Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Task Distribution Mechanism for Effective Collaboration in Virtual Environments

: Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs) are computer generated worlds where two or more users can simultaneously interact with synthetic objects to perform a task. User performance is one of the main issues caused by either loose coordination, less awareness or communication among collaborating users. In this paper, a new model for task distribution is proposed, in which task distribution strategy among multiple users in CVEs is defined. The model assigns the task to collaborating users in CVEs either on static or dynamic basis. In static distribution there exists loose dependency and requires less communication during task realization whereas in dynamic distribution users are more dependent on each other and thus require more communication. In order to study the effect of static and dynamic task distribution strategies on user’s performance in CVEs, a collaborative virtual environment is developed where twenty four (24) teams (each consists of two users) perform a task in collaboration under both strategies (static and dynamic). Results reveal that static distribution is more effective and increases users’ performance in CVEs. The outcome of this work will help the development of effective CVEs in the field of virtual assembly, repair, education and entertainment.
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF HYPERTENSIVE CHANGES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS OF ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the echocardiographic changes and cardiovascular complications in patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study done in the Departments of General Medicine, Cardiology, and Radiodiagnosis of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha, India. Seventy patients above the age of 65 years with systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg, without any secondary causes of hypertension and antihypertensive drug therapy were selected for this study. Echocardiography and electrocardiography studies were implemented for demonstrating the development of cardiovascular complications. Results: Of 70 cases (41 males and 29 females), 64.3% were asymptomatic and 35.7% were symptomatic, with palpitation being the major symptom, 40% (28 cases) developed retinopathy, 45.71% developed increased left ventricular mass index (p=0.04), 18.57% had increased in LV volume (>90 ml/m2), 30% cases had regional wall motion abnormalities, 27.1% had reduced ejection fraction (<56%), and 52.66% showed LA enlargement in this study (p=0.048). Doppler measurements of diastolic filling were significant in patients with ISH with higher peak atrial velocity (A wave) of 79.71±11.79 cm/s and a lower ratio of peak early to atrial velocity of 0.82±0.29. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that elderly patients with ISH had a prevalence of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) which was found to be more in female patients than in male patients followed by left atrial enlargement.
Activity of Lead in Copper Matte at Very Low Lead Concentration

Abstract The thermodynamic behavior of lead in Cu-Fe matte was investigated using a transportation technique where argon gas was bubbled into a bath of copper matte containing approximately 100 ppm lead at temperatures between 1300 and 1400 °C. The effect of flow rate, temperature and matte grade were investigated on the lead transport from a bath containing 100 grams of synthetic copper matte to the gas phase. The concentration of lead in the bath was followed with time. At argon flow rates between 3 l h1 and 18 l h−1, it was observed that the concentration change of lead in the matte was found to follow a first order relationship where the calculated concentration at time t, is of the form [Pb] = a.e−b.t, where a is equal to the initial lead content in ppm, [Pb]i, and b is an exponential term and t is time in minutes. The partial pressure of lead species in the gas phase was calculated from the concentration changes in the matte and from the bubbling gas rate. At gas flow rates between 3 and 9 l h−1, the lead removal appeared to be under equilibrium conditions. At higher gas flow rates, the apparent rate decreased, mainly due to splashing of matte into the cold zone of the furnace. In these experiments with Ar as the carrier gas, the sulphur and oxygen partial pressures of the melt were not controlled. Chemical analysis of the major components in the matte showed only random variation with bubbling time, and so a thermodynamic solution model for copper matte was used to calculate the equilibrium sulphur pressure expected. From this approach the proportion of Pb, PbS and Pb2 species in the gas could be calculated knowing the relevant reaction constants, e.g., PbS(g) = Pb(g) + ½S2(g). From the proportions of the lead species in the gas, the value of the lead activity coefficient with respect to the gas state could be determined. For a 50% copper matte, it was found that the activity coefficient increased with temperature, from a value of 0.8 at 1300 °C to 1.4 at 1400 °C. At the white metal composition, this value was 0.28 at 1300 °C. These results are compared with other relevant studies in the literature.
Impact of IAS 39 reclassification on income smoothing by European banks

