Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acquisition, characterization and classication of Feedback Event-Related Potentials during a time-estimation task

Feedback stimuli are fundamental components in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), since they provide key information to guide the executed task in each moment. It is known that the presentation of feedback stimuli elicits certain brain potentials that can be measured and classified. As stimuli can be given through different sensory modalities, it is important to understand the effects of different types of feedback on brain responses and their impact on classification. The objective of this master thesis is to perform a deep study about the brain potentials elicited after presentation of positive and negative feedback signals, through three sensory inputs: visual, auditive and tactile. To that end, a BCI that allows to acquire brain potentials elicited by different feedback stimuli has to be developed. Once the potentials are recorded, characterization and online classification can be carried out. This master thesis has been divided into five main blocks. First one was the search and study of related bibliography, what allowed the author to acquire the required knowledge to perform the remaining steps of the work. Second step was the design of a BCI with an experimentation protocol that allowed to record the brain potentials evoked by feedback, through the use of electroencephalography (EEG). Once the protocol was designed and implemented within the BCI, the third step was the execution of a series of experimentation sessions with 15 subjects. Five of the subjects performed the experiments receiving visual feedback, five received auditive modality, and five received tactile feedback. Therefore, the practical part of this master thesis consisted of the execution of 30 experimentation sessions (2 with each subject), that lasted about one hour each. Each experimentation session was composed of three steps. First step was the set up of the electroencephalogram, that required to place 32 electrodes on the scalp. Second step was the execution and supervision of the brain-computer interface, while last one was the retreat and cleaning of the EEG equipment. The experimentation sessions of 5 of the subjects were performed in a laboratory of Universidad de Zaragoza fully equipped to that end. Experiments of the remaining 10 subjects ware carried out at Bit&Brain Technologies, spin-off company of Universidad de Zaragoza. This company is involved in R&D labors using BCI technology. After recording the EEG activity of the 15 people, the next step consisted of performing a characterization process of the brain signals. That characterization was accomplished from a point of view of signal processing (Grand Averages) and of source localization, studying the brain foci of activation that generated the measured EEG. Fifth step was the evaluation of several classification strategies based on Support Vector Machines. Exploring different classification strategies allowed to test the accuracies that could
Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Sheep Types in Northern Ethiopia

This study was aimed to generate basic information on physical characteristics of indigenous sheep types under farmer’s management condition in East Gojam zone. Multistage purposive sampling was employed based on the potential of sheep production. Linear body measurements were taken from 630 mature sheep (63 males and 567 females). Dentition was used to estimate the age of sheep as age group one (1pairs of permanent incisors), age group two (2pairs of permanent incisors) and age group three and above (≥3pairs of permanent incisors). Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using SAS. Most East Gojam sheep populations were characterized by plain coat color pattern with reddish coat color, white color, smooth hair type and straight head profile. Moderate (0.57) relationship between chest girth and body weight was observed in female, while the moderate (0.7) relationship for male was observed between height at withers and body weight. Age by sex interaction had significant effect (p 0.05) were not observed in most linear measurements (Body Length, Rump Length, Canon Bone Length, Canon Bone Circumference and Ear Length) implying that these parameters were not affected by the sex-age interaction effect in this particular study. The regression analysis was undertaken to predict body weight from linear body measurements indicates that body weight, in most of the cases, could be predicted with a higher level of accuracy from more than one independent variables (Chest girth, height at wither and body length) in combinations in this particular study. Keywords : Characterization, live body weight, linear body measurements, East Gojam Zone
Occupational accidents and injuries among workers in the construction industry of Windhoek, Namibia

The construction industry is the most dangerous industry in the word with higher prevalence of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. There is a paucity of studies that investigate occupational accidents, injuries and diseases in the Namibian construction industry. The study was conducted to determine the magnitude of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases in the construction industry of Windhoek, Namibia. A quantitative, retrospective document review was conducted to investigate the documents for reported occupational accidents, injuries and diseases for the period of five years, from April 2011 to March 2016. Data was analysed with SPSS version 23. The study found out that occupational accidents and injuries are prevalent in the Windhoek construction industry. The study recorded the total of 37 cases of occupational accidents and injuries. Young, male construction workers are mostly sustained accidents and injuries. Labourers were mostly affected than other occupations while cut by machinery comprise the majority of the source of accidents. The most body part injured is the general body. The researchers did not find any documentation for reported occupational diseases from the construction industry of Windhoek. The researchers recommended the preventive measures to be implemented to prevent occupational accidents and injuries and enforcement of legislations on occupational accidents, injuries and diseases recording and reporting.
Personality Traits and Susceptibility to Behavioral Biases among a Sample of Polish Stock Market Investors

Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate whether susceptibility to selected behavioral biases (overconfidence, mental accounting and sunk-cost fallacy) is correlated with the Eysenck’s [1978] personality traits (impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy). This study was conducted on a sample of 90 retail investors frequently investing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Participants filled out a survey made up of two parts: 1) three situational exercises, which assessed susceptibility to behavioral biases and 2) an Impulsiveness Questionnaire, which measures impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy. The results demonstrated the relationship between venturesomeness and susceptibility to all behavioral biases explored in this study. We find that higher level of venturesomeness was linked with a lower probability of all behavioral biases included in this study.
Effects of light quality and irradiance level interactions on short-term pigment response of the red alga Corallina elongate

Effects of interactions between light quality and irradiance level were tested on photosynthetic pigments of the red intertidal alga Corallina elongata EUis et Soland. During a short-tern~ accommodation process (0 to 5 h), pigments adapted chromatically to light quality. R-phycoerythrin and R-phycocyanin increases were induced under green light at 180 pm01 m-2 S-' In contrast, chlorophyll a increased only under red light at the same irradiance level. In an energy-limited situation, at an irradiance (20 pm01 m-2 S-') close to the photosynthetic compensation point of C. elongata, the accommodation process was inhibited and no chromatic response was detected. The use of antibiotics (rifamycin and chlorarnphenicol) that inhibit chloroplastic protein synthesis revealed that red light acts on phycobiliprotein synthesis in the same way as antibiotics that suppress transcription and translation. The short-term accommodation process involves ' de novo' synthesis of phycobiliproteins The rnechanism ot pigment accommodation is discussed in the frame of chromatic adaptation theory
Possible influences of Asian dust aerosols on cloud properties and radiative forcing observed from MODIS and CERES

The effects of dust storms on cloud properties and Radiative Forcing (RF) are analyzed over Northwestern China from April 2001 to June 2004 using data collected by the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments on the Aqua and Terra satellites. On average, ice cloud effective particle diameter, optical depth and ice water path of cirrus clouds under dust polluted conditions are 11%, 32.8%, and 42% less, respectively, than those derived from ice clouds in dust‐free atmospheric environments. Due to changes in cloud microphysics, the instantaneous net RF is increased from −161.6 W/m2 for dust‐free clouds to −118.6 W/m2 for dust‐contaminated clouds.
Hedging Long-Term Exposures of a Well-Diversified Portfolio with Short-Term Stock Index Futures Contracts

It is difficult for passive portfolio strategy to manage the long-term exposure of a well-diversified portfolio because stock index futures contracts have a finite life limited by their maturity. In this paper, we investigate the problem of the rollover hedge strategy for the long-term exposure of a well-diversified portfolio. First, we consider the rollover hedge strategy for the well-diversified portfolio when the portfolio is not adjusted during the period. In order to obtain the optimal solution of the proposed model, the auxiliary models are constructed using the equivalent transformation technique. Moreover, dynamic programming is employed to derive the optimal positions of stock index futures contracts for the long-term exposure of the well-diversified portfolio. In addition, we extend the result to the case of the rollover hedge strategy with transaction costs and derive the optimal number of stock index futures contracts.
Monetary Shocks in a Model with Loss of Skills (Revised in February 2009)

This paper studies the effects of a monetary shock on real and nominal variables, such as output, inflation and especially unemployment, within a framework which combines a New Keynesian business cycle model model with microfounded labor market in the style of the search and matching literature. We assume that unemployed workers can lose their skill over time and show that this mechanism helps explain the slugish response of unemployment to monetary shocks observed in the data, while also replicating the behavior of output, inflation and employment.
The influence of ground- and lidar-derived forest structure metrics on snow accumulation and ablation in disturbed forests

The current mountain pine beetle infestation in British Columbia's lodgepole pine forests has raised concerns about potential impacts on water resources. Changes in forest structure resulting from defoliation, windthrow, and salvage harvesting may increase snow accumulation and ablation (i.e., spring runoff and flooding risk) below the forest canopy be- cause of reduced snow interception and higher levels of radiation reaching the surface. Quantifying these effects requires a better understanding of the link between forest structure and snow processes. Light detection and ranging (lidar) is an in- novative technology capable of estimating forest structure metrics in a detailed, three-dimensional approach not easily ob- tained from manual measurements. While a number of previous studies have shown that increased snow accumulation and ablation occur as forest cover decreases, the potential improvement of these relationships based on lidar metrics has not been quantified. We investigated the correlation between lidar-derived and ground-based traditional canopy metrics with snow accumulation and ablation indicators, demonstrating that a lidar-derived forest cover parameter was the strongest pre- dictor of peak snow accumulation (r 2 = 0.70, p < 0.001) and maximum snow ablation rate (r 2 = 0.59, p < 0.01). Improving our ability to quantify changes in forest structure in extensive areas will assist in developing more robust models of water- shed processes.
Occurrence and epidemiology of Salmonella enterica in two slaughterhouses and cutting plants in Spain

