Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT VISUALISATION IN

Purpose – This study was developed in response to the need to develop age-friendly smart living environments (SLEs) due to the complex demands placed on society by the ageing of the population. It sought to analyse the potential that knowledge visualisation offers collaborative decision making applied to the development of a multiple criteria framework supporting knowledge management (KM) through knowledge collaboration (KC) and knowledge sharing (KS) in the context of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS). Design/methodology/approach – Using a socio-technical approach, knowledgeable and experienced representatives of RIS innovation actors were brought together to develop a constructivist multiple criteria framework that integrates knowledge visualisation and collaborative decision-making techniques ( i.e. , cognitive mapping and system dynamics). Findings – The study introduces a multiple criteria model supporting KM encompassing conditions and practices of RIS innovation actors facilitating and encouraging KC and KS. The potential for knowledge visualisation in collaborative decision making is explored in great depth and illustrated in a case study setting. Practical implications – The panel members who participated in this study consider our methodological proposal to be extremely versatile and see great potential for further applications in RIS contexts. Originality – The combined use of cognitive mapping and system dynamics according to the strategic options development and analysis (SODA) approach offers a holistic and well-informed perspective on the issue in question. The literature reports no prior work of this methodological combination in the same research context.
Physical and biological forcings on the carbonate chemistry in the North Atlantic Ocean

The atmospheric concentration of CO2 has risen considerably since the industrial revolution, and the subsequent uptake of atmospheric CO2 by the oceans has affected the carbonate system and caused a reduction in the pH of the oceans. Model estimates involving future CO2 emission scenarios have predicted a significant increase of oceanic Dissolved Inorganic Carbon concentrations by the end of the century, corresponding to a decrease in oceanic pH by up to 0.4. In order to observe and predict changes in primary productivity and community structure in the oceans associated with future climate change, precise measurements of all the carbonate system parameters are important. The natural processes affecting the seasonal and regional variations of the carbonate chemistry are still poorly understood and sustained monitoring programs are required in order to determine the importance of hydrographical and biogeochemical forcings. The relationships between physical and biological parameters and carbonate system parameters were investigated in several regions of the North Atlantic Ocean, allowing a better understanding of the natural processes affecting the carbonate system in this ocean basin. For this purpose, the seasonal and inter-annual variability of the carbonate system in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean was studied through a ship of opportunity program, allowing observations of the short-term processes affecting the carbonate system and air-sea CO2 fluxes. The results showed contrasting effects of winter mixing and sea surface temperature on the carbonate system and the air-sea CO2 fluxes. In addition, the distributions of the carbonate system parameters were determined in the Iceland Basin and in the sub-tropical Northeast Atlantic Ocean. The carbonate system in the Iceland Basin was characterized by mesoscale variability associated to the presence and development of an eddy dipole in the study region; while the sub-tropical Northeast Atlantic Ocean showed spatial variability in all the chemical parameters, associated with coastal upwelling and remineralization in an oxygen minimum zone. Although the physics appeared to be the main forcing on the carbonate system in this study, the role of biology in the seasonality of the carbonate system is highly important. However, physical forcings tend to set the level for biological drawdown and therefore highly contribute to the variability of the carbonate system and CO2 fluxes.
Earnings Inequality and the Minimum Wage : Evidence from Brazil ∗

January 10, 2016 Abstract We assess the extent to which a rise in the minimum wage can account for three facts characterizing a large decline in earnings inequality in Brazil from 1996–2012: (i) the decline is more pronounced towards the bottom of the distribution; (ii) one quarter of the decline stems from an increase in relative pay at less productive firms; and (iii) another quarter is attributable to falling pay differences due to worker heterogeneity. To this end, we build an equilibrium search model with heterogeneity in worker ability and firm productivity. The central feature of the model is the presence of spillover effects of the minimum wage on higher earnings ranks due to monopsonistic competition among firms for workers. We estimate the model using indirect inference and find that the rise in the minimum wage explains 70 percent of the decline in the variance of log earnings. Spillover effects of the minimum wage account for more than half of this decline and quantitatively match the three empirical facts. Our results suggest that labor market dynamics can lead to large effects of policy on earnings inequality.
Liquidity in global real estate securities markets: A cyclical and regional analysis pre, during and post GFC

