Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The English Choral Tradition and the Secular Trend in Boys' Pubertal Timing

A so-called “secular trend” (meaning a slow drift in measurement over time) in stature and pubertal timing in boys has been reported with increasing frequency by the press. English choir directors have also complained that boys’ voices are “breaking” sooner, with consequent difficulties for more complex repertoire. This investigation sought to establish whether a trend to earlier pubertal timing exists among a cross-sectional sample of 127 boys from seven all-male English cathedral choirs. A review of the medical literature on pubertal timing yielded conflicting results and a case not yet fully proven. Results from quantitative acoustic and perceptual measures appeared to support the belief in earlier "voice break". Advanced voice change associated with completing puberty status was commonly found during what is most frequently the top year of English cathedral choirs (Y8, age 12.5 – 13.5 years). Interview and observational data suggested the presence of differing practices and approaches to choral pedagogy. Some cathedral choirs dismissed boys once noticeable voice change had set in. Others appeared to pay little attention to the vocal health of boys in late puberty. While further medical evidence is required, these particular results may suggest a need for two precautionary measures: (a) all boys over the age of twelve years should be regularly assessed, and (b) all-male cathedral choirs might consider planning for a lowering of the age demographic for choristers.
An overview of fractal antenna engineering research

Recent efforts by several researchers around the world to combine fractal geometry with electromagnetic theory have led to a plethora of new and innovative antenna designs. In this report, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the rapidly growing field of fractal antenna engineering. Fractal antenna engineering research has been primarily focused in two areas: the first deals with the analysis and design of fractal antenna elements, and the second concerns the application of fractal concepts to the design of antenna arrays. Fractals have no characteristic size, and are generally composed of many copies of themselves at different scales. These unique properties of fractals have been exploited in order to develop a new class of antenna-element designs that are multi-band and/or compact in size. On the other hand, fractal arrays are a subset of thinned arrays, and have been shown to possess several highly desirable properties, including multi-band performance, low sidelobe levels, and the ability to develop rapid beamforming algorithms based on the recursive nature of fractals. Fractal elements and arrays are also ideal candidates for use in reconfigurable systems. Finally, we provide a brief summary of recent work in the related area of fractal frequency-selective surfaces.
Car Drive Classification and Context Recognition for Personalized Entertainment Preference Learning

The automotive domain, with its increasing number of comfort and infotainment functions, offers a field of opportunities for pervasive and context-aware personalization. This can range from simple recommendations up to fully automated systems, depending on the information available. In this respect, frequent trips of individual drivers provide promising and interesting features, on the basis of which, usage patterns may possibly be learned and automated. This automation of functions could increase safety as well as comfort, as the driver can concentrate more on the experience of driving instead of repeatedly and manually adjusting comfortor entertainment-related systems. To identify frequent driving contexts in a set of recorded signal in a vehicle, e.g., GPS tracks, this paper presents two different clustering algorithms: First, a hierarchical Drive-Clustering, which combines drives based on their number of common GPS points. Second, a Start-Stop-Clustering, which combines trips with the same startand stop-cluster utilizing density based clustering. The Start-Stop-Clustering showed particularly good results, as it does not depend on the concrete routes taken to a stop position and it is still able to detect more trip clusters. To predict these drives, a Bayesian network is presented and evaluated, with logged trip data of 21 drivers. The Bayes Net uses context information, i.e., the time, weekday and the number of people in the car, to predict the most likely drive context with high accuracy. A new automated entertainment source selection algorithm demonstrates the usefulness of the retrieved information. The algorithm learns and predicts a driver’s preferences for selected entertainment sources depending on recognized drive contexts. Keywords–Context-aware Vehicle; Spatial Clustering; Drive Context Prediction; In-Car Infotainment; Automation
A Hardware Design of EDT Algorithm Applied to Binary Images

In this paper, a hardware Euclidean distance transform (EDT) algorithm is proposed. The binary image data of each row are independent. For a binary image, the row distances and column distances are separately calculated. By taking the advantage of these two characteristics, a parallel EDT circuit based on the algorithm with the pipeline is designed and verified on the FPGA hardware platform. The experiment demonstrates that the time complexity of proposed EDT is ) (N O for binary image with the size of N N × . Keywords-distance transform; Euclidean distance; parallelization; hardware; FPGA
Using e-CRM to create customer insight in SMEs

