Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conductivity of Compacted Clay Soils To Water and Organic Liquids

Four clay soils, selected to represent a range of mineralogies, were permeated with water and seven selected organic liquids in fixed wall permeameters. The conductivity of each soil/water followed by the chosen organic liquid was measured. The tested organic liquids included an acid and a base, and both polar and non-polar solvents. All four compacted soils had conductivities to water of less than 1 x 10-7 cm s-1. Acetic acid initially decreased the conductivity; however, after sufficient acid had permeated the soils, the conductivity generally increased to approximately the values measured with water. Soils treated with aniline exhibited conductivities of one to two orders of magnitude greater than values measured with water. Organic solvents, i.e. methanol, acetone, ethylene glycol, heptane and xylene, had conductivities of two to three orders of magnitude greater than their respective conductivities to water. While the miscible organics may undergo dilution by water in a field situation, the water immiscible solvents heptane and xylene would not be diluted by leachate and may reach a clay liner at or very near full strength. Conductivities of the soils to the organic solvents were much greater than could be explained by the densities and viscosities of the liquids. Visual observation of the soils permeated with organic solvents indicated the presence of cracks and voids in the centre of the soil mass which were not observed after the soils were permeated with water.
Developing Powerful Communication Mechanisms for Distributed Memory Computers from Simple and Efficient Message-Routing

The very low latency of the mad postman message routing strategy, coupled with a programmable or data driven routing node allows an efficient implementation of synchronisation, point-to-point and broadcast communications within the same routing network. These communication mechanisms are essential for most massively concurrent applications and direct support for them will significantly reduce the overheads of intertask communication and synchronisation. The aim is to make the communication resources in distributed memory computers as flexible and extensible as processing/memory presently is.
Classifying biosignals with wavelet networks [a method for noninvasive diagnosis]

In recent years, a particular challenge has arisen in noninvasive medical diagnostic procedures. Because biosignals recorded on the body surface reflect the internal behaviour and status of the organism or its parts, they are ideally suited to provide essential information of these organs to the clinician without any invasive measures. But how are the recorded time courses of the signals to be interpreted with regard to a diagnostic decision? What are the essential features and in what code is the information hidden in the signals? These questions are typical of so-called pattern-recognition tasks. This article reviews pattern recognition as it applies to medical diagnostics and discusses the concept of wavelet networks as a means of biosignal classification. An example is presented in which this approach was used for classifying preprocessed ECG signals to identify patients who were at high-risk of developing ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Using the Internet as a learning medium: an exploration of gender difference in the adoption of FaBWeb

In line with V. Venkatesh and M.G. Morris' (2000) study on gender differences in IT adoption, an augmented TAM was employed to scrutinize the gender differences in the student adoption of Internet-based learning medium (ILM). A total of 549 usable self-administered questionnaires were collected, and both psychometric properties and model testing were examined through the LISREL VIII framework. All measures have good psychometric properties and all models provide a good fit to the data with all path coefficients supported. Regardless of the gender, perceived usefulness remains the most important determinant in student adoption of ILM. However, inconsistent findings are found between Venkatesh and Morris' (2000) study and the study presented; we suspect that it may be the result of interaction effects between culture and gender in the determinants of IT adoption and usage. Detailed processes and mechanisms through which the interactions take place and how they act on different components of the TAM is an area calling for future investigations.
Effects of therapy targeted at verb retrieval and the realisation of the predicate argument structure: A case study

Background : Verb retrieval and sentence production difficulties are both common features of aphasia. Previous treatment studies have focused predominantly on verb retrieval and the mapping of semantic and syntactic structure. There have been more limited investigations of the production of the predicate argument structure (PAS). Aims : This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of intensive therapy for a client with aphasia. NS had multiple and interacting difficulties that resulted in problems in producing sentences. Therapy aimed to improve his sentence production by: (a) improving the retrieval of verbs, (b) increasing his awareness of the relationship between nouns and verbs, and (c) improving his production of one-, two-, and three-argument structures. The therapy thus targeted access to PAS information and PAS production as well as verb retrieval. Methods & Procedures : A period of intensive therapy, based around a set of 48 self-selected verbs, was preceded and followed by detailed assessment of NS's single word and sentence production and comprehension. Outcomes & Results : Therapy resulted in a significant improvement in NS's retrieval of the verbs involved in treatment but no generalisation to other verbs. His production of sentences showed more widespread changes. He produced more nouns within sentences, omitted fewer obligatory arguments, and produced a greater variety of argument structures in connected speech. Conclusions : Therapy resulted in a greater awareness of the need for a verb within a sentence and a strategy for producing the argument structure frame around that verb. Improved sentence production was therefore seen, although verb retrieval difficulties were still evident. The study replicates previous research that verb and sentence production difficulties can be treated effectively in people with aphasia. The effects of therapy on sentence production in constrained tasks and narrative speech are discussed.
Optical CDMA network codecs structured with M-sequence codes over waveguide-grating routers

