-art methods using a combination of long-term and short-term mesoscale modeling output and satellite-based methods. The long-term overall statistics based on the NCEP/NCAR re-analysis dataset will be used in combination with more than one year of real time simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model operated at Riso DTU. The satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) ocean wind maps and scatterometer ocean wind maps from QuikSCAT will be used to evaluate the wind resource calculation. The advantage of including SAR wind maps for evaluation is the finer spatial detail. In some regions, the mesoscale model may not fully resolve the windproducing atmospheric structures. The satellites, however, only provides information at 10 m above sea level, whereas the mesoscale model provide results at several heights.
Genetic Moderation of Phenotypic and Neural Indicators of Peer Influenced Risk-taking Behavior: An Experimental Investigation

Risk-taking behavior (RTB) is defined as behavior involving the probability of reward with concurrent probability of some negative outcome. Peer influence is among the most robust predictors of RTB, such that greater peer influence, particularly deviant or delinquent peer influence, is associated with increased RTB. Evidence suggests that those with genetic predispositions for RTB may also be more susceptible to peer influence as a function of genotype. Given that genetic polymorphisms within the dopaminergic system have evidenced associations with various forms of RTB and delinquent peer affiliation, it is possible that these genes may interact with peer influence to predict increased RTB, a process called gene × environment interaction (G×E). We expected that those genetically at risk would take more risks in the presence of a peer than alone. To test this effect, five polymorphisms within the dopaminergic system were genotyped in a sample of 85 undergraduate students. Participants completed a behavioral risk task alone and in the presence of a peer providing “risky” feedback. No significant G×Es were identified for any of the dependent variables. However, participants took significantly more risks in the presence of a risky peer than when taking risks alone. These results suggest that G×E may not be a relevant process for peer-influenced RTB during late adolescence. It is possible that G×E is a relevant process during early adolescence, while geneenvironment correlation (rGE) is the dominant process during late adolescence. Future research would benefit from testing whether these genes are relevant to G×E in early adolescence, as well as to rGE during late adolescence.
Survey of Climate-Related Risks to Tilapia Pond Farms in Northern Thailand

Climate is an important factor for aquaculture production. This study aimed to understand how farmers that culture tilapia in earthen ponds perceive and respond to climate impacts. Important climate-related risks identified include extreme temperatures (hot and cold), excessive rainfall, prolonged cloud cover, flood and drought. Site visits and data collection using questionnaires were conducted to identify important factors influencing farm profits, losses, decision to increase or decrease ponds. Special attention was given to knowledge about fish markets and weather and the impacts of weather and climate on fish growth, disease outbreaks and water quality in ponds. Altogether 585 fish farms in four provinces in northern part of Thailand selected to cover a range of elevations above sea level and thus climate were surveyed (Nakornsawan 500 m). Fish farms at different elevations reported different climate and weather-related impacts. In the area where elevation above sea level is 500 were impacted mainly by drought and cold weather. These conditions also caused disease outbreaks and reduced feeding rates. Farmers responded by reducing the amount of feed supplied and considering non-fish pond or non-farm supplementary occupations as an adaptation strategy. Among non-climate related factors high prices of feed were most commonly identified as a key issue by farmers. The differences among sites at higher and lower elevation provided insights into the kind of changes in risks farmers may face as climate changes that could be helpful in developing adaptation strategies for individual farmers and the sector as a whole.
Beef cattle performance, carcass and meat quality traits to discriminate between pasture-based and concentrate diets

The aim of this work was to identify general relationships between the fattening diet and weight gains, carcass and meat quality across experiments, using data from bulls (n = 90) and steers (n = 56) of Parda de Montaña and Pirenaica breeds collected in 7 experiments. The different factors considered were diet (1. pasture+supplement; 2. pasture+supplement and indoor finishing for <3 months; 3. concentrates), breed and sex. Dietary energy and protein, forage:concentrate ratio, animal performance (weight gain, dry matter intake, age at slaughter), carcass (weight, conformation and fat scores, fat colour) and meat quality (intramuscular fat, colour and texture) were registered. The relationships between variables were studied with a Principal Component Analysis. Three factors explained 50% of the total variability: Factor 1 (21% of variability) was associated positively with fat yellowness and colour intensity, and negatively with daily gains during fattening; Factor 2 (15%) with meat yellowness, lightness and tenderness; and Factor 3 (14%) with meat redness and colour intensity. These factors were influenced by diet, sex and/or weight or age at slaughter, but not by breed. A discriminant analysis classified animals by fattening diet, with total accuracy for concentratefed diets (100%), intermediate for pasture+supplement (97%) and lower for cattle finished after grazing (91%), probably because of their intermediate meat and carcass characteristics.
MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SIMPLIFIED COBIT-BASED IT PROCESS MATURITY ASSESSMENT METHOD

