Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Bid Evaluation Rule on Participation in Public Procurement Competitions with Endogenous Entry

I study the effects of bid evaluation rule on the participation of potential bidders to public procurement competitions when entry costs exist, and the entry is endogenous. Public procurement design, where the ranking of offers received in an open and competitive bidding phase is based on pre-stated bid evaluation rule, is the most common public procurement protocol in Finland. In large majority of the procurements, bid evaluation rule is based on either price only, or to a scoring rules that considers both price and quality. My contribution is to examine the possibility, that the choice between the two bid evaluation rules can either attract or deter potential bidders contemplating the participation to the public procurement competition. Because entry cost exists and potential bidders are numerous, the number of bids a procurement receives is affected by how lucrative the bidders see the participation. The thesis will introduce a few mechanisms how the choice of the bid evaluation rule could potentially impact the lucrativeness, and thus the number of offers a procurement receives. The analysis is based on public procurement data that procurement consultancy and information technology firm Cloudia Oy collected from years 2012 to 2017. The analysis focuses on construction procurements made by municipalities and public regional organizations. Identification is based on controlling the observable factors. The results from the regressions show that the procurements using scoring rule instead of price-only rule received zero to 0.7 more bids. Results are not statistically significant, but the estimated effect is consistently positive. I suggest that the largest driver for this potential positive effect is the tendency of price and quality auctions to leave larger profit margins to the winning supplier that is documented by earlier studies.
Comparative study on chemical and emulsion properties of 'Saba' banana
[Musa acuminata x balbisiana (BBB group) 'Saba'] peel pectin from different
extraction methods

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical characteristics and emulsion properties of pectin from 'Saba' banana peel extracted using three different methods, namely, acid extraction using citric acid, enzymatic extraction using cellulase, and microwave-assisted extraction. Per cent yield, moisture and ash contents, equivalent weights, methyl and anhydrouronic acid contents, and the degree of esterifications were determined for each pectin extracted using the three different methods. Characterization of the extracted pectin revealed that all 'Saba' peel pectins (SBPs) had a high degree of esterification. Furthermore, acid-extracted pectin (AP) had the highest yield of 20.02% and had the highest purity, as indicated by the lowest ash content and equivalent weight (784.57), and highest anhydrouronic acid content (50.85%) compared to enzymatic (EP) and microwave-assisted extraction (MP). Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed smoother images of AP, which indicated that AP was more degraded compared to milder extraction methods, such as microwave-assisted extraction which yielded the least degraded pectin. Furthermore, emulsion formation and stability using SBPs were determined by measuring cream fraction. Results showed that all SBPs had cream fractions comparable to the control, and there was no difference among extraction methods. Microscopic observations (10×) showed that oil droplet size decreases with increasing concentration. Further, AP had smaller droplets, indicating that AP is capable of forming more stable emulsions compared to EP and MP. Results of this investigation revealed that, although all SBPs were highly esterified, the three extraction methods yielded pectins with different characteristics and purity.
Adaptation of Coriander Plants by Different Types of Fertilizers with Foliar Spraying of Boron to Improve Growth and Productivity

