Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of project management certification on project performance

Article history: Received: July 5, 2020 Received in revised format: February 18, 2021 Accepted: February 21, 2021 Available online: February 21, 2021 In general, certified project management professionals are perceived to enhance project performance. However, this narrative has quite often been challenged in previous literature. We investigate this controversy by including professionalism and psychological capital as intervening variables. The research is based on an empirical survey of certified project managers in the region of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. 373 data samples were collected and further analyzed on the basis of critical success factor theory. The impact of project management certification along with intervening variables were hypothesized and validated to have direct and indirect relationships with project performance. Responses from certified project management professionals in the region of Rawalpindi/Islamabad support the perception but reflect that professionalism plays a supporting role between certification and performance. However, the study dismisses the role of psychological capital between professionalism and performance. We conclude that project management institutes and associations should ensure professionalism in the certification process to actually enhance project performance. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge in predicting improved project management performance by employing certified project managers with strong professional skills. Consequently, the research will help professional institutes to review the conformity of the required professional skills rather than just focusing on just passing an exam. © 2021 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada
Time Variations of Interstellar Water Masers in HII Regions

Fourteen water maser sources associated with HII regions have been monitored over the period September 1974-May 1977. Time variations have been observed with a range of time-scales from days to years. A statistical analysis of the short- and long-term variations is performed and related variability in features of similar velocity is examined. The time variations must be due to changes in the pump input, geometry or other physical properties of the maser regions but at present no adequate theory exists to describe the complex behavior observed.
Toward a Detailed Understanding of Magnesium Ions on Hydroxyapatite Crystallization Inhibition

Magnesium ions (Mg2+) are widely present in biological fluids, and they are suggested as the vital factors that inhibit spontaneous hydroxyapatite (HAP) precipitation in nature. However, the regulation mechanisms of Mg2+ on HAP crystallization are still under intensive debates. We find that a typical precipitation of HAP from supersaturated solutions should include five stages: s1, formation of ion clusters and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP); s2, stabilization of ACP; s3, transformation from ACP to HAP via dissolution and crystallization; s4, classical crystal growth of HAP; s5, HAP aging under a near equilibrium state. Actually, Mg2+ ions exhibit different inhibitory effects on these stages. The ions have a negligible influence on the kinetics of initial ACP formation in solutions (s1) and final aging of crystals (s5). Rather, the ions can either adsorb onto or incorporate into the ACP precursor particles during s1. In s2, the lifetime of ACP in solution is extended significantly by both two types of .
The loss-averse newsvendor problem with quantity-oriented reference point under CVaR criterion

This paper studies a single-period inventory problem with quantity-oriented reference point, where the newsvendor has loss-averse preferences and conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) measure is introduced to hedge against his risk. It is shown there exists a unique optimal order quantity maximizing the CVaR of utility. Moreover, it is decreasing in loss aversion level, confidence level and target unit profit, respectively. Then we establish the sufficient conditions under which the newsvendor's optimal order quantity may be larger than, equal to or less than the classical newsvendor solution. In particular, when the target unit profit is a convex combination of the maximum and minimum, the optimal order quantity is independent of price and cost parameters. Numerical experiments are conducted to illustrate our results and present some managerial insights.
Reconstruction and Evaluation of DEMs From Bistatic Tandem-X SAR in Mountainous and Coastal Areas of China

TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements (TanDEM-X) mission is designed to generate 3-D images of the Earth as the first bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR). However, few quantitative studies of TanDEM-X digital elevation model (DEM) quality validation have been conducted specifically in China. This article presents an iterative method to generate high-resolution TanDEM-X DEMs and assesses the vertical accuracy with high-accuracy GPS observations, 1 arc second global DEMs available [Advanced Land Observing Satellite World 3-D-30 m v2.2, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM) v3, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) v3.1, NASADEM, and X-band SRTM], and TanDEM-X 90 m DEM. The results demonstrate remarkable elevation quality and consistency in coastal areas with root mean square error of 1.7 m and 90% linear error (LE90) of 0.4 m, whereas 3–4 times weaker accuracies in steep mountainous areas. A positive bias of 1–2 m for an overall LE90 measure exists in the dense vegetation and steep-slope mountainous areas. TanDEM-X DEM-based SAR interferometry deformation uncertainty simulation indicates a low or even negligible topographic error contribution of 2–4 mm in mountainous areas and less than 1 mm in coastal areas. It indicates that the TanDEM-X DEM performs better than other global DEMs overall and shows a better elevation consistence with SRTM C-band DEM in the coastal area. As an excellent source of up-to-date information, the TanDEM-X DEM are expected be an advantage for understanding dynamic land use changes and improving identification and delineation of coastal lands, mountainous landslides, and earthquakes disasters.
The Impacts of Facilitating and Inhibiting Factors on Usage Intention of Mobile Payment Services

