Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usabilidade de Aplicações Web Móvel: Avaliando uma Nova Abordagem de Inspeção através de Estudos Experimentais

Mobile phones are becoming increasingly used to access web services. However, most of the features available in software for mobile phones are not used due to the lack of usability of the applications in these devices. In this context, usability evaluations are often avoided by developers or companies due to their lack of experience in the field. Thus, there exists growing demand to explore appropriate evaluation methodologies that evaluate the usability of mobile phones applications quickly as well as comprehensively. In this paper, we present the development of a specific usability inspection technique UBICUA (Usability-Based Inspection CUstomizable Approach) for web mobile applications customizable by inspector knowledge which results in greater usability problem identification. The goals of this paper are: (1) to describe experimental studies to evaluate the UBICUA technique, using an experimental methodology to improve the technique for safe transfer to industry; and (2) to encourage the adoption of a new usability evaluation technology by software engineers in the software development process.
3D estimation and view synthesis in wide-baseline stereo

Nowadays, when viewing a pre-recorded video content, the spectator's viewpoint is restricted to one of the cameras that have recorded the scene. To improve the viewer's experience, the next generation of video content aims at enabling him/her to interactively define his/her viewpoint. This domain is known as view synthesis and consists in the interpolation of images that would be seen from a different viewpoint than the ones captured by real cameras. However, the current solutions require that the real cameras share very similar viewpoints, which limits the range of synthesized views. To circumvent this issue, this thesis focuses on the view interpolation when only two real cameras observe the scene from very different viewpoints. This minimalist and challenging camera configuration, called wide-baseline stereo, makes the view synthesis and its underlying 3D estimation problem ill-posed, i.e., multiple reconstructed views are possible. This thesis proposes three new priors to address the problem. The first contribution proposes an energy minimization framework to favor the preservation of the order of the elements in the scene while changing the viewpoint. The second contribution assumes the piecewise-planarity of the scene's background and approximates its 3D by a set of 3D planes under sparsity and smoothness constraints. The last contribution considers the view synthesis of dynamic foreground objects. It first learns a prior about plausible 2D silhouettes of the object based on non-linear dimensionality reduction of their shape descriptors. Afterwards, it constrains the interpolated views to be consistent with this shape prior.
The financial crisis and potential growth : Policy challenges for Europe

Introduction The ongoing financial and economic crisis is taking its toll through an unprecedented drop in GDP – the Commission's spring forecast sets this loss at around 4% in 2009. Whilst financial market turbulence, credit shortages and higher unemployment will inevitably lead to a non-negligible loss of potential output, i.e of structural productive capacities, in the short run, the long-run impact on the potential output of the European economy is much less certain. Whilst acknowledging this uncertainty, this Economic Brief examines how the policy choices made now can determine the eventual outcome and recoup (some) of the losses.
Campaign Allocations Under Probabilistic Voting September 2008

We develop a non-Downsian probalistic voting model where candidates compete by running campaign ads in different media markets. Ads are viewed by everyone within a media market and cannot be targeted to subgroups such as undecided voters or partisans of one candidate. Based on observable factors, candidates can estimate the distribution of voter preference intensities in a media market, and campaign ads then shift this distribution. Due to unobservable factors, individuals with any intensity vote with some probability for each candidate. We derive comparative static implications of changes in such factors as the mix and intensities of partisans in a market on the advertising decisions of a candidate. Using campaign advertising data from governor and senate races in the US in 2002, we find these results to be consistent with actual campaign allocation behavior. In addition, the empirical results also shed insight into whether union members have become swing voters and whether voting behavior in the South continues to differ significantly from the rest of the country. JEL keywords: D72, campaign allocation, probabilistic voting
Radial basis function cascade network for Sparse signal Recovery (RASR)

The use of cascade network consisting of RBF nodes and least square error minimization block to Compressed Sensing for recovery of sparse signals is explored in this paper to improve the computation time and convergence. The proposed algorithm Radial basis function cascade network for Sparse signal Recovery (RASR) uses the L0 norm optimization, L2 least square method and feedback network model to improve the signal recovery performance and computational time over the existing ANN based CSIANN and relaxation based SL0 algorithms. The simulation results and experimental evluation of algorithm performance are presented here.
Synthesis of reflection type negative group delay circuit using transmission line resonator

