Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Banal nationalism and conversational cosmopolitanism: the potential of online language education for intercultural communication

ABSTRACT This article considers the potential of language-focused online teaching platforms (OTPs) for fostering intercultural communication among their users. Drawing on interviews alongside an analysis of two OTPs websites, I argue that OTPs' webpages (re)produce banal nationalism grounded in nation-language congruence and instrumentalist language ideologies that conceive of language learning in terms of potential socioeconomic gains. However, I also find that: (1) learners' experiences can result in them questioning essentialist language ideologies; and (2) many users embrace a language ideology of conversational cosmopolitanism, which is premised on open-minded interaction with others and is consistent with the goals of intercultural communication educators.
An Improved Heteroskedasticity and Autocorrelation Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimator

This paper considers a new class of heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation consistent (HAC) covariance matrix estimators. The estimators considered are prewhitened kernel estimators with vector autoregressions employed in the prewhitening stage. The paper establishes consistency, rate of convergence, and asymptotic truncated mean squared error (MSE) results for the estimators when a fixed or automatic bandwidth procedure is employed. Conditions are obtained under which prewhitening improves asymptotic truncated MSE. Monte Carlo results show that prewhitening is very effective in reducing bias, improving confidence interval coverage probabilities, and rescuing over-rejection of t-statistics constructed using kernel-HAC estimators. On the other hand, prewhitening is found to inflate variance and MSE of the kernel estimators. Since confidence interval coverage probabilities and over-rejection of t-statistics are usually of primary concern, prewhitened kernel estimators provide a significant improvement over the standard non-prewhitened kernel estimators.
Tensor voting in computer vision, visualization, and higher dimensional inferences

This dissertation is founded on the basic Tensor Voting Formalism. It provides a unified computational framework, making use of the continuity constraint to generate layered descriptions in terms of surfaces, regions, curves, and labeled junctions, from sparse, noisy, binary data in 2-D or 3-D. The method is non-iterative, does not depend on initialization, robust to spurious outlier noise, and the only free parameter is the size of the neighborhood, or the scale of analysis, which is indeed a property of visual perception. In this thesis, feature extraction from tensor data is first studied. A number of new feature extraction algorithms is designed and implemented. Coherent features, such as a hole-free triangulation mesh, and a curve consisting of connected and oriented curve segments, are typical outputs of these algorithms. While the basic formalism provides excellent results for smooth structures, it only detects discontinuities but does not localize them. A methodology for feature integration is proposed. This extended system is applied in a variety of visualization problems, and very encouraging results are obtained. The feature integration is further upgraded bar the use of second order, curvature information, which is absent from the basic formalism. The tensor voting formalism is also generalized to higher dimensions, and the 8-D version is applied to solve the problem of epipolar geometry estimation. Given a set of noisy point correspondences in two images as obtained from two views of a static scene without correspondences, even in the presence of moving objects, our method extract all good matches while rejecting all outliers. The proposed theory and the implementation consolidate the existing tensor voting foundation. Promising further research and development in a wide variety of applications, and in any dimensions, are possible.
Image Intensity Understanding

lmage. i n t e n s i t i e s have been processed t r a d i t i o n a l l y w i t h o u t much regard t o how they a r i s e. T y p i c a l l y they a r e used o n l y t o segment an image i n t o regions o r t o f i n d edge-fragments. lmage i n t e n s i t i e s do c a r r y a g r e a t deal o f u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n about three-dimensional aspects o f o b j e c t s and some i n i t i a l attempts a r e made here t o e x p l o i t t h i s. An understanding o f how images a r e formed and what determines t h e amount o f l i g h t r e f l e c t e d from a p o i n t on an o b j e c t t o the viewer i s v i t a l t o such a development. The gradient-space, popularized by Huffman and Mackworth i s a h e l p f u l t o o l i n t h i s regard.
Laser-induced ignition of methane-air mixtures at pressures up to 4 MPa