ABSTRACT Mobile commerce has been booming with the development of mobile technology, which has made mobile payment services highly valued by mobile payment service providers and consumers. This study integrated facilitating factors (perceived transaction convenience, social influence, additional value, government support) and inhibiting factors (psychological risk, financial risk, privacy risk) to explore which ones influence users’ usage intentions to use mobile payment services. A research model was developed and empirically tested by using structural equation modeling (SEM) on datasets consisting of 602 mobile payment services users through an online survey questionnaire in Taiwan. Our findings show that the facilitating factors had a significant positive impact on usage intention, with the greatest impact from the factor of government support. Moreover, perceived risk had a significant negative impact on usage intention, with the greatest impact from the factor of financial risk. Therefore, this indicates that consumers take whether there is a financial loss in the process of using mobile payment service into consideration as the major factor to use it.
Role of employee training and experience on the adaption of computerized maintenance management system

The study attempted to examine the user training and experience on user acceptance of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) in a continuously progressing industry where maintenance management is extremely vital for the smooth functioning. A cross-sectional study design was used in this research. The study population comprised of users of CMMS. The analysis was mainly carried out using structured equation modeling techniques. The results reveal that perceived usefulness was the most significant determinant of adoption of a complex system than all the other variables, underscoring the importance of incorporating the appropriate functional capabilities in new systems. The findings affirm that a system will be adopted if it is regarded as useful, irrespective of attitude, provided that the use of the system is perceived to offer direct benefits to the user. All the relationships existing between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards using, and behavioral intention were tested and found to be significant and positive. Further analysis revealed that experience helps in ease of use but not in usefulness while training impacts on both usefulness and ease of use. Based on the analysis results recommendations were made to track the value of user training and experience accordingly.
Backstepping-Based Adaptive Control of a Class of Uncertain Incommensurate Fractional-Order Nonlinear Systems With External Disturbance

Normally, achieving asymptotic convergence in the presence of unknown arbitrarily bounded external disturbance requires noncontinuous control signals. In this article, an adaptive backstepping controller for a class of incommensurate fractional-order nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainties and external time-varying disturbance is proposed to realize asymptotic perfect output tracking. Appropriate adaptive laws are designed to deal with the uncertainties and unknown bounded disturbance. In the designed adaptive backstepping control scheme, an auxiliary function is adopted to obtain a smooth control signal. It is theoretically shown that asymptotic output tracking to a given reference signal is achieved while ensuring global system stability in the sense that all the closed-loop signals are bounded. Simulation and experimental studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed backstepping control scheme.
Maruyamaite, K(MgAl2)(Al5Mg)Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3O, a potassium-dominant tourmaline from the ultrahigh-pressure Kokchetav massif, northern Kazakhstan: Description and crystal structure

Abstract Maruyamaite, ideally K(MgAl2)(Al5Mg)Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3O, was recently approved as the first K-dominant mineral-species of the tourmaline supergroup. It occurs in ultrahigh-pressure quartzofeldspathic gneisses of the Kumdy-Kol area of the Kokchetav Massif, northern Kazakhstan. Maruyamaite contains inclusions of microdiamonds, and probably crystallized near the peak pressure conditions of UHP metamorphism in the stability field of diamond. Crystals occur as anhedral to euhedral grains up to 2 mm across, embedded in a matrix of anhedral quartz and K-feldspar. Maruyamaite is pale brown to brown with a white to very pale-brown streak and has a vitreous luster. It is brittle and has a Mohs hardness of ∼7; it is non-fluorescent, has no observable cleavage or parting, and has a calculated density of 3.081 g/cm3. In plane-polarized transmitted light, it is pleochroic, O = darkish brown, E = pale brown. Maruyamaite is uniaxial negative, ω = 1.634, ε = 1.652, both ±0.002. It is rhombohedral, space group R3m, a = 15.955(1), c = 7.227(1) Å, V = 1593(3) Å3, Z = 3. The strongest 10 X-ray dif- fraction lines in the powder pattern are [d in Å(I)(hkl)]: 2.581(100)(051), 2.974(85)(1̄32), 3.995 (69)(2̄40), 4.237(59)(2̄31), 2.046(54)(1̄62), 3.498(42)(012), 1.923(36)(3̄72), 6.415(23)(1̄11), 1.595(22)(5̄.10.0), 5.002(21)(021), and 4.610(20)(030). The crystal structure of maruyamaite was refined to an R1 index of 1.58% using 1149 unique reflections measured with MoKα X-radiation. Analysis by a combination of electron microprobe and crystal-structure refinement gave SiO2 36.37, Al2O3 31.50, TiO2 1.09, Cr2O3 0.04, Fe2O3 0.33, FeO 4.01, MgO 9.00, CaO 1.47, Na2O 0.60, K2O 2.54, F 0.30, B2O3(calc) 10.58, H2O(calc) 2.96, sum 100.67 wt%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 31 anions pfu with B = 3, OH = 3.24 apfu (derived from the crystal structure) and the site populations assigned to reflect the mean interatomic distances, is (K0.53Na0.19Ca0.26□0.02)ΣX=1.00(Mg1.19Fe0.552+Fe0.053+ ${\rm{Fe}}_{0.55}^{2 + }{\rm{Fe}}_{0.05}^{3 + }$ Ti0.14Al1.07)□Y=3.00(Al5.00Mg1.00)(Si5.97Al0.03O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(O0.602− ${\rm{O}}_{0.60}^{2 - }$F0.16OH0.24). Maruyamaite, ideally K(MgAl2) (Al5Mg)(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH)3O, is related to oxy-dravite: ideally Na(MgAl2)(Al5Mg)(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH)3O, by the substitution XK → XNa.
Local Drivers Associated to Temporal Spectral Response of Chlorophyll-a in Mangrove Leaves

