Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Particular uncertainties encountered in using a pre-packaged SEBS model to derive evapotranspiration in a heterogeneous study area in South Africa

Abstract. The focus of this paper is on the pre-packaged version of SEBS in ILWIS and the sensitivity of SEBS to some parameters over which the user has some control when using this version of the model, in order to make informed choices to limit uncertainties. The sensitivities of SEBS to input parameters are related to daily ET rather than energy flux results since this is of interest to water managers and other users of the results of the SEBS model. This paper describes some of the uncertainties introduced by the sensitivity of the SEBS model to (a) land surface temperature and air temperature gradient, (b) the choice of fractional vegetation formula, (c) displacement height and the height at which wind speed is measured, and (d) study area heterogeneity. It was shown that SEBS is sensitive to land surface temperature and air temperature gradient and the magnitude of this sensitivity depended on the land cover and whether or not the wet-limit had been reached. The choice of fractional vegetation cover formula was shown to influence the daily ET results by up to 0.7 mm. It was shown that the height of the vegetation canopy should be considered in relation to the weather station reference height to avoid the sensible heat flux from becoming unsolvable due to a negative ln calculation. Finally the study area was shown to be heterogeneous although the resolution at which fluxes were calculated did not significantly impact on energy partitioning results. The differences in the upscaling from evaporative fraction to daily ET at varying resolutions observed implies that the heterogeneity may play the biggest role in the upscaling and the influence of albedo on this calculation should be studied.
Multilevel Classification of PISA 2015 Research Participant Countries’ Literacy and These Classes’ Relationship with Information and Communication Technologies

In this study, it is aimed to distinguish the reading skills of students participating in PISA 2015 application into multi-level latent classes at the student and country level. Furthermore, it is aimed to examine how the clusters emerged at country-level is predicted by variables as students have the information and communication technology (ICT) resources. The population of this research, which is in a descriptive survey model consists of all students who are aged 15 from 72 countries which participated in the PISA 2015 application. As for sample, it is made up of 519.334 students and 17.908 schools which were chosen randomly for PISA 2015 application from these countries. In analyzing data, a multi-level latent class and three-step analysis were employed. Analyses have shown that having ICT resources at home is the most influential variable on the reading skills of countries. It is determined both in in-country and across countries that there are some differences in ICT resources at home and school. In this context, it may be stated that the equal opportunity in education has not been provided in many countries on international scale.
Social capital, industrial districts and regional unemployment in Italy

We consider the industrial districts “conductors” of social capital. Hence, we use the regional density of industrial districts to measure social capital and we analyse its impact on regional unemployment in Italy. By using regional data from the Italian National Statistical Office (ISTAT), we develop a pooled cross-sectional analysis based on the years 2001 and 2005. For a more robust analysis we divide unemployment into two types: general and youth. Interestingly, contrary to the theory of the “strength of position proposition” (Lin 2000), we find that both youth and general unemployment decreases with social capital only within low-educated individuals. In addition, within the low-educated group, empirical evidence shows that the magnitude of the effect of social capital on unemployment increases with the age.
Prediction of user's trustworthiness in web-based social networks via text mining

In Social networks, users need a proper estimation of trust in others to be able to initialize reliable relationships. Some trust evaluation mechanisms have been offered, which use direct ratings to calculate or propagate trust values. However, in some web-based social networks where users only have binary relationships, there is no direct rating available. Therefore, a new method is required to infer trust values in these networks. To bridge this gap, this paper aims to propose a new method which takes advantage of user similarity to predict trust values without any need for direct ratings. In this approach, which is based on socio psychological studies, user similarity is calculated from the profile information and the texts shared by the users via text-mining techniques. Applying Ziegler ratios to our approach revealed that users are more than 50% more similar to their trusted agents than to arbitrary peers, which proves the validity of the original idea of the study about inferring trust from language similarity. In addition, comparing the real assigned ratings, gathered directly from users, with the experimental results indicated that the predicted trust values are sufficiently acceptable (with a precision of 61%). We have also studied the benefits of using context in inferring trust. In this regard, the analysis revealed that the precision of the predictions can be improved up to 72%. Besides the application of this approach in web-based social networks, the proposed technique can also be of much help in any direct rating mechanism to evaluate the correctness of trust values assigned by users, and increases the robustness of trust and reputation mechanisms against possible security threats.
A Preliminary Assessment of Water Quality in Nambul River, Manipur, India

