Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial Patterns and Temporal Variability of Drought in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Areas in China

Drought identification and assessment are essential for regional water resources management. In this paper, the spatiotemporal characteristics of drought were evaluated based on monthly precipitation data from 33 synoptic stations during the period of 1960–2010. The percent of normal precipitation was applied to illustrate the driest years in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan areas (BTHMA) (1965, 1997, and 2002). The modified Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) was applied to capture the drought patterns and to estimate the drought severity at 33 meteorological stations. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis (AHCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify three different drought subregions R1, R2, and R3 based on the monthly precipitation values in BTHMA, which is located in southeast, north, and south of BTHMA, respectively. The year 1965 was the driest and 1964 was the wettest during the observed period. The characteristics of drought were analyzed in terms of the temporal evolution of the RDI-12 values and the frequency of drought for the three identified regions. The percentage of years characterized by drought was 13.73% for R1, 16.50% for R2, and 15.53% for R3. 66.91% of drought belongs to the near normal drought category. The obtained results can aid to improve water resources management in the area.
The importance of comparing quantitative faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) before selecting one for a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme

FIT for haemoglobin are now commonly used in many countries as the best, currently available, non-invasive test for colorectal cancer (CRC) in asymptomatic population screening programmes (1). FIT are available in two formats, qualitative, usually based on lateral-flow immunochromatographic test strips or cassettes, and quantitative, most often based on immunoturbidimetry, and performed on small benchtop analyzers. Quantitative FIT have a number of significant advantages over qualitative FIT, a major one being that analyses of faecal samples give estimates of the faecal haemoglobin concentrations (f-Hb) (2).
Stepping Queerly?: Discourses in Dance Education for Boys in Late 20th-Century Finland

Dance research has acknowledged that males in theatrical dance are subject to social prejudices. In masculinist culture, the stereotype of the male dancer as an effeminate homosexual has limited young males’ participation in dance. Gender-specific approaches have been developed in an attempt to get more boys involved. Located at the intersection of dance research, masculinity studies, discourse analysis and social constructionist views of the subject, this thesis examines discourses in boys’ dancing. The focus is on masculinities as performed in dance educational and choreographic accounts as well as in the self-narratives of male dance students in the late 20th century Finland. Literature review undertaken revealed that dance education is a prime site of oppression of boys. Subsequently, discourse analysis was used on primary data collected through focus groups of male dance students (age 10 to 28) and their teachers (age 29 to 49), through observations of dance classes and also through dance analysis of choreographies performed in dance educational contexts. Also secondary data on boys’ dancing -dance pedagogic discussions and media accounts - were subjected to discourse analysis. Treating the data, from a poststructuralist viewpoint as ’text’, an intertextual analysis was undertaken by juxtaposing extracts from the data with texts on gender perfonnativity, social accountability, modernity and Finnish cultural history. Above all, it is argued that multiple and sometimes competing discourses operate in boys’ dance education and choreography. However, heteronormativity is a prevalent discourse through which masculinities are constructed and performed, which can make ’dance for boys’ appear limiting to students who identify as non-heterosexuals. In consequence some boys use discursive rhetoric and perform heterosexuality to avoid being marked negatively in masculinist culture. Moreover, the rejection of effeminacy - the fear of stepping ‘queerly’ -in male dancing is embedded deep in the devaluation of women and gay men in the history of Western thinking. Such fear underscores the complex question of the social legitimacy of dance art.
Tertiary Academic Success: A Review of Factors in the Context of Ecological Model

Working in academic settings is an important area in community psychology and tertiary academia (education after high school) is of marked significance. Success in tertiary education is consequential for subsequent life and several factors are involved in it. The aim of this review paper was to analyze these factors within the context of Ecological Model of Dalton, Elias, and Wandersman (2007). In this model, environment has interconnected layers of proximal and distal systems which comprise five ecological levels of analysis: individuals, microsystem, organizations, localities and macrosystem. Specifically, the objectives of this study were to analyze the research work done on tertiary academic success factors in the years 2012-2016 at all ecological levels of analysis. Tertiary academic success in these studies has been measured in terms of GPA, grades, percentages, retention in course, completion of degree within time and academic success scales. Analysis of the factors of tertiary academic success at all community levels is needed to cut down attrition rates, improve student retention and help achieve good GPAs. This review highlights that the individual factors have been explored to a larger extent and factors related to other ecological levels are underexplored. The review contributes to field by enhancing the understanding of factors related to tertiary academic success. It may also assist educationists taking practical steps to help students achieve this success. Further theoretical and practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CPD PROGRAMME FOR ENHANCING SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SELF-EFFICACY TOWARDS MOTIVATIONAL CONTEXT-BASED TEACHING