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the reclassification of International accounting standard (IAS) 39 on income smoothing using loan loss provisions among European banks. Design/methodology/approach Regression methodology is used to determine the extent of income smoothing using loan loss provisions before and after IAS 39 reclassification. The authors predict that the strict recognition and re-classification requirements of IAS 139 reduced banks’ ability to smooth income using bank securities and derivatives, motivating them to rely more on loan loss provisions to smooth income. The authors test this hypothesis over a sample of 114 European banking institutions over the period 2005 to 2013. Findings The findings do not support the prediction for income smoothing through loan loss provisions. Also, there is no evidence for income smoothing in the pre- and post-IAS 39 reclassification period. Research limitations/implications The implication of the findings is that the European banks did not use loan loss provisions to smooth income during the period examined, and rather rely on other accounting numbers to smooth income. This implies that the International Accounting Standards Board’s strict disclosure regulation improved the reliability and informativeness of loan loss provision estimates among European banks during the period of analysis. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to analyze the effect of IAS 39 re-classification on bank’s ability to smooth income in Europe.
Si K EDGE STRUCTURE AND VARIABILITY IN GALACTIC X-RAY BINARIES

We survey the Si K edge structure in various absorbed Galactic low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) to study states of silicon in the inter- and circum-stellar medium. The bulk of these LMXBs lie toward the Galactic bulge region and all have column densities above 1022 cm−2. The observations were performed using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer. The Si K edge in all sources appears at an energy value of 1844 ± 0.001 eV. The edge exhibits significant substructure that can be described by a near edge absorption feature at 1849 ± 0.002 eV and a far edge absorption feature at 1865 ± 0.002 eV. Both of these absorption features appear variable with equivalent widths up to several mÅ. We can describe the edge structure using several components: multiple edge functions, near edge absorption excesses from silicates in dust form, signatures from X-ray scattering optical depths, and a variable warm absorber from ionized atomic silicon. The measured optical depths of the edges indicate much higher values than expected from atomic silicon cross sections and interstellar medium abundances, and they appear consistent with predictions from silicate X-ray absorption and scattering. A comparison with models also indicates a preference for larger dust grain sizes. In many cases, we identify Si xiii resonance absorption and determine ionization parameters between log ξ = 1.8 and 2.8 and turbulent velocities between 300 and 1000 km s−1. This places the warm absorber in close vicinity of the X-ray binaries. In some data, we observe a weak edge at 1.840 keV, potentially from a lesser contribution of neutral atomic silicon.
Acute Kidney Injury-Incidence , Etiology and Clinical Outcome in A Multispeciality Hospital

DOI: 10.21276/sjams.2018. 6.2. 38 Abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome of varied severity. It is characterized by a rapid (hrs to weeks) decline in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and retention of nitrogenous waste products such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. In recent years, it has been recognized that the time-honored term acute renal failure (ARF) fails to adequately describe what is a dynamic process extending across initiation, maintenance and recovery phases, each of which may be of variable duration and severity. The aim of the study was to know the incidence of AKI, to study the etiology and risk factors and clinical outcome of the AKI. All the patients above 18 yrs age who have a rise in serum creatinine levels of atleast 0.3mg/dl or 50% of base line within 24-48 and reduction in urine output to 0.5ml/kg/hr for longer than 6hrs were considered. Of all screened patient 100 satisfied the criteria of hospital acquired acute renal failure which represents 2.27 percent of patients who suffered from hospital acquired acute kidney injury. All patients had only one episode of acute renal failure. In this study, eighteen (18%) patients who developed acute renal failure died. Septicemia was the commonest cause of death in patients of acute renal failure numbering 6 (33.3%). Four (22.2%) patients died due to peripheral circulatory failure. Uncontrolled renal failure was responsible for 3 (16.7%) deaths. Hyperkalemia was the cause of death in 2 patients (11.1%). 2 patients (11.1%) died of gastrointestinal bleed and 1 patient (5.6%) died of pulmonary edema. The frequent and close pre intervention monitoring of serum creatinine in pertinent clinical settings is essential for early detection of AKI; in patients with risk factors.
Like A Second Skin: Understanding How Epidermal Devices Affect Human Tactile Perception