We propose a simplified method for measuring the maturity levels of an organization’s information technology (IT) processes that is based on IT Governance Institute’s COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) framework. The method is designed for quickly assessing an organization’s IT process maturity in situations where the availability of information for a more thorough assessment method is very limited. To investigate the accuracy of the proposed method, we evaluate the consistency between the result of the IT process maturity assessment of an organization and the conditions reported by the organization as impediment to the achievement of its IT goals. The underlying assumption is that a condition that is perceived by an organization as a problem will drive the organization to develop a process that can effectively deal with the condition. We show that there is good enough consistency to support the use of the proposed maturity assessment method. Kami mengusulkan sebuah metode sederhana untuk mengukur tingkat kematangan (maturity) dari proses teknologi informasi (TI) suatu organisasi yang didasarkan pada IT Governance Institute’s COBIT framework (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology). Metode ini dirancang untuk melakukan penilaian dengan cepat dari tingkat kematangan proses TI suatu organisasi dalam situasi di mana ketersediaan informasi untuk metode penilaian yang lebih menyeluruh sangat terbatas. Untuk mengetahui ketepatan metode yang diusulkan, kami mengevaluasi konsistensi antara hasil penilaian kematangan proses TI dari suatu organisasi dan kondisi yang dilaporkan oleh organisasi sebagai rintangan bagi tercapainya tujuan IT. Asumsi yang mendasarinya adalah bahwa suatu kondisi yang dirasakan oleh organisasi sebagai masalah akan mendorong organisasi untuk mengembangkan sebuah proses yang dapat secara efektif menangani kondisi tersebut. Kami menunjukkan bahwa ada konsistensi yang cukup baik untuk mendukung penggunaan metode penilaian kematangan yang diusulkan.
Soil moisture mapping over West Africa with a 30-min temporal resolution using AMSR-E observations and a satellite-based rainfall product

Abstract. An original and simple method to map surface soil moisture over large areas has been developed to obtain data with a high temporal and spatial resolution for the study of possible feedback mechanisms between soil moisture and convection in West Africa. A rainfall estimation product based on Meteosat geostationary satellite measurements is first used together with a simple Antecedent Precipitation Index (API) model to produce soil moisture maps at a spatial resolution of 10×10 km2 and a temporal resolution of 30-min. However, given the uncertainty of the satellite-based rainfall estimation product, the resulting soil moisture maps are not sufficiently accurate. For this reason, a technique based on assimilating AMSR-E C-band measurements into a microwave emission model was developed in which the estimated rainfall rates between two successive AMSR-E brightness temperature (TB) measurements are adjusted by multiplying them by a factor between 0 and 7 that minimizes the difference between simulated and observed TBs. Ground-based soil moisture measurements obtained at three sites in Niger, Mali and Benin were used to assess the method which was found to improve the soil moisture estimates on all three sites.
Formation mechanism of magnesium ammonium phosphate stones: a component analysis of urinary nanocrystallites

The components of urinary nanocrystallites in patients with magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) stones were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), fast Fourier transformation (FFT), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The main components of the stones were MAP hexahydrate (MAPċ6H2O), magnesium hydrogen phosphate trihydrate (MgHPO4ċ3H2O), and a small amount of calcium phosphate (CaP), while the main components of urinary nanocrystallites were MgHPO4ċ3H2O, CaP, and MAP monohydrate (MAPċH2O). MAPċH2O induced the formation of MAP stones as seed crystals. MgHPO4ċ3H2O was accompanied by the appearance of MAPċ6H2O. The formation mechanism of MAP stones and influencing factors were discussed on the basis of the components of urine nanocrystallites. A model diagram of MAP stone formation was also put forward based on the results. Formation of MAP stones was closely related to the presence of high amounts of MAP crystallites in urine. Urinary crystallite condition and changes in urine components could indicate the activity of stone diseases.
Cellular gas with active components of PSO: mutation and crossover

Two powerful metaheuristics being used successfully since their creation for the resolution of optimization problems are Cellular Genetic Algorithm (cGA) and Particle Swam Optimization (PSO). Over the last years, interest in hybrid metaheuristics has risen considerably in the field of optimization. Combinations of operators and metaheuristics have provided very powerful search techniques. In this work we incorporate active components of PSO into the cGA. We replace the mutation and the crossover operators by concepts inherited by PSO internal techniques. We present four hybrid algorithms and analyze their performance using a set of different problems. The results obtained are quite satisfactory in efficacy and efficiency.
An experimental approach for studying the genetic and physiological background of nutrient transformation in cattle with respect to nutrient secretion and accretion type

