Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An investigation of coded aperture imaging for small animal SPECT

Coded apertures provide a substantial gain in detection efficiency compared with conventional collimation, and are well suited to imaging small volumes. In this work, the authors investigated several aspects of coded aperture design for a small animal SPECT system, including aperture/detector configuration and susceptibility to scatter. They simulated various source distributions and detection systems which included 1, 2 and 4 stationary detectors placed around the object, each with a pinhole array or a Fresnel zone plate in front of the detector. Image volumes were reconstructed using an iterative successive over-relaxation algorithm with a penalised weighted least squares cost function. Multiple pinhole arrays performed better than Fresnel zone plates in terms of reconstructed mean squared error and signal-to-noise. The authors' design goals of <2 mm spatial resolution (full width at half maximum) and >1% detection efficiency can be achieved with a 4 detector system with arrays of 100 pinholes per detector and the scatter fraction for a 4 cm diameter object is <5%. It is concluded that a coded aperture design shows great promise for small animal SPECT.
The Impact of Knowledge Sharing Behavior on Project Team Performance: Mediating Role of Project Team Effectiveness Sayyam

The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of Knowledge Sharing Behavior (KSB) on the Protect Team Performance (PTP). The study also determines the mediating role of Project Team Effectiveness (PTE). The existing study shows that population includes the employees of different Project based organization in the twin cities of Peshawar and Mardan. The study was carried out with a cross-sectional survey in the target cities. The study contains of 193 and the data was gathered through an adopted questionnaire. In the present study the covariance sampling technique of the non-probability sampling was used. The gathered data was coded and run via various statistical techniques such as reliability analysis, CFA, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis,and the regression analysis was done by using the Preacher and Hayes (2004) process macro for mediating analysis. Consequently thereafter, the results revealed that Knowledge Sharing Behavior of the protect team and managers in these organizations is positively and significantly associated with Project Team Performance. The study further displays that Project Team Effectiveness is partially mediate the relation between Knowledge Sharing Behavior and Project Team Performance. The study significantly contributes in literature that the effects of Knowledge Sharing Behavior in project based organizations eventually increases the sense in the team members and it triggers proactive working behavior within ethical standards that eventually leads toward improved project team performance. The findings of the study established that Knowledge Sharing Behavior and Project Team Effectiveness have significant impact toward providing Project Team Performance. In further research the impact of Journal of Business and Tourism Volume 06 Number 02 July – December, 2020 Sayyam, Khan, Adil & Begum 102 ISSN: 2520 0739 Knowledge Sharing Behavior on Project Team Performance can also be identified by using other variables.
A conceptual model for manufacturing performance improvement

Purpose: Important performance objectives manufacturers sought can be achieved through adopting the appropriate manufacturing practices. This paper presents a conceptual model proposing relationship between advanced quality practices, perceived manufacturing difficulties and manufacturing performances. Design/methodology/approach: A survey-based approach was adopted to test the hypotheses proposed in this study. The selection of research instruments for inclusion in this survey was based on literature review, the pilot case studies and relevant industrial experience of the author. A sample of 1000 manufacturers across Australia was randomly selected. Quality managers were requested to complete the questionnaire, as the task of dealing with the quality and reliability issues is a quality manager’s major responsibility. Findings: Evidence indicates that product quality and reliability is the main competitive factor for manufacturers. Design and manufacturing capability and on time delivery came second. Price is considered as the least important factor for the Australian manufacturers. Results show that collectively the advanced quality practices proposed in this study neutralize the difficulties manufacturers face and contribute to the most performance objectives of the manufacturers. The companies who have put more emphasize on the advanced quality practices have less problem in manufacturing and better performance in most manufacturing performance indices. The results validate the proposed conceptual model and lend credence to hypothesis that proposed relationship between quality practices, manufacturing difficulties and manufacturing performances. Practical implications: The model shown in this paper provides a simple yet highly effective approach to achieving significant improvements in product quality and manufacturing performance. This study introduces a relationship based ‘proactive’ quality management approach and provides great potential for managers and engineers to adopt the model in a wide range of manufacturing organisations. Originality/value: Traditional ways of checking product quality are different types of testing, inspection and screening out bad products after manufacturing them. In today’s manufacturing where product life cycle is very short, it is necessary to focus on not to manufacturing them first rather than screening out the bad ones. This study introduces, for the first time, the idea of relationship based advanced quality practices (AQP) and suggests AQPs will enable manufacturers to develop reliable products and minimize the manufacturing anomalies. This paper explores some of the attributes of AQP capable of reducing manufacturing difficulties and improving manufacturing performances. The proposed conceptual model contributes to the existing knowledge base of quality practices and subsequently provides impetus and guidance towards increasing manufacturing performance.
Cold Bent Glass Sheets in Façade Structures

