Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Video Pedestrian Detection Based on Orthogonal Scene Motion Pattern

In fixed video scenes, scene motion patterns can be a very useful prior knowledge for pedestrian detection which is still a challenge at present. A new approach of cascade pedestrian detection using an orthogonal scene motion pattern model in a general density video is developed in this paper. To statistically model the pedestrian motion pattern, a probability grid overlaying the whole scene is set up to partition the scene into paths and holding areas. Features extracted from different pattern areas are classified by a group of specific strategies. Instead of using a unitary classifier, the employed classifier is composed of two directional subclassifiers trained, respectively, with different samples which are selected by two orthogonal directions. Considering that the negative images from the detection window scanning are much more than the positive ones, the cascade AdaBoost technique is adopted by the subclassifiers to reduce the negative image computations. The proposed approach is proved effectively by static classification experiments and surveillance video experiments.
TVET in Driving Sustainable Development: Strategies for Mitigating Challenges Associated with the Integration of ICT in Instruction of Engineering Subjects

Despite the investments on information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, equipment and professional development to improve education and training, integration of ICT into classroom learning still poses challenges to teachers, administrators and policy makers. And while the use of ICT creates a powerful teaching and learning environment its benefits of transforming learning and teaching where interaction of knowledge is active, self-directed and constructive, are yet to be fully enjoyed. The impact of rapid technological change and automation on existing skills has led to the identification of strategies for mitigating challenges associated with the integration of ICT in instruction of engineering subjects. Thus this study set out to establish the existing gaps in the strategies for mitigating challenges associated with the integration of ICT in instruction of engineering subjects. The output of this study was to serve as a blueprint for TVET institutions, ICT policy makers, researchers and other education institutions in Kenya to chart the right course of action for the integration of ICT through policy formulation and implementation in achieving the country’s strategy of vision 2030 and sustainable development. This research adopted Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) since it is capable of explaining user behavior across a broad range of end-users of ICT. It utilized descriptive research design which allowed a large target population to be directly observed. It targeted 180 trainers/instructors and 12 administrators from the 12 TVET institutions. Purposive and simple random sampling was used to select 12 administrators and 138 trainers/instructors. Interview schedules and questionnaires were used to collect data and frequency and percentage data analysis were used to identify strategies for mitigating challenges associated with the integration of ICT in instruction of engineering subjects. The strategies for mitigating the said challenges associated with the integration of ICT in instruction of engineering subjects were thus established in this research study conducted in TVET institutions within Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. Based on the findings, the study concluded that there is need for the government to support TVET institutions on the strategies for mitigating challenges associated with the adoption and integration of ICT in instruction of engineering subjects.
Mitigating Malware for Effective Utilization of Network Resources at ISPs

The effect of network-based malware can be massive on Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Malicious users, that are among the ISP customers, can consume large amount of network bandwidth. This behavior could be overwhelmingly damaging as legitimate ISP users may experience performance degradation or complete denial of service. Subsequently, as network-based malware spreads out, number of malicious users increase, causing distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. This paper proposes a novel idea of mitigating network-based malwares at ISP level. The proposed solution - ISPMonitor, monitors various traffic patterns to detect the timely onset of malware attack. It detects the attack and applies a mitigation mechanism to protect the ISP network. The ISPMonitor, is a DNS based solution that monitors the rate of DNS lookup requests. An anomaly based approach is used to detect malware. The proposed mechanism was investigated on a live wireless ISP with 80,000 customers spanned across three major cities of Pakistan. Results reveal that this approach was not only highly effective in detecting and mitigating the malicious traffic but also has improved network bandwidth utilization considerably.
THE AWARENESS AND REALIZATION OF GRICE’S COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES IN THE CONVERSATIONS AMONG NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Pragmatics gives different interpretation of meaning even when it is not said or written. This study was using descriptive qualitative approach. The objects of the study were non-native English speakers at the fourth semester of post-graduate program (S2) majoring English Education of Semarang State University in the academic year 2012/2013. The unit of analysis of this study were utterances which contain the observance and non-observance of Grice’s cooperative principle. Furthermore, to know how they were aware of those principles, a pragmatic awareness test was given to each participant. Based on the test, most participants were aware enough of Grice’s cooperative principle. From all utterances, most participants appeared to observe the maxim of relation. It can be inferred that they tried to answer the question with relevant answer. The realization of non-observance of Grice’s cooperative principle was mostly shown in flouting the maxim of quantity that they gave more or less information than it was needed. Moreover, we can infer that non-native English speakers who were aware of Grice’s cooperative principle would be easier to realize it in their conversations because they understood the concept of how to create successful, effective and efficient communication.
Speaker normalisation preserving region accent differences in vowel quality