Design equation and synthesis of reflection type negative group delay circuit (NGDC) using transmission line resonator (TLR) are presented. From the mathematical analysis, general equations are derived and validated with simulation for lumped element (LE) equivalent circuit. TLR-loaded reflection type NGDC is proposed to overcome the limited availability of component values required for LE structural NGDC. As a design example, single unit TLR-loaded NGDC with group delay (GD) of −8ns is designed. Simulation results agreed pretty well with the proposed design equation. To obtain broadband negative group delay with rigid flatness specification, 2-stage reflection type TLR-loaded NGDC with total group delay of −7 ns, −1.7dB loss, and 30 MHz bandwidth around 2 GHz, in which magnitude flatness of 0.1dB and group delay flatness of 0.5 ns is maintained, are fabricated and demonstrated.
Flexible uplink MU-MIMO scheduling in unlicensed spectrum

Utilizing the unlicensed spectrum as supplementary is being studied to meet the increasingly growing demand of user equipment for rate, traffic and bandwidth, and thus to mitigate the current spectrum scarcity crisis. In this paper, we investigate the uplink multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (UL MU-MIMO) technique to achieve multiplexing gain in unlicensed spectrum. We first define a new parameter called channel busy radio (CBR) which is related to the probability of occupying the unlicensed channel, and find that the failure to occupy the unlicensed channel leads to the performance degradation in unlicensed spectrum. Then, according to the user-specific CBR of the unlicensed channel, we propose a flexible scheduling scheme for UL MU-MIMO in unlicensed spectrum, and formulate an optimization problem for the optimal scheduled user number. Furthermore, an adaptive scheduling algorithm is proposed to decide the optimal number of the scheduled users efficiently. The simulation results show that, based on statistical channel condition in unlicensed spectrum, adjusting the number of the scheduled user flexibly can offset the degraded throughput and form an optimal MU-MIMO transmission.
Benign Epilepsy of Children with Centrotemporal EEG Foci. A Study of Incidence Rate in Outpatient Care

The incidence rates of epileptic seizures and epileptic seizures with centre‐temporal (Ro‐landic) discharges were found to be 134/100,000 and 21/100,000, respectively. These were determined in an epidemiological study in a population consisting of 52,252 children aged 0–15 years in a county in the northern part of Sweden. Epileptic seizures with Rolandic discharges represented about 16% of all the epileptic seizures (febrile convulsions not included). They were four times more common than classic petit mal with 3/sec spike‐and‐wave activity.
Cortical responses of awake cat to narrow-band FM noise stimuli.

When a noiselike auditory stimulus is used to study the auditory nervous system, it is difficult to determine the evoked response dependency upon the transitory changes in stimulus intensity and upon its spectrum. This is particularly true when the noise intensity fluctuates, as in filtered white noise, for example. However, if a relatively long tone burst is briefly frequency modulated (FM) by noise, the tone‐noise and noise‐tone transitions occur with no SPL intensity fluctuation. The responses can then be ascribed solely to the spectral transitions. A series of experiments has been performed on awake cats subjected to such stimuli in which the noise bandwidth was varied. Responses to the tone‐noise transitions were obtained from epidural electrodes and were compared with responses to both pure‐tone bursts and FM bursts with the same envelope. Of considerable interest is the finding that for relatively large bandwidths, the response is greater to the tone‐noise transition than to onset of an FM noise bu.
A new bonding process for polymer micro- and nanostructures based on near-surface degradation

A new approach to bond polymer micro- and nanostructures has been developed which avoids many problems caused by adhesives, solvents or high temperatures. The new process is based on generating a thin surface layer with a lowered glass transition temperature in a thicker polymer bulk layer with a higher glass transition temperature by near-surface degradation of the thermoplastic polymer. So welding or heat-sealing is possible at low temperatures. Because of the low thermal load, even bulk structures in the range of some few micrometers and with structure details in the submicron range remain dimensionally stable. The new bonding strategy is demonstrated using the example of a process on the basis of photodegradation. Moulded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microchannels and microspectrometer reflective gratings were bonded to PMMA cover plates by ultraviolet irradiation of the joining faces and subsequent welding at low temperatures. With this new process, celluloseacetate film samples were successfully bonded also.
Phlegmasia caerulea dolens and venous gangrene

Phlegmasia caerulea dolens and venous gangrene are rare conditions that tend to occur in association with malignancy. They are characterized by total or near‐total occlusion of the venous drainage of the limb, including the microvascular collaterals. Associated mortality and morbidity rates are high, especially when progression to venous gangrene has occurred. Treatment options are limited; elevation and anticoagulation are recommended as first‐line management. Experience with thrombolysis has been disappointing although intra‐arterial administration of thrombolytic agents may improve results. Thrombectomy cannot be advocated routinely. Little advance in management, or in life and limb salvage, has been made in the past 30 years.
Finite-time nonsmooth vibration control for building structure with actuator failures