Eleven physico-chemical variables of the water of Nambul river were analyzed during the dry and wet seasons of the year 2011. The results reveal that site 2 ( Thong Nambonbi ) located in the heart of Imphal city was the most polluted site because of the considerable contaminant loads at this site. Compared to this site, the upstream site 1 ( Mayang Langjing ) and downstream site 3 ( Wangoi ) were less polluted. Comparatively higher values of EC and inorganic nutrients including chloride, nitrate and phosphate were found at this site during both seasons. Further, the study reveals that dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in river water is significantly affected by variables such as chloride, nitrate and inorganic phosphate, which exhibit significant negative correlations with DO at p < 0.01.
Individualized and Mouthformed (boil-and-bite)Mouthguards: Comparative Analysis on a Soccer Team

Individualized and Mouthformed (boil-and-bite) Mouthguards: Comparative Analysis on a Soccer Team Considering the importance of mouthguards on the prevention of orofacial injuries during sports practice, the purpose of this study was to evaluate two mouthguard types: individualized and mouthformed (boil-and-bite) mouth –mouthguards, during a performance of two soccer teams. The mouthguards were analyzed according to its effectiveness, satisfaction after using and dimensional changes. The participants (n= 16) were divided in two groups: G1 (n=8), individualized and G2 (n=8), mouth-formed (boil-andbite) mouthguard. The athletes received the mouthguards to use it in two soccer games. After this, the mouthguards were sent to three blind expertise examiners which analyzed three items: integrity, cleanliness and the quality of material through scores. For data collect, a questionnaire was developed to investigate the sociodemographic data from the participants and also to evaluate the satisfaction after using.
Financial Market Integration and Macroeconomic Volatility in the MENA Region: An Empirical Investigation

Using panel data regression models this study examines empirically the impact of regional and international financial integration on macroeconomic volatility in the developing economies of the MENA region over the period 1980–2002. Our empirical results indicate that financial openness is associated with an increase in consumption volatility, contrary to the notions of improved international risk-sharing opportunities through financial integration. Our empirical findings emphasize the role of sound fiscal and monetary policies in driving macroeconomic volatility. In regard to structural reforms, the development of the domestic financial sector is critical, as a high degree of financial sector development is significantly associated with lower macroeconomic volatility. We argue that enhancing regional financial integration might constitute a venue to circumvent the vulnerability of the small open MENA economies to external shocks, and a mean to enhance consumption smoothing opportunities, as well as international financial integration.
EVALUATION OF ENERGY ASPECTS OF APPLE DRYING IN THE HOT-AIR AND INFRARED DRYERS

Drying is an energy-intensive process. In general, heating and evaporation require large quantities of energy. This study has been conducted to evaluate analysis for dying apple slices in two drying systems including hot-air convection and infrared drying. The apple samples were dried at temperatures of 90, 120 and 150°C and radiation intensity of 0.22, 0.31 and 0.49 W/cm2 in the hot-air and infrared dryer, respectively. The results showed that the minimum energy consumed for drying apple slices in infrared dryer was 1 kW h while minimum energy consumption in hot air dryer was 7.02 kW h. Also, the specific energy consumption in IR dying was about 82-86% shorter than that of hot-air drying. The value of SEC of apple under IR and hot air drying was ranged from 110.35 to 71.78 kWh/kgwater and 635.53 to 501.15 kWh/Kgwater, respectively. The calculated value of moisture diffusivity varied from 3.499×10-7-4.746×10-7 m2/sec and 3.671×10-7-5.101×10-7 m2/sec and the value of energy activation were found to be 140.1 and 94.62 kJ moL-1 for IR and hot air drying, respectively. Therefore, one way to improve drying operations is to use infrared energy.
Biomimetic Sensors for Rapid Testing of Water Resources

using an off-the-shelf CMOS system represents a low-cost, relatively straight forward system that can be useful in monitoring the physiological response of cells to a drug or contaminant. We envision the expansion of this platform to harbor complex matrices of cells that recapitulate major organ systems and respond to toxicity via different modes of action.
Design of Model Reference Adaptive Control for a 4-DOF Serial Manipulator

This paper discusses Model Reference Adaptive Control design for the 4-DOF Serial Manipulator, at first, a 4-DOF Serial Manipulator mechanical design is introduced in CATIA software, then the model CAD design in CATIA is imported into the Adams software. With the help of Plugins ADAMS/Control is made Control block diagram for MATLAB software. Afterward, the DC motor model is designed in MATLAB software. And by connecting the DC motor model with the Adams-sub block, the overall model of the system is obtained with the input voltage and output of the position and angular velocity. In the next step, the kinematic equations of the robot are obtained with using the Denavit – Hartenberg method. Finally, a Model Reference Adaptive Control will be designed. Stability of this Model Reference Adaptive Control is established using Lyapunov stability theory. The simulation results vouch for the performance of the offered method.
A Survey on the Problems Affecting the Development of Open Government Data Initiatives

