Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regionalised spatiotemporal rainfall and temperature models for flood studies in the Basque Country, Spain

Abstract. A spatiotemporal point process model of rainfall is fitted to data taken from three homogeneous regions in the Basque Country, Spain. The model is the superposition of two spatiotemporal Neyman–Scott processes, in which rain cells are modelled as discs with radii that follow exponential distributions. In addition, the model includes a parameter for the radius of storm discs, so that rain only occurs when both a cell and a storm disc overlap a point. The model is fitted to data for each month, taken from each of the three homogeneous regions, using a modified method of moments procedure that ensures a smooth seasonal variation in the parameter estimates. Daily temperature data from 23 sites are used to fit a stochastic temperature model. A principal component analysis of the maximum daily temperatures across the sites indicates that 92% of the variance is explained by the first component, implying that this component can be used to account for spatial variation. A harmonic equation with autoregressive error terms is fitted to the first principal component. The temperature model is obtained by regressing the maximum daily temperature on the first principal component, an indicator variable for the region, and altitude. This, together with scaling and a regression model of temperature range, enables hourly temperatures to be predicted. Rainfall is included as an explanatory variable but has only a marginal influence when predicting temperatures. A distributed model (TETIS; Frances et al., 2007) is calibrated for a selected catchment. Five hundred years of data are simulated using the rainfall and temperature models and used as input to the calibrated TETIS model to obtain simulated discharges to compare with observed discharges. Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests indicate that there is no significant difference in the distributions of observed and simulated maximum flows at the same sites, thus supporting the use of the spatiotemporal models for the intended application.
Do Boards Determine Integrated Reporting in Nigerian Listed Oil and Gas Firms?

Purpose: Integrated reporting is a process founded on integrated thinking, with the aim of issuing periodic integrated reports by firms about value creation over time. This study investigates the effect of board attributes (independence, diligence, and size) on the quality of integrated reporting of Nigerian listed oil and gas firms. Design/Methodology: Panel data are obtained from annual reports of a purposive sample of 10 out of the 12 listed Oil and Gas firms in Nigeria from 2013 to 2017. These are analyzed using multiple regression techniques, via STATA 13.0 software. Results: Based on the analysis conducted, findings show that the board independence and board size have a significant and positive effect, while board diligence has an insignificant and positive effect on the quality of integrated reporting, proxied by integrated reporting disclosure score (IRDSCORE). This outcome implies that having the optimum mix of members on the board influences the extent of integrated disclosures of listed oil and gas firms in Nigeria. Practical Implications: Global corporate reporting is currently driving towards integrated thinking, incorporating financial, governance, social and environmental issues to promote long-term value creation. As a third world nation, the adoption of integrated reports is voluntary in Nigeria. However, considering the information needs of all stakeholders and appointing qualified persons on the board by shareholders, and formulating enabling policies in this direction by regulatory agencies would drive corporate reporting to be more integrative to drive long-term value maximization.
Vocabulary and Grammar Gain Through Computer Educational Games

The increasing use of computers in the past thirty years has encouraged many to investigate their effectiveness as instructional tools. The unquestionable presence of computers in all aspects of human life and the inner desire of human beings to enjoy learning through the use of computer educational games prompt the integration of computer-based games in EFL teaching and learning environments. This study investigated the effect of computer educational games on Iranian elementary learners’ grammar and vocabulary gain. A total of 58 female, who were selected out of 80 elementary institute EFL learners participated in the study. Their age range is between 13-15 one experimental and one control group took part in this study. The study followed a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design. In order to compare the results of their performance, an independent samples t -test was conducted. In comparing the pre-test and post-test scores, the results demonstrated no significant differences between the experimental and control groups. However, the involvement of all learners, their enthusiasm to use the new technology in language learning and learners’ positive attitudes toward learning was apparent in the experimental group. The presence of such a high motivation among the learners in experimental group could contribute to their active involvement in the process of learning. This implies that computers have a significant role in motivating learners’ involvement in the learning process.
Division of Area of Fixation Interest for Real Vehicle Driving Tests

The area of interest (AOI) reflects the degree of attention of a driver while driving. The division of AOI is visual characteristic analysis required in both real vehicle tests and simulated driving scenarios. Some key eye tracking parameters and their transformations can only be obtained after the division of AOI. In this study, 9 experienced and 7 novice drivers participated in real vehicle driving tests. They were asked to drive along a freeway section and a highway section, wearing the Dikablis eye tracking device. On average, 8132 fixation points for each driver were extracted. After coordinate conversion, the MSAP (Mean Shift Affinity Propagation) method is proposed to classify the distribution of fixation points into a circle type and a rectangle type. Experienced drivers’ fixation behavior falls into the circle type, in which fixation points are concentrated. Novice drivers’ fixation points, which are decentralized, are illustrated in the rectangle type. In the clustering algorithm, the damping coefficient determines the algorithm convergence, and the deviation parameter mainly affects the number of clusters, where larger values generate more clusters. This study not only provides the cluster type and cluster counts, but also presents the borderlines for each cluster. The findings provide significant contribution to eye tracking research.
Management control and performance of international alliances

