Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intended and Unintended Effects of Public Incentives for Innovation. Quasi-Experimental Evidence From Italy

This paper provides an extensive empirical evaluation of a policy introduced in Italy at the end of 2012 to incentivize young innovative start-up firms. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) we estimate the causal effects of the policy on the firms’ share of intangible assets, turnover, number of employees, and number of partners. Our results indicate that two years after its implementation the policy was effective only in increasing the number of partners, thus attracting private investments, but failed, at least in the short run, in boosting innovation or increasing employment. It follows that the new investors generated by the policy might have been attracted only by the tax benefit and had little interest in innovation.
Simulation of the Scale-up Process of a Venturi Jet Pyrolysis Reactor

Micro- and nano-sized cerium oxide particles can be prepared through pyrolyzing cerium chloride solution directly in the venturi jet pyrolysis reactor. Micro- and nano-sized cerium oxide particles have better performance and higher application value. To increase the production of micro-and nano-sized cerium oxide, it is necessary to scale up the venturi jet pyrolysis reactor. According to the geometric similarity principle, the scale-up of the venturi jet pyrolysis reactors utilize dimensional analysis methods, with FLUENT13.0 and user-defined functions, following the mathematical simulation of the resulting enlarged reactors. After the dimensional analysis, the empirical formula obtained between the reactants and all the parameters is Q = 2.240727 × 10−4P0. 004568ρ0. 26223d−0.24801V1. 25714n0. 076479μ−0.26628, and the geometrical scale-up of the reactors needs to follow V = 0.0209d0. 196. The results in this study can provide data support for the future optimization and amplification of reactors.
Springboard: promoting family well-being through family support services.

Until recently, family support has been a neglected aspect of family policy. In many instances, it has been overshadowed by interventions which have focused predominantly on child protection. There is now a widespread perception that the child protection aspect of family policy needs to be complemented by a more broadly-based family support approach. That is the underlying rationale of the Springboard initiative. Family support is generally seen as a way of promoting healthy relationships in families and preventing dysfunctional relationships from getting worse. As such it can be a form of either primary, secondary or tertiary prevention, a trilogy of interventions which have been cryptically defined as addressing problems either before they happen (primary prevention), before they get worse (secondary prevention) or before it is too late (tertiary prevention)1. Family support is an umbrella term covering a wide range of interventions which vary along a number of dimensions according to their target group (such as mothers, toddlers, teenagers, etc.), the professional background of service providers (e.g. Family Worker, Social Worker, Childcare Worker, Youth and Community Worker, Public Health Nurse, Community Mother, Psychologist, etc.), the orientation of service providers (e.g. therapeutic, child development, community development, youth work, etc.), the problems addressed (e.g. parenting problems, family conflict, child neglect, educational underachievement, etc.), the programme of activities (e.g. home visits, pre-school facility, youth club, parenting course, etc.) and the service setting (e.g. home-based, clinic-based or community-based). This diversity indicates that family support is not a homogenous activity but a diverse range of interventions2.
A Review on Feature Subset Generation Techniques

: High dimensional dataset requires high processing time and memory. To efficiently execute high dimensional dataset dimensionality reduction technique is used. The dimensionality reduction technique removes unused and redundant attributes from a dataset. In dimensionality reduction, feature selection and feature extraction are two important techniques. Most of the existing work focuses on individual dimensionality reduction technique i
3-D Scale Model Study of Wave Run-Up, Overtopping and Damage in a Rubble-Mound Breakwater Subject to Oblique Extreme Wave Conditions

