Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Second-Order Moment Convergence Rates for Spectral Statistics of Random Matrices

This paper considers the precise asymptotics of the spectral statistics of random matrices. Following the ideas of Gut and Spătaru (2000) and Liu and Lin (2006) on the precise asymptotics of i.i. d. random variables in the context of the complete convergence and the second-order moment convergence, respectively, we will establish the precise second-order moment convergence rates of a type of series constructed by the spectral statistics of Wigner matrices or sample covariance matrices.
Salience effects in the north-west of England

The question of how we can define salience, what properties it includes and how we can quantify it have been discussed widely over the past thirty years but we still have more questions than answers about this phenomenon, e. g. not only how salience arises, but also how we can define it. However, despite the lack of a clear definition, salience is often taken into account as an explanatory factor in language change. The scientific discourse on salience has in most cases revolved around phonetic features, while hardly any variables on other linguistic levels have been investigated in terms of their salience. Hence, one goal of this paper is to argue for an expanded view of salience in the sociolinguistic context. This article investigates the variation and change of two groups of variables in Carlisle, an urban speech community in the north west of England. I analyse the variable ( th ) and in particular the replacement of /θ/ with [f] which is widely known as th -fronting. The use of three discourse markers is also examined. Both groups of features will then be discussed in the light of sociolinguistic salience.
Fault Eccentricity Diagnosis in Variable Speed Induction Motor Drive Using DWT

This paper describes the monitoring and diagnosis of eccentricity fault in variable speed induction motor drive. The used control technique is the indirect field oriented control (IFOC) fuzzy logic based controller to ensure the robust speed regulation and to compensate the fault effects. The variable speed induction motor can be affected by various kinds of faults. Airgap eccentricity is one of the major defects occurring in such electric drives; its detection could be useful for preventing potential catastrophic failures. A dynamic model taking into account the faults is proposed based on the approach of magnetically coupled coils to simulate the behavior of eccentricity faults in induction motor. This work presents two approaches for diagnosis and detection of eccentricity faults and evaluation of their severity based on monitoring of the stator current signals, using Park vector method and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) with different approaches to distinguish healthy as well as faulty conditions of the machine. The obtained simulation results via the proposed technique allow detection and diagnosis of eccentricity fault and identify their severity.
A Sustainability Perspective on Flexible HRM: How to Cope with Paradoxes of Contingent Work **

Based on a sustainability perspective we offer a research framework that allows discussion of the relationship between positive and negative effects of flexible HRM. Sustainability, as an umbrella concept, aims to integrate three perspectives: economy, ecology and society. The relationships between these perspectives are characterized by paradoxical tensions. Following Ehnerts’ approach of “Sustainable HRM”, we use coping strategies from paradox theory in order to discuss paradoxical tensions within research findings on flexible HRM. We conclude that the adapted usage of Sustainable HRM offers a starting point for more sophisticated research into the relationship between the positive and negative effects of flexible HRM.
High pregnancy and implantation rates can be obtained with preincubation of oocytes before insemination in IVF and ICSI procedures

Purpose: Evaluate the effect of preincubation of oocytes prior to IVF or ICSI cycles with embryo transfer at blastocyst stage. Methods: Retrospective non randomized study based on secondary analysis of data. Setting: Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction at the Alcivar Hospital. Patients: One hundred-eighteen cycles of IVF and ICSI were analyzed in the present study. The evaluated groups were formed for those patients whose oocytes, after retrieval, were inseminated at 1-3 h (Group I) or 4-6 h (Group II). Results: There was no difference in fertilization rate (83.6% and 78.1%), Day 3 cleavage rate (95.1% and 97.1%), and blastocyst formation (31.1% and 39.1%) for groups I and II respectively. Clinical pregnancy rates (PR: 53.0% vs 22.9%) and implantation rates (IR: 38.1% vs 13.0%) were significantly higher in group II versus group I, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Preincubation of oocytes before insemination is a factor which raises the PR and IR after the blastocyst transfer.
Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Novel Six-Membered 4-C, 4-O and 4-S Lactams Derivatives: Characterization and in vitro Biological Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Anticoagulant Activity

A series of six-membered lactam derivatives containing C, O and S atoms in position 4 were synthesized using microwave methodology through coupling reactions. The novel compounds were synthesized following two step reaction to yield fifteen derivatives. The final derivative N-(4-(3-oxotiomorpholin)phenyl) hexanamide was selectively toxic to the HCT-116 cell line over the HeLa cancerous and HEK-293 human non-malignant control cells with low inhibition Factor Xa (FXa) activity. The new products were characterized by spectral data including 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Cytotoxicity of products on HCT-116, HeLa, HEK-293 cell lines and FXa activity assays are also reported.
In the heat of the sequence: Interactional features preceding walkouts from argumentative talk