Laser-induced ignition of methane-air mixtures was investigated experimentally using nanosecond pulses generated by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064, 532, and 355 nm at initial pressures up to 4 MPa. Under the experimental conditions, the optimum focal spot diameter was found to be about 20 μm. The diameter is independent of the laser wavelength, indicating that small impurity particles provide the seeds for laser plasma generation. The minimum laser pulse energy needed for ignition ranged from 8-15 mJ and decreased with increasing initial pressure and with increasing fuel equivalence ratio Φ in the mixture regime of Φ = 0.91 to Φ = 0.56. Corresponding threshold intensities ranged from 10 10 to 10 11 W/cm 2 . Evidence of a nonresonant mechanism of breakdown was established. To the best of the authors' knowledge, these are the first results on laser-induced ignition well above atmospheric pressure as relevant for technical combustion systems.
Chaos in popular metaheuristic optimizers – a bibliographic analysis

This paper presents an overview of the history and recent efforts in combining chaos theory and evolutionary computation techniques. Various algorithms from the evolutionary computation domain, also known as metaheuristic algorithms, have been successfully enhanced with chaotic components in the past. Numerous ways to incorporate chaos have been examined, and many impressive results have been reported. Implementations of discrete chaotic maps such as Lozi, Hénon, and logistic map as generators of chaotic pseudo-random sequences for controlling evolution operators in metaheuristics have achieved significant popularity. In this survey, we focus on the research field itself and perform a bibliographical analysis to show how broad and active is nowadays the research field of chaos-enhanced metaheuristics and what are some of the most recent works published.
PHASE-SPACE PRODUCT OF PARTIALLY COHERENT CONICAL BEAMS

In the present work, we derive an analytical phase-space product, which is a measure for characterizing the partially coherent beams, for partially coherent conical beams. The phase-space product is the product of a factor which relates the effective coherence area of the source that generates the laser beam to its effective angular spread. The phase-space product of spatially fully coherent Gaussian sources is determined in this work as special case by letting the coherent and angular parameters of partially coherent conical beams to zero.
Rapid and BriefCommunication Alternative linear discriminant classi$er

Fisher linear discriminant analysis (FLDA) $nds a set ofoptimal discriminating vectors by maximizing Fisher criterion, i.e., the ratio ofthe between scatter to the within scatter. One ofits major disadvantages is that the number ofits discriminating vectors capable to be found is bounded from above by C-1 for C-class problem. In this paper for binary-class problem, we propose alternative FLDA to breakthrough this limitation by only replacing the original between scatter with a new scatter measure. The experimental results show that our approach give impressive recognition performances compared to both the Fisher approach and linear SVM. 2003 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Diagnosis of Optimal Perturbation Evolution in the Eady Model

Abstract The structure and evolution of Eady model singular vector (SV, also referred to as optimal perturbation) streamfunction perturbations are described using a combination of two different partitions of the vector subspace describing all possible streamfunction perturbations. A modal partitioning of the SV perturbation streamfunction (expressing the SV streamfunction as a linear combination of modal structures) is used to ascribe the roles and relative importance of the continuum modes (CMs) and the discrete normal modes (NMs) in SV initial structure and subsequent evolution. In addition, a potential vorticity (PV) partitioning of the SV perturbation streamfunction into parts attributed to the SV PV and the SV boundary thermal anomalies (BTAs) is employed. The structures of the CMs and NMs are described in terms of their characteristic perturbation PV and BTAs. Modal decomposition of the SVs reveals that for all zonal wavenumbers (k), the NMs have the largest projection coefficients (with magnitudes .
GROUPS WHICH ACT ON Su WITHOUT FIXED POINTS.