A set of scale-model tests carried out to enlarge the range of wave steepness values analysed in run-up, overtopping and armour layer stability studies, focusing on oblique extreme wave conditions and on their effects on a gentler slope breakwater’s trunk armour and roundhead, is presented in this paper. A stretch of a rubble mound breakwater (head and part of the adjoining trunk, with a slope of 1(V):2(H)) was built in a wave basin at the Leibniz University Hannover to assess, under extreme wave conditions (wave steepness of 0.055) with different incident wave angles (from 40º to 90º), the structure behaviour in what concerns wave run-up, wave overtopping and damage progression of the armour layer. Two types of armour elements (rock and Antifer cubes) were tested. Non-intrusive methodologies including a new application of laser scanning technique for the assessment of both armour layer damage and wave run-up and overtopping were used. It is expected that such work will contribute also with data to improve empirical formulas as well as to validate complex numerical model for wave-structure interaction.
Teaching Socio-Scientific Issues (SSI) in Takhar Province, Afghanistan : Methods of Teaching SSI inUpper Secondary Schools

Teaching Socio-scientific issues (SSI) has been identified as an important factor for improving students’ scientific literacy, argumentation, critical thinking, students learning interests and achievement. However, to what extent SSI is included in science teaching, how it is taught (by which methods) and if it is perceived important by teachers is unknown in an Afghan context. Hence, the general aim of this study was to investigate what methods of teaching SSI upper secondary school science teachers’ use, and if there are any methods they perceive as appropriate to use. A second aim was to investigate how teachers relate SSI to students’ real life and if they consider the teaching of SSI as relevant, and what possible barriers teachers have for teaching SSI.The design of the study is quantitative and consists of a survey. A questionnaire instrument was developed that consist of 15 items. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 upper secondary science teachers in the Takhar province of Afghanistan. The sample was selected based on considering factors such as gender, teaching in urban and rural areas, in order to extract a representative sample from the province.The findings show that the lecturing method was commonly used by the teachers while teaching SSI. Also group work and discussions were frequently used teaching methods, but most often the teachers did not use debate, dialogue and peer work while teaching SSI. In addition all teachers said that they relate SSI to students’ real life, but considering the teachers’ limited knowledge about students’ lives outside school this claim could be questioned. Furthermore this study revealed that a lack of appropriate teaching materials was considered the most important barrier for teaching SSI in Afghan upper secondary schools.Based on the results Afghanistan government and international organizations should pay particular attention to improve teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and provide suitable teaching material for enabling teachers to implement other methods when teaching SSI in the classroom in order to improve students’ learning achievements and interests.
Influence of Material Toughness on Fracture Reliability in Steel Bridges

The fracture limit state of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications is addressed by requiring minimum impact toughness values for base material and mitigating potential fracture initiators through proper structural detailing. This fracture control approach has been successful in minimizing the number of fractures in steel bridges designed since its inception; however, it is not a calibrated limit state and the structural reliability against sudden brittle fracture has not been previously established. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between material toughness and fracture reliability in steel bridge members, considering the probabilistic distribution of fracture toughness and applied stress for a variety of structural steels and assumed crack sizes. The master curve approach is used to account for the probabilistic distribution of fracture toughness, and reliabilities are determined using Monte Carlo simulation and the Hasofer-Lind approach. The results indicate that the fracture reliability for modern bridge steels is consistent with the reliability of AASHTO strength limit states, and that certain steels currently available on the market can provide enough reliability against fracture to essentially eliminate brittle fracture as a limit state of concern. This finding holds the potential for a new way of approaching the design of fracture-critical members.
Building a Foundation for Neuromarketing And Consumer Neuroscience Research

ABSTRACT Since its modern inception about two decades ago, the use of neuroscience tools and insights in studying advertising has grown an increasing prominence in the researcher's toolbox. As a branch of applied neuroscience, labels such as “neuromarketing” and “consumer neuroscience” often are used interchangeably, and this emerging field suffers from many inconsistencies. Methodological differences, conceptual inconsistencies, a lack of systematic validation of neuroscience-based metrics, and questionable business practices are all symptoms of a discipline that is in need of rigor and maturation. The goal of this article is to suggest a basic foundation for the use of neuroscience and related methods in studying advertising effects. Three main elements are suggested: a distinction among basic, translational, and applied research; a conceptual clarification; and a framework for the validation of neuroscience-based metrics.
Organizational Justice and Performance of Hotel enterprises: Impact of Job Embeddedness