The emerging class of epidermal devices opens up new opportunities for skin-based sensing, computing, and interaction. Future design of these devices requires an understanding of how skin-worn devices affect the natural tactile perception. In this study, we approach this research challenge by proposing a novel classification system for epidermal devices based on flexural rigidity and by testing advanced adhesive materials, including tattoo paper and thin films of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). We report on the results of three psychophysical experiments that investigated the effect of epidermal devices of different rigidity on passive and active tactile perception. We analyzed human tactile sensitivity thresholds, two-point discrimination thresholds, and roughness discrimination abilities on three different body locations (fingertip, hand, forearm). Generally, a correlation was found between device rigidity and tactile sensitivity thresholds as well as roughness discrimination ability. Surprisingly, thin epidermal devices based on PDMS with a hundred times the rigidity of commonly used tattoo paper resulted in comparable levels of tactile acuity. The material offers the benefit of increased robustness against wear and the option to re-use the device. Based on our findings, we derive design recommendations for epidermal devices that combine tactile perception with device robustness.
Integrating Gender Perspectives in Evaluating the Efficiency of Community-Oriented Financial Intermediaries

This paper first examines the extent of cost and profit inefficiencies of the Philippine credit cooperative system using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Then, it looks into the effects of certain variables on the cost and profit efficiencies of credit cooperatives. Three groups of correlates of inefficiency were used: market characteristics, agency costs and gender governance. Results suggest that market conditions can explain to a certain extent the differences in the efficiency among credit cooperatives. However, the correlates of agency costs do not have a clear-cut effect on the efficiency of credit cooperatives. What is more significant though in this study is the effect on efficiency of women participation in the governance of credit cooperatives. The correlates of gender governance indicate that empowering women not only through enhancing their access to credit but also through increasing their participation in shaping policies can improve the efficiency of credit cooperatives. Results seem to suggest that credit cooperatives that are managed predominantly by women would likely pursue greater cost efficiency than profit efficiency.
The coparenting relationship in Chinese families: The role of parental neuroticism and depressive symptoms

The current study aimed to examine whether parental neuroticism was related to the coparenting relationship directly and indirectly via parental depressive symptoms. Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the interdependency of the effects between parents in Chinese nuclear and extended families. Two waves of longitudinal data from a sample of 1,419 Chinese families were used (822 nuclear families and 597 extended families). Both fathers and mothers rated their levels of neuroticism, depressive symptoms at the first wave, and their perceived coparenting relationship 1 year later. Using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) in nuclear and extended families, both parental neuroticism and depressive symptoms predicted their coparenting relationship (i.e., actor effects). Maternal neuroticism and maternal depressive symptoms predicted paternal coparenting relationship in both nuclear and extended families. Partner effects of paternal neuroticism were significant only in extended families. Compared with fathers, the actor effects of depressive symptoms on the coparenting relationship were higher among mothers. Depressive symptoms played a partial mediating role between neuroticism and the coparenting relationship in dyadic ways. These findings improved our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the coparenting relationship by showing the interrelation of personality and mental health factors. The specific implications of how therapists may intervene in parental mental health to promote the coparenting relationship were discussed.
İlkokul öğretmenlerinin kekemelik ve akran zorbalığına yönelik farkındalık düzeylerinin incelenmesi

