Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF SOME SOIL HERBICIDES OF THE VEGETATIVE HABITS AND PIGMENT CONTENT OF PRUNUS DOMESTICA 'WANGENHEIMS' PLUM ROOTSTOCK UNDER IN VITRO CONDITIONS

Nacheva, L. , Z. RaNkova and P. GeRcheva, 2012. effect of some soil herbicides of the vegetative habits and pigment content of domestica ‘Wangenheims’ plum rootstock under in vitro conditions. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 18: 583-588 The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of application of the soil herbicides pendimethalin and napropamide on the vegetative habits and the pigment content in the leaves of Prunus domestica ‘Wangenheims’ plants under model in vitro conditions. The soil herbicides were applied when the roots were 2-3 mm in length. The herbicide solution was applied under sterile conditions as a film on the nutrient medium surface. Five variants in 3 replicates were set: Control (untreated) – destillated water; P400 - Pendimethalin – Stomp 33 ЕC – 4.0 l ha -1 ; P600 - Pendimethalin – Stomp 33 ЕC – 6.0 l ha -1 ; N400 Napropamid - Devrinol 4F – 4.0 l ha -1 ; N600 - Napropamid - Devrinol 4F – 6.0 l ha -1 . v isual observations on plant development and the appearance of external symptoms of phytotoxicity (chlorosis, necrosis, plant withering) were carried out in dynamics on the 7 th , 14 th and 21 st day after treatment. Data about the stem height, mean length of the roots, relative growth rate (RGR),
Linear Array Pattern Synthesis Using An Improved Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm

In this paper, we propose an improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II with scope constrained (INSGA-II/SC) with three modifications, which are dynamic nondomination strategy, scope-constrained strategy, and front uniformly distributed strategy. Here, the metric for multiobjective optimization mainly focuses on the computation complexity, convergence, and diversity of the final solutions. For a large search space in the initial process and a fast convergence in the last process, dynamic nondomination factor is considered in the rank operator. We can find a manageable number of Pareto solutions that are in the constrained scope instead of the entire Pareto front (PF) to reduce the computation complexity by scope-constrained strategy. In order to obtain a high performance for good representatives of the entire PF, the solutions closer to the uniformly distributed points on the current front will be chosen. In this paper, the proposed methods and two efficient multiobjective optimization methods are used for the optimization of mathematical problems and array pattern synthesis with lower side lobe level (SLL) and null. Numerical examples show that INSGA-II/SC has a high performance of diversity and convergence for the final solutions when compared with the other techniques published in the literature.
Seasonal growth variation in Chlamys islandica (Bivalvia) from sub-Arctic Greenland is linked to food availability and temperature

In order to assess the role of different environmental parameters in the population dynamics of marine invertebrates in the Arctic, we examined seasonal variation in individual bio- mass, shell growth, and mass production of somatic and reproductive tissues of immature and matur- ing scallops Chlamys islandica suspended in culture nets at 15 and 30 m depth in SW Greenland from May 2007 to October 2008. All 3 parameters varied both seasonally and between depths. Individual shell growth rate and biomass were poor proxies for the actual mass growth rate on a seasonal scale. Minimum and maximum mass growth rates were observed from November to February and in April-May, respectively. Simultaneous monitoring of biotic and abiotic parameters in the water col- umn made it possible to establish a growth model relating variation in mass growth rate to variation in environmental conditions. The best-fit model (R 2 = 0.71) indicated that total mass growth rate depended on chlorophyll a concentration, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of seston, and water temperature. While availability of high-quality food items affected growth positively, the growth model indicated a negative effect of increasing temperature on the mass growth rate of C. islandica. These results indicate that scallops in SW Greenland are resource-limited and that elevated temperature through its effect on metabolic costs reduces growth efficiency. Hence, it is most likely that the growth capac- ity of C. islandica in SW Greenland is either never realized or only attained for short periods of time (hours to days) under the present conditions.
Smart specialization and place leadership: dreaming about shared visions, falling into policy traps?

ABSTRACT The concept of smart specialization has rapidly acquired a central position in European policy and academic circles. It raises interesting challenges for the regional studies agenda. First, smart specialization is about not only policy formulation, implementation and evaluation but also pooling scattered resources, competencies and powers to serve both shared and individual ambitions. Thus, policy formulation and implementation need to be seen in a new light. Second, when smart specialization is seen as one of the platforms for aligning several actors to boost regional economic development, the need to understand agency in its multiplicity emerges as central. This paper argues that to achieve truly transformative smart specialization strategies, there is a need to investigate in more depth the multi-actor strategy processes and new forms of leadership, as well as to invest time and money in advancing related capabilities across European regions.
Design and development of support for GPU unified memory in OMPSS