ABSTRACT This study was designed to verify the effects of organizational justice on the performance of hotel enterprises. In addition, it aimed to test the moderating role of job embeddedness. The data used in the empirical analysis were collected from Luxury hotel employees. A hierarchical regression analysis was used. Our results showed that among sub-factors of organizational justice, distributive justice has the greatest effect on work engagement, and work engagement has an important effect on decreasing turnover intention. Furthermore, job embeddedness, which was divided into non-financial and financial factors, played an important role moderating the proposed variables. Few studies have verified the effectiveness on the performance of hotel enterprises by considering organizational justice and job embeddedness in a simultaneous manner. This study was the first attempt to fully explain a significant relationship by which organizational justice had an effect on the performance of hotel enterprises.
Energy Sources Today

The paper intends to go through some major energy sources that need to be further developed in order to provide the energy needed for an indefinite period of time. It is proposed that both water and solar energy, as well as wind energy together with nuclear energy, are important, but other modern energy sources capable of generating energy directly or indirectly will be considered. The possibilities of saving energy will be taken into account by the general reduction of the energy consumption, with the development of the generalized software in almost all the industrial fields but also in the case of the equipment used daily in the houses of the people. The paper will briefly list alternative energy sources available today, but also the possibility of implementing other unknown or untested energy sources, generally unconventional energies.
Women's experiences of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly in Thailand: a phenomenological study

Background: Pregnancy is a major life event and the loss of pregnancy is an event with potential for adverse psychological outcomes. Although the understanding of grief after perinatal loss has progressed, there has been relatively little work specifically addressing the loss after miscarriage and termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly. Objectives: This study aimed to gain an understanding of experiences of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly among a group of Thai women Study design: An interpretive phenomenology approach was taken using unstructured interviews with 12 women who had undergone termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly and 11 women who had experienced miscarriage in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. To gain the perspective of care the women received in the hospital, focus groups with 10 doctors and 10 nurse-midwives were conducted. Results: The data were analysed and interpreted using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The loss of hope is the essence of the women’s experiences of miscarriage and therapeutic termination. Three themes emerged from both groups: 1) facing the loss of hope, 2) gaining emotional balance, and 3) the need for intervention. Although the main findings are similar, significant difference between them is the context of pregnancy loss. While miscarriage is an inevitable event and needs urgent treatment, the diagnosis of fetal anomaly leads the women to have a feeling of ambivalence around the decision to terminate the pregnancy. Conclusions: This study reinforces the difficulties that women have from the traumatic events of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly. The women need more in-depth knowledge and empathetic care from health professionals. Involving family members to support women in the labour unit can reduce the feelings of loneliness and insecurity. Recommendations: Health care professionals need to be educated to provide emotionally sensitive support for these women.
Dictionary of Pharmacoepidemiology

Written by an internationally renowned authority in the field, this is the most complete dictionary devoted specifically to the terms currently used in pharmacoepidemiology. The use of clear and consistent terminology in science has never been more important, and this dictionary, which has been translated from the third edition of a French original, has been reworked to include suggestions made by pharmacoepidemiologists currently using existing versions. It contains revised definitions for nearly all established terms in addition to comprehensive descriptions of new terms and is well illustrated with practical examples. This outstandingly high-quality dictionary will be essential for all those whose work is within or touches upon this field: regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical physicians, lawyers, pharmacists, researchers, evaluators and students.
An Identification of Primary Evaluands as Perceived by Undergraduate Students and Faculty in a College of Agriculture.

