Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Redrawing the Map and Resetting the Time: Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences

We argue that phenomenology can be of central and positive importance to the cognitive sciences, and that it can also learn from the empirical research conducted in those sciences. We discuss the project of naturalizing phenomenology and how this can be best accomplished. We provide several examples of how phenomenology and the cognitive sciences can integrate their research. Specifically, we consider issues related to embodied cognition and intersubjectivity. We provide a detailed analysis of issues related to time-consciousness, with reference to understanding schizophrenia and the loss of the sense of agency. We offer a positive proposal to address these issues based on a neurobiological dynamic-systems model.
Can DNA barcodes of stream macroinvertebrates improve descriptions of community structure and water quality?

Abstract Four approaches to or levels of identifying macroinvertebrates (amateur/family, expert entomologist/genus, expert entomologist/genus–species, and DNA barcoding/species) were used to assess community structure and water quality in White Clay Creek, Pennsylvania, USA. Macroinvertebrates were collected in March 2008 from 2 riffle sites 3.9 km apart on the same stream. The downstream site was known to be degraded by land and water use. About 98% of the 1617 specimens used for analysis, including small, immature, and damaged specimens, were successfully barcoded (sequenced) for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. A criterion of 2 to 4% genetic divergence provided good separation of presumptive species. Barcodes increased the taxonomic inventory across the 2 sites by 475% (124 taxa) relative to the amateur level, and 125% (83 taxa) and 70% (62 taxa) relative to the expert genus and species levels, respectively. Barcoding revealed species not currently described in larval taxonomic keys, including multiple (2–11) coexisting congeneric species. That 150 species were revealed by barcoding samples collected on the same date and in the same habitat was unprecedented, as was the fact that 60 cm2 of stream bottom supported an average of 248 to 347 individuals representing 55 to 68 species. Most barcode species were rare, with 42% represented by ≤2 individuals. Across all species, 43 of 89 barcode species were unique to upstream site 11 and 60 of 107 were unique to downstream site 12. In terms of water-quality assessment, most of the 17 metrics studied changed significantly (α = 0.05) when taxonomy changed from family to genus–species (79% and 93% for sites 11 and 12, respectively), and many also changed when taxonomy changed from genus to species (59 and 65% for sites 11 and 12, respectively). The proportion of metrics able to detect a difference (α = 0.05) between sites 11 and 12 increased with improved taxonomic resolution (36, 47, 65, and 76% for family, genus, genus–species, and barcode, respectively). The results revealed a pollution-tolerance gap because barcoding pushed larval taxonomy beyond the available pollution-tolerance data. Regardless, the combined morphological and molecular approach provides a finer resolution for evaluating environmental change associated with both natural and anthropogenic processes. The ability to distinguish larvae at the species level through barcoding finally puts biodiversity assessments for aquatic communities in terms comparable to those used for terrestrial ecosystems where estimates of biodiversity for plants and animals are never quantified at the level of genus or family. We conclude that DNA barcodes of stream macroinvertebrates will improve descriptions of community structure and water quality for both ecological and bioassessment purposes.
Rapid ice aggregation process revealed through triple-wavelength Doppler spectrum radar analysis

Abstract. We have identified a region of an ice cloud where a sharp transition of dual-wavelength ratio occurs at a fixed height for longer than 20 min. In this paper we provide evidence that rapid aggregation of ice particles occurred in this region, creating large particles. This evidence comes from triple-wavelength Doppler spectrum radar data that were fortuitously being collected. Through quantitative comparison of the Doppler spectra from the three radars we are able to estimate the ice particle size distribution (of particles larger than 0.75 mm) at different heights in the cloud. This allows us to investigate the evolution of the ice particle size distribution and determine whether the evolution is consistent with aggregation, riming or vapour deposition. The newly developed method allows us to isolate the signal from the larger (non-Rayleigh scattering) particles in the distribution. Therefore, a particle size distribution retrieval is possible in areas of the cloud where the dual-wavelength ratio method would fail because the bulk dual-wavelength ratio value is too close to zero. The ice particles grow rapidly from a maximum size of 0.75 to 5 mm while falling less than 500 m in under 10 min. This rapid growth is shown to agree well with theoretical estimates of aggregation, with aggregation efficiency being approximately 0.7, and is inconsistent with other growth processes, e.g. growth by vapour deposition or riming. The aggregation occurs in the middle of the cloud and is not present throughout the entire lifetime of the cloud. However, the layer of rapid aggregation is very well defined at a constant height, where the temperature is −15 ∘C and lasts for at least 20 min (approximate horizontal distance: 24 km). Immediately above this layer, the radar Doppler spectrum is bi-modal, which signals the formation of new small ice particles at that height. We suggest that these newly formed particles, at approximately −15 ∘C, grow dendritic arms, enabling them to easily interlock and accelerate the aggregation process. The large estimated aggregation efficiency in this cloud is consistent with recent laboratory studies for dendrites at this temperature.
Energy Efficient Image Data Offload Mobile Cloud Computing

