Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Naïve Bayesian Classifier for Selecting Good/Bad Projects during the Early Stage of International Construction Bidding Decisions

Since the 1970s, revenues generated by Korean contractors in international construction have increased rapidly, exceeding USD 70 billion per year in recent years. However, Korean contractors face significant risks from market uncertainty and sensitivity to economic volatility and technical difficulties. As the volatility of these risks threatens project profitability, approximately 15% of bad projects were found to account for 74% of losses from the same international construction sector. Anticipating bad projects via preemptive risk management can better prevent losses so that contractors can enhance the efficiency of bidding decisions during the early stages of a project cycle. In line with these objectives, this paper examines the effect of such factors on the degree of project profitability. The Naive Bayesian classifier is applied to identify a good project screening tool, which increases practical applicability using binomial variables with limited information that is obtainable in the early stages. The proposed model produced superior classification results that adequately reflect contractor views of risk. It is anticipated that when users apply the proposed model based on their own knowledge and expertise, overall firm profit rates will increase as a result of early abandonment of bad projects as well as the prioritization of good projects before final bidding decisions are made.
Is Urban Stream Restoration Worth It? 1

Kenney, Melissa A. , Peter R. Wilcock, Benjamin F. Hobbs, Nicholas E. Flores, and Daniela C. Martínez, 2012. Is Urban Stream Restoration Worth It? Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(3): 603‐615. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011. 00635.x
Comparative analyses of cytohistologic techniques in diagnoses of lung lesions

Background: The use of cytological methods in the diagnosis of malignant lesions of the respiratory tract has been generally acclaimed as one of its most successful applications. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy revolutionized respiratory cytology, as bronchial brushings, broncho-alveolar lavage and bronchial forceps biopsy became more easy, accessible and popular, shifting the emphasis from diagnosis of advanced malignancy in inoperable patients to the use of cytology as a first line diagnostic and management tool. Respiratory tract cytology is well established throughout the world as a diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of patient with suspected lung malignancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 50 patients divided in two groups who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy during the period from November 2007 to October 2008 at the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Unit, Bir Hospital. Group I consisted of 35 cases of suspected lung malignancy on clinical and radiological examination, while group II consisted of 15 cases of non-neoplastic lung diseases. Results: Bronchial brushing and forceps biopsy showed a sensitivity of 50% and 84.21% respectively in the diagnosis of malignancy. Broncho-alveolar lavage revealed malignancy in 66.7% patients. Transthoracic needle aspiration had the highest sensitivity of 100% whereas bronchial wash was revealed malignancy only in 17.4% of the cases. Conclusion: Combination of various cytohistological techniques complements each other and enhances the diagnostic efficacy of various neoplastic and non-neoplastic lung diseases. Bronchial brushing, forceps biopsy and transthoracic needle aspiration are complimentary in diagnosis of various lung malignancies whereas broncho-alveolar lavage is a useful procedure in detection of infections diseases. Keywords: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy; Lund cancer; Infection; Cytohistologic technique DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/jpn.v1i2. 5407 JPN 2011; 1(2): 126-130
Mathematical Modeling of Watershed Hydrology

Mathematical modeling of watershed hydrology is employed to address a wide spectrum of environmental and water resources problems. A historical perspective of hydrologic modeling is provided, and new developments and challenges in watershed models are discussed. These include data acquisition by remote sensing and space technology, digital terrain and elevation models, chemical tracers, geographic information and data management systems, topographic representation, upscaling of hydrologic conservation equations, spatial variability of hydraulic roughness, infiltration and precipitation, spatial and temporal scaling, model calibration, and linking with water quality models. Model construction, calibration, and data processing have received a great deal of attention, while model validation, error propagation, and analyses of uncertainty, risk, and reliability have not been treated as thoroughly. Finally, some remarks are made regarding the future outlook for watershed hydrology modeling.
Comparing DNA Sequences By Dynamic Programming In Sequential And Parallel Computer Environments

Comparing two sequences by using dynamic programming algorithms is studied. Both serial and (multiple processor) parallel computer algorithms are discussed. Numerical performance of the developed software is validated through small to large-scale applications. Results (based upon comparing 2 large sequences with 40,000 and 36,000 character length, respectively, and using 2-24 parallel processors) indicate that the developed software is reliable and highly efficient.
Chemical variation in essential oil constituents of Platonia insignis Mart. From North of Brazil

