Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical Birefringence Fiber Temperature Sensorsin the Visible Spectrum of Light

This article describes experimental tests to determine PM fibers Panda style responses to a thermal source with different initial temperature. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of a polarization maintaining fiber to the radiating heat, and to upgrade the space configuration and time response when using the 635 nm light. The sensitivity of the polarization maintaining fiber during excitation of both polarization modes is the principle of this sensor function. This excitation is caused by temperature change and by absorption of thermal radiation. This mechanism is used as an indicator for detection of temperature field disturbance. This article also provides links to previously published results and compares them to the results in this article.
Molecular Characterization of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Staphylococcus Isolated from Cell Phone Users’ and Non- Users’ Ears

Introduction: Resistance to macrolide can be created by erm genes in Staphylococcus. The aim of the current study was to determine whether or not cell phone use can result in the antibiotic resistance of 16S rDNA, Coa, ermA, ermB and ermC genes in Staphylococci isolated from cell phone users’ and nonusers’ ears. Methods: A total of 150 isolates of Staphylococci were tested by the disk diffusion method. The isolates were examined by PCR for 16S rDNA, Coa, ermA, ermB and ermC genes. Results: According to PCR results, in two statistical societies, 65.33% cell phone users with positive Coa had only one erm, 33.33% cell phone nonusers with negative Coa had only one erm and 1.34% had a minority of genes, whereas 24% cell phone non-users with positive Coa had only one erm, 44% cell phone non-users with negative Coa had only one erm and 32% had a minority of genes. Results showed that 16S rDNA, Coa, ermA, ermB, and ermC genes in the cell phone users group were more prevalent than the other group in Staphylococci isolated from ears. Conclusion: It is revealed that the presence of 16S rDNA, Coa, and erms genes had a significant relation to erythromycin and methicillin. Detection of ermA, ermB and ermC plays crucial roles in the molecular mechanisms, epidemiology of the efflux pump and methylase erythromycin ribosome. Since antibiotic resistant Staphylococci isolates may mutate and prompt constitutive resistances it is suggested that inducible resistance test should be implemented on erythromycin resistant sensitive isolates to prevent treatment failures.
PERFORMANCE OF FLOOR SLABS IN EXCAVATIONS USING TOP-DOWN METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION AND CORRECTION OF INCLINOMETER READINGS

The performance of floor systems in two cases in which excavations were carried out using the top-down method of construction is compared and is correlated with the progressive movements of diaphragm walls at the top four floor levels. It has been found that the progressive movements of walls at the first floor level will be limited to 2 mm per stage subsequent to the casting of the slabs for typical basement excavations and, up to, 6 mm for very large sites with flexible floor systems. Inclinometer readings can be corrected by referencing to the movements at the top to make them reasonable.
Human Action Recognition from Gradient Boundary Histograms

This thesis presents a framework for automatic recognition of human actions in uncontrolled, realistic video data with fixed cameras, such as surveillance videos. In this thesis, we divide human action recognition into three steps: description, representation, and classification of local spatio-temporal features. The bag-of-features model was used to build the classifier. Fisher Vectors were also studied. We focus on the potential of the methods, with the joint optimization of two constraints: the classification precision and its efficiency. On the performance side, a new local descriptor, called Gradient Boundary Histograms (GBH), is adopted. It is built on simple spatio-temporal gradients, which can be computed quickly. We demonstrate that GBH can better represent local structure and motion than other gradient-based descriptors, and significantly outperforms them on large datasets. Our evaluation shows that compared to HOG descriptors, which are based solely on spatial gradient, GBH descriptor preserves the recognition precision even in difficult situation. Since surveillance video captured with fixed cameras is the emphasis of our study, removing the background before action recognition is helpful for improving efficiency. We first preprocess the video data by applying HOG to detect humans. GBH descriptor is then used at reduced spatial resolutions, which yields both high efficiency and low memory usage; in addition, we apply PCA to reduce the feature dimensions, which results in fast matching and an accelerated classification process. Experiments our methods achieved good performance in recognizing precision, while simultaneously highlighting effectiveness and efficiency.
Relationship between Workforce Agility and Organizational Intelligence (Case Study: The Companies of "Iran High Council of Informatics")

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between "workforce agility" and "organizational intelligence" (considering the components of both concepts and contextual variables, too). The population included the managers and employees working at the grade one companies of "Iran High Council of Informatics". Results showed a significant positive correlation between workforce agility and organizational intelligence. All components of organizational intelligence (except strategic vision), had a positive significant relationship with workforce agility. The relationship between the individual components of workforce agility (except interpersonal adaptability) and organizational intelligence is positive and significant. Variables of Age, work experience, and organizational position, had a positive significant relationship with the agility of the workforce, while about sex and educational level, no significant relationship was found.It is recommended simple and operational translation of mission statement and strategies for employees, establishing of feedback system, enhancing of employees work-life quality and participation, facilitating learning, managerial skills training, putting employees in decision-making situation, taking advantage of the cultural diversity, be considered. Moreover employment of professionals (regardless of gender, or merely emphasis on educational degree) must be considered.
Dispersal and retention of larval fish in a potential nursery habitat of a large temperate river: an experimental study