The geometrical pattern of cold bent glass sheets, to be used in curved facades, has been investigated by experimental, analytical and numerical research. From a design point of view it was necessary to gain more knowledge about warping of glass panes. In experiments by increasing warping, the deformed shape of the pane suddenly changes from one geometrical mode to another. This phenomenon is caused by buckling of one of the diagonals. By means of a lattice model, for the transition point, at which the geometrical mode changes, a linear relation between the deformation at the corner and the thickness of the plate was derived for a certain ratio of plate length and width. Based on a plate model, the influence of the plate dimensions and the material properties on the moment of transition were investigated numerically.
Laboratory Simulation of Field Compaction Characteristics on Sandy Soils

As a result of the development of much heavier earth-moving and vibratory roller compaction equipment, soil compaction densities in the field are reaching levels that are not attainable in the laboratory. Higher compaction efforts, routinely seen in the field, not only result in higher unit weights but also lower optimum moisture contents than those found by the modified Proctor test. An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate field and laboratory compaction characteristics and to study laboratory compaction techniques further, such as gyratory compaction, in addition to impact and vibratory compaction, for the laboratory simulation of field compaction of A-3 sandy soils. Field test sections were constructed using typical field compaction techniques of today. Earth pressure cells were installed at the base of each lift to monitor total vertical stresses. A series of laboratory gyratory compaction tests for A-3 soils were conducted. Factors including vertical pressure, gyration angle, and gyration numbers were evaluated for the effects on the dry unit weight. The gyratory compaction curves using 200-kPa (29 psi) vertical pressure, a 1.25-degree gyration angle, and 90 gyrations were close to the field compaction curves.
Mesencyhmal stromal-like cells set the balance of stimulatory and inhibitory signals in monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Department of Immunology, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary Department of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, 98 Nagyerdei krt. , Debrecen 4032, Hungary Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
Assessing the information content of option-based volatility forecasts using fuzzy regression methods

Volatility is a key variable for portfolio selection models, option pricing models and risk management techniques. Volatility can be estimated and forecasted by using either historical information or option prices. The present paper focuses on option-based volatility forecasts for three main reasons. First, for the forward looking nature of option-based forecasts (as opposed to the backward looking nature of historical information); second, for the average superiority, documented in the literature, of option-based estimates in forecasting future realized volatility; third, for the widespread use of option prices in the computation of the most important market volatility indexes (see e.g. the VIX index for the Chicago Board Options Exchange). The aim of this paper is to assess the information content of future realised volatility of different option-based volatility forecasts, through the use of fuzzy regression methods. The latter methods offer a suitable tool to handle both imprecision in measurements and fuzziness of the relationship among variables. Therefore, they are particularly useful for volatility forecasting, since the variable of interest (realised volatility) is unobservable and a proxy for it is used. Moreover, measurement errors in both realised volatility and volatility forecasts may affect the regression results. Fuzzy regression methods have not yet been used in volatility forecasting. Our case study is based on intra-daily data on the DAX-index options market.
Simulation of Quantum Transport in Monolithic ICs Based on In Ga As-In Al As RTDs and HEMTs With a Quantum Hydrodynamic Transport Model

A new quantum hydrodynamic transport model based on a quantum fluid model is used for numerical cal- culations of different quantum sized devices. The simulation of monolithic integrated circuits of resonant tunneling struc- tures and high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) based on In Ga As-In Al As-InP is demonstrated. With the new model, it is possible to describe quantum mechanical transport phenomena like resonant tunneling of carriers through potential barriers and particle accumulation in quantum wells. Different structure variations, especially the resonant tunneling diode area and the gate width of the HEMT structure, show vari- able modulations in the output characteristics of the monolithic integrated device.
The Relationship Between Family Ownership, CEO Demographic Characteristics and Dividend Policy: Evidence from Indonesia

