Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Petrography and mineral chemistry of mantle xenoliths in a carbonate-rich melilititic tuff from Mt. Vulture volcano, southern Italy

Abstract We present petrographic and mineralogical data for 21 mantle xenoliths (12 lherzolites, 8 wehrlites and 1 composite) selected from a suite of more than 70 samples collected from the Monticchio Formation, Mt. Vulture volcano, southern Italy. The xenoliths are rounded, coarse- to porphyroclastic-textured, and very fresh, with the following equilibrated mineral assemblages; olivine (Fo90−92), orthopyroxene (~En89, Wo2.0), clinopyroxene (Mg90−92, 3−6% Al2O3, 1−1.5% Cr2O3), and chrome-spinel (14−20% MgO, ~30−40% Cr2O3). Many xenoliths contain partial melt glasses and accessory sulphide (pentlandite). Some contain primary mica (phlogopite with ~4% FeO, 1.8% Cr2O3, 1.4−2.8% TiO2) with slightly zoned rims (Fe-, Ti-, Al-enriched). One contains relics of garnet (pyrope; Mg84). Secondary veins in several xenoliths contain carbonate with significant Sr levels (~0.5−1.0% SrO), occasional apatite and scarce melanite, all typical of carbonatites and presumably related to the host magma (melilitite/carbonatite). Although amphibole is a common megacryst in the same volcanic units, no primary amphibole was found in the xenoliths themselves. Calculated pressures and temperatures using a range of geothermometers/barometers give values of 14−22 kbar and 1050–1150°C. In particular, the En-Sp and Di-Sp thermo/barometers (Mercier, 1980) show a good positive correlation between P and T. The Monticchio xenoliths lie on the high-T side of an ‘oceanic’ geotherm. The xenolith geotherm is hotter than general heat flow values in this region at the current day (50 mWm-2) but it compares well with the high-pressure end of a typical alkaline continental rift.
Time Pressure in Software Engineering: A Systematic Literature Review

Large project overruns and overtime work have been reported in the software industry. Experiments and case studies have investigated the relationship between time pressure and software quality and productivity. Our search strategy examined 5,332 papers and identified 88 papers as having relevant contributions related to time pressure in a software engineering. Our review investigated definitions, metrics, and causes of time pressure. Also, we map the papers to process phases and approaches. Last, we summarize the effects of time pressure on quality and productivity. The majority of the reported results support the outcome of reduced quality and increased productivity with time pressure.
THE ROLE OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT IN ENHANCING SERVICE DELIVERY IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY

The aim of this study was to investigate sound records management in Nairobi City County (N.C.C) in enhancing service delivery with the intention of making recommendations. The theoretical foundation for the study was based on systems theory. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The target population of the study included all the 22 records clerks in the various departments of Nairobi City County as well as the records manager. A census approach was used to select all the 22 records clerks staff while purposive sampling technique was used to select the records manager. The data collection tools were self-administered questionnaire and interview. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of SPSS. Qualitative data was organized into broad themes and the content reported in a narrative form. The researcher collected from the respondents all the questionnaires which translated to a return rate of 100%. The results of the study established that although N.C. C had a records management policy, it was rarely complied with and there was no mechanism in place to monitor the staffs’ compliance with it. The policy had also not been reviewed since its formulation. The study recommended that the records manager should establish a mechanism through which the records management policy can be complied with by the personnel. Key Terms: Disposal, Document, Electronic record, Integrity, Preservation, Record, Records management, Records management policy, Records security, Records system
Cronfa - Swansea University Open Access Repository

Purpose – This study aims to identify and examine the most important factors that could predict the Saudi customer’s continued intention towards adoption of mobile banking. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed conceptual model was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model. This is also expanded by considering two additional factors: perceived privacy and perceived security. By using a self-administered questionnaire, the data was collected from a convenience sample of Saudi banking customers from different parts of Saudi Arabia. Findings – The main results based on structural equation modelling analyses supported the impact of perceived privacy, perceived security, perceived usefulness, and task-technology fit on the customers’ continued intention to use mobile banking. Research limitations/implications – The moderation influence of the demographic factors (i.e. age, gender, income level, educational level) was not tested. The data was also collected using a self-report questionnaire; however, it would be more accurate to utilise more statistics from the bank database about the users of m-banking.
Tight oil sandstones in Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, N. China: Reservoir quality destruction in a closed diagenetic system