Okul cagi cocuklari, vakitlerinin buyuk bolumunu okullarinda gecirmektedirler ve ogretmenler yasamlari uzerinde onemli bir rol oynamaktadir. Ogretmenlerin, kekemelik hakkinda bilgili ve kekemelige yonelik acik bir tutum icinde olmalarinin ise kekemeligi olan ogrencilerin maruz kalabilecekleri akran zorbaligini azaltma uzerinde merkez bir rolu olabileceginden bahsedilmektedir. Bu calismanin amaci, ilkokul ogretmenlerinin kekemelik ve akran zorbaligina yonelik farkindalik duzeylerinin belirlenmesidir. Anket arastirma yontemiyle yurutulen calismaya, Turkiye’nin farkli sehirlerinden 220 ilkokul ogretmeni katilmistir. Verilerin toplanmasinda ilgili alanyazin taranarak arastirmacilar tarafindan hazirlanan bir anket kullanilmistir. Kullanilan anket, 37 madde ve uc alt bolumden olusmaktadir. Ogretmenlerin kekemelige yonelik farkindalik duzeylerinin, cesitli degiskenlere gore olasi farklilasma durumunun incelenmesi icin ise normal dagilim varsayimi karsilanmadigi icin Mann Whitney U ve Kruskall Wallis H- Testleri kullanilmistir. Ankette yer alan iki adet acik uclu sorunun analizi icin de icerik analizi yapilmistir. Arastirmanin sonuclari, ogretmenlerin kekemelik ve akran zorbaligina yonelik farkindalik duzeylerinin artirilmasi gerektigini gostermistir. Ayrica kekemelik hakkinda arastirma yapan ogretmenlerin, arastirma yapmayan ogretmenlere ve kadin ogretmenlerin, erkek ogretmenlere kiyasla kekemelige yonelik farkindalik duzeylerinin anlamli bir sekilde daha yuksek oldugu gorulmustur. Ogretmenlere yonelik kekemelik ve akran zorbaligi hakkinda egitim programlarinin hizmet oncesi ve hizmet ici egitim kapsaminda uygulanmasinin, okul cagi kekemelik yonetiminde olumlu etkileri olabilecegi dusunulmektedir. Bu calismanin sonuclarindan yola cikarak ogretmenlere yonelik duzenlenecek egitim iceriklerinin; kekemeligin nedenleri ve cok boyutlu dogasi, kekemelik hakkinda dogru bilinen yanlislar, kekemeligi olan bireylere eslik edebilen psikososyal sorunlar ve/veya DEHB nitelikleri, kekemeligi olan ogrencilere yonelik uygun sinif stratejileri ve akran zorbaligi yonetimi basliklarini icermesi onerilmektedir.
Design and Implementation of JAVA-based Piano Teaching Management System

This paper analyzed the status quo and problems of piano teaching informatization, and proposed the design of piano teaching management system based on JAVA language and SSH framework. With this technology, by comparing the existing relatively mature technology framework and the development language, this paper set the B/S system architecture as the usage architecture and the SSH framework as the hierarchical structure of the system main body. Then JAVA was used on the basis of the structural design concept to design and implement the system. The completed piano teaching management system has been successfully applied to piano teaching management. After testing and application, the system has been fully functional and has basically reached the desired goal.
Reconnaissance of Routing Protocol in VANET

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANET) is a subclass of Mobile ad hoc networks which provides a distinguished approach for Intelligent Transport Sy stem (ITS). Vehicular networking has various prospe cts and opportunity to facilitate various functions connect ed with traffic safety, Effectiveness system infota inment and on their improvement. This paper includes network a rchitecture, VANET Protocols, Challenges for VANET. In this paper we are discusses the following types of protocols for VANET i.e. Geo Cast, Cluster Based Protocols Topology Based, Positioned Based, Broad Cast.
University of Groningen Absence of Symmetry Breaking for N-Vector Spin Glass Models in Two Dimensions

