Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Public External Debt on Economic Growth in Ethiopia: The ARDL Approach to Co-integration

Governments need extensive amount of capital funding to achieve the sustainable economic growth. And due to lack of adequate capital, most developing countries such as Ethiopia rely on borrowings from external sources to bridge the resource gap. This study aims to analyze the impacts of public external debt on economic growth in Ethiopia by ARDL approach using a time series annual data from 1983-2018. The model considers annual GDP growth rate as a dependent variable. The debt variables including public external debt stock to GDP (PEDSGD), the ratio of debt service stock to GDP (DSSGD) and debt service stock to export (DSSEXP) and other macroeconomic variables such as trade openness(TRD), rate of inflation(INFL) and public expenditure to GDP ratio(NEXPGD) are explanatory variables. The study used bound testing for co-integration in the long-run and ECM for short-run dynamics. The study showed long-run co-integration, while the speed with which the disequilibrium caused by lack of proper management external fund in earlier years returns to long-term equilibrium is 60.96% in the current year as indicated by coefficient of error correction term. The result of this study revealed that the variables PEDSGD and DSSGD are significant debt variables and have the negative impact on economic growth of Ethiopia in long run and short run. The other debt variable, DSSEXP negatively affects economic growth and is significant but only in the short run. This shows that there is the evidence of crowding out effect of public external debt in the short run. Also, the negative sign and statistical significance of the variable DSSGD shows that there is debt overhung effect of public external debt in the country. The negative impact is probably due to lack of proper management and/or investments of the funds borrowed from external sources into unproductive activities and projects. As a result government should properly allocate its external debt for the productive investment and maintain proper and efficient debt management policy. Keywords: Public external debt, Debt service, Debt Overhang, Debt Crowding out, Economic Growth, ARDL DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-11-03 Publication date: June 30th 2020
An Assessment of End-User Satisfaction of Academic Building Facilities in Tertiary Institutions in Ghana: Perspective of Staff of Wa Polytechnic

The overall satisfaction an occupant gets in the use of a building space has an impact on human comfort, behaviour, health and productivity. Majority of the world population has become urbanized with humans spending most of their time working in indoor office environment. However post occupancy evaluation of buildings has not received the much needed research attention. Thus, this study sort to identify the factors that influence end-users satisfaction of academic building facilities at Wa Polytechnic, so that measures to sustain or improve them could be proposed. The study adopted a quantitative research approach where questionnaire bordering on factors which affect users satisfaction were administered to a sample of seventy employees. The data was subsequently analyzed using relative importance index (RII). The study revealed that user’s satisfaction is slightly above average with an RII value of 0.67. The study also established that inadequate trees and green plants around the buildings had an adverse impact on user satisfaction. Also the absence of commercial activities around the building affects user satisfaction. It was thus recommended that a lot more trees and green plants should be planted around buildings to enhance indoor ventilation and users satisfaction. It was also recommended that, social amenities should be provided within the premises of institutions located off main commercial areas in town. Keywords: Academic buildings, End-user, Indoor environment quality, Satisfaction, Tertiary institutions. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/66-05 Publication date: June 30th 2020
Impact of FDI on Employment Level in Bangladesh: A VECM Approach

This study is designed to investigate the role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in overall job creation in Bangladesh where annual time series data is used spanning from 1991 to 2018. The role of gross domestic products (GDP) and trade openness on employment level are also addressed. Johansen-Juselius cointegration and Vector error correction model are performed to check long run relationship and short run dynamics among the variables. The findings show that there exists co-integrating relations among the variables. Both FDI and GDP have significant positive effect on employment but trade openness possess the negative impact on employment in the long run. But FDI is negatively related with employment in the short run. This paper suggests to concentrate on making efficient policies to attract investors in green field investment which means investing for the establishment of new firms to create job opportunities in a large scale and to give the opportunity and logistic support to the native producers to produce more import substituted goods for reducing import dependence tendency.
Bioinformatics online support for bioactive substances cytotoxicity testing and their statistical analysis

