Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Broadband Cavity-Backed Slot Radiating Element in Transmission Configuration

A planar technology stripline-fed slot radiating element in transmission configuration is proposed. Its main advantages are the broad impedance bandwidth achieved and the property that it only radiates into half-space, which are obtained, respectively, with the use of its complementary strip element and using a cavity-backed slot. A lattice network circuit model is proposed both to explain the behavior of the structure and to establish a design methodology. Its capabilities are shown through the simulation and demonstrated in a proof-of-concept prototype. Measurement results show a unidirectional broadside radiation pattern and a fractional bandwidth of 48%, significantly superior to other slot-based radiating elements found in the literature. The element has the ideal characteristics for building series-fed reconfigurable arrays for wideband applications.
Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Approaches for Evaluating the Critical Factors of Electronic Medical Record Adoption

Using Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are computerized medical information systems that collect, store and display patient information that rising physician’s performance in their daily work to enhance quality, safety and efficiency in different health environment settings. Nevertheless, their state of being adopted throughout the world is slow. Hence, the adoption of EMRs has become an important trend into the healthcare system that needs to be studied by Management Information System (MIS) researchers. Furthermore, in physician practices the rate of EMRs adoption has been reluctant in spite of the cost savings through lower administrative costs and medical errors related to EMR systems. The aim of this research is to identify, categorize, and analyze Meso-level dimension which introduced by Lau et al. (2012), for the adoption of EMRs in the healthcare context. Hence, we develop a Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) framework for healthcare industry improvement and adoption of EMR. The purpose of ranking and weighting using the F-TOPSIS and F-AHP is to inspect which factors are most imperative in EMRs adoption among primary care physicians. Performing F-TOPSIS and F-AHP is as novelty methods in this study for identifying the critical factors of EMRs adoption to assist healthcare organizations specifically hospitals setting in pursuing their key users' behavior towards accepting of this new technology. Seven factors, namely time investment, screen/room, hybrid system, planning, resource training, workflow, and weight, was found as the most influential criteria and strongest drivers in the adoption of EMR in Malaysia’s primary care setting.
Does soil aging affect the N2O mitigation potential of biochar? A combined microcosm and field study

The application of biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil fertility has been suggested as a tool to reduce soil‐borne CO2 and non‐CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, especially nitrous oxide (N2O). Both laboratory and field trials have demonstrated N2O emission reduction by biochar amendment, but the long‐term effect (>1 year) has been questioned. Here, we present results of a combined microcosm and field study using a powdered beech wood biochar from slow pyrolysis. The field experiment showed that both CO2 and N2O emissions were still effectively reduced by biochar in the third year after application. However, biochar did not influence the biomass yield of sunflower for biogas production (Helianthus annuus L.). Biochar reduced bulk density and increased soil aeration and thus reduced the water‐filled pore space (WFPS) in the field, but was also able to suppress N2O emission in the microcosms experiment conducted at constant WFPS. For both experiments, biochar had limited impact on soil mineral nitrogen speciation, but it reduced the accumulation of nitrite in the microcosms. Extraction of soil DNA and quantification of functional marker genes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that biochar did not alter the abundance of nitrogen‐transforming bacteria and archaea in both field and microcosm experiments. In contradiction to previous experiments, this study demonstrates the long‐term N2O emission suppression potential of a wood biochar and thus highlights its overall climate change mitigation potential. While a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms requires further research, we provide evidence for a range of biochar‐induced changes to the soil environment and their change with time that might explain the often observed N2O emission suppression.
HYBRID HIDDEN MARKOV MODEL BASED NAMED ENTITY RECOGNITION INFORMATION EXTRACTION FOR WEB SERVICES

Extraction of valuable information from web search engines is not an easy task, since information presented in the web service domain consists of several numbers of pages; several numbers of links, querying Web-based application are encoded in the form of HTML pages, etc. In order to easy extraction of information from webpages web service plays a major important role based on the user given query with application programming interface (API) . Consider a example of the web services for identification of named entity of the singer. The major problem of this API of web service is that if the user asked query as songs which belongs to singer, it might not provider song information even if the information is available in database. This asymmetric relation is even added difficult; since it may possibly show in query strategy with the intention of organize numerous Web service functions. In this paper, propose hybrid hidden markov model (HHMM) to extract the information of singer. In the proposed work we use the hybrid hidden markov model based extraction method for named entity recognition (NER) in information extraction phase . The proposed hybrid hidden markov model (HHMM) which combines the procedure of hidden markov model and particle swarm optimization (PSO) . The parameters of the HMM is tuned using PSO which improves IE results of NER for web services that examine information and distinguish entity. The proposed HHMM takes a set of information of singer with user specified query and extract information of singer for user specified query . The proposed HHMM is fully implemented in real-life data of singer and web services show the useful feasibility results with increased performance.
Evaluation of a Participatory Resource Monitoring System for Nontimber Forest Products: the Case of Amla (Phyllanthus spp.) Fruit Harvest by Soligas in South India

