Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volunteer motivations in sport: Gender differences among college students in Singapore

With the growth of Singapore``s sport industry, more manpower is needed to meet the demands of increasing sporting events. Given the economic and non-economic benefits that young volunteers bring, sport organizations should aim attract more of such personnel. In order to do so, they should have an understanding of sport volunteering motivations and how these motivations differ between genders. This would allow them to customise their recruitment campaigns to target each gender more effectively. The aim of the study was to examine gender differences in sport volunteering motivations. The study used the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) scale to test for importance placed on six motivators (i.e., values, understanding, social, career-related, enhancement, and protective) with regards to sport volunteering. Online questionnaire was sent to undergraduates in a sport-related field of study. There were 126 responses, comprising of 68 males and 58 females. One-way MANOVA testing showed that females placed significantly more importance on values motivator; F(1, 124) = 4.91, p = . 028, understanding motivator; F(1, 124) = 5.06, p = . 026, and protective motivator; F(1, 124) = 4.43, p = . 037. Results implied that volunteer recruitment messages should emphasise on benefits related to values and understanding, especially if the aim is to attract females volunteers, given that these two motivators were also ranked as most important among the six motivators. Ways to improve males`` perception towards volunteering should also be looked at by volunteering organisations and government agencies.
Soil erosion evolution and spatial correlation analysis in a typical karst geomorphology using RUSLE with GIS

Abstract. Although some scholars have studied soil erosion in karst landforms, analyses of the spatial and temporal evolution of soil erosion and correlation analyses with spatial elements have been insufficient. The lack of research has led to an inaccurate assessment of environmental effects, especially in the mountainous area of Wuling in China. Soil erosion and rocky desertification in this area influence the survival and sustainability of a population of 0.22 billion people. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of soil erosion and explores its relationship with rocky desertification using GIS technology and the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). Furthermore, this paper analyzes the relationship between soil erosion and major natural elements in southern China. The results are as follows: (1) from 2000 to 2013, the proportion of the area experiencing micro-erosion and mild erosion was at increasing risk in contrast to areas where moderate and high erosion are decreasing. The area changes in this time sequence reflect moderate to high levels of erosion tending to convert into micro-erosion and mild erosion. (2) The soil erosion area on the slope, at 15–35°, accounted for 60.59 % of the total erosion area, and the corresponding soil erosion accounted for 40.44 %. (3) The annual erosion rate in the karst region decreased much faster than in the non-karst region. Soil erosion in all of the rock outcrop areas indicates an improving trend, and dynamic changes in soil erosion significantly differ among the various lithological distribution belts. (4) The soil erosion rate decreased in the rocky desertification regions, to below moderate levels, but increased in the severe rocky desertification areas. The temporal and spatial variations in soil erosion gradually decreased in the study area. Differences in the spatial distribution between lithology and rocky desertification induced extensive soil loss. As rocky desertification became worse, the erosion modulus decreased and the decreasing rate of annual erosion slowed.
Microleakage of Total-etch and Self-etch adhesives in class V composite cavities

Background and Aims: This ex vivo study was done to evaluate the effect of different adhesive systems on microleakage of class V composite restorations. Materials and Methods: Thirty extracted human third molar teeth were selected and class V cavities were prepared (3×3×1.5 mm) on buccal and lingual surfaces. Then, teeth were divided into 3 groups. Adhesives used in this study were Excite (Ivoclar/Vivadent), AdheSE(Ivoclar/Vivadent) and AdheSE-one Ivoclar (Vivadent/Vivadent). After application of adhesives, cavities were restored with a resine composite (InTen-S A1/ Ivoclar), in 3 increments and cured with QTH light curing unit (700 mW/cm). After 24 hours storage of teeth in 37 0 C water, teeth were thermocycled (500 cycles in 5-55 0 C) and stored in 1% basic fushin for 24 hours. After that, the specimens were rinsed with running water and mounted in a self-cured acryl. Finally, the specimens were sectioned and maximum depth of dye penetration for each restoration was measured using stereomicroscopy. The results were statistically analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test. Results: In comparison between enamel and dentin margins in each group, microleakage in enamel margins were less than that of dentin margins. This difference was statistically significant in Excite and AdheSE-one groups (P=0.001, P=0.043). AdheSE showed the least microleakage in dentin margins; however, there was no significant difference between 3 bonding agents (P=0.14). In enamel margins, there were significant differences between 3 bonding agents (P=0.001). Excite showed the lowest microleakage and AdheSE-one had the highest microleakage. Conclusion: The least enamel microleakage was associated with the total-etch and least dentin microleakage was observed in the two-step self-etch adhesive system.
Corpus analysis: a pragmatic perspective on term variation