In order to accommodate actuator failures which are uncertain in time, pattern and value, the finite-time stable nonsmooth control method is applied to suppress the vibration, which overcomes the shortcomings of the traditional control method neglecting the influence of actuator. According to theory of Lyapnov stability, the designed control method is proved that can realize the stability of building structural vibration. Finally, several simulation examples are given for numerical simulation that regarding a building by the earthquake. The control effect under nonsmooth control condition is compared with a way of LQR control. The simulation results reveal that the designed control method has great seismic performance and is available for vibration control of actuator failure in building structure.
A Good Index, Prerequisite for Easy Access of Information Stored in a Dictionary

A good dictionary contains not only many entries and a lot of information concerning each one of them, but also adequate means to reveal the stored information. Information access depends crucially on the quality of the index(es). I will present here some ideas of how a dictionary could be enhanced to support a speaker/writer to find the word s/he is looking for. To this end I suggest to add to an existing electronic resource an index based on the notion of association.
Analyzing the nexus of higher education and vocational training in Europe: a comparative‐institutional framework

Given ongoing economic, political and social transformation, skill formation systems are under pressure to change. This is acknowledged in European declarations – Bologna for higher education and Copenhagen for vocational training – and various national reform processes. The omnipresent convergence hypothesis is that these international pressures will result in national skill formation systems becoming more similar. However, if these systems throughout Europe are to match the dominant anglophone models, which value general higher education more than specific vocational training, those countries with strong apprenticeship traditions are especially challenged. Due to countries’ differential starting points, the convergence hypothesis needs to be tested, taking the shifting complementary and competitive relationship between the two organizational fields of higher education and vocational training into account. Ideational internationalization, and normative and regulative Europeanization, as manifest in the Bologna and Copenhagen processes, require analysis as factors driving institutional change in post‐secondary higher and vocational educational systems. Key questions are: will common trends and challenges lead to cross‐national convergence of skill formation systems? Or do national responses instead indicate that adaptations are mainly consistent with specific cultural and structural characteristics? This article discusses why, in order to answer such questions adequately, in‐depth comparative research should overcome the persistent division in research on these two sectors by examining the nexus of higher education and vocational training.
Estudo da estrutura interna do Teste de Inteligência - TI

El objetivo del trabajo fue verificar la estructura interna del Teste de Inteligencia - TI, a traves del Analisis Factorial Exploratorio -AFE y Confirmatorio - AFC. La muestra de la investigacion se constituyo por 2163 sujetos, siendo 1013 para el estudio del AFE y 1150 para el AFC. En los dos casos los sujetos eran mayores de 18 anos, ambos sexos, y con escolaridad variando desde la educacion primaria incompleta hasta la ensenanza superior completa. Inicialmente se realizo el AFE, que sugirio la presencia de dos factores, el primero incluyendo los items 18 a 30 y el segundo formado por los items de 1 a 17, pero que presentaron una correlacion positiva y moderada. Frente a ese resultado se aplico el AFC, que tambien mostro que el modelo con dos factores fue el mas ajustado. Pese a que los resultados apuntan para la existencia de una estructura bidimensional, mas estudios son necesarios para entender mejor esos factores.
An Experimental Model to Study the Blink Reflex

A model to study the blink reflex in the experimental setting has been established. The behavioral, electrophysiologic, pathologic, and surgical methods and results obtained parallel those utilized and observed in the human and simulate the problem of facial paralysis. The observation that the blink can be elicited in an animal model, with the same stimuli as in humans, strengthens the value of this model, as do the similarities seen in the electrophysiologic recordings of NCV studies. The dual innervation of the rat eye sphincter allows application of the principle of selectively neurectomizing eye branches and "borrowing" motor-nerve fibers from the normal side, without causing eye-sphincter paralysis, a concept employed extensively in cross-facial nerve-grafting procedures in humans with facial paralysis.
Assessing liver injury associated with antimycotics: Concise literature review and clues from data mining of the FAERS database.