An investigation of the Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, N. China, revealed that the diagenesis and quality of tight oil sandstone reservoirs (with an average porosity of 9.83% and an average permeability of 0.96 mD) were controlled by a closed diagenetic system. The carbonate cements observed in the sandstone were derived from decarboxylation of organic matter that occurred in the adjacent mudstones. These reactions supplied CO32−, which reacted with cations derived from grain dissolution in the sandstones. The average size of the diagenetic geochemical system with respect to carbonate cements was small (<6 × 10−2 m3), comprising sandstone and its adjacent mudstone(s). The carbonate cements tend to concentrate in the marginal sandstone, which is taken to indicate that the flux of CO32− into the sandstones limited the quantity of carbonate precipitated. In addition, the mass is near balance between the amount of feldspar dissolution and its by‐products in the central sandstone (distance to the sandstone/mudstone interface is mainly more than 1 m), where the permeability of sandstone will present a decreasing trend with the increase of feldspar dissolution pores. The pore space of central sandstone will be just redistributed, with primary intergranular pores converting to feldspar dissolution pores and clay mineral micropores. Thus, the best part of the sandstone reservoirs tends to be the central part of sandstone. In particular, sandstones that are more than 2 m thick could be the potential hydrocarbon reservoirs because they retain the best porosity (average of 13.6%) and permeability (average of 1.8 mD). The results of our study provide an important guide for the exploration of tight oil sandstones in other petroliferous basins over the world.
Stucture Changes in Nephila Dragline: The Influence of Temperature, Humidity and Mechanical Load

The emphases of this thesis are the observation, the analysis and the interpretation of the response of Nephila dragline s crystalline parts to temperature, humidity and mechanical load. It is the purpose of this work to provide a more detailed insight in the tensile response of spider dragline silk s crystalline structure in order to get a better understanding of the correlation between the fiber s structure and tensile qualities. Regardingly thermal denaturation studies and single fiber X-ray diffraction in combination with stress-strain measurements and humidity variation have been successfully performed. The observed strain and humidity dependent crystallite size suggests that the crystalline parts contribute much more to the fiber s mechanical properties than supposed before.
Label Optimal Regret Bounds for Online Local Learning

In many settings, we would like to make predictions about the local structure of a problem rather than explicitly trying to learn some global structure. For instance, given two teams from some set of teams, we may want to know if one team will beat the other, while we may not be explicitly interested in a ranking of all of the teams. A recent framework proposed by Christiano (2014a) called “online local learning” captures this broad class of problems, which includes online max cut and online gambling. In the online local learning setting, we receive pairs of items from some set of items of size n , and we must label them from some set of labels of size l . Christiano (2014a) provides a Follow-the-Regularized-Leader algorithm using a log determinant regularizer that obtains regret O ( √ nl 3 T ). In this thesis, we improve the analysis of Christiano’s algorithm to obtain regret O ( √ nlT ). We also present a matching lower bound based on a reduction from the planted clique problem, which is believed to have no polynomial-time algorithm for planted cliques of size k = o ( n 1 / 2 ). We then show a similar reduction from the planted dense subgraph problem, which is believed to be even harder than the planted clique problem. This thesis is a more detailed treatment of the material from Awasthi et al. (2015), which ﬁrst showed these results.
ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University

While organizational investment in complex information technologies (IT) keeps growing, these technologies are often applied at a superficial level and fail to attain the promised benefits. To further extract the value potential of complex IT, this study investigates employee users’ innovate with IT (IwIT), which is a post-acceptance behavior that refers to individual users’ applying IT in novel ways to support their task performance. Drawing on the information systems continuance (ISC) model, we propose a research framework with perceived usefulness (PU) and satisfaction (SAT) as the antecedents of IwIT. We further emphasize the contingent role of personal characteristics and include personal innovativeness with IT (PIIT) and information technology self-efficacy (ITSE) as the moderators of the framework. We validate the model with data from users of two complex ITs: enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business intelligence (BI) technologies. The results suggest that positioning personal factors as moderators significantly increases the explanatory power of the ISC model and offers a more comprehensive understanding about IwIT. Specifically, ITSE positively moderates the effect of PU, and negatively moderates the effect of SAT, on IwIT. The moderating role of PIIT, however, is subject to the specific type of IT of investigation.
The Journey to New Lands: Utilizing the Global IT Workforce Through Offshore-Insourcing