This investigation was carried out at North of Sinai, Egypt D.R. C. during two successive seasons i.e. 2017/ 2018 and 2018/2019, to study the effect of different types of fertilizers, boron and their interactions on the growth, yield and essential oil of Coriandor sativum plants. The design of the experiment was split plot included 12 treatments and 3 replicates, main plot included adding organic matter , sub-plot using Boric acid H3BO3 (17 % B) as foliar spray Results regarding the effect of adding organic matter treated plants with the organic matter humic acid plus Bio-fertilizer, together the best results were given for all growth characteristics. On the other hand, the results indicated that the effect of spraying with different concentrations of boron led to a significant increase when foliar spraying of boron 10 mg/l it gave increase in values all characteristics under studied during the first and second season on the other hand, the interaction between organic matter and foliar application of boron resulted in a significant increase in the characteristics of growth (plant height, number of branches and weight of fruits / plant) and in the yield parameters (fruit weight / feddan, oil percentage, oil content / plant and feddan) Where recorded treatment (humic acid + bio-fertilizers) plus foliar application of boron 10 mg / l the best values in both seasons. Otherwise, sabinene, β-terpenine and geranyle acetate were absent when the plant was treated with humic acid with 20 mg/l of boron, while linaly acetate and geranyle acetate did not appear when the plant was treated with biofertilization alone, as well as in both sabinene and borneol compounds were not present in Biofertilizer with10 mg/l. β-cymene was not present in both treatments (humic acid with Biofertilizer) + 10 mg/l of boron and (humic acid, Biofertilizer with 20 mg/l of boron. In addition, the highest amounts of essential oil components such as linalool, geraniol and limonene that recorded the values of 55.56 %, 26.65 % and 5.31 %, respectively.
Investigating CYGNSS-derived surface reflectivity for estimating soil moisture in Texas

Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) Investigating CYGNSS-derived surface reflectivity for estimating soil moisture in Texas by Shray Mathur This dissertation presents a Machine Learning based soil moisture retrieval method for NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS). The CYGNSS observations are compared to the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite and in-situ Texas Soil Observation Network (TxSON) soil moisture (SM) measurements for the months of January, April and July 2019. An initial grid-wise sensitivity analysis of CYGNSS reflectivity (Pr,eff ) to Soil Moisture (SM) is conducted at a 9x9 km2 grid resolution over the 36x36 km2 TxSON region to assess the spatio-temporal relationships between Pr,eff and SM. Variability among grid cells and seasonal shifts in correlations motivated inclusion of land physical parameters and CYGNSS observation geometry in the analysis. Specifically, we include the Specular Point (SP) incidence angle (θ), Elevation, Clay Fraction, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Depth to Restrictive Layer (DepRes), and surface roughness. The individual effects of these variables on Pr,eff are assessed through a correlation and regression analysis. Finally, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is trained for different combinations of input features to attain SM estimates at 9x9 km2 and 3x3 km2 grid resolutions. The model structure is tuned to attain optimal results for different combinations and a 5-fold cross validation approach is employed to train the models. SM predictions with a root mean squared error of 0.0409 (0.0497) cm3/cm3 and Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.7024 (0.6794) are reported at 9x9 (3x3) km2 grid resolution.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF SAND VOID DIAMETER BY AIR INTRUSION METHOD AND MOISTURE CHARACTERISTIC CURVE METHOD

土の間隙構造を表現する重要な要因である間隙径分布の計測手法として, 筆者らが提案した「空気圧入法」は, 複雑な間隙構造を毛管の集合体とみなす毛管モデルの仮定に基づいている. 本論文では, この圧入法による間隙径分布と水分特性曲線から推定する「水分法」によるものを対比した. その結果, 水分法による間隙径分布に較べて, 圧入法によるものは粒度に関係なく分布範囲が狭く均等な分布型となること, 平均間隙径は9割程度の大きさとなることが判明した. そして, 手法の原理的相違性の観点から両手法による間隙径分布について考察し, 関係付けを試みるとともに, 圧入法における空気通過最小圧は, 水分特性曲線から得られる空気侵入値の6割程度の大きさであることを認めた.
Winter destinations hotels performance measurement practice - evidence from CEE

Abstract This study offers insight into the performance measurement practice of winter destination hotels in Bosnia. The research was conducted through face-to-face interviews with hotel owners, managing directors and managers. In the metrics measurement structure, financial metrics dominate, but hotels use non-financial metrics to a significant extent as well. The results point to the existence of differences in performance measurement of hotels of different income and sales growth. Moreover, the research highlights that managers mostly assess the usefulness of both organizational and operational metrics as above average. Unlike performance measurement, the managers’ attitudes differ only with hotels of different sales growth.
Performance optimization and parametric evaluation of coal deashing and desulfurization in a heavy-medium enhanced gravity field