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of family ownership and family CEO on the dividend policy of family firms by using the demographic characteristics of the CEO as a moderator. Dividend policy is a decision taken by the firm in determining whether the profits earned by the firm will be distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends or will be reinvested in the company as retained earnings for future internal resources. Using samples from non-financial family firms listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2013–2017, 93 firms were selected based on adequate data. We also used logit regressions to provide robustness. The results show that family ownership and family CEO have a positive effect on the dividend payout ratio. This finding supports the family income hypothesis. Among CEO demographic characters, CEO age significantly strengthens the positive effect of family CEO on dividend payout ratio. While CEO tenure does not significantly strengthen the positive effect of family CEOs on dividend payout ratios. Meanwhile, leverage, ROA, and firm size significantly affect the dividend payout ratio, but firm age does not significantly affect the dividend payout ratio.
WILD EDIBLE PLANTS IN GOURMET OFFER OF ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONS: CASE FROM BIOSPHERE

Closely related to traditional agriculture consumption of wild plants it significantly contributes to the existence of the human species. The aim of this paper is to determine the value of ethnobotanical parameters (RFC, CI, CV) for the most important species that participate in creating the gastronomic offer of ecotourism destinations. The research was conducted in the area of the Biosphere Reserve (BR) “Golija-Studenica” as one of the attractive ecotourism destinations and sites with a high degree of biodiversity. As part of the site visit and research, during the period 20182020, the authors used the ethnobotanical questionnaire to quantify and determine the value of each individual species that plays a role in local traditional gastronomy, and today is part of the tourist offer. The results indicate the existence of a culture of using natural resources and a high degree of use of wild species in traditional recipes. Among the most exploited species, wild berries like blueberries stand out, but some species of mushrooms. © 2021 EA. All rights reserved.
National Holiday Anomaly in Pakistani Stock market: Evidence from Karachi Stock Exchange KSE 100 Index

The study examined National Holiday Anomaly in Pakistani Stock Market. Specifically KSE 100 index data has been used by this study. The data of ten years (2004-2013) has been considered in order to check holiday anomaly. T-Test is used to check the presence of holiday anomaly. The study investigated holiday anomaly for each individual national holiday, each individual year and whole data sample. The results of all the three cases are insignificant suggesting the absence of National Holiday Anomaly in Pakistani Stock Market. The absence of such anomaly may be due to the nature of these holidays. As these holidays are not surrounded by any such activity which can affect the decision process of investors. Therefore based on the evidence provided by this examination the study can say that National Holiday Anomaly does not exist in Pakistani factors which need to be considered in order to understand Pakistani Stock Market in detail.
EVALUATION OF PREDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL ATTRIBUTES OF TWO CONGENERIC LADYBIRD BEETLES UNDER VARIABLE SUPPLY OF PEA APHID

Food relations of ladybird beetles are the most investigated aspects of ‘coccinellid ecology’ because of their obvious role as natural enemies of agricultural pests, viz. aphids, coccids and mites. In agroecosystems, the availability of aphid prey frequently fluctuates in space and time; and its deprivation severely affects the life attributes of ladybird predators. As a result, predatory responses of ladybird species differ under variable quantities of prey. In this regards, the present study has been designed to assess and compare the prey consumption and utilization abilities of two aphidophagous ladybird beetles, i.e. Coccinella septempunctata (L.) and Coccinella transversalis Fab. , under scarce, optimal and abundant supply of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Results revealed that in both the ladybird species, consumption rates of the fourth instars were higher than the early instars; while conversion efficiencies and growth rates of the early instars were higher than the fourth instars when larvae were fed on the three prey quantities. However, the predation attributes of larvae were highest on the abundant prey and lowest on the scarce prey. Further, the immature stages of both the ladybird species developed fastest and their newly emerged adults were heaviest when larvae were reared on the abundant prey. In contrast, the development of larvae was slowest and newly emerged adults were lightest on the scarce prey supply. These comparative findings will not only improve our understandings of the predation biology and nutritional ecology of these ladybirds, but may also be utilized for augmentative biocontrol of aphid pests.
Safety evaluation of freeway exit ramps

