Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generating geographical location descriptions with spatial templates: a salient toponym driven approach

ABSTRACT Natural language descriptions of geographical locations are used frequently in daily life and there is a motivation to create systems that generate such descriptions automatically, for purposes such as documentation of where events have taken place, where a person is located, where photos were taken and where plants and animals are located. Typically location descriptions combine references to named geographical features with vague spatial relational terms, such as near, north of and at that relate locations to the features. Here we describe a system for generating location descriptions, that combines spatial templates, that model the applicability of different spatial relations relative to a reference location, with toponyms in the vicinity of the described location that are selected according to aspects of salience. The toponyms are retrieved from a gazetteer service based on OpenStreetMap for which we create a hierarchical feature classification scheme to facilitate selection of toponyms according to distinctiveness of their feature types and other aspects of salience. The advantages of the approach are demonstrated in a user study, relative to an existing state of the art system and to other baseline approaches that include manually created captions and the automated methods of two widely used photo captioning systems.
The pricing of information asymmetry based on environmental uncertainty and accounting conservatism

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the information asymmetry pricing (relation between information asymmetry and expected return) based on environmental uncertainty and accounting conservatism.Design/methodology/approachThe current study applies panel regression method estimator to investigate the relationship between accounting conservatism, environmental uncertainty and information asymmetry pricing of 1,309 firm-year observations in Iran for the period 2008–2018.FindingsThe result indicated the negative relation between accounting conservation and information asymmetry pricing and documented a positive association between environmental uncertainty and information asymmetry pricing.Practical implicationsIn the present study, the weaknesses caused by the ambiguity of capital market efficiency in market performance-based statistical models are compensated and partially covered by quantifying the relationships and implementing models in each quintile. Results obtained from this study will aid policymakers to evaluate disclosure rules and firms to manage their information. The study is based on the corporate accounting and financial literature and examines behavioral changes in information and its effect on information asymmetry pricing that can be applied to investors, managers, standardization committees and legislators.Originality/valueThe risk of accounting information in the context of the capital market environment can be divided into two parts: a part that is ambiguous about the accuracy of this information and another part that is a distribution of information. Unlike other research, information asymmetry pricing has also been addressed with regard to the origin and distribution of information. This study also considers the effect of information asymmetry and market constraints by considering the ability of financial reports to transmit firm information.
Assessing Organizational Role and Perceptions of Programmatic Success in Policy Implementation

This study utilizes the Strategic Action Field (SAF) framework as a lens to study implementation effectiveness of Ohio START, a multiactor and multilevel implementation process. We examine the extent to which perceptions of successes and challenges vary across organizational roles in county-level child welfare agencies during Ohio START implementation. Preliminary findings reveal that perceptions of implementation effectiveness differ based on organizational role.
Towards an IEEE 802.11 Compliant System for Outdoor Vehicular Visible Light Communications

As a complementary technology to existing Radio Frequency (RF)-based solutions such as Cellular V2X (C-V2X) and Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), Vehicular VLC (V-VLC) is gaining more attention in the research community as well as in the industry. This paper introduces a complete IEEE 802.11 compliant V-VLC system. The system relies on Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) software defined radios programmed using the GNU Radio framework, a typical car headlight plus a custom driver electronics for the high-power car LEDs (sender), and a photodiode (receiver). Building upon our earlier work, we, for the first time, experimentally explore the communication performance in outdoor scenarios, even in broad daylight, and show that rather simple optical modifications help to reduce the ambient noise to enable long distance visible light communication. Our system also supports Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with a variety of Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) up to 64-QAM and is fully compliant with IEEE 802.11. We performed an extensive series of experiments to explore the performance of our system, even using higher order MCS in daylight. Our results demonstrated a high reliability for distances up to 75m with the presented system, regardless of the time of the day.
Evaluating the sunk cost effect

Abstract We provide experimental evidence of behavior consistent with the sunk cost effect. Subjects who earned a lottery via a real-effort task were given an opportunity to switch to a dominant lottery; 23% chose to stick with their dominated lottery. The endowment effect accounts for roughly only one third of the effect. Subjects’ capacity for cognitive reflection is a significant determinant of sunk cost behavior. We also find stocks of knowledge or experience (crystallized intelligence) predict sunk cost behavior, rather than algorithmic thinking (fluid intelligence) or the personality trait of openness. We construct and validate a scale, the “SCE-8”, which encompasses many resources individuals can spend, and offers researchers an efficient way to measure susceptibility to the sunk cost effect.
Pandemics and regional economic growth: evidence from the Great Influenza in Italy