: The cloud heralds a new era of computing where application services are provided through the Internet. Cloud computing can enhance the computing capability of mobile systems. Cloud computing is a new paradigm in which computing resources such as processing, memory, and storage are not physically present at the user’s location. Instead, a service provider owns and manages these resources, and users access them via the Internet. Amazon Web Services lets users store personal data via its Simple Storage Service and perform computations on stored data. This type of computing provide low initial capital investment, shorter start-up time for new services, lower maintenance and operation costs, higher utilization through virtualization, and easier disaster recovery. Cloud computing can provide energy savings as a service to mobile users, though it also poses some unique challenges. This paper mainly focus on image data offload from mobile to remote server, which then processes image and converts it to appropriate, compatible low resolution image on request by other mobile clients. This conversion reduces mobile device energy consumption rather downloading same high resolution images.
Energy Harvesting of a Magnetostrictive Beam Model Based on Galfenol Alloy

In the paper the magnetostrictive (MsM) cantilever beam model was analysed. The MsM material was taken into account as Galfenol, the alloy including the Gallium and the Ferrum. The burdened beam system via external excitation produces the magnetic field due to created maximal stress on the external beam fibres. By applied the external coil subsystem, the electrical energy was captured. The main goal of the analysis was to investigate the influence of the beam neutral axis position for energy harvesting efficiency. In case, the neutral axis agrees with the symmetry axis of the magnetostrictive beam, the magnetic fields cancel each other out, while stress is on. This effect disappears while the neutral axis is moved beyond the MsM beam's symmetry. It was estimated the influence of the beam response vibration amplitude on the output electric energy extracted from the system, at increased an effective MsM layer. It was analysed in the vicinity of the first resonance frequency, where the output voltage reached the maximum values.
Genetic Analysis of the Transpiration Control in Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L) Subjected to Drought

Stomatal control of transpiration was implied as the major strategies by which plants cope with water stress. Here we did investigate the genetic control of this process using the following trait: Fraction of Transpirable Soil Water threshold (FTSWt) representing the threshold of soil water content at which the stomatal control of transpiration started. We conducted a progressive water deficit experiment using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of sunflower and we analyzed the variation of FTSWt. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was then performed to determine the loci involved and to identify the genetic control. This work has shown, for the first time, QTL mapping for FTSWt in crops. In this work QTL mapping was made in sunflower.
2014 / 04 Crowdfunding : some empirical findings and microeconomic underpinnings

This article reviews some recent developments in the study of crowdfunding – i.e., the practice of raising funds through an open call on the Internet. It also shows how microeconomic theory can help us understand some important aspects of crowdfunding that go beyond the finance sphere of the firm. A special attention is devoted to the role and behavior of crowdfunding platforms, which intermediate between entrepreneurs and funders. Throughout the paper, the Belgian market for crowdfunding serves as the main source of illustrations. JEL classification codes: G32, L11, L13, L15, L21, L26
FOREIGN TRADE AT REGIONAL LEVEL IN ROMANIA AS A TOOL IN BUILDING SMART SPECIALISATION STRATEGIES

In the context of the new EU Cohesion Policy and Europe 2020 strategy, regions are encouraged to build their own development strategies based on specialisation and innovation. Smart specialisation strategies aim to identify and focus on those activities in which the region has comparative advantages and at the same time, are characterized by a high added value. These activities have the power to bring the greatest benefits to the local and regional economy and, thus, reduce disparities between regions and enhance overall competitiveness of European regions. This paper analyzes data on exports and imports at the county level, on sections and chapters of the Combined Nomenclature in order to identify trends of specialisation of economic activity. Moreover, this approach provides information on the competitiveness of these counties, high export rates indicating a better adaptation to international markets. Results show that the majority of counties import and, at the same time, export machinery and electrical equipment, and textiles and textile articles.
A scalable solution for cache coherence in many-core systems using share-pattern aware cache segmentation and hybrid network-on-chip

