Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Virtual Community: Finding Commection in a Computerized World

From the Publisher: The technology news is filled with money as corporate moguls from Hollywood, the cable business, the computer industry, and the telephone companies scramble to exploit America's much ballyhooed "Electronic Superhighway". Suddenly, the interlinked network for computerized communication that grew up quietly on its own is gushing "Infotainment" possibilities. Interactive is the buzz word today, alongside convergence, cyberspace, and digital future. In The Virtual Community, Howard Rheingold returns the focus of our attention to people, working back from this commercialized present to the very beginnings of computer-mediated communication, giving us the lay of the land before it was discovered by government and the corporate giants. What he reveals to us is a true electronic frontier of fiercely independent enthusiasts who have created closely knit communities and a rich culture on-line, exchanging everything from scientific data to sexual fantasies, child-rearing tips, and free-ranging political opinions. As Rheingold makes clear, this one of several possible "futures" already exists in very appealing form on-line. The question he poses is: Will these original homesteaders on the electronic frontier now be driven out by the "railroad and cattle barons" of the communications industry? Even more important, through censorship and commercialization, will we all lose the greatest resource ever for community-building and the free expression of ideas, even before most of us know of its existence? Howard Rheingold is the ultimate insider on networked communication, a key participant in the Bay Area "WELL" on-line community. Venturing out from his own neighborhood on the WELL, he gives us a tour of on-line culture in Japan, England, France, and on small and large bulletin boards and networks throughout the United States. He shows us the depth of human interaction made possible, ironically enough, by this seemingly faceless technology, as well as the power of true electroni
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN SOUTH AFRICA: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

Purpose: In developing countries such as South Africa, many organisations are reliant on information and communication technology (ICT) to provide accurate, relevant and timely information. For organisations to obtain and sustain a competitive advantage, ICT systems are constantly implemented, upgraded, modified or replaced. These initiatives are often managed as projects. While there is an increasing amount of both financial resources and effort being spent on ICT, these projects are not always delivered within the predetermined project constraints. This implies additional time to complete, as well as additional costs, as resources are not released in time to participate in other projects. It is therefore important to understand the factors that influence the outcome of South African ICT projects relative to their original constraints. Problem Investigated: The goal of this article is to determine the factors that influence South African ICT projects, taking into consideration the fact that most current published research on this topic was done within the context of a developed country such as the USA and Europe. Design and/or methodology : The outcomes of ICT projects in South Africa as well as the factors that influence them were determined through an extensive survey. An analysis was done on the factors together with a correlation between the main factors contributing to project outcomes. The purpose of this was to establish if a factor's presence or absence influenced the eventual outcome. Findings: The factors that contribute to a successful outcome are often outside the direct control of the project manager and tend to be complex in nature. One factor that does stand out is that the alignment of projects with business objectives influences their perceived success. Originality/Value: The benefits of this article are that it firstly provides a South African perspective of current ICT project management practices, and secondly, it highlights factors that influence project outcome. Organisations can use this information to improve their current practices. Conclusion: The value of the research results presented in this paper lies in the realisation that project success is not just determined by adherence to best practices or formal processes, but requires an environment and context conducive to business success.
The Influence Of Runway Occupancy Time And Wake Vortex Separation Requirements On Runway Throughput

Air traffic growth in the U.S. has led to runway capacity constraints in the air transportation network. There has been limited new construction of runways due to land availability. One approach to increase capacity of existing runways is to reduce inter-arrival separations during the final approach phase of flight. This study evaluates two major elements influencing runway capacity; runway occupancy and wake vortex separation, and under what conditions each becomes a constraint to runway capacity. A detailed analysis of runway occupancy time measurements and wake vortex separation measurements is performed for Boston, Philadelphia, New York La Guardia, and Newark airports based on Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model-X (ASDE-X) aircraft surveillance data. The findings of this study indicate that runway occupancy does not necessary scale with aircraft size. Small aircraft often occupy the runway as long as large aircraft, which limits the potential for reduced separations behind small aircraft. The results also indicate that high-speed runway exits can make a significant difference in runway occupancy. Runways equipped with high-speed exits have lower runway occupancy times than runways equipped with standard 90-degree exits. Comparison of runway occupancy times in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) suggest no significant difference between the two weather conditions. Wake vortex separation measurements show that aircraft pairs with small lead aircraft receive longer separation buffers than other aircraft pairs, and airports with more runways implement longer separation buffers. The comparison of landing time intervals and runway occupancy illustrates that wake vortex separation requirements limit runway capacity when heavy or Boeing 757 is the lead aircraft. Lastly, this study evaluates the runway capacity benefits of reduced wake separation requirements for the aircraft re-categorization (RECAT) program. The results estimate an 8.2-8.3% increase in runway capacity at Philadelphia and at Newark, a 7.8% increase at Boston, and a 5.1% increase at La Guardia. The magnitude of benefits strongly depends on how the local traffic mix looks like.
Use of a Multi-Zone Combustion Model to Interpret the Effect of Injector Nozzle Hole Geometry on HD DI Diesel Engine Performance and Pollutant Emissions

