Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE RIDDLES OF HISTORIC URBAN QUARTERS INSCRIPTION ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

The inscription of historic urban quarters on the World Heritage List can be considered as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, UNESCO's Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention has been introduced as the most effective international instrument for the conservation and sustainable development of cultural heritage. On the other hand, many researchers have been discussing the many problems faced by the World Heritage Sites. This descriptive-analytic study aims to examine the effects of the inscription of historic urban quarters on the World Heritage List on the conservation and sustainable development of these sites. The research population consisted of 36 university professors, experts of cultural heritage and UNESCO experts. The measurement tool was a questionnaire with 34 questions that examined the factors affecting inscription on the World Heritage List by four indicators, including conservation, facilities, cultural sustainability and economic sustainability, in the form of a SWOT model using the Delphi method. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed protection of the cultural heritage against unnatural hazards as the most important positive point; the threat to the local community life due to tourist crowds as the most important disadvantage; increased investment in the historical context as the best opportunity; and a weak recognition of the tastes of foreign tourists as the most important threat. Also, in prioritization of the indicators, indicators of conservation and cultural sustainability were more effective than others.
Negative Entrenchment Effect of Business Group Conglomerates on Selling and Purchasing Related Party Transactions

This study aims to explain the negative entrenchment effect arised from selling and purchasing related party transactions on business group conglomerates. This study is using 322 firm-year data of firms listed at Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2012-2013 period.This research provides evidence that the ownership by business conglomerates strengthened the negative entrenchment effect in both total of selling-purchasing related party transactions and selling-purchasing related party transactions which come from operating activities. Thus, from the result, it can be presumed that there might be a possibility of agency conflict arised from selling-purchasing related party transactions when a firm is part of business conglomerates.
Diurnal Variation in Stretch Shortening Cycle and Non-Stretch Shortening Cycle Jumping Performance

This study assessed the diurnal variations, as well as the subjects’ perceptions of how time of day affects their jumping performance. Eighteen subjects participated in testing sessions at 7 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. , on the same day. Subjects performed squat jumps (SJ) and countermovement jumps (CMJ) on a force platform with peak ground reaction force (GRF), jump height, and reactive strength index-modified (RSImod) obtained for each jump. Diurnal differences for the CMJ were found for GRF (P = 0.048). Diurnal differences for the SJ were found in RSImod (P= 0.04). Subjective assessment of jumping explosiveness was significantly different across time of day (P = 0. 047). Lower body power training such as plyometrics, may be more effective at mid day than early morning or late afternoon.
TORSIONAL IRREGULARITY EFFECTS OF LOCAL SITE CLASSES IN MULTIPLE STOREY STRUCTURES

In this paper, torsional irregularity factors which effect multi storey shear wall-frame systems were investigated according to Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC) 2007. Six type structures which have different story numbers, plan views and shear wall locations were analyzed. These structures are studied according to local site classes in TEC 2007. Thus, importance levels were determined. SAP 2000 package program were used for structural analyses. Equivalent Seismic Load Method and Mode Superposition Method were used for seismic analyses. Torsional irregularity coefficients are comparatively investigated and efficient factors are determined for torsional irregularities maximum values.
The Long-Run Forecasting of Energy Prices Using the Model of Shifting Trend

This paper constructs long-term forecasts of energy prices using a reduced form model of shifting trend developed by Pindyck (1999). A Gibbs sampling algorithm is developed to estimate models with a shifting trend line which are used to construct 10-period-ahead and 15-period ahead forecasts. An advantage of forecasts from this model is that they are not very influenced by the presence of large, long-lived increases and decreases in energy prices. The forecasts form shifting trends model are combined with forecasts from the random walk model and the autoregressive model to substantially decrease the mean forecast squared error compared to each individual model.
Vitality of aquatic plants and microbial activity of sediment in an oligotrophic lake (Lake Bohinj, Slovenia)

The vitality of eight macrophyte species and the microbial activity of sediment in an oligotrophic lake (Lake Bohinj, Slovenia) were studied via the terminal electron transport system (ETS) activity of mitochondria. The levels of ETS activity of vascular plants were as follows: Ranunculus circinatus, Myriohpyllum spicatum, Potamogeton alpinus, P. perfoliatus, P. lucens. Fontinalis antipyretica exhibited the highest ETS activity of the non-vascular plants, followed by charales Chara delicatula and C. aspera. High values enable R. circinatus, an amphibious species with rapid growth, to survive under conditions in which the water level changes throughout the season. M. spicatum, a species with broad ecological tolerance, also exhibited high ETS activity. The ETS activity of the microbial community in sediment was affected by temperature and/or the amount and origin of the organic matter. A positive correlation between the ETS activity of the sediment and that of M. spicatum and R. circinatus was measured, while negative correlations or no correlation were observed for mosses and macroalgae. The high ETS activity in sediment indicates rapid mineralization of organic matter and, in turn, sufficient nutrients for growth of macrophytes.
Analysing the Short-run and Long-run Relationships between Macroeconomic Variables and Financial Development in Jordan From 1978-2013