This study aimed at investigating the Salmonella occurrence in two Spanish pig slaughterhouses analysing the lairage, slaughter line, carcasses and the cutting plants thereof. The results obtained showed a decrease of Salmonella prevalence from the lairage to the cutting plant. The high levels of contamination in holding pens and several points of the slaughter line point them out as the major risk sources of Salmonella spreading within the slaughterhouse. The main Salmonella serotypes previously reported in Spanish finishing pig farms were found at both slaughterhouses. S. Typhimurium isolates recovered from different points of the slaughter chain were typed by MLVA.
Skin Friction Reduction Characteristics of Nonsmooth Surfaces Inspired by the Shapes of Barchan Dunes

A new type of nonsmooth surface inspired by the shape of barchan dunes has been proposed and is intended to reduce skin friction, a major cause of overall drag. Simulations were carried out to obtain skin friction reduction characteristics for the nonsmooth surface using the commercial computational fluid dynamics software Fluent. A realizable -e model was employed to assess the influence of the nonsmooth structure on turbulent flow and velocity fields. The numerical simulation results showed that the new nonsmooth surface possesses the desired skin friction reduction effect and that the maximum skin friction reduction percentage reached 33.63% at a fluid speed of 30 m/s. Various aspects of the skin friction reduction mechanism were discussed, including the distribution of velocity vectors and shear stress contours and the variations in boundary layer thickness. The accuracy of the flow field for the nonsmooth unit was further verified by particle image velocimetry test results. The new bionic nonsmooth surface, which exceeds the limitations of existing nonsmooth bionic structures, can effectively reduce skin friction and should provide insights into engineering applications in the future.
Initial Endowment Effects in Multi-Unit Vickrey Auctions

We report the result of experiments designed to assess the effect of initial endowments on willingness to pay values elicited from multi-unit Vickrey auctions. Comparing bids from an “endow and upgrade” approach with the “full bidding” approach, we find that the direction of the endowment effect generally depends on the number of endowed units of the conventional product that subjects are willing to give up in exchange for units of the upgraded product. The endowment effect is “reverse” when the number of units that participants are willing to give up is lower or equal to the number of remaining endowed units. However, we generally find an endowment effect when the number of units a participant is willing to give up is higher than the number of remaining endowed units.
Coseismic fault slip of the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake estimated from InSAR and GPS measurements

We infer co‐seismic fault slip during the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake from interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and GPS observations of ground deformation. We use ALOS/PALSAR data from ascending orbits on six tracks, and we do not use data that are strongly affected by ionospheric perturbations. We use a fault model composed of three planar fault segments of the Beichuan fault, and one planar segment representing the parallel Pengguan fault. Maximum thrust‐slip is up to 6.7 m near the surface, and occurs in two locations, near Yingxiu in the south and Beichuan in the center of the rupture. Maximum strike‐slip is over 4 m, and occurs near Pingtong and Nanba along the northern end of the rupture. We find that the ratio of coseismic thrust‐ to strike‐slip on the Beichuan fault decreases from 1.5 to 0.7 from the SW to the NE.
The Role of HRM Practices in Predicting Faculty Turnover Intention: Empirical Evidence from Private Universities in Bangladesh

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between human resource management practices and turnover intention among the faculty members of private universities in Bangladesh. The prime objective of this study was to understand whether the institution’s HRM practices can influence faculty turnover decision. A total of 317 faculty members of different private universities located in Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA) participated in the survey and returned the questionnaire to the researchers which represented 57% response rate of the study. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses of the study. The study found faculty compensation, supervisory support and job security as statistically significant predictors of faculty turnover intention. Therefore, private university management should pay much attention to this area of human resource practices (compensation, supervisory support, job security) to retain the potential faculty, thus reducing turnover intention. Limitations and suggestions for latest news headline are forwarded.
A model study on the relation between atmospheric boundary-layer dynamics and poleward atmospheric moisture transport in Antarctica

A regional atmospheric model was used to study the relationship between atmospheric boundary-layerdynamics and moisture transport toward the Antarctic grounded ice sheet. The model was integratedfor a 14-yr period (1980–1993) using a grid spacing of 55 km. Re-analyses from the European centrefor medium-range weather forecasts were used to force the model from the lateral boundaries. Seasurface temperature and sea ice extent were prescribed from daily observations. It was found that theboundary layer responds passively to the large-scale circulation rather than being the driving force forthe meridional circulation and moisture advection toward the ice sheet. Moisture transport by the meancirculation is directed from the ice sheet toward the Southern Ocean and transient eddies are responsiblefor the moisture transport toward the ice sheet. Frequent interruption of the katabatic winds by passinglow-pressure systems characterise years with a large poleward moisture transport. Therefore there isa negative correlation between the annual mean poleward moisture transport and both the directionalconstancy and the southerly wind component in the boundary layer near the ice edge. A case study forJuly 1980 shows that the wind and the specific humidity in the middle and higher troposphere determinethe poleward atmospheric moisture transport in Wilkes Land and that the moisture advection in theboundary layer is insignificant in this region. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.2002. 201404.x
Willingness to pay for improved irrigation services in Mahaweli system H