Little information is available on governing factors of larval fish dispersal in natural river systems. Therefore, we aimed to describe dispersal and retention of marked larval nase carp, Chondrostoma nasus, along a shoreline nursery habitat of the River Danube. Based on a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, we analyzed the influence of the hydraulic conditions on larval dispersal. We also related observed larval pathways to numerical particle tracing. Clear differences in the temporal drift pattern were due to significant differences in the hydrodynamic characteristics of the release stations. Some larvae remained in the study reach, most upstream of the release point. These were significantly larger than drifting larvae. We conclude that larval dispersal has an active component and that dispersal and retention patterns are dependent on the habitat structure and hydrodynamic characteristics of the releasing points. This emphasizes the importance of links between the location of spawning sites within th.
Mathematics Teacher Educators' and Pre-Service Teachers' Beliefs about the Use of Technology in Teaching in an African University

This study examines beliefs held by mathematics teacher educators and pre‐service teachers about the usefulness and teacher educators’ belief on ease of use of computers in teaching in an Ethiopian teacher education University. It also identifies teacher educators’ actual practices in using computers in teaching. The study used questionnaires and semi‐structured interviews to collect data from 15 mathematics teacher educators and 42 pre‐service mathematics teachers. The data was subsequently analyzed through the lens of Davis’ (1989) modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The TAM approach focuses on how the external domain, such as professional development (PD), and accessibility of technology, influences participants’ beliefs about the usefulness, and ease of use of technology, which in turn impacts their actual use in teaching. The results of this study found that although the participant teacher educators and pre‐service teachers held positive beliefs about the use of computers in teaching, these beliefs were not positively related to the teacher educators’ actual practices. The teacher educators did not often use technology in their teaching. The study identified a number of external factors which may have impeded the teachers’ use of technology, including accessibility and professional development on integrating technology in the classroom.
Physical characteristics of extruded cassava starch

Considerando a importância do amido de mandioca para as industrias brasileiras, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos de parâmetros de extrusao sobre as caracteristicas fisicas e propriedades de pasta do amido de mandioca extrusado. Foi utilizado o delineamento fatorial do tipo central composto rotacional com tres variaveis independentes (23) e a metodologia de superficie de resposta para avaliar os resultados de indice de expansao, volume especifico, indice de absorcao de agua, indice de solubilidade em agua, cor e propriedades de pasta, de acordo com as variacoes de umidade, temperatura de extrusao e rotacao da rosca. A temperatura de extrusao influenciou o indice de expansao, volume especifico, indice de absorcao de agua, todos os parâmetros de cor e a viscosidade inicial, pico e viscosidade final. Ja a umidade teve influencia sobre o volume especifico, parâmetros de cor, viscosidade final e tendencia a retrogradacao. A rotacao da rosca teve efeito no indice de absorcao de agua, nos componentes de cor bem como viscosidade final e na tendencia a retrogradacao do amido extrusado. Nas condicoes operacionais de elevada umidade inicial da materia-prima, baixa rotacao da rosca e temperatura de extrusao no nivel intermediario ocorreu menor degradacao do amido, o que e desejavel em amidos pre-gelatinizados.
Bifurcation of a reversible Hamiltonian system from a fixed point with fourfold eigenvalue zero

Bifurcations are studied from a fixed point with fourfold eigenvalue zero occurring in a two degrees of freedom Hamiltonian system of second-order ordinary differential equations (ODEs) which is additionally reversible with respect to two different linear involutions. Using techniques from Catastrophe Theory we are led to a codimension 2 problem and obtain two different unfoldings of the singularity related to the hyperbolic and elliptic umbilic, respectively. The analysis of the unfolded systems is essentially concerned with the existence and properties of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits. The studies are motivated by a problem from nonlinear optics concerning the existence of solitons in a χ2-medium.
A Reconstruction Procedure Associated with Switching Lyapunov Function for Relaxing Stability Assurance of T-S Fuzzy Mode

This paper proposes a novel reconstruction procedure to lessen the conservatism of stability assurance of T-S Fuzzy Mode. By dividing the state variables into some bounded regions, the considered T-S fuzzy model can be first transferred to an alternative form via a reconstructing procedure. Thus, we can attain some relaxing stability criteria based on the switching quadratic Lyapunov function (SQLF) method. Notably, these proposed conditions are explicitly formulated by linear matrix inequality (LMI) form and can handily be evaluated by current software tools. Finally some illustrative examples are given to experimentally demonstrate the validity and merit of the proposed method.
The GL(n) large sieve

