Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radio Field Strength Propagation Data and Pathloss calculation Methods in UMTS Network

The design of future-generation mobile communication systems depends critically on the pathloss prediction methods and their suitability to various signal propagation regions. An accurate estimation of radio pathloss is useful for predicting coverage areas of base stations, frequency assignments, determination of electric field strength, interference analysis, handover optimization, and power level adjustment. The radio path loss will also affect other elements such as the required receiver sensitivity, the form of transmission used and several other factors. As a result, it is necessary to understand the reasons for radio path loss, and to be able to determine the levels of the signal loss for a given radio path. In this paper, we investigated the radio signal path attenuation behavior, by conducting an experimental measurement survey in a UMTS network transmitting at 2100MHz band in Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin City. The measured field strength data collected at various distances from the base stations was used to estimate the pathloss. Firstly, the effect of different parameters, such as distance from base stations was studied and it is observed that path loss increases with distance from the signal source due to a corresponding decrease in field strength. Secondly, the calculated pathloss data have been compared with data from other existing pathloss prediction methods. We find that the Okumura-Hata model pathloss values were closest of all the propagation models considered classifying the environment into consideration. Thus, the performance of Okumura-Hata model shows its suitability for path attenuation loss prediction in UMTS networks in GRA.
Is there potential for trade growth? A gravity approach in the case of Serbia

Following the political change in 2000 Serbia has started to participate in the international markets flows, to liberalize its economy and to pursue the way toward the European integration. The main characteristic of the economy are chronic high fiscal and trade deficits threatening sustainable growth even more in the light of the financial crisis. The present research investigates potential for trade enlargement, in particular exports increase with the EU and CEFTA2006 members using a gravity approach. In order to develop the model with included fixed effects the panel data are used for the period 2004-2007. The results suggest that neighboring countries, with which Serbia has traditionally common economic, political and cultural ties, are particularly open for trade. Furthermore, the most open European countries are those geographically close in the Central and Eastern Europe. This study does not limit here but proposes policies for export diversification and a wider base of exportables with a higher value added.
The Effect of Product Information and Information Privacy Concerns on Acceptance of Facebook Advertising

Facebook is gaining primacy as a preferred online advertising channel among marketers as it provides consumers with valuable up-to-date product information. As the amount of information about products advertised on Facebook increases, privacy concerns become a major issue. Consumers are concerned about the use and distribution of their personal information without their consent. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of product information and privacy concerns on acceptance of Facebook advertising. The main argument of this paper is that consumers will accept Facebook advertising only when it provides them with valuable up-to-date product information, and when they believe that Facebook keeps their information anonymous and protected. This paper also examines the relationship between attitudes and intention to accept Facebook as an advertising channel. A self-administered questionnaire comprising existing scales was used to collect the required data. A model was developed and tested to a convenience sample of 269 students drawn from a South African public higher education institution located in the Gauteng province. The study hypothesised that product information and privacy impact on acceptance of Facebook advertising. The results indicate that providing valuable product information affects students’ intentions to use Facebook as an advertising channel; privacy concerns influences students’ attitudes towards Facebook as an advertising channel. Furthermore, the results suggest that privacy concerns affect students’ intentions to accept Facebook as an advertising channel; students’ attitudes towards the use of Facebook as an advertising channel impacts on their intentions to accept it. The model of the current study appears to be relevant in explaining product information and information privacy concerns as important variables influencing the acceptance of Facebook advertising. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n25p198
Forecast of Agricultural Calendar for Maize (Zea Mays) from Global Circulation Model in the Ruzizi Area (DRC)

The world is facing several major challenges that regarding answer to the current economic crisis and the development of appropriate strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. The objective of the study is to identify climate risks for maize and the development of an agricultural calendar from a global circulation model. From meteorological data, an agro-climatic analysis was performed during the period 1995-2013 and a forecast from 2015 to 2045 has been done. The results showed that maize is facing major agro-climatic risks from the shortening of the vegetative growth period consecutive to a screeching halt rains before the end of the rainy season which is one of the major agro-climatic constraints. From predicting Echam-5 model, the agricultural calendar was adjusted to avoid the drop in rainfall observed in October and plan the sowing period at the end of October instead of September.
Temas emergentes desde la investigación temprana sobre creencias de auto-eficacia en las matemáticas de escuela

Self-efficacy, an individual’s belief about his or her ability to engage in a task and accomplish it, has been investigated across multiple domains of human action. Students’ perceived efficacy in school mathematics in particular, has been extensively explored by psychologists and educational researchers. We review literature from this field published prior to the year 2000 with the aim of extracting the fundamental themes that have drawn researchers’ attention. The topics presented include the relationship between self-efficacy and mathematical performance, the interplay of self-efficacy with self-concept, properties of self-efficacy measurements, the relationship between self-efficacy and goal setting and modeling, the accuracy of self-efficacy judgments, and gender differences and career choice with respect to selfefficacy beliefs. We review the important concepts and notable findings for each theme, and conclude with implications for educational practice and future research.
Dense gas in the Galactic central molecular zone is warm and heated by turbulence