A compact optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) network coder-decoder (codec) of a spectral-amplitude-coding (SAC) scheme is presented. The scheme utilizes M-sequence-coded OCDMA codecs structured on arrayed-waveguide-grating (AWG) routers. By using the cyclic properties of AWG routers and M-sequence codes, the codecs pair can encode-decode multiple code words simultaneously, thus, each user can share the same hardware for coding process. The configuration not only preserves the ability of multiple-access interference cancellation in SAC-OCDMA system, but also results in a cheap system with reduced system complexity.
Simulating Stable Stochastic Systems, IV: Approximation Techniques

The previous papers in this series developed a methodology for obtaining from certain simulations confidence intervals for parameters associated with the steady-state distribution. This methodology required the simulations to contain an embedded renewal process at whose epochs the simulation started from scratch. The present paper contains four approximation techniques for obtaining confidence intervals when the simulation does not contain the required renewal process.
Original order in the digital world

This article expands the concept of original order and presents two systematic views of the order of electronic records. In one view, abstract conceptual order can be used as guidance for the physical arrangement of records storage media and intellectual arrangement of records through a software interface. In the second view, organising electronic records entails managing the relationship between electronic records and the paper records in the same collection, between electronic records and their metadata, among different electronic records, as well as managing the relationships among the different copies, different versions and different captures of the same electronic records.
Tin Dithiocarbamates: Applications and Structures

The uses and potential utility of tin/organotin dithiocarbamate, −S2CNR′2, compounds are reviewed. Various derivatives exhibit exciting potential as anti-cancer agents, anti-microbial agents and insecticides, e.g. against mosquito larvae. Tin dithiocarbamates have also proven useful as precursors for tin sulfide nanoparticles. There is a wealth of structural data available for such compounds and with the exception of the diorganotin bis(dithiocarbamate) compounds, R2Sn(S2CNR′2)2, compounds for which different structural motifs are evident, there is a certain degree of homogeneity in the molecular structures for each class of compound unless there are additional coordination sites on the R and/or R′ groups. Owing to the strong coordination potential of the dithiocarbamate ligand for tin, supramolecular aggregates involving secondary Sn…S interactions are the exception rather than the norm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unveiling antiplasmodial alkaloids from a cumulative collection of Strychnos extracts by multi-informative molecular networks

Malaria, a disease known for thousands of years and caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus, continues to cause many deaths throughout the world today, particularly due to the emergence of parasite resistance to the current therapeutic arsenal. Plants of the Strychnos genus, remarkable due to their multiple traditional uses as well as their alkaloid content, are promising candidates to develop new antimalarial treatments. Indeed, previous research on this plant group has shown promising (≤ 5 µg/ml) or good (between 5 and 15 µg/ml) antiplasmodial activities. Using the chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7), and artemisinin as positive control, a screening of antiplasmodial activities from 43 crude methanolic extracts from 28 species of the Strychnos genus was carried out in three independent assays. A total of 12 extracts had good (6 extracts) or promising (6 extracts) antiplasmodial activities. These results allowed both to confirm known activities but also to detect new ones. These extracts were then analyzed by HPLC-ESI(+)-Q/TOF, and the processed MS/MS data allowed to generate a molecular network in which the antiplasmodial activities were implemented as metadata. The exploration of the molecular network revealed the presence of alkaloids still unknown, and potentially active against malaria, in particular alkaloids close to usambarensine and its derivatives. This study shows that the emergence of molecular networking offers new leads for identifications of alkaloids from the Strychnos genus. The presence of unknown alkaloids potentially active against malaria confirms all the interest to continue in studying the Strychnos genus. Bioassay- and mass-guided fractionations as well as various dereplication tools would allow to identify and characterize these interesting alkaloids further.
Effective Neighborhood Functions for the Flexible Job Shop Problem

