Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The E-Cultural Adaption Framework (E-CAF): Adapting the Local Travel Interface for Egyptian Consumers

Although the Internet has become a global medium, which companies use to access individuals worldwide, it is argued in this thesis that cultural issues still need to be taken into account when designing Web sites. In fact, international marketers agree that culture in terms of consumers‘ values and beliefs remains a significant constraint for reaching international consumers. Professional analysts and designers generally agree that well-designed user interfaces improve the performance and appeal of the Web and help in reaching large numbers of consumers across cultures. Therefore, one way of improving the user-interface is by paying attention to users' culture, which means developing culturally adapted Web sites. The Web localisation literature addresses the users' ultural concerns by utilising some of the popular cultural models like those of Hofstede and Hall; however these tools are not appropriate for handling the cultural values affecting the online behaviour of consumers. Effective Web localisation can be achieved through an appropriate cultural framework that incorporates the cultural values that affect the online behaviour of consumers. This thesis introduces the electronic cultural adaption framework or E-CAF, as a structure for adapting local Web interfaces. The E-CAF, constructed for the travel domain, uses six cultural dimensions derived from the observation of behaviour and identifies unique cultural variables that affect online consumer behaviour. The E-CAF is constructed using grounded theory methodology and is then evaluated as a tool for adapting local Web interfaces. This includes discussing the applicability of the E-CAF as a tool for identifying online marketing strategies suitable for targeting consumers across cultures and using the E-CAF to assess and evaluate the cultural adaptation of three Egyptian local travel interfaces. Finally, the E-CAF is utilized as a means for developing questions that can help designers to collect the clients' designing requirements. This helps the designers to build an effective local interface based on an understanding of each client‘s special design requirements.
ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE STATED PREFERENCE OF ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES TOW ARDS TELECOMMUTING IN IIUM CAMPUS, GOMBAK

Telecommuting acts as one of the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures that aimed to reduce peak hour traffic congestion by allowing commuters to work from home or a nearby telecommuting centre on certa in days of the week. The increasing private vehicle usage byllUM community (staffs and students) is posing a strain on the abil ity of the existing road and the related infrastructure on-campus. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing the stated preference of the academic staffs of IIUM towards various aspects of telecommuting. About 100 respondents had participated in this study through a self-administered questionnaire survey. Four research hypotheses highlighting the relationship between the preference to telecommute and commute distance, commute time, marital status having children as well as amount of time spent on research were formulated. Among the hypotheses, only the hypothesis highlighting the preference to telecommute and married female staff with children was tested statistically significant at 95% confidence interval. On the preference to telecommute, about 68% of the respondents expressed willingness to telecommute, even though, the University does not have an official policy on telecommuting arrangement. Some of the recommendations to increase the penetration of telecommuting in IIUM are: establishing telecommuting arrangement;promoting awareness of telecommuting; implementing telecommuting pilot project and conducting further study on various other aspects of telecommuting.
Near-Native Interrupt Latency in Real-Time Guests: Handler Emulation Through Memory Map Morphing

Interrupt latency, critical in real-time applications, is increased in virtualized systems; interrupts intended for a non-running partition can be delayed up to the length of the scheduling period. State-of-the art techniques for decreasing latency in real-time guests relax temporal isolation requirements, allowing guests’ interrupt handlers to be executed within another partition’s time slot. However, this approach does not yet achieve native latencies, due to the need to switch guests’ contexts, inducing overhead for Hypervisor execution. This paper presents an approach for reducing interrupt latencies: by taking advantage of virtualization support hardware in modern microprocessors, we show that real-time guests’ interrupt handlers can be executed within Hypervisor hardware context, i.e., by Hypervisor-dedicated processor hardware, eliminating the need for switching guests’ context and approaching native latencies. This is achieved by morphing the Hypervisor’s memory map translation mechanisms, so software is executed within the real-time guest’s memory context, allowing near-native interrupt latency. We evaluate our implementation, consisting of virtualization hardware and software, on a softcore ARM processor prototyped on a Xilinx Virtex 5 FPGA, running Linux and FreeRTOS. Results show memory map morphing is capable of achieving near-native interrupt latency for a real-time guest, outperforming the state of the art.
Efficient Online Collaborative Learning Through Concept Mapping with Kit-Build Concept Map