With the advent of many-core era, scalable hardware support for cache coherence has become vital to system performance. Cache coherence protocols are provided in order to ensure that multiple cached copies of a single memory block are kept up-to-date. As the number of cores being integrated on a single chip is growing rapidly, scalability of cache coherency presents a promising research opportunity. Cache coherency models are broadly based on either snoopy coherence protocol or directory-based coherence protocol. While snoopy coherence is unscalable because of its dependence on ordered networks that are inherently difficult to scale, directory-based coherence is weighed down by its requirement of excessive directory area overhead and inaccurate tracking because of compressed sharer bits. In this work, we propose a scalable cache coherency model for multicore and many-core processors through a hardware and software co-design. We begin with modeling the performance metrics of current cache coherence protocols for high-performance multicore systems interconnected through regular packet-switched network-on-chip architectures and identify the possible bottlenecks imposed by them on system performance. We, then, design and develop network-on-chip architecture augmented with wireless interconnects for efficient handling of broadcast traffic. We propose a segmented design applicable for every level of cache memory according to the sharing pattern of the memory blocks among the cores. Finally, we design and implement an efficient and scalable cache coherence algorithm/protocol that can exploit the proposed wireless interconnects based network-on-chip architecture and the share-pattern aware cache segmentation. We demonstrate that our proposed architecture improves upon the results produced by some well-known multicore architectures employing conventional protocols for cache. Also, owing to the modularity of the proposed design, it can be extended to be used in the future many-core systems by increasing the levels of hierarchy of interconnects, memory and cache coherency.
The Relation Between Positive and Negative Alcohol Expectancies and Alcohol Use in College Students

Positive and negative alcohol expectancies, as measured by the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol questionnaire (CEOA; Fromme, Stroot, & Kaplan, 1993), were observed among alcohol drinkers and abstainers in a sample of 47 college students. We divided the sample into 5 levels of drinking: abstainers who had no intention of ever drinking (permanent abstainers), abstainers who presently do not drink but postulate that they will consume alcohol in the future (temporary abstainers), light drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers. As hypothesized, temporary abstainers and light drinkers possessed significantly lower positive expectancies than did heavy drinkers. Temporary and permanent abstainers possessed significantly higher negative expectancies than did moderate and heavy drinkers, which we hypothesized for permanent abstainers but not for temporary abstainers. JACKIE BRUDERICK
How does corporate governace pay off? Evidence from Korean stock listings

Corporate governance is an envelope for the mechanisms, processes and relations through which corporations are controlled and guided. Consequently, corporate governance affects operational performance and, in turn, stock returns, as Gompers et al. (2003) find. In this research, we use the Korea Corporate Governance Stock Price Index (KOGI) to test a possible linkage between corporate governance and shareholder wealth in Korea. Factor mimicking portfolios sorted per KOGI are constructed to estimate a corporate governance risk factor (“good minus bad”). By augmenting this new factor to the existing factor models (Fama and French, 1993; Carhart, 1997) to fit multiply imputed data, we find evidence that corporate governanceinfluences stock pricing in Korea.
Assessment of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity in root of Basella Alba induced by high temperature stress

Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase are recognized to be antioxidative enzymes playing the critical role in metabolic regulation in plants. However, the regulatory mechanism of these enzymes in root of Basella alba in response to high temperature stress is not clarified. Plants grown in different pots were exposed to 45 o C for 24h, 48h and 72h periods and the respective controls were kept in 30 o C. Dose response specificity of substrate was performed during the assay of polyphenol oxidase (PPO). In roots of different treatments, the PPO activity have been found to increase with 10, 100 and 200 mM substrate concentration for 24h, 48h and 72h, however the effects were found to be more pronounced at 10 mM for 24h periods although different substrate concentrations increased activity dose dependently showing the validity of substrate effects. Conversely, the reciprocal findings were noted for POD whenever plants were exposed to high temperature for the above mentioned periods and the activities in root were down regulated, reduced maximally for 48h periods respectively when compared to respective controls. The results agree that these enzymes are differentially regulated in root and may play the critical role in survival of the species in adverse environment.
Anonymisation fine de visages avec préservation des expressions faciales

Cet article presente une application en traitement d'images encore peu etudiee : l'anonymisation fine de visages. L'objectif est de rendre anonyme les individus presents dans des images tout en gardant les informations perti- nentes a une analyse de leurs emotions et de leurs expres- sions faciales. Ce probleme est complexe car l'anonymat n'est respecte qu'en degradant nettement le visage alors que l'analyse des emotions necessite de conserver suff- isamment d'informations de ce dernier. Dans ce travail, nous proposons une nouvelle methode basee, d'une part, sur la detection du visage et l'extraction de reperes faciaux et, d'autre part, sur un lissage adaptatif base sur la minimi- sation d'une fonctionnelle afin de rendre le visage anonyme tout en conservant au mieux ses expressions et ses emo- tions. Des resultats experimentaux demontrent le potentiel de l'approche et ouvrent ainsi de nombreuses perspectives, notamment pour la diffusion de corpus audio-visuels.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR ORGANISATIONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. THE CASE OF POLAND