We investigate the link between the 1918 Great Influenza and regional economic growth in Italy, a country in which the measures implemented by public authorities to contain the contagion were limited or ineffective. The pandemic caused 600,000 deaths in Italy: 1.2% of the population. Going from regions with the lowest mortality to those with the highest mortality is associated to a decline in per capita GDP growth of 6.5%, which dissipated within 3 years. Our estimates provide an upper bound of the adverse effect of pandemics on regional economic growth in the absence of non-pharmaceutical public-health interventions.
Concentration of contaminated single-phase detergents by means of unit and integrated membrane processes

ABSTRACT Unit and integrated pressure-driven membrane processes were investigated in a semi-pilot scale for the purification and concentration of contaminated cleaning solutions. For the tests, liquid acidic and alkaline single-phase detergents tailor-made for CIP systems in the dairy industry were selected. The effect of the permeate recovery rate on the quality of recovered solutions was evaluated. Integrated purification processes provided a very high separation of the milk components with a slight weakening of the detergency properties of the permeate. The least effective integrated treatment option (PM5+AFC30) enabled 100% retention of proteins, and over 98% retention of low molecular weight lactose.
Depression and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Rural-to-urban Migrants in China: The Moderating Roles of Acculturation and Social Capital

Previous studies have documented that depression is positively associated with sexual risk behaviors (SRB) among rural-to-urban migrants. Existing literature has also suggested that acculturation and social capital might moderate this positive relationship. However, data regarding the moderating effects of acculturation and social capital have been inconsistent. The current study aims to examine the relationship between depression and SRB, as well as the moderating roles of acculturation and social capital in this relationship. A sample of 641 young rural-to-urban migrants was recruited through a venuebased sampling approach in Beijing, China. Results indicated that depression was positively associated with SRB. Both acculturation and social capital moderated this relationship, but they showed different moderating effects. Specifically, the level of acculturation was protective against SRB among migrants with a higher level of depression but not among migrants with a lower level of depression. Social capital played a protective role among migrants with a lower level of depression but became a risk factor for those with a higher level of depression. These findings suggested that targeted interventions aiming to reduce depression, improve acculturation stress management skills, and utilize social capital are needed to reduce SRB among rural-to-urban migrants.
Role of health care workers in the care and support of women living with HIV/AIDS experiencing intimate partner violence: the case of women attending care and treatment clinic in Singida region, Tanzania

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one form of violence against women, and is defined as ‘behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours. The world health organisation multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence identified lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual partner violence ranging from 15 to 71%, and past year’s prevalence between 4 and 54%. IPV is also a problem in Tanzania. In 1998, about 10,000 cases of wife beating were reported to the ministry of home affairs. An increasing number of IPV incidents are being reported to the women’s legal aid centre in Dar es Salaam, sometimes going up to 80% per day. According to the WHO multi-country study conducted in 10 countries ABSTRACT
Accountability in legal decision-making

Having to explain a decision has often been found to have a positive effect on the quality of a decision. We aimed to determine whether different accountability requirements for judges (i.e., having to justify their decision or having to explicate their decision) affect evidence use. Those requirements were compared to instructions based on the falsification principle and a control condition. Participants (N = 173) decided on the defendant’s guilt in a murder case vignette and explained their decision according to the instructions. The explication and falsification (but not the justification) instructions increased the use of exonerating evidence. There was no significant difference between the groups in guilt perception. The use of exonerating evidence was a significant positive predictor of acquittal rates. The implications for the different forms of instructions in practice are positive, but suggest a difference between the evidence considered and the evidence used to account for the decision.
Effects of Surface and Top Wind Shear on the Spatial Organization of Marine Stratocumulus‐Topped Boundary Layers