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate safety performances of different exit ramps used in Florida and nationally. More specific, the research objectives include the following two parts: (1) to evaluate the impacts of different exit ramp types on safety performance for freeway diverge areas; and (2) to identify the different factors contributing to the crashes happening on the exit ramp sections. To achieve the research objectives, the research team investigated crash history at 424 sites throughout Florida. The study area includes two parts, the freeway diverge area and the exit ramp sections. For the freeway diverge areas, exit ramp types were defined based on the number of lanes used by vehicular traffic to exit freeways. Four exit ramp types were considered here including single-lane exit ramps (Type 1), sing-lane exit ramps without a taper (Type 2), two-lane exit ramps with an optional lane (Type 3), and two-lane exit ramps without an optional lane (Type 4). For the exit ramp sections, four ramp configurations, including diamond, out connection, free-flow loop and parclo loop, were considered. Cross-sectional comparisons were conducted to compare crash frequency, crash rate, crash severity and crash types between different exit ramp groups. Crash predictive models were also built to quantify the impacts of various contributing factors. On the
Market Access and the Evolution of Within Plant Productivity in Chile

This paper studies the impact of trade reforms on the evolution of plant's productivity in Chile (1979-2000). The main contribution of the paper is to construct detailed measures of trade liberalization disentangling the impact of export and import oriented policies. We find evidence of a positive impact of export oriented policies on productivity of traded sectors relative to non traded. On the other hand, the reduction of import barriers might have a positive impact on productivity in export oriented sectors, but it hurts local firms in import competing ones probably due to the existence of increasing returns.
Establishing A Framework of Transformational Grassroots Military Leadership: Lessons from High-Intensity, High-Risk Operational Environments

Today's institutions and organizations, especially, the military in the recent security scenario, are faced with complex, dynamic, and turbulent environments. This empirical study, based on operational military environments, draws upon contextual learning through grounded research, which could hold prescriptive guidelines for leaders required to operate in extreme contexts. The research specifically studies junior and middle level military leadership in “high-intensity, high-risk operational combat environments” over extended time duration, as they go about establishing transformational paradigms to face up to their professional demands. From this empirical research-in-progress, a nine-factor leader framework emerges, which defines successful grassroots transformational leadership appropriate for this emerging environment, characterized by increasing complexity of work-environment, changing nature of team-/collaborative- work, and the followers� needs for affiliation, achievement, and empowerment. The emergent leader framework enumerates the following characteristics for a successful leader: Strive for professional excellence and competence in team-building �Grounded� visionary Lead by personal example Empower the subordinates Sincerity of purpose Impeccable moral integrity Genuine care and concern for the command Compassionate approach towards all in general Self-sacrificing and self-effacing personal qualities. The findings incorporate a large variety of converging and overlapping behaviours at multiple levels, seeking to engage the followers continuously towards professional excellence, greater empowerment, and self-leadership. The paper concludes that both leadership and followership are in the process of being fundamentally redefined, egged on by the curious mix of technological progress and social change, emerging environmental turbulence, and increasing individual selfawareness. It also proposes a measurement instrument for further operationalization of the leader framework. One promising direction for future investigation is the study of emerging leader frameworks in the context of wider social and cultural change.
The relationship between trust, bank image, electronic services, perceived value and customer loyalty and examine the moderation effect of education on perceived value

The current study investigates some variables affecting customer loyalty regarding the banking sector in Yemen. Besides, it examines the moderation effect of education factor impact on the perceived value. A self-administered questionnaire deployed to a set of 572 bank customers by using the technique of opportunity sampling in the capital city of Sana'a in Yemen. The collected data analyzed using the approach of the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses of this study. The main finding showed that customer trust, bank image, e-services, and the perceived value had a strong relationship with customer loyalty in the banking sector in Yemen. Further, the moderating effect of education on perceived value was significant and positively support the relationship with customer loyalty. Banking managers should build real confidence with customers, enhance the reputation of the banks and develop a variety of electronic banking services. Obviously, they have to understand the necessity of attention to the education factor as a critical point to building customer loyalty. That requires them to give more attention to the customer who has a good education. The uniqueness of this paper comes from its investigation of some important requirements of customer loyalty and examines the influence of education as the moderator on perceived value by customers in the theoretical framework proposed. Also, the study result presents a new contribution to the literature of marketing relationships related to the issue of customer loyalty in the banking sector in Yemen. Keyword: Customer loyalty, Banking sector, Trust, Bank image, Electronic service, perceived value.