The main objective of this study was to examine the short and long-run relationships between macroeconomic variables such as : gross domestic product, foreign direct investment, money supply, consumer price index, interest payment on external debt and fuel import and Jordan’s financial development represented by Amman Stock Exchange (ASE), Conventional Banking System (CBS) and Islamic Banking System (IBS). Moreover; to examine the directional causality between Jordanian economy and financial development. The annual time series data for the period from 1978 to 2013 is used to obtain these objectives. The Granger Causality Test revealed a unidirectional causality relationship between economic growth and Jordan’s financial development. Also, the economic growth appear to lead the ASE while, CBS and IBS appear to lead the economic growth. These results are in support of the theories and the hypotheses of this study which postulates that the financial development were positively affected by GDP, FDI, MS2 and F1 and negatively affected by CPI and IP is the short and long-run analysis. Further, the macroeconomic variables appeared to strongly predict Jordanian financial development performance. Jordan’s government and policy-makers should encourage the investors to establish more Islamic banks, launch awareness campaigns and financial market’s programs, and continue governing the monetary policy in the right direction to combat inflation. Future studies may focus on the influence of other variables such as: the privatisation programs, total debt, public and private domestic savings and economic openness on Jordan’s financial development.
Anti‐elite parties and political inequality: How challenges to the political mainstream reduce income gaps in internal efficacy

There is growing interest in political inequality across income groups. This article contributes to this debate with two arguments about political involvement: poverty depresses internal political efficacy by undermining cognitive and emotional resources; and dissent in the party system reduces the efficacy gap to higher incomes. Specifically, conflict is to be expected between anti‐elite and mainstream parties to simplify political decisions and stimulate political attention among poor voters. These arguments are supported with comparative and experimental analyses. Comparative survey data shows that the income gap in efficacy varies with a novel measure of the anti‐elite salience in the party system. The causal impact of anti‐elite rhetoric is established though a representative survey experiment. Finally, the article investigates how these mechanisms affect both electoral and other forms of political participation.
Influence of spatial heterogeneity of local surface albedo on the area-averaged surface albedo retrieved from airborne irradiance measurements

Abstract. Spectral airborne upward and downward irradiance measurements are used to derive the area-averaged surface albedo. Real surfaces are not homogeneous in their reflectivity. Therefore, this work studies the effects of the heterogeneity of surface reflectivity on the area-averaged surface albedo to quantify how well aircraft measurements can resolve the small-scale variability of the local surface albedo. For that purpose spatially heterogeneous surface albedo maps were input into a 3-dimensional (3-D) Monte Carlo radiative transfer model to simulate 3-D irradiance fields. The calculated up- and downward irradiances in altitudes between 0.1 and 5 km are used to derive the area-averaged surface albedo using an iterative retrieval method that removes the effects due to atmospheric scattering and absorption within the layer beneath the considered level. For the case of adjacent land and sea surfaces, parametrizations are presented which quantify the horizontal distance from the coastline that is required to reduce surface heterogeneity effects on the area-averaged surface albedo to a given limit. The parametrization which is a function of altitude, aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, and the ratio of local land and sea albedo was applied for airborne spectral measurements. In addition, the deviation between area-averaged and local surface albedo is determined for more complex surface albedo maps. For moderate aerosol conditions (optical depth less than 0.4) and a wavelength range between 400 and 1000 nm, the altitude and the heterogeneity of the surface albedo are the dominant factors determining the mean deviation between local and area-averaged surface albedo. A parametrization of the mean deviation is applied to an albedo map that was derived from a Landsat image of an area in East Anglia (UK). Parametrization and direct comparison of local and area-averaged surface albedo show similar mean deviations (20% vs. 25%) over land.
Maternal corticosteroids influence primary offspring sex ratio in a free-ranging passerine bird