The ability of several speaker normalization procedures to preserve differences in phonetic quality of vowels from speakers with a different regional accent is evaluated. Also, different ways to represent vowels are compared: F1 vs. F2 in Hz, and F1 vs. F2’ in hertz as well as in Bark. A combination of an extrinsic normalization (Gerstman’s endpoint normalization) with raw F1 and F2 in hertz appears to be the most suitable approach for acoustic description of regiolectal and/or sociolectal variation in a language.
Discovering the Motivations of Students when Using an Online Learning Tool

In an educational setting, the use of online learning tools impacts student performance. Motivation and beliefs play an important role in predicting student decisions to use these learning tools. However, IT-personality entailing playfulness on the web, perceived personal innovativeness, and enjoyment may have an impact on motivations. In this study, we investigate the influence of ITpersonality traits on motivation and beliefs. The study includes 95 participants. A survey was conducted after using the learning tool for one semester. Assessment of the psychometric properties of the scales proved acceptable and confirmatory factor analysis supported the proposed hypotheses. With the exception of the impact of enjoyment on motivation, all other hypotheses demonstrate behavior different from other contexts: playfulness on the web and perceived personal innovativeness have little to no impact on motivation; motivation in turn has the opposite strong and significant effect on beliefs. Specifically, we found that motivation has a strong impact on students’ attitudes and consequently attitudes were found to determine intentions where the variance explained is 50% (attitude) and 28% (intentions). These results give way to interesting interpretations as they relate to learning.
Recent Progress in Bulk Glassy Alloys

For thousands of years, metallic alloys have been among the most important materials used by mankind, and their importance as engineering materials remains as great now as ever. Without exception, all bulk metallic alloys used to date consist of crystalline materials with three-dimensional periodic atomic configurations. The instability of the liquid phase of metallic alloys below melting temperature had been thought to be a universal phenomenon, making the formation of a crystalline phase of the bulk metallic alloy unavoidable. In order to prevent transition from a liquid to a crystalline phase, extremely high cooling rates of the order 10 6 K/s are required and the alloys exhibiting critical cooling rates of 10 5 to 10 7 K/s are known as amorphous/glass forming alloys. 1, 2) As a result of the requirement for rapid cooling, amorphous alloys have usually been produced in a thin sheet form with thicknesses below 0.05 mm. The conventionally accepted concept that the supercooled liquid phase of metallic alloys is always unstable has been broken through by the recent successes in forming bulk glassy alloys in a number of transition metal-based alloy systems using the copper mold casting technique. 3‐5) In recent years, studies of the stabilization of metallic supercooled liquid and the resulting bulk glassy alloys have been significant not only for fundamental science but for engineering applications as well. In this paper we review our recent results on the formation and properties of bulk glassy alloys.
Interactive effects of rice-residue biochar and N-fertilizer on soil functions and crop biomass in contrasting soils

There is limited understanding of the effects of rice residue biochar, particularly when applied in combination with nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil fertility, soil C sequestration and crop productivity. A one-year pot experiment was established to examine effects of rice residue biochar (0, 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1) and N (0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1) in soils with contrasting texture (loamy sand and sandy clay loam) in a wheat(maize cropping sequence. Biochar was only applied once before sowing wheat. Biochar alone or in combination with N did not significantly increase wheat biomass in both soils, whereas biomass of maize (next crop) was significantly increased from the residual effect of biochar, alone or in combination with N fertilizer. In both soils, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH, oxidisable organic carbon (OC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and available nutrients (NPK) increased with increasing rates of biochar addition. However, addition of N with biochar (cf. biochar alone) did not change pH and oxidisable OC values but increased EC significantly. After one year, the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks increased beyond the input of biochar-C, that is, by 0.1-2.1 t ha-1 and 1.8-4.8 t ha-1 in loamy sand and sandy clay loam, respectively, across all treatments. It may be concluded that the potential benefits of rice residue biochar to soil functions and crop production may encourage growers to minimise open field burning of straw, which is a common practice in the region.
A location-inventory model for distribution centers in a three-level supply chain under uncertainty

