Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computational methods in wind power meteorology

Subsets of measured wind data from the Hjardemål field experiment are extracted in order to produce test cases representing nearly stationary, neutral conditions with well defined upstream flow. Model solutions of the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are obtained by utilizing the numerical flow solver EllipSys3D. When utilizing the well-known k-epsilon model as a turbulence closure, the result is a nearly complete agreement between the measurements and the model solution - not only for the forward flow but also for the separating backward flow over the Hjardemål escarpment. Small deviations can be understood from analyzing the conditions of the field experiment. It is of vital importance to understand the conditions under which the flow solver yields accurate solutions, in particular with respect to the grid generation, which was performed with the hyperbolic grid generator HypGrid2D/3D. The grid must allow the model to represent the underlying physics of the flow problem and the grid resolution must be sufficient to produce grid independent solutions. This yields not only the correct mean velocity but also the correct Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE). Deviations of the TKE in the zone very close to onset of separation might be understood by addressing the assumptions of a zero horizontal pressure gradient in the momentum balance near the surface. It is argued on basis of the obtained results that the model can be extended to non-neutral conditions and more complex terrain. The difficulties in using existing measurement data from a sparsely instrumented site, Porto, in complex terrain in Portugal for evaluating the model are demonstrated. Suggestions are offered to assist future field work incorporating wind measurements for complex terrain and non-neutral conditions in order to evaluate numerical flow models.
A SIMPLE COLORIMETRIC DETECTOR OF SYMMETRIC 2-(DIALKYLAMINO)ETHANETHIOLS AS PRECURSORS OF V-TYPE NERVE AGENTS

A colorimetric detector tube of 2-(dialkylamino)ethanethiols as precursors of V-type nerve agents and their hydrolytic products was designed. The detector is based on a reaction of 2-(dialkylamino)ethanethiols with a chromogenic reagent 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl) in alkaline medium leading to characteristic coloured products. The detection limit in water is of 5 μg/ml, the optimum measurement range being up to 250 μg/ml. The detector also presented a response to some other warfare chemical agents, the colour shade being, however, different. Effects of disturbing substances and organic solvents were studied.
Increasing the South African consumer’s access to credit through the use of non-traditional sources

I DECLARATION . II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . III TABLE OF CONTENTS . IV LIST OF TABLES . VI LIST OF EQUATIONS . VII LIST OF FIGURES . VII GLOSSARY OF TERMS . VIII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH PROBLEM . 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.1 Unbanked . 7 2.1. 1 Defining the Unbanked . 7 2.1. 2 Financial Sector Charter . 10 2.2 Credit . 10 2.2.1 Demand and Supply of Credit . 10 2.2.2 Uses of Credit . 12 2.2.3 Microfinance . 13 2.2.4 Regulatory Framework . 14 2.3 The Dynamics of Lending . 16 2.3.1 Credit Risk . 16 2.3.2 Credit Scoring . 17 2.3. 3 Credit Bureaux. 20 2.4 Municipality Accounts. 23 2.4. 1 Municipal Tariffs . 23 2.4. 2 Deposits . 24 2.4. 3 Credit Control . 24 2.5 Utilisation of Utility Accounts Research . 25 2.6 Conclusion of Literary Review . 26 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH HYPOTHESES . 28 3.1 Hypothesis 1 . 28 3.2 Hypothesis 2 . 29
Information Technology and Knowledge Management: An Explorative Study

Knowledge management refers to the critical issues of organizational adaptation, survival and competence against discontinuous environmental change. Knowledge Management is considered to be the most important component within an organization as it facilitates the seamless transition of data to information, knowledge and wisdom. This paper tries to explore the difference between information and knowledge, the power or ability to convert from one to another, which is the ability to understand and learn things or the ability to think and understand things instinctively or automatically. Also, the present study provides a link between Information Technology and Knowledge Management. Knowledge has been recognized as one of the most imperative assets of organization and Information Technology helps in the growth as well as sustainment of organizational Knowledge. This paper tries to analyze the essence of Information Technology in Knowledge Management; however knowledge science cannot be established only by information science. The paper also tries to investigate the present scenario of the concept and significance of Knowledge Management. This paper emphasizes on the fact that organizations need to move from the concept of “Knowledge is power” to “Knowledge sharing is power”. This study analyses the role of Information Technology in the development, deployment and implementation of Knowledge Management within an organization. The paper deals with the discovery of varied technical aspects related with Knowledge Management and its utilization for strategic decision making. The present study has important suggestions for the organizations which attempt to enhance their potential using Knowledge Management. Besides analyzing the role of Knowledge Management the paper also explains some of the key facts associated with the present age Information Technology. The study also unearths some of the astonishing facts related with the implementation of Knowledge Management in an organization as it not only provides with strategic decision making power but also makes an organization economically resonance towards the highly volatile environment. Some amazing facts allied to Knowledge Management have also been explored which displays the utmost preference given to this technology, as it not only proves beneficial in improving the decision making capability of an organization but may also provide them with power of becoming economically strong, provides them with enhancing the optimum utilization of the resources and has also helped certain organizations in gaining the ISO certification standards.
Indicator for Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Evaluation of Online Tasks.