Enhancing incomes from the sustainable harvest of nontimber forest products can help to maintain local livelihoods and provide local communities with economic incentives to conserve biodiversity. A key feature of a successful enterprise approach to the conservation of these products is a sound monitoring and evaluation program that involves all concerned stakeholders and leads to adaptive management. However, few studies have presented any of the approaches, successes, or challenges involved in participatory monitoring initiatives for nontimber forest products. We present our experiences using a participatory research model that we developed and used over a 10-yr (1995–2005) period for the wild harvesting of Phyllanthus spp. fruits (amla) by indigenous Soliga harvesters in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, South India. We describe the establishment and evolution of our participatory resource monitoring activities, compare some of the results of our activities to those obtained from monitoring using standard ecological approaches, and evaluate some of the successes and challenges associated with our participatory resource model. An initial step in this work was the establishment of Soliga-run enterprises for the processing and value addition of amla and other nontimber forest products. Participatory resource monitoring activities consisted of participatory mapping and assessments of fruit production, fruit harvest and regeneration combined with pre- and postharvesting meetings for sharing information, and adaptive management. Over the years, harvesters rejected, changed, and adapted various participatory resource monitoring methods to select those most appropriate for them. Visual estimates of fruit production made by harvesters at the forest level were very similar to estimates obtained using standard scientific monitoring protocols. Participatory research monitoring techniques that were effective included strategies for participatory resource mapping, fruit productivity estimation, and promotion of improved harvest techniques. Major challenges involved ensuring adequate incentives for monitoring activities that lead to benefits only over the longer term, such as monitoring of extraction and regeneration rates. Maintaining long-term participation and interest in the latter requires ensuring resource tenure.
Statistical Evaluation of Face Recognition Techniques under Variable Environmental Constraints

Experiments have shown that, even one to three day old babies are able to distinguish between known faces (Chiara, Viola, Macchi, Cassia, & Leo, 2006). So how hard could it be for a computer? It has been established that face recognition is a dedicated process in the brain (Marque´s, 2010). Thus the idea of imitating this skill inherent in human beings by machines can be very rewarding though the idea of developing an intelligent and self-learning system may require supply of sufficient information to the machine. This study proposes multivariate statistical evaluation of the recognition performance of Principal Component Analysis and Singular Value Decomposition (PCA/SVD) and a Whitened Principal Component Analysis and Singular Value Decomposition algorithms (Whitened PCA/SVD) under varying environmental constraints. The Repeated Measures Design, Paired Comparison test, Box’s M test and Profile Analysis were used for performance evaluation of the algorithms on the merit of efficiency and consistency in recognizing face images with variable facial expressions. The study results showed that, PCA/SVD is consistent and computationally efficient when compared to Whitened PCA/SVD.
Comparison of disruptive behaviours in South Australian LOTE and mainstream primary school classrooms

The frequencies of disruptive behaviours in students were compared between their respective LOTE (German) and mainstream primary school classrooms. Forty-nine students aged between nine and twelve, from years four to seven, were observed during the study. The overall frequency of disruptive behaviours in German classes was found to be significantly higher than in mainstream classes. Three of the four observed behaviours were also found to be more frequent in German classes. Some suggestions for improving teaching practice and future research have been made.
Electromagnetic Formalisms for Optical Propagation in Three-Dimensional Periodic Liquid-Crystal Microstructures