A major challenge in the development of future heavy-duty diesel engines is the reduction of NO x and particulate emissions with minimum penalties in fuel consumption. The further decrease of emission limits (i.e., EPA 2007-2010, Euro 5 and Japan 05) requires new, advanced approaches. The injection system of Dl diesel engines has an important role regarding the fulfillment of demands for low pollutant emissions and high engine efficiency. One of the injection system parameters affecting fuel spray characteristics, fuel-air mixing and consequently, combustion and pollutant formation is the geometry of the nozzle hole. A detailed experimental investigation was conducted at UPV-CMT using three different nozzle hole types: a standard, a convergent and a divergent one to discern the effect of nozzle hole conical shape on engine performance and emissions. According to the experimental findings, an increase of soot and decrease of NO x was observed for the divergent nozzle hole compared to the other two. Conventional heat release rate analysis did not show any significant effect of nozzle hole geometry on the combustion mechanism. However, the use of a modified procedure to account for the differences of fuel injection rate between the three nozzles, revealed a slower combustion rate for the divergent nozzle. The results of the experimental analysis motivated the present group to conduct a computational investigation using a multi-zone combustion model to interpret the mechanism behind the different behaviour of divergent nozzle compared to others. The model was used as a diagnostic tool to capture the effect of the three nozzle hole geometries on engine performance and emissions. For this reason an automatic calibration procedure has been developed and applied to estimate model constants to predict engine performance. The only parameter that had to be modified between the three nozzle geometries examined was the air entrainment rate inside the fuel jet. Thus, it was concluded that for the divergent nozzle a lower fuel-air mixing rate occurs compared to the other two nozzle configurations. Using the estimated model constants, an endeavour was made to assess computationally its ability to capture the effect of nozzle hole geometry on emissions. Hence, predictions for soot and NO tailpipe values were made for the three types of nozzles at various engine-operating conditions using the multi-zone model. The analysis revealed that predictions for pollutant emissions are in agreement with corresponding experimental data for all cases examined confirming the fact that nozzle hole geometry affects the mixing rate of injected fuel with surrounding air. Furthermore, the usefulness of the phenomenological model to identify the underlying mechanisms of the different combustion phenomena was acknowledged providing a reasonable explanation for the observed effect of nozzle hole geometry.
The relationship between team characteristics with team performance in Malaysian teams

Organisations depend on teams to implement its strategies and enables organisations to be flexible and responsive in the competitive global environment. Teams contribute to the organisation while at the same time providing opportunities to team members to develop relationships within team. Teams are viewed as a major source of ‘environmental forces’ that help shape team members (McGrath and Kravitz, 1982). Previous research by Taggard and Brown (2001) shows that there is a statistically significant relationship between team members’ behaviour and team performance (e.g., participation and involving others, goal setting, feedback, team commitment, reaction to conflict, addressing conflict, averting conflict and communication). There is noticeably a lack of research on team behaviours in Malaysia. The first objective of this thesis is to explore the relationships between team performance and ‘behavioural’ characteristics in the Manufacturing and Telecommunication industries in Malaysia. Past findings suggest that ‘behavioural’ characteristics of well developed team tend to possess certain ‘behavioural’ characteristics (e.g., Wheelan and Hochberger, 1996; Woodcock and Francis, 1996). The literature (e.g., Hoigaard, et. al., 2006; Stevens and Champion, 1994) has shown that that ‘behavioural’ characteristics such as role clarity, role satisfaction, liking, goal agreement, openness to change and differences, participative leadership style, division of task into sub-teams, informal leadership role, effective handling of intra-team conflict and inter-team conflict are critical in team performance. The second objective seeks to investigate the relationship between team ‘structural’ factors (such as team size, team types, organisation size) and team behaviours. Team structure is viewed as ‘inputs’ to team behaviour (Gist et al., 1987). Goal contribution by teams (e.g., Hoegl and Parboteeah, 2003), customers (e.g., Kaczynski and Ott, 2004) and management (e.g., Samson and Daft (2003) were also included in the study. The third objective seeks to investigate the relationship between team members’ demographic variables (such as gender, ethnicity, age and education) and team behaviour and team performance. Scholars suggest that there is a link between team’s demography and team performance (e.g., Eisenhardt and Schoonhoven, 1990; Michael and Hambrick, 1992). Questionnaire data were collected from 59 work teams comprising of 137 individual team members) from both small and large organisations located in four regions in Malaysia (Penang, Kuala Lumpur Seremban and Malacca). The respondents were mainly Malay (52.9 percent), followed by Chinese (31.4 percent), and Indian (15.7 percent). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations and one way analysis of variance. The findings suggest that ‘behavioural’ characteristics such as role clarity, role satisfaction and division of task into sub-teams are critical for all aspects of team performance. Goal agreement, role clarity, role satisfaction and…
Simple model of optical amplifier chains to evaluate penalties in WDM systems

