Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rigid 3D Point Cloud Registration Based on Point Feature Histograms

Depending on the displacement and orientation between point clouds, the registration of scattered point clouds is offten divided into two steps: crude and fine alignment. An approach of point cloud classification based on point feature histogram was proposed in this paper. We propose a method of establishing the point feature histograms to match feature points in different clouds. To reject the outliers, Random Sample Consensus algorithm is used. The rigid transformation matrix in crude alignment is then computed by Singular Value Decomposition method. The golden standard for fine alignment is the Iterative Closest Point algorithm and its variants. In this paper we apply a dynamic constraint of distance to improve the traditional algorithm. The experiment shows that our process of registration works fine with higher accuracy and efficiency.
Teacher leadership: a survey analysis of KwaZulu-Natal teachers' perceptions

The notion of teacher leadership is implicit in official documentation in the South African education system post 1994, which emphasises a move towards a more shared and participatory approach to the practice of leadership and management in schools. The concept of teacher leadership is embedded in a distributed leadership theoretical framing which emphasises that leadership need not be located only in the position of the principal but can be stretched over a range of people who work at different levels in a school. We report on a study in which the perceptions of teachers’ on their understanding and experiences of teacher leadership were explored. The study adopted a survey approach and utilised closed questionnaires to gather data from 1,055 post level-one teachers across a range of schools of diverse contexts in KwaZulu-Natal. We found that while teachers supported the notion of shared leadership and believed they were equipped to lead, their leadership was largely restricted to their classrooms. There was some evidence of teacher leadership amongst teacher colleagues in certain curricular and extra-curricular activities. However, teacher leadership in relation to school-wide and community issues was almost non-existent. We signal two problematics regarding the leadership of school teachers and consider the implication of these for the distribution of leadership, and therefore change, in schools. Keywords : distributed leadership; education leadership; power; school management teams; teacher leadership; teachers
A Two-stage Kalman Filter for Sensorless Direct Torque Controlled PM Synchronous Motor Drive

This paper presents an optimal two-stage extended Kalman filter (OTSEKF) for closed-loop flux, torque, and speed estimation of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) to achieve sensorless DTC-SVPWM operation of drive system. The novel observer is obtained by using the same transformation as in a linear Kalman observer, which is proposed by C. -S. Hsieh and F. -C. Chen in 1999. The OTSEKF is an effective implementation of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and provides a recursive optimum state estimation for PMSMs using terminal signals that may be polluted by noise. Compared to a conventional EKF, the OTSEKF reduces the number of arithmetic operations. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed OTSEKF observer for DTC of PMSMs.
Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften Leipzig Approximate Inverse Preconditioning of FE Systems for Elliptic Operators with non-smooth Coefficients by Mario Bebendorf Preprint

A new class of approximate inverse preconditioners for large finite element stiffness matrices arising from elliptic partial differential operators is introduced which guarantees a bounded number of iterations of the conjugate gradients method. This preconditioner can be generated, stored and multiplied by a vector with almost linear complexity. Since the proposed preconditioner is robust with respect to varying coefficients and does not need a grid hierarchy it may be used as a black-box method. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 35C20, 65F05, 65F50, 65N30
Prediction Of Weld Bead Geometry For Double Pulse Gas Metal Arc Welding Process By Regression Analysis

Double Pulsed GMAW (DP-GMAW) has been recognized as a new and efficient technique for quality welding. The double-pulsed GMAW (DP-GMAW) technique is a variation of the pulsed GMAW technique, in which the pulsing current aimed to metal transfer control is overlapped by a thermal pulsation, which in turn means pool control. The weld bead plays an important role in determining the mechanical properties of the weld. Its geometric parameters, viz., width, reinforcement height, and penetration, are decided according to the welding process parameters. Therefore, to produce good weld bead geometry, it is important to set the proper welding process parameters. In this study, the regression modeling is used in order to establish the relationships between input and output parameters for DP-GMAW. To gather the required data for modeling, actual tests were carried out based on the proposed Taguchi experimental matrix design. The purpose of this study is to find a regression model of the welding process parameters in order to obtain the desired geometry. The adequacies of the models are then evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The model developed was checked for their adequacy. Results of confirmation experiments showed that the model can predict the bead geometry with reasonable accuracy.
Authoritarianism and Intolerance Under Autocratic and Democratic Regimes

