Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bivariate bias correction of the regional climate model ensemble over the Adriatic region

The main goal of this analysis is to provide an assessment of the fine grid regional climate model (RCM) ensemble over the broader Adriatic region, which is the domain with orographically complex terrain and a developed coastline. The results of this study are a beneficial complement to earlier work on using modified bivariate bias correction methods. This analysis was based on an ensemble of 12 combinations of three RCMs and four global climate models (GCMs) from 1971 to 2004, divided into calibration and validation parts. A comparison of one univariate and three versions of bivariate bias correction methods of summer and winter monthly temperature and precipitation was performed. To examine the effect of various methods, we used different marginal distributions and distributions of dependence (copula). Bivariate bias correction was conducted with parametric and empirical marginal distributions. In the quantile mapping (univariate) and the parametric bivariate method, gamma (precipitation) and normal (temperature) probability distributions were used. We documented the bias and the influence of bias correction methods on precipitation and temperature, including their climate change signals in historical data. The considered methods maintained the spatial distribution of trends from the native ensemble. If the relationship between variables was not distinct and the correlation coefficient was low, bivariate bias correction methods tended to weaken the correlation coefficient from the model. Two experiments on how the bias correction methods influence statistical measures of the considered variables and their relationships showed that the bivariate method with empirical distributions (eeG) performed slightly better than other methods. Although the eeG method performed better than the other methods, none of the considered methods was able to fully preserve the correlation coefficient between variables detected from observations. Considering two copulas (Gaussian and Student's t), we conclude that the effect of different copula types on method performance is small.
Second Language Vocabulary Teaching and Learning: A Commentary on Four Studies for the JALT Vocabulary SIG

Four papers by Brandon Kramer, Tohru Matsuo, Aaron Sponseller, Young Ae Kim, Suzuka Nishiyama, and Stuart McLean; Stuart Benson and Naheen Madarbakus-Ring; Michael McGuire and Jennifer Larson-Hall; and Atsushi Mizumoto, Geoffrey Pinchbeck, and Stuart McLean were presented in the morning session of the 2021 Vocabulary SIG Symposium held in Kyoto, Japan, on 04 December 2021. As discussant, it was my pleasure to comment on each of the papers. The four studies were investigations of the attrition of productive vocabulary knowledge; the lexical composition of two English for Academic Purposes (EAP) textbooks; the relationship between high-frequency multi-word sequences, speech rate, and listening perception; and the use of various word lists with the New Word Level Checker. After reviewing and summarising each study in this paper, I present suggestions for further developing the studies and expanding the research agenda of each study.
Protection and Monitoring of DESO

This chapter first accurately reviews the basics of smart microgrid protection since the definitions vary from a reference to another. Then it focuses on the fault responses of Inverter-Based Resources (IBR’s) as those are emerging technologies that will be playing the great role of interfacing primary energy resources and the grid. In particular, for materialization of net-zero Carbon emission in electricity generation, the use of IBR’s is indispensable. However, the non-universal and software-defined IBR fault responses make conventional relays such as overcurrent, directional, and distance relays inapplicable in heavily IBR-based grids. Therefore, the discrepancy between conventional and IBR fault responses is elaborated and possible solutions to the looming protection issues are discussed. The shortcomings and merits of each solution are also discussed.
DOES DURATION REALLY MATTER

We always hear that if the record had just been longer the structure would have failed, or the next event may be a large magnitude event; it will have much longer durations and we must prepare for that. We test our structural lab specimens under repeated large amplitude cycles. But I contend that for many structural response/demand measures of interest there is little apparent dependence upon the duration of the record. In this paper this is demonstrated for a variety of response measures in the important nonlinear range. If this is true then either it is unnecessary to be concerned about the duration of the record or the response or, perhaps, we have just not found the right response measure. The latter search is in the hands of the experimental engineers.
Factors Associated with Intention to Utilize Cervical Cancer Prevention Strategies among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria

Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer among women in Nigeria, with one-third of all cases occurring during the reproductive period. However, different barriers, including the unaffordability of vaccines and ineffective screening programs, delay preventive measures. Hence, the need to adequately tackle those barriers to improve uptake. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, the descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to gather data from 344 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in three hospitals in Ibadan. Data collected were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20.0. Frequency distribution tables, mean, figures, and multinomial logistics regression were used to summarize and present the data. Most Pregnant women, 34.3%, were aged between 25-29 years, with 35.8. % of them having poor knowledge of HPV, while 61.1% had poor knowledge of cervical cancer. Also, 43.3% of the participants had never heard of HPV. In addition, 47.7% of respondents stated that distance to a health facility could hinder their utilization of cervical cancer prevention strategies. The multinomial logistic regression showed a significant association between awareness of HPV Vaccination and plan for HPV vaccination aOR 0.32 CI (0.14 – 0.76), and plan for cervical cancer screening aOR 0.24 CI (0.11 – 0.53) respectively. It is crucial to correct the negative perception and attitude towards cervical cancer and its preventive measures to help to increase its adoption.
Quantitative ABCD Analysis of Online Food Delivery Services