ABSTRACT High-efficiency deashing and desulfurization of fine coal is an inevitable trend in the comprehensive utilization of coal resources. This work introducing heavy-medium into the enhanced gravity field to examine the effect of each parameter on the performance of fine coal separation. On this basis, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was conducted to study the influential significance of parameters, parametric interactions, and performance optimization of fine coal separation in the heavy-medium enhanced gravity field. The feed dosage and heavy-medium density influence the separation indexes obviously by changing the sorting environment, while the rotational frequency and recoil water pressure affect the separation effect apparently by adjusting the force on particles. The performance optimization results showed that the desired separation indexes – ηt of 81.11%, ηa of 80.00%, β of 44.93%, and λ of 44.76% can be obtained under the optimal combination of parameter levels – M of 27.23 g, ρ of 1.4 g/cm3, f of 30 Hz, and P of 0.03 Mpa. The verification experiments were carried out and the results were consistent with the results of performance optimization. The introduction of heavy-medium provides a new efficient way for the deashing and desulfurization of fine-grained high-sulfur coal in the enhanced gravity field.
The Impact of Viral Marketing Collateral on Brand Image: “#KwentongJollibee” Advertisement

Viral marketing is one of the essential strategies of businesses during promotional campaigns. Many companies have successfully used viral marketing as a profitable and effective marketing strategy. However, information regarding factors and elements that impact viral marketing remains unclear and how this viral marketing campaign influences customer perception. Drawing from Porter’s theory of competitive advantage and the Associative learning theory, this paper seeks to investigate the effect of the viral marketing campaign on customer perception and examine the impact of the factors and elements on viral marketing collateral utilized in advertising a company's product offerings by using a descriptive and correlational paradigm. From the digitally conducted questionnaire with 385 respondents, the results show that viral marketing collateral and its several elements and factors are significant in fortifying a company's brand image, thus positively impacting customer perception.
Exploring the wireless sensor node tradespace within Structural Health Monitoring

Historically, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) involved visually or acoustically observing a structure and if damage was detected, remedial action was undertaken to repair or replace it. For example, as early as 6,500 BC, potters were known to listen for audible sounds during the cooling of their ceramics, signifying structural failure. In 1864 the UK parliament legislated for dam monitoring after a dam failure lead to the deaths of 254 people. The Golden Gate and Bay Bridges in San Francisco were monitored by Dean S. Carder in 1937 to determine "the probabilities of damage due to resonance" during an earthquake. Given the technological limitations of the last century, the predominant focus of SHM has been on identifying and understanding the global modal properties of a structure. However, the promise of SHM is the detection of any damage to infrastructure at the earliest possible moment from an array of sensors and actuators. To achieve this goal, not only global but local facets of the structure must be monitored. If this promise is realized, it will be possible to design bridges closer to their tolerances, to extend their operational lives, and to switch servicing to more cost-effective condition based maintenance. Such changes will reduce construction and maintenance costs while still providing the same level of service. This thesis will explore the wireless sensor node tradespace with the specific intent of delving into the areas limiting large scale, high density, localized coverage of structural health monitoring of bridges. Thesis Supervisor: Patrick Hale Title: Executive Director, System Design and Management Program
Investigation of Carbon Black/ Polyester Micro-composites: An Insight into Nano-size Interfacial Interactions