Summary form only given. In this paper, a simple model is proposed to compute SNR penalties for any given set of launched powers. The model requires only knowledge of the total gain of the optical fiber amplifier chain for each channel. For optimally pre-emphasised WDM systems, in which all channels have the same SNR at the receiver, the model allows computation of both the SNR penalty and the optimal launched powers by solving a simple eigenvalue/ eigenvector problem.
The Use of Chloramines To Prevent Trihalomethane Formation

pines. Am. Jour. Epidemiol. , 95:2:111 (1972). 19. Gupta, R.S. & Dashora, M.S. Algal Pollutants and Potable Water. Drinking Water Quality Enhancement Through Source Protection (R.B. Pajasek, editor.) Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Mich. (1977). 20. Hindman, S.H. ; Favero, M.S.; and Peterson, A. Pyrogenic Reactions during Haemodialysis Caused by Extramural Endotoxin. The Lancet, 18:732 (1975). 21. Lippy, E.C. & Erb, J.C. Gastrointestinal Illness at Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Jour. AWWA, 68:11:606 (Nov. 1976). 22. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. APHA, AWWA, and WPCF, Washington, D.C. (14th ed., 1975). 23. Hale, F.E. The Use of Copper Sulfate in Control of Microscopic Organisms. Phelps Dodge Refining Corp., New York (1954). 24. Bailey, J.W. & Lippy, E.C. Should All Finished Water Reservoirs be Covered? Public Works, 109:4:66 (1978). 25. Lackey, J.B. Plankton as Related to Nuisance Conditions in Surface Water. Limn ological Aspects of Water Supply and Waste Disposal. AAAS, Washington, D.C. (1949). 26. Pratt, R. & Fong, J. Studies on Chlorella vulgaris11. Further Evidence for a Growth Inhibiting Substance. Am. Jour. Bot. , 27:431 (1940). 27. Palmer, C.M. Algae and Water Pollution. EPA-600/9-77-036. USEPA, Cincinnati, Ohio (1977). 28. Drouet, F. Ecophenes of Schizothnx calcicola (Oscillatoriaceae). Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 115:9:261 (1963). 29. Cameron, R.E. Farthest South Algae and Associated Bacteria. Phycologia, 11:2:133 (1972). 30. Banner, A.H. Marine Toxins from the Pacific, I.Advances in the Investigation of Fish Toxins. Animal Toxins (F.E. Russel and P.R. Saunders, editors). Pergamon Press, New York (1966). 31. Whipple, G.C. Microscopy of Drinking Water. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York (4th ed., 1941). 32. Keleti, G. , et al. Composition and Biological Properties of Lipopolysaccharides Isolated from Schizothrix calcicola. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 38:3:471 (1979).
Vegetation recruitment on the ‘white’ sandbars on the Nakdong River at the historical village of Hahoe, Korea

Hahoe, a historical village, is famous for two large nonvegetated sandbars. These sandbars have become covered with vegetation after construction of the two upstream dams. To identify the contributing factors to vegetation recruitment, flow regime, soil moisture, flood intensity and climate conditions before and after two dams were investigated. The occurrence of drought caused flow change and significant encroachment of riparian vegetation in just 3 years after the second dam was in place. Numerical results show that the dimensionless shear stress was a useful factor for predicting vegetation recruitment. Decrease in peak flows and aggradation of the sandbars resulted in more of the sandbar area experiencing low shear stress, hence facilitating vegetation colonization. In conclusion, the development of optimal dam operation rule to increase the difference of peak release flows between germination and flood season may be required to manage the riparian vegetation sustainably and economically in the regulated river.
Team Usability Testing: Are two Heads Better than One?