The convective nature of Stratocumulus topped boundary layers (STBL) involves the motion of updrafts and downdrafts, driven by surface fluxes and radiative cooling, respectively. The balance between shear and buoyant forcings at the surface can determine the organization of updrafts between cellular and roll structures. We investigate the effect of varying shear at the surface and top of the STBL using Large Eddy Simulations, taking DYCOMS II RF01 as a base case. We focus on spatial identification of the following features: coherent updrafts and downdrafts, and observe how they are affected by varying shear. Stronger surface shear organizes the updrafts in rolls, causes less well‐mixed thermodynamic profiles, and decreases cloud fraction and liquid water path (LWP). Stronger top shear also decreases cloud fraction and LWP more than surface shear, by thinning the cloud from the top. Features with stronger top than surface shear are associated with a net downward momentum transport and show early signs of decoupling. Classifying updrafts and downdrafts based on their vertical span and horizontal size confirms the dominance of tall objects spanning the whole STBL. Tall objects occupy 30% of the volume in the STBL, while short ones occupy less than 1%. For updraft and downdraft fluxes, these tall objects explain 65% of the vertical velocity variance and 83% of the buoyancy flux, on average. Stronger top shear also weakens the contribution of downdrafts to the turbulent fluxes and tilts the otherwise vertical development of updrafts.
Prevalence and associated risk factors among patients with overactive bladder syndrome in Pakistan

Objectives: To determine the Prevalence and associated risk factors among patients with overactive bladder syndrome in Pakistan. Methods: This was a community-based, face to face, cross sectional survey to calculate the prevalence and its associated risk factors. A sample of 1058 patients, women and men aged between 35 to 60 years having symptoms of overactive bladder was selected through convenience sampling from different cities of Pakistan during September to December 2020. Data was collected by using an Overactive Bladder Scoring System (OABSS) tool for prevalence and a developed questionnaire to rule out the risk factors. Results: The prevalence was 27.4% (n=289) and it increased with age. The average ages for women and men were 44.60±7.88 and 46.14±7.69 years respectively. The OAB prevalence was the lowest among the participants aged 35-43 years 15.2% (n=55) while it was highest among those who were aged 53-60 years 49.6%, (n=127). The age, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, income, family history, parity and urinary tract infection were found to be significant associated risk factors for overactive bladder with p value <0.05. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of overactive bladder was 27.4% and it does not differ by gender, hypertension, pelvic surgery, smoking, constipation and sleep while it has significant association with age, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, income, parity and urinary tract infections.
Concomitant Acute Limb Ischemia and Pulmonary Embolism in the Course of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Case Report

Background: The new 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thrombotic complications are increasingly recognized as an important part of this disease. Thromboprophylaxis with anti-platelet drugs and anticoagulants are recommended in the initial treatment of the disease.Case presentation: We report the case of a patient hospitalized for a mild form of COVID19 pneumonia, who was admitted, one month later, acute limb ischemia and pulmonary embolism despite antithrombotic prophylaxis. Conclusion: Most reported cases are either arterial or venous thrombosis. The concomitant combination of arterial and venous thrombosis is rarely reported. The prophylactic anticoagulation strategy in the SARS- Cov 2 infection is steel not well established.
Neurocognitive Dimensions of Schizophrenia: An Update

Individuals suffering from schizophrenia sometimes hold the promise of a bleak future. There are added concerns of suicides and severe disruption in all spheres of life ranging from education to personal relationships. Schizophrenia covers a vast array of symptoms and dysfunctions namely attentional dysfunctions, dysfunction of the processing speed and executive control, emotional processing dysfunctions, hallucinations and reduced insight. The purpose of this paper is to understand the neurocognitive components behind the symptoms of schizophrenia. The elucidation of clear paradigms on the cause of their maladjustments can help in the formulation of an effective cognitive remediation programme which cognitive neuropsychology tries to answer.
Increasing Intrinsic Hyaluronic Acid and Down-regulation of Inflammation Markers in Synovial Fluid from Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis may be Associated with Symptom Relief after Intra-articular Injection of Hyaluronic Acid

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the most common intra-articular therapy used to treat mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA). However, the mechanism involved in this treatment is still not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect and the possible mechanism of intra-articular HA (IAHA) injection in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Twenty-eight patients with Kellgren–Lawrence scale II to III were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided injection using three consecutive weekly IAHA. Functional ability and pain were determined by the Western Ontario and McMaster University Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS). Further, the levels of HA, metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in synovial fluid were determined weekly before HA injection. Results: Functional improvement and pain relief were observed 4 weeks after treatment. At week 4, a significant increase of HA concentration was found, and the concentration of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as matrix MMP-3 and MMP-13 significantly decreased. However, no significant difference was observed in MMP-1 level. Conclusion: These results suggest that increasing HA accumulation in synovial fluid may be associated with disease relief after weekly IAHA injection in patients with knee OA.
Co-Digestion of Rice Straw with Cow Manure in an Innovative Temperature Phased Anaerobic Digestion Technology: Performance Evaluation and Trace Elements