'Offshoring' implies that service providers are IT personnel located in a country which is different from the client's country; this is also known as global-sourcing or offshore-sourcing. For example, both China and India may be considered as 'offshore' countries with respect to the United Kingdom or USA. Furthemore, 'insourcing' implies that the service providers are client employees (who work for its subsidiary or internal IT department). Hence, offshore-insourcing (or global-insourcing) implies that the client's IT department (or subsidiary) that provides IT services is located in a country that is different from the client's country. This chapter introduces a prescriptive conceptual framework from the practitioner's perspective for the 'offshore-insourcing' journey. In the decision phase of offshore-insourcing, we answer the questions 'Why to insource from offshore? ', 'What to insource from offshore? ', and 'Where to offshore? ' In the implementation phase we answer the question 'How to insource from offshore? ', and describe the importance of evaluating outcomes. In the process of answering these questions, we discuss insourcing vs. outsourcing and the possible need for offshoring. We think of ways to select the IT functions that can be insourced from offshore, and also look at the popular offshore destinations. We discuss process of managing change, setting up the offshore center, recruiting IT professionals at offshore, and managing the IT professionals at onshore and offshore within the ambit of the global delivery model. Throughout the decision and implementation phases of offshore-insourcing, the focus is on the challenges related to managing IT personnel. The appendixes provide a comparison of offshore-insourcing scenarios in China versus India. Many multinationals like Microsoft, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, Google, and IBM that have set up research labs and other facilities in China and India to take advantage of skilled professionals through offshore-insourcing.
The evaluation of geoheritage for geotourism development: Case study on the potential Geopark Djerdap

Geotourism is a relatively new form of tourism with considerable European and global growth potential. Interest in geotourism is developing at a very rapid rate around the world. It is of great importance to support and enhance the global movement about geotourism generally and specifically into geoparks. Geoparks are different to other forms of protected areas, such as national parks, nature reserves etc. In this paper focus of the research is on quantitative assessments of the exceptional values of geoheritage for the science, education and tourism potential use in the area of the potential Geopark Djerdap. Five selected geosites are relevant to evaluate key values for science, education, and tourism with additional consideration given to degradation risk. All the post-assessment findings aim to improve the focus on the ultimate goal of the study, i.e. to justify the synergy between the protection of natural values (geoconservation) and the corresponding activities in the process of managing the development of geotourism in the study area.
Implications of Information Technology for Employment, Skills, and Wages: A Review of Recent Research

An extensive review of the research literature on the effects of information technology (IT) on employment levels, job skill requirements, and wages. The first sections provide historical background on earlier waves of concern regarding automation and contemporary public opinion, then examine trends in overall employment and demand for IT workers. The second half of the paper is a detailed review of the econometric research and debate over skill-biased technological change and competing explanations of the growth of earnings inequality.
OLD DOG NEW TRICKS! ON TRAINING KNOWLEDGE GRAPH EMBEDDINGS

Knowledge graph embedding (KGE) models learn algebraic representations of the entities and relations in a knowledge graph. A vast number of KGE techniques for multi-relational link prediction has been proposed in the recent literature, often with state-of-the-art performance. These approaches differ along a number of dimensions, including different model architectures, different training strategies, and different approaches to hyperparameter optimization. In this paper, we take a step back and aim to summarize and quantify empirically the impact of each of these dimensions on model performance. We report on the results of an extensive experimental study with popular model architectures and training strategies across a wide range of hyperparameter settings. We found that when trained appropriately, the relative performance differences between various model architectures often shrinks and sometimes even reverses when compared to prior results. For example, RESCAL (Nickel et al., 2011), one of the first KGE models, showed strong performance when trained with state-of-the-art techniques; it was competitive to or outperformed more recent architectures. We also found that good (and often superior to prior studies) model configurations can be found by exploring relatively few random samples from a large hyperparameter space. Our results suggest that many of the more advanced architectures and techniques proposed in the literature should be revisited to reassess their individual benefits.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Geodetic Slip-Rate Estimates and Uncertainties in California