In the micro/nanomaterial reinforced composites, interfacial interactions at the interface of filler/polymer lead to the formation of a third layer called interphase as the secondary reinforcing mechanism. The interphase may be formed due to local adsorption of polymer chains at the interface, mechanical interlocking, and interdiffusion of polymer chains. Since the interactions govern the load transfer at the filler/polymer interface, they play a key role in the mechanical response of reinforced composites. However, there exist only a few well-established and validated studies in the description of the interfacial interactions presented in thermosetting composites. This research aims at the understanding of correlations amongst the mechanical properties of thermosetting polyester composites reinforced with 0-15 wt. % of carbon black (CB) focusing on the nano-size cooperative rearranging region (CRR). To estimate the length of CRR, thermal analysis of the variations in the specific heat capacity or the relaxation strength within the glass transition temperature (Tg) range was measured using a thermodynamic model. A nano-size CRR of 10 nm on average was estimated and correlated to the enhanced impact and toughness behavior of the specimens. The results suggested the presence of softer interphase based on the Tg values influenced by the CBs agglomeration level and cross-linking density, which in turn governs the mechanical response of the composites. The methodology introduced in this study can be used in the explanation of changes in mechanical and physical properties of reinforced composites with a focus on the underlying role of nano-size interfacial interactions. doi: 10.5829/ije.2022. 35.06c. 05
Assessing Broadband Reliability: Measurement and Policy Challenges

With broadband availability now approaching universal service in the United States, the focus on broadband metrics is shifting toward the assessment of broadband performance. The initial focus has been on the measurement and reporting of the speeds achieved by broadband services. As we develop more comprehensive and, hopefully, more meaningful frameworks for characterizing, measuring, and evaluating broadband performance, one obvious measure of merit will be reliability. In a survey, consumers identified concerns about reliability as second only to speed in importance. Moreover, as our collective reliance on broadband as critical socio-economic infrastructure increases, and as a growing range of services move into the Internet, it is reasonable to expect that demand for reliable broadband service will increase. At the same time, the growth of streaming and interactive rich multimedia, the convergence of fixed and mobile services, and the evolution of the Internet services industry pose new challenges for developing appropriate reliability metrics. While the measurement of broadband availability or speeds and the appropriate interpretation of measurement data are not simple tasks, evaluating reliability is inherently much more complex and difficult.
Modeling energy content of municipal solid waste based on proximate analysis: R-k class estimator approach

Abstract In the Ilorin metropolis, there are power challenges. Energy supplied by Power Holding Company of Nigeria is insufficient for the social, technological, and industrial requirements of the metropolis. Moreover, the huge municipal solid waste (MSW) produced daily that supposed to be converted to energy is only constituting a nuisance. In waste to energy (WTE) procedures, the heating value (HV) of the MSW generated is pertinent in the selection or design of an appropriate waste to energy (WTE) technology required for waste conversion. The HV determination using ultimate analysis is tedious, expensive, and requires specialized equipment. A proximate analysis method that is less tedious and cheaper was adopted to obtain the dependent variables for the modeling of the HV. The high heating value (HHV) of MSW components was determined using a bomb calorimeter, and proximate analysis was used to determine the typical values for fixed carbon (FC), volatile matter (VM), Ash, and moisture (MC) to be 32%, 37%, 13%, and 5% correspondingly. The typical HV was estimated to be 24 MJ/kg. The heating value obtained from the bomb calorimeter was modeled against the dependent variables from proximate analysis. The conventional ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator is popularly used to estimate the model parameters. However, the performance of the estimator suffers a setback when the predictor variables are correlated. Alternatively, the ridge estimator (RE) and the principal component regression estimator (PCE) can be adopted. In this study, we combined PCE and RE to form the r-k class estimator for effective modeling. The estimators’ performances are assessed using the mean squares error (MSE) criterion. The estimator with the smallest MSE is generally preferred. The result, the MSE of OLSE, ridge, PCE, and r-k are 581.84, 2.56, 523.69, and 0.239, respectively. The r-k class estimator outperforms other estimators considered in this study and is employed for the modeling. With a unit increase in the volatile matter and fixed carbon, heating values increased by about 21% and 36%, respectively. Also, the heating values decrease by about 0.2% and 40%, respectively, with a unit increase in Ash and Moisture.
The Effect of Simvastatin and Vitamin D Co-Administration on Rats Brain Function and Behavior: A Behavioral and Biochemical Study