Context. The Galactic center is the closest region where we can study star formation under extreme physical conditions like those in high-redshift galaxies. Aims. We measure the temperature of the dense gas in the central molecular zone (CMZ) and examine what drives it. Methods. We mapped the inner 300 pc of the CMZ in the temperature-sensitive J = 3-2 para-formaldehyde (p-H2CO) transitions. We used the 3(2,1)-2(2,0)/3(0,3)-2(0,2) line ratio to determine the gas temperature in n similar to 10(4) - 10(5) cm(-3) gas. We have produced temperature maps and cubes with 30 0 0 and 1 km s(-1) resolution and published all data in FITS form. Results. Dense gas temperatures in the Galactic center range from similar to 60 K to > 100 K in selected regions. The highest gas temperatures T-G > 100 K are observed around the Sgr B2 cores, in the extended Sgr B2 cloud, the 20 km s(-1) and 50 km s(-1) clouds, and in "The Brick" (G0.253 + 0.016). We infer an upper limit on the cosmic ray ionization rate zeta(CR) < 10(-14) s(-1). Conclusions. The dense molecular gas temperature of the region around our Galactic center is similar to values found in the central regions of other galaxies, in particular starburst systems. The gas temperature is uniformly higher than the dust temperature, confirming that dust is a coolant in the dense gas. Turbulent heating can readily explain the observed temperatures given the observed line widths. Cosmic rays cannot explain the observed variation in gas temperatures, so CMZ dense gas temperatures are not dominated by cosmic ray heating. The gas temperatures previously observed to be high in the inner similar to 75 pc are confirmed to be high in the entire CMZ.
The zooplankton prey field for rock lobster phyllosoma larvae in relation to oceanographic features of the south-eastern Indian Ocean

The western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, provides Australia's most valuable wild caught fishery but, in recent years, there has been a dramatic decline in settlement of the post-larval phase into their natal coastal habitat. One hypothesis for this decline was that the oceanographic conditions no longer favour the survival, feeding and growth of the larval (phyllosoma) phase. To explore this, the oceanography and corresponding zooplankton prey field along five latitudinal transects in the southeastern Indian Ocean were quantified during July 2010. Leeuwin Current Water (LCW) and Sub-Tropical Surface Water (STSW) were distinguished and a prominent front at ~30°S characterized by strong eastward flow separated them. Although zooplankton abundance increased towards the north, the prey field was unevenly distributed with patches of higher prey concentration associated mainly with LCW. Chaetognaths were the most abundant prey item (means: 17.2 and 4.1 m-3 in LCW and STSW, respectively) and were positively correlated with chlorophyll a in both water masses. Panulirus cygnus phyllosoma had a highly patchy distribution but, despite lower prey concentrations, were more abundant in STSW than LCW, particularly south of the front. Our results suggest that LC meso-scale features with strong fronts may be implicated in phyllosoma aggregations and shoreward transport of late-stage larvae and that this warrants further investigation.
Mean-Variance versus 1/N: What if we can forecast? (Updated 22nd December 2013)

Mean-variance optimisation has been roundly criticised by financial economists and practitioners alike, leading many to advocate a simple 1/N weighting heuristic. We investigate the performance of the Markowitz technique conditional on investor forecasting ability. Using a novel analytical approach, we demonstrate that investors with a modicum of forecasting ability can employ mean-variance to significantly increase their ex ante utility, outperforming the 1/N rule.
Artificial neural network approach to flood forecasting in the River

The basin of the River Arno is a flood-prone area where flooding events have caused damage valued at more than 100 billion euro in the last 40 years. At present, the occurrence of an event similar to the 1966 flood of Firenze (Florence) would result in damage costing over 15.5 billion euro. Therefore, the use of flood forecasting and early warning systems is mandatory to reduce the economic losses and the risk for people. In this work, a flood forecasting model is presented that exploits the real-time information available for the basin (rainfall data, hydrometric data and information on dam operation) to predict the water-level evolution. The model is based on artificial neural networks, which were successfully used in previous works to predict floods in an unregulated basin and to predict water-level evolution in the Arno basin under low flow conditions. Accurate predictions are obtained using a two-year data set and a special treatment of input data; which allows a balance to be found between the spatial and temporal resolution of rainfall information and the model complexity. The prediction of water-level evolution remains accurate within a forecast time ahead of 6 h, which is the minimum time lag for the river to respond to dam releases under saturated conditions of the basin. The predicted flow rate percentage error ranges from 7 to 15% from the 1-h ahead to 6-h ahead predictions, and the accuracy of prediction increases for each time ahead of prediction, as the flow rate increases, suggesting that the model is particularly suited for flood forecasting purposes.
Identifying the Role of Labor Markets for Monetary Policy in an Estimated DSGE Model