CRM can be thought of, at a fundamental level, as managing customer relationships; SMEs do that. In fact, it is their close relationships with customers that often provide SMEs with their unique competitive advantage (Carson et al., 1995; Zontanos and Anderson, 2004). The crux of the current study is to pose the following question; if SMEs intuitively follow relationship marketing and CRM principles, what potential is there for technology to facilitate this process? This is based on the understanding that e-CRM is, at a fundamental level, managing customer relationships with the use of IBTs (Chen and Ching, 2007; Ortega et al., 2008). From this perspective, the literature certainly makes robust links between technology and relationship marketing (Gummesson, 1994; Chen and Ching, 2007). Moreover, literature pertaining to larger organisations positively advocates the role of technology in CRM, asserting that what traditional CRM delivers can be considered only a fraction of e-CRM (Pan and Lee, 2003). To investigate the nature of e-CRM in SMEs, this study analyses its role in a particular capability of the SME - customer information management. It is held that customer information is the ‘engine’ that drives CRM (Payne and Frow, 2006), making this an important area in which to investigate the e-CRM activities of SMEs .
Diversification of Equity with VIX Futures: Personal Views and Skewness Preference

A comprehensive description of the trading and statistical characteristics of VIX futures and their exchange-traded notes motivates our study of their benefits to equity investors seeking to diversify their exposure. We analyze when diversification into VIX futures is ex-ante optimal for standard mean-variance investors, then extend this to include (a) skewness preference, and (b) a moderation of personal forecasts by equilibrium returns, as in the Black-Litterman framework. An empirical study shows that skewness preference increases the frequency of diversification, but out-of-sample the optimally-diversified portfolios rarely out-perform equity alone, even according to a generalized Sharpe ratio that incorporates skewness preference, except during an extreme crisis period or when the investor has personal access to accurate forecasts of VIX futures returns.
Financial turbulence: Some lessons regarding deposit insurance

One specific aspect of financial safety nets that has been in the spotlight of late is deposit insurance. As events in markets are still unfolding, it is too soon to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effects of the crisis and the adequacy of financial safety nets, including deposit insurance arrangements. Nonetheless, preliminary suggestions for policy are emerging and the article singles out four areas for special attention. First, as regards coverage, deposit insurance systems with low levels of coverage and/or partial insurance may not be effective in preventing bank runs. Second, for an explicit deposit insurance system to be effective, depositors need to understand the extent of and limits to existing deposit protection schemes. Third, when different institutions are entrusted with responsibilities that are relevant in a crisis situation, ex ante arrangements delimiting the scope of the different responsibilities as well as the respective powers may not be sufficient to ensure co-ordination that is as close and smooth as needed. Fourth, the question as to whether a specific bankruptcy regime for banks is needed remains an important issue.
Upward propagating high-frequency Alfvén waves as identified from dynamic wave-like spicules observed by SOT on Hinode

Aims. We identify high-frequency Alfven waves propagating upward in the solar chromosphere and transition region from observation by Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) onboard Hinode . Methods. The spicule shape is enhanced through application of a normal radial gradient filter and an un-sharp mask on the images taken by SOT. The displaced position of the spicule is at each height obtained by tracing the maximum intensity after image processing. The dominant wave period is obtained by the FFT method applied to the time variations of the displaced position at a certain height. The phase speed is estimated with the help of a cross-correlation analysis of two temporal sequences of the displaced positions at two heights along the spicule. Results. We find in four cases that the spicules are modulated by high-frequency ( ≥ 0.02 Hz) transverse fluctuations. Such fluctuations are suggested to be Alfven waves that propagate upward along the spicules with phase speed ranges from 50 to 150 km s -1 . Three of the modulated spicules show clear wave-like shapes with short wavelengths less than 8 Mm. Conclusions. Our work identified directly upward propagation of Alfven waves in the solar chromosphere and transition region. In addition to the recently reported Alfven waves with very long wavelength and wave period, we find here four examples of Alfven waves with shorter wavelengths and periods. These findings shed new light on the wave origin and on coronal and solar-wind heating.
Factors affecting realization of integrated solid waste management in Kenya: a case of Nairobi County