Based on findings indicating that authoritarians express greater intolerance in situations where diversity is more apparent, Stenner (2005) proposes that democracies may sabotage their stability by allowing the unbridled expression of societal pluralism. She therefore suggests that pluralism in democracies be suppressed in order to pacify authoritarians and the threat their unbridled intolerance may pose to the stability of these countries. Based on data from the World and European Values Surveys, I examined 75,478 individuals across 75 countries to determine if authoritarians are indeed more intolerant in more democratic societies; a key assumption upon which Stenner’s suggestion rests. While authoritarianism was more strongly and negatively related to tolerance in more democratic countries, authoritarians in more democratic countries were more tolerant than were authoritarians in more autocratic countries. I argue that Stenner’s concern may be valid if we strictly consider rapid pluralization within a single generation within consolidating democracies, but for established democracies, her concern appears unwarranted.
A PROBABILISTIC APPROACH FOR DAMAGE DETECTION UTILIZING INCOMPLETE MODAL DATA

Over the last few decades, there has been great interest in the development of a structural health monitoring (SHM) methodology based on vibration data. Following the Bayesian probabilistic approach and finite element (FE) model reduction technique, this paper proposes a probabilistic approach for structural damage detection using noisy incomplete modal parameters corresponding to natural frequencies and partial mode shapes with only limited number of sensors. Based on the measured incomplete modal data, the most probable structural model parameters together with the most probable values of the system natural frequencies and partial modes shapes with associated uncertainties can be identified by the proposed methodology. In addition, in order to construct the prior probability density function (PDF) of the incomplete system modal parameters, the approach of FE model reduction is employed to evaluate the degree of agreement that how the system modal parameters satisfy the reduced structural model. One of the significant features of the proposed method lies in that the requirement of full system mode shapes is completely avoided, and matching measured modes with corresponding calculated modes from the structural FE model is also not required, which is in contrast to many existing methods in the literature. Furthermore, an efficient iterative solution method is also presented to solve the optimization problem arisen from finding the most probable values of the structural model parameters as well as the incomplete system modal parameters. Numerical simulations conduced for a typical one-storey portal frame is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology.
LEAST LIMITING WATER RANGE IN HARDSETTING SOILS UNDER POLYACRYLAMIDE

Cohesive soils present agricultural limitations due to its characteristics of being hard to extremely hard when dry and when wet crumble, which reduce available water due to root penetration decreased. So, in coastal plateau, undisturbed soil samples were collected from cohesive horizon of Yellow Ultisol from Northeast of Brazil and saturated with three treatments: T0 Control (water), T1 (PAM, 100 mg kg) and T2 (PAM and Gypsum CaSO4 2H2O / 1.523 g L ). Analyses of physical and hydraulic soil properties were done: total porosity (macro, meso, micro and criptoporosity), BD; SWRC; soil resistance penetration (RP) and least limiting water range (LLWR). Four replicates per treatment were tested in the randomized block design. Physical-hydric parameters analyzed by ANOVA and to parameters significant at P<0.05 were used Tukey test by SAS, as well as to draw graphs of LLWR. Isolated application of PAM (T1) expanded available water in the soil and range of critical bulk density was increased. Besides that, RP reduced in CC range when compared to T0 (control) and T2 (PAM + Gypsum). LLWR is an efficiency indicator to evaluate resilience of hardsetting soil under treatment with polymer to plant available water.
A physically motivated classification of stripped-envelope supernovae

The classification of stripped-envelope supernovae (SE-SNe) is revisited using modern data-sets. Spectra are analysed using an empirical method to “blindly” categorise SNe according to spectral feature strength and appearance. This method makes a clear distinction between SNe that are He-rich (IIb/Ib) and He-poor (Ic) and further analysis is performed on each subgroup. For He-rich SNe the presence of H becomes the focus. The strength, velocity, and ratio between absorption and emission of Hα is measured, along with additional analysis of He I lines, in order to categorise the SNe. The He-poor SNe are ordered according to the number of absorption features N present in the spectra, which is a measure of the degree of line blending. The kinetic energy per unit mass Ek/Mej is strongly affected by mass at high velocity and such situations principally occur when the outer density profile of the ejecta is shallow, leading to the blending of lines. Using the results, the existing SE-SN taxonomic scheme is adapted. He-rich SNe are split into four groups, IIb, IIb(I), Ib(II), and Ib, which represent H-rich to H-poor SNe. The SNe Ic category of broad-lined Ic (Ic-BL) is abandoned in favour of quantifying the line blending via before peak. To better reflect the physical parameters of the explosions, the velocity of Si II at peak and the half-luminosity decay time t+1/2 are included to give SNe Ic a designation of Ic- (v p, SiII/t+1/2).
A meta-analysis of extroversion and marital satisfaction

