Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simple communication using a SSVEP-based BCI

Majority of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for communication purposes are speller, i.e., the user has to select letter by letter. In this work, is proposed a different approach where the user can select words from a word set designed in order to answer a wide range of questions. The word selection process is commanded by a Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) based-BCI that allows selecting a word in an average time of 26 s with accuracies of 92% on average. This BCI is focus in the first stages on rehabilitation or even in first moments of some diseases (such as stroke), when the person is eager to communicate with family and doctors.
Factors Moderating the Impact of Psychic Distance: Empirical Tests on Bi-Lateral Trade Flows

This paper is the second in a series developing and testing a new set of multidimensional scales for measuring psychic distance. In addition to the traditional measure of culture, these scales include differences in language, religion, education levels and political ideologies. The scales are tested for their predictive power on bilateral trade flows across broad set of industries and countries. This model is then used as a benchmark for testing three sets of moderating hypotheses. Douglas Dow Associate Professor in Business Strategy Centre for the Practice of International Trade Melbourne Business School, The University of Melbourne 200 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
The ICT industry and the health care system

The size of the Italian expenditure for the health care on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and on total public expenditure, is in line with those of the major industrialized countries, and somewhat lower than the European average. The Italian healthcare sector does not simply face a contraction of the expenditure: in effect, it should be highlighted that Italy currently does not spend “a lot” and, above all, invests “little” in the mentioned sector. Nevertheless, the health sector can be a very important flywheel for the economic recovery, provided that a lot of attention is paid, and the best resources are invested. In this work, the authors intend developing an analysis of the desirability of investment on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the health sector, and the consequent compatibility with current expenditure, by identifying at the outset the channels multipliers related to the resources at present allocated to the current health expenditure and capital account. 1 Maurizio Ciaschini Dipartimento di Economia e Diritto, Università di Macerata, e-mail: maurizio.ciaschini@unimc.it 2 Monica De Angelis Dipartimento di Management, Università Politecnica delle Marche, e-mail: m.deangelis@univpm.it 3 Andrea Monteriù Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Università Politecnica delle Marche, e-mail: a.monteriu@univpm.it 4 Rosita Pretaroli Dipartimento di Economia e Diritto, Università di Macerata, e-mail: rosita.pretaroli@unimc.it 5 Francesca Severini Dipartimento di Economia e Diritto, Università di Macerata, e-mail: francesca.severini@unimc.it 6 Claudio Socci Dipartimento di Economia e Diritto, Università di Macerata, e-mail: claudio.socci@unimc.it
Towards a Framework for Architectural Design Enhancing Social Sustainability in Dense Housing Projects

Density strategies are generally perceived as a powerful leverage for sustainable urban environments. Reality unveils however a more nuanced appreciation, especially in housing projects. While the ‘Planet’ and ‘Prosperity’ pillar of sustainable development is mostly covered, dense projects tend to lack addressing ‘People’ aspects. As long as the social dimension is not taken into account, a dragging legacy is created which could mortgage the recognition of the embedded sustainability value and benefits that dense projects can offer. To counter this legacy this paper explores the content and scope of, and architectural design measures towards, social sustainability for Dense Housing Projects. The methodology adopts a ‘real-life’ perspective by conducting a multiple case study research. A low-complexity framework is compiled which is organized around eight components that are crucial for obtaining social sustainability from an architectural point of view. Each component is uploaded with Framing Principles (guiding principles) with associated illustrative Core Ideations (practical design measures).
Guiding of Waves between Absorbing Walls

Guiding of waves between parallel absorbing walls is considered. The principal mode is constructed; its absorption is estimated. The agreement with previous results about reflection of waves from absorbing walls is discussed. Roughly, the effective absorption of the principal mode is proportional the minus third power of the distance between walls, minus 1.5d power of the wavenumber and minus 0.5d power of the local absorption of the wave in the wall. This estimate is suggested as hint for the design of the atomic waveguides, and also as tool for optimization of attenuation of the amplified spontaneous emission (and suppression of parasitic oscillations) in high power lasers.
Cytogenetic Analysis of Tegenaria elysii (Araneae: Agelenidae)

There are 55 species of agelenid spiders in our country and the genus Tegenaria represents the widest group in terms of species number. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the cytogenetic properties of Tegenaria elysii species. Chromosomes were obtained by making some modifications to the method of Pekar and Kral (2001). Hypotonic, fixation and staining steps were applied to the gonads respectively. As a result, the number of diploid chromosomes and the sex chromosome system were found as 2n=42, ♂X 1 X 2 0/♀X 1 X 1 X 2 X 2 . Total relative lengths of chromosomes decreased gradually from 6,83% to 3,31%. Sex chromosomes which positive heteropycnotics in the stage of meiosis I have been detected to be isopycnic in the stage of meiosis II. 20 autosomal bivalent and two sex chromosomes were identified in which diplotene and diakinesis stages.
Carbon Fiber/Thermoplastic Overwrapped Gun Tube