The pigment content in leaves has commonly been used to characterize vegetation condition. However, few studies have assessed temporal changes of local biotic and abiotic factors on leaf pigments. Here, we evaluated the effect of local environmental variables and tree structural characteristics, in the chlorophyll-a leaf concentration (Chl-a) associated with temporal change in two mangrove species. Rhizophora mangle (R. mangle) and Avicennia germinans (A. germinans) trees of a fringe mangrove forest (FMF) and lower basin mangrove forest (BMF) were visited over a period of one year, to obtain radiometric readings at leaf level to estimate Chl-a. Measurements on tree characteristics included diameter at breast height (DBH), basal area (BA), and maximum height (H). Environmental variables included soil interstitial water temperature (Ti), salinity (Si), and dissolved oxygen (Oi), flood level (fL), ambient temperature (Tamb), and relative humidity (Hrel). Generalized linear models and covariance analysis showed that the variation of Chl-a is mainly influenced by the species, the interaction between species and mangrove forest type, DBH, seasonality and its influence on the species, soil conditions, and fL. Studies to assess spatial and temporal change on mangrove forests using the spectral characteristics of the trees should also consider the temporal variation of leave chlorophyll-a concentration.
A Complex Genetic Diversity of Newcastle Disease Virus (Ndv) In Africa Continent: An Updated Review

| Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild birds with worldwide distributions that listed A by OIE as it causes severe economic losses in the poultry industry. In developing country, it considers a major limiting factor for poultry production which represent an important source for income and food security. In Africa, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) outbreaks is rampant for decades, however the information about the genetic characteristics of the virulent strains circulating Africa is still scarce. Based on the full genome length and F gene sequence, NDV strains are classified into class I (9 genotypes) and II (18 genotypes) within a single serotype. Outbreak in North African countries (like Egypt) caused by genotypes II, VI and VII. In the Eastern African countries such as Tanzania, genotypes V, VII and XIII are the circulating strains. In the central (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Uganda) and western African countries (Mali, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso), newly circulating genotypes (XIV,XVII and XVIII) are isolated and restricted to this area in addition to other genotypes such as II, VII and V. In Southern African countries, (namely South Africa, Madagascar and Mozambique) genotypes II, VII, VIII, XI and XIII are prevalent. The variable NDV genotypes are been introduced to the different African countries via variable ways, wild and exotic birds, illegal poultry trading through neighboring borders or live bird market. The complex genetic diversity among circulating genotypes, sub optimal prevention afforded by the genotype II vaccine may be major factors that complicate the control of NDV in Africa.
“Women Are Cancer, You Shouldn’t Be Working in Sport”: Sport Psychologists’ Lived Experiences of Sexism in Sport

Though sexism has been recognized as problematic in sport, its impact on female sport psychologists in the United Kingdom has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of sexism and its influence on practice. Four semistructured focus groups were conducted, comprising 11 sport psychologists who worked in the United Kingdom. Thematic analysis revealed four general themes: the environment, privileging masculinity, acts of sexism, and the feminine. Participants’ discourse suggests that female sport psychologists are impacted by sexism in their workplaces. Gendered power differentials, coupled with the low status of sport psychology within sport, exacerbated the challenges faced by female sport psychologists. This study contributes to making up for the dearth of research on the impact of sexism on sport psychologists. Suggestions are made with regard to implications for practice.
A present and future assessment of the effectiveness of existing reserves in preserving three critically endangered freshwater turtles in Southeast Asia and South Asia