Platonia insignis (Clusiaceae), a native tree of Amazon produces fruit largely used in some food. Although extensively research on free fatty acids and volatiles of the pulp, shell and seeds, no paper was encountered concerning volatiles from the leaves of this species. Essential-oil samples were extracted from fifteen individual plants of Platonia insignis from representative wild populations from three municipalities in the Northeastern Pará, Brazil, and investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID). The results of the oil compositions were processed by Hierarchical Component Analysis (HCA) allowing establishment of two groups of essential oils differentiated by the content of β-caryophyllene (Cluster I), and α-selinene/βselinene (Cluster II). HCA also distinguished the oils taken from the Mosqueiro Island from the oils from Bragança and Santo Antonio do Tauá during the dry and rainy Amazonian seasons.
Expert Elicitation: Using the Classical Model to Validate Experts’ Judgments

The inclusion of expert judgments along with other forms of data in science, engineering, and decision making is inevitable. Expert elicitation refers to formal procedures for obtaining and combining expert judgments. Expert elicitation is required when existing data and models cannot provide needed information. This makes validating expert judgments a challenge because they are used when other data do not exist and thus measuring their accuracy is difficult. This article examines the classical model of structured expert judgment, which is an elicitation method that includes validation of the experts’ assessments against empirical data. In the classical model, experts assess both the unknown target questions and a set of calibration questions, which are items from the experts’ field that have observed true values. The classical model scores experts on their performance in assessing the calibration questions and then produces performance-weighted combinations of the experts. From 2006 through March 2015, the classical model has been used in thirty-three unique applications. Less than one-third of the individual experts in these studies were statistically accurate, highlighting the need for validation. Overall, the performance-based combination of experts produced in the classical model is more statistically accurate and more informative than an equal weighting of experts.
IRE 1 a mediates PKR activation in response to Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Protein kinase RNA activated (PKR) is a crucial mediator of anti-viral responses but is reported to be activated by multiple non-viral stimuli. However, mechanisms underlying PKR activation, particularly in response to bacterial infection, remain poorly understood. We have investigated mechanisms of PKR activation in human primary monocyte-derived dendritic cells in response to infection by Chlamydia trachomatis. Infection resulted in potent activation of PKR that was dependent on TLR4 and MyD88 signalling. NADPH oxidase was dispensable for activation of PKR as cells from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients, or mice that lack NADPH oxidase activity, had equivalent or elevated PKR activation. Significantly, stimulation of cells with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-inducing agents resulted in potent activation of PKR that was blocked by an inhibitor of IRE1a RNAse activity. Crucially, infection resulted in robust IRE1a RNAse activity that was dependent on TLR4 signalling and inhibition of IRE1a RNAse activity prevented PKR activation. Finally, we demonstrate that TLR4/IRE1a mediated PKR activation is required for the enhancement of interferon-b production following C. trachomatis infection. Thus, we provide evidence of a novel mechanism of PKR activation requiring ER stress signalling that occurs as a consequence of TLR4 stimulation during bacterial infection and contributes to inflammatory responses. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of Institut Pasteur. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Attractive regular stochastic chains: perfect simulation and phase transition

Abstract We prove that uniqueness of the stationary chain, or equivalently, of the $g$-measure, compatible with an attractive regular probability kernel is equivalent to either one of the following two assertions for this chain: (1) it is a finitary coding of an independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) process with countable alphabet; (2) the concentration of measure holds at exponential rate. We show in particular that if a stationary chain is uniquely defined by a kernel that is continuous and attractive, then this chain can be sampled using a coupling-from-the-past algorithm. For the original Bramson–Kalikow model we further prove that there exists a unique compatible chain if and only if the chain is a finitary coding of a finite alphabet i.i. d. process. Finally, we obtain some partial results on conditions for phase transition for general chains of infinite order.
THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ACTIVITIES ON BRAND AWARENESS, BRAND IMAGE AND BRAND LOYALTY

The aim of this research is to examine the effect of social media marketing activities on brand awareness, brand image and brand loyalty. In addition, it has been aimed to analyze the effect of brand awareness and brand image on brand loyalty in this research. The population of the research consists of the consumers who actively follow five brands with the highest social score according to the Marketing Turkey social media brand performance data on social media communication channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In this research, quantitative method has been used and research data has been obtained via online questionnaires shared on social media from 547 brand followers with applying convenience sampling method. The obtained data have been analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM). As a result of the analysis, social media marketing activities have been found as effective factors on brand image and brand loyalty, besides it has been determined that the most obvious effect seen on brand awareness. In addition, it has been found out that brand awareness and brand image have a significant effect on brand loyalty. Furthermore, in the research, it has been achieved that the brand awareness has a limited effect on the brand image.
Biofuels and implications for agricultural water use: blue impacts of green energy

