Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Software Availability Enhancement in Preemptible Instance Kubernetes Cluster

— From users perspective, cloud is often seen as an unlimited resource that can be used anytime and anywhere. In order to create the illusion as an unlimited resource, cloud service providers must always provide excess resources that exceed users demand. To increase the efficiency usage of their resources, some cloud service providers rent out their excess resources at lower prices with various limitations. Google Cloud Platform is one of the cloud service providers that rents out its excess resources called preemptible instances. Various limitations that preemptible instances have causes a decrease in the availability of the software running on it. In this study, a tool called preemptible lifecycle scheduler is implemented to enhance availability on top of preemptible instances. This is done by scheduling the termination of the preemptible instance so that it occurs outside the application's peak hour range. Based on experiments, the use of preemptible instances in Kubernetes clusters can reduce infrastructure costs by up to 53.085%, but the software will experience a decrease in availability and no graceful shutdown period. By using the preemptible lifecycle scheduler tool, it is proven that it can increase the availability of the software system up to 0.629% during peak hours and increase the chance of graceful shutdown period by 37.1429% to 75% on software that is terminated by the preemptible lifecycle scheduler tool when scheduling the instance life cycle.
Suppression of invasive lake trout in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park

Fisheries managers have implemented suppression programmes to control non-native lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), in several lakes throughout the western United States. This study determined the feasibility of experimentally suppressing lake trout using gillnets in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, for the conservation of threatened bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Suckley). The demographics of the lake trout population during suppression (2009–2013) were described, and those data were used to assess the effects of suppression scenarios on population growth rate (k) using an age-structured population model. Model simulations indicated that the population was growing exponentially (k = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.16–1.28) prior to suppression. However, suppression resulted in declining k (0.61–0.79) for lake trout, which was concomitant with stable bull trout adult abundances. Continued suppression at or above observed exploitation levels is needed to ensure continued population declines. K E Y W O R D S : demographics, introduced species, invasive species, matrix model, Salvelinus confluentus, Salvelinus namaycush. Correspondence: Christopher S. Guy, U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Montana State University, 301 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA (e-mail: cguy@montana.edu) Present address: National Park Service, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, MT, USA Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. doi: 10.1111/fme.12200 Fisheries Management and Ecology, 2017, 24, 33–48 33 Fisheries Management and Ecology
Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance in Hospitality Industry: A Critical Review

This paper aims to investigate the status quo of the research in relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance in hospitality industry. A critical review has been conducted based on 69 good quality journal papers by using both quantitative and qualitative content analysis methods. The results show quantitative method is the main stream of methodology used and US dataset is more preferable. Besides, stakeholder perspective represents the main school of thoughts in recent years. Although majority of the studies have proved positive association between CSR and financial performance, negative relationship is still evidenced by research with samples of loss-making firms. Furthermore, many studies suggest developing conceptual framework or furthering the extant theoretical framework to cope with the rapid changes in CSR fields as well as the diversified CSR behaviour of the public companies in today’s business world. The findings of this critical review bring additional insight to the CSR and hospitality academia and can stimulate scholars’ further study on how to achieve balance between social and financial performance of public companies in this industry. Theoretically, this critical review enlightens the need for developing/extending the classical theoretical model for matching with the new phenomenon in the CSR field. Practically, the review results also provide valuable information and suggestions to industry operators for their improvement in CSR practice.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INSTITUTIONS AND INNOVATION OF EMERGING MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES

Using a panel data of Chinese firms’ internationalization activities, we assess whether intellectual property (IP) institutions in a host country benefits or impedes innovation of emerging multinational companies (EMNCs). We show that IP institutions in a host country enable an EMNC to obtain critical technologies for innovation, and moderate IP institutions are optimal levels for innovation development in this context. Moreover, the efficiency of EMNCs in benefiting from IP institutions for innovation increases when EMNCs develop strong absorptive capacity. Our findings integrate institutional logics, which views institutional environment as the key factor for innovation, and the resource-based view, which notes that firm-specific capabilities have critical influences on firm performance and competitive advantage. We discuss the implications of these findings on institutional environments and firm innovation research in emerging economies.
DoubleField: Bridging the Neural Surface and Radiance Fields for High-fidelity Human Reconstruction and Rendering