Tortoises and freshwater turtles are among the most threatened taxa of vertebrates in the world due to consumption, urban development, agriculture, and land and water pollution. About 50% of the currently recognised chelonian species are considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. Asia is an epicentre for the turtle and tortoise extinction crisis, containing the highest diversity of threatened species. In this study, we used species distribution models (SDMs) to assess the effectiveness of existing protected areas across Southeast and South Asia for the conservation of three large critically endangered freshwater turtles (Batagur borneoensis, B. affinis, and Pelochelys cantorii). We derived the models based on selected bioclimatic variables at the sites of known species records. Our SDMs showed that Indonesia is of particular importance in prioritising conservation for these three species, containing the largest areas of suitable habitat within protected areas. However, when considering water surface coverage, Thailand has the highest proportion of suitable areas under protection. Our results suggest that the present cover of protected network reserves seems inadequate in terms of size and should be expanded to sustain populations of the three target species. Therefore, we identified priority areas and reserves critical for further field surveys to guide the potential discovery of novel populations. To investigate the effect of climate change, we also projected potential distributions onto ensembles of four IPCC story lines. As a result, we found larger extralimital areas of suitable environment for all three species, particularly northwards and inland. However, high degrees of uncertainty in climate conditions indicate few reserves may provide long term protection. Lastly, we review the threats and propose recommendations for conservation of these poorly known freshwater turtles.
[Immunohistochemical study of basement membrane proteins expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of the basement membrane proteins in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands and discuss the relationship between the expression of the proteins and the differentiation as well the prognosis of ACC. METHODS 101 patients which were confirmed pathologically were collected and made a follow-up, and 30 cases of them were selected to detect the basement membrane proteins (type IV collagen, fibronectin, laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan) by the means of immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The cribriform pattern of ACC had a more favorable prognosis than the solid pattern which had a lower rates of metastasis of/and recurrence. The positive locations and the degrees of the four proteins varied with the histological patterns of ACC. The cribriform pattern had the strongest positive expression and the solid pattern the weakest. In addition, the staining of fibronectin were weaker in all three patterns of ACC. CONCLUSION The degree of the positive expression of the four proteins has a negative relation to the differentiation of the tumor cells. The lower degree of differentiation the tumor cells are, the weaker positive signals they express. Of the four substances in the basement membrane, laminin is the main material which adhere the parenchymal cell to the collagen in basement membrane of the tumor. Basement membrane proteins could be regarded as one of the basis to evaluate the prognosis of ACC.
E-era (Digital Economy) Impact on Consumer Electronic Purchase Intention—A Pragmatic Analysis of Pakistani Consumer with Integration of TAM and TPB with Perceived Risk, Perceived Credibility and Perceived Benefit

Over the past few decades, scholars have widely used Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behaviors (TPB) in order to examine IT usage and E-services acceptance. But, neither TAM nor TPB have been able to provide consistent explanation or behavioral prediction of consumers. The aim of this research is to check what difference in our culture has been formed due to the implications of theory of planned behavior and technology acceptance model in digital economy. The sample size was 328 respondents. The results showed that attitude fully mediates the relationship between electronic behavioral intention and perceived usefulness. It is suggested that the future research on antecedents of Behavioral Intention should be studied with respect to the Pakistani culture.
Banks’ Balance Sheets and Liquidation Values: Evidence from Real Estate Collateral

This paper finds that declining bank equity or liquidity reduces liquidation values of bank-owned real estate and accelerates the pace of asset sales. Buyers of these assets earn significant returns for providing liquidity to banks, as prices tend to rebound sharply after sales by illiquid banks. Lower liquidation values also depress the prices of nearby real estate transactions. Policy interventions, such as equity injections and central bank asset purchases, increase liquidation values by providing institutions with the balance sheet capacity to slow asset sales. This evidence suggests that balance sheet adjustments at financial institutions can explain real asset price dynamics. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Extending the Concept of City for the Delineation of Large Urban Regions (LUR) for the Cities of the World

Cities’ delineation remains a hot topic of debate in a time where comparisons between cities are becoming increasingly based on different issues that address various scales of interventions and thus different concepts of cities. Aiming to compare cities and their insertion into globalization, we suggest that the “urban field of influence” is the best way to approach cities for this specific perspective. However, after reviewing the different existing possible concepts, we replace this concept with four different approaches proposed by Pumain et al. (1992): political entities, morphological agglomerations, functional urban areas and conurbations/Mega city regions. We discuss the top-down and bottom-up existing initiatives launched at the world scale and then use a mixed top-down and bottom-up approach to propose a new delineation of a large urban region (LUR), denoting a concept close to the conurbation or Mega city-region concept. The compositions of these LURs are published as an initial incomplete framework, suggesting the need for further critical comments and contributions to improve them.