Introduction: It has been emphasized in different studies that personality traits of the couples are important in marital satisfaction and adjustment. However, there have been some inconsistencies and discrepancies in previous researches regarding the possible relationships between extroversion as a personality trait, and marital satisfaction, the present study was aimed at integrating the results of different researches, and assessing the size of effect of extroversion and marital satisfaction, by the use of meta analysis. Materials and Methods: Twelve researches were selected from 20 researches which were acceptable according to their methodology. The selected researches were meta analyzed by a checklist. The total size of sample was 2535, and 12 size of effect was drawn from it. Results:The findings have shown that the size of effect for the relationship between extroversion and marital satisfaction was equal to 0.024 (P>0.001). The size of effect was obtained as medium - low according to Kuhn table. Conclusion: According to the obtained size of effect, extroversion as a personality trait has a significant relationship with marital satisfaction, and hence, it seems that extrovert couples have more marital satisfaction.
Evaluating grazing for cattle: Deer forage dynamics

We documented vegetation dynamics (April 1986-July 1989) as part of a larger study to understand botanical composition and nutritional components of cattle and deer diets under 2 grazing systems (continuous and short-duration), and 2 stocking rates (heavy and moderate) at tbe Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Tex. Objectives of tbe study were to examine initial vegetation bomogeneity and floral changes over time in tbe plant community, and to determine pbytomass dynamics. Results indicated that grazing treatment had no impact on homogeneity of the plant community. Cattle grazing, regardless of treatment, increased diversity with time until drought conditions persisted and diversity declined. Shannon’s diversity index (H) hanged from a p-treatment value ofH= 2.41inApril1986,toH=3.08inApril1988,toH=2.61in April 1989. There was no diierence (P > 0.05) in diversity index between grazing treatments or replication witbin years. Stocking rates (heavy 198 g/m’ differed (P < 0.05) from moderate 258 g/m3 bad a more significant impact on pbytomass tban grazing system (continuous = 225 g/m’; short-duration grazing = 231 glm’; P > 0.05) by tbe end of tbe study period. Precipitation was a determinant factor in tbe seasonal dynamics of pbytomass of the various forage classes. Pbytomass of forbs was unaffected by grazing system or stocking rate. Pbytomass of grasses and grass-like plants important to deer was lower (P < 0.05) under short-duration tban continuous grazing. Pbytomass of grasses and grass-lie plants preferred by deer was greater under moderate tban heavy stocking rates. We recommend continuous over short-duration grazing, and moderate over heavy stocking rates, when white-tailed deer habitat quality is a primary concern. Less intensive grazing systems should be acceptable as well.
Improved gravity anomaly fields from retracked multimission satellite radar altimetry observations over the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea

Satellite radar altimetry observations are used to derive short wavelength gravity anomaly fields over the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, where in situ and ship-borne gravity measurements have limited spatial coverage. In this study the retracking algorithm ‘Extrema Retracking’ (ExtR) was employed to improve sea surface height (SSH) measurements that are highly biased in the study regions due to land contaminations in the footprints of the satellite altimetry observations. ExtR was applied to the waveforms sampled by the five satellite radar altimetry missions: TOPEX/POSEIDON, JASON-1, JASON-2, GFO and ERS-1. Along-track slopes have been estimated from the improved SSH measurements and used in an iterative process to estimate deflections of the vertical, and subsequently, the desired gravity anomalies. The main steps of the gravity anomaly computations involve estimating improved SSH using the ExtR technique, computing deflections of the vertical from interpolated SSHs on a regular grid using a biharmonic spline interpolation and finally estimating gridded gravity anomalies. A remove–compute–restore algorithm, based on the fast Fourier transform, has been applied to convert deflections of the vertical into gravity anomalies. Finally, spline interpolation has been used to estimate regular gravity anomaly grids over the two study regions. Results were evaluated by comparing the estimated altimetry-derived gravity anomalies (with and without implementing the ExtR algorithm) with ship-borne free air gravity anomaly observations, and free air gravity anomalies from the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008). The comparison indicates a range of 3–5 mGal in the residuals, which were computed by taking the differences between the retracked altimetry-derived gravity anomaly and the ship-borne data. The comparison of retracked data with ship-borne data indicates a range in the root-mean-square-error (RMSE) between approximately 1.8 and 4.4 mGal and a bias between 0.4062 and 2.1413 mGal over different areas. Also a maximum RMSE of 4.4069 mGal, with a mean value of 0.7615 mGal was obtained in the residuals. An average improvement of 5.2746 mGal in the RMSE of the altimetry-derived gravity anomalies corresponding to 89.9 per cent was obtained after applying the ExtR post-processing.
CM-proteins and thionins in cereals: characterization and cloning of cDNA