Background & Objective: The simvastatin (Sim) is a lipophilic statin and can cross the blood-brain barrier. The role of vitamin D (Vit D) in brain development and function has been supported over the past decade. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on memory and anxiety levels in healthy male rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into six groups (n=6) including control, Vit D (5 µg/kg/day; IP), Simvastatin (1 mg/kg/day; orally) (SimL), Simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day; orally) (SimH), SimL + Vit D and SimH + Vit D. After 28 days, at the end of the treatment, the behavioral anxiety test and memory behavioral test were performed. Then, the rats were euthanized, and oxidative stress markers of the brain, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and cholesterol levels were investigated. Data were analyzed by SPSS 24 software and Tukey’s test. Results: Co-administration of simvastatin and vitamin D significantly increased working memory, catalase activity, total antioxidant capacity, HDL-C, and decreased anxiety levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, cholesterol, and LDL-C compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, the administration of simvastatin and vitamin D alone did not significantly change the mentioned parameters compared to the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Co-administration of simvastatin and vitamin D can improve brain function by reducing oxidative stress and cholesterol levels.
Disaster Resettlement and Adaptive Capacity among Rural Households in China

Abstract It has long been thought that the implementation of resettlement programs should focus on livelihood reconstruction in the long run rather than just concentrating on material compensation. There is to date little empirical evidence of the extent to which disaster resettlement may affect household adaptive capacity (HAC) in rural communities. To explore whether and how disaster resettlement is shaping HAC, this article conceptualizes and measures adaptive capacity at the household level using household surveys in rural China. An indicator-based framework is adopted to identify and evaluate HAC. The results indicate that resettlement and its consequences have a significant negative impact on HAC. Although resettlement appears to have a central place in development projects in China, we provide evidence that it leads to reducing rather than improving household capacity to adapt to natural disasters.
Testing alternative conceptual models of river‐aquifer connectivity and their impacts on baseflow and river recharge processes

This study simulates the dynamics of exchange fluxes between Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer and the Brazos River, TX. Seven conceptual models for the connection between the river and the aquifer were simulated in HYDRUS 2D using small‐scale, high‐resolution transects across the river. These models assumed varying aquifer lithology and river incision depths and considered processes such as riverbed clogging and seepage face flows. Observed river stage values were used to specify a time‐variable head boundary, and the simulations were tested against observed hydraulic heads in two nearby monitoring wells. The nearly 1.5 years of sub‐hourly measurements spanned both flood and drought periods. The best‐fit conceptual model supported a hypothesized hydraulic disconnection between the subsurface near the river and the wider alluvial aquifer. In contrast to the assumptions of previous studies, these data were more consistent with the presence of a thin, low‐K structure (such as an abandoned paleochannel) rather than riverbed clogging. Across the range of models evaluated, the average net exchange between the river and the aquifer ranged from 0.016 to 12.4 m3/d/m. Most of the variability was attributed to baseflow across the riverbed, which ranged from 0.18 to 13.1 m3/d/m depending on the model. The ranges of exchange fluxes across the seepage face (0.004 to 2.37 m3/d/m) and recharge from the river to the aquifer (0.1 to 5.63 m3/d/m) were significant, but not as influential. Based on these values, the choice of conceptual model could have a profound impact on the accuracy of numerical models used for river management. Extrapolated across the entire reach, this uncertainty would amount to ±83 m3/s of discharge, equivalent to 34% of the river's discharge near its outlet.
Fostering Cognitive Presence in Online Courses: A Systematic Review (2008-2020)

Within the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, cognitive presence has been central to success in higher education settings. This systematic review examined 24 articles published between 2008-2020 that empirically analyzed cognitive presence in online courses. We share the patterns that emerged regarding the interplay between teaching and cognitive presence and social and cognitive presence. We also explore how the four phases of cognitive presence—triggering event, exploration, integration, and resolution—were evident within specific instructional activities. We conclude with implications for practice that will be helpful for course instructors and designers seeking to foster greater cognitive presence within their online courses.