Heterogeneous computing has become prevalent as part of High Performance Computing in the last decade, with asynchronous devices such as Graphics Processing Units constantly evolving. As HPC becomes more specialized and heterogeneous devices become more advanced and implement new features, a challenge is presented to traditional programming models. Programming models and tools needs to adapt in order to keep a competitive performance. Due to this, a new version of the OmpSs programming model is being developed, taking into account the nuances of newer technologies and architectures. In this context, a need to develop support for heterogeneous devices for the new version of the model arises. This project presents the development and evaluation of support for CUDA enabled devices on the Nanos6 runtime being developed for the OmpSs-2 programming model. The design choices are analyzed in the context of modern GPU programming and architectures, and the performance and execution of a series of benchmarks is analyzed to understand the performance characteristics of the runtime.
Does Cyber‐Campaigning Win Votes? Online Communication in the 2004 Australian Election

Abstract Studies of candidates’ and parties’ web use during elections have focused primarily on the contents of their websites and the reasons behind the adoption of the technology. Evaluations of the electoral impact of web campaigns on voters have been limited and inconclusive. This study uses data from the 2004 Australian Candidate and Election studies to investigate the factors determining candidates’ use of web campaigning and its effect on the vote. The findings show that enthusiasm for web campaigning is strangest among established party members. More significantly, we show that despite being linked with traditional campaigning techniques, web campaigning exerts an independent and significant impact on the level of electoral support that a candidate receives. We investigate how this effect may be taking place and conclude that web campaigning, at least under present electoral conditions, constitutes an important component of a winning election strategy.
Diffusion of Internet Banking amongst educated consumers in a high income non-OECD country

This study analyses the internet banking channels and service preferences of educated banking consumers in the UAE and examines the factors influencing the intention to adopt or to continue the use of internet banking among both users and non users of internet banking. It is shown that although the banking sector in the UAE is a regional leader, internet banking in the UAE is yet to be properly utilized as a real added value tool to improve customer relationship and to attain cost advantages. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to identify factors influencing the intention to adopt and continued use of internet banking customers. Data was collected from internet banking users and potential users in the United Arab Emirates and factor analyses and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the data. Relative usefulness is introduced as one of the factors and is defined as the degree to which a new technology is better than exiting ones. There is a significant difference between users and non-users on six of the seven factors identified. Further, it was revealed that relative usefulness, perceived risk, computer efficacy and image had a significant impact on continued usage of internet banking for IB Users, while relative usefulness and result demonstrability were the only ones significant for Non-users of internet banking. The effects of age, gender, income, and e-commerce users also explored. Result demonstrability is significant for all categories of non-users except for those with income below AED 7,000. Implications of results were discussed, and future research directions outlined.
Processing of Integral-Skin Cellular Polymeric Composites in Rapid Rotational Foam Molding

In order to survive the competition, the processing cycle time and the energy consumption of the rotational foam molding process must be reduced to a fraction of its current levels without compromising product quality. This paper introduces a novel extrusion-assisted rotational foam molding process for the manufacture of rotational moldings having adjacent, but clearly distinct, layers of an integrated solid (non-cellular) skin boundary layer encapsulating a cellular core structure, consisting of identical or compatible polyolefin grades, that achieves significant savings in processing cycle time duration and energy consumption. It introduces non-chilled extruded foam as a foamed core-forming material, in real time, directly into a uni-axially rotating hot mold through a dedicated mold “injection” port onto the already formed un-foamed soft skin layer.
An Explicit Formulation of Singularity-Free Dynamic Equations of Mechanical Systems in Lagrangian Form---Part Two: Multibody Systems

This paper presents the explicit dynamic equations of multibody mechanical systems. This is the second paper on this topic. In the first paper the dynamics of a single rigid body from the Boltzmann–Hamel equations were derived. In this paper these results are extended to also include multibody systems. We show that when quasi-velocities are used, the part of the dynamic equations that appear from the partial derivatives of the system kinematics are identical to the single rigid body case, but in addition we get terms that come from the partial derivatives of the inertia matrix, which are not present in the single rigid body case. We present for the first time the complete and correct derivation of multibody systems based on the Boltzmann–Hamel formulation of the dynamics in Lagrangian form where local position and velocity variables are used in the derivation to obtain the singularity-free dynamic equations. The final equations are written in global variables for both position and velocity.
Evaluation of Shape Memory Alloy Wire for Applications in Hand Prosthesis

Due to advantages such as powerful, light weight, small size and low energy consumption, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) have been used nowadays as an actuator in hand prostheses. When current is applied, the SMA wire is heated up. A phase transformation from Martensite to Austenite takes place and the wire contracts. This paper presents the development of a test rig to access the displacement and force produced from the contraction of a type of SMA wire, i.e. Nitinol (Ni-Ti). The displacement is determined by a linear potentiometer while the force is determined by a load cell. Furthermore the impacts of varying the bias force exerted on the SMA wire and the input current passed through it are investigated. Such insight into the characteristics of SMA can be used to improve the dexterity of hand prosthesis.
Relations of swimming coaches towards their athletes