We focus on a quantitative assessment of rigid labor markets in an environment of stable monetary policy. We ask how wages and labor market shocks feed into the inflation process and derive monetary policy implications. Towards that aim, we structurally model matching frictions and rigid wages in line with an optimizing rationale in a New Keynesian closed economy DSGE model. We estimate the model using Bayesian techniques for German data from the late 1970s to present. Given the pre-euro heterogeneity in wage bargaining we take this as the first-best approximation at hand for modelling monetary policy in the presence of labor market frictions in the current European regime. In our framework, we find that labor market structure is of prime importance for the evolution of the business cycle, and for monetary policy in particular. Yet shocks originating in the labor market itself may contain only limited information for the conduct of stabilization policy.
Effects of Iron and Zinc Spray on Yield and Yield Components of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) in Drought Stress

Abstract In hot and arid regions, drought stress is considered as one of the main reasons for yield reduction. To study the effect of drought stress, iron and zinc spray on the yield and yield components of wheat, an experiment was carried out during the crop seasons of 2010 and 2011 on Shahid Salemi Farm in Ahwaz as a split factorial within randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots with irrigation factor and three levels were considered: Level A) full irrigation, Level B) stopping irrigation at pollination step, and Level C) stopping irrigation at the seed filling stage. Subsidiary plots were considered with and without iron and zinc spray. Influencing the seed filling process, in interaction with iron, wich is an important leaf's chlorophyll cation, zinc increased the seed yield. The drought stress reduced the thousand kernels weight (TKW) and the number of seeds per spike increased about 24% and 8.5% more than the one of control treatment, respectively. Using iron, as compared with control treatment, causes the increase of thousand kernels weight from 45.71 to 46.83 grams and the increase of spike from 49.51 to 51.73. Zinc spray increased seed yield and thousand kernels weight. The results obtained from the present research showed that iron and zinc spray has fairly improved the effects caused by drought stress.
First observational application of a connectivity--based helicity flux density

Measuring the magnetic helicity distribution in the solar corona can help in understanding the trigger of solar eruptive events because magnetic helicity is believed to play a key role in solar activity due to its conservation property. A new method for computing the photospheric distribution of the helicity flux was recently developed. This method takes into account the magnetic field connectivity whereas previous methods were based on photospheric signatures only. This novel method maps the true injection of magnetic helicity in active regions. We applied this method for the first time to an observed active region, NOAA 11158, which was the source of intense flaring activity. We used high-resolution vector magnetograms from the SDO/HMI instrument to compute the photospheric flux transport velocities and to perform a nonlinear force-free magnetic field extrapolation. We determined and compared the magnetic helicity flux distribution using a purely photospheric as well as a connectivity-based method. While the new connectivity-based method confirms the mixed pattern of the helicity flux in NOAA 11158, it also reveals a different, and more correct, distribution of the helicity injection. This distribution can be important for explaining the likelihood of an eruption from the active region. The connectivity-based approach is a robust method for computing the magnetic helicity flux, which can be used to study the link between magnetic helicity and eruptivity of observed active regions.
Franchise Relationship Quality Between Franchisee and Franchisor in Malaysia: The Exogenous Factors

Franchising has often been widely accepted as an effective way to conduct and expand businesses. However a franchise system does not guarantee success in business and depends on a good relationship between both parties namely, franchisor and franchisee.These franchise relationships are unique and differ from the conventional business operations which require mutual co-existence and symbiotic relationship. Nevertheless, without a good understanding between franchisor and franchisee, this relationship may have disputes that may require legal action for resolution.The success and failure of any franchise business are closely related to both the franchisor and franchisee and to what extent can they fulfill their responsibilities in order to maintain the level of franchise relationship quality (FRQ). Even though previous empirical researchers had viewed FRQ as a major indicator for the success of franchising system, the literature review showed that there was a lack of such research in identifying the exogenous factors that determine the FRQ.Thus, this qualitative research was conducted to identify the exogenous factors that influence the FRQ between franchisee and franchisor.This process involved the integration between an existing literature reviews and industry practices which emphasized on the gaps to solve the problem statement.Semi structured interviews were conducted in this research to answer the four (4) main issues; fen (10) dimensions of FRQ, fourteen (14) exogenous factors that influenced the FRQ had been identified.
Social and Cognitive Factors Affecting the Own-Race Bias in Whites