Preclinical in vitro/in vivo testing is the first step in discovery of anticancer medicines, among others evaluation of cytotoxic activity of bioactive substances (BAS) on various human normal and cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity expressed as IC50 value (a dose that inhibits 50% of cell growth) is one of the most commonly used parameter for comparable analysis of activity between different substances. This study includes examination of number of BAS and their results for cytotoxic activity obtained in the Laboratory for cell and molecular biology (LCMB) that require various statistical and computational techniques for proper effective analysis. In order to improve experimental data analysis, make it faster, more effective, error proof with secure online data repository, a web application with LCMB IC50 database was developed as a useful research tool acting as a leverage for scientific data processing requirements. Analysis includes cytotoxic effects of chemical and natural BAS (IC50 values) on HCT-116, SW-480, MDA-MB-231, and MRC-5 cell lines. Generally, it can be concluded that BAS of different origin, chemical or natural, have various cytotoxic effects and cause different cell line sensitivity, which is presented and discussed. This paper presents developed SQL database-centric web application with remote user-friendly data management for a biology researcher user type profile. Data processing in this article can be useful for a further overlook and testing of cytotoxic substances.
The Implementation of Indonesian Stemming System for Indonesian Translation of the Quran

Indonesian translation of the Quran (ITQ) is a translator documentation of Quran to Indonesian language containing Muslim guidance, so it is necessary to apply Indonesian Stemming System (ISS) to support learning and understanding ITQ contents. In the implementation of ITQ documentation stemming process, there were some errors including a little number of beheadings (understemming), non-beheading (overstemming), and that produces an incorrect base word. This paper focuses on the Indonesian stemming system implementation for ITQ to produce data training that can minimize errors in the application of the steaming process. The system development consists of 5 steps, including Empiricism in Algorithm Design, Implementation, Experimental Setup, Measure, and Conclusion. Porter algorithm is used in applying Indonesian Steaming System with the rule-based approach. The application of the text processing process starts from tokenization, stop word removal, stemming result token. The study and system development produce application system that optimizes the application of the tokenization process, stopword removal, and stemming ITQ. The result of this study enhances the application system that can support the researcher in understanding ITQ in developing advanced research in the field of text mining for ITQ and hadith.
Integrating mobile robot navigation control, visual object detection and manipulation using ROS and V-REP

—The integration of robotic manipulators and mobile robots is a challenging task involving control of both the mobile base and the manipulator in an coordinated way. In order to study this coordination, in this paper a robotics simulation environment is used. Combining ROS (Robot Operating System) and a realistic robotics simulator, V-REP (Virtual Experimentation Platform), a KUKA youBot robot was used to integrate mobile navigation and object manipulation. The omni-directional mobile base is controlled using a fuzzy position controller, the detection of an object of interest over a table is performed using a simulated camera (with a blob detection algorithm), and then the manipulator arm is controlled for object grasping. The use of the simulator allows for a ﬁrst step in the development of a complete ROS solution to manipulation/pick-and-place, and its use in industrial/commercial/residential environments.
PLC-C: An Integrated Method for Sentinel-2 Topographic and Angular Normalization

Topographic and angular corrections on Sentinel-2 imagery are crucial for the generation of consistent surface reflectance. We propose a novel topographic-angular integrated normalization approach based on the combination of the path length correction (PLC) and C-factor approaches. The PLC-C normalization approach is a semiphysical method with limited use of auxiliary data: only a digital elevation model and a fixed set of kernel coefficients, ensuring its transferability for operational implementation. For the validation, we used two Sentinel-2A images over a mountainous area observed in backward (BS) and forward scattering (FS) directions from laterally adjacent orbit swaths. PLC-C significantly reduced both the topographic and directional anisotropy effects: the overlapping ratio between BS and FS observations was increased from 84.1% to 92.8% for the near-infrared band, and from 81.0% to 93.1% for the red band; the coefficient of variation of the reflectances across different aspects, which was used as a criterion of topographic effects, was reduced from 9.8%/12.2% to 3.6%/5.7% in BS/FS direction for the near-infrared band, and from 8.1%/9.7% to 4.5%/4.2% for the red band. PLC-C will contribute to the generation of analysis ready data from Sentinel-2 top of canopy reflectance.
A 2.4–3.0GHz Process-Tolerant Sub-Sampling PLL With Loop Bandwidth Calibration

A sub-sampling phase-locked loop (SSPLL) with loop bandwidth calibration is presented. By using a sub-sampling phase detector with gain calibration and a pulse width control circuit, the loop bandwidth deviation of the SSPLL can be reduced. This SSPLL is fabricated in a 40 nm CMOS process and its core area is 0.15mm2. The power consumption of the SSPLL is 5.81mW from a supply of 1.1V. The reference frequency is 75 MHz and the output frequency range of the SSPLL is 2.4~3.0GHz. The measured rms jitter is 2.02ps at the output frequency of 3.0GHz. With the calibration, the largest loop bandwidth deviation from 3.5MHz among five samples is reduced from −71.4% to −18.5% at 3.0GHz.
Toward Efficient Execution of Mainstream Deep Learning Frameworks on Mobile Devices: Architectural Implications