An important issue with regard to terms in linguistics is the detection of term variation, which may be defined as the use of alternative names for the same concept, i.e. synonymy. Its causes include the different practices for the designation of terms employed by language users. For example, the use of alternative words in specific terminology among experts is commonplace, but this practice is not common among general users of language, who prefer to stick to popular terms. The differences may lead to the designation of a concept by means of different terms, a phenomenon known as term variation. As a result, a general user may utilise a term which is different from the one used in the technical corpus. In this paper, we aim to identify the types of term variation that can be found when contrasting specific texts in English and the way in which we can recognise some of the types of variation from a pragmatic perspective, i.e. depending on language use and the purpose of the user. First, we examine the types of variation which commonly occur in corpora compiled from specific texts, explaining the document pre-processing and the methodology followed. In the results and discussion section, we describe the method carried out to extract synonyms and the results are contrasted. Finally we conclude that, from a pragmatic perspective, the specificity of communicative acts plays a vital role in term variation.
Simultaneously Tracking and Recognition of Facial Features and Facial Expressions

The tracking and recognition of facial activities from images have attracted a great attention in computer vision field. Face activities are divided in the three different levels. First, the bottom level, facial feature points around every facial sections, i.e., eyebrow, mouth, etc., capture the face information point by point. Second, in the middle level, facial activity units, defined in the facial activity coding framework, illustrate the construction of a specific set of facial muscles, i.e., lid tightener, eyebrow raiser, and so forth. At last, in the top level, six types of facial expressions are illustrate the facial muscle movement and are usually used to display the human feeling states. Rather than the standard approaches, which in general just concentrate on a two levels of face activities, and tracking them independently, this paper presents a Advanced machine learning techniques are used to learn the model in view of both training information and subjective prior knowledge. Given the model and the estimates the facial movements, and each of the three individual levels of face activities are recognized at the same time through an expression engine. Experiments are performed to illustrate effectiveness of the above proposed model.
Evaluation of a Course: “Education and Awareness for Sustainability”

This article reported and discussed the evaluation of a lecture, designed to change university students’ values related with sustainable ways of living. The outcomes of the study were those obtained from the evaluation of the course titled “Education and Awareness for Sustainability”, which has been offered for three years in the Department of Elementary Education, Middle East Technical University–Ankara (Turkey). The study was realized with the participation of 85 students from different faculties (faculty of education, economy, administration and engineering). The study comprised three steps: need assessment (NA), formative evaluation (FE) and summative evaluation (SE). The evaluation model of DIPO emphasizing needs-objectives relationship was used for evaluation. Analyzes, on the other hand, were realized by the use of both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. It was concluded as a result of the study that integrating real life cases with the issues in the course makes students feel comfortable about the course and feel themselves sensitive and responsible.
Life-History Evolution in Reptiles

▪ Abstract Two consequences of terrestrial ectothermy (low energy needs and behavioral control of body temperatures) have had major consequences for the evolution of reptile life-history traits. For example, reproducing females can manipulate incubation temperatures and thus phenotypic traits of their offspring by retaining developing eggs in utero. This ability has resulted in multiple evolutionary transitions from oviparity to viviparity in cool-climate reptile populations. The spatial and temporal heterogeneity of operative temperatures in terrestrial habitats also has favored careful nest-site selection and a matching of embryonic reaction norms to thermal regimes during incubation (e.g., via temperature-dependent sex determination). Many of the life-history features in which reptiles differ from endothermic vertebrates—such as their small offspring sizes, large litter sizes, and infrequent reproduction—are direct consequences of ectothermy, reflecting freedom from heat-conserving constraints on body .
Comparison of VLT/X-shooter OH and O 2 rotational temperatures with consideration of TIMED/SABER emission and temperature profiles