The purpose of the study was to compare a team usability testing paradigm with that of the typical single user paradigm in terms of the quantity and quality of the user's verbalization (i.e. thinking out-loud) and performance. The study employed a three group design in which the type of usability paradigm (Single, Observer, Team) was manipulated. Users first learned to use an off-the-shelf database management package by means of a short tutorial and then engaged in six structured tasks. While engaging in the tasks, the users either thought-out-loud alone (Single condition), in the presence of an observer (Observer condition), or as participants of a team working on the tasks together (Team condition). Results indicated that there were no significant differences among the three conditions in terms of performance nor any extensive differences in their subjective evaluation of the software. However, users in the Team condition spent more total time verbalizing than those in the Single or Observer condition. More importantly, results of a verbal protocol analysis revealed that the Team spent more time making statements which had high value for designers than did the other two conditions (which did not differ from one another). When broken out by individual users in the Team, there were no significant differences between individual team members and users in the other two conditions in making high value comments. The results suggest that the Team paradigm may be more efficient in extracting high value information without any noticeable differences in performance or subjective impression of the software.
Influence of TiO2 and ZrO2 Nanoparticles on Adhesive Bond Strength and Viscosity of Dentin Polymer: A Physical and Chemical Evaluation

The present study aimed to formulate an experimental adhesive (EA) and reinforce it with 5 wt. % titanium dioxide (TiO2) or zirconium oxide (ZrO2) to yield 5% TiO2 and 5% ZrO2 adhesives, respectively, and then analyze the impact of this reinforcement on various mechanical properties of the adhesives. The EA contained a blend of monomers such as bisphenol A glycol dimethacrylate (BisGMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and ethyl 4-dimethylamino benzoate and camphorquinone. The EA included ethyl 4-dimethylamino benzoate and camphorquinone photo-initiators, and diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (DPIHP) was also included to act as an electron initiator. The TiO2 and ZrO2 nanoparticles were incorporated into the EA post-synthesis. To characterize the filler nanoparticles, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and line-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy were performed. The adhesives were characterized by analyzing their rheological properties, shear-bond strength (SBS), and interfacial failure types. Further, the resin–dentin interface was also analyzed via SEM. The TiO2 nanoparticles were spherically shaped on the SEM micrographs, while the ZrO2 nanoparticles were seen as non-uniformly shaped agglomerates. The EDX mapping demonstrated the presence of Ti and oxygen for TiO2 and Zr and oxygen for the ZrO2 nanoparticles. Both 5% TiO2 and 5% ZrO2 adhesives revealed decreased viscosity as compared with the EA. The 5% TiO2 adhesive demonstrated higher SBS values for both non-thermocycled (NTC) and thermocycled samples (NTC: 25.35 ± 1.53, TC: 23.89 ± 1.95 MPa), followed by the 5% ZrO2 adhesive group (NTC: 23.10 ± 2.22, TC: 20.72 ± 1.32 MPa). The bulk of the failures (>70%) were of adhesive type in all groups. The SEM analysis of the resin–dentin interface revealed the development of a hybrid layer and resin tags (of variable depth) for the EA and 5% TiO2 groups. However, for the 5% ZrO2 group, the hybrid layer and resin tag establishment appeared compromised. Reinforcement of the EA with TiO2 or ZrO2 caused an increase in the adhesive’s SBS (with the 5% TiO2 group demonstrating the highest values) in comparison with the EA (without nanoparticles). However, both nanoparticle-containing adhesives revealed decreased viscosity compared with the EA (without nanoparticles). Further studies investigating the impact of diverse filler concentrations on the properties of adhesives are suggested.
Systematic Review of Antimicrobial Combination Options for Pandrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Antimicrobial combinations are at the moment the only potential treatment option for pandrug-resistant A. baumannii. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed and Scopus for studies reporting the activity of antimicrobial combinations against A. baumannii resistant to all components of the combination. The clinical relevance of synergistic combinations was assessed based on concentrations achieving synergy and PK/PD models. Eighty-four studies were retrieved including 818 eligible isolates. A variety of combinations (n = 141 double, n = 9 triple) were tested, with a variety of methods. Polymyxin-based combinations were the most studied, either as double or triple combinations with cell-wall acting agents (including sulbactam, carbapenems, glycopeptides), rifamycins and fosfomycin. Non-polymyxin combinations were predominantly based on rifampicin, fosfomycin, sulbactam and avibactam. Several combinations were synergistic at clinically relevant concentrations, while triple combinations appeared more active than the double ones. However, no combination was consistently synergistic against all strains tested. Notably, several studies reported synergy but at concentrations unlikely to be clinically relevant, or the concentration that synergy was observed was unclear. Selecting the most appropriate combinations is likely strain-specific and should be guided by in vitro synergy evaluation. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of such combinations.