This study investigated factors associated with the commonly found own-race bias (ORB) in face recognition. We utilized several measures of general face-recognition memory, visual perception and memory, general cognitive functioning, racial attitudes, and cross-race experience in an attempt to distinguish those individuals more likely to demonstrate the effect. White respondents (N = 129) were presented two facial-recognition tests (immediate and delayed) involving Black and White faces of both genders. The resulting ORB stemmed largely from a bias to respond "seen before" to Black faces, and produced an effect that was reliable across a 2-day period. An own-sex bias in accuracy was also found. The Benton Facial Recognition test and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, 2 central measures of visual memory, were related to ability to recognize White faces. Self-reported amount of recent cross-race experiences was also correlated with overall accuracy on Black and White faces.
THE INFLUENCE OF ATONIK SL , BETOKSON SUPER 050 SL AND INSOL CA ON YIELDING OF STRAWBERRY ( Fragaria x ananassa Duch . ) CV

The chemical composition of strawberry fruit depends mainly on cultivar, fruit maturity degree and climatic conditions in the growing period. Fruit quality is also determined by a cultivation technology. The influence of two biostimulants (Atonik SL and Betokson Super 050 SL), which were used separately, in combination with each other or with the liquid fertilizer InsolCa, on yielding and fruit quality of two strawberry cultivars: ‘Senga Sengana’ and ‘Kent’, was tested. Betokson Super 050 SL + InsolCa tended to improve the yield of both cultivars. Significant differences compared to the control were evident especially in 2001. Fruits of ‘Senga Sengana’ started ripening later and had more ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and acidity than ‘Kent’. The use of Betokson Super 050 SL + InsolCa improved the content of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and sugar as well as acidity in strawberries of both cultivars. The use of Betokson Super 050 SL + Atonik SL significantly increased the content of ascorbic acid and sugar in fruits of both cultivars. ‘Kent’ strawberries also responded to the treatment with an increase in anthocyanin content and acidity.
Monetary Policy and Inflation - A wavelet analysis of money growth and the purchasing power of money ♣

This paper investigates the relationship between monetary policy and inflation using a two pillar Phillips curve. We measure inflation using five different price indices, consumer prices, GDP deflator, consumer food prices, house prices and share prices. We find that money causes consumer price inflation in the long run, but not in the short to medium term. However, there is a direct medium run relationship between money and deflator inflation, food price inflation, house price inflation and share price inflation. There is, furthermore, a direct one-to-one relationship between money and share price inflation in the short run. Money growth thus causes inflation at all horizons.
Clinical research Eotaxin (CCL11), TARC [thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (CCL17)], MCP-1 (CCL2) and CCR-1, CXCR-1, CXCR-2 expression in dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid

Introduction: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) are skin diseases associated with eosinophilc and neutrophilic infiltrations. Although chemokines are critical for the selective attraction and activation of various leukocyte subsets in the inflammatory process, there are few findings concerning the link between chemokines and their receptors and pathogenesis of autoimmune blistering disease. Material and methods: Skin biopsies were taken from 10 patients with DH, 14 with BP and from 10 healthy subjects. The localization and expression of eotaxin, TARC, MCP-1, CCR-1, CXCR-1 and CXCR-2 in skin lesions and perilesional skin were examined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the serum concentration of selected cytokines was measured by immunoassays method. Results: Expression of eotaxin and TARC was detected in skin biopsies from BP and DH patients both in the epidermis and in inflammatory influx cells of dermis. Expression of MCP-1 was observed in the same areas, hovewer exclusively in specimens for BP patients. Chemokines expression was detected in both perilesional and lesional skin areas but it was much lower in the former one. CCR-1, CXCR-1 and CXCR-2 expression was confirmed in lesional as well as perilesional skin. The expression of the examined chemokines and their receptors was not observed in biopsies from healthy people. Conclusions: Our research leads to the assumption that chemokines may play a role in the activating and recruiting eosinophils and neutrophils and suggest that difference in chemokine expression pattern may contributes to variations of the cellular infiltration and tissue damage in DH and BP patients.
The evidence of asymmetric price adjustments

The paper provides insights into the price transmission of dairy sector in Slovakia and examined the nature of price adjustments and market efficiency along the vertical chain. Th e results were based on monthly prices covering the time period 2004-2012. The farm gate prices of raw cow milk Q class and I. class were distinguished and the comparison was made also between the prices of semi-fat milk and durable semi-fat milk. The methodological approach called the Vector Error Correction model (VECM) was applied in the paper due to the fact that the Johansen co-integration test revealed that the time series were co-integrated, meaning that the long run relationship existed between them. The obtained results were in line with the recent empirical findings that have shown that the market power on the demand side, the imperfect market structure existence and also the fact that milk is a highly perishable commodity might be the explanations for the revealed asymmetric price adjustments.