Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing the Adoption of Location Based Identification in Kurdistan Regional of Iraq

This study examines the factors that affect the adoption of Location Based Identification LBI in the developing countries and more specific in Kurdistan Regional of Iraq (KRI). LBI has different names in different countries such as postcode in the United Kingdom and zip code in the United States. As a base model, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) have been used to model the adoption factors of LBI in KRI. The latent variables used in this study are government support (GS), self-efficacy (SE), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU), compatibility (COM), Family and friends (FF), attitude (A), subjective norm (SN), perceived behaviour control (PBC) and behaviour intention (BI). A survey was conducted involving a total of 250 respondents. By using these models, the adoption of LBI system by the citizen of KRI has been proven. The results encourage the Kurdistan Regional Government decision makers to develop strategies that will lead to the adoption of LBI system in the region.
INQUIRY REGARDING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ACTIVE LABOR MARKET POLICIES IN ROMANIA

Active labor market policies (ALMP) are often used to assist in structural adjustment, including change to information society, and to prevent the jobless from getting ensnared in long-term unemployment. ALMPs can help reduce dependency on public transfers, especially in recent years when countries have struggled maintaining financial sustainability due to the global financial crisis and large public debt, by assisting workers in finding jobs. The main types of ALMPs have different ways of accomplishing the same objectives, chief among those reducing unemployment. As a result, ALMPs are frequently costly. There are two measures to determine the importance of ALMPs at the macro level: 1) the number of workers in an ALMP program as a share of the labor force; and 2) the public expenditures on ALMPs as a percentage of GDP. This paper will focus on the second measure, public expenditures on ALMPs as a percentage of GDP, to examine the importance of ALMPs in Romania, the financial sustainability of the public policies, and attempt to empirically illustrate how they impact the labor market. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy issues associated with ALMPs in Romania.
Creation and Analysis of a mutL Knockout Strain of Vibrio Cholerae

Abstract : Many species of pathogenic bacteria have been shown to contain some form of a DNA mismatch repair system. The methyl-directed DNA mismatch repair genes (such as mutS, mutL, and mutH in E. coli) have been found to be responsible for the reduction of incorporation of foreign DNA into the E. coli genome (Townsend, 2003). The absence, or disruption, of these genes has been shown to increase the rate of mutations (Taddel, 1997). No studies have previously been performed on mutators in Vibrio cholerae. In this study, we report the development of a mutL deletion mutant of Vibrio cholerae. This knockout strain can be used to determine the function of mutL in V. cholerae. Furthermore, if the knockout produces a hypervariable strain of V. cholerae, that strain could be used to study natural mutations in greater detail, and at a much faster rate. The elucidation of these mutations in V. cholerae could change the way targets for detection, identification or even vaccines are chosen.
Mission Reliability Modeling for Equipment System Based on the Operational Viewpoint of DoDAF 2.0

Currently, Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) 2.0 is widely used in many aspects of the architecture-related modeling fields. Due to the highly complex structure of architecture, its reliability became a pivotal issue. However, DoDAF 2.0 is lack of a specific viewpoint to model the reliability of the architecture. This paper introduces an approach to deal with reliability modeling method related missions posed by Equipment System (ES), which is an obvious characterized architecture. OV-1, OV-5a and OV-6c of DoDAF 2.0's operational viewpoint are extracted and extended as the modeling framework. Use case diagram, class diagram and sequence diagram of Unified Modeling Language (UML) are picked to present the products mentioned. The study also regulates a series of standards for each extended product in detail, in order to collect requisite reliability-related parameters for further analysis and calculation. Later, the proposed model is applied to an ES as an example to verify its availability. Keywords-reliability modeling; equipment system; mission reliability; equipment system; operational viewpoint; DoDAF 2.0
Optimisation of multiplet identifier processing on a PLAYSTATION® 3

To enable high-performance computing (HPC) for applications with large datasets using a Sony® PLAYSTATION® 3 (PS3™) video game console, we configured a hybrid system consisting of a Windows® PC and a PS3™. To validate this system, we implemented the real-time multiplet identifier (RTMI) application, which identifies multiplets of microearthquakes in terms of the similarity of their waveforms. The cross-correlation computation, which is a core algorithm of the RTMI application, was optimised for the PS3™ platform, while the rest of the computation, including data input and output remained on the PC. With this configuration, the core part of the algorithm ran 69 times faster than the original program, accelerating total computation speed more than five times. As a result, the system processed up to 2100 total microseismic events, whereas the original implementation had a limit of 400 events. These results indicate that this system enables high-performance computing for large datasets using the PS3™, as long as data transfer time is negligible compared with computation time.
Building Element Recognition with Thermal-Mapped Point Clouds