Rising energy prices, geopolitics and concerns over the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change are increasing the demand for biofuel production. At present biofuel production is estimated at 35 billion liters, accounting only for a small part (,2%) of the 1200 billion liters of annual gasoline consumption worldwide. But the contribution of biofuels to energy supply is expected to grow fast with beneficial impacts including reductions in greenhouse gasses, improved energy security and new income sources for farmers. However, biomass production for energy will also compete with food crops for scarce land and water resources, already a major constraint on agricultural production in many parts of the world. China and India, the world’s two largest producers and consumers of many agricultural commodities, already face severe water limitations in agricultural production, yet both have initiated programs to boost biofuel production. This paper explores the land and water implications of increased biofuel production globally and with special focus on these two important countries, using the WATERSIM model. It concludes that, although of lesser concern at the global level, local and regional impact could be substantial. In fact, the strain on water resources would be such in China and India that it is unlikely that policy makers will pursue biofuel options, at least those based on traditional field crops.
Dividend Announcement: Is It a Good News to the Bahrain Bourse?

This paper presents a study of 157 dividend announcements made by 40 companies listed in the Bahrain Bourse and an examination of the relationship between dividend announcements and the stock market. The study lasted from 2004 to 2013, and the results indicate that investors have gained cumulative abnormal returns that average at 2.29 percent within the 30-day periods before and after the dividend announcement. Moreover, the findings have revealed that investors gained approximately 0.45 percent of the market value on all stocks that had increasing dividends; therefore, it can be reasonably concluded that, when announced to the public, dividend increases promote a positive message about a company’s future growth and the promise of sustained cash flow. Alternatively, it could be seen as the Bahrain Bourse is inefficient in a semi-strong form. The study further highlights that abnormal returns gained by investors tend to vary across sectors. In general, the findings of this study fail to provide significant evidence in support of the dividends irrelevancy theory; on the contrary, they indicate that dividend payments act as positive signals that assure investors of steady cash flow and substantial future earnings.
Effectiveness of Hyperspectral Imaging System for Detecting Cecal Contaminated Broiler Carcasses

Broiler processing may result in fecal contamination of the surfaces of carcasses. Fecal contaminants on broiler carcasses are prohibited due to the potential presence of bacterial pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the hyperspectral imaging system to detect cecal contamination of known mass. On each of three replicate sample days, twenty-four eviscerated, pre-chilled broiler carcasses were collected from a commercial processing plant. Broiler carcasses were cut longitudinally into contra-lateral halves using a sanitized saw. Cecal contents from the same flock were also collected and used to contaminate carcass.
Multiple widespread landslides during the long‐term evolution of a volcanic island: Insights from high‐resolution seismic data, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles

New high‐resolution multichannel seismic data (GWADASEIS‐2009 and JC45/46‐2010 cruises; 72 and 60 channels, respectively) combined with previous data (AGUADOMAR‐1999 and CARAVAL‐2002; 6 and 24 channels, respectively) allow a detailed investigation of mass‐wasting processes around the volcanic island of Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles. Seven submarine deposits have sources on the flanks of Montserrat, while three are related to the nearby Kahouanne submarine volcanoes. The most voluminous deposit (∼20 km3) within the Bouillante‐Montserrat half‐graben has not been described previously and is probably related to a flank instability of the Centre Hills Volcano on Montserrat, while other events are related to the younger South Soufrière Hills‐Soufrière Hills volcanic complex. All deposits are located to the south or southeast of the island in an area delimited by faults of the Bouillante‐Montserrat half‐graben. They cover a large part of the southeast quarter of the surrounding seafloor (∼520 km2), with a total volume of ∼40 km3. Our observations suggest that the Bouillante‐Montserrat half‐graben exerts a control on the extent and propagation of the most voluminous deposits. We propose an interpretation for mass‐wasting processes around Montserrat similar to what has happened for the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles.
Comparison of Different DNA Extraction Methods for Forensic Samples

DNA analyses are important for different types of research in biomedical and forensic science and DNA isolation is an often required step. Because different DNA isolation kits are constantly becoming available, it is useful to compare their efficacies. This study compared kits of the QIAamp DNA Investigator (Qiagen), ZR Genomic DNA (Zymo Research) and AccuPrep Genomic DNA (Bioneer). Spectrophotometry showed the highest yield of DNA from 200 µl of blood was obtained by the Qiagen kit (5.6 µg) followed by the Bioneer kit (2.74 µg) and Zymo kit (2.39 µg). For purity measured by spectrophotometric A260/A280 nm ratio, DNA isolated by the Qiagen was the most pure and had a ratio of 1.85, closer to the ideal ratio than DNA isolated by Zymo (2.0) and Bioneer (1.03) ratios. Costs of isolation were $3.60/sample for Qiagen, $1.50/sample for Bionner and $0.72 for Zymo kits. The Zymo test took 25 minutes to isolate DNA, the Bioneer kit 35 minutes and the Qiagen kit 50 minutes. These findings may help laboratories select DNA kits that suit their purposes. Keywords: Forensic science, DNA, extraction, electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, spin-column
The total graph of a commutative semiring with respect to proper ideals