In the Information Communication Technology era teachers will have to wisely use the online environment in order to realize a new pedagogy. The penetration of the internet and collaborative online instruments to teaching and learning affect the quality of teaching. We have developed a digital indicator evaluate the quality of the online tasks in terms of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, technological knowledge and technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). The score for the task is obtained immediately, with emphasis of its weaknesses and strengths. The indicator was used to examine 53 online tasks that were created by teachers from 2001 to 2007. We found that teachers can use this indicator for evaluating the quality of the tasks that were developed as well as to test the improvement that took place in their tasks over time.
A General, Dynamic, Supply-Response Model

This paper is divided into two parts which are somewhat independent. The first part of this paper discusses certain properties of a general autonomous control model that appears promising for the analysis of general dynamic supply response models in agricultural economics, resource economics, and related fields. The second part of the paper, which can be read somewhat independently of the first, emphasizes the potential empirical applications of special cases of the general model discussed in the first part, In what follows, we always deal with continuous time and infinite horizon models because of their analytical tractability y. Extension and modification of our results for discrete-time, finite-horizon problems should be fairly obvious and are left to the interested reader,
A Joint Learning Process for Stakeholders and Insider Peacebuilders: A Case Study from Southern Thailand

In 2012, two well-established international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) in the peacebuilding field, Conciliation Resources and Saferworld, published a joint report entitled “From Conflict Analysis to Peacebuilding Impact” (Hiscock and Dumasy 2012). This report was based on 18 conflict studies across a broad range of contexts, all focused on building the capacities of local actors to engage in participatory forms of conflict analysis as well as utilizing the insights gained for strategizing peacebuilding initiatives. The report’s main conclusion was that adequate conflict analysis is a key precondition for all types of effective peacebuilding initiatives. Two other notable conclusions were that the process and the ownership of the conflict analysis are as important as the results of the analysis. That study resonates with the current authors’ similar experiences in the context of the Insider Peacebuilders Platform (IPP) for the Deep South of Thailand. The IPP group was created at the beginning of 2011 as a joint initiative of a number of academic institutes in the Conflict and Peace Studies field, one state-based institution, and several academic and civil society organizations (CSOs). This platform was inspired by the observations of peace scholars and practitioners that, although civil society has been increasingly engaged in the region since 2007, few efforts have been put forward to bring the different actors together as a way to improve their joint strategizing and explore possibilities for more effective collaboration. Intensive discussions within the core IPP team initially focused on how best to develop such an approach in light of the earlier failures of several Asian Journal of Peacebuilding Vol. 2 No. 2 (2014): 277-296 Field Note
Delivery of growth factor-associated genes to mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage and bone tissue regeneration

Genetically-modified mesenchymal stem cells (GM-MSCs) have emerged as promising therapeutic tools for orthopedic degenerative diseases. GM-MSCs have been widely reported that they are able to increase bone and cartilage tissue regeneration not only by secreting transgene products such as growth factors in a long-term manner, also by inducing MSCs into tissue-specific cells. For example, MSCs modified with BMP-2 gene increased secretion of BMP-2 protein resulting in enhancement of bone regeneration, while MSCs with TGF-b gene did cartilage regeneration. In this review, we introduce several growth factors for gene delivery to MSCs and strategies for bone and cartilage tissue regeneration using GM-MSCs. Furthermore, we describe strategies for strengthening GM-MSCs to more intensively induce tissue regeneration by co-delivery system of multiple genes.
A multi-faceted assessment of sports motivation in relation to training effectiveness in progressive recreational skiers.