This article examines complaint sequences that terminate with one party's walking out, unilaterally, on the other. The analysis of three such extended sequences, using the Conversation Analytic approach, reveals interactional parallels among them. The complaints that precede the walkouts are constructed so as to identify deleterious and generic personal deficiencies. As these sequences develop, they come to focus on faults in the current behavior of those involved. In their final stages, the actions of the leavers appear sensitive to the persistence of behavior that has been deemed to be at fault. This combination of features seems connected to both the unilateral departure and the state of indignation that also becomes evidently present. This invites comparison with other forms of antagonistic dispute, such as those that lead to certain instances of murder.
Predators of foraminifera in the Indian River, Florida

Gut contents of macrofauna] specimens collected from inside an exclosure with 1-mm openings, and from otiier locations in the Indian River estuary, Florida, were examined to determine what animals ingest foraminifera. One species of goby (fish) several species of decapods, molluscs, and some species of polychaetes were found to contain foraminifera in their guts. Almost all the animals containing foraminifera had been previously described in the literature as deposit feeders.
Role of an Alternatively Spliced KCNMA1 Variant in Glioma Growth

Gliomas develop genetic traits to rapidly form aggressive phenotypes. Hence, man- agement of gliomas is complicated and difficult. Besides genetic aberrations such as oncogenic copy number variation and mutations, alternative mRNA splicing triggers prooncogenic episodes in many cancers. In gliomas, we found alternative splicing at the KCNMA transcription process. KCNMA1 encodes the pore forming α-subunit of large-conductance calcium-activated voltage-sensitive potassium (BK Ca ) channels. These channels play critical role in glioma invasion and proliferation. We identified a novel KCNMA1 mRNA splice variant with a deletion of 108 base pairs ( KCNMA1v ) mostly overexpressed in high grade gliomas. We found that KCNMA1 alternative pre-mRNA splicing enhanced glioma growth, progression and diffusion. The role of KCNMA1 and its splicing as a critical posttranscriptional regulator of BK Ca channel expression is pre- sented in this chapter. Our research implies that high grade gliomas express KCNMA1v and BK Ca channel isoform to accelerate growth and transformation to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We demonstrated that tumors hardly develop in mice injected with KCNMA1v transfected cell line expressing short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) compared to mice injected with KCNMA1v transected glioma cells. We conclude that targeting the KCNMA1 variants may be a clinically beneficial strategy to prevent or at least slow down glioma transformation to GBM .
Self-organized dynamics and the transition to turbulence of confined active nematics

Significance Topological defects are a ubiquitous feature of diverse materials ranging from superconductors to liquid crystals. In contrast to conventional materials where defects produce static field configurations, topological defects in energy-consuming active matter acquire motility. In bulk active nematic liquid crystals, motile defects drive turbulent-like dynamics. We show that confining a model experimental active nematic converts bulk chaotic motion into coherent circulatory flows. This observation suggests the possibility of exploiting geometric design to encode the spatiotemporal dynamics of topological defects, thereby endowing synthetic materials with the self-organized capabilities heretofore mainly found in living organisms. Furthermore, qualitative differences between experimental observations and numerical solutions of hydrodynamic equations suggest improvements to widely studied but incomplete theoretical models. We study how confinement transforms the chaotic dynamics of bulk microtubule-based active nematics into regular spatiotemporal patterns. For weak confinements in disks, multiple continuously nucleating and annihilating topological defects self-organize into persistent circular flows of either handedness. Increasing confinement strength leads to the emergence of distinct dynamics, in which the slow periodic nucleation of topological defects at the boundary is superimposed onto a fast procession of a pair of defects. A defect pair migrates toward the confinement core over multiple rotation cycles, while the associated nematic director field evolves from a distinct double spiral toward a nearly circularly symmetric configuration. The collapse of the defect orbits is punctuated by another boundary-localized nucleation event, that sets up long-term doubly periodic dynamics. Comparing experimental data to a theoretical model of an active nematic reveals that theory captures the fast procession of a pair of +1/2 defects, but not the slow spiral transformation nor the periodic nucleation of defect pairs. Theory also fails to predict the emergence of circular flows in the weak confinement regime. The developed confinement methods are generalized to more complex geometries, providing a robust microfluidic platform for rationally engineering 2D autonomous flows.
Assessing the Impact of SPS Regulations on U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exports