Let $I$ be a proper ideal of a commutative semiring $R$ and let $P(I)$ be the set of all elements of $R$ that are not prime to $I$. In this paper, we investigate the total graph of $R$ with respect to $I$, denoted by $T(Gamma_{I} (R))$. It is the (undirected) graph with elements of $R$ as vertices, and for distinct $x, y in R$, the vertices $x$ and $y$ are adjacent if and only if $x + y in P(I)$. The properties and possible structures of the two (induced) subgraphs $P(Gamma_{I} (R))$ and $bar {P}(Gamma_{I} (R))$ of $T(Gamma_{I} (R))$, with vertices $P(I)$ and $R - P(I)$, respectively are studied.
The late Pleistocene horned crocodile Voay robustus (Grandidier & Vaillant, 1872) from Madagascar in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

Abstract. Crocodylian material from late Pleistocene localities around Antsirabe, Madagascar, stored in the collection of the Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin, was surveyed. Several skeletal elements, including skull bones, vertebrae, ribs, osteoderms, and limb bones from at least three large individuals could be unambiguously assigned to the genus Voay Brochu, 2007. Furthermore, the simultaneous occurrence of Voay robustus Grandidier & Vaillant, 1872 and Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768 in Madagascar is discussed. Voay robustus and Crocodylus niloticus are systematically separate but similar in stature and size, which would make them direct rivals for ecological resources. Our hypothesis on the extinction of the species Voay, which was endemic to Madagascar, suggests that C. niloticus invaded Madagascar only after V. robustus became extinct. doi: 10.1002/mmng.200800007
Panel Data: The Effects of Some World Development Indicator (WDI) on GDP Per Capita of Selected African Union (AU) Countries (1981-2011)

In this paper, we employ Fixed Effect of Panel Data Model to formulate a Panal Data Linear Regression model of Gross Domestic Product Per Capita of 20 African Union (AU) Countries using five World Development Indicators (WDI) as explanatory variables. Data were collected from 1981 to 2011. The five WDI are OER-Official Exchange Rate (LCU Per US$, Period Average), BM-Broad Money (% of GDP), INF-Inflation, GDP deflator (Annual %), TNR-Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP) and FDI-Foreign Direct Investment, Net Inflows (% of GDP). At the end of the analysis it was discovered that the OER, BM, INF, TNR and FDI all have significant relationship with GDP per Capita (RGDP). The estimated GDP per capita of the selected AU countries when the effect of OER, BM, INF, TNR and FDI are zero is $193.29. 1.00 unit increase in OER-Official Exchange Rate (LCU Per US$, Period Average) will lead to a significant reduction in GDP per capita by $0.23 (0.23USD); if BM-Broad Money (% of GDP) increases by 1.00% then GDP per capita will increase by $24.50; if INF-Inflation, GDP deflator (Annual %) increases by 1.00% then GDP per capita will decrease by $1.11; if TNR-Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP) increases by 1.00% then GDP per capita will increase by $3.65 and if FDI-Foreign Direct Investment, Net Inflows (% of GDP) increases by 1.00% then GDP per capita will increase by $57.05. It is seen that 97.2% of the total variation in GDP per capita of the selected AU countries can be explained by the variations in these five WDI used in this paper while the remaining 2.8% could be explained by other variables other than the five WDI used in this model. The result also shows significant cross-sectional effects i.e countries effects. We therefore recommend that for African countries to be among the best economies in the world, they have to increase their gross domestic product per capital (RGDP) by increasing their foreign direct investment (FDI), total natural resources (TNR) and broad money (BM) while on the other hand, they have to reduce their official exchange rate (local currency to US dollar) and inflation rate (INF).
E-commerce adoption within an entrepreneurial context

This paper investigates the effect of entrepreneurial characteristics on the adoption of ECommerce, at different levels of sophistication, by New Technology Based Firms in the UK. This is achieved by using a survey on the actual E-Commerce adoption of 412 firms operating in both high-tech manufacturing and service sectors. The study combines the Resource Based Theory with the ‘Technology, Environment and Organization’ framework and with the Entrepreneurship and Human Capital theories in order to provide a theoretical base for the inclusion and measurement of the characteristics of all the entrepreneurs that form an Entrepreneurial Founding Team. Results showed that older entrepreneurs and firms were less likely to adopt E-Commerce, whereas exporting firms and entrepreneurial teams characterized with high levels of commercial/marketing experience were more likely to adopt it at the advanced level. Different types of formal collaborative agreements with other companies as well as the level of competition were found to affect E-Commerce adoption at different levels of sophistication. Policy implications are provided.