Introduction. Motivation and its typology have been researched by sport psychologists worldwide. Aim of Study. The study aimed to examine correlations between sources of motivation and training effectiveness in progressive recreational skiers. Material and Methods. Achievement motivation, consisting of task motivation and ego motivation, was examined using the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ). The sources of motivation were assessed with the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS). The study sample comprised 198 subjects oriented to improve their skiing skills. The sample included 138 men and 60 women at the mean age of 21 years. Results. The main source of skiers' motivation was found to be intrinsic motivation although both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations displayed positive correlations with skiers' training effectiveness. Achievement motivation in skiers was mostly conditioned by their task motivation rather than ego motivation, regardless of gender. Different dimensions of motivation appeared to be significant fac- tors influencing skiing effectiveness. Conclusions. Coach-athlete or teacher-student communication would be more effective, if coaches or teachers could relate to their athletes or students in accordance with the characteristic types of motivation to enhance their commitment to the taught subject or sport and to strengthen their satis- faction of performance despite demotivating failures.
The role of working environment in nurses’ career advancement from nursing mangers’ perspectives: A qualitative study

Background: Nurses’ career advancement is a dynamic and unique concept which is explained in the context of working environment. Objective: This study aimed to explore the role of working environment in nurses’ career advancement from Nursing Mangers’ Perspectives. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis method. Eighteen nursing managers from hospitals affiliated to Qazvin, Tehran, Iran and Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences Universities participated in the study. A purposive sample of nursing mangers with rich experiences and maximum variations were selected and continued to reaching data saturation. The data were analyzed using content analysis method. Results: Participants believed that working environment have two major roles in nurses’ career advancement including motivating and restricting roles. According to nursing mangers, motivating working environment had facilitating role, while restricting working environment had blocking role in Iranian nurses’ career advancement. Conclusions: It seems that recognizing characteristics of working environment could assist nurses and nursing managers to develop conditions of working environment facilitating career advancement for nurses and decrease restrictive factors.
Competitive Strategies’ Effects on the Market Share of Independent Petroleum Companies in Kenya

To stay afloat and sustain its competitive advantage any organisation must continuously review its organisational strategies in line with the industry in which it operates. The ever changing environment has forced players in the petroleum industry to adopt various strategies so as to survive. This study investigatedthe effects of competitive strategies used by Independent Petroleum Companies (IPCs) of Nairobi, Kenya, on their market share and their daily operations.A survey research supported by a descriptive design was used in the study.A sample population of twenty seven (27) registered petroleum companies was purposively selected as the sample of the study.Results indicatethat different competitive strategies were used in different magnitudes by the IPCs. Low cost leadership and product differentiation were the least used competitive strategies. On the other hand, the use of market segmentation and convenience retailing strategies was very high. The study found a strong correlation (0.7) between the competitive strategies employed by IPCs and market share.The study also found out that apart from market segmentation and convenience retailing, other strategies like overnight parking of public service vehicles, car washing, tyre sales and vehicle servicing are also mostly used by independent petroleum companies to increase their market share in Kenya.The study majorly recommends that local independent petroleum companies should identify and capitalize on their strengthswhich they enjoy over their multinational competitors to compete effectively in the Kenyan market.
OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE AND STOCK LIQUIDITY: SOME EVIDENCE FROM THE JORDANIAN CAPITAL MARKET

It is common knowledge that the microstructure of securities markets has generated a large number of research papers. This effort is not really surprising if one understands that market liquidity is important because of its implications for firms' investment and financing decisions and the development of financial markets. This paper examines the issue of stock liquidity in the Jordanian capital market. Specifically, we provide of measure of liquidity cost and relate it to firm specific characteristics including the ownership structure of stocks. Based on the daily trading data for a total of 131 listed companies during 2005, the results indicate that liquidity cost in the Jordanian market is high. In addition, the results indicate that while risk is the main determinant factor of spread, higher ownership dispersion does not improve market liquidity.
With the rapid increase of digital images, image retrieval has been an open issue required to be addressed

Recognizing a p lant in any huge vegetation is a tedious work for us. We recognize a plant on the basis of its size, leaves, flowers, fru its, etc. Leaf is a part of the p lant which can be found on plants almost in all seasons and most of the time we have to recognize plants on the basis of its leaf. But when dealing with leaf o f plant, it is important to consider the finer details of the contour representing the shape of the leaf. We are t rying to build a system which has a database of leaves of different plants and given a leaf, we find out the plant to which it may belong. In this paper, we present the results of tangential angle approach used for retrieval. A database of around one thousand leaves of different plants has been created. Each leaf image is preprocessed to extract its boundary. Then tangential angle approach is applied which captures the angular details of the boundary of shape. We have done the testing for around 1000 leaves and on the basis of that recall, precision and error rate have been calculated to measure the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Comparison of different marker sets for marker trajectory and principal component analysis based classification of simulated gait impairments