We introduce DoubleField, a novel framework combining the merits of both surface field and radiance field for high-fidelity human reconstruction and rendering. Within DoubleField, the surface field and radiance field are associated together by a shared feature embedding and a surface-guided sampling strategy. Moreover, a view-to-view transformer is introduced to fuse multi-view features and learn view-dependent features directly from high-resolution inputs. With the modeling power of DoubleField and the view-to-view transformer, our method significantly improves the reconstruction quality of both geometry and appearance, while supporting direct inference, scene-specific high-resolution finetuning, and fast rendering. The efficacy of DoubleField is validated by the quantitative evaluations on several datasets and the qualitative results in a real-world sparse multi-view system, showing its superior capability for high-quality human model reconstruction and photo-realistic free-viewpoint human rendering. Data and source code will be made public for the research purpose.
FACTORS THAT AFFECTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PERFORMANCE IN ETHIOPIA

The essence of this research was to identify factors that affect the performance of social entrepreneurships in Ethiopia. To achieve the aim of the study a survey design with a systematic integration of quantitative and qualitative methods. In this study the required data was be collected by Questionnaire (both closed-ended and open-ended responses) with the manager or owner of 342 smalland mediumsized social enterprises. Secondary data was collected from financial and audited statements. The results of findings showed that the variables associated with individual factors, organizational resources, and organizational factors and environmental factors have a positive and significant relationship with social enterprises performance. The study recommended that for the enterprise to improve their performance, they should continuously improve personality traits and enhance firm attributes, strategies and firm specific resources; exploitation of potential of individuals ; optimum use of human and physical resources as well as effective and efficient use of financial and experiential resources; the enterprises should consider dynamic and hostile aspects of the environment planning and consider heterogeneity and competitive intensity in strategic planning. Index Terms Ethiopia, Factor, Social entrepreneurship, Performance.
EFFECTS OF NaCl SALINITY ON LEAF CHARACTERS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL GROWTH ATTRIBUTES OF DIFFERENT GENOTYPES OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Effects of salinity on leaf characters and physiological growth attributes of different 33 rice genotypes were investigated at tillering and booting stages of growth. Salinity affected leaf number, leaf area (LA), leaf area index (LAI) and leaf dry wt. in a number of varieties such as BR 1, BR 18, IR-21015-196-3-1-3, Kalojira at tillering and BR 14, IR-21015-196-3-1-3, Kaloboroi and SR × SP-2-2-2 for most of the characters at booting stages to a higher extent. But Birpala, Canning-7, Zorabati and a few others revealed better performances for leaf characters at both growth stages. At tillering stage, salinity increased and/or did not affect substantially leaf number, LA, LAI and dry wt. in Deshipajam and Borobalamdhan. Similar trend under salinity was also noted in Borobalamdhan, MC-12 and Rashiraj at booting stage. Tolerance indices (TI) for leaf number, LA, LAI and leaf dry wt. were variable, ranged from 30 117% of control, but Borobalamdhan, BR 14, Canning-7, Deshipazam, MC-12, Pokkali, Raildhan, Rashiraj, Zorabati and a few others revealed better TI score for these characters at one or another growth stages. For leaf area ratio (LAR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and relative growth rate (RGR) Azobbati, Binasail, Birpala, BR 1, BR 3, BR 9, BR 18, BR 19, Kalojira, Pokkali and Rashiraj revealed higher TI score under stressful condition than others. For most of the leaf growth characters, the number of moderately tolerant (MT) genotypes was higher than that of other tolerance grades.
Bringing ELF into Chinese ELT Classrooms: A Focus on English Pedagogies

With the development of globalization, the need of communication in English is increasing rapidly. One of the major concerns about whether English should be taught as a Lingua Franca (ELF) has been widely discussed. While researchers suggest that English should be better taught as a foreign language (EFL) than ELF, and some believe non-conformity to native speakers’ norms is a trend of future intercultural communication, the judgment of possibility of implementing ELF pedagogies cannot be divorced from sociolinguistic issues of a certain cultural context. This study introduces ELF as a sociolinguistic phenomenon which is different from EFL, aiming to indicate pedagogical significances in supporting and applying theories of ELF in the Chinese context and offer Chinese English language learners informed choice on their own decisions on choosing a language.
SCIENCE OF TSUNAMI HAZARDS Journal of Tsunami Society