Changes in the complexity of relationships between international alliances and their environments have led to an increase in control problems, and some authors have called for more research effort to be invested in investigating a suitable framework for control in international alliances. This paper takes in the emerging concept of self-organizing systems into research on control systems in international joint ventures (IJVs), and analyzes the relationships among variables within the complexity-control-outcomes framework. Structural equation modeling is used to explore new insights into the roles of management control systems in affecting IJVs’ performance of Australian IJVs in Indonesia, from the perspective of alliance complexity constraints.
Dysfunction of anterior pituitary gland in women patients with recent fibromyalgia: A cross-sectional observational study

Objective:To assess the basal levels of circulating anterior pituitary gland hormones in women presented with a recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM). Methods:This cross-sectional study was included 130 women presented with a clinical signs and symptoms of FM women and 35 age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. The plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and the serum levels of prolactin (PRL) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured. The scores of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), the number of tender points (TPs), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Hamilton’s scale for depression (HSD) were measured.Results:Significantly higher levels of PRL, TSH, and ACTH and lower levels of GH were observed in FM patients. The ACTH level was inversely and significantly correlated with the number of the TPs (r =-0.173, R2= 0.31, F=4.110, p=0.045). The positive predictive values of GH, THS, PRL and ACTH were 92.3, 63.8, 90.8, and 86.1%, respectively.Conclusions:Our results indicate that dysfunction of the anterior pituitary gland is a feature of FM.
Using Childhood Memory Elicitation to Gain Insights into a Brand at a Crossroads

The regional In-N-Out burger chain is at a crossroads. With the passing of its matriarch, a new generation of owners is considering speeding up the company's growth, franchising the company, and expanding its product to a national audience. The question is, How will existing customers respond to the chain's expansion? In this context, the childhood memory elicitation method allows researchers to understand how consumers initially formed their relationships with a brand (or product). The age at which consumers formed a relationship with In-N-Out affects their view of the prospective expansion. Those who formed an early attachment were comfortable with expansion plans, but those who became attached as adolescents considered the expansion to be a violation of their view of the company as their trendy, exclusive club. The authors discuss the results specifically for the In-N-Out situation and more generally for other companies looking for methods or measurements to augment their research toolkit.
IMPACT RAW MATERIAL FOR PRODUCTION ZINC OXIDE IN RETORT FURNACES

The given paper is closely connected with the whole process of the manufacturing of zinc white (Zinc oxide ZnO) and specification of various problems which occur during the metallographic process. The purity of the given zinc has crucial influence on the final quality of zinc white and occurrence of unused slag which is stuck on the casement walls because ZnO is normally prepared in melting furnaces, the part of which is casement wall. We can assume that the zinc as a raw material has a different composition because of various European suppliers and it means that the commercially pure zinc contains various phases in its structure. Considering the suppliers, commercially pure zinc can be different with the reference to used zinc ore and the type of production technology. On the basis of the occurrence of the residual content of other elements, it is possible to make prediction about the material behavior in the metallographic process. The melting process is carried out in specific types of furnace aggregates, which can be characterized by different selection of ceramics for casement walls. Interaction of the molten zinc together with the casement walls will have significant influence on extract of ZnO from commercially pure zinc. The input raw materials of zinc were investigated in the given work and this investigation was done from the aspect of structural and chemical composition of the material.
Flow Field Investigations and Aerodynamic Characteristics of Artillery Projectile

This paper describes a computational study to determine the aerodynamic coefficients at subsonic and supersonic speeds using an unstructured flow solver. The paper presents results of investigation of a flow over 155 mm artillery projectile M107 and the performance of the ANSYS FLUENT computational code. The flow around projectile was solved as 3-D unsteady compressible flow. Flow field over a projectile presents turbulent boundary layers, whose separation is a usual phenomena and a large turbulent wake formed at the bottom of the object. In ballistic aerodynamics, prevention or control of the separation of the boundary layer is one of the most important aims, as well as an appropriate ogive design (1, 2). In this work, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is applied to determine the aerodynamic coefficients by using ANSYS FLUENT14.5 which takes the meshed computational domain from a pre-processor program called ANSYS ICEM-CFD in which the computational domain is generated and meshed into cells. The implicit segregated structured grid solver was used in these investigations. Second order upwind discritization was used for the flow variables and turbulent viscosity equations; furthermore a comparison with available experimental data was performed. The aim of the present work is to determine the aerodynamic coefficients of a projectile as well as flow field investigation around the artillery projectile.
Designing Native Decision-Making Model for Selecting Venture Capital Investment in Emerging Companies