Article history: Received 26 August 2012 Received in revised format 14 September 2012 Accepted October 25 2012 Available online 28 October 2012 We study a location-inventory problem in a three level supply chain network under uncertainty, which leads to risk. The (r,Q) inventory control policy is applied for this problem. Besides, uncertainty exists in different parameters such as procurement, transportation costs, supply, demand and the capacity of different facilities (due to disaster, man-made events and etc). We present a robust optimization model, which concurrently specifies: locations of distribution centers to be opened, inventory control parameters (r,Q), and allocation of supply chain components. The model is formulated as a multi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear programming in order to minimize the expected total cost of such a supply chain network comprising location, procurement, transportation, holding, ordering, and shortage costs. Moreover, we develop an effective solution approach on the basis of multi-objective particle swarm optimization for solving the proposed model. Eventually, computational results of different examples of the problem and sensitivity analysis are exhibited to show the model and algorithm's feasibility and efficiency. © 2013 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Role of Chemotherapy and the Receptor Tyrosine Kinases KIT, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, and Met in Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

Purpose Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a relatively uncommon, high-grade neuroendocrine tumor sharing several features with small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) but currently considered as a variant of non-SCLC and accordingly treated with poor results. Little is known about the optimal therapy of LCNEC and the possible therapeutic molecular targets. Patients and Methods We reviewed 83 patients with pure pulmonary LCNEC to investigate their clinicopathologic features, therapeutic strategy, and immunohistochemical expression and the mutational status of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) KIT, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, and Met. Results LCNEC histology predicted a dismal outcome (overall median survival, 17 months) even in stage I patients (5-year survival rate, 33%). LCNEC strongly expressed RTKs (KIT in 62.7% of patients, PDGFRα in 60.2%, PDGFRβ in 81.9%, and Met in 47%), but no mutations were detected in the exons encoding for the relevant juxtamembrane domains. Tumor stage and size (≥ 3 cm).
Assessing Power System Flexibility for Variable Renewable Integration: A Flexibility Metric for Long-Term System Planning

Many countries around the world have instituted policies with the aim of increasing the amount of installed variable generation (VG), such as wind and solar. A consequence of increased penetrations of VG is that changes in their output must be met by the remainder of a system's resources so that the demand-generation balance is maintained. This paper proposes a high-level methodology to assess power system flexibility. In this context, flexibility is the ability of a power system to deploy its resources to meet changes in the system demand and that of variable generation. The inclusion of such analysis at the long-term system planning stage will help to ensure that systems are optimally planned and operated with high levels of VG. Two case studies are presented which illustrate the flexibility assessment methodology and highlight some key issues relating to flexibility in the context of long-term planning.
Moving People from Welfare to Work

The findings of the National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies (NEWWS) were analyzed to identify ways of improving the process of moving people from welfare to work. Selected lessons from the analysis were as follows: (1) welfare-to-work programs that rely on adult basic education programs for the general population are unlikely to improve welfare recipients' basic reading and math skills; (2) all 11 NEWWS programs increased single parents' employment and earnings and decreased their welfare receipt and payments relative to the levels found in the program's absence; (3) employment-focused programs generally had larger effects on employment and earnings than did education-focused programs; (4) the human capital development (HCD) approach did not produce more long-run economic benefits than the labor force attachment (LFA) approach did; (5) compared to the HCD approach, the LFA approach moved people into jobs more quickly and was much cheaper to operate; (6) welfare-to-work programs can decrease the incidence of physical domestic violence; (7) programs with mandates and services that also leave income unchanged have relatively few effects on young children; and (8) well-funded, well-run, integrated case management-based programs offer advantages over traditional programs. A table summarizing NEWWS program Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. activities is appended. Twenty-five selected publications from the evaluation are listed. (Contains 20 tables.) (MN) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Moving People from Welfare to Work Lessons from the National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation U.S. Department of Education Office of the Under Secretary Office of Vocational and Adult Education PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement ED CATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) . This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. July 2002 Prepared by: Gayle Hamilton Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
ARCHAEOZIPHIUS MICROGLENOIDEUS, A NEW PRIMITIVE BEAKED WHALE (MAMMALIA, CETACEA, ODONTOCETI) FROM THE MIDDLE MIOCENE OF BELGIUM