Let $\mathfrak{F}_n$ be the set of all cuspidal automorphic representations $\pi$ of $\mathrm{GL}_n$ over a number field with unitary central character. We prove an unconditional large sieve inequality for the Hecke eigenvalues of $\pi\in\mathfrak{F}_n$. This leads to the first unconditional zero density estimate for the family of $L$-functions $L(s,\pi)$ associated to $\pi\in\mathfrak{F}_n$, which we make log-free. As an application, we prove a subconvexity bound on $L(1/2,\pi)$ for almost all $\pi\in\mathfrak{F}_n$.
Design of Industrial Wireless Sensor System for Real-Time Data Collection in Steam Turbines

Wireless Sensors (WS) are utilized in industries, medical, greenhouses, and other applications to sense and monitor parameters required to control and utilize data. There are many challenges to implement WS networks such as collision, end-to-end delay, dead nodes and power consumption to name a few; however, the main challenge that face the implementation of WS are the sensing and transferring the data between the sensor and the system and the time taken. The time taken of a wired sensor to transfer data is undoubtedly slightly shorter than the time taken in WS. This paper intends to design WS that could reduce the data transfer time and compare the amount of transferred data and the time taken by the wired system. The WS design will be validated first by Bland-Altman method and data will be collected using MATLAB and the PLX-DAQ program. The results show that the amount and time taken to transfer data in WS is comparable to the wired system. The validated results suggested by this work are more than 95% in similarity to Bland-Altman. This led us to conclude that WS can be utilized with a multitude of applications in place of wired sensors. 
IMPACT OF HIGH-TECH EXPORTS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH : EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN

The goal of this study is to explore the impact of high tech exports on economic growth of Pakistan. To examine this relationship, data are collected from World Bank database, State Bank of Pakistan data source and Statistical Bureau of Pakistan. Time span of study is consisting of 20 years from 1995 to 2014. By using ordinary least square (OLS) with robust standard error, results confirm that there is a positive and statistically significant impact of high tech exports on economic growth. Although Pakistan is an agriculture country and its economic growth is largely depend upon farming, but for long run economic growth, Pakistan has to increase its high tech exports.
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND SYPHILIS INFECTIONS AMONG LONG- DISTANCE TRUCK DRIVERS IN, A PORT CITY IN GHANA

Background: Although the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and syphilis infections among longdistance truck drivers has been well documented globally, such data are sparse from Africa, and there has been no such data from Ghana. This study carried out between the months of January and June 2013 sought to determine the sero-prevalence and risk factors of HIV, HBV and syphilis infections among long distance truck drivers at the Tema sea port, Ghana. Materials and Methods: Of a total of 800 eligible drivers, 106 (13.25%) drivers consented to take part in the study. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk factor questionnaire and provided blood specimen for testing for HIV, syphilis and the surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg). Results: The mean age of the drivers was 40.56 ± 11.56 years. The sero-prevalence of HIV was 0.94%, 14.2% had HBsAg and reactive syphilis serology was 3.8%. On multivariate analysis, the main determinants of HBV infection were; multiple sexual partnership (OR, 6.36; 95% CI: 1.35– 29.79), patronage of commercial sex workers (OR, 6.85; 95% CI: 0.88 – 52.89), cross-border travelers (OR: 6.89-fold, 95% CI: 0.86 - 55.55) and prolonged duration of trips for more than two weeks (OR: 4.76; 95% CI: 0.59 – 38.02). The main determinant of syphilis infection on multivariate analysis was being a Muslim (OR, 2.19; 95% CI: 0.22 – 21.74). Conclusion: The data indicate a lower sero-prevalence of HIV but a higher sero-prevalence of syphilis. However, the sero-prevalence of HBV infection is comparable to that of the general population.
Parlez-vous français? Episodic and Semantic Feeling of Knowing in Aging

As well as memory performance, the sensations and experiences that accompany memory retrieval can beinformative regarding changes to memory that occur with aging. One such experience is the Feeling of Knowing(FOK), the sensation that an item which has failed to be recalled is nonetheless stored within the memory system,though temporarily unavailable. Older adults consistently show preserved FOK accuracy for semanticinformation. However, measures of FOK accuracy in episodic memory tasks have yielded inconsistent findings.The present study used a novel language translation paradigm to assess the effect of age on semantic andepisodic FOK judgments, and to examine the impact of repeated learning trials on episodic FOKs. As expected,no age effect was found for semantic FOK judgments. For episodic judgments, older adults’ only were found tohave chance levels of performance: FOK judgments in the older adult group were not predictive of futurememory performance. Repeated learning trials led to comparable improvements in FOK accuracy between thetwo age groups, although older adults remained at chance until after the third learning trial. Results areinterpreted within recent memory and metamemory frameworks.
Narrative and Time in Intellectual Capital Management