A learning process can be facilitated by the interaction and participation of students in its activities. However, the barrier of direct learning activity due to the global pandemic COVID-19 situation significantly decreases students’ engagement and understanding of learning materials. The situation challenges educators to keep the pace of achieving the expected learning outcomes by creating effective distance learning environments and methods. Facilitating students with collaborative tasks is one known practical approach to enhance students’ learning outcomes due to its opportunity to allow students to exchange their perspectives and understanding. An online collaborative learning system of Kit-Build concept map has been designed and developed to remove the barrier of offline interaction among students with concept maps. An experiment was conducted to explore how the students would experience the collaboration while using the online collaborative Kit-Build concept system to learn and comprehend a reading material. The result suggested that students who use Kit-Build concept map could structure their knowledge and understand more efficiently. They also managed to have better strategies in composing concept maps collaboratively and understand the learning material more efficiently through discussion. The system and the Kit-Build concept map method could help students monitor and manage their collaborative work better than the traditional open-ended concept mapping strategy. Thus, using Kit-Build concept map to learn collaboratively with concept maps becomes the recommended strategy in distance learning.
Efficient ultrasonic grinding: a new technology for micron-sized coal. Quarterly technical progress report No. 2, December 16, 1979-March 15, 1980

Work focused on establishing experimentally determined parameters for ultrasonic comminution and their translation into the design of an ultrasonic comminution array for Phase I testing. Early work indicated that continuous removal of fines during communition could significantly increase the production of -10 micron particles. Similarly, varying the mechanical gain of the ultrasonic comminution apparatus and thereby increasing the strain amplitude of the system was shown to enhance fines production. A gain of 3:1 (i.e., a three-fold increase in strain amplitude) produced the best results. These features used with an ultrasonic cylinder segment apparatus resulted in 276% increase in the production of -10 micron fines over that generated by passing coal through a non-activated control. Thus influenced, the design of the Phase I ultrasonic comminution apparatus will incorporate both a dual-roll and roller/plate capability; it will provide continuous flow of particles through the region of ultrasonic activation, thus permitting removal of fines as they are comminuted; and will function with a gain of 3:1. The Phase I apparatus also offers the flexibility of operating with either traveling or standing ultrasonic waves. Varying the physical configuration (dual-roller or roller plate) and the mode of ultrasonic activation (traveling or standing wave) allows formore » cost effective testing of four different techniques. Additionally, operating frequency has been reduced to 15 kHz to permit use of off-the-shelf hardware in apparatus assembly and thus expedite testing. Selection of four representative, well-characterized coals has been completed; after initial testing, 200 lb. quantities of two of the samples will be secured for Phase II experimentation. « less
Conflict and Community: Outcomes of South Asian Indian American Students’ Involvement Within Christian Student Organizations

Abstract Research concerning Indian American Christian college students’ experiences is virtually non-existent, leaving scholars and student affairs professionals lacking empirical data to support this population. This qualitative study explores how the experiences of 15 Indian American college students involved in Christian Student Organizations (CSOs) affected their cocurricular experience and identity development. Findings from the study revealed three major outcomes of CSO involvement: (a) confronting difference, (b) balancing pressures, and (c) creating community. Implications for scholarship and practice are discussed.
Identity-portfolio-management: a data-led research study of organisational entrant engagement in processes of identity-creation and identity management

This PhD dissertation examines the identity-creation and identity-management processes involved in an individual’s entry into a new organisational context. This examination was achieved through the utilisation of a multi-method research design, with a quantitative component supporting the dominant qualitative component of the research study. The data collected from the participants, thirty-four first year mature students in two Irish Universities, was principally analysed utilising a discursive psychology analytic approach. The principle research findings were that the participants managed their identity-structures (identity-portfolios) through two interrelated processes. They managed their identity-portfolios through both a management of overarching narratives, acutely relevant during the identity-creation process, and through their engagement in day to day identity-management processes. The degree of success with which a participant managed these processes impacted upon their decision whether or not to remain in university and determined the form of the new context-specificidentity, and ultimately their overall identity-portfolio. This dissertation ultimately presents a model of identity-portfoliomanagement, based upon the research findings. This new model, grounded in participant data, adds to the existing literature by providing a new means of examining issues related to how individuals, in adulthood, manage their identity and offers a new perspective on how this process can be explained.
Mathematical approaches to modeling, understanding, and controlling the acute inflammatory response to pathogen and endotoxin