AIM To inform clinicians on the level of hepatotoxic risk among antimycotics in the post-marketing setting, following the marketing suspension of oral ketoconazole for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). METHODS The publicly available international FAERS database (2004-2011) was used to extract DILI cases (including acute liver failure events), where antimycotics with systemic use or potential systemic absorption were reported as suspect or interacting agents. The reporting pattern was analyzed by calculating the reporting odds ratio and corresponding 95%CI, a measure of disproportionality, with time-trend analysis where appropriate. RESULTS From 1687284 reports submitted over the 8-year period, 68115 regarded liver injury. Of these, 2.9% are related to antimycotics (1964 cases, of which 112 of acute liver failure). Eleven systemic antimycotics (including ketoconazole and the newer triazole derivatives voriconazole and posaconazole) and terbinafine (used systemically to treat onychomicosis) generated a significant disproportionality, indicating a post-marketing signal of risk. CONCLUSION Virtually all antimycotics with systemic action or absorption are commonly reported in clinically significant cases of DILI. Clinicians must be aware of this aspect and monitor patients in case switch is considered, especially in critical poly-treated patients under chronic treatment.
Forensic Analysis of Epic Privacy Browser on Windows Operating Systems

Internet security can be compromised not only through the threat of Malware, fraud, system intrusion or damage, but also via the tracking of internet activity. Criminals are using numerous methods to access data in the highly lucrative cybercrime business. Organized crime, as well as individual users, are benefiting from the protection of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and private browsers, such as Tor, Epic Privacy, to carry out illegal activity such as money laundering, drug dealing and the trade of child pornography. News articles advising on internet privacy assisted in educating the public and a new era of private browsing arose. Although these measures were designed to protect legitimate browsing privacy, they also provided a means to conceal illegal activity. One such tool released for private browsing was Epic Privacy Browser. It is currently used in approximately 180 countries worldwide. Epic Privacy Browser is promoted as a chromium powered browser, specifically engineered to protect users' privacy. It only operates in private browser mode and, upon close of the browsing session, deletes all browsing data. The Epic Privacy Browser claims that all traces of user activity will be cleared upon close of the application and will establish if the introduction of Windows 10 has had an adverse effect on this claim. However, there is no forensic acquisition and analysis of Epic Privacy Browser in literature. In this paper, we aim to contribute towards the goal of assisting forensic examiners with the locations and types of evidence available through live and post-mortem state analysis of the Epic Privacy Browser on Windows 10 and Windows 7, identify how the browser functions during use, where data can be recovered once the browser is closed and the necessary tools that will assist in the forensics discovery and effective presentation of the material.
Design of Min-Sum-based LDPC decoders using imprecise arithmetic

This work evaluates the robustness of Low-Density Parity-Check decoders against errors due to imprecise arithmetic. While the use of imprecise arithmetic is motivated by savings in energy, delay and area, it also causes errors during the decoding process. This is a new paradigm in coding theory, which traditionally assumes that an error correction decoder operates on exact hardware and errors can only be introduced by the transmission channel. We design imprecise arithmetic operators and investigate their use within several Min-Sum-based decoders. We show that all decoders are able to provide error protection, but most of them suffer a performance penalty compared to the exact arithmetic implementation. Remarkably, the Self-Corrected Min-Sum decoder incurs no performance penalty when imprecise arithmetic is used.
Strength training and shoulder proprioception.

CONTEXT Proprioception is essential to motor control and joint stability during daily and sport activities. Recent studies demonstrated that athletes have better joint position sense (JPS) when compared with controls matched for age, suggesting that physical training could have an effect on proprioception. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the result of an 8-week strength-training program on shoulder JPS and to verify whether using training intensities that are the same or divergent for the shoulder's dynamic-stabilizer muscles promote different effects on JPS. DESIGN Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING We evaluated JPS in a research laboratory and conducted training in a gymnasium. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A total of 90 men, right handed and asymptomatic, with no history of any type of injury or shoulder instability. INTERVENTION(S) For 8 weeks, the participants performed the strength-training program 3 sessions per week. We used 4 exercises (bench press, lat pull down, shoulder press, and seated row), with 2 sets each. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) We measured shoulder JPS acuity by calculating the absolute error. RESULTS We found an interaction between group and time. To examine the interaction, we conducted two 1-way analyses of variance comparing groups at each time. The groups did not differ at pretraining; however, a difference among groups was noted posttraining. CONCLUSIONS Strength training using exercises at the same intensity produced an improvement in JPS compared with exercises of varying intensity, suggesting that the former resulted in improvements in the sensitivity of muscle spindles and, hence, better neuromuscular control in the shoulder.
Challenging issues of average consensus algorithms in wireless sensor networks

This study tackles common challenges of the average consensus algorithms in real-world distributed wireless networks. The drawbacks of asynchronous transmissions, topology changes and communication delays on the distributed decision making of the network members to terminate a consensus algorithm are mainly studied. Two distributed stopping policies are proposed that help the network members to gradually stop message transmissions when they reach an acceptable accuracy of the final consensus value. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms help previous consensus algorithms to decrease total packet transmissions in a random topology network. Simulation results also confirm that the proposed can perform in the presence of delayed members and non-ideal transmissions.