The contribution of the discourse on intellectual capital in terms of managing intellectual capital has been somewhat narrow and traditional: namely in terms of measurement, documentation and codification of knowledge resources. This paper argues that we need another framework for managing intellectual capital. We seek to construct such a framework by introducing narrative and time to intellectual capital management. Our framework for working with narrative and time is a model for construction of reality. Accordingly we construct reality by integrating four dimensions: facts, logic, values and communication. Inspired by Ricouer’s work on narrative and time, we argue that integration in the model is a narrative process by which time becomes human time. Integration is thus perceived as a mimetic circle where actors create a meaningful story (plot) from a diversity of events or incidents. The plot is thus a synthesis of the heterogeneous and it combines two temporal dimensions of narratives: the episodic and the configurational. Through this framework, we argue that intellectual capital management demands that one work with narrative integration through the dimensions on which this integration is obtained.
On Extension of Effective Resistance With Application to Graph Laplacian Definiteness and Power Network Stability

This paper extends the definitions of effective resistance and effective conductance to characterize the overall relation (positive coupling or antagonism) between any two disjoint sets of nodes in a signed graph. It generalizes the traditional definitions that only apply to a pair of nodes. The monotonicity and convexity properties are preserved by the extended definitions. The extended definitions provide new insights into graph Laplacian definiteness and power network stability. It is proved that the Laplacian matrix of a signed graph is positive semi-definite with only one zero eigenvalue if and only if the effective conductances between some specific pairs of node sets are positive. Also, the number of Laplacian negative eigenvalues is upper bounded by the number of negative weighted edges. In addition, new conditions for the small-disturbance angle stability, hyperbolicity, and type of power system equilibria are established, which intuitively interpret angle instability as the electrical antagonism between certain two sets of nodes in the defined active power flow graph. Moreover, a novel optimal power flow (OPF) model with effective conductance constraints is formulated, which significantly enhances power system transient stability. By the properties of extended effective conductance, the proposed OPF model admits a convex relaxation representation that achieves global optimality.
Energy‐dependent evolution of ring current protons during magnetic storms

sector. (2) The low‐energy H + is anti‐correlated with the magnetic field, probably indicating that the low‐energy H + reduces the equatorial magnetic field due to a diamagnetic effect. (3) High‐energy H + tends to increase on the dayside during the declining phase. (4) The high‐energy H + is poorly correlated with the magnetic field. High‐energy H + behaves significantly different from the low‐energy H + , and that some process other than betatron acceleration, diffusion and substorm‐associated injection could have been responsible for the variation of the high‐energy H + .
Hand gestures recognition using 3D-CNN A Degree Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Escola Tècnica d'Enginyeria de Telecomunicació de Barcelona

1 Resum . 2 Resumen . 3 Acknowledgements . 5 Revision history and approval record . 6 Table of contents . 7 List of Figures . 9 List of Tables: . 10
Investigating the Effect of the Green Tax on Iran’s Health Sector: A General Equilibrium Approach

Received date: 3 February 2018 Revised date: 29 March 2018 Accepted date: 12 May 2018 Available online: 12 May 2018 Despite the positive aspects of energy consumption, their negative externalities, i.e., environmental pollutions, are considerable. Imposition of the green tax on products and services which are not environmentally friendly has been recommended as an efficient way for improving health indices. With regard to the fact that Iran is among the countries with a high energy consumption per capita; pollution can be considered as a kind of threat to the country. In this regard, the present study benefitted from a general equilibrium model, calibrated by Iran’s Social Accounting Matrix in 2011, to examine the effect of green taxes on Iran’s health sector. Based on the findings of the present study, green taxes reduced all kinds of environmental pollutions. Furthermore, 62% of health costs was spent on mortality, 26.4% on morbidity, and 11.6% on non-health effects. JEL Classification: H23 K32 C68
The Institutional Effects on the Evolvement of e-Government Online Service Delivery in the U.S. Cities ∗

Under the federalism system, local governments have discretions and responsibilities prescribed by the state governments in matters under their jurisdiction including the adoption of e-government initiatives. The authors take an institutional perspective to examine the current development of local e-government in the U.S. context. Specifically, the present study aims to analyze the effect of isomorphism, vicarious learning, and structural institutions on the advancement of online services, which is in the process of moving from the basic stage to the more advanced stage. The findings suggest that frequency imitation and population trait imitation are present. A city’s likelihood of expanding its service capacity is positively related to the frequency of previous adopters. The study also found that cities’ advancement behaviors could be motivated by other ∗ The authors are grateful for the valuable comments from the two anonymous referees of PA&P