In recent years, continuous growing interests have been seen in bringing artificial intelligence capabilities to mobile devices. However, the related work still faces several issues, such as constrained computation and memory resources, power drain, and thermal limitation. To develop deep learning (DL) algorithms on mobile devices, we need to understand their behaviors. In this article, we explore the architectural behaviors of some mainstream DL frameworks on mobile devices by performing a comprehensive characterization of performance, accuracy, energy efficiency, and thermal behaviors. We experimentally choose four model compression methods to perform on networks and in addition, analyze the related impact on the nodes amount, memory, execution time, model size, inference time, energy consumption, and thermal distribution. With insights into DL-based mobile application characteristics, we hope to guide the design of future smartphone platforms for lower energy consumption.
Modelling hydraulic mixture movement along the extraction chamber bottom in case of hydraulic washout of the tuff-stone

This paper presents the research results of the pulp movement process along the extraction chamber bottom to the suction pipe of the pulp lifting device in case of downhole hydraulic mining the volcanic tuff-stone. The washout process and hydraulically operated transportation of the tuff-stone hydraulic mixture, when forming the extraction chamber, have been studied under various conditions and methods of exposure. As a result, the dominant parameters have been determined influencing the hydrodynamic washout technology as well as tuff-stone hydraulic mixture lifting to the alluviation map. The dependences have been substantiated of the washout process performance and transportation capacity of the hydraulic mixture flow on the determined parameters. To calculate the process of pulp flow-over along the extraction chamber bottom to the intaking hydraulic elevator headwall, the systems of equations have been determined based on the modelling the movement of tuff-stone hydraulic mixture along the extraction chamber bottom during hydraulic washout. The dependences of the contact strength of the tuff-stone samples mined by downhole method on the time spent in water are presented, resulting in determination of the tuff-stone weakening coefficient and the degree of its saturation with water.
Stretch‐Thinking Loops: A New Technique for Scenario Planning

In crisis management, scenario planning is a necessity in our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Strategic planners need to be able to imagine future environments even in the most uncertain conditions. The scale of potential scenarios and associated management suggests that those involved will require innovative planning techniques. To support innovation in strategic planning, we have combined the research on creativity, divergent thinking, and creative constraints to design a method called “Stretch‐Thinking Loops. ” This technique uses iterative thinking approaches that identify broad scenarios, the likely consequences, and the potential constraints, and then uses this information to identify new opportunities and innovations to support scenario planning. We report on the development of this technique in the context of crisis management and its application in a collaborative project with an Australian State Government that explored a series of post‐COVID‐19 recovery scenarios for a 12‐month time horizon. The proposed Stretch‐Thinking Loops are not just limited to crisis management but offer all organizations a structured method to enhance their capability to engage in divergent‐thinking for future scenario planning.
A High Gain Series-Fed Circularly Polarized Traveling-Wave Antenna at W-Band Using a New Butterfly Radiating Element

We propose a novel series-fed circularly polarized (CP) traveling-wave antenna known as the “Butterfly” antenna suitable for operation at the millimeter-wave frequencies. The Butterfly unit-cell consists of a sequentially rotated series-fed linear array of four microstrip patch antennas. The proposed CP Butterfly structure offers low cross-polarization radiation and wide axial ratio (AR) beamwidth. A periodic leaky-wave antenna (LWA) analysis provides insights into the radiation characteristics of the Butterfly series-fed linear array antenna, which is validated by the full-wave electromagnetic simulations. The open-stopband (OSB) is suppressed in the broadside direction due to the cancellation of the internal reflections within each cell of the sequential-phase fed linear array. The measured and the simulated AR, radiation patterns, and gain are presented for the broadside radiation of the parallel–series fed <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\,\,\times24$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$32\times24$ </tex-math></inline-formula> planar array antenna at 86 GHz. The average measured 3 dB gain beamwidths are 9.5° and 2.9° along the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\phi = 0^{\circ }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> plane of the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\,\,\times24$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$32\times24$ </tex-math></inline-formula> planar array antenna, respectively.
The epilithic and epipelic diatom flora of the Balikhli River, Northwest Iran

Jamileh PANAHY MIRZAHASANLOU*, Taher NEJADSATTARI, Zohreh RAMEZANPOUR, Javid IMANPOUR NAMIN, Younes ASRI Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran Department of Biology, College of Science, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran International Sturgeon Research Institute, Rasht, Iran Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Some Sara, Iran Botany Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran
AI-Toolbox: A C++ library for Reinforcement Learning and Planning (with Python Bindings)