Purpose: The core idea of the study is to understand the development of ABCD framework for analysing Online Food Delivery Services and to identify and evaluate the determinant issues and key attributes affecting the factors such as Advantages, Benefits, Constraints, and Disadvantages from stakeholders’ point of view and to find the major affecting factor in respect to Online Food Delivery Services. Design: The study has systematically reviewed the published paper related to the ABCD analysis framework from 2016 to 2021. The study employed quantitative analysis through focus group interaction by allotting appropriate weightage to key attributes to find the major affecting factors and critical constituent elements for Online Food Delivery Services. Findings: ABCD analysis framework is the technique used to analyse and evaluate a business model, concept, product, strategy or system. This technique is used by many researchers in different fields for the analysis of their research studies. Quantitative ABCD analysis of Online Food Delivery Services found that Advantages factors affect majorly for the success of the business. The result of ABCD analysis supports the concept/ ideas effectiveness of Online Food Delivery Services. Originality: The paper gives insights on the determinant issues, key attributes, major affecting factors and critical constituent component elements as per the ABCD analysis framework for Online Food Delivery Services. Type of Paper: Empirical Analysis
Managing task and relationship conflicts in international online team learning

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to understanding the role of task conflicts in team-based online learning. The X-Culture network has created an online learning community that involves students all over the world. Correlation and regression analysis revealed that a higher diversity of teams by nationality positively affected team performance. The indirect effect of team diversity on team performance mediated by task conflicts accounted for 59.6% of the total effect. Moderate task conflicts improved team performance. However, instructors and coaches have to prepare students at the early stage of their project cooperation to distinguish between task conflicts and relationship conflicts influenced by motivation, free riding, and online communication habits of team members living in different time zones. Suggestions for preparing students to manage conflicts in online international team projects are presented. These suggestions are relevant for innovative learning projects in higher education involving students from many countries to knowledge co-creation.
Analysis of Job Insecurity, Compensation and Covid Health Protocols Effects on Employee Performance with Work Motivation as a Mediation Variable on Employees of PT Panggung Jaya Indah

employee performance with work motivation as a mediating variable for PT Panggung Jaya Indah employees. Quantitative research method with an associative approach was used as research method. All of permanent employees of PT Panggung Jaya Indah were used as a population. Based on the structural equation modeling or SEM model, this research sample was using 235 permanent employees with a sampling technique using purposive sampling. The research data was collected through the dissemination of questionnaires. The analytical techniques using Partial Least Square or PLS. The results showed that job insecurity has negative and significant effect on work motivation and employee performance. Otherwise, Covid-19 health protocols and compensation have positive and significant impact on work motivation and employee performance.
Quest For Convergence Solution Using Hybrid Genetic Algorithm Trained Neural Network Model For Metamorphic Malware Detection

An unstable economy is rife with fraud. Perpetrated on customers, it ranges from employees’ internal abuse to large fraud via high-value contracts cum control breaches that impose serious consequences to biz. Loyal employees may not perpetrate fraud if not for societal pressures and economic recession with its rationalization that they have bills to pay and children to feed. Thus, the need for financial institutions to embark on effective measures via schemes that will aids both fraud prevention and detection. Study proposes genetic algorithm trained neural net model to accurately classify credit card transactions. Compared, model used a rule-based system to provide it with start-up solution and it has a fraud catching rate of 91% with a consequent, false alarm rate of 9%. Its convergence time is found to depend on how close the initial solution space is to the fitness function, and for recombination and mutation rates applied.
Organic manure and lime change water vapour sorption of a red soil by altering water repellency and specific surface area