Rice straw is an agricultural residue produced in abundant quantities. Open burning and plowing back the straw to the fields are common practices for its disposal. In-situ incorporation and burning cause emissions of greenhouse gas and particulate matter. Additionally, the energy potential of rice straw is lost. Anaerobic digestion is a technology that can be potentially used to utilize the surplus rice straw, provide renewable energy, circulate nutrients available in the digestate, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies. An innovative temperature phased anaerobic digestion technology was developed and carried out in a continuous circulating mode of mesophilic and hyperthermophilic conditions in a loop digester (F1). The performance of the newly developed digester was compared with the reference digester (F2) working at mesophilic conditions. Co-digestion of rice straw was carried out with cow manure to optimize the carbon to nitrogen ratio and to provide the essential trace elements required by microorganisms in the biochemistry of methane formation. F1 produced a higher specific methane yield (189 ± 37 L/kg volatile solids) from rice straw compared to F2 (148 ± 36 L/kg volatile solids). Anaerobic digestion efficiency was about 90 ± 20% in F1 and 70 ± 20% in F2. Mass fractions of Fe, Ni, Co, Mo, Cu, and Zn were analyzed over time. The mass fractions of Co, Mo, Cu, and Zn were stable in both digesters. While mass fractions of Fe and Ni were reduced at the end of the digestion period. However, no direct relationship between specific methane yield and reduced mass fraction of Fe and Ni was found. Co-digestion of rice straw with cow manure seems to be a good approach to provide trace elements except for Se.
Compost Maturity: Extractable Lipids as Indicators of Organic Matter Stability

An organic matter stability test was developed for assessing compost maturity. Lipids extracted sequentially with diethyl ether (DEE) and chloroform (CHCl3) from four composted manure mixes and four commercially produced composts were used to set and test the limits of gravimetrically based indices of maturity. Limits of 0.25 for CHCl3-extractable/total lipid ratios constitute acceptable limits for mature composts. The proposed test for compost maturity is scientifically-sound, relatively inexpensive and universally applicable, and can be performed by workers with low technical skills.
Structural and Electronic Transport Properties in Sr-Doped BiCuSeO

We report on the structural and electronic transport properties of BiCuSeO based compounds, that have recently been reported as promising thermoelectric materials with figure of merit ZT > 0.8 at 923 K, and share the same crystal structure as the high-Tc iron based 1111 oxypnictides. We show that the substitution of Bi3+ by Sr2+ induces a strong decrease of the electrical resistivity up to the solubility limit reached for x = 0.35, which originates from the strong increase of the carriers concentration. Two anomalies in the resistivity curves have been observed, one for the undoped compound near 260 K and the other for the doped samples at very low temperature. However, structural and magnetic measurements do not provide indications of structural or magnetic phase transition or superconductivity as it had been previously suggested in BiCu1–xOS. We show that the thermoelectric properties of Bi1–xSrxCuSeO materials can be well understood through the analysis of the electronic band structure and the density .
Investigating Gender Differences in Iranian EFL Learners' Rounded Vowels

The present study investigated the gender differences in producing all English rounded vowels /u:/, /ɔ:/, /ʊ/ and /o/ in Iranian EFL learners' speech in comparison with native ones. Sixty Iranian EFL learners including 30 males and 30 females were selected as the participants of this study. Oxford proficiency test (OPT, 2001) was conducted in order to ensure the learners were truly homogenous with regard to their English proficiency level. All learners were right-handed, Persian monolingual native speakers with no brain injuries, hearing or visual problems that interfered with their performance in the test. Four words containing English round vowels with CVC syllable structure were selected and put inside the carrier sentence ''Say.please''. In fact, each learner uttered the carrier sentences separately. Via PRAAT software (win 64), the voices of the participants were recorded and analyzed for obtaining the first and the second formants (F1 and F2) of each vowel. The obtained data from male and female speeches were compared to each other to find their differences. The results showed in F2 values, there were gender differences considering the consonantal context. This study demonstrated that for males, the degree of backness of vowel /u:/ was less than that of vowel /ɔ:/, but for females it was vice versa. For both vowels, male's mean F1 was lower than female's mean F1 and male's mean F2 was higher than female's mean F2. The present study showed gender differences in producing English rounded vowels. So, the results can be used in classes which contain only one gender. The findings of this study can bring about some pedagogical implications for teaching English diphthongs, triphthongs and English rounded vowels.