The emphasis on lightweight large caliber weapons systems has placed the focus on the use of advanced composite materials. Using traditional thermoset composites has been difficult, as the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the steel substrate and the composite jacket causes a gap after manufacturing. Using a thermoplastic resin and a cure on the fly process has improved the manufacturability of the barrels and has eliminated the gap. For the first time a 120-mm barrel has been manufactured using this process and successfully test fired. This paper will present the design, manufacturing, and test firing of this barrel.
A Brief Review: Speckle Filtering Methods

Due to non-invasive nature, low cost, capability of real time imaging formation and the on-going improvements in image quality of Ultrasound (US), it is a widely used and safe medical diagnostic technique. Irrespective of these features of US imagery, its main disadvantage is the presence of noise due to backscattered echo signals called speckle. Therefore, it is not only difficult for the physician to analyze and diagnose the image in the presence of speckle noise but feature extraction, and further analysis is also difficult. There are numerous techniques found in the literature to reduce the speckle noise in US images, it is hard to find out the best techniques among them and to get the drawbacks of existed methods with a comparison to each other. Generally there are two types of techniques (spatial and frequency domain techniques) depending upon the domain used while calculating the modified pixels for speckle reduction. In this paper, performance of various spatial and frequency domain speckle reduction techniques is compared using quality metrics (EPF, SSIM, SNR, and RMSE) and it is concluded that SRAD filter outperforms all other speckle reduction filters
Relationship of some psychological variables in predicting problem solving ability of in-service mathematics teachers

This paper examines some psychological variables in predicting problem solving ability of inservice mathematics teachers. The sample consists of 122 in-service teachers enrolled in degree programme. Five standardized instruments were used to collect the data on teachers’ mathematics anxiety, mathematics teaching efficacy belief, locus of control, study habits and problem solving ability. Multiple regression, Chi-square analysis,and Pearson moment correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. The results show that mathematics anxiety, mathematics teaching efficacy belief, locus of control and study habits all have significant relationships with problem solving ability with mathematics anxiety having the highest and study habits the lowest as stated above. Implications for mathematics teacher education were discussed.
A spatial analysis of participation in RDP measures: a case study in Emilia Romagna Region

A large body of literature has highlighted and analysed the issues which affect the quality and the reliability of evaluation results of the RDPs measure. In addition to weaknesses in the specification of objectives, measurement of the additionality, several authors have pointed-out a lack in evaluation of the cross-effects across space of the measure. The objective of this contribution is to develop a spatial analysis of the participation rate in the measure 121, highlighting, as a determinant, the effect of the set of priorities established by the local administration. The analysis is realised by two steps: the first is the realisation of an Exploratory Spatial Description Analysis (ESDA) of the participation rate in the Emilia Romagna Municipalities and the second is the development of a spatial econometric model of the participation rate in measure 121. Results highlight the relevance of the spatial analysis in improving the predictability of the participation to rural development measures. In particular they show a positive effect of the neighbouring and of the spatial location in the explanation of the participation rate; the results also show the effect of the priority mechanism implemented by each province in determining participation.
Portuguese olive oil and the price of regional products: does designation of origin really matter?

Resources (tangible and intangible) can be mobilised to increase region’s reputation and confer a competitive advantage to certain products with origin in that region. The returns of a region’s resources depend upon the ability of local firms to appropriate the rents earned and whether the consumers value the characteristics of the region that are associated with the product, being disposed to pay a price premium. The results we got through the estimation of a hedonic price function, which relates the price of portuguese regional olive oil to its various attributes, provided empirical support to this idea. The study shows that designation of origin, producer’s brand and olive oil characteristics (biological and mixed with herbs) have strong impact on price. Specifically, olive oil from regions of “Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro”, “Beiras e Ribatejo” and “Alentejo” are expected to have price premiums relative to other olive oil without region indication (base category). It also allows to conclude that olive oil acidity has a negative impact on price.
MONITORING OF VEGETATION CHANGE BY USING RS AND GIS TECHNIQUES IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO

Monitoring environment changes has become a necessity as a result of current environment deteriorating due to human activities like mining activities. In most developing countries like Kosovo (Mitrovica), acquiring information concerning the current condition and the dynamic changes of the environment for a rapid monitoring is not easy. The present study provides The Normalized Difference vegetation Index (NDVI) of the study area, Mitrovica. The main aim of the study is to monitor and evaluate changes in vegetation over the years, using NDVI time series outputs. As well as this technique of monitoring vegetation will be used to evaluate drying vegetation as e result of the mining tailings in this area, exactly because of the presence of the heavy metals that come by industrial activities in this region.The NDVI technique involves the use of remote sensed data in different time series extracted from Landsat 5 and Landsat 8. The Landsat satellite images give us reliable information for monitoring vegetation change according in NDVI time series. According to the present study, the NDVI data generated gives us valuable informations about vegetation. However, the study demonstrated that in Mitrovica was changed the vegetation over the years as result of human mining activities and climate change as well. The NDVI technique can be employed for monitoring vegetation cover and it’s values range from -1 to 1. The present study shows monitoring vegetation changes for 2000, 2010 and 2018. The NDVI time series Mitrovica maps computed in the study, range from -0.30 to 0.26 in 2000, from -0.09 to 0.47 in 2010 and -0.14 to 0.60 in 2018. This technique can be applied in different areas in the country and will be effective tool for environmental monitoring and evaluating vegetation change and vegetation monitoring as well.Furthermore, the study will answer to the many questions for vegetation change in Mitrovica and its change ratio.
Application of Nanoparticles for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