An equivalent formulation of the problem is the following. Which groups can occur as the fundamental groups of manifolds Mn for which the universal covering space A? n is homeomorphic to Sn. More generally one might only require that Mn have the homotopy type of S? L. For example, any 3-manifold with a finite fundamental group satisfies this more general condition. (Such manifolds are classified up to homotopy type by the fundamental group together with the k-invariant (see Olum [3] Theorem IV.)) The author is indebted to helpful discussions with A. Shapiro.
NONPARAMETRIC ESTIMATION OF EFFECTIVE DOSES AT QUANTAL RESPONSE

For the quantal response model we propose a new direct method for nonpara- metric estimation of the effective dose level ���� 100�� (0 < �� < 1). This method yields a simple and reliable monotone estimate of the effective dose level curve �� → ���� 100�� and is appealing to users of conventional smoothing methods of kernel estimates. Moreover, it is computationally very efficient, because it does not require a numerical inversion of the estimate of the quantile dose response curve. We prove asymptotic normality of this new estimator and compare it with the DNP-estimator.
IMPROVEMENT OF ROAD SAFETY SYSTEM

Road accidents continues to be a major issue in India and it ranks first in the number of road accidents deaths across 199 countries. It is important to monitor the driver health condition before driving. We propose a model that can monitor the Driver health condition while driving. “Improvement Of Road Safety System” is designed to continuously track and monitor driver’s vital health parameters such as (BODY TEMPERATURE, HEART BEAT, ALCOHOL LEVEL). The proposed system can monitor the state or condition of the driver using Sensors with Arduino, TWILLO to send location as SMS in IOT using NODEMCU and WIFI. which is the major reason for road accidents and if any . This project explores the potential of technology to improve public health and safety. Health monitoring and road safety systems are two key areas that have received significant attention in recent years, and have shown great promise in improving the lives of individuals. The platform analyze the drivers with comprehensive health monitoring tools and advanced road safety systems that can help prevent accidents, improve health outcomes, and enhance overall well-being. Keywords- IOT(Internet of things), TWILLO API, Arduino, NODEMCU(ESP8266).
COMMANDFENCE FOR SECURING SMART HOME SYSTEM

The smart home system has become increasingly popular due to its convenience and security benefits. The advantages of the smart home system in terms of convenience and security have made it more and more popular. It is, nevertheless, vulnerable to security lapses and cyberattacks.In this article, we suggest a method for protecting a smart home system using PIR sensor, Node MCU, Arduino Uno, LCD screen, buzzer, and Telegram software are all included. The suggested system is made to recognize and react to potential security concerns like infiltration, unauthorized access, and motion detection. The NodeMCU board receives a signal when the PIR sensor detects motion. The ESP32-CAM module and the Node MCU board then communicate in order to take photos, which are subsequently sent to the user's Telegram account for visual confirmation. Additionally, the system has an LCD display and a buzzer to offer Keywords- IOT (Internet of Things),Arduino,ESP8266,
Sparse Polynomial Interpolation and Testing