Purpose: The paper introduces a model of business performance measurement system for organizational self-assessment. The model is made up of five elements including areas, elements, functions and processes of the BPMS as well as the introduction procedure. The paper is based on the research project conducted in 2007, entitled “Self-assessment in quality management systems of companies” which concerned the engagement of Polish enterprises in initiatives aiming at business excellence. Methodology: The detailed characteristics of the business performance measurement system were identified through the analysis of BSC and excellence models□ concepts as well as the BPMS definitions found in literature. Three different research methods were applied, namely a questionnaire survey and an interview conducted among the most active companies in Polish economy and a Delphi method. As a result 230 companies were examined and 19 experts were interviewed. Findings: The results collected with the use of the Delphi method make it possible to indicate what components of the BPMS are absolutely indispensable for the system to be efficient as well as what the procedure of BPMS introduction is. Originality/Value: The paper combines the data collected from two sources: the representatives of Polish companies and the experts representing academia, business, auditing and certificating companies. The authors are convinced that the model presented in the paper although developed for Polish companies can successfully serve as a reference model also for non-Polish companies. Its value results from its universality.
The utility of gadoteric acid in contrast-enhanced MRI: a review

License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Limited. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress. com/permissions.php Reports in Medical Imaging 2015:8 25–35 Reports in Medical Imaging Dovepress
Fixed distance neighbour classifiers in brain computer interface systems

A new classification method, which is closely related to k nearest neighbour (kNN) classification method is introduced for identifying cognitive tasks in brain computer interface (BCI) systems. This new method is named fixed distance neighbour (FDN) classifier. Performance of the FDN method is tested with feature vectors derived from EEG datasets recorded for imagery motor movement mental tasks. For comparison purposes, performance of kNN classification method is also tested with the same feature vectors. It was found that FDN performed slightly better than kNN for most of the datasets used in this study, indicating that FDN is a viable classification method, which can be used in place of kNN in BCI systems. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v40i3. 4693 J.Natn. Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2012 40 (3):195-200
Minimizing Idle Time and Collision Time UsingToken DCF With Append Process and ChangeContention Window Size for Wireless Network

IEEE 802.11 DCF is the MAC protocol currently used in wireless LANs. However, due to idle and collision times, 802.11 DCF performs poorly when it comes to channel utilization, system throughput, and channel access time. To overcome these sources of inefficiency in 802.11 DCF, we propose a distributed and dynamically adaptive MAC protocol for wireless networks, called Token-DCF with Append process and change contention window size. Main focus of our approach is on reducing idle and collision times by introducing an algorithm of token passing using Append process and change contention window size. In Append process strong data searched by DCF process and its queue length if greater than the threshold level, will focus on the minimum queue length in header list and add it with the new neighboring node by increasing system throughput and channel access time. We simulate in ns-2 to measure and compare performance of MAC protocols.
Anger symptomatology, stress reactivity, and health status of mid-life women

ABSTRACT This study examined psychological, behavioral, environmental, and sociodemographic predictors of health status in 87 mid-life women participating in a longitudinal investigation. Correlates of good health were found to be an optimistic disposition, internal locus of control, education, income, employment outside the home, moderate exercise, and adequate sleep. Variables negatively related to health were stress, external locus of control, packyears of smoking, post-menopausal status, body mass index, and anger symptomatology. Age and social support variables were not related to health status, nor were the anger-in, anger-out, and anger-discuss modes of expressing anger. The regression model accounted for 56% of the variance in health status. The majority of subjects reported severe daily hassles. High stress and anger somatization were significantly correlated. The findings suggest that a segment of women in mid-life enjoy less than optimal health while experiencing high levels of stress and expressing anger in ways which not only fail to accomplish problem resolution, but which also may alienate significant others. These results have implications for counseling and for future research. References and tables are included. (Author/NB)
E-Government and Technology Acceptance: The Case of the Implementation of Section 508 Guidelines for Websites

This paper examines the relevance of the Technology Acceptance Model for e-Government websites at federal government level in the United States through an exploratory research study. Various unfunded government mandates over the past several years have required agencies to create websites, put services on the sites, and make them accessible to citizens, and the federal e-Government now includes tens of thousands of sites. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, for example, was passed to ensure e-Government sites would be accessible to persons with disabilities. By studying the implementation of the requirements of Section 508 through a number of data collection techniques and in terms of the Technology Acceptance Model, this paper seeks to use this particular law as an example through which to better understand the processes by which government agencies adopt e-Government requirements and the actions that government managers can take to improve the implementation of such adoption.