This research study investigated factors affecting realization of Integrated Solid Waste Management in Kenya. Solid waste management is increasingly becoming a problem in many cities of the world and Kenyan urban centres are no exception. Solid Waste management is limited by technology employed, inadequate equipment, personnel and financial resources. The objectives of this study were to assess how stakeholders cooperation has affected realization of integrated solid waste management, to establish how community awareness affect realization of integrated solid waste management, to find out how technology affect realization integrated solid waste management and also to establish how community awareness affect realization integrated solid waste management. The researcher targeted respondents from City Council of Nairobi who are tasked with solid waste management. Descriptive research design was employed whereby a population representative sample of two hundred and forty five (245) respondents was selected by stratified random sampling from a target population of five hundred and seventy two (572) staff o f the City Council of Nairobi's department of environment. The researcher collected primary data by use o f semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and direct observation. Secondary data was also collected from published books, journals reports and other academic articles. The collected data was analyzed by use of SPSS and the study findings presented by use o f frequency distributions. The study found out that lack of information and financial resources sharing hinder stakeholders cooperation hence affecting realization of Integrated Solid waste Management (1SWM). It was also found out that use of old technology, inadequate solid waste prevention and minimization practices as well as lack of community awareness on solid waste management issues has affected realization of ISWM in Nairobi County. The study recommends stakeholders cooperation, use of contemporary technology on management o f solid waste, implementation of solid waste prevention and minimization techniques and community sensitization on solid waste management as a recipe for realization of ISWM. The researcher has suggested for further research to be carried out on impact o f private sector on solid waste management, economic and financial gains of solid waste prevention and minimization techniques as well as environmental impact of inefficient solid waste management
ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIDIABETIC AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF RENNELLIA

Rennellia elliptica is a small tropical shrub that commonly known as ‘segemuk’. The root decoction is traditionally used for health vitality. We have previously isolated Rubia-type anthraquinones from the root extract of Rennellia elliptica. The root extract is a potent antiplasmodial and some of the anthraquinones were strong inhibitors with the IC50 values of less than 2 μM. In continuation of our investigation on the pharmacological potential of R. elliptica, the root extracts and the anthraquinones were screened for antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities. Dichloromethane extract is a strong lipid peroxidation inhibitor but showed no activity against 3T3, MCF7 and 4T1 cancer cell lines and α-glucosidase. The anthraquinones showed weak radical scavenging activities against DPPH radicals. 2-Formyl-3-hydroxy-9,10anthraquinones, damnacanthal and 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones showed moderate activity when screened for cytotoxicity using 3T3 cell lines at 30 μg/ml with 74.15, 67.34 and 50.40 %, respectively. When screened using 4T1 and MCF7 cell lines, only 2-formyl-3-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone showed moderate cytotoxicity after 72 hours of incubation. 1,2-Dimethoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinones and damnacanthal showed weak α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with 21.3 and 19.9 %, respectively, when screened at 10 μg/ml.
THE INFLUENCE OF CSR, INNOVATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERSHIP ON FIRM COMPETITIVENESS

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is crucial for competitive advantage and survival of firms globally. In the pursuit of excellence, many firms have embarked on CSR programs, considering that it is not a financial burden but a strategic roadmap to increase and maintain their brand reputation, to overcome competitive pressures successfully and to efficiently and effectively lower operating cost with profit maximisation through innovation and supply chain partnership. However, in the process of becoming good players of CSR to society, innovative dimension for sustainability as well as an organisation’s supply chain partnership may be essential determinants to enhance good firm business processes and performance activities. In other words, to realise CSR, firms should have a strong environmental measure and well-integrated supply chain practices closely related to their business objectives and structures. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to examine the influence of CSR on innovation, supply chain partnership and firm competitiveness on firms around Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Through a quantitative method using smart PLS, this study tested the relationships among the four variables, which are CSR, innovation, supply chain partnership and firm competitiveness. The results showed that there is a positive relationship between the four proposed hypotheses. H1: There is a positive relationship between CSR and innovation; H2: There is a positive relationship between CSR and supply chain partnership; H3: There is a positive relationship between innovation and firm competitiveness; H4: There is a positive relationship between supply chain partnership and firm competitiveness. The proposed study is expected to have practical and theoretical implications to policy makers and managers. In addition, it will provide added insights and new knowledge to the existing body of literature hitherto not studied extensively in South African firms.
Your Experience is Important! The User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) - Estonian Version

The User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) is a measuring instrument for evaluating subjective experience of the users of interactive products. The study set out to adapt the UEQ to the Estonian language and to use it for evaluating everyday objects (learning tools), i.e. to test if the UEQ can be used also for a class of objects that were not in the scope of the construction of the UEQ. The data analysis is based on the instrument developed by the creators of the UEQ: UEQ Data Analysis Tool. It can be concluded from the study that the adaptation of the UEQ to the Estonian language was successful as the measurable values were mostly within the permissible range. Although the scale Dependability has a smaller consistency value, it is not small enough to indicate a significant problem. The study demonstrated that it is possible to use an instrument originally designed to assess interactive products for assessing non-interactive products. Thus, the questionnaire is presumably applicable to assess a range of varied products.
The Effects of Knowledge Spillovers through Labor Mobility