We prove the absence of continuous symmetry breaking at arbitrary temperatures for two-dimensional N-vector spin glass models with Hamilton function H = ~ . , J ( i , j ) [ i j l -2 ~Si . S j , t > 0 , ~,J where J( i , j ) has mean 0 and variance 1, for all i , j . We comment on the role of boundary conditions in spin glasses and on their critical behaviour in high dimensions.
Fetching Policy of Intelligent Robotic Arm Based on Multiple-agents Reinforcement Learning Method

Traditionally, robotic arms on production lines perform actions by computing rotational matrices, which control the movement of each joint and repeat their work by following commands that were previously programmed. Although with accuracy and efficiency, traditional robotic arms are unable to complete their tasks when the preset conditions change. In this paper, we propose a method using novel Q learning method with residual neural network to train robotics arms. Comparing to traditional models, this novel method results in a better performance for robotic arms after training. The environment is abstracted into the fetch and place problem. The agent we trained could make a policy to fetch various objects, with an accuracy of 92.37%. As it takes only about an average of 32 consecutive commands to complete a task, it is more efficient in execution than any other agents trained only by the usual reinforcement method.
Biogeochemical Impacts of a Black Carbon Wet Deposition Event in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Black carbon (BC) is emitted to the atmosphere during biomass, biofuel and fossil fuel combustion, and leaves the atmosphere via dry or wet deposition on land and on the ocean. On a global scale, wet deposition accounts for about 80% of the total atmospheric BC inputs to the ocean. The input of BC particles to the ocean can enrich surface waters with carbon and associated elements, and owing to high porosity and surface-active properties, BC can alter biogeochemical cycles by sorbing dissolved compounds and promoting aggregation. The rain-mediated input of BC to the ocean and its consequences on nutrient concentrations and particle dynamics were studied in Halong Bay, Vietnam, during a 24 h cycle impacted by short and heavy rainfall events. This study suggests that once introduced in the surface ocean via wet deposition, BC sorbs dissolved organic matter (DOM) and stimulates aggregation processes. The observed wet deposition events were characterized by sudden and pulsed inputs of BC particles that created a thin layer of sinking surface-active aggregates, acting as a net-like scavenger for DOM, nutrients (especially phosphate), and small particles. In addition, the wet deposition events coincided with an enrichment of nutrients in the surface microlayer, with an excess input of nitrogen relative to phosphorus leading to an increase of the molar N:P ratio from 24:1 to 37:1. In the underlying water, the molar N:P ratio also increased (i.e., from 39:1 to 64:1), and this can be attributed to the preferential scavenging of dissolved P-compounds on sinking BC-aggregates.
Polar Auxin Transport Determines Adventitious Root Emergence and Growth in Rice

Flooding is a severe limitation for crop production worldwide. Unlike other crop plants, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is well adapted to partial submergence rendering it a suitable crop plant to understand flooding tolerance. Formation of adventitious roots (ARs), that support or replace the main root system, is a characteristic response to flooding. In rice, AR emergence is induced by ethylene and in the dark where roots grow upward. We used the synthetic auxins 2,4-D and α-NAA, and the auxin transport inhibitor naphthylphtalamic acid (NPA) to study emergence, growth rate and growth angle of ARs. While α-NAA had no effect, NPA and 2,4-D reduced the root elongation rate and the angle with a stronger effect on root angle in the dark than in the light. Furthermore, NPA delayed emergence of AR primordia suggesting that efflux carrier-mediated auxin transport is required for all aspects of directed AR growth. Expression analysis using OsPIN:GUS reporter lines revealed that OsPIN1b and OsPIN1c promoters were active in the stele and root cap in accord with their predicted role in acropetal auxin transport. OsPIN2 was expressed at the root tip and was reduced in the presence of NPA. Auxin activity, detected with DR5:VENUS, increased in primordia following growth induction. By contrast, auxin activity was high in epidermal cells above primordia and declined following growth induction suggesting that auxin levels are antagonistically regulated in AR primordia and in epidermal cells above AR primordia suggesting that auxin signaling contributes to the coordinated processes of epidermal cell death and AR emergence.