Nanoscale structures have achieved novel functions in liquid crystal devices such as liquid crystal displays, optical filters, optical modulators, phase conjugated systems, optical attenuators, beam amplifiers, tunable lasers, holographic data storage and even as parts for optical logic systems over the last decades (Blinov et al. (2006; 2007); Sutkowski et al. (2006)). Many theoretical works also have been reported on liquid crystal (LC) optics. Jones method (Jones (1941)) is first proposed for an easy calculation, which stratifies the media along the cell normal while remains the transverse LC orientation uniform, and hence supplies a straightforward way to analyze the forward propagation at normal incidence. This was later followed by the extended Jones method (Lien (1997)), which allows to trace the forwardwaves at an oblique incidence. The Berremanmethod (Berreman (1972)) then provides an alternative process to include forward and backward waves. A further step in LC optics is to consider rigorously the LC variation both along the cell normal and along a single transverse direction, leading to a two-dimensional treatment of light propagation. This step is fulfilled by implementing the finite-difference time-domain method (Kriezis et al. (2000a); Witzigmann et al. (1998)), the vector beam propagationmethod (Kriezisa & Elston (1999 ); Kriezis & Elston (2000b)), coupled-wave theory (Galatola et al. (1994); Rokushima & Yamakita (1983)), and an extension of the Berreman approach (Zhang & Sheng (2003)), and has proven to be successful in demonstrating the strong scattering and diffractive effects on the structures with transverse LC variation lasting over the optical-wavelength scale. For three-dimensional LC medium with arbitrary normal and transverse LC variations, Kriezis et al. (2002) proposed a composite scheme based on the finite-difference time-domain method and the plane-wave expansion method to evaluate the light propagation in periodic liquid-crystal microstructures. Olivero & Oldano (2003) applied numerical calculations by a standard spectral method and the finite-difference frequency-domain method for electromagnetic propagation in LC cells. Glytsis & Gaylord (1987) gave three-dimensional coupled-wave diffraction algorithms via the field decomposition into ordinary and extraordinary waves, although the transverse variation of the ordinary/extraordinary axis raises the complexity. Alternatively, this work neglects the multiple reflections and gives a coupling-matrix algorithm that is much easier to manipulate algebraically for three-dimensional LC media, yet accounts for the effects of the Fresnel refraction and 4
The V-shaped value evolution of R&D projects

On average the expected value at the moment of commercialization of an R&D project should remain constant during the different stages of new product development. Contrary to this intuition however, a systematic, non-constant pattern is found in the average expected value of an R&D project. First, the value declines after the initial screening, then rises after the first market analysis, but on average does not reach the initial level at the final stage of development when resources for market introduction are approved. Moreover, uncertainty about the project value declines over time. The findings suggest a V-shaped value function of R&D projects. The study seems to be the first attempt to make direct measurements of valuing R&D projects through time in a real managerial setting.
A Structural Equation Model of Elderly Health Care in the Surveyed Households in Kumbakonam Town, Tamil Nadu, India

Introduction: Aged persons are having health problems like hearing and vision decline, muscle strength diminishes, less flexibility of skin and blood vessels, and an overall decline of physique. Their body's organ performs insufficiently with advancing age. Intelligence were also diminishes with age. The social isolation that often exists among older people can dramatically influence mental attitudes and behaviour. The Indian aged population is currently the second largest in the world. The absolute number of the over 60 population in India will increase from 76 million in 2001 to 137 million by 2021. The functional ability of elderly people is crucial to how well they cope with activities of daily living, which in turn affects their quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study to examine the causal relationships among factors determining elderly health. Objectives: 1) to study the socio-economic profile of the aged people, 2) to identify the health status of elderly person, 3) to examine the causal relationships among factors determining elderly health, and 4) to evaluate whether all the measures fit the recommended value, indicating a good fit of the structural model for the collected data. Methodology: A systematic random sample of 900 elderly people aged above 58 were interviewed from 45 wards, in each ward 20 persons were selected with health problems. The data on different factors were collected through questionnaire survey using 5 point Likert scale method. The causal relationships were established by structural equation modelling (SEM) method using SPSS and AMOS statistical software. Conclusion: The SEM fitted to the elderly health care data adequately. The results indicated that, the mental health, caring, family environment, life style, health expenditure had significant effect on physiological status (p<0.05). These factors had significant relationship on elderly health.
Dual Approach for Two-Stage Robust Nonlinear Optimization

In “Dual Approach for Two-Stage Robust Nonlinear Optimization,” de Ruiter, Zhen, and den Hertog study adjustable robust minimization problems where the objective or constraints depend in a convex way on the adjustable variables. They reformulate the original adjustable robust nonlinear problem with a polyhedral uncertainty set into an equivalent adjustable robust linear problem, for which all existing approaches for adjustable robust linear problems can be used. The reformulation is obtained by first dualizing over the adjustable variables and then over the uncertain parameters. The polyhedral structure of the uncertainty set then appears in the linear constraints of the dualized problem, and the nonlinear functions of the adjustable variables in the original problem appear in the uncertainty set of the dualized problem. The authors show how to recover linear decision rules to the original primal problem and how to generate bounds on its optimal objective value.
Endogenous network formation in Tullock contests ∗

In many contests competing agents (politicians, firms, soccer teams, etc.) form cooperative alliances. However, when agents share valuable resources or information they increase not only their own value for the prize but also their rivals’ valuations. Hence it is not obvious that competitors decide to cooperate. We study the endogenous formation of networks of cooperation in the Tullock contest. We find that the network formation process can act as a barrier to the entry to the contest insofar as there can exist pairwise stable group dominant networks that hamper the participation of some competitors. Moreover, we show that the total welfare can be maximized under pairwise stable dominant group networks rather than the complete one. Furthermore, it may happen that the player who is driven out is the one with the highest ex-ante valuation.
Athens Institute for Education and Research ATINER ATINER ' s Conference Paper Series ECO 2017-2377