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between liquidity in listed real estate markets, company size and geography during different market cycles, specifically pre-crisis (2002-2006) and post-crisis (2010-2014). Further, the study analyses the impact of stock liquidity on stock performance. In a previous study the authors examined the impact of liquidity on the valuation of European real estate shares. The result showed that there is a strong relationship between liquidity, valuation and market capitalisation post the Global Financial Crisis. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper studies the linkages between regional market liquidity and company size for 60 listed real estate companies globally and determines the key drivers of company stock market liquidity pre- and post-crisis as well as the impact on stock performance. Analysis of variance is used to test cross-sectional independence in market liquidity combined with the Tukey’s Findings - – Findings confirm previous studies that market liquidity factors are correlated globally over time indicating markets interdependence. However, sample groups by company size and geography form independent samples with different sample means, thus specific liquidity levels in each market may be different. First, stock turnover levels have not recovered post-crisis to pre-crisis levels in the majority of markets while spreads have continued moving downward to nearly insignificant levels in line with the rest of the equity market. Second, with regards to stock performance, the European bias previously detected is not apparent in the USA, and there is no evidence of the small cap vs large cap effect of small companies achieving superior returns, although smaller companies have outperformed in Europe and Asia in each of the last three years (2012-2014). Practical implications - – The key implication is that although spread levels for smaller companies are higher, implying a slight risk premium when investing in small companies, this did not manifest into consistent superior stock market returns in the periods studied. In a mature market such as the USA or UK, liquidity levels in terms of stock turnover are higher and spreads are lower thus reducing trading costs, making them more attractive for investors. Originality/value - – This research brings together previous analysis on stock market liquidity and stock performance on a global market level. It further tests the dependence of market liquidity on two key indicators, namely, geography and company size and analyses market changes with respect to liquidity pre- and post-crisis.
Unmet Need for Family Planning in Indonesia and Its Associated Factors

Background : The unmet need for family planning in Indonesia has been stagnant since the early 2000s in the 10% – 12% range with substantial socioeconomic and geographic disparities. This study sought to better understand the factors underlying the nonuse of contraceptives among women with an apparent need for family planning so that evidence-based corrective actions can be taken. Methods : Three sources of quantitative data were used in the study — the 2017 Indonesia Demographic Health Survey, the 2018 Village Potential Survey, and the National Population and Family Planning Board service statistics. Further insights were obtained from online focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with participants in 12 districts/cities in seven provinces. Results : The analyses indicated that health concerns, service delivery-related factors, and opposition to family planning all contribute to the unmet need for family planning in Indonesia. Importantly, the salience of these factors varied significantly across different subgroups of women and geographic areas. Conclusions : Successful efforts to reduce the unmet need for family planning are complex in that they must contend with the interplay between local sociocultural contexts, individual beliefs/aspirations/preferences, and the supply environment of family planning services. Differentiated interventions for different population subgroups and geographic areas will be needed.
Evolución sedimentaria de la laguna de la Janda (Cádiz) durante el Holoceno

El estudio de un sondeo (JAN99-J) realizado sobre los depositos que rellenan la Depresion de la Janda (Cadiz) ha aportado mas informacion acerca de la evolucion de esta depresion a lo largo del Holoceno. Tras el ultimo maximo transgresivo flandriense (6500 a BP) la depresion fue inundada por el mar a traves del surco de Vejer-Barbate. A partir de al menos 3800 a BP la depresion se colmata y cierra la conexion con el mar abierto, dando comienzo la sedimentacion aluvial. Solo en tiempos relativamente recientes se llega a formar una verdadera laguna. [ABSTRACT] The study of a log (JAN99-1) carried out in the filling deposits of La landa Depression (Cadiz) throw new information about the more recent Holocene evolution of this ancient lacustrine environment. After the last transgressive maximum (Flandrian: 6500 yr BP) the depression was occupied by the sea through the Vejer-Barbate trough. From at least 3800 a BP the depression was eventually filled promoting the end of sea-connection and giving place to alluvial sedimentation. Only during the recentmost times the lacustrine environment is developed.
INFLUENCE OF SEASONAL VARIATION OF SUBGRADE MOISTURE ON THE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS

Moisture variation in the subgrade below semi-impervious bituminous pavements has a significant influence on the performance of the pavement, depending on soil, environmental and climatic conditions. This aspect has to be taken into account while deciding on the strength of the subgrade which, in turn, influences pavement thickness design. The Highways Research Station in Madras undertook detailed studies of the variation in the moisture of pavement subgrades under different climatic and soil conditions in the tamil nadu state. As many as 34 sites were investigated between 1962 and 1976. This paper gives a brief review of the research carried out abroad and on the experimental sites. It is hoped that the results obtained will help to determine the maximum moisture that a compacted subgrade soil would retain from the knowledge of a given site, rainfall and engineering characteristics of the soil. For the covering abstract see TRIS 450968. (TRRL)
Novel quadratic Bézier triangular and tetrahedral elements using existing mesh generators: Extension to nearly incompressible implicit and explicit elastodynamics in finite strains

We present a novel unified finite element framework for performing computationally efficient large strain implicit and explicit elastodynamic simulations using triangular and tetrahedral meshes that can be generated using the existing mesh generators. For the development of a unified framework, we use Bézier triangular and tetrahedral elements that are directly amenable for explicit schemes using lumped mass matrices and employ a mixed displacement‐pressure formulation for dealing with the numerical issues arising due to volumetric and shear locking. We demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed scheme by studying several challenging benchmark problems in finite strain elastostatics and nonlinear elastodynamics modelled with nearly incompressible hyperelastic and von Mises elastoplastic material models. We show that Bézier elements, in combination with the mixed formulation, help in developing a simple unified finite element formulation that is accurate, robust, and computationally very efficient for performing a wide variety of challenging nonlinear elastostatic and implicit and explicit elastodynamic simulations.
Learning From Our Mistakes – Identifying Opportunities for Technology Intervention to Address Everyday Cognitive Failure

—There is growing opportunity for technologies to augment human memory and other cognitive processes – widespread pervasive sensing enables fine-grained traces of human activity, and advances in display technologies enable systems to provide input to user cognition in a wide array of settings. However, systems to date typically either address known cognitive impairment (e.g. autism, Alzheimer’s disease), or look to enhance ones’ general capacity for a specific task. In contrast to these approaches, we argue that a focus on recognition and quantification of human error is key to the design of future systems for augmenting the human mind. By focusing on the errors made in cognition, we can first identify frequent, persistent or severe failures as targets for future pervasive computing systems, and then go on to measure the success of any interventions developed, i.e. by asking have the augmentation systems delivered actually reduced the prevalence, persistence or impact of a specific cognitive error? In this article, we make the general case for the study of human error in order to support the design and evaluation of technology interventions intended to extend cognitive capabilities, before focusing on a case study in the augmentation of human memory.
Selected Determinants of the Polish and South African Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education of Students with Special Educational Needs

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this research was to assess teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education (IE) of students with special developmental needs in the school space. The article is a comparative study in which teachers from Polish and South African schools – special and public schools – took part. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Following a pragmatic paradigm, a quantitative strategy and diagnostic survey method were applied. The specially prepared tool, the Scale for Attitudes Towards IE, was used to generate data. Confirming the normal distribution of variables, ANOVA and t-test were used for independent variables and descriptive statistics. For post-hoc analyses, Tukey’s HSD test was used for equal or different N. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The own research on teachers’ attitudes towards IE was preceded by theoretical considerations on the idea of educational inclusion. Determinants supporting the inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools were identified. RESEARCH RESULTS: In the overall assessment of attitudes towards inclusive education there were no statistically significant intergroup differences between teachers in Polish and South African schools. However, clear differences emerged in post-hoc analyses of the variables such as: type of the institution and seniority. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The presented international comparative research on teachers’ attitudes towards IE takes into account not only the current state, but also the historical context of both nations, marked by the stigma of segregation and the fight against discrimination. The study shows how it is important to pay attention to the process of teachers’ education – pedagogues, especially, the ones prepared to work in mainstream institutions, for eliminating barriers, adapting curricula to the students’ individual needs, and building openness. It is essential to monitor the correlation between seniority and the direction and intensity of attitudes towards education open for all.
Foreign Direct Investment Spillovers and the Absorptive Capabilities of Domestic Firms in the Argentine Manufacturing Sector (1992–2001)

Abstract Argentina received significant amounts of foreign direct investment inflows during the 1990s. This paper analyses whether positive (or negative) productivity spillovers arose from the increasing presence of transnational corporations (TNCs) affiliates in Argentina. We found that TNCs affiliates had higher productivity levels than domestic firms and that the latter, on average, received neither positive nor negative horizontal spillovers from the growing presence of foreign firms in the local economy. However, evidence of positive spillovers from TNC presence on domestic firms was found for those firms with high absorptive capabilities.
The Sources of the Two Destructive Earthquakes of 1693 Retrieved by Automatic Inversions