The study of cereal albumins and globulins has lagged somewhat behind that of the prolamins, which nave been considered as typical reserve proteins. However, these protein fractions merit closer attention for a variety of reasons. The main individual albumins and globulins are at least as abundant as many prolamin components, and it can be speculated that in a tissue, such as the cereal endosperm, which is completely consumed during germination, al 1 abundant proteins may play a reserve role. They have also a higher proportion of essential amino acids, as compared with the prolamins, and thus may be releyant in connec^ tion with the genetic alteration of overall grain composition. Finally, a high proportion of the main components of these protein fractions have inhibitory and even toxic properties, which may be related to the protection of this tissue during development and germination, and might influence the nutritional value of the cereal products. We report here the characterization in barley of cDNA clones encoding two major groups of proteins: the CM-proteins, a family that inciudes inhibitors of trypsin and a-amylase, and the thionins, a group of high-lysine toxic polypeptides.
CLASSIFICATION OF BATIK LAMONGAN BASED ON FEATURES OF COLOR, TEXTURE AND SHAPE

Batik is as one of Indonesian cultural heritage, which has grown almost throughout the regions of Indonesia. Its very natural when each region has a patterns and motifs of different batik. The One of batik motif quite famous is batik from Lamongan (Sendang Batik). Classification aims to classify object into specific classes based on the value of the attribute associated with the object being observed. In this research designed a system that serves to classify Lamongan batik cloth based on color features using color moment, texture using Gray Level Co-occurence Matrix (GLCM), and shape using moment invariant, classification using K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN) method. The classification of batik images is based on three classes namely slempang, pethetan, and putihan class. The amount of image data used is 120 which divided into training data and testing data. In outline the system was built consists of three main processes namely pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. The highest accuracy rate in this study was 90.4% when the value of k = 6.
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS ( CSF ) DETERMINING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS By Ogunsanmi

Infrastructure deficit has prevented Nigerian’s development and economic growth while PPP procurement is used for closing this infrastructure gap. The aim of study is to investigate CSFs for implementation of PPP projects in Nigeria. Objectives are to identify and appraise CSFs that contribute to implementation of PPP projects. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from professionals and concessionaires who were involved in PPP projects. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting fifty (50) respondents and only thirty-six (36) responses were used for data analysis. CSFs for successful PPP implementation are transparent and sound regulatory framework, comprehensive feasibility study and appropriate risk allocation amongst others. Implication for policy is government forming formidable legal and regulatory framework for PPP and for practice concessionaire with good consortium and adequate financial capability should be engaged for future PPP projects. Conclusions are some CSFs such as commitment and responsibility of public and private sectors, strong private consortium and realistic cost/benefit assessment amongst others are critical for PPP implementation. Recommendations are legal and regulatory framework for PPP to be developed and awareness on payment for use of infrastructure project by the public should be undertaken and leverage for fund from capital market should be embarked upon.
A NOVEL DUAL-BAND RECONFIGURABLE SQUARE-RING MICROSTRIP ANTENNA

A novel compact dual-band reconfigurable square-ring microstrip antenna is presented. The tuning is achieved using a single varactor diode connected to a small square patch attached to an inner corner of the square-ring. The square patch perturbs the symmetry and splits the two degenerate modes to create dual-band operation. The frequency ratio in the range of 1.04 to 1.4 can be achieved by the proper selection of the square patch size. The lower resonance frequency can be further decreased by loading the square patch at its corner by a reverse biased varactor diode. The diode has almost no effect on the upper resonance frequency. This technique is used to implement an electronically tunable dual-band antenna on FR4 material with er =4 . 5 and 1.5 mm thickness. The size of the ring,the square patch,and the varactor used,are selected to yield a fixed upper resonance frequency at about 1.93 GHz. The resulting lower resonance frequency is tuned from 1.37 to 1.7 GHz in the voltage range from 0 to 30 V,respectively. The measurements agree well with simulation results.
Are Central Banks in CEE Countries Concerned about the Burden of Public Debt?

Abstract The aim of this study is to analyze the monetary policy rules in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, with public debt as an additional explanatory variable. We estimate linear rules by the GMM estimation and non-linear rules, using the Markov-switching model. Our findings suggest that in the Czech Republic and Poland the monetary authorities respond to growing public debt by lowering interest rates, while in Hungary the opposite may be observed. Moreover, we distinguish between passive and active monetary policy regimes and find that the degree of interest rate smoothing is lower and the response of the central banks to inflation and/or output gap is stronger in an active regime. In the passive regime, the output gap seems to be statistically insignificant.
Segmented high quality undulators

Several issues related to the engineering of permanent magnet undulators and wigglers are addressed. Shimming performs the correction of the integrated multipole components and provides a high brilliance on high harmonic numbers of the radiation spectrum. A design of termination is given which allows the removal of any electromagnet correction on hybrid wigglers. Another design of termination is presented which allows the phasing of two pure permanent magnet undulators at any gap value. Finally, some magnetic designs are presented which allow a high magnetic field for a short or medium spatial period.