Automated recognition of building elements convey vital information for inspection, monitoring and maintenance operations in indoor environments. However, existing object recognition methods from point clouds suffer from problems due to sensor noise, occlusion and clutter, which are prevalent in indoor environments. This paper proposes an object recognition method based on thermal-mapped point clouds for building elements consisting of electrical systems and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) components. The proposed processing pipeline involves data collection from a mobile robot using both laser scanners and a thermal camera where temperature mapping can be performed from thermal images to point cloud. Next, the ceiling region containing the building elements of interest is identified and extracted from the point cloud. Segmentation of peak and valley thermal intensity regions is carried out based on absolute and relative temperature threshold values. The identified point cloud clusters can be each associated with a building element and localized based on the cluster center. The proposed building element recognition method was validated with two sets of laser scan data collected in an indoor laboratory. Experimental results for detection of lighting elements and cooling elements showed that the method achieved an average of 100% precision, 90% recall, and 0.25m root mean squared error (RMSE).
Biogenic silica concentration as a high‐resolution, quantitative temperature proxy at Hallet Lake, south‐central Alaska

High‐resolution, quantitative temperature records are valuable for placing recent warming in the context of long‐term, natural climate variability. Here we use biogenic silica (BSi) concentrations preserved in lacustrine sediment from an oligotrophic lake to quantitatively reconstruct air temperature at Hallet Lake in south‐central Alaska. Mean June through August temperature measured over the past 80 yr at Valdez (Alaska) correlate with BSi from Hallet Lake (r = 0.87, p = 0.01). We chose a nested function to model the non‐linear relation between summer temperature and BSi in the calibration data set, and to reconstruct temperature for the past 2 ka. Our BSi‐inferred temperature reconstruction shows synchronous changes with independent paleoclimatic proxies for southern Alaska, and provides evidence for a greater rate and magnitude of 20th century temperature warming at Hallet Lake than recorded by other quantitative temperature proxies in the region.
Study of serum lipid profile in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in India with wide-ranging haematological and biochemical alterations. Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) is one of four distinct species of the malaria parasite that afflict humans and pose a threat to public health. Under normal physiological conditions, liver ensures homeostasis of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess malaria infection and its association with lipid parameters changes. Hepatocellular damage often associated with severe and acute P. falciparum infections impairs these processes, leading to alteration in plasma lipid profile and lipoprotein patterns. An observation on the nature of dyslipidaemia in confirmed cases of P. falciparum malaria patients with reference to correlation if any that exists between malaria and lipid profile in these patients was performed.Methods: A case-control study was carried out on clinically and laboratory confirmed P. falciparum malaria positive patients attending the outpatient and inpatient department of RIMS Ranchi for a period of six months i.e. from January 2018 to June 2018, 100 participants were enrolled for the present study. 50 participants were P. falciparum malaria confirmed cases and 50 participants were without any clinical or laboratory evidence of malaria served as the control.Results: It revealed that the total cholesterol, HDL and LDL were significantly decreased -(P ≤0.05) while triglyceride and VLDL were not significantly changed in P. falciparum malaria patients (P ≥0.05). Conclusions: It can be concluded that alteration in lipid profile can be an index of severe malaria infection that may leads to poor prognosis, but specificity of malaria infection with lipid changes is questionable and need further studies.
Forest Succession Models

Studies in succession attempt to determine the changes in species composition and other ecosystem attributes expected to occur over periods of time. Mathematical models developed in forestry and ecology to study ecological succession are reviewed. Tree models, gap models and forest models are discussed. Model validation or testing procedures are described. Model applications can involve evaluating large-scale and long-term changes in the ambient levels of pollutants and assessing the effects of climate change on the environment. (RJC)
Using fNIRS to study audio-visual speech integration in post-lingually deafened cochlear implant users

The aim of this experiment was to investigate differences in audio-visual (AV) speech integration between cochlear implant (CI) users and normal hearing (NH) listeners using behavioural and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measures. Participants were 16 post-lingually deafened adult CI users and 13 age-matched NH listeners. Participants’ response accuracy in audio-alone (A), visual-alone (V), and AV modalities were measured with closed-set /aCa/ non-words and with open-set CNC words. AV integration was quantified by using a probability model and a cue integration model that predicted participants’ AV performance given minimal or optimal integration. Using fNIRS, brain activation was measured when listening to or watching A, V, or AV speech with or without multi-talker babble. For fNIRS, evidence of AV integration was measured using the principle of inverse effectiveness (PoIE) model (comparing the difference in activation in two brain regions between A and AV modalities in quiet and noise conditions). Behavioural AV integration was similar in the two groups for CNC words but poorer in the CI group compared to NH group for consonant perception. Our fNIRS data did not demonstrate any AV integration in either NH listeners or CI users, by testing the PoIE.
DETERMINATION OF LINE-OF-SIGHT INTEGRATED HEAT RELEASE RATE FLUCTUATIONS IN PULSATED FLAMES BY LASER INTERFEROMETRIC VIBROMETRY