Manure and lime as fertiliser and conditioner are widely used on red soils to improve soil fertility and to alleviate soil acidity. Investigating the effects of these compounds on soil interfacial properties is very important for understanding some physical, chemical, and biological processes that are often overlooked. Using a long‐term field experiment (2002–2018) on a red loamy clay soil, we explored how the soil water vapour sorption isotherm, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), specific surface area (SSA), and water repellency (WR) interacted and were affected by low‐rate pig manure (LM, 150 kg N ha−1 year−1), high‐rate pig manure (HM, 600 kg N ha−1 year−1), and high‐rate pig manure with lime (HML). The HML only increased soil pH relative to the HM. The SSA determined with N2 (SSAN2) showed a significant negative correlation with SOC. Both SSA determined with H2O (SSAH2O) and contact angle (CA) were significantly positively correlated with SOC. Manure amendments increased soil water content change (WCC) in the water activity (aw) range of 0.05–0.2 (WCC0.05–0.2) by 6.3–30.2%, but decreased WCC0.2–0.6 and WCC0.6–0.93 by 5.1–12.5% and 2.8–7.0%, respectively. Local hysteresis became more pronounced with high manure or high manure with lime amendment in the intermediate aw range (0.45–0.75). The observed changes of water vapour sorption were attributed to the alteration of SOC affecting SSA and WR.
Multivariate Bias‐Correction of High‐Resolution Regional Climate Change Simulations for West Africa: Performance and Climate Change Implications

A multivariate bias correction based on N‐dimensional probability density function transform (MBCn) technique is applied to four different high‐resolution regional climate change simulations and key meteorological variables, namely precipitation, mean near‐surface air temperature, near‐surface maximum air temperature, near‐surface minimum air temperature, surface downwelling solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed. The impact of bias‐correction on the historical (1980–2005) period, the inter‐variable relationships, and the measures of spatio‐temporal consistency are investigated. The focus is on the discrepancies between the original and the bias‐corrected results over five agro‐ecological zones. We also evaluate relevant indices for agricultural applications such as climate extreme indices, under current and future (2020–2050) climate change conditions based on the RCP4.5. Results show that MBCn successfully corrects the seasonal biases in spatial patterns and intensities for all variables, their intervariable correlation, and the distributions of most of the analyzed variables. Relatively large bias reductions during the historical period give indication of possible benefits of MBCn when applied to future scenarios. Although the four regional climate models do not agree on the same positive/negative sign of the change of the seven climate variables for all grid points, the model ensemble mean shows a statistically significant change in rainfall, relative humidity in the Northern zone and wind speed in the Coastal zone of West Africa and increasing maximum summer temperature up to 2°C in the Sahara.
The High, Low, and Turning Points of College: First Generation Students’ Identity Negotiations and Configurations

ABSTRACT This retrospective study assessed how first-generation college students (FGCS) configured their relational and academic/career identities. Forty-one FGCS completed a lifeline mapping their academic and relational high points, low points, and turning points in high school and college. They then explained these points in a semi-structured interview. While most FGCS experienced a high point after being admitted to college, during their first year they coped with academic and relational low points. We used thematic analysis to derive codes for these experiences and then, holistically classified participants into identity configurations. As predicted, the identity synthesis/assimilation configuration was most frequent. The results are discussed in the context of identity development in college-going FGCS and how their multiple identities support or challenge their academic persistence.
The Effect of Different Curing Temperatures on the Properties of Geopolymer Reinforced with Micro Steel Fibers

In this study, geopolymer mortar was designed in various experimental combinations employing 1% micro steel fibers and was subjected to different temperatures, according to the prior works of other researchers. The geopolymer mortar was developed using a variety of sustainable material proportions (fly ash and slag) to examine the influence of fibers on its strength. The fly ash weight percentage was 50%, 60%, and 70% by slag weight to study its effect on the geopolymer mortar's properties. The optimal ratio produced the most significant results when mixed at a 50:50 ratio of fly ash and slag with 1% micro steel fibers at curing temperature 240oC for 4 hours through two days. The compressive strength of the geopolymer mortar increased by 11%, 11.5%, and 14% after 3, 7, and 28 days when utilizing fibers. The result shows that fly ash with a ratio of 50% by weight of slag improved the compressive strength of the mixture. It was discovered that a combination with 50% of the weight of fly ash with micro steel fibers, when treated at 240oC for curing age of 3, 7, and 28 days, had a flexural resistance rate of 28%, 30%, 33% higher than a mixture without fibers.
Relationship between leadership style and organization effectiveness