Venture capital companies play an important role in the economy of countries and greatly influences economic and employment growth. VC is the provision of capital for companies and entrepreneurs that is prone to leaping and growing value and, of course, a lot of risk. However, the volume of venture capital in our country is far less than the economic capacity. Many of analysts consider having no model for venture capital in our country as the main reason for this. Therefore, the present study by the qualitative method aims to design decision-making native model for selecting venture capital investment in emerging companies. To achieve this goal, by collecting qualitative data through literature reviews and having deep interview with experts and venture capital firms, a native decision-making model for selecting venture capital in emerging companies is presented. The methodology of this research based on purpose, is fundamental and through the qualitative methods, thematic analysis method is used. Purposeful sampling method is used and interviewing experts continued to theoretical saturation level that means the number of selected samples includes 16 elites. The native decision-making model for selecting venture capital in emerging companies presented in this research has 16 main themes and 86 sub-themes.
Subdermal Contraceptive Implants: Profile of Acceptors in a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Background: Subdermal contraceptive implants provide safe, effective, convenient, long term reversible fertility regulation, and because of their numerous non-contraceptive benefits are particularly suitable for women in developing countries. This study determines the socio-demographic characteristics of acceptors of subdermal implants, the timing of their use and their complications at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo. Materials and Methods: The record cards of all clients that accepted subdermal contraceptive implants over a four year period were reviewed. Results: There were a total of 1057 new contraceptive acceptors out of which 197 (18.6%) accepted contraceptive implants. The modal age group of the clients was 30-34 years (38.0%). One hundred and fifty six patients (79.2%) were mulitparous, 97.5% of the patients had attained secondary level of education while 92.4% were Christians. About 56.9% of the clients preferred to use implants to space child births, most of the implants were inserted during the first week of the menstrual period, and majority (78.2%) of the clients obtained their information concerning implants from clinic personnel. The most common complication was abnormal vaginal bleeding. Conclusion: contraceptive implants are very effective contraceptive methods that are mostly accepted and used by young, educated parous women who mostly preferred to space births. There is also a high continuation rate among acceptors so increasing availability of implants in family planning units nationwide could increase the number of women who utilize this method of contraception.
The evaluation of (social-)psychological comfort in clothing, a possible approach

This paper presents the first results of a PhD research on psychological comfort of clothing. In order to understand and conceptualize the psychological aspects of clothing comfort, a variation of the Delphi Method was used to seek opinions from experts. This method was chosen because of its consensus-building features. The results were obtained from a qualitative text analysis, conducted over the experts’ responses to the first round of questions. The analytic process shed some light on the formation of the psychological comfort concept as well as the potential attributes to be evaluated when assessing this comfort dimension.
Design-Build/EPC Contractor's Heightened Risk—Changes in a Changing World

Although design-build/engineer, procure, construct EPC contracting can potentially save millions of dollars up front, as well as dollars paid in change orders while construction proceeds, design-build/EPC contracting may not be the silver bullet for construction that design-build/EPC contractors perceive it to be. Owners often question whether the checks and balances are in place and question who really pays for alterations in design. Owners look toward the design-build/EPC contractor to be the onestop shop and the last stop for all the costs to be incurred for a project—from inception to project closeout. Thus, change becomes an issue that may not be well defined in today’s designbuild/EPC construction environment.
Demographic considerations in reintroduction programs of bighorn sheep

The disappearance of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations in western North America has stimulated several attempts at reintroducing bighorn onto historic ranges. Many of the early attempts failed becouse of an ignorance of bighorn behavior and demographic characteristics. Utilizing survival and fertility data available from literature, a series of computer simulations were run to answer the question: >>what is the optimum number and sex and age composition for sheep to ulilize in a reintroduction attempt? <<
Effect of Clear Corneal Incision Location on Tear Film following Phacoemulsification Surgery