Interpolation is the process of learning an unknown polynomial f from some set of its evaluations. We consider the interpolation of a sparse polynomial, i.e., where f is comprised of a small, bounded number of terms. Sparse interpolation dates back to work in the late 18th century by the French mathematician Gaspard de Prony, and was revitalized in the 1980s due to advancements by Ben-Or and Tiwari, Blahut, and Zippel, amongst others. Sparse interpolation has applications to learning theory, signal processing, error-correcting codes, and symbolic computation. Closely related to sparse interpolation are two decision problems. Sparse polynomial identity testing is the problem of testing whether a sparse polynomial f is zero from its evaluations. Sparsity testing is the problem of testing whether f is in fact sparse. We present effective probabilistic algebraic algorithms for the interpolation and testing of sparse polynomials. These algorithms assume black-box evaluation access, whereby the algorithm may specify the evaluation points. We measure algorithmic costs with respect to the number and types of queries to a black-box oracle. Building on previous work by Garg–Schost and Giesbrecht–Roche, we present two methods for the interpolation of a sparse polynomial modelled by a straight-line program (SLP): a sequence of arithmetic instructions. We present probabilistic algorithms for the sparse interpolation of an SLP, with cost softly-linear in the sparsity of the interpolant: its number of nonzero terms. As an application of these techniques, we give a multiplication algorithm for sparse polynomials, with cost that is sensitive to the size of the output. Multivariate interpolation reduces to univariate interpolation by way of Kronecker substitution, which maps an n-variate polynomial f to a univariate image with degree exponential in n. We present an alternative method of randomized Kronecker substitutions, whereby one can more efficiently reconstruct a sparse interpolant f from multiple univariate images of considerably reduced degree. In error-correcting interpolation, we suppose that some bounded number of evaluations may be erroneous. We present an algorithm for error-correcting interpolation of polynomials that are sparse under the Chebyshev basis. In addition we give a method which reduces sparse Chebyshevbasis interpolation to monomial-basis interpolation. Lastly, we study the class of Boolean functions that admit a sparse Fourier representation. We give an analysis of Levin’s Sparse Fourier Transform algorithm for such functions. Moreover, we give a new algorithm for testing whether a Boolean function is Fourier-sparse. This method reduces sparsity testing to homomorphism testing, which in turn may be solved by the Blum– Luby–Rubinfeld linearity test.
Pharmacological strategies to manage hyperkalaemia: out with the old, in with the new? Not so fast…

ABSTRACT Since the 1950s, sodium polystyrene sulphonate (SPS) has been the dominant cation exchange agent prescribed for hyperkalaemia. Clinicians have had plenty of time to learn of SPS's advantages and limitations. The demands of drug regulatory agencies regarding the incorporation of medications into the market were not so stringent then as they are today, and the efficacy and safety of SPS have been questioned. In recent years, two novel cation exchangers, patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, have received (or are in the process of receiving) regulatory approval in multiple jurisdictions globally, after scrutiny of carefully conducted trials regarding their short-term and mid-term efficacy. In this debate, we defend the view that all three agents are likely to have similar efficacy. Harms are much better understood for SPS than for newer agents, but currently there are no data to suggest that novel agents are safer than SPS. Drug choices need to consider costs, access and numbers-needed-to-treat to prevent clinically important events; for potassium exchangers, we need trials directly examining clinically important events.
Effects of Deep Hyperthermia Combined with Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy on Liver-Kidney Function, Immune Function, and Long-Term Survival in Patients with Abdominal Metastases

Objectives To analyze the effects of deep hyperthermia combined with intraperitoneal chemotherapy on liver-kidney function, immune function, and long-term survival in patients with abdominal metastases. Methods A total of 88 patients with abdominal metastases confirmed in the hospital were enrolled as the research objects between August 2018 and August 2021. They were randomly divided into control group (n = 44) and observation group (n = 44). The control group was treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy, while observation group was additionally treated with deep hyperthermia. The general clinical data of patients were recorded. The short-term and long-term curative effects were evaluated. The occurrence of side effects in both groups was recorded. Before and after treatment, levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected by full-automatic biochemical analyzer. The level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was detected by the urease electrode method. The level of serum creatinine (Scr) was detected by the picric acid method. The levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells were detected by BD FACSCalibur flow cytometer. Results There was no significant difference in clinical data between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the observation group, ORR was significantly higher than that in the control group (54.55% vs 29.55%) (P < 0.05), OS was significantly longer than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and median survival time and mPFS were longer than those in the control group. After treatment, the levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and Scr were significantly increased in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio or count of NK cells before and after treatment (P > 0.05). Before and after treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and Scr in the observation group (P > 0.05). After treatment, peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio and count of NK cells were all increased in the observation group, significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of chemotherapy side effects in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The short-term and long-term curative effects of deep hyperthermia combined with intraperitoneal chemotherapy are good on patients with intraperitoneal metastases, with less damage to liver-kidney function. It is beneficial to enhance immune function of patients, with mild side effects.
Phase‐Coupling‐Induced Far‐Field Modulation between Nontrivial and Trivial Modes in Cavity–Waveguide Systems