Abstract Three partial skulls of odontocetes from the Miocene of Antwerp and Kessel, northern Belgium (southern North Sea Basin) are described here as a new genus and species of beaked whale (Ziphiidae), Archaeoziphius microglenoideus. This small new whale is one of the most archaic beaked whales, because of its low vertex, thin and laterally directed premaxillary crests, low contact between the supraoccipital and the frontals on the vertex, and its free atlas. It is also characterized by the strong transverse compression of the frontals on the vertex and a reduced glenoid surface on the squamosal; the two last characters might be considered as derived. Nasals wider than the frontals on the vertex might group A. microglenoideus with the extant larger genera Berardius and Tasmacetus; the nodular frontals and the premaxillary crests are more similar to the condition in Berardius. A sediment sample from the cetacean-bearing strata at Kessel is dated with dinoflagellate cysts as middle Miocene, tentatively late Langhian to early Serravallian, i.e., from ca. 15 Ma to ca. 13.2 Ma. Archaeoziphius microglenoideus is therefore the oldest reported beaked whale known by cranial material.
Increased prostaglandin e2 has a positive correlation with plasma calcium during goldfish reproduction

somatic index (r=0.81, p<0.001), plasma Ca and plasma PGE2 levels (r=0.635, p<0.05), and plasma Ca and plasma TRAP activities (r=0.584, p<0.05) from the analysis using samples of both reproductive and non- reproductive stages. Taking these data into consideration, we suggested that PGE2 acts on osteoclasts and increases plasma Ca as a result of osteoclastic bone resorption, and we concluded that PGE2 is an important hormone in Ca metabolism during fish reproduction.
THE ALA/ALA GENOTYPE OF PPARY PRO12 ALA POLYMORPHISM IS ASSOCIATED WITH LATE ONSET OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

The function of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in immune regulation, as well as in anti- inflammatory and anti-proliferative actions towards T lymphocytes, has been reported. A potential role of PPARs in mul- tiple sclerosis (MS) was suggested. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is an association of PPARγ-2 Pro12Ala polymorphism with MS in 361 patients from Serbia. The genotype and allele frequencies of Pro12Ala polymorphism were not significantly different between controls and patients, or between females and males. In contrast to controls, we detected a rare Ala/Ala genotype in patients with MS. We found that there is a significant association of Ala/Ala genotype with older age at onset (ANOVA, p=0.07; LSD post-hoc, Ala/Ala vs. Pro/Ala, p=0.03, Ala/Ala vs. Pro/Pro p=0.02). It would be useful to validate our results in other populations, as well as to perform follow-up of the disease progression in regard to PPARγ genotypes.
Mid‐ocean ridge eruptions as a climate valve

Seafloor eruption rates and mantle melting fueling eruptions may be influenced by sea level and crustal loading cycles at scales from fortnightly to 100 kyr. Recent mid‐ocean ridge eruptions occur primarily during neap tides and the first 6 months of the year, suggesting sensitivity to minor changes in tidal forcing and orbital eccentricity. An ~100 kyr periodicity in fast‐spreading seafloor bathymetry and relatively low present‐day eruption rates at a time of high sea level and decreasing orbital eccentricity suggest a longer‐term sensitivity to sea level and orbital variations associated with Milankovitch cycles. Seafloor spreading is considered a small but steady contributor of CO2 to climate cycles on the 100 kyr time scale; however, this assumes a consistent short‐term eruption rate. Pulsing of seafloor volcanic activity may feed back into climate cycles, possibly contributing to glacial/interglacial cycles, the abrupt end of ice ages, and dominance of the 100 kyr cycle.
Juvenile Dispersal of Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja) in Ecuador

Abstract The movement ecology of Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja) is poorly known due to the difficulty observing this species. We studied the movements of two juvenile Harpy Eagles before and during dispersal using GPS satellite telemetry in the Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno, Ecuador. Both eagles were tagged at their respective nest tree. For each eagle, we calculated the daily distance moved and the distance from each recorded position to the nest. One eagle started dispersal during its 28th month, while at the same age the other eagle remained in its nest area, suffering repeated parental attacks that may have caused its death. The juvenile that dispersed moved a maximum of 35.1 km from the nest and occupied an area of 386 km2. The long post-fledging and dispersal periods underscore the importance of directing conservation plans toward juveniles as well as adults. In addition, dispersal movements that are close to the natal nest facilitate the delimitation of areas for protection of Harpy Eagle nests.
THE EVALUATION METHOD OF LANE DEPARTURE BASED ON STEADY PREVIEW THEORY

1 According to the LDWS (Lane Departure Warning Systems), of which the universal departure evaluation algorithm is on the hypothesis that both the lateral speed and the turning radius are constant. In this paper, a roadway departure evaluation algorithm is proposed based on the basic static stable preview principle. Firstly the arrived place of vehicle in some future time was anticipated according to the present steady state, and the steady preview was carried on traveling track of vehicle. Then the roadway departure was evaluated based on the deviation of anticipated tracing point from the lateral and the longitudinal distance of roadway. Through the algorithm, the warning precision on vehicle can be largely increased and the happening of nuisance alarm can be well avoided.