The flexible job shop problem is an extension of the classical job shop scheduling problem which allows an operation to be performed by one machine out of a set of machines. The problem is to assign each operation to a machine (routing problem) and to order the operations on the machines (sequencing problem), such that the maximal completion time (makespan) of all operations is minimized. To solve the flexible job shop problem approximately, we use local search techniques and present two neighbourhood functions (Nopt1, Nopt2). Nopt2 is proved to be optimum connected. Nopt1 does not distinguish between routing or sequencing an operation. In both cases, a neighbour of a solution is obtained by moving an operation which affects the makespan. Our main contribution is a reduction of the set of possible neighbours to a subset for which can be proved that it always contains the neighbour with the lowest makespan. An efficient approach to compute such a subset of feasible neighbours is presented. A tabu search procedure is proposed and an extensive computational study is provided. We show that our procedure outperforms previous approaches. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Learning by doing: using ePortfolios for assessment at Otis College of art and design

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share best practices in using e-portfolios for assessment including a collaborative model between academic department and library. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collaborated to develop learning outcome rubrics that were then used by faculty and a team of reviewers to evaluate evidence collected in e-portfolios. Findings – E-portfolios provide a dynamic platform to centrally collect assessment material; however, effective evaluation of student evidence can be strengthened with collaboration between college departments. Research limitations/implications – This is a model that was sustainable and practical for a small art and design college. Practical implications – Other institutions working on assessment with limited personal resources may find this approach useful in addition to any institution considering how to use e-portfolios for collection and assessment of student work. Originality/value – Otis College of Art and Design has been using e-portfolio.
Serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio and clinical outcomes in adults with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease

Background Studies have suggested that the serum creatinine/cystatin C (Cr/CysC) ratio is a surrogate marker for muscle wasting is associated with adverse outcomes in several disease conditions. To clarify the utility of the Cr/CysC ratio as a prognostic marker in chronic kidney disease (CKD) we evaluated the association between the Cr/CysC ratio clinical outcomes in patients with non-dialysis CKD. Methods This prospective observational cohort study included 1,966 participants of the KoreaN cohort study Outcomes in patients With CKD (KNOW-CKD). We evaluated associated factors with the serum Cr/CysC ratio and association between the serum Cr/CysC ratio and composite outcomes of all-cause death and cardiovascular events (CVEs). Results The mean age was 54 ± 12 (SD) years and 61% were men. The mean serum Cr/CysC ratio was 10.97 ± 1.94 in men and 9.10 ± 1.77 in women. The Cr/CysC ratio correlated positively with urinary creatinine excretion, a marker of muscle mass. In the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazard model, the Cr/CysC ratio was associated with the occurrence of adverse outcomes through a median follow-up of 5.9 years [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.85–0.99 for the composite outcomes, HR = 0.87, 95% CI, 0.78 − 0.97 for all-cause death, and HR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84–1.04 for CVEs]. In subgroup analyses, there were interactions of the Cr/CysC ratio with age and sex for risk of the clinical outcomes, but not eGFR group. Conclusion A higher Cr/CysC ratio is associated with a lower risk of the composite outcomes, especially all-cause mortality, even after adjusting for eGFR. These suggest that the Cr/CysC ratio is a useful prognostic marker in CKD.
Teaching Strategic Management with a Business Game

The practice of teaching strategic management using management games is growing throughout the world. Games are used to assist in teaching students to integrate the functional areas of business and to provide a working knowledge of the strategic management process. Games also provide valuable experience in team skill development. Because more, not less, skill is required to teach a game-oriented course than to teach a lecture- or case-oriented strategy course, the tactics chosen by an instructor are critical to success.
Queueing analysis of slotted ALOHA with finite buffer capacity

In random multiple-access schemes, end users are usually modeled as "stations" with buffer capacity of one unit. Although it is, introduced for analytical conveniences, practically, buffer length of one unit is a rather restrictive limitation. In practice, a finite buffer capacity is needed so that stations can accept more than one unit. In the paper, the performance of slotted ALOHA with finite buffer capacity is analyzed. The study shows that the finite buffer capacity system yields a higher throughput and a lower rejection probability at low transmission probabilities if compared to the one unit buffer capacity system. However, the average packet delay of the finite buffer capacity system is higher than that of the one unit buffer capacity system. <<ETX>>
The Address Term Mate in Australian English: Is it Still a Masculine Term?