Leadership studies often suggest that path goal leadership in particular produces desirable leadership outcomes. However, few studies have demonstrated a direct link between the exercise of a particular type of leadership and organizational effectiveness. This paper describes the Leadership Style and Organizational Effectiveness in Delhi/NCR. Attempt was made to determine if there is a significant relationship between leadership styles in relation to organization effectiveness. A total of 67 randomly selected leaders from the Delhi NCR completed leadership style and organizational effectiveness questionnaires. (a) Leadership styles included directive, supportive, participated and action oriented leadership. The most common leadership style is directive leadership style. (b) There is no relationship between directive leadership styles and organization effectiveness. (c) There is no relationship between action oriented leadership style and organization effectiveness
Ethical-decision making of ‘Flights to Nowhere’ passengers in the COVID-19 and climate change era

ABSTRACT With international travel halting as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, several airlines sought to offer Flights to Nowhere as a way to generate revenue and keep their aircrafts flight-ready. Flights to Nowhere are sightseeing flights that start and finish at the same airport without landing elsewhere. These flights have been heavily criticized for creating unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. This research explores the ethical decision-making process and the subsequent rationalization of taking Flights to Nowhere. Using cognitive dissonance theory and neutralization techniques, we analyse in-depth interviews with passengers that have recently taken a Flight to Nowhere. Passengers did not immediately make the connection between Flights to Nowhere and climate change but on reflection, they justified these flights using a range of neutralization techniques including an appeal to higher loyalties, denial of injury, and justification by comparison.
Palaeoecological reconstruction of the Late Devonian Lebedjan biota

ABSTRACT Palaeozoic fossil-bearing deposits in Russia record important and rare insights into pre-Mesozoic palaeoecological systems. Among the known formations, the Late Devonian (Famennian) deposits exposed in the central part of Russian platform have been under-documented. To expand the record of these formations, some of which show evidence of soft-bodied preservation, we revisit the Famennian-aged Lebedjan Formation from the Lipetsk region, central European Russia. We examine and record three outcrops lithologically and stratigraphically. In re-considering the Lebedjan Formation, we illustrate novel evidence for macrophytic algae, crustaceans, fishes, stromatolites, and xiphosurans preserved within the deposit. In doing so, we present a more complete reconstruction of this Late Devonian palaeoecosystem and demonstrate that sections of the Lebedjan Formation record low energy, lagoonal palaeoenvironments that had limited influence from the open ocean.
Validation of the Manufactured Home Energy Audit (MHEA)

The Manufactured Home Energy Audit (MHEA) is an energy audit tool designed specifically to identify recommended weatherization measures for mobile homes as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Weatherization Assistance Program. A field validation of MHEA was performed using billing/delivery data collected on 86 mobile homes heated primarily by electricity, natural gas, or propane to assess the audit's accuracy and the validity of its recommendations. The validation found that MHEA overpredicts the annual space-heating energy savings of weatherization measures to be installed in mobile homes, which leads to low realization rates, primarily because of its large overprediction of annual pre-weatherization space-heating energy consumption. However, MHEA's annual space-heating energy savings estimates and realization rates can be improved considerably using MHEA's built-in billing adjustment feature. In order to improve the accuracy of MHEA's annual space-heating energy savings estimates and realization rate, the cause of MHEA's overprediction of annual pre-weatherization space-heating energy consumption needs to be further investigated and corrected. Although MHEA's billing adjustment feature improved MHEA's annual space-heating energy savings estimates, alternative methods of making the correction that may provide improved performance should be investigated. In the interim period before permanent improvements to MHEA can be made, the following recommendationsmore » should be followed: (a) do not enter into MHEA insulation thicknesses of 1 in. or less and especially zero (0 in.) unless such low levels have been verified through visual inspection of several parts of the envelope area in question; (b) use MHEA's billing adjustment feature to develop a list of recommended measures based on adjusted energy savings if possible, especially in mobile homes that have several major energy deficiencies; and (c) do not use MHEA's "evaluate duct sealing" option at this time (although certainly seal all duct leaks and use diagnostics as appropriate to find leakage sites and quantify improvements). « less
Spatial patterns of transport accessibility and traffic load in Czechia: towards a typology of the new road infrastructure impacts

ABSTRACT We analyse the impacts caused by the construction of new road infrastructure between 2005 and 2015 in Czechia, EU. The results provide an answer to which municipalities were affected by the construction of new road infrastructure or how the accessibility of individual regional centres changed. The study works with two key variables: a change in the accessibility of regional centres and a change in traffic load inside municipalities. The key output of the analysis is a map, thanks to which it is possible to assess the impact of the new roads in a broad context. The effects on accessibility to regional centres are much more concentrated in only a few areas where significant transport infrastructure has been lacking so far (e.g. east, southeast, southwest, or northwest part of Czechia). Impacts on traffic load are, on the other hand, distributed more evenly in space, not only on the main transport routes.