This thesis includes work dealing with topics related to the modeling, understanding, andcontrolling the acute inflammatory response. After the introductory chapter, the secondchapter discusses a small (four equation) ordinary differential equation (ODE) model of theacute inflammatory response to endotoxin stimuli. Many scenarios of endotoxin toleranceare reproduced and explained in the context of inflammation. The third chapter explores thenumerical aspects of coding an algorithm produced by Bernd Krauskopf and Hinke Osinga[63] for generating 2D (un)stable manifolds for 3D ordinary differential equation systems.The fourth chapter returns to the topic of endotoxin tolerance, but now in an abstractmathematical setting. The fifth chapter presents an exposition regarding the applicationof nonlinear model predictive control to the four equation ODE model (now with pathogeninstead of endotoxin) to explore strategies to modulate the inflammatory response duringsevere infection.
Nonlinearity and Flight‐to‐Safety in the Risk‐Return Trade‐Off for Stocks and Bonds

We document a highly significant, strongly nonlinear dependence of stock and bond returns on past equity-market volatility as measured by the VIX. We propose a new estimator for the shape of the nonlinear forecasting relationship that exploits additional variation in the cross section of returns. The nonlinearities are mirror images for stocks and bonds, revealing flight to safety: Expected returns increase for stocks when volatility increases from moderate to high levels, while they decline for Treasuries. We further demonstrate that these findings are evidence of dynamic asset pricing theories where the time variation of the price of risk is a function of the level of the VIX.
Human comfort and self-estimated performance in relation to indoor environmental parameters and building features

The main objective of the Ph.D. study was to examine occupants’ perception of comfort in nonindustrialbuildings (homes and offices), in particular how building occupants understand comfortand which parameters, not necessarily related to indoor environments, influence the perception ofcomfort. To meet the objective, the following actions were taken: (1) a literature survey exploring whichindoor environmental parameters (thermal, acoustic, visual environment and air quality)predominantly determine overall comfort and whether other factors unrelated to the indoorenvironment influence the perception of comfort; the literature survey summarized 42 peerreviewedand conference articles and 1 book covering the period from 1970 to 2009;(2) preparation, distribution and analysis of a questionnaire survey sent to 2499 addressesrepresenting the most common types of residential buildings in Denmark and filled out by 645persons (response rate of 26%); and (3) analysis of the post-occupancy satisfaction surveyconducted by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California Berkeleyin 351 mainly U.S. office buildings and filled out by 52,980 building occupants.
PERFORMANCE EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DEBRIEFINGS IN TRANSPARENT SIMULATIONS

Simulation-based learning environments are used extensively to support learning in complex business systems. Nevertheless, studies show that subjects have great difficulty in understanding and managing dynamic systems, mainly due to cognitive processing difficulties. Previous research has addressed some aspects of model transparency and instructional strategy and produced inconclusive results about their impact on learning effectiveness. This study explores the learning and performance effects of using transparent simulations (that is, showing users the internal structure of models) and applying structural and behavioural debriefings focussed respectively on the critical variables and relations and on the relation between model structure, patterns of actions, and system behaviour. We present a set of hypotheses about the influence of the model transparency and debriefing conditions on participants’ performance and comprehension of the system dynamics. In a simulation experiment, participants interacted with a system dynamics model, representing the growth of a business venture. Participants provided with the more transparent strategy and exposed to structure and behavioural debriefings achieved higher performance and demonstrated better comprehension of the model dynamics. However, our findings indicate that while these conditions are beneficial for understanding the business system dynamics, making only the simulator transparent, even combined with structural debriefing, is more limited in its effect. Three out of the six hypotheses were confirmed. Structural debriefing (in conjunction with model transparency) positively influences performance, behavioural debriefing (combined with model transparency) positively influences both model dynamics comprehension and performance.
The Business Case for Systems Engineering Study: Results of the Systems Engineering Effectiveness Survey

Abstract : This report summarizes the results of a survey that had the goal of quantifying the connection between the application of systems engineering (SE) best practices to projects and programs and the performance of those projects and programs. The survey population consisted of projects and programs executed by system developers reached through the National Defense Industrial Association Systems Engineering Division (NDIA-SED), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (IEEE-AESS), and the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). Analysis of survey responses revealed strong statistical relationships between project performance and several categories of specific SE best practices. The survey results show notable differences in the relationship between SE best practices and performance between more challenging and less challenging projects. The statistical relationship with project performance is quite strong for survey data of this kind when both SE capability and project challenge are considered together.
Touch-Avoidance and Touch-Seeking in Non-intimate Relationships: The Null Effects of Sightedness