CHAPTER 1 In tro d u c tio n . 1 Benefits o f Evaluation . 1 Evaluation Focus: Quantitative and Qualitative. 2 Purpose o f the Study. 6 2 Review of the L ite ra tu re . 8 Historical and Legislative Background . 8 Accreditation and Quality Rankings. 11 Evaluation Taxonomies . 14 Assessment Using Databases. 20 Evaluation by Objective. 21 Summary of Traditional Evaluation Methods . 26 Qualitative Evaluation Paradigms . 26 The Validity Issue. 30 Role o f the Researcher. 33 Types of Qualitative Inquiry. 35 Ethnographic Ideals . 39 Ethnographic Techniques. 42 Evaluation of Undergraduate Program s. 44 Methodological Review . 47 The Need for Better Assumptions . 48 Strategies o f Inquiry. 50 Populations. 53 Sampling Methods . 55
An Analysis of Investment Advice to Retirement Plan Participants

This chapter examines the investment advice currently provided to participants in self-directed retirement plans (401k, 403b, etc.) by financial service firms and investment advisory services. It finds much of the advice to be logically flawed and dangerously misleading. There exists a strong bias in favor of investing retirement savings in the stock market without insurance against a market decline. The paper concludes that in view of the limited ability of the general public to handle the complex task of investing for retirement, financial firms will have to design safer products with a small number of choices that are easily understood.
Jaringan Ulama Cirebon Abad ke-19 Sebuah Kajian Berdasarkan Silsilah Nasab dan Sanad

ABSTRAK Jaringan Ulama di Cirebon abad ke-19 merupakan rangkaian mata rantai keilmuan baik berupa sanad tarekat yang ketersambungannya merujuk kepada Rasulullah SAW maupun melalui jalur nasab yang dimiliki oleh para pendiri pesantren di Cirebon yang bermuara kepada Sunan Gunung Jati atau Syekh Syarif Hidayat (1448-1568) sebagai pendiri kerajaan Cirebon pada abad ke-15. Keduanya merupakan entry poin yang dapat menghubungkan ketersambungan ulama atau lebih dikenal sebagai jaringan ulama pada abad sebelum dan sesudah abad ke- 19 tersebut. Peran Makkah dan Madinah saat itu, terutama pada abad ke-17 dan 18 bahkan memuncak pada abad ke-19, sangat signifikan dalam membentuk rekonsiliasi tasawuf (mistisisme Islam) dan syariat sehingga muncul istilah neo-sufisme. Dan salah satu bentuk dari neo-sufisme ini adalah pengajaran-pengajaran tarekat selain pengajaran Islam lainnya yang lebih berorientasi kepada fikih. Tarekat Syattariyah kemudian menjadi tarekat yang paling dominan yang diinisiasi oleh para ulama Cirebon yang kemudian membentuk jaringan tersendiri dalam wadah pesantren-pesantren yang tumbuh dan berdiri di Cirebon; selain tentu saja banyak tarekat-tarekat lainnya yang juga berkembang cukup signifikan dengan jumlah pengikut yang cukup massif. Keberadaan pesantren tidak bisa dilepaskan dari keberadaan halaqa; baik di Makkah atau di al-Azhar Kairo, sampai kemudian pesantren ini mengalami fungsi yang semakin meluas tidak hanya sebagai tempat kajian intelektual dan spiritual semata, tetapi juga sebagai tempat pengkaderan calon ulama-ulama yang kelak menjadi generasi penerus bagi terbentuknya jaringan ulama antar pesantren, khususnya yang berada di wilayah Cirebon. Kata Kunci: Cirebon, Tarekat Syatariyah, sanad, nasab, jaringan ulama
GLUCOSE SUPPLEMENTATION AND MEASURES OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN PATIENTS WITH GLYCOGEN PHOSPHORYLASE DEFICIENCY (MCARDLE’S DISEASE).