Abstract. Identifying the genetic and physiological background of phenotypic variability between animals of different nutrient turnover is a well recognised prerequisite for efficient breeding strategies. Published results relevant for our recently initiated project on properties of the nutrient transformation in cattle with respect to secretion type and accretion type are reviewed. For a deeper insight into the genetic and physiological background of both types, an experiment has been initiated using segregating F2 offspring's of crosses of Charolais bulls and German Holstein cows. It will be shown that, with respect to their phenotypic and physiological properties, these two breeds are especially suitable for a study of the accretion and secretion type. The basis of the experimental design and the intended investigations are described.
Complexity in the light curves and spectra of slow-evolving superluminous supernovae

This work is based on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile as part of PESSTO (the Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey for Transient Objects Survey) ESO programme 188.D-3003, 191.D-0935, 197.D-1075 and the X-Shooter programmes 093.D-0229, 092.D-0555. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement no [291222]. SJS acknowledges funding from STFC grants ST/I001123/1 and ST/L000709/1. This research was supported by the Munich Institute for Astro- and Particle Physics (MIAPP) of the DFG cluster of excellence ‘Origin and Structure of the Universe’. MF acknowledges the support of a Royal Society – Science Foundation Ireland University Research Fellowship. KM acknowledges support from the STFC through an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship. TWC and TK acknowledge the support through the Sofia Kovalevskaja Award to P. Schady from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany. The Liverpool Telescope is operated on the island of La Palma by Liverpool John Moores University in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias with financial support from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. The Pan-STARRS1 Surveys (PS1) have been made possible through contributions of the Institute for Astronomy, the University of Hawaii, the Pan-STARRS Project Office, the Max Planck Society and its participating institutes, the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, the Johns Hopkins University, Durham University, the University of Edinburgh, Queen’s University Belfast, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network Incorporated, the National Central University of Taiwan, the Space Telescope Science Institute, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NNX08AR22G issued through the Planetary Science Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, the National Science Foundation under Grant No. AST-1238877, the University of Maryland, and Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE) and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
A Knowledge Translation Perspective on the Two Quantitative Sensory Tests and their Usability with Clinicians

Background: Knowledge Translation (KT) in health service can be conceptualized as evidence based knowledge transfer to clinical practice. KT puts evidence-informed innovations into practice and evaluates the effectiveness innovations. The use of Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) is rare in clinics despite its scientific evidence and potential benefit for patient care. Appropriate KT plan can reduce the gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice. This KT project aimed to develop and conduct beta testing of two KT tools (created knowledge) with the target population (clinicians) who treat musculoskeletal pain disorders. Methods: This paper explores how evidence-informed innovations (knowledge creation) may work in action process model of KT. The whole process may be defined as “knowledge-to-action” process, and it is a dynamic interaction between researchers, clinicians and stakeholders. We used Ovid database (e.g. MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, PsycINFO) for literature review and KT tool production ((knowledge creation). This KT project evaluated two KT tools (manual and video) by administering the survey with 12 clinicians. Results: Overall rating of the KT tools (manual and video) = 5.75 out of 6. All responses from 12 clinicians were affirmative answer and minimum 75% inquires strongly agreed on all components/topics. Clinicians supported implementation of the two QST techniques for the clinical setting and their feedback assisted in the strategy for implementation. Conclusions: Evaluation of KT through the wide lens of the “knowledge-to-action” process creates awareness of the value of clinicians and research based evidence. It justifies opportunities and pathways of KT for QST in clinic. The study with a KT model reflected clinical perspective of knowledge has a potential role in successful KT intervention. The future directed models may allow clinicians and stakeholders to analyse complex situation in health service, and it may help to identify target KT strategies to solve the practical problem for implementing two reliable, feasible and economic QST in clinical practice.
Determination of deoxyribonucleic acid content and relative 2 C genome sizes of some promising commercial varieties of sugarcane using flow cytometer

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp., Poaceae), is a large perennial vegetatively propagated crop mostly grown in the tropical and subtropical environments globally for its sugar-rich stalks and accounts for 80% of world sugar production (glycophyte). It is one of most efficient crops in converting solar energy into chemical energy because sugarcane is utilizing the C4 pathway of photosynthesis. Sugarcane is a first generation biofuel crop used for ethanol production as an alternative source of energy (Lam et al., 2009), and has proven to be an efficient feedstock for generating biofuel.