Abstract. Rotational temperatures Trot derived from lines of the same OH band are an important method to study the dynamics and long-term trends in the mesopause region near 87 km. To measure realistic temperatures, the rotational level populations have to be in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). However, this might not be fulfilled, especially at high emission altitudes. In order to quantify possible non-LTE contributions to the OH Trot as a function of the upper vibrational level v′, we studied a sample of 343 echelle spectra taken with the X-shooter spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal in Chile. These data allowed us to analyse 25 OH bands in each spectrum. Moreover, we could measure lines of O2b(0-1), which peaks at about 94 to 95 km, and O2a(0-0) with an emission peak at about 90 km. The latter altitude is reached in the second half of the night after a rise of several km because of the decay of a daytime population of excited O2. Since the radiative lifetimes for the upper levels of the two O2 bands are relatively long, the derived Trot are not significantly affected by non-LTE contributions. These bands are well suited for a comparison with OH if the differences in the emission profiles are corrected. For different sample averages, we made these corrections by using OH emission, O2a(0-0) emission, and CO2-based temperature profile data from the multi-channel radiometer SABER on the TIMED satellite. The procedure relies on differences of profile-weighted SABER temperatures. For an O2a(0-0)-based reference profile at 90 km, we found a good agreement of the O2 with the SABER-related temperatures, whereas the OH temperatures, especially for the high and even v′, showed significant excesses with a maximum of more than 10 K for v′ = 8. The exact value depends on the selected lines and molecular parameters. We could also find a nocturnal trend towards higher non-LTE effects, particularly for high v′. The amplitude of these variations can be about 2 K or less, which tends to be significantly smaller than the total amount of the non-LTE contributions. The variations revealed may be important for dynamical studies based on Trot derived from OH bands with high v′.
Rapid Mesoscale Environmental Changes Accompanying Genesis of an Unusual Tornado

AbstractThis study documents a very rapid increase in convective instability, vertical wind shear, and mesoscale forcing for ascent leading to the formation of a highly unusual tornado as detected by a ground-based microwave radiometer and wind profiler, and in 1-km resolution mesoanalyses. Mesoscale forcing for the rapid development of severe convection began with the arrival of a strong upper-level jet streak with pronounced divergence in its left exit region and associated intensification of the low-level flow to the south of a pronounced warm front. The resultant increase in stretching deformation along the front occurred in association with warming immediately to its south as low-level clouds dissipated. This created a narrow ribbon of intense frontogenesis and a rapid increase in convective available potential energy (CAPE) within 75 min of tornadogenesis. The Windsor, Colorado, storm formed at the juncture of this warm frontogenesis zone and a developing dryline. Storm-relative helicity suddenly in.
Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Damage Model with a Three Dimensional Pavement Profile

This paper proposes a mechanistic-empirical pavement damage model to predict changes in 3-dimensional road profiles due to dynamic axle loads. The traffic is represented by a fleet of quarter cars which allows for statistical variability in model parameters such as velocity, suspension stiffness, suspension damping, sprung mass, unsprung mass and tyre stiffness. The fleet model generates statistical distributions of dynamic force at each point which are used to predict pavement damage. As the pavement deteriorates, the distributions of dynamic axle force are changed by the changing road profile. This paper introduces a 3dimensional approach – the transverse position of the wheel is represented by a Laplace probability distribution. This influences the extent to which the force patterns are spatially repeatable. Differences in the range of 10% to 30% are found between 2-dimensional and 3dimensional predictions of pavement life.
Genetic diversity in three morphological types of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var.mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao as revealed by inter simple

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to detect the genetic diversity in three morphological types of cultivated Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao discovered in Gansu province of China. Eight primers used for analysis generated 165 scorable bands of which 162 (98.18%) were polymorphic. The percentage polymorphic bands (PPB), Shannon's information index (I) and Nei's gene diversity (h) for 3 types ranged from 59.39%, 0.2912, 0.1901 to 78.18%, 0.3411, 0.2238 respectively, indicating each type had a high genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 90.41% of the total genetic diversity existed within the 3 morphological types, whereas only 9.59% occurred among them. The UPGMA tree based on SM similarity coefficients implied that the 3 types had genetically differentiated though not obviously. The high genetic diversity suggested that each type had a potential to develop new strains or cultivars and ISSR was a potentially useful tool in the process of selective breeding of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus.
EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL OF REMOTE SENSING RURAL ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS

This research paper addresses the provision of current road and travel information to road users. There is a potential for using real-time remote weather and traffic information to assist governmental bodies in updating road and travel information. The road and travel information can be communicated to road users using a variety of devices including changeable message signs, road and travel telephone numbers, road and travel information on public radio, and linear radio. Chapter 1 of this report provides an introduction to the topic and discusses the purpose and objectives of the study. Chapter 2 presents a background search of material related to accident analysis, spot speed surveys, and the effects of poor road and travel conditions on road users. Highlights of a survey of state traffic engineers to determine the current usage of remote weather information systems in relation to changeable message signs is also included. Contained in Chapter 3 are descriptions of the components and methodology employed in the study. The components include the study site, accident data, remote weather information system, speed study site and methodology, road user surveys, and reports of road and travel conditions as reported by the Wyoming Transportation Department snow plow operators. Included in Chapter 4 are the findings of the study. The relationships between the road user, remote weather information system, speed surveys, and the snow plow reports are discussed. Chapter 5 contains a summary of findings, conclusions and recommentations.
Internal and International Vertical Specialization – Estimations for Brazil and new Approach to Gravity Models

WTO, OECD with many others, suggest the trade in value-added would be a “better” measure to understand the impact of trade on employment, growth, production etc. when import content in exports is important. We use in this work an Input-Output table for 2008, to calculate the value-added exported by Brazilian states. We distinguish the value-added exported directly by the state itself or indirectly via other states. First, by using value-added we define the extent of vertical specialization among Brazilian states. Exported value-added are then used in a gravity model to determine the structure of trade in value-added terms. We also define a trilateral gravity structure which permits to control for the vertical specialization between states and to estimate the trade determinants at three steps: origin state, re-exporter state and importer country.
PREDICTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF NONLINEAR ROTARY CEMENT KILN SYSTEM WITH NEURO-FUZZY ANFIS NETWORK BY USING FEATURE SELECTION WITH GENETIC ALGORITHM

: Due to the status of Rotary Kiln Cements (RKCs) in different industries and lack of a mature model for these systems, identification and prediction of the Kiln system are necessary for any simulation and automation approaches. Intrinsically, RKCs are non-linear and time-variant systems. This paper proposes a novel approach of using ANSFI to predict the status of a RKC system in a scale of few minutes in advance. Since the data used in this research has been extracted from a real system, pre-analysis of data is one of the critical parts of identification process. In addition to the system inputs, dynamic of the system which has been selected according to the LIPSCHITZ method with a system’s genuine delay are applied as inputs for Neural Network system with one step phase lag. Genetic algorithm has been utilized as a characteristic selection and phasor rules reduction method due to the existing challenges on the number of rules in phasor systems specifically with a large number of variables to be applied to the Neural Network. To verify the performance of the proposed identification and prediction method on a non-linear industrial system, simulation results have been carried out on a real data extracted from SAVEH Cement Company.
Sliding-Mode Control for a DFIG-Based Wind-Power Generation System with Series Grid-Side Converter under Unbalanced Grid Voltage Conditions

In this paper, the power quality in a wind power generation system is studied. It is shown that adding a Series Grid-Side Converter (SGSC) to the Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) structure and applying a suitable control algorithm will make the system be able to compensate the adverse effects of the voltage unbalance and consequently can improve the power quality. In order to decrease design complexity and implement the control algorithms in the stationary reference frame, a Sliding-Mode Control (SMC) method for controlling of the DFIG system with SGSC is proposed. One of the advantages of the proposed method in this paper is its robustness to parameter variations both in the DFIG and the connected network. Moreover, the designed controller leads to a fast dynamic response. It should be mentioned that, a coordinated control carries out between SGSC with the other DFIG converters. The simulation results approve the validity of the mentioned advantages and the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Determinants of Commercialization Strategy: Idiosyncrasies in British and German Biotechnology

The intention of this paper is to investigate whether market–related factors have a stronger influence on the strategic decision making of ventures in “liberal market economies” than on that of their counterparts in “coordinated economies. ” Thereby, I focus on a particularly important strategic decision that firms face—the commercialization choice. Using a unique survey data set on the commercialization of British and German biotechnology firms, I analyze the determinants of commercialization strategy, paying particular attention to national idiosyncrasies. Together, the findings indicate that the commercialization strategy follows distinct patterns in the British “liberal market economy” and the German “coordinated economy. ”
Intel ® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O

Intel ® Virtualization Technology Δ for Directed I/O (VT-d) is the next important step toward comprehensive hardware support for the virtualization of Intel ® platforms. VT-d extends Intel's Virtualization Technology (VT) roadmap from existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) (1) and Itanium ® processor (VT-i) (2) virtualization to include new support for I/O-device virtualization. This paper surveys a variety of established and emerging techniques for I/O virtualization and outlines their associated problems and challenges. We then detail the architecture of VT-d and describe how it enables the industry to meet the future challenges of I/O virtualization.