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are not new, but their significance in international agrifood trade continues to grow. Much less is known about the trade-restricting potential of these measures because of the difficulty in identifying when SPS regulations exist and how and to what extent they are applied. We develop a novel database of SPS treatments affecting United States exports of nine fresh fruits and vegetables and a formal econometric model to investigate the traderestricting nature of these measures. The results suggest that SPS treatments generally reduce trade, but the actual restrictiveness of these measures diminishes as U.S. exporters accumulate treatment experience and vanishes when exporters reach a certain threshold.
Satellite interconnection of TETRA networks via inter-system interface

The viability of a satellite link for the interconnection of two TETRA networks using the Inter-System Interface (ISI) is studied with respect to desired functionality and QoS. ISI-based TETRA over satellite can be used in emergency situations when no terrestrial infrastructure exists between the two networks, as well as in normal operations as an alternative to ground based interconnection infrastructure. The response time of different services in a given network architecture is of primary concern because large propagation delay is the main source of service degradation. A modified version of critical path analysis, as it applies to protocols, is used to estimate total propagation delays for a set of ISI services. The estimates give an insight into the delay-related problems expected in this particular interconnection scenario and represent quantitative measure of QoS degradations as experienced by the end users. Limits on the system timers can be deduced in order to avoid their premature expiration. The impact of satellite interconnection on ISI-based services is significant. A performance enhancing proxy functionality is foreseen to reduce the delays.
Validation of the Radiographic Union Score for Tibial Fractures (RUST) using Medical Imaging and Biomechanical Testing in an In-Vivo Rat Model

Validation of the Radiographic Union Score for Tibial Fractures (RUST) using Medical Imaging and Biomechanical Testing in an In-Vivo Rat Model Sandra Fiset Master of Health Science Graduate Department of Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto 2016 Introduction. The lack of objective parameter to define bone fracture union makes it difficult for orthopedists to properly treat fractures. The Radiographic Union Score for Tibial fractures (RUST) is becoming widespread as an objective means of assessing fracture repair however its accuracy has yet to be validated. Methods. A group of 24 rats underwent standardized femoral osteotomies. At their assigned endpoint, the healing femur was radiographed, scored with RUST and modified RUST, scanned with μ-CT, and tested in torsion. Results. The RUST and modified RUST scores correlate highly with the mineralized callus volume, total callus volume, mineralized to total callus volume ratio, ultimate torque, stiffness, maximum shear strain and torsional strength. RUST showed slightly higher interobserver agreement among reviewers than modified RUST. Conclusion. RUST and modified RUST have strong relationships many with imaging and biomechanical parameters providing evidence of the accuracy of the scores as assessment tools for fracture healing.
First step restoration techniques in invaded grassland in southern British Columbia

Invasive species are considered the second greatest threat to biodiversity (after habitat loss) as they can alter ecosystem functioning, including nutrient cycling. Invasive plant species can be controlled using various methods and restoration is often attempted in degraded areas. Biological control temporarily eliminated diffuse knapweed from a site in Vernon, British Columbia, though the site remained completely dominated by other invasive species. Restoration was attempted using seed addition of native species and late summer and spring vegetation removal of invasive species. Seed addition did not result in increased native species abundance in the plots, likely because of abnormally low April precipitation. Vegetation removal in spring did not prevent the emergence of seedlings, and actually increased emergence of diffuse knapweed and thyme-leaved sandwort. Annual grasses on the other hand were more abundant in plots without vegetation removal. Removal of vegetation in the plots was not evident by biomass harvest in August, though it significantly increased diversity and the percentage of forbs in the total biomass. The plots with no vegetation removed had significantly greater percentage of grass in the total biomass and far greater litter mass. Comparing soil samples from two invaded ecosystems (diffuse knapweed and sulphur cinquefoil dominated) to one with few invasive species (bunchgrass dominated) resulted in finding that almost all nutrient levels measured and moisture were highest in the uninvaded ecosystem. As diffuse knapweed reacts positively to the removal of competition, vegetation removal should not be used as a restoration technique in invaded areas. In areas where there is no knapweed, however, vegetation removal may be beneficial to work against dominance by annual grass species. Soils of invaded ecosystems may also need to be considered, and only vegetation that can withstand drought and low levels of nutrients should be used. ii
Chemometric technique performances in predicting forest soil chemical and biological properties from UV-Vis-NIR reflectance spectra with small, high dimensional datasets