When fitness benefits of investment in sons and daughters differ, animals are predicted to manipulate the sex ratio of their offspring. Sex ratio manipulation occurs in many taxa, but the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon in vertebrates remain largely unknown. Factors favoring skewed sex ratios, such as reduced maternal condition or food availability, also induce elevated corticosteroids. Recent experimental studies support a causal relationship between corticosteroids and sex ratio. Evidence of a natural correlation between maternal corticosteroids and offspring sex ratio has been lacking, however. Without such evidence, the importance of corticosteroids in influencing sex ratios in natural populations was unknown. We measured baseline corticosteroids in 19 free-ranging female white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) and the sex ratios of their offspring. Females with high corticosteroids produced more daughters than females with low hormone levels. We then conducted a controlled, field-based experiment investigating the effects of moderately increased maternal corticosteroids on offspring sex ratios to determine if the observed correlation reflects a causal relationship between maternal corticosteroids and offspring sex ratio. Hormone-implanted females produced more female embryos than control females. These findings provide the first evidence of a natural correlation between maternal corticosteroids and offspring sex ratios in free-ranging birds, and the first experimental evidence of a causal link between moderate increases in corticosteroids and biased primary sex ratios. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Numerical Prediction of Dynamically Propagating and Branching Cracks Using Moving Finite Element Method

Phenomena of dynamic crack branching are investigated numerically from a macroscopic point of view. Repetitive branching phenomena, interaction of cracks after bifurcation and their stability, bifurcation into two and three branches were the objectives of this research. For the analysis of dynamic crack branching, recently we developed moving finite element method based on Delaunay automatic triangulation [Nishioka, Furutuka, Tchouikov and Fujimoto (2002)]. In this study this method was extended to be applicable for complicated crack branching phenomena, such as bifurcation of the propagating crack into more than two branches, multiple crack bifurcation and so on. The switching method of the path independent dynamic J integral, which was developed for the case of simple two cracks branching phenomena, demonstrated it’s excellent applicability also for the case of complicated crack branching. The simulation results are discussed with consideration to the experimental findings. keyword: Dynamic crack bifurcation, dynamic fracture, crack propagation and arrest, moving finite element method, dynamic J integral, fracture prediction criteria, multiple branching.
Gender differences and culture in english short message service language among malay university students

This paper examined the sociolinguistic aspect of Short Message Service (SMS) language, particularly in identifying gender differences and in revealing how Malay culture could be represented in SMS texts. The research applied both qualitative and quantitative approaches on 20 Malay postgraduate students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: 10 male texters and 10 female texters aged between 24-30 years old. Data collection involved 40 SMSes; 20 text messages from each gender and interviews with four participants. The predetermined categories namely abbreviation, emotion, onomatopoeic and word length were selected to fulfill the aims and scope of the study. Hence, Shafie et al (2011) and Balakrishnan & Batat’s (2010) framework of abbreviation, emotion and onomatopoeic, and word length was used. Based on the analysis, it was revealed that there were no gender differences in the use of abbreviations. However, females showed more use of emotions, onomatopoeic and their text messages were longer than males. These findings were confirmed by all the interviewees. The findings also revealed some culture aspects; both the Malay word “lah” and the translation of Malay proverbs into English which are used among Malays in their language were detected.
Emergency surgery for inflammatory bowel disease in Greece

SUMMARY In this study the various clinicoepidemiological features of 32 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (29 with Crohn’s disease and 3 with ulcerative colitis), who underwent an emergency operation during a follow-up period of 15 years, are reviewed. The three patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent an emergency operation, represent a percentage of 0.7% of 413 patients seen and followed-up in our institutions during the last 15 years, while the 29 patients with Crohn’s disease represent a percentage of 19% of a total number of 155 patients diagnosed and followedup during the same period. There were 18 men and 14 women of mean age 41‐12 years. The indication for emergency surgery in the group of patients with Crohn’s disease was obstructive ileus in 17, bowel perforation/peritonitis in 7, and uncontrolled hemorrhage in 5 patients. The corresponding indication for the group of patients with ulcerative colitis was uncontrolled hemorrhage in two and toxic megacolon in one patient. Obstructive ileus occurred in patients with small bowel or ileocolonic involvement, uncontrolled hemorrhage occurred mainly in patients with ileocolonic involvement, while perforation occurred almost exclusively in patients with small bowel involvement. Enterectomy and end-to-end anastomosis was performed on 22 patients with Crohn’s disease while various other procedures were performed in the remaining seven patients. Ileorectal anastomosis was performed in one patient and total proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy in two patients with ulcerative colitis. Two perioperative deaths were noticed in the group of patients with Crohn’s disease and one in the group of patients with ulcerative colitis. Emergency operation for inflammatory bowel disease is mainly needed for patients with Crohn’s disease. Clinicians must bear in mind that perforation of the bowel could be the first manifestation in a patient with Crohn’s disease.
Aerodynamic behavior of the bridge of a capacitive RF MEMS switch

The present paper proposes a coupled 3D multi-physics model and presents the results of its transient simulation, for a RF MEMS capacitive switch of bridge-type. The fluid structure interaction (FSI) simulation sustains time-varying viscous damping and modified time response of the bridge deflection compared to the actuation modulation above closing of the switch. Complex 3D geometries of the bridge were rarely taken into account in viscous damping assessment much less in the simulation of the full flow around the bridge of the switch. The final goal of the paper is to obtain the dependency of an equivalent damping coefficient with respect to time, to be used in subsequent reduced order models for the switch, that include the aerodynamic behaviour of the switch.
Vietnamese Consumers' Intention to Use Online Shopping: The Role of Trust