This paper automatically inverted the macroseismic intensity data set of the two destructive earthquakes of 1693 in SE Sicily, and the paper retrieved the principal geometric and kinematic source parameters of the events. The authors stress that the new source inversions presented in the paper are automatic, without constraints, and original. Also, it is worth mentioning that the source parameters retrieved by inverting the macroseismic intensities by Barbano and Rigano substantially agree with those already found by inverting by the grid-search method, with tectonic constraints. In particular, this agreement holds for the epicentral coordinates and the fault plane solutions of the two earthquakes. The previous inversions identified a segmented source, in part mainly strike-slip (for the Jan. 9 shock) and in part 50% strike-slip and 50% dip-slip (Jan. 11); the present inversions identify an en-echelon structure in part strike-slip (Jan. 9) and in part dip-slip with a minor strike-slip component (Jan. 11). The differences come from the different intensity data sets that were inverted. However, the recurrence of these results for the two shocks of 1693 suggests that the solution of an inland complex source, crossing the Hyblean Plateau from SSW to NNe, is rather robust and stable.
The Schistosoma mansoni tegumental-allergen-like (TAL) protein family: influence of developmental expression on human IgE responses

The human genome encodes a limited number of genes yet contributes to individual differences in a vast array of heritable traits. A possible explanation for the capacity our genome to generate this virtually unlimited range of phenotypic variation in complex traits is to assume functional interactions between genes. Therefore we searched two mammalian genomes to identify potential epistatic interactions by looking for co-adapted genes marked by excess two-locus genetic differentiation between populations/lineages using publicly available SNP genotype data. The practical motivation for this effort is to reduce the number of pair-wise tests that need to be performed in genome-wide association studies aimed at detecting G 6 G interactions, by focusing on pairs predicted to be more likely to jointly affect variation in complex traits. Hence, this approach generates a list of candidate interactions that can be empirically tested. In both the mouse and human data we observed two-locus genetic differentiation in excess of what can be expected from chance alone based on simulations. In an attempt to validate our hypothesis that pairs of genes showing excess genetic divergence represent potential functional interactions, we selected a small set of gene combinations postulated to be interacting based on our analyses and looked for a combined effect of the selected genes on variation in complex traits in both mice and man. In both cases the individual effect of the genes were not significant, instead we observed marginally significant interaction effects. These results show that genome wide searches for gene-gene interactions based on population genetic data are feasible and can generate interesting candidate gene pairs to be further tested for their contribution to phenotypic variation in complex traits.
DC-Link Protection and Control in Modular Uninterruptible Power Supply

In this paper, a dc-link voltage protection (DCVP) control method is proposed to address the dc-link overvoltage issue due to power backfeeding in a parallel uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. The proposed control method is able to protect the inverter against the excessive dc-link voltage, which increases the system reliability and robustness. Moreover, a current sharing control strategy is proposed by online regulating the virtual resistance of each UPS module. The proposed current sharing control strategy is able to address the circulating fundamental and harmonic currents caused by the line impedance mismatching or power backfeeding issue in the UPS system. In addition, an improved consensus-based distributed controller is proposed to alleviate the overshoot issue during the transient process in voltage amplitude and frequency restoration. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed methods is verified by experimental results from the parallel UPS prototypes.
Volunteer Reliability in Nonprofit Organizations: A Theoretical Model

The reliability of volunteers is a major concern for many nonprofit organizations. To address this problem in more detail, we develop a theoretical model of volunteer reliability based on psychological contract theory. By taking this perspective as a starting point, we explore how individual volunteer characteristics, organizational factors, and sociological developments shape the exchange of inducements and contributions between volunteers and nonprofit organizations. We discuss how these factors can create tensions in the psychological contract and determine the extent to which volunteers behave reliably. As such, we develop a theoretical framework for addressing the reliability problem in volunteer management.
Impaired vibrotactile sense at low frequencies in fingers in autoantibody positive and negative diabetes

Vibration thresholds in index and little finger pulps in subjects with autoantibody [GADA, IA-2A and/or ICA] positive and negative diabetes 20 years after diagnosis were higher than in age-matched controls at low frequencies (8 and 16 Hz), irrespective of HbA1c values, indicating selective impairment of Meissner ́s corpuscles and/or their innervating axons.