Open Government Data is an initiative that promotes transparency, accountability and value creation by making government data available to all. Open government data initiatives have become very popular worldwide because of the benefits that they can entail, especially in developed countries. However, many of these initiatives no always achieve the expected benefits. Although related research has reported that most of these initiatives face various problems affecting their success, little emphasis has been put on understanding such problems. Accordingly, in this study, we report our efforts to explore the main problems affecting open government data initiatives. Specifically, we performed a literature review to identify six problem categories, its subcategories, and its incidence. Additionally, using an Information Systems adoption process, we established the impact and occurrence of each of these problems before, during, and after an open government data initiative.
Secure Job And Risky Choices? An Analysis Of State And Wealth Dependence Of Risk Aversion Using Severance Pay Allocation

State- and Wealth-dependence of individual risk preferences are investigated using Italian panel data. To elicit risk aversion, a social security policy reform occurred in Italy in 2008 is exploited. This law asks private sector employees to invest their accruing severance pay in three alternative pension funds strongly heterogeneous in terms of risk. The determinants of this choice are analyzed and the focus is posed on the effect of wealth and job-status. These are investigated considering i) the behavior of workers changing job contract; ii) the presence of different income prospects associated to labor contracts'? length; iii) the exogenous threshold provided by fi? rm size in terms of Employment Protection Legislation. Fixed-Effects estimates show that preferred funds - and consequently risk preferences - are not affected by wealth modi? cations pointing out for the presence of Constant Relative Risk Aversion. Conversely, job contract characteristics in terms of job protection from the risk of layoff appear to signifi? cantly affect risk attitude pointing for the existence of a State Dependent Constant Relative Risk Aversion.
Vertical diversity of bacteria in an oxygen-stratified humic lake, evaluated using DNA and phospholipid analyses

Microbes play a particularly important role in the food web in lakes with high dissolved organic carbon content. The bacterial community of a polyhumic lake, Mekkojarvi, was studied using DNA techniques and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis during the mid-summer period of water column strati- fication. According to the 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and length heterogeneity analysis (LH-PCR), heterotrophic bacteria dominated only in the oxic epilimnion, in which various Actinobacteria (mostly cluster acI-B) and Betaproteobacteria (especially Poly- nucleobacter subcluster PnecC) were common. Se- quences assigned to heterotrophic, methylotrophic, photoautotrophic, and chemoautotrophic genera were all abundant in the oxic-anoxic boundary layer. Methylobacter and Methylophilus were dominant genera among methylotrophic bacteria. Sequences assigned to the photoautotrophic green sulfur bac- terium Chlorobium sp. dominated in the anoxic water column, in which the microbial PLFA biomass was 6 times higher than in the oxic surface layer. All PLFA- profiles were dominated by 16 monounsaturated fatty acids typical of Gram-negative bacteria, whereas iso- and anteiso-branched PLFAs typical of Actinobacteria were present only in minor proportions. The high bio- mass of the potentially autotrophic meta- and hypolim- netic bacteria may form an important carbon source for the whole lake after spring and autumn overturns; thus, the role of these bacteria in the seasonal energy mobilization deserves more study in oxygen-stratified humic lakes and ponds.
MAIZE PRODUCTION, ECONOMICS AND SOIL PRODUCTIVITY UNDER DIFFERENT ORGANIC SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS IN EASTERN HIMALAYAN REGION, INDIA

Replenishing nutrients through organic sources is essential to maintain the soil health and sustainability in Eastern Himalayan Region, India which is organic by default. Keeping this in mind an experiment was laid out on randomized block design with six treatments viz., T1: Vermicompost (VC; 2.5 Mg ha -1 ), T2: Poultry manure (PM; 1.25 Mg ha -1 ), T3: Swine manure (SM; 3.0 Mg ha -1 ), T4: Cow dung manure (CDM; 10.0 Mg ha -1 ), T5: Farm yard manure (FYM; 10.0 Mg ha -1 ) and T6: control and replicated thrice to study the effect of applied organic nutrients on growth and yield attributes of maize. The physical parameters like porosity, maximum water holding capacity (MWHC), field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), bulk density (BD) and moisture releasing pattern was measured better when the crop was supplied with FYM followed by CDM. Chemical parameters like pH, Soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were recorded better on VC followed by PM over control. The growth, physiological parameters, yield attributes and yield were recorded higher on VC. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was higher on VC followed by PM, whereas least nutrients were taken up by control. Similarly the gross and net return was recorded higher on VC followed by PM, whereas, B: C ratio was recorded higher on PM followed by CDM. However the lowest economic returns were recorded on control. Agronomic efficiency was recorded higher on VC followed by PM.
Investigation of Static Characteristics in Six-Phase Switched Reluctance Motors under Different Winding Connections