Many countries are seeking to introduce paradigm shifts in science teaching to address concerns related to a lack of relevance in science teaching together with science lessons being seen as boring, too abstract and also perceived by students as difficult (EC, 2007). Such paradigm shifts are also related to rethinking the purpose of science education, away from being a base for further education and towards a wider educational vision (Symington & Tytler, 2004; Fensham, 2008; Holbrook, 2008; Fernandez, Holbrook, Naaman-Mamlok & Coll, 2013). In Estonia, a new competencebased national curriculum, accompanying on-going educational reforms, is intended to lead to significant changes in its school system and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the needs of the modern society with students learning to:
Impact of Corporate Reputation on Firm Risk: An Analysis of Pakistan Stock Exchange Listed and PACRA Rated Firms

This study has examined the impact of corporate reputation on risk exposure of the firms listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and rated by Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA). It has employed firm’s credit ratings as a proxy for corporate reputation. It has covered the time period from 2007-2016 and unbalanced and undated panel regression analysis has been carried out to observe the significance of the relationship among corporate reputation and the firm risk i.e. total risk and its parts (systematic and unsystematic risk). It has been found that corporate reputation has a significant negative relationship with total risk and systematic risk of the firm. It is however found that corporate reputation is insignificant in explaining the unsystematic risk of the firms. Leverage and profitability (the control variables) are also found significant in explaining the risk exposures of the firms.
Measuring tourist satisfaction and destination image with HOLSAT

HOLSAT instrument measures tourist satisfaction by comparing tourists' expectations and experience regarding various destination attributes. Destination image influences tourists' expectations, while experience in the destination modifies tourists' image perceptions, creating differences between pre-visit and post-visit images. Based on these relationships, which are theoretically explored in its first part, this study argues that HOLSAT may be used for destination image research. The second part of the study represents a demonstration of how HOLSAT may be used for measurement of both tourist satisfaction and destination image, whereby the research was conducted in Belgrade, a developing urban destination. The city's tourism industry and destination image were severely damaged in the 1990s, whereby they have started to slowly recover since 2000. Based on the results of the conducted survey, satisfactory and unsatisfactory destination attributes were identified, as well as positive and negative components of city's pre-visit destination image. The most important positive components are related to the destination's affordability, while the negative components are related to safety, cleanliness and the arrival station. Modifications of destination image caused by the visit were also identified. The biggest image improvement after the visit was registered in attributes related to safety and the friendliness of the local residents, while the negative modifications related to the public transport were identified as the most important ones.
Dark matter distribution in the merging cluster Abell 2163

The cluster Abell 2163 is a merging system of several subclusters with complex dynamics. It presents exceptional X-rays properties (high temperature and luminosity), suggesting that it is a very massive cluster. Recent 2D analysis of the gas distribution has revealed a complex and multiphase structure. This paper presents a wide-field weak lensing study of the dark matter distribution in the cluster in order to provide an alternative vision of the merging status of the cluster. The 2D mass distribution is built and compared to the galaxies and gas distributions. A Bayesian method, implemented in the Im2shape software, was used to fit the shape parameters of the faint background galaxies and to correct for PSF smearing. A careful color selection on the background galaxies was applied to retrieve the weak lensing signal. Shear signal was measured out to more than 2 Mpc (~12' from the center). The radial shear profile was fit with different parametric mass profiles. The 2D mass map is built from the shear distribution and used to identify the different mass components. The 2D mass map agrees with the galaxy distribution, while the total mass inferred from weak lensing shows a strong discrepancy to the X-ray deduced mass. Regardless of the method used, the virial mass M200 falls in the range 8 to 14 10^14 Msol inside the virial radius (~ 2.0 Mpc), a value that is two times less than the mass deduced from X-rays. The central mass clump appears bimodal in the dark matter distribution, with a mass ratio ~3:1 between the two components. The infalling clump A2163-B is detected in weak lensing as an independent entity. All these results are interpreted in the context of a multiple merger seen less than 1Gyr after the main crossover.
Optical Properties of Soda-Lime-Silica Glasses Doped with Eggshell Powder

The optical properties of soda–lime–silica glasses doped with eggshell powder were investigated using UVvisible and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. Pure soda–lime–silica glass, which is colorless and transparent, turned dark green after the addition of the eggshell powder. When the eggshell powder content was ≥ 3 wt%, the glass became translucent. The maximum wavelengths in the UV spectra of the soda–lime–silica glasses doped with 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt% eggshell powder were observed at 300.20, 277.40, 284.40, and 312.40 nm, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of the eggshell-doped soda–lime–silica glass samples were very similar to that of the base undoped glass. The bands at approximately 770–820 cm−1 could be attributed to the Si–O–Si symmetric stretching of the bridging oxygen between the tetrahedra, while the bands at approximately 970 cm−1 were related to the Si–O–Si antisymmetric stretching of the bridging oxygen within the tetrahedra.
Errors in Real-Time Room Acoustics Dereverberation*