Many authors agree that a coach is a key person in any athlete’s career. A swimming coach should have sufficient knowledge of numerous technique and distance types. Training groups usually include athletes of both genders which makes coaches’ work even harder. With our survey we intended to determine the relationship of swimming coaches with their athletes. The survey included 76 swimming coaches (51 male and 25 female coaches, aged 34.9±9.8 and 11.6 ± 8.7 years of working experience). In order to analyze specific characteristics of a relationship between a swimming coach and an athlete we used a questionnaire for coaches [Doupona Topič 2005] based on socio-demographic and coach-athlete relations characteristics. We analyzed relevant statements on coach-athlete relationship and associating factors on the basis of factor analysis. Four factors exposed in the survey are pressure exertion, support, devotion and personal relations. The results of the analysis of a personal relationship show that female swimming coaches are more likely to develop better personal relationships with their athletes. Relationships of swimming coaches with their athletes were not affected by the athlete’s status (categorization). In addition, the results indicate that coaches with big families usually had worse attitude towards their athletes because it was difficult for them to find a compromise between their families and professional training. Also, coaches with longer experiences provided better support for the athletes, were more devoted, developed more positive personal relationship and demanded lower pressure exertion. © Idōkan Poland Association “IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology”, Vol. 14, no. 2 (2014), pp. 15–22 DOI: 10.14589/ido.14. 2.2
Exploration of personality in the patients with the inflammatory bowel disease

Background/Aim. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include the ulcerative colitis (UC) and the Crohn? s disease (CD), are chronic diseases, the course of which is under the influence of numerous psychosocial factors. The aim of this study was the exploration of the personality traits of patients with IBD. Methods. This cross-sectional study has been conducted at the University Clinical Hospital Centre Zvezdara, Belgrade, Serbia. The study involved 150 patients suffering from IBD of both genders, out of which 50.7% and 49.3% of the patients suffering from UC and CD, respectively. The main inclusion criteria were: age 18 to 65 years and confirmed the diagnosis of UC or CD in remission. The sociodemographic and disease related data were collected from the hospital medical records. The personality traits related data were collected using the self-report forms of The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI? R) and the inventory for the Assessment of Dysregulation (DELTA 10). Results. At the domain-level, the significant differences between IBD sample and normative sample were found in the Neuroticism (p < 0.01) and the Disintegration (p < 0.01). At the facet-level, the IBD sample scored significantly higher than the normative sample on Anxiety (p < 0.01), Assertiveness (p < 0.01), Tender-Mindedness (p < 0.01) and Dutifulness (p < 0.01), and the significantly lower scores on Warmth (p < 0.01), Excitement Seeking (p < 0.01), Positive Emotion (p < 0.01), Actions (p < 0.01), and on the all facets of Disintegration except Depression, Somatoform Dysregulation and Social Anhedonia (p < 0.01). The differences between UC and CD were found only at the facetlevel. The facets that adds the most predictive power to the discriminative function is the General Executive Impairment, followed by Warmth, Self-Discipline, Depression and Mania. Conclusion. The IBD patients showed to differ from the general population in terms of basic personality structure at the domain-level, and at the facet-level. The differences between the UC and CD patients can be found only at the facet-level. Screening of the personality traits and early detection of the IBD patients who are at a greater risk of mental disorders and bad psychosocial functioning can enable their adequate prevention and improve the course of the disease.
Determination of the Transport Properties of Structural Concrete Using AC Impedance Spectroscopy Techniques

All over the world, particularly in severe environmental conditions, there are reinforced concrete structures that develop nonnegligible phenomena of durability problems. Most of the durability problems are related to hazardous substances invasion. Both engineering practice and scientific studies have revealed that the transport property of near-surface concrete is a main factor in the durability of concrete structures. Among many transport parameters, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient is the most important one, which provides important information on material design and service life prediction. In this paper, AC impedance spectroscopy technology was employed in the measurement of chloride ion diffusion coefficient. The relationship between mesostructure parameters and chloride ion diffusion coefficient was deduced by introducing a reasonable equivalent circuit model. Taking into account the conductivity difference caused by various cementitious material systems, the diffusion coefficient can be corrected, and a diffusion coefficient determination method based on AC impedance spectroscopy technique was established. For the convenience of application, a relationship between the newly proposed method and a widely recognized standard method was obtained. The proposed method can be applied to laboratory testing and establishes the theoretical basis for field tests.
DOCUMENTOS DE ECONOMÍA Y FINANZAS INTERNACIONALES