An optical technique is proposed to obtain quantitative estimates of heat release rate fluctuations in flames submitted to flow modulations. The diagnostic relies on the determination of density fluctuations integrated in the line-of-sight along a laser beam crossing the flame and impinging on a fixed mirror. A Laser Interferometric Vibrometer (LIV) is used to determine fluctuations in the reflected speckle signal and determine time resolved density fluctuations. It is shown that these density fluctuations in the flame region result mainly from perturbations in the heat release rate. The technique is validated in the case of pulsated laminar premixed flames. Measurements are compared to line-ofsight integrated chemiluminescence emission data collected with a CCD camera. A good agreement is obtained for harmonic flow modulations at different forcing frequencies and perturbation levels. This work validates the principle of this alternative technique and lays the foundations for future developments towards more practical configurations.
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PROTEINS FROM FIFTEEN VARIETIES OF LEGUME SEEDS COMMONLY CONSUMED IN INDIA

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant potential of commonly consumed fifteen legume seeds. Methods: The antioxidant potential of the fifteen legume seed proteins was evaluated by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, ferric reducing power and reducing power assays. The total protein content of legume seeds was analysed. Results: Among the legumes tested, high total protein content and the DPPH scavenging activity were observed in horse gram (black), cowpea (brown), horse gram (brown), common bean (light pink and brown), masur (black) and green gram. The ferric reducing power activity was high in horse gram (black and brown), cowpea (brown), common bean (light pink and brown) and masur (black). Horse gram (black and brown) and cowpea (brown) exhibited high reducing power activity than the other legumes. Conclusion: The study suggests that horse gram (black and brown), cowpea (brown), common bean, masur (black) and green gram have high protein content and good antioxidant activity. These legume seed proteins could be used as natural antioxidant, functional food and therapeutics for the benefit of human health.
Selectivity Skills of Mutual Fund Managers in India: An Analysis

Stock selection is the nucleus in the investment management process. It involves identifying and selecting undervalued securities which among other things requires the successful forecasting of the company specific events or an ability to predict the general behavior of security prices in the future. If the fund manager is able to identify and select the undervalued securities for the portfolio, then it will be possible for the fund manager to increase the returns of the schemes and vice versa. In practice fund managers are expected to earn superior returns for unit holders consistently as being professionals therefore possess superior skills to collect and analyze the data with the purpose to select the right type of securities for the portfolio. The present work is based on the review of tens of studies both foreign and Indian studies relating to mutual funds. The mutual fund industry in India consists of public sector, private sector and foreign funds. All the three sectors were studied to compare the selectivity and timing performance on the basis of sponsorship of funds. However, from these only active funds belongings to Growth, Income, Balanced and Tax-Saving Schemes were selected for the study. In this paper stock selectivity skills of sample fund managers were tested by using Jensen’s Alpha and Fama’s net selectivity measure.
Habitat selection by invasive alien plants: a bootstrap approach Výběr stanovišť invazními rostlinami: přístup na základě statistického bootstrapingu

Environmetrics Laboratory, Department STAT, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86170, Pesche (IS), Italy, e-mail: carranza@unimol.it; Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy, e-mail: carlo.ricotta@uniroma1.it; Department of Biology, University of “Roma Tre”, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Roma (RM), Italy, e-mail: mcarboni@uniroma3.it; acosta@uniroma3.it *corresponding author
COORDINATING DISTRIBUTED INNOVATION PROCESSES: THE CASE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE INDUSTRIES

This paper casts light on the question how coordination of distributed innovation processes is achieved by comparing the automotive and open source software industries. These industries represent very different settings of distributed innovation, one a traditional industries that has ‘opened up’ innovation, the other the extreme case of network innovation. They have not so far been object of a comparative study. We present a comparative literature review, and then draw on empirical research in the automotive and open source software industries to compare how coordination is achieved in each. We apply qualitative methods to the auto industry, where we draw from a 10-year case study of a major European auto firm. We apply quantitative methods to the open source software industry, where we do an econometric analysis of 5810 projects registered on SourceForge. We find a surprising similarity regarding how coordination is provided in both cases: the use of templates at early stages of the project, which foster coordination of joint search processes by distributed actors through acting on their representations of search trajectories and eliminating some of the potential trajectories. Acknowledgements : this work benefited from the comments and advises received at the International User Innovation Workshop, Copenhagen Business School, June 26-28, 2007, and by Stefano Brusoni, Eugenia Cacciatori, Carliss Baldwin, Alberto Cammozzo, Toke Reichstein. We also thank Karim Lakhani and Inna Liubareva for having shared with us the ideas they are working on.
Control Scheme of a Concentration Photovoltaic Plant with a Hybrid Energy Storage System Connected to the Grid