Significant measurable audible distortions are generated during real-time room acoustics dereverberation, which are far greater in magnitude than those expected from identical simulated (off-line) dereverberation experiments. Long inverse filters worsen this effect. Possible mechanisms for such discrepancy between simulated and real-time tests are examined. It is also shown that dereverberation based on complex smoothing is immune to such errors.
Competitive Repertoire Complexity: A Potential Mediator in the Upper Echelons Propositions?

This study sought to evaluate the relationships between top management team (TMT) heterogeneity, competitive repertoire complexity and firm performance. The study was grounded on the upper echelons theory which argues that the TMT characteristics affect the organization’s performance through their influence on strategic choices. This study sought to investigate this relationship using the complete array of strategies deployed by heterogeneous TMTs. The study was conducted through a cross sectional descriptive survey of 53 large food and beverage manufacturers in Kenya. Primary data and secondary data was collected through a structured questionnaire and checklist respectively and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that TMT heterogeneity had a significant negative effect on financial, internal processes and social performance in line with the upper echelons theory. Competitive repertoire complexity was not associated with TMT heterogeneity and did not significantly mediate the relationship between TMT heterogeneity and firm performance as expected from the information processing theory. This study contributed to the strategic management field by providing empirical evidence to the upper echelons and resource based view. Managers would benefit by careful consideration of how their TMTs were designed. Policy makers would also be aware about the competitive actions they adopted and their effect on their organizations performance.
The Measurement of Refractive Index and Thickness of Planar Waveguide Using Couple Mode Theory Method - The Programming Highlight

The prism coupler, known from experiments on integrated optics, can be used to determine the refractive index and thickness of a light-guiding thin film. Both parameters are obtained simultaneously and with high accuracy by measuring the coupling angles at the prism and fitting them by a theoretical dispersion curve. In this paper, the fundamentals and limitations of this method are discussed, its practical use, and mathematical procedures for evaluation. To perform accurate and fast calculation, a program based on MATLAB is developed to measure the thickness and refractive index of the planar waveguide. Once such parameter set up is completed, the program will perform the simulation and its output will contain the specification of the waveguide layer and the reading accuracy. Our measurement set up and calculation program ensured effective cost and time consumption with the high accuracy capability in data acquisition.
Recovering Interstellar Gas Properties with Hi Spectral Lines: A Comparison between Synthetic Spectra and 21-SPONGE

We analyze synthetic neutral hydrogen (H i) absorption and emission spectral lines from a high-resolution, three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulation to quantify how well observational methods recover the physical properties of interstellar gas. We present a new method for uniformly decomposing H i spectral lines and estimating the properties of associated gas using the Autonomous Gaussian Decomposition (AGD) algorithm. We find that H i spectral lines recover physical structures in the simulation with excellent completeness at high Galactic latitude, and this completeness declines with decreasing latitude due to strong velocity-blending of spectral lines. The temperature and column density inferred from our decomposition and radiative transfer method agree with the simulated values within a factor of for the majority of gas structures. We next compare synthetic spectra with observations from the 21-SPONGE survey at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array using AGD. We find more components per line of sight in 21-SPONGE than in synthetic spectra, which reflects insufficient simulated gas scale heights and the limitations of local box simulations. In addition, we find a significant population of low-optical depth, broad absorption components in the synthetic data which are not seen in 21-SPONGE. This population is not obvious in integrated or per-channel diagnostics, and reflects the benefit of studying velocity-resolved components. The discrepant components correspond to the highest spin temperatures ( ), which are not seen in 21-SPONGE despite sufficient observational sensitivity. We demonstrate that our analysis method is a powerful tool for diagnosing neutral interstellar medium conditions, and future work is needed to improve observational statistics and implementation of simulated physics.
What's Different about New Exporters? Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms *

This paper analyzes the relationship between the performance and export behavior of Chinese manufacturing firms during the period 1998-2005. It adds to the literature in four main aspects. First, we find strong evidence of a learning-by-exporting effect for domestic manufacturing firms. Second, the export behaviors of domestic and foreign firms are systematically different. The Chinese domestic firms self-select into the export market with higher productivity ex ante and show a significant learning-by-exporting effect ex post. Foreign exporters do not show significant higher productivity either ex ante or ex post. Third, both domestic and foreign new exporters exploit the comparative advantage of China’s low labor cost before exporting, and then strengthen this advantage when exporting. In other words, exporting significantly lowers the capital-labor ratio for the new exporters. Fourth, we find that the learning-by-exporting effect for domestic firms is positively related to their absorptive capacity, in addition to the more usual learning channel through exporting to developed markets.
Effect of Bt soybean on larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causes economically significant damage to soybeans Glycine max (L.) Merrill (Fabaceae: Phaseoleae). The genetically modified soybean expressing the Cry1Ac protein of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, which is toxic to lepidopterans, is a potential alternative tool to manage this pest. Bioassays with H. armigera larval instars were conducted with Bt (Cry1Ac) and non- Bt soybean plants in order to evaluate the efficacy of control with the modified cultivar. Bt soybean affected the mean time of mortality in each larval instar, but its efficacy was not affected by the larval stage. Mortality was 100% in all six instars, indicating that the Bt soybean expressing the Cry 1Ac protein is an efficient control tactic for this pest.
Analysis and Dispersion of QT, JT and Tpeak-Tend Intervals in Elite Female Water Polo Players

Background The physiology of water polo has been difficult to study d ue to the characteristics of the game in the field of play. Little is known about cardiac electrophysiology in these athletes, particularly in women. The electrocardiographic findings in elite water polo athletes have been rarely studied. Objectives To analyze the ventricular repolarization in female water polo players from the Cuba’s National Preliminary Squad. M aterial and Methods W e conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of two groups of women, one with 20 athletes and another with 20 healthy non-athletes. The electrocardiographic parameters of ventricular repolarization were compared in both groups. Results Mean age was 22.45±5.30 years vs. 22.45±5.30 years; p >0.05. Weight was greater in athletes compared to non-athletes (69.63±7.73 kg vs. 51.20±6.63 kg; p <0.001 ). Mean duration of sporting practice was 13.5 years. There were no significant differences in QTc and JTc intervals in lead DII between both groups, yet the intervals measured in lead V5 were longer in athletes (QTc: 405 ms vs. 424 ms; p <0.05 - JTc: 307 ms vs. 329 ms; p <0.05 ). QT interval dispersion was greater in athletes compared to non-athletes (74 ms vs. 43 ms; p <0.001). Tpeak-Tend interval was greater in athletes in leads V1 (64 ms vs. 81 ms; p <0.05), V3 (78 ms vs. 92 ms; p< 0.05), V4 (72 ms vs. 83 ms; p <0.05) and V5 (63 ms vs. 80 ms; p <0.05). Conclusions QTc and JTc intervals and QT interval dispersion were significantly greater in athletes. Tpeak-Tend interval was significantly greater in athletes in leads V1, V3, V4 and V5; Tpeak-Tend interval dispersion was greater, though not statistically significant in athletes.
Efficient fiber-laser pumped Ho:LuLiF4 laser

We present results for an efficient Ho:LuLiF4 laser in-band pumped by a cladding-pumped Tm-doped silica fiber laser. The polarized, tunable Tm-doped silica fiber-laser operates at 1938 nm, ideally suited for in-band pumping the 40 mm long weakly-doped (0.25 at.%) Ho:LuLiF4 crystal. Using a simple laser resonator a maximum output power of 5.1 W was achieved at a wavelength of 2066 nm for 8.0 W of absorbed pump power, when using an output coupling mirror with 20% transmission, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 70%. At a higher cavity output coupling of 37%, the lasing wavelength shifted to a higher gain peak at 2053 nm, where a maximum output power of 5.4 W was obtained with a slope efficiency of 76%. Beam quality was measured to be M2~1.1 at the maximum output power for each resonator configuration. The spectroscopy, lifetime of the upper laser level, and the laser performance will be discussed in terms of future prospects for power scaling and further improvements in the laser efficiency.
Measurement Error in Research on Human Resource Decisions and Firm Performance: How Much Error is There and How Does its Influence Effect Size Estimates?

Recent empirical research finds that the relationship between human resource (HR) decisions and firm performance is significant in both statistical and practical terms. However, the typical research design in this area relies upon on a single respondent to validly assess firmwide HR practices. To date, no study has adequately addressed the reliability of such measures, a basic requirement of construct validity. Previous efforts have either defined reliability so narrowly as to miss a major source of measurement error (raters) or have estimated the unreliability due to raters using incorrect methods. In both cases, the result is upwardly biased estimates of reliability. We estimate reliabilities using intraclass correlation and generalizability coefficients. Our reliability estimates suggest substantial measurement error in the types of HR effectiveness and HR practice measures typically used to predict firm performance. We discuss how this degree of measurement influences research and policy implications.