Purpose: To investigate tear film status after phacoemulsification surgery with temporal and supratemporal clear corneal incision in a cohort of patients with senile cataract Methods: We enrolled sixty eight eyes of 68 patients with senile cataract requiring phacoemulsification in a prospective, cohort study. All patients undergone Basic Tear Secretion Test (BTST), Tear Meniscus Height (TMH), Tear Break Up Time Test (TBUT) and Schirmer I test (SIT), preoperatively and three months after surgery. Preoperative keratometry was used to determine the steepest meridian and corresponding location of clear corneal incision. Results: The cohort included 46 men (67.6%) and 22 women (32.3%), with an age range of 48 to 82 years (mean 66.9±9.4 years). Phacoemulsification was performed with temporal clear corneal incision in 36 eyes (52.9%) and with supratemporal clear corneal incision in 32 eyes (47.1%).
Dowd Innovation and diversity in cultural sociology

This essay claims that the publication of “Cycles in Symbol Production: The Case of Popular Music” in 1975 proved to be an important moment, as this innovative article would later stimulate intellectual diversity in the sociology of culture. I support this claim by first offering a detailed overview of this article, showing how it brought together important themes of organizational adaptation, genre trajectory, and product diversity. I then offer examples of how subsequent research has addressed these themes, both in terms of supporting and extending the original arguments made in this classic article.
Approximate Symmetry Analysis of a Class of Perturbed Nonlinear Reaction-Diffusion Equations

The problem of approximate symmetries of a class of nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations called Kolmogorov-Petrovsky-Piskounov (KPP) equation is comprehensively analyzed. In order to compute the approximate symmetries, we have applied the method which was proposed by Fushchich and Shtelen (1989) and fundamentally based on the expansion of the dependent variables in a perturbation series. Particularly, an optimal system of one-dimensional subalgebras is constructed and some invariant solutions corresponding to the resulted symmetries are obtained.
The Role of Gesture in the Second Language Learning and Teaching

This paper outlines the crucial role of gesture in the second Language (L2) learning and teaching. Many studies showed that gesture is a key factor in the second language acquisition since it can help to convey meaning, to compensate for speech difficulties and to enhance memory compared to pure verbal learning. The presence of gestures with a verbal message in L2 learning brings a positive outcome to both speakers and listeners. Studies showed that gestures not only facilitate L2 learners in second language listening comprehension, but also have a crucial impact on the L2 word learning. Also, gestures are used as effective teaching strategies in L2 teaching and classroom management. Thus, gesture as a facilitating educational tool in second language learning deserves both L2 learner and teacher’s further attentions.
Enthalpy Measurement of Inductively Heated Airflow

Cp = specific heat at constant pressure, J=kgK hchem = chemical potential, MJ=kg h0 = specific total enthalpy, MJ=kg h0 = time-averaged specific total enthalpy, MJ=kg I = probe laser intensity, mW=mm I0 = incident laser intensity, mW=mm 2 M = Mach number _ m = mass flow rate, g=s P = input power, kW pamb = ambient pressure, Pa ptube = pressure in the discharge tube, Pa R = gas constant, J=kgK r = radial position, mm T = translational temperature, K T0 = total temperature, K t = elapsed time, ms u = flow velocity, m=s = specific heat ratio = wavelength, nm = laser frequency, Hz 0 = center absorption frequency, Hz = density, kg=m = fluctuation cycle, ms
Chromium-based oxidation-resistant coatings for the protection of engine valves in automotive vehicles

The influence of a thin chromium layer (1 μm) sputter-deposited on the surfaces of four valve steels (X33CrNiMn23-8, X50CrMnNiNbN21-9, X53CrMnNiN20-8 and X55CrMnNiN20-8) was studied at 900 °C under isothermal and thermal-shock conditions. It was determined that the oxidation resistance of coated steels is much better than that of uncoated ones. This situation is a result of the formation of highly protective Cr2O3 scales on the surfaces of coated materials. It was also demonstrated that a positive effect of a chromium addition on the oxidation resistance of the investigated steels is observed during a much longer period than the lifetime of a chromium coating.
Electroless Ni–B Coating of Pure Titanium Surface for Enhanced Tribocorrosion Performance in Artificial Saliva and Antibacterial Activity

In the present study, the surface of commercial pure (Grade 2) titanium was coated with electroless Ni–B. The surface morphology, microstructure and phase identification were analysed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG-SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The tribocorrosion performance in a laboratory simulated artificial saliva was investigated using a reciprocating ballon-plate tribometer coupled to an electrochemical cell. The antibacterial property of the electroless Ni–B film coated on pure titanium was basically investigated. From this study, it may be concluded that this electroless Ni–B coating process cannot only improve the hardness and tribocorrosion performance of the pure titanium, but can also provide antimicrobial activity. © 2017 Published by Faculty of Engineering Corresponding author: Harun Mindivan Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Engineering Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bilecik, Turkey. E-mail: harun.mindivan@bilecik.edu. tr