Because of online shopping characterized by facelessness and intangibility, consumers are often reluctant toengage in any forms of online transactions (Grabner-Krauter & Kaluscha, 2003). Accordingly, trust has played asignificant role and been considered as a consumers’ essential condition to engage in E-commerce. The keyobjective of this study is to examine the role of trust in Vietnamese consumers’ intention to use online shoppingthrough empirically testing the integrated model of trust perspectives which are technology beliefs, trustingbeliefs (consumers’ trust in online shopping) and subjective norm beliefs. The result of this study indicates that64.2% variance of consumers’ intention to use online shopping is explained by technology beliefs, trustingbeliefs and subjective norm beliefs among which, technology beliefs (typically is perceived usefulness) is thestrongest influencing factor and is followed by trusting beliefs (typically is integrity of online vendor). Notably,this study also admits the role of subjective norm beliefs and their impact on Vietnamese consumers’ intention toshop online. The findings of this study are noteworthy for both researchers and practitioners because of itscontribution to theoretical and empirical perspectives.
Long-term earnings losses of high-seniority displaced workers

111 The recent recession and continuing slow employment growth have focused renewed attention on the plight of displaced workers—workers whose job loss results from the plant closings and mass layoffs associated with economic restructuring. It has long been clear that such workers suffer short-term earnings losses if they are forced into unemployment while searching for new jobs. ' What has been less clear, however, is the magnitude of any long-term losses from reduced earnings on these new jobs. This article provides evidence that for displaced workers who had substantial seniority with their former employers, these long-term earnings losses are highly significant and, in fact, cumulatively much larger than the earnings losses they suffer while unemployed. Displacement is, of course, not limited to recessions. Rather, displacement is a normal feature of a dynamic economy in which technological progress and changing consumer tastes constantly necessitate economic restructuring. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that during the 1980s, 20 million workers lost jobs because of plant closings and permanent layoffs. Even in the relatively strong labor market that prevailed in 1988, 1.5 million workers lost jobs in this way. 2 The aggregate economy benefits from this frequent restructuring. Nevertheless, many have shown a concern for the losses suffered by some of those who do not benefit—the displaced workers. Concern has been especially great for workers who are displaced as a result of changes in government policy. For instance, trade liberalization is almost certainly good for the country as a whole. In addition to lowering prices for consumers, it increases opportunities for exportproducing sectors of the economy and is likely to result in a net increase in jobs for U.S. workers. Despite these benefits, however, some workers are likely to be displaced as a result of increased imports. ' Policymakers have tried to help such workers, either because they believe fairness requires it or because they believe such assistance is the only way to win enough political support for freer trade. In either case, they have an interest in knowing the full losses suffered by job losers. Assessing the full costs borne by displaced workers is even more important when the net benefits of policy changes that lead to displacement are less clearly positive than those of freer trade. In such cases, policymakers need to be concerned not only with compensating the losers, but also with determining whether the policy change should be made at all. For instance, from an economic perspective, additional environmental regulations should only be imposed if the benefits of such regulations exceed their full costs, including the costs borne by any workers who lose their jobs. Similarly, much debate over appropriate monetary and fiscal policy can be cast in terms of a trade-off between inflation and
Spatially simulating changes of soil water content and their effects on carbon sequestration in Canada's forests and wetlands

The variations of soil water content (SWC) and its influences on the carbon (C) cycle in Canada’s forests and wetlands were studied through model simulations using the Integrated Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon (InTEC) model. It shows that Canada’s forests and wetlands experienced spatially and temporally heterogeneous changes in SWC from 1901 to 2000. SWC changes caused average NPP to decrease 40.8 Tg C yr−1 from 1901 to 2000, whereas the integrated effect of non-disturbance factors (climate change, CO2 fertilization and N deposition) enhanced NPP by 9.9%. During 1981–2000, the reduction of NPP caused by changes in SWC was 58.1 Tg C yr−1 whereas non-disturbance factors together caused NPP to increase by 16.6%. SWC changes resulted in an average increase of 4.1 Tg C yr−1 in the net C uptake during 1901–2000, relatively small compared with the enhancement in C uptake of 50.2 Tg C yr−1 by the integrated effect of non-disturbance factors. During 1981–2000, changes in SWC caused a reduction of 3.8 Tg C yr−1 in net C sequestration whereas the integrated factors increased net C sequestration by 54.1 Tg C yr−1. Increase in SWC enhanced C sequestration in all ecozones.