Objective: We evaluated the potential effect of oral glucose supplementation on: (1) exercise performance and tolerance, (2) the concentrations of plasma uric acid and ammonia (NH 3) and (3) blood plasma markers of oxidative stress in patients with McArdle's disease (MCD) after non-ischemic forearm exercise testing (non-ischemic forearm exercise test). Methods: Blood samples and exercise performance measures were performed on from 16 patients with MCD and 17 control subjects (CON) matched for age, sex and physical activity status. Subjects performed 2 exercise bouts 30 minutes apart and received oral glucose or placebo supplementation between tests. Blood samples were analyzed for concentrations of 8-isoprostanes (8-ISO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total anti-oxidant capacity (TEAC). Exercise performance was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer to measure force of contraction over time. Exercise tolerance was assessed based on subject's self-reported perception of pain and perception of exertion during exercise. Results: MCD was associated with greater fatigue, perceived pain, perceived exertion, and higher uric acid during non-ischemic forearm exercise test (P < 0.05), and higher concentrations of plasma NH 3 post exercise (P < 0.05). Glucose did not influence plasma uric acid or NH 3 and had no effect on exercise measures in MCD patients. Baseline plasma markers of oxidative stress were not different between MCD patients and CON; however, MCD patients who ingested glucose between non-ischemic forearm exercise tests had lower plasma 8-ISO iv concentrations (P < 0.05). CON who ingested glucose between non-ischemic forearm exercise tests had lower plasma 8-ISO concentrations (P < 0.05) at +1 min post exercise compared to initial non-ischemic forearm exercise test. The TEAC of control subjects was lower following non-ischemic forearm exercise test (P < 0.05), with no change in MCD patients. Conclusion: Glucose may have a protective effect on oxidative stress following exercise that may be due to attenuated flux through xanthine oxidase.
AUTOMATED ATTENDANCE SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT : A BIOMETRY BASED APPROACH

Process of maintaining attendance of employees has significant impact on the Payroll Management System of an organization. Employee payroll is a considerable share of the profit earned by an organization. Attendance system plays a crucial role to ensure adequate staffing and kindles positive employee morale resulting in delivery of expected productivity standards throughout the organization. The system attempts to embrace the accountability of employees to adhere to their workplace schedule. Several prominent organizations maintain manual attendance systems as a part of their Human Resource Management System (HRMS) which is tedious and error prone. It leads to major discrepancies in maintaining the professional attendance record of the employees which in turn adversely affects the revenue of the organization. This is because of the role of analytics in attendance system which is responsible to sanction the payroll. Most of the organizations have almost 1/4th portion of its revenue sanctioned for payroll of employees. Additionally, the stipend of interns and trainees holds 1/10th of the total cost. Hence, there is a need to develop an automated attendance management system for proficient execution of the task. Integration of biometry in an HRMS based attendance systems can help in achieving this goal of automation. The automated system of attendance thus becomes enabled to analyze large amount of employee data per month by using automated tools and techniques. It is useful for analysing the working pattern and extracting the data of the associates almost immediately. This paper has analysed the contribution of automated biometric based attendance system for efficient management of the employee attendance. It has proposed incorporation of biometry in HRMS to reduce human error which in turn has a positive impact on the revenue of the organization.
Integrated financial management information systems success factors in selected local government districts of Kanungu and Rukungiri

This study investigated the success factors of integrated financial management information system in selected local government districts of Kanungu and Rukungiri using by adapting employed the information systems success model of Delone and Mclean (2003) and the CRUT model of Kappos and Rivard (2008) and employing descriptive comparative design. Data was collected from 86 sample size in a total population of 110 using Interviews, observation and questionnaire method. findings revealed that information quality, organisational, technology and user factors were rated very high in Rukungiri and Kanungu with average mean above 3.3; while system and service quality were rated high in both districts of Rukungiri and Kanungu with average mean above 2.8. The study recommended improved IS training and capacity building and encourage IS users in quality participation.
Study of Long-term Variational Trend of Sea Surface Temperature in the East China Sea

In this paper, the study of long-term variational trend in the East China Sea is made by analysing the satellite sea surface temperature data, and it is shown from the analysis results that there is a 41 month or so variational cycle in the East China Sea in relation to ENSO. The sea area with the maximum variations in sea surface temperature is located in the northern East China Sea from the Changjiang River mouth to the sea area south of the Cheju Island.