Abstract: Chemometric analysis applied to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is increasingly proposed as an effective and accurate methodology to predict soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Its effectiveness, however, largely varies in relation to the calibration techniques and the specific soil properties. In addition, the calibration of UV-Vis-NIR spectra usually requires large datasets, and the identification of techniques suitable to deal with small sample sizes and high dimensionality problems is a primary challenge. In order to investigate the predictability of many soil chemical and biological properties from a small dataset and to identify the most suitable techniques to deal with this type of problems, we analysed 20 top soil samples of three different forests (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris and Quercus ilex) in southern Apennines (Italy). Diffuse reflectance spectra were recorded in the UV-Vis-NIR range (200-2500 nm) and 22 chemical and biological properties were analysed. Three different calibration techniques were tested, namely the Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), the combinations wavelet transformation/Elastic net and wavelet transformation/Supervised Principal Component (SPC) regression/ Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), a kind of preconditioned LASSO. Calibration techniques were applied to both raw spectra and spectra subjected to wavelet shrinkage filtering, in order to evaluate the influence on predictions of spectra denoising. Overall, SPC/LASSO outperformed the other techniques with both raw and denoised spectra. Elastic net produced heterogeneous results, but outperformed SPC/LASSO for total organic carbon, whereas PLSR produced the worst results. Spectra denoising improved the prediction accuracy of many parameters, but worsen the predictions in some cases. Our approach highlighted that: (i) SPC/LASSO (and Elastic net in the case of total organic carbon) is especially suitable to calibrate spectra in the case of small, high dimensional datasets; and (ii) spectra denoising could be an effective technique to improve calibration results.
Reviving Dominated Points in Skyline Query

Summary We extend the capability of a skyline query to solve the market positioning evaluation of the dominated points of products. This capability can assist both manufacturer and customer to plan product features according to their approximate distances to the preference points. For this purpose we develop a distance measurement on a convex skyline approach. First, we present data sets contain record of multidimensional product, where every dimension represents one attribute of product feature. Then we evaluate the skyline query of a data set and divide the data set into a collection of preferable objects in skyline and another are the dominated points. Here we assume that each dominated point is potentially entering the preferable region by moving their attribute values into customer preference’s points. We provide the query to find potential products to enter the skyline with a lower additional distance (as cost). This approach compute minimum additional cost to revive the dominated points based on a user’s elicitation of a maximum threshold. Results of our comprehensive experiments show the effectiveness of this approach both in real world and synthetic data sets.
Experimental study of flight effects on underexpanded supersonic jet noise

Broadband shock-associated noise is a component of jet noise encountered in imperfectly expanded supersonic jets. It is going to be responsible for a dominant part of cabin noise levels at cruise condition for the next-generation commercial aircraft including composite fuselage. A flight simulating facility has been built in the anechoic room of the Centre Acoustique at Ecole Centrale de Lyon and extensive aero-acoustical measurements have been performed to study flight effects on broadband shock-associated noise. In the final paper, flight effects will first be characterized by far field acoustic measurements. In a second step, the main features will be linked to modifications in the jet dynamics due to the secondary stream, with aid of schlieren visualizations, static pressure measurements and particle image velocimetry. The representation of shock-associated noise as the result of an interaction between vortical structures and shocks will be assessed and modelling will be addressed.
Oral health assessment among dental students

Introduction. Oral health is an important part of general health. Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes that students acquire during dental school can influence their behavior towards not just their own health, but also towards health in their immediate environment. The aim of the study was to assess the level of oral health among dental students of the second and fifth year at the University of East Sarajevo. Material and Methods. Sixty-six students from the Dental Department of the Faculty of Medicine, the University of East Sarajevo were assessed. The study was conducted in 2012. The parameters used to assess oral health were: DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) index and its components, index for the assessment of periodontal tissues (CPITN), and Green’s Vermillion oral hygiene debris index (DI). According to the methodology and criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) all patients were examined using standard dental diagnostic tools under artificial light on dental chair. Results. Average number of decayed teeth of the second year students was 9.93 while it was 11.44 in the fifth year students. The mean dental caries index was 38.23% and person caries index was 100%. The average value of the debris index was 0.42. Healthy periodontium had 18.2% of students, while in 34.8% of students shallow periodontal pockets were observed. Conclusion. Oral hygiene and periodontal health was satisfactory in dental students. However, high average values of decayed teeth indicated that for better results caries preventive services should be activated earlier, even in school or preschool period.