The effect of the winding connections on the static torque in six-phase switched reluctance motors (SRMs) is investigated in this paper. Different winding connections for the six-phase SRMs are shown and compared. Under the conditions of different winding connections, the self-inductance and mutual inductance of a six-phase SRM are compared and analyzed. Six-phase SRMs can be running in two-phase excitation mode and three-phase excitation mode, and in these two modes, the static torque characteristics with different poles polarities arrangements are compared and analyzed. The comparison of the static torque in a six-phase SRM with different winding connections is obtained by the Maxwell 2D and experiments. Based on the results, an optimal winding connection mode for starting stage of the six-phase SRMs is proposed.
Effect of perioperative administration of parecoxib on post-tonsillectomy pain in adults

Post-tonsillectomy pain is one of the most difficul t pain states to manage in otolaryngology. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effect of pare coxib in adults undergoing tonsillectomy. Eighty-ei ght patients that underwent tonsillectomy were randomly allocated to two groups to receive either intravenous 80 mg 24 h -1 parecoxib (group P) or saline as control (group C) at two medical center of university. Anesthesia was induced using intravenou s sufentanil and propofol, while endotracheal intubation was facilitated with rocuronium and main tenance was accomplished using sevoflurane. Pain scores, the rescue analgesic consumption, the frequ ency of postoperative complications including bleeding, nausea and vomiting and other major event were recorded 1, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h after the operation. P<0.05 was considered statistically sign ificant. In total, 80 patients successfully complete d the study. Intravenous parecoxib (40 mg Bid), signi ficantly reduced pain intensity both at rest and during swallowing in the first 24 h after tonsillec tomy. The median pain score was reduced from moderate (4.5) to light pain (3) at rest and from s evere pain (6.5) to moderated pain (4-5) during swallowing. Forty-four (43%) patients received para cetamol in the ward [22 (55%) in the control group and 12 (30%) in the parecoxib group; P<0.05]. Re-operation for bleeding, postoperative nau sea and vomiting (PONV) and other major adverse events were not different between groups. In conclusion, perioperative administration of parecoxib (40 mg, B id) was effective for postoperative pain at rest re lief in adults undergoing tonsillectomy.
Women in Politics and Their Presence in Twitter: Argentina as a Case Study

The use of Online Social Networks (OSNs) in electoral campaigns is no longer an option for candidates and their campaign teams. Their performance in the virtual public sphere will mark substantial differences at the time of vote. Indeed, although the presence of politicians in social media does not guarantee their victory in elections, it is unthinkable to build their public profile outside of OSNs. The present study intends to analyze the use of Twitter by the main female political leaders during the campaign of the mid-term legislative elections in Argentina in 2017. Specifically, it aims to investigate the issues promoted by the Argentine leaders in Twitter, the interactions they had with “traditional” media and the type of dialogue they established with each other. Likewise, based on their profiles, an attempt to identify which leadership characteristics these candidates possess will be made. Finally, we will study the influence of the gender and location variables in their narratives.
Financial Integration, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in East Africa Countries: A Dynamic Panel Data Modelling Approach

This study examines the relationship between financial integration, foreign direct investment and economic growth using dynamic panel data modelling in the East African region during the study period ranging from 2000/01 to 2013/14. Arellano-Bover/Blundell-Bond estimation technique had been employed to estimate the model. From the Empirical result of this paper it was concluded that financial integration was found to affect the economic growth in the East African region negatively; whilst foreign direct investment was found to supportive to economic growth in the region. In addition it was revealed in the paper that there is a bi-directional relationship between financial integration and economic growth; and foreign direct investment and economic growth in the region. The researcher also discovered that there is a long run relationship between the variables. The policy implications of these results is so vital just in case that most of the variables can be maintained and controlled by each and every member of the East African countries. The researcher thus finally puts the policy implications based on these results. To maintain the economic growth in the region the researcher recommends to formulate good policies to further enhance foreign direct investment; and need to solve obstacles that hinder the integration process starting from the grass roots in order to gain the benefits of financial integration in the region. Keywords: Financial Integration, Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Growth
The association between microsatellite Bm6438 and milk performance traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle

The objective of this study was to verify the hypothesis postulating the location of QTL linked marker for milk performance traits in the proximal section of chromosome BTA1 by analyzing the micro - satellite BM6438 alleles from heterozygous sires and the milk performance traits of the investigated cattle. The experiment covered 484 Polish Holstein-Friesian primiparous cows, the progeny of three unrelated sires, including 317 cows - the progeny of two sires with 256/268 genotype and 167 cows - the progeny of a sire