This study set out to investigate the impact of salinity on technical efficiency (TE) and environmental efficiency (EE) in wheat production in central Iraq, where 360 farmers have been interviewed and soil and water samples were collected and analyzed. This study aims to consider how farmers could reallocate their resources in efficient and sustainable ways to produce viable agricultural production in the salt-affected areas of Iraq without introducing a new technology. Stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) approach was proposed to estimate both TE and EE in irrigated wheat production farms. The empirical findings showed that, on average, TE was 75% for low saline farms (EC less than 2.5 dSm -1 ), 58% for moderate saline farms (EC ranging between 2.5 and 7.5 dSm -1 ), and 32% in the severe saline farms (EC exceed 7.5dSm -1 ). The mean level of EE was 76%, 64%, and 34% for low, moderate, and high saline farms, respectively. Two main sources of environmental degradation have been considered: Urea and DAP. The fertilizer (Urea) coefficient indicatedthat toimprove EE by 1%, wheat yield needs to be reduced by 6% through the farmer using recommended quantities of Urea fertilizer. Soil salinity level was associated negatively with the technical and environmental efficiency of farm.
Image-Guided Procedures : A Review

This paper reviews the current state of the art in Image-Guided Procedures (IGP), focusing on key enabling technologies, and image-guided systems. Based on an idealized time-line view of medical procedures (pre-procedure, during the procedure, and post procedure), we identify the following key technologies associated with the different procedure steps: (1) medical imaging and image processing; (2) data visualization; (3) segmentation; (4) registration; (5) tracking systems; and (6) human computer interaction. We discuss these technologies as they pertain to IGP, and describe image guidance systems from several medical disciplines through their use of these building blocks. From this survey we note that current imageguided systems assume rigid or nearly rigid anatomical structures, thus limiting their use. Finally, we present current and future directions of research aimed at image guidance for deformable anatomical structures.
An analysis of the epistatic interactions of the cis-regulatory element in the arabinose operon of Escherichia coli

Bacteria are very effective at regulating gene expression, as this is crucial for the right development of organisms. Changes in the regulatory elements may have evolutionary consequences, particularly if these mutations occur in the DNA regions where transcription factors bind to: cis-regulatory elements. Despite this, little is known about the effects of mutations in these regions, and the nature epistatic interactions between these mutations. In this study, a synthetic system with the cis-regulatory elements of the araBAD operon of the bacterium Escherichia coli was used to study the epistatic interactions in this region. To test if there were any epistatic interactions, single and double point mutations were introduced in two operator sites, which control the expression of the araBAD genes, required for the metabolism of arabinose. As bacteria are often exposed to a multitude of environments, the nature of the epistatic interactions was measured in two different environments. The results indicate that epistatic interactions between mutations in this regulatory element are common, and that they are mostly of a negative nature. It was also revealed that magnitude of epistatic interactions depended on the location of the mutations in the two operator sites; and that there are interactions between the genotype and environment.
Discussion of the Effect of Earnings Management on the Asymmetric Timeliness of Earnings

Abstract: Is earnings management affecting (driving) the measures of earnings conservatism? Ball et al. (2000) point out that the asymmetry in the recognition of good and bad news in earnings (faster recognition of bad news: earnings conservatism) is more pronounced in common-law than in code-law based accounting regimes. However, comparative studies on earnings conservatism in Europe have failed to identify significant differences between common-law and code-law based countries. We argue that in code-law based countries managers have incentives to reduce earnings consistently. This enhances the association between earnings and returns in bad news periods. We find that after controlling for discretionary accruals, the differential earnings response to bad news in Germany and France decreases significantly. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2005.
Scalar fields in nuclear matter: The roles of spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and nucleon structure

Chiral theories with spontaneous symmetry breaking such as the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model lead to the existence of a scalar mode. We present in a detailed manner how the corresponding low-momentum effective Lagrangian involving the scalar field can be constructed starting from the NJL model. We discuss the relevance of the scalar mode for the problem of nuclear binding and saturation. We show that it depends on the nucleon mass origin with two extreme cases. If this origin is entirely due to confinement, the coupling of this mode to the nucleons vanishes, making it irrelevant for the nuclear binding problem. If instead it is entirely due to spontaneous symmetry breaking, it couples to the nucleons but nuclear matter collapses. It is only in the case of a mixed origin with spontaneous breaking that nuclear matter can be stable and reach saturation. We describe models of nucleon structure where this balance is achieved. We also show how chiral constraints and confinement modify the QCD sum rules for mass evolution in nuclear matter.