The major features of the water supply and management policies adopted in Sri Lanka have been centralized planning though a public agency, supply augmentation, zero priced or under priced water and reliance on bureaucratic instruments for water supply. Bulk water allocation system has been implemented in Mahaweli system H as a pilot project since 2002 to find out a methodology, which can be used as a complete solution for water management problems in major irrigation schemes. The project provides a legal water right to users, but users have to actively participate and contribute for the sustainable operation and maintenance of secondary and tertiary canal system. The present study is aimed to estimate the value of current level of resource mobilization by farmers and farmers’ willingness to pay for sustainable irrigation system maintenance in order to provide improved irrigation services in the long run. The findings of the study show that the current level of resource mobilization varies from Rs 1450-2275 per/ha/annum (US$15-23) at 2005 prices. Further farmers are willing to pay Rs 599-890 (US$ 6-9) per/ha/year in addition to the current level of resource mobilization to ensure the long-term sustainability of infrastructure and to achieve improved irrigation services. The willingness to pay value is positively related to household income, farm size, location of irrigation canal and type of major crop cultivated. The willingness to pay expressed needs to be considered by policy makers for feasible policy formulations to meet the future cost escalations and to ensure sustainability of irrigation infrastructure.
Quantum Dots: Application for the Detection of Salmonella typhimurium

Quantum dots (QDs) or nanocrystals 5 to 50 nm in size have recently emerged as a novel and promising class of fluorophores for cellular imaging. Unlike conventional organic dyes, QDs can be excited by a wide spectrum of wavelengths to give enhanced photostability, and their emission spectra, which differ according to size and material composition, are narrow, symmetrical, and tunable. This novel detection strategy can significantly improve the efficiency of molecular techniques used in the identification of important microbes related to human diseases. The aim of this study was to apply QDs linked antibodies to detect pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium cells. The signal, photostabilty and efficiency of QDs linked antibodies was compared with the organic fluorophore linked antibody for the detection of Salmonella cells. The use of QDs as fluorophores has shown greater enhancement in photostability and brighter signal than conven-tional organic dyes in detecting S. typhimurium cells. This approach might also be extended for the simultaneous detection of more than one pathogenic microorganism in the clinical, food or environmental samples by using specific antibodies linked with the QDs of different sizes and colors.
Antimicrobial activity and pH evaluation of Calcium Hydroxide associated with natural products

Novas medicacoes intra-canal podem ser desenvolvidos a partir da combinacao de produtos naturais com hidroxido de calcio (Ca(OH) 2 ). Objetivou-se avaliar o pH e a acao antimicrobiana do Ca(OH) 2 associado a Tintura de propolis 5% (S1); Tintura de Roma 5% (S2); Oleo Essencial de eucalipto 0,5% (S3); solucao inerte (S4); e ao PMCC (S5) sobre cepas de Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212); Agregobacter actinomycetecomitans b (ATCC 29522); Eikenella corrodens (ATCC 23834); e Candida albicans (ATCC 40277). Cones de papel esteril foram imersos durante 1minuto nas solucoes testadas. Realizou-se o teste de difusao em agar e as placas foram incubadas a 37oC em estufa bacteriologica por 48h. Os diâmetros medios de inibicao do crescimento (DMIC) produzido pelas substâncias foram calculados em milimetros e analisados estatisticamente pelos testes ANOVA e de Tukey. Os testes foram realizados em triplicata. A afericao do pH se deu em temperatura ambiente. Para E. faecalis ; A. actinomycetecomitans b; E. corrodens e C. albicans a DMIC para cada substância foi, respectivamente: 1,6; 3,1; 4,6 e 2,3mm (S1); 1,5; 3,1; 8,8 e 0,3mm (S2); 1,5; 3,5; 5,5 e 0,5mm (S3); 1,5; 5,3; 11,6 e 3,1mm (S4) e 3,0; 8,5; 17,3 e 7,3mm (S5). Os halos de inibicao produzidos por S5 foram maiores do que os de S1, S2 e S3 (p<0,05). Os valores de pH encontrados foram: 11,55 (S1); 11,52 (S2); 11,48 (S3); 11,54 (S4); 11,65 (S5). As formulacoes comerciais de Ca(OH) 2 mostraram melhor desempenho antimicrobiano do que as associacoes com produtos naturais. O pH das solucoes testadas nao variou significativamente. Unitermos: Produtos Biologicos; Hidroxido de Calcio; Tratamento do Canal Radicular