Developing a comprehensive model of tectonic continental deformation requires assessing (1) fault-slip rates, (2) off-fault deformation rates, and (3) realistic uncertainties. Fault-slip rates can be estimated by modeling fault systems, based on space geodetic measurements of active surface ground displacement such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). Geodetic slip-rate estimates may vary widely due to measurement and epistemic (model) uncertainties, presenting a challenge for both estimating slip rates and accurately characterizing uncertainties: models may vary in the number of faults represented and the precise location of those faults. Since 2003, 33 published geodetic deformation models have produced slip-rate estimates within California. Variability among these models represents variability among valid model choices and may be considered a proxy for model uncertainties in geodetic slip-rate estimates. To enable rigorous comparison between geodetic slip-rate estimates, I combine models on a georeferenced grid and find an average standard deviation on slip rate of ∼1:5 mm=yr over 542 grid cells (average area of 1304 km=cell). Furthermore, the average strike-slip and tensile-slip rates over all 33 studies, in each grid cell, may then be projected onto Unified California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF) v.3. 1 faults for a single summary model of geodetic slip rates. Slip rates that do not project perfectly onto UCERF3.1 faults form a summary model of off-modeled-fault (OMF) deformation. Most of this OMF deformation occurs in grid cells that intersect UCERF3.1 faults, suggesting that off-fault deformation may be, in part, a product of epistemic uncertainty in geodetic slip-rate estimates and may be physically accommodated on, or very near, UCERF faults. Electronic Supplement: Figures showing the results of the geodetic slip-rate analysis in California on different geographic grid sizes.
Effects of Three-Dimension Schroth Exercises and Kinesio Taping on General Mobility of Vertebrae, Angle of Trunk Rotation, Muscle Strength and Endurance of Trunk, and Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscle Strength in Children with Idiopathic Scoliosis

This study aimed to compare the effects of 3-dimension Schroth exercises and Kinesio taping (KT) on several variables in children with idiopathic scoliosis. Female volunteers aged 10 - 18 years with an angle trunk rotation > 7 degrees participated in the study. The 16 volunteers were divided into 2 groups: ‘Three-dimension Schroth exercises’ (Con) and ‘Kinesio tape with Schroth exercises’ (KT). The training program comprised 2 sessions per week with 2 h per session for 6 consecutive weeks. Significant increases of maximal inspiratory pressure (Con; p = 0.046), maximal expiratory pressure (Con; p = 0.046, KT; p = 0.047), and back muscle endurance (Con; p = 0.028, KT; p = 0.028) were recorded. Significant decreases of angle trunk rotation at the thoracic level (Con; p = 0.046, KT; p = 0.017) and the lumbar level (Con; p = 0.042, KT; p = 0.041) were recorded. In conclusion, 3-dimension Schroth exercises and KT with Schroth exercises can increase maximal expiratory pressure, back muscle endurance, and angle of trunk rotation at the thoracic and the lumbar level.
Digital Divides: The New Challenges and Opportunities of e-Inclusion

The digital divide refers to the social and economic inequalities that arise among populations due to inclusion or exclusion in digital resources. In the United States, for example, one quarter of the population is still offline. As the digital age advances, public policy officials must determine where the gaps are, and how to maneuver closure of these gaps. Divided into sections ranging from defining the issues, geographic and multilevel trends, stakeholder perspectives, best practices, and future developments, this book explores how governments can bridge the digtial divide.
Convergence of scaled renewal processes and a packet arrival model

We study the superposition process of a class of independent re-newal processes with long-range dependence. It is known that under two diﬀerent scalings in time and space either fractional Brownian motion or a stable L´evy process may arise in the rescaling asymptotic limit. It is shown here that in a third, intermediate scaling regime a new limit process appears, which is neither Gaussian nor stable. The new limit process is characterized by its cumulant generating function and some of its properties are discussed.
How many and how do we know? Assessing population projection methods in Ontario

As population projections inform different types of decisions at the local, regional, provincial and national scale, it follows that different levels of governance would have differing emphases and methods. Similarly, considering the variability of population size, and fiscal and monetary resources between municipalities, different cities implement significantly different population projection methods. This review of methodological differences reflected in the approaches taken by various levels of government concludes that more complex, time consuming and expensive models are used at higher levels of governance and in larger cities and are more likely to provide more accurate and precise results. Smaller and peripheral cities tend to use simpler, less time- and resource-intensive methods. An assessment framework of nine criteria concluded that the share capture method is the best methodological alternative for local scale population projection.
Design, development and validation of a workplace cyberbullying measure, the WCM

ABSTRACT Cyberbullying research is beginning to expand from its roots in the youth context into the organizational realm. However, a lack of psychometrically sound scales that capture the diverse features of technological communication has hindered workplace cyberbullying research. The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable measure to assess cyberbullying across various communication technologies and disparate working populations. Three separate studies, involving a total of 944 respondents from different work settings, were conducted to establish a 17-item workplace cyberbullying measure (the WCM). In Study 1, descriptions of workplace cyberbullying behaviours were collected and converted into measurement items. The factor structure and reliability of the scale were examined during Study 2. Further validation of the WCM was established in Study three by assessing correlations with a wide range of variables. Regression analysis demonstrated that the measure explained significant incremental variance in emotional exhaustion over and above existing harassment constructs. Justification for developing the WCM rather than adapting existing measures is presented, along with implications for research and practice.