In this paper, we consider the problem of fast wave heights numerical evaluation of hypothetical tsunami along Pacific coast of Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands. We focus on PC-based fast numerical calculation of tsunami wave propagation according to the classical shallow water approximation. Valuable performance gain is achieved by using the advantages of the modern computer architectures, namely the Field Programmable Gates Arrays (FPGAs). The Mac-Cormack finite difference scheme of the second order approximation to solve the shallow water system (Titov V. and Gonzalez F. 1997) has been implemented to the FPGA-based Calculator, specially designed by the authors for this task (Lavrentiev et al., 2017; Lysakov et al., 2018). Numerical tests show that it takes only a few seconds to calculate tsunami wave propagation over approximately 2000x2000 km (3120x2400 knots) water area with about 900 m step gridded bathymetry for the given realistic tsunami wave source. The FPGA calculator was also tested on the exact analytical solution
Low excess noise characteristics in thin avalanche region GaAs diodes

Avalanche noise measurements have been performed on a range of homojunction GaAs p+-i-n+ and n+-i-p+ diodes with avalanche widths w ranging from 1.13 to 0.050 µm. These noise measurements show that, contrary to McIntyre's avalanche noise theory, there is large reduction in the avalanche noise as w is decreased for both electron and hole initiated impact ionisation.
Yield of common bean cultivars and castor hybrids intercropped in two cultivation sites with oxisol in the Midwest region of Brazil

The consortium between bean and castor aims to increase the yield per unit area and sustainability in land use. This system has several benefits, but the use of different genetic materials must be carefully evaluated, especially the behavior of smaller castor hybrids, since little research on their use in a consortium system is available. This study aimed to evaluate the components of production and yield of common bean cultivars and small castor hybrids, in two field experiments conducted in the intercropping and monoculture systems, in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 harvests, in two cultivation sites in the Midwest region of Brazil. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design, in a 4 x 2 + 6 factorial scheme, composed of four common bean genetic materials of different growth types and colors (Pérola, BRS Esteio, BRS Pitanga, and BRSMG Realce), a consortium with two short castor hybrid cultivars (Tamar and Agima 110204) and six additional treatments and bean and castor genetic material in monoculture, with three replications. Agronomic components and grain yields were determined in both experiments, for bean cultivars and castor hybrids. Bean and castor genetic materials presented the same agronomic performance in the studied agricultural and local crops, regardless of the cropping system. The intercropping between common bean cultivars (BRS Esteio, BRSMG Realce and BRS Pitanga) and castor hybrids (Tamar and Ag Ima) was classified as viable by the area equivalence index, since this index presented values greater than 1.0 for the intercropping between these cultivars. Thus, it is recommended for common bean in a system intercropped with small castor hybrids, regardless of the cultivated genetic material
New techniques for the design of advanced ultrasonic transducers for wire bonding

A new high-frequency ultrasonic transducer, in particular for the application wire-bonding, has been conceived, designed, prototyped, and tested. In the design phase an advanced approach was used and established. The method is based on the two basic principles of modularity and iteration. The transducer is decomposed in its elementary components. For each component an initial draft is obtained with finite-elements-method simulations (FEM). The simulated ultrasonic modules are then built and characterized experimentally through laser-interferometry measurements and electrical resonance spectra. The comparison of simulation results with experimental data allows the parameters of FEM models to be iteratively adjusted and optimized. The achieved FEM simulations exhibit a remarkably high predictive potential and allow full control on the vibration behavior of the ultrasonic modules and of the whole transducer. The new transducer is fixed on the welding device with a flange whose special geometry was calculated by means of FEM simulations. This flange allows the converter to be attached on the welding device not only in longitudinal nodes but also in radial nodes of the ultrasonic field excited in the horn. This leads to a total decoupling of the transducer to the welding device, which has so far been unheard of. The new approach to mount ultrasonic transducers on a welding-device is of major importance not only for wire-bonding but also for all high-power ultrasound applications.
Human Capital Investment and Development: The Role of On-the-Job Training∗

Workers in richer countries experience faster rates of wage growth over their lifetimes than workers in poorer countries. This paper offers an explanation for this pattern by showing that workers in richer economies receive more firm-provided training. Using enterprise and detailed worker-level training data for a wide range of countries, we document that (1) the share of workers who receive firm-provided training increases with development and that (2) firm-provided training is a key determinant of workers’ human capital investments. We then build a general equilibrium search model with firm-provided training investments and frictional labor markets. Our model suggests that firm-provided training accounts for about 43% of cross-country wage growth differences and 10% of cross-country income differences. We find that self-employment is an important factor explaining the lack of training in the poorest economies and that labor market frictions are the main driver of the differences in training investments across countries.
Heterodyne ASK multiport optical receivers using postdetection filtering