We estimate the effects of knowledge spillovers on firms’ performance and workers’ wages. We use an innovation support program as an exogenous shock to the knowledge of non-participant firms and an employer-employee dataset to track the mobility of workers—and knowledge diffusion—between firms. We find that non-participants that acquired new knowledge by hiring skilled workers exposed to the program increased employment, the average wage they pay, exports, and productivity. Finally, we find that—depending on the level of competition—a wage premium was paid either by participant or non-participant firms to retain or acquire workers.
Understanding the economy wide efficiency and incidence of major Australian taxes

In recent years, a series of studies have been undertaken in Australia that use static general equilibrium models with a representative household to compare the relative efficiency of different Australian taxes. This paper aims to complement these earlier studies and contribute to a broader discussion about the structure of Australia’s tax system by estimating the welfare cost and identifying the economic incidence of marginal changes to the tax system. Our estimates of the additional welfare cost of a marginal tax change (that is, the marginal excess burden) of major Australian taxes largely align with estimates reported in earlier Australian studies. Consistent with earlier studies, stamp duty on conveyances and the company income tax are the least efficient taxes (that is, they have relatively high marginal excess burdens), while the most efficient tax is a hypothetical broad-based land tax. We test the sensitivity of the ranking of the efficiency of major Australian taxes to a range of assumptions about economic agents and the structure of the Australian economy and find that the relative marginal excess burden of major Australian taxes is robust to a wide range of model parameters. Finally, we show that the incidence of major taxes is largely borne by workers through lower real wages caused by lower labour productivity.
Stress Concentrations Optimisation Process for Engineering Structures

Prediction of fatigue life is a critical issue in the design of aerostructures. Stress concentrations are crucial in this connection. The paper proposes a design optimisation methodology aimed at achieving a longer and safer working record for a structure over its lifecycle, based on the redistribution of material to balance the effect of stress concentrations.The idea of design optimisation in situations where primary failure is driven by stress concentrations is worthwhile and has the potential to offer design engineers a better view in the design structures subjected to fatigue loading and an opportunity for better utilisation of material with its associated economic benefits. Prediction of fatigue life is a critical issue in the design of aerostructures.Stress concentrations are crucial in this connection. The paper proposes adesign optimisation methodology aimed at achieving a longer and saferworking record for a structure over its lifecycle, based on the redistributionof material to balance the effect of stress concentrations.The idea ofdesign optimisation in situations where primary failure is driven by stressconcentrations is worthwhile and has the potential to offer designengineers a better view in the design structures subjected to fatigueloading and an opportunity for better utilisation of material with itsassociated economic benefits.
Ex Vitro Rooting of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) PlantletsDerived from Tissue Culture

A study was conducted at Holetta National Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory with the objective to determine the effect of different concentrations of NAA on ex vitro root development of sugarcane microshoots. Five levels of NAA (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/l) and two levels of genotypes were combined in factorial arrangement. The basal end of the shoots was dipped in NAA solution overnight before the shoots were transferred into a plastic tray containing a mixed growing medium in green house. The results showed that interaction effect of genotype and NAA was highly significant (p<0.0001) on rooting percentage, number of roots per shoot, root length. In genotype N52, best root formation was found on the shoots treated with 20 mg/l NAA by which rooting percentage was 76 ± 5.48 with 5.88 ± 0.04 cm root length and 8.06 ± 0.13 number of roots per plantlets. While in genotype N53 maximum, root formation was recorded on the shoots dipped in 30 mg/l NAA by which rooting percentage was 70 ± 7.07 with 5.42 ± 0.11 cm root length and 4.52 ± 0.19 number of roots per plantlets. Shoots rooted through this method exhibited 100 % survival in both genotypes.
Exploiting Twitter to fulfill information needs during incidents

How can Twitter be exploited to fulfill information needs of users on Twitter during incidents? In this Thesis this question wil be investigated and a strategy to locate tweets which fulfill information needs will be introduced. First, techniques are proposed to automatically detect incidents given an unstructured incident data source and subsequently tweets which report on these incidents are tracked. An interpretative analysis is carried out to derive and classify typical information needs during incidents. Furthermore, a metric is proposed to compute a tweet's relevance by measuring its informativeness and the user's trustworthiness. Finally, tweets are ranked according to this metric such that for each information need at a particular time the most relevant tweets can be found.