People differ in their touch preferences and in the ways in which they touch others. People who are blind are particularly sensitive to tactile stimulation as a result of sensory compensation, and sense of touch can support their interpersonal communication. In the article presented here, we aimed to explore whether visual status predicts preferences for touch behaviors involving strangers; specifically, we examined touch-seeking and touch-avoidance in non-intimate interpersonal situations. Our study, whose participants comprised 43 individuals with congenital blindness, 53 individuals with adventitious blindness, and 47 sighted controls, showed that visual status does not predict touch-seeking or social touch-avoidance. We also observed similar gender differences in all participating groups, with women avoiding social touch more than men in non-intimate interpersonal situations involving strangers.
Mediating Role of Psychological Contract Fulfilment on the Relationship between Strength of HR Signal and Organisational Commitment: Evidence from the Indian Manufacturing Sector

This study examined the relationship between human resource (HR) signals’ strength and affective organisational commitment (AOC) through the mediating role of psychological contract fulfilment (PCF). Survey data were collected from 460 manufacturing sector respondents. Structural equation modelling confirmed that HR signals’ strength and PCF positively influenced AOC. PCF also mediated the relationship between the HR signal and AOC’s strength. Results have theoretical implications, as well as practical implications for the management to consider fulfilling its obligations to meet employee needs and expectations through appropriate HR strategies for enhancing employees’ AOC.
Mobility Tool Use Relates to Disability Affirmation among Adults with Visual Impairments

Introduction: Research is beginning to support the association between positive disability identity and well-being among individuals with disabilities, including those with visual impairments (i.e., blindness and low vision). To enhance practitioner understanding of how to support individuals with visual impairments, research is needed to examine how disability identity attitudes may vary based on disability characteristics in this population. Methods: Using multiple linear regression, the author examined the association between impairment-related factors and personal disability identity (PDI; i.e., disability affirmation and disability acceptance) and group disability identity (GDI) in a sample of 212 adult U.S. residents with visual impairments. Results: Results of this study indicated that participants who use a mobility tool (cane, dog guide, or both) have higher self-reported disability affirmation (p = .001)—an identity construct related to feelings of disability pride versus shame—after controlling for age, gender, and impairment-related factors (e.g., severity indicators). The Cohen’s f 2 value for the affirmation model was . 15, a medium effect size (Cohen, 1988). The regression on GDI indicated that younger participants, in general, reported higher feelings of connection to the disability community (i.e., higher GDI; p = .001); Cohen’s f 2 was . 13, a small effect. The regression on disability acceptance yielded non-significant findings. Discussion: Researchers and practitioners working with adults who have visual impairments should consider the relationship between an individual’s disability affirmation and decision-making regarding mobility tool use and training. Future research should also examine hypotheses regarding the negative association between age and GDI among adults with visual impairments. Implications for practitioners: Practitioners within the field of visual impairment may benefit from a consideration of consumer disability identity, including disability affirmation and disability group affiliation.
The influence of the practical and applied arts on randomly selected comprehensive high school students

This report is a summary of a Master’s thesis by Arnold Neufeld, University of Saskatchewan. Read this report to learn more about: the history and influence of the Practical and Applied Arts on comprehensive high school students. reasons for students taking the courses. the current state and future of Practical and Applied Arts in Saskatchewan. the effect the courses had on graduates’ career and education choices. recommendations for boards of education.
Central Bank Communications and Professional Forecasts: Evidence From India

We analyze the influence of qualitative and quantitative communications of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on inflation expectations of professional forecasters and draw out implications for policy. Estimating Carroll-type epidemiological models of expectation formation under information rigidities, we get a large speed of adjustment of professional forecasters’ expectations. Analysis of the determinants of inflation forecasts, inflation surprises, and forecaster disagreement reveals significant influence of quantitative RBI communications in the form of inflation projections. This effect is prominent for shorter-horizon forecasts and after adoption of flexible inflation targeting. Macroeconomic fundamentals like lagged inflation and repo rate also significantly influence inflation forecasts. Choice of words in the RBI monetary policy statements has more impact after October 2016, when the monetary policy committee became the decision-making body. JEL Classification: E31, E52, E58
A new tehcnology for measuring blast movement

The movement of ore within a blast can have significant economic impact on open pit metal mines. The deposits are often heterogeneous with valuable mineralization disseminated throughout the planned mining blocks and benches. Blasting of these blocks is necessary to fragment the rock mass and loosen the resulting muckpile for efficient excavation however blasting causes movement of the rock and this is detrimental to the accurate delineation of the ore and waste regions within the resulting muckpile. The consequences can be ore loss (the ore moves to a region marked as waste and is discarded) and dilution (waste is miscategorised as ore and sent to the concentrator). If the movement can be accurately measured, ore loss and dilution can be minimised and significant increase in profit can be realised.