In the last few decades, renewable energy sources (RESs) have been integrated into the electrical grid in order to curb the deficiency of energy owing to, among other factors, the depletion of fossil fuels and the increasing awareness of climate change. However, the stochastic nature of these sources, along with changes in levels of energy consumption, signifies that attention now needs to be paid for energy storage systems (ESSs). One of the most promising RESs is concentration photovoltaic (CPV) energy, owing to the high efficiency obtained and its sustainability regarding environmental issues. However, as CPV systems work only with direct solar radiation, they require ESSs in order to smooth the variations in the energy generated. This paper deals with the integration into the grid of a CPV plant that employs a hybrid ESS (HESS) based on ultracapacitors and batteries. The HESS allows the complete system to inject a constant active power level into the grid and thus flatten the profile of the energy generated. This goal is achieved by using a power electronic topology based on various DC–DC converters and a DC–AC converter, both of which share the same DC link. The control system is tailored in order to decouple the active-power and the reactive-power injections. Simulation results obtained using PSCAD/EMTDC (Power System Computer Aided Design/Electromagnetic Transient Direct Current) show the resulting performance of a 200 kW CPV plant with a hybrid ESS.
Estimating and Improving the Performance of Prediction Models for Regression Test Selection

Researchers have proposed models to predict the percentage of the selected regression test cases when a Regression Test Selection (RTS) technique is used. One of the most successful and best performing RTS predictors is the Rosenblum and Weyuker (RW) coverage-based prediction model. However, previous evaluation results on the RW predictor show that although it performs well on some subject programs, it deviates from actual percentage significantly on others. To understand the factors impacting he RW predictor’s performance, this thesis presents a set of experiments on four factors that can potentially impact the RTS prediction performance. We setup two different set of experiments on several Java open-source test subjects and three RTS techniques. Our study on the effect of each factor on the RW performance reveals that large amount of code changes and significant code coverage overlaps between test cases are the two factors contributing to the RW predictor’s prediction error. Based on the experimental results and through regression analysis of the impacting factors, we propose a RW error estimator that can help testers and developers to gain a better understanding of RW predictor’s confidence level and get insight into the applicability of the RW predictor to different organizations products and processes. To further improve the RW predictor’s performance, we propose an improved RW prediction model utilizing the error estimator to compensate the prediction error. We also present a RTS technique-specific improvement to the RW predictor and evaluate Harrold et al.’s weighted predictor which incorporates change history. Our experiments on these improved RW predictors demonstrate that they can reduce the RW prediction error and improve performance.
Comparison of multiple random walks strategies for searching networks

We investigate diverse random-walk strategies for searching networks, especially multiple random walks (MRW). We use random walks on weighted networks to establish various models of single random walks and take the order statistics approach to study corresponding MRW, which can be a general framework for understanding random walks on networks. Multiple preferential random walks (MPRW) and multiple simple random walks (MSRW) are two special types of MRW. As search strategies, MPRW prefers high-degree nodes while MSRW searches for low-degree nodes more efficiently. We analyze the first passage time (FPT) of wandering walkers of MRW and give the corresponding formulas of probability distributions and moments, and the mean first passage time (MFPT) is included. We show the convergence of the MFPT of the first arriving walker and find the MFPT of the last arriving walker closely related with the mean cover time. Simulations confirm analytical predictions and deepen discussions. We use a small random network to test the FPT properties from different aspects. We also explore some practical search-related issues by MRW, such as detecting unknown shortest paths and avoiding poor routings on networks. Our results are of practical significance for realizing optimal routing and performing efficient search on complex networks.
Experimental Demonstration of Coexistence of Microwave Wireless Communication and Power Transfer Technologies for Battery-Free Sensor Network Systems

This paper describes experimental demonstrations of a wireless power transfer system equipped with a microwave band communication function. Battery charging using the system is described to evaluate the possibility of the coexistence of both wireless power transfer and communication functions in the C-band. A battery-free wireless sensor network system is demonstrated, and a high-power rectifier for the system is also designed and evaluated in the S-band. We have confirmed that microwave wireless power transfer can coexist with communication function.