The massive increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows following the Spanish integration with the now European Union (EU) in 1986, has been one of the most important features shaping the behaviour of the Spanish economy in the last twenty years. In this paper we will try to assess the impact of FDI on regional economic growth following Spain’s entry into the EU, using data for the 17 Spanish regions. The results support the important role played by FDI in promoting productivity growth, for those regions that received higher FDI inflows over the period analyzed.
SPATIOTEMPORAL CHANGE DETECTION USING LANDSAT IMAGERY: THE CASESTUDY OF KARACABEY FLOODED FOREST, BURSA, TURKEY

Abstract. This short paper aims to detect spatiotemporal detection of land use/land cover change within Karacabey Flooded Forest region. Change detection analysis applied to Landsat 5 TM images representing July 2000 and a Landsat 8 OLI representing June 2017. Various image processing tools were implemented using ERDAS 9.2, ArcGIS 10.4. 1, and ENVI programs to conduct spatiotemporal change detection over these two images such as band selection, corrections, subset, classification, recoding, accuracy assessment, and change detection analysis. Image classification revealed that there are five significant land use/land cover types, including forest, flooded forest, swamp, water, and other lands (i.e. agriculture, sand, roads, settlement, and open areas). The results indicated that there was increase in flooded forest, water, and other lands, while the cover of forest and swamp decreased.
Expression Cloning Based on Anthropometric Proportions and Deformations by Motion of Spherical Influence Zones

Virtual tridimensional creatures are active actors in many types of applications nowadays, such as virtual reality, games and computer animation. The virtual actors encountered in those applications are very diverse, but usually have humanlike behavior and facial expressions. This paper deals with the mapping of facial expressions between virtual characters, based on anthropometric proportions and geometric manipulations by moving influence zones. Facial proportions of a base model is used to transfer expressions to any other model with similar global characteristics (if the base model is a human, for instance, the other models need to have two eyes, one nose and one mouth). With this solution, it is possible to insert new virtual characters in real-time applications without having to go through the tedious process of customizing the characters’ emotions.
A new algorithm for the design of uniform and nonuniform arrays of coupled optical waveguides

An algorithm is proposed for the design of both uniform and nonuniform arrays of coupled waveguides. The algorithm identifies the array parameters which support different number of modes. It uses a general cutoff dispersion function which eliminates the need to solve complex dispersion equations. Numerical examples are included to verify the utility of the proposed algorithm.
Balmer-dominated Shocks Exclude Hot Progenitors for Many Type Ia Supernovae

The evolutionary mechanism underlying Type Ia supernova explosions remains unknown. However, recent efforts to constrain progenitor models based on the influence that their high energy emission would have on the interstellar medium within galaxies have proven successful. For individual remnants, Balmer-dominated shocks reveal the ionization state of hydrogen in the immediately surrounding gas. Here, we report deep upper limits on the temperature and luminosity of the progenitors of four Type Ia remnants with associated Balmer filaments: SN 1006, 0509-67.5, 0519-69.0, and DEM L71. For SN 1006, existing observations of helium-line emission in the diffuse emission ahead of the shock provide an additional constraint on the helium ionization state in the vicinity of the remnant. Using the photoionization code Cloudy, we show that these constraints exclude any hot, luminous progenitor for SN 1006, including stably hydrogen or helium nuclear-burning white dwarfs (WD), as well as any Chandrasekhar-mass WD accreting matter at ≳9.5 × 10−8 M⊙ yr−1 via a disk. For 0509-67.5, the Balmer emission alone rules out any such WD accreting ≳1.4 × 10−8 M⊙ yr−1. For 0519-69.0 and DEM L71, the inferred ambient ionization state of hydrogen is only weakly in tension with a recently hot, luminous progenitor, and cannot be distinguished from, e.g., a relatively higher local Lyman continuum background, without additional line measurements. Future deep spectroscopic observations will resolve this ambiguity, and can either detect the influence of any luminous progenitor or rule out the same for all resolved SN Ia remnants.
Image Analysis for Modelling Infant Limb Movement

Currently health care is in need for an efficient and affordable method to predict neurological diseases in infants. A sign of neurological disease is abnormal limb movement. Previous research indicates both the human eye and computer-based video analysis can distinguish between an infant’s abnormal and normal limb movement. This project aims to aid in the development of a new, suitable video analysis method, which meets the needs of the health care. In this project, a series of video-recordings of infants were recorded at Östra Hospital in Gothenburg. A computer program was developed to create 3D models of the infants’ movements from the videos captured. The program, created in Matlab c ©, consists of two major parts. The first part of the program tracks visible markers placed on the infants’ bodies. The second part of the program projects these tracks from 2D to 3D. The program can model the infants’ movements seen in the videos, as tracks in 3D. The program needs to be further developed in order to generate models that can be used for predicting neurological diseases. Improved models and more data could arguably make this method a useful tool in diagnosis of infants.