The concepts of mate and mateship have been held up as quintessentially Australian, encapsulating all that it might mean to be Australian, including such ideas as having a fair go, camaraderie, working together. Although the address term mate (as in How ya going mate? ) is generally included in discussions of mate and mateship, very little analysis of how it is actually used in Australian English has been carried out. This preliminary study focuses on the vocative use of mate through a survey of 698 respondents in which they were asked whether they use mate when addressing other people, whether they are addressed by mate, who they predominantly address as mate and whether they like mate as a term of address. The results show that there seems to be a shift in terms of how mate, as an address term, is used and understood. Whereas mate has traditionally been understood as a male solidarity term used ‘by males and for males’, this preliminary survey shows that more young women, aged between 18 and 29 years, are reporting their use of the address term mate compared to women aged over 50 years. The preliminary study seems to suggest that instead of mate being characterized as a neutral term used by men to show equality and egalitarianism, young women now see mate as a friendly and fun term that, along with many other address forms, is available to show intimacy.
Contribution estimation of participants for human interaction recognition

In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm to recognize actions of human interaction. Unlike previous algorithms using two participants' actions, the proposed algorithm estimates the action contribution of participants to determine which participant's action is the major action for correct interaction recognition. To estimate this contribution, we construct a contribution interaction model for each interaction category in which both participants carry out major actions. Using the contribution models, we design a method that automatically estimates the contribution of participants and classifies interaction samples into “co‐contribution” and “single‐contribution” interactions. At the same time, the major actions in the “single‐contribution” interactions are determined. We evaluate our method on the UT‐interaction dataset and our original interaction dataset (LIMU). Recognition results indicate the robustness of the proposed method and the high estimation accuracy obtained: estimation accuracies of 96 and 98% in set 1 and set 2 of the UT dataset, respectively, and 97.8% in the LIMU dataset. Based on the estimation results, we extract the major action information for interaction recognition. Average recognition accuracies of 93.3% in set 1 and 91.7% in set 2 of the UT dataset were obtained. Our result is at least 5% better than those obtained with previous algorithms. For the LIMU dataset, recognition accuracy reached 91.1%. It was 8.9% higher than the recognition result without contribution estimation. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The LEGO NXT Robot-based e-Learning Environment to Teach Computer Science Topics

It is difficult to motivate learners to learn abstract Computer Science topics (e.g., data structures, algorithms and programming) with the adequate level of engagement. We present the process of constructing a LEGO robot, called the DRAWBOT (drawing robot), which enables to create the e-learning environment to demonstrate visually the solution of graph-based Computer Science tasks through teaching programming. Our research has confirmed the importance of using robot-based environments for teaching that was known so far in the literature on e-learning. We have extended the known approaches: a) by providing technical characteristics for the process to create the e-learning environment for the real setting; b) by smoothly integrating different phases of the process and considering it into entirety to support the constructivist learning model. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eee. 18.9. 2825
Dealing with DSpace: the experience at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine

Purpose – The paper seeks to examine the challenges of implementing DSpace at the Main Library at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago and highlights the creation of a digitization project at the Main Library that was used to promote DSpace to faculty members on the St Augustine Campus.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the Main Library's decision to implement an institutional repository using the DSpace platform, looking at the submissions of the Michael Goldberg Collection of Postcards and the University of the West Indies theses abstracts over a period of one year.Findings – The paper reveals that significant attention must be given to factors such as selection, content management, finance, training, metadata, security and copyright in setting up an institutional repository on the DSpace platform. It also concludes that the Main Library is yet to explore fully the capabilities of the DSpace software. Despite the constraints, it is clear that there are enor.
Discussing the factors contributing to students’ involvement in an EFL collaborative wiki project*

Abstract A growing number of researchers have acknowledged the potential for using wikis in online collaborative language learning. While researchers appreciate the wikis platform for engaging students in virtual team work and authentic language learning, many also have recognized the limitations of using wikis to promote student collaboration (Alyousef & Picard, 2011; Arnold, Ducate & Kost, 2009; Coniam & Kit, 2008; Judd, Kennedy & Cropper, 2010; Warschauer, 2010). The current study aims to examine what factors facilitated or hindered student collaboration when a wiki environment was used to engage 103 Taiwanese students from two universities in an online picture book production project. Divided into 17 groups of four to six members, the students spent approximately one academic year forming online communities, learning to conduct peer editing, and collaboratively completing a final learning product, an online picture book. A variety of data, including the electronically archived versions of the wiki pages, students’ responses to retrospective surveys, and focused follow-up interviews were collected and analysed. The findings suggested that the nature of the learning tasks, students’ constant communication and appreciation of different opinions, the difficulties they encountered when communicating asynchronously, and students’ expectations toward English learning affected to what extent they were involved in the online collaboration.