Objective: Many different marker sets have been used in marker trajectory based gait classification approaches. Little knowledge exists about the effects of specific marker sets on the subsequent statistical modeling. Such analysis is often based on principal component analysis. The aim of this study was to test the effect of marker set choice on marker trajectory and principal component analysis based gait classification. Methods: This study tested the performance of principal component analysis based gait classification models with various marker sets on the basis of simulated gait impairments. Simulated gait impairments were used to enable a high level of control of the gait patterns. Results: Classification accuracies were similar across most tested marker sets. Improved performance could be detected for some marker sets depending on the type of impairment. Conclusion: Several potentially valid marker sets exist for a specific gait classification task even though trends could be found suggesting that optimal marker set choice is dependent on functional aspects of the movement.
A study of volatile halocarbons in relation to phytoplankton pigments during a Trichodesmium bloom in the coastal eastern Arabian Sea

Eukaryotic phytoplankton such as diatoms and prymnesiophytes are known to produce biogenic halocarbons in the ocean that serve as important sources of chlorine and bromine to the atmosphere, but the role of cyanobacteria is halocarbon production is not well established. We studied distributions of chloroform (CHCl3), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), methylene bromide (CH2Br2) and bromoform (CHBr3) in relation to phytoplankton composition, determined from pigment analysis complemented by microscopic examination, for one month in coastal waters of the eastern Arabian that experienced a Trichodesmium bloom that typically occurs during the Spring Intermonsoon season. High concentrations of zeaxanthin (23 μg l -1 ), alpha beta betacarotene (6 μg l -1 ) and chlorophyll a (67 μg l -1 ) were found within the bloom whereas the marker pigment concentrations were low outside the bloom. CHCl3 and CCl4 occurred in relatively high concentrations in surface waters whereas CH2Br2 and CHBr3 were restricted to the subsurface layer. Chlorinated halocarbons were positively correlated among themselves and with CHBr3. The observed spatial and temporal trends in brominated compounds seem to be related to the abundance of Trichodesmium even though correlations between concentrations of brominated compounds with various marker pigments were poor and statistically insignificant. The results support the existence of multiple sources and sinks of halogenated compounds, which might mask the relationship between halocarbons and phytoplankton composition.
Vibration Analysis of a Piecewise-Smooth System with Negative Stiffness under Delayed Feedback Control

The principal resonance of a delayed piecewise-smooth (DPWS) system with negative stiffness under narrow-band random excitation is investigated in aspects of multiscale analysis, design methodology of the controller, and response properties. The amplitude-frequency response and steady-state moments together with the corresponding stability conditions of the controlled stochastic system are derived, in which the degradation case is also under consideration. Then, from the perspective of the equivalent damping, the comparisons of the response characteristics of the controlled system to the uncontrolled system, such as the phenomenon of frequency island, are fulfilled. Furthermore, sensitivity of the system response to feedback gain and time delay is studied and interesting dynamic properties are found. Meanwhile, the classification of the steady-state solution is also discussed. To control the maximum amplitude, the feedback parameters are determined by the frequency response together with stability boundaries which must be utilized to exclude the combinations of the unstable parameters. For the case with small noise intensity, mean-square responses present the similar characteristics to what is discussed in the deterministic case.
Facial Expression Recognition Based on TensorFlow Platform

Facial expression recognition have a wide range of applications in human-machine interaction, pattern recognition, image understanding, machine vision and other fields. Recent years, it has gradually become a hot research. However, different people have different ways of expressing their emotions, and under the influence of brightness, background and other factors, there are some difficulties in facial expression recognition. In this paper, based on the Inception-v3 model of TensorFlow platform, we use the transfer learning techniques to retrain facial expression dataset (The Extended Cohn-Kanade dataset), which can keep the accuracy of recognition and greatly reduce the training time.
Editor’s Choice Phylogenetic, virulence and antibiotic resistance characteristics of commensal strain populations of Escherichia coli from community subjects in the Paris area in 2010 and evolution over 30 years

IP: 54.70. 40.11 On: Fri, 07 Dec 2018 12:09:52 Editor’s Choice Phylogenetic, virulence and antibiotic resistance characteristics of commensal strain populations of Escherichia coli from community subjects in the Paris area in 2010 and evolution over 30 years Méril Massot,3 Anne-Sophie Daubié,3 Olivier Clermont,3 Françoise Jauréguy, Camille Couffignal, Ghizlane Dahbi, Azucena Mora, Jorge Blanco, Catherine Branger, France Mentré, Alain Eddi, Bertrand Picard, Erick Denamur and the COLIVILLE Group4
Review of Comparative Booster Performances of Semiconductor Optical Amplifier and Erbium-doped-fiber Amplifier for use in Future Long-haul Optical Networks

This study reviews the performance of the Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) photonic device with the classic Erbium-doped-fiber-amplifier (EDFA). In certain situations, we report that the SOA out-performs the EDFA, particularly in terms of gain and Q-factor and BER of the post-amplified received signal. This substantiates its potential as a viable replacement for the EDFA in future all-optical, long haul networks.