This paper describes AI-Toolbox , a C ++ software library that contains reinforcement learning and planning algorithms, and supports both single and multi agent problems, as well as partial observability. It is designed for simplicity and clarity, and contains extensive documentation of its API and code. It supports Python to enable users not comfortable with C ++ to take advantage of the library’s speed and functionality. AI-Toolbox is free software, and is hosted online at https://github.com/Svalorzen/AI-Toolbox .
An Efficient Localization Approach in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Krill Herd Optimization Algorithm

Arbitrary deployment of mobile or static sensor nodes has been a challenging issue in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) over the years. It is difficult to identify the accurate location for mobile sensor nodes due to their time-variant movement. Global position system (GPS) for each sensor node costs high power consumption, mainly in large scale WSNs. Hence, designing an energy-efficient localization algorithm is very crucial for sensor nodes. In this article, we adopt a meta-heuristic algorithm known as Krill Herd (KH) inspired by the behavior of krills. KH is selected to find the location of nonanchor nodes by using mobile anchor nodes. Mobile anchor nodes have GPS units and broadcast their exact locations at regular time intervals to find the location of nonanchor nodes. The time-variant location of the nonanchor node is calculated by movement generated by the existence of all sensor nodes in the neighborhood range, foraging motion of anchor nodes, and random diffusion of all the sensor nodes. Two genetic operators namely crossover and mutation are added to the algorithm to analyze the behavior of mobile anchor nodes. The experimental results are carried out for minimizing localization error, propagation error, roo-mean-square error, and mean absolute error. The results demonstrate the outperformance of KH-based localization algorithm with minimum error rate when compared with particle swarm optimization algorithm and improved amorphous localization algorithm.
Seasonal changes in taxon richness and abundance of mobile invertebrates inhabiting holdfast of annual kelp Ecklonia radicosa (Phaeophyceae, Lessoniaceae) at the central Pacific coast of Japan

To investigate seasonal changes in the taxon richness and abundance of mobile invertebrates inhabiting holdfasts of the warm temperate annual kelp Ecklonia radicosa, five holdfasts were collected monthly at the central Pacific coast of Japan from April to November 2014. During the study period, there was little variation in holdfast height and diameter, which ranged from 5.9 to 8.5 cm and from 7.1 to 10.8 cm, respectively. In total 7087 animals were collected from 40 holdfasts (177.2 individuals inds./holdfast, on average). The number of mobile invertebrates gradually increased from May (15 ± 9.9 inds./holdfast) to August (346 ± 152.5 inds./holdfast), with over 300 inds. /holdfast until October before rapidly decreasing in November (110 ± 85.6 inds./holdfast). Similarly, taxon richness increased gradually from April (4.3 ± 1.0 taxa/holdfast) to August (11.0 ± 3.7 taxa/holdfast), and decreased in November (8.6 ± 2.3 taxa/holdfast). Interestingly, hundreds of mobile invertebrates inhabited holdfasts of kelp plants that had shed their blade in October and November. Taxon composition from August to October and the number of invertebrates from July to November were comparable to data previously reported for perennial kelps. In this study, the importance of annual Ecklonian species as biogenic habitats was demonstrated for the first time.
Effects of the economic space digitalization in the context of modern society transformation

The study systematizes approaches to the concept of digital economy and presents an analysis of the key indicators of digitalization development in the countries worldwide. The pace of economy digitalization in the world community is compared based on the increase of expenditures for ICT accompanied by mass digitalization. The level of expenditures for ICT in the Russian Federation has been estimated, and a positive trend in increasing its share in the GDP has been shown. The main effects of economy digitalization are identified and classified depending on the combination of various conditions prevailing in modern society. The main directions that determine the successful development of the digital economy are proposed.
Homology Modeling of α-Glucosidase Enzyme: 3D Structure Prediction

Prediction of an unknown 3D structure of proteins by using known homologous protein with the help of advance in-silico based techniques is considered as an important and efficient tool to understand the protein structure, functions, and ligand interactive binding region. In our present study we performed the homology modeling of α-glucosidase enzyme from baker’s yeast source, as its ligand bound X-ray co-crystallize PDB structure is not available, therefore, in order to develop the 3D protein structure model of α-glucosidase receptor for baker’s yeast, we used advance in-silico tools of homology modeling , the available structure of D-glucose bound isomaltase with PDB (3A4A) was selected as target receptor, while its 99.8% homologous template (3axh.1A) was selected through Swiss Modeler Template Library (SMTL) for modeling, after the subsequent multiple alignments, between the target and template protein, finally a successful homology model was build up with efficient and reliable GMQE and QMEAN value of (0.99) and (0.91) respectively, The developed model has significant importance for further structure-based drug design studies. OPEN ACCESS