A theoretical model for heterodyne amplitude-shift-keying (ASK) multiport optical receivers is presented. It applies when the transmitter and local oscillator have significant linewidths. The modeled receiver uses square law detection and postdetection filtering. The model allows for the essentially non-Gaussian character of the probability density function of the noise process at the input of the threshold comparator. Numerical computations are made for the (2*2) multiport receiver. They show that such a receiver can handle laser linewidths on the order of the bit rate with 1.5-dB loss as compared to the ideal heterodyne receiver with zero linewidth. >
Awareness of oral health is essential for developing healthy habits, and a correlation between improved knowledge

The results revealed that most of the participants, 80% (n=178) understood that oral health is essential to their overall wellbeing. Overall, in this research, the findings of oral health education were found not to be covered. However, we found that variations in the source of dental information were correlated with university students’ oral health behaviour. The study, therefore, concludes that oral health care knowledge, attitudes and practices are affected by education and show that advocacy for the promotion of oral health is significant for the students.
Role of Spinal Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Comparative Study in a North Indian Hospital

Background: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) has become the procedure of choice for gallbladder removal surgeries. It is a surgical procedure, conventionally performed under general anesthesia (GA). There are multiple studies which have found spinal anesthesia as a safe alternative. Aim: We have conducted this study to compare outcomes of spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia (as the gold standard) in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and methods: Sixty patients of ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) class I or II undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with low-tension pneumoperitoneum were divided into two groups having 30 patients each. Group I received conventional general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation and group II received spinal anesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine 15 mg and fentanyl 25 μg. Post-operative pain and complications were compared between the 2 groups. Results: All the procedures were completed by the allocated method of anesthesia, as there were no conversions from spinal to general anesthesia. Pain was significantly lower at 2, 4, and 6 hours after the procedure for the spinal anesthesia group compared with those who received general anesthesia. The cost of the spinal anesthesia was significantly lower than that of the general anesthesia. There was Priyanka Acharya, Pratyusha Gaonkar, Vinay Purohit, Alka Lunia. Role of Spinal Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Comparative Study in a North Indian Hospital. IAIM, 2021; 8(10): 27-33. Page 28 no significant difference found between the 2 groups in terms of complications, hospital stay, recovery, or degree of satisfaction at follow-up. Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia is adequate, safe, and cost effective for laparoscopic cholecystectomy with low pressure pneumoperitoneum in otherwise healthy patients and offers better postoperative pain control than general anesthesia without limiting recovery.
D Spending : Dynamic or Persistent ?

It is well established that the benefits of R&D spending accrue over several years and that more cumulative R&D spending benefits the firm more. Here we study how a given amount of R&D spending is best allocated over time to optimize R&D performance. Under a persistent policy, allocations remain nearly constant irrespective of circumstances; under a dynamic policy, R&D spending increases (resp., declines) when opportunities arise (resp., fail to materialize). We use a sample of 3,746 publicly listed companies, observed for an average of seven years between 1982 and 2003, to assess which of these two R&D allocation policies is preferable. We find that a dynamic allocation strategy is associated with worse R&D performance—in terms of patent quantity and quality—and demonstrate that momentum is not the cause. We find that it is particularly the unpredictable part of any dynamic spending pattern that hurts R&D performance; the predictable part has no or even positive effects. Finally, our results are more pronounced for firms in higher quantiles of the performance distribution: rather than coping with the negative effects of dynamic allocation, such companies are especially affected by them.
Linguistic discrimination across neighbourhoods : Turkish, US-American and German names and accents in urban apartment search

This paper reports on the effects of foreign accents and names on the chance of receiving an apartment viewing in the city of Bremen in Germany. Almost 300 phone calls were placed in four different city districts with a Turkish, USAmerican and German name and accent and a Turkish name and Standard German. The analysis shows intra-urban differences: in the more prestigious neighbourhood, Turkish-accented callers had significantly lower chances of getting a viewing. In all but one city district, the Standard German callers received the most viewing appointments, and the American English-accented callers had more chances than the Turkish callers speaking Standard German. A discourse analysis of an excerpt from an apartment application conversation shows how power relations are reproduced at a discourse level. Overall, this study confirms that gatekeeping selection processes via linguistic profiling can lead to the maintenance of ethnolinguistic boundaries and segregation within the city. keywords: linguistic profiling; high and low prestige accents; social stratification; mixed methods; discourse analysis