Photonic crystal (PhC) can be accurately designed to generate nontrivial and trivial modes, that is, edge states (ES)/corner states (CS) and cavity modes, respectively. The coupled cavity–waveguide system designed by PhC provides a chip‐scale platform to manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves that is usually based on near‐field coupling between nontrivial and trivial modes. However, the far‐field interaction between nontrivial and trivial modes for manipulating EM waves has not attracted wide attention yet. Herein this article, the coupled cavity–waveguide systems, which consist of two separated CS cavities (interacting with single/multiple trivial cavity/cavities) coupled by means of an ES waveguide, are designed to robustly tune the transmission properties of EM waves by modulating the phase coupling between CS cavities. As proof‐of‐principle examples, single‐, dual‐, and triple‐electromagnetically‐induced‐transparency‐like (EIT‐like) phenomena with tunable transmission spectra are theoretically and numerically demonstrated by controlling the distance (generated phase accumulation) between the CS cavities. In addition, the robustness in generating EIT‐like transmission characteristics is also demonstrated due to the robustness of the CS cavities. The unique cavity–waveguide systems with unprecedented capability in robustly tuning the transmission spectra of EM waves can be extended to design other high‐performance devices with potential applications in sensing, detecting, and information processing.
Modèles murins pour l’étude d’éléments régulateurs du locus IgH : Ciblage des régions Eμ et 3’régulatrices

Lors du developpement lymphocytaire B, le locus IgH subit de nombreux remaniements geniques controles par differents elements cis regulateurs. La premiere region regulatrice est constituee de l’activateur intronique cEμ et ses regions d’attachement a la matrice (MARsEμ). Pour nos etudes, nous avons realise les Knock-Out de la totalite de la region et des regions MARsEμ. Le premier modele, entrainant un severe blocage du developpement B, confirme l’importance de Eμ aux stades precoces. Ce modele met egalement en evidence le role important de Eμ pour l’expression de la chaine lourde μ au stade pre-B, sa deletion entrainant un desequilibre des compartiments B peripheriques caracterise par la diminution de la population B folliculaire a la faveur des cellules B de la zone marginale. L’etude du second modele met en lumiere un role important des regions MARsEμ lors de d’hypermutation somatique. De facon etonnante, les MARsEμ. Influencent ce processus en cis au locus IgH mais aussi en trans, au locus des chaines legeres ҡ. La seconde region regulatrice situee en 3’ du locus est constituee de quatre activateurs transcriptionnels (hs3a, hs1-2, hs3b, hs4). Elle presente une structure quasipalindromique, dont le role restait meconnu, incluant des sequences inversees et repetees organisees autour de hs1,2 (hs4 etant situe en dehors de cette structure). Le Knock-Out de ce quasi-palindrome confirme que hs4 permet l’expression optimale de la chaine lourde μ dans les cellules B au repos ; ce modele demontre egalement un role capital de cette region pour le processus d’hypermutation somatique couple a la transcription.
Protect large trees for climate mitigation, biodiversity, and forest resilience

Protecting the climate system requires urgently reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere and increasing cumulative carbon stocks in natural systems. Recent studies confirm that large trees accumulate and store a disproportionate share of aboveground forest carbon. In the temperate forests of the western United States, a century of intensive logging drastically reduced large‐trees and older forest, but some large trees remain. However, recent changes to large tree management policy on National Forest lands east of the Cascade Mountains crest in Oregon and southeastern Washington allows increased harvesting of large‐diameter trees (≥53 cm or 21 inches) that account for just 3% of all stems, but hold 42% of total aboveground carbon. In this article, we describe synergies with protecting large trees for climate mitigation, biodiversity, and forest resilience goals to shift species composition, reduce fuel loads and stem density, and adapt to climatically driven increases in fire activity in eastern Oregon.