In this paper, the potentials of using particles, especially nanoparticles, in enhanced oil recovery is investigated. The effect of different nanoparticles on wettability alteration, which is an important method to increase oil recovery from oil-wet reservoirs, is reviewed. The effect of different kinds of particles, namely solid inorganic particles, hydrophilic or hydrophobic nanoparticles, and amphiphilic nanohybrids on emulsion formation (which is cited as a contributing factor in crude oil recovery) and emulsion stability is described. The potential of nanohybrids for simultaneously acting as emulsion stabilizers and transporters for catalytic species of in situ reactions in reservoirs is also reviewed. Finally, the application of nanoparticles in core flooding experiments is classified based on the dominant mechanism which causes an increase in oil recovery from cores. However, the preparation of homogeneous suspensions of nanoparticles is a technical challenge when using nanoparticles in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Future researches need to focus on finding out the proper functionalities of nanoparticles to improve their stability under harsh conditions of reservoirs.
Rapid detection of Phytophthora infestans by PCR

Late blight caused by the oomyceteous pathogen Phytophthora infestans is a devastating disease of potato and tomato worldwide. The objective of the present study is to develop a method for rapid detection of P. infestans from potato tubers and tomato seeds. Three oligonucleotide primers (PilS-I, Pi2A-I, and Pi2A-2) were designed based on the internal transcribed spacer sequences of the fungus, which made two primer sets: PiIS-llPi2A-1 and PiIS-l/Pi2A-2. PCR analysis demonstrated that DNA fragments of predicted size, using either PiIS-l/pi2A-l or PiIS-l/Pi2A-2 as the primer set, were amplified from all the P. infestans isolates tested. Moreover, when the amount of template DNA was reduced to 1 pg, PCR primed with Pi 1 SI/Pi2A-2 could still give rise to expected DNA fragment. No signals were detected with DNA from other fungaJ species analyzed in the study. To detect P. infestans present in the potato tuber, a rapid method for DNA extraction followed by PCR with Pi IS-I/Pi2A-2 was established. This method will provide a useful too] for rapid detection of P. infestGns in potatoes and tomatoes.
Determining Relative Errors of Satellite Precipitation Data over The Netherlands

Satellite precipitation estimates data are widely used for a variety of studies, including the hydrologic and climate modeling, weather forecasting, and agriculture management or extreme events prediction. However, satellite precipitation estimation is inevitably followed with errors which are caused by different factors, therefore it is essential to evaluate the relative errors of satellite precipitation data. A realizable method which can be used to quantify the relative errors in large-scale datasets is triple collocation. This method can objectively obtain the relative errors for at least three or more independent products. But before estimation of relative errors, the bias of the products relative to each other should be reduced or removed. This study tests the cumulative distribution function (CDF) matching approach which aims to reduce the bias among three precipitation products over the Netherlands. Afterwards, the triple collocation technique is applied to determine the relative errors of these precipitation products. The three precipitation datasets are, the Climate Prediction Center morphing method (CMORPH), the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) and the gridded rain gauge data interpolated from in situ rain gauge measurement data provided by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
/ INVESTIGACIÓN FREQUENCIES AND POPULATION DENSITIES OF THE MAJOR PHYTONEMATODES ASSOCIATED WITH BANANA IN THE STATE OF ALAGOAS , BRAZIL

Lima, R. S. , M. F. S. Muniz, J. M. C. Castro, E. R. L. Oliveira, P. G. Oliveira, K. M. S. Siqueira, A. C. Z. Machado, and J. G. Costa. 2013. Frequencies and population densities of the major phytonematodes associated with banana in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Nematropica 43:186-193. Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most cultivated and consumed fruits in the tropics. The low productivity and low quality of the Brazilian bananas are largely due to disease problems, among which are nematodes. In Alagoas, there is a lack of information on the nematodes species affecting the banana crop. The objectives of this study were to update the information on the occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in some of the banana producing areas in Alagoas state, to provide quantitative information on the frequencies and population densities of these parasites, and to identify the nematode species associated with the banana crop. The study was carried out from April 2011 to January 2012. Fortytwo soil and roots samples were collected from banana orchards planted with cultivars Prata, Pacovan, and Terra in 13 municipalities of Alagoas state. Nematodes were extracted from roots and soil samples using the maceration-centrifugal flotation and the centrifugal-flotation methods, respectively. The frequencies of the nematodes species extracted from the roots and soil samples were as follows: Helicotylenchus spp. , 95% and 98%; Meloidogyne spp. , 79% and 81%; Pratylenchus spp. , 36% and 26%; and Radopholus similis, 38% and 21%; respectively. On average, Helicotylenchus spp. was most abundant with 2,359/ 50 g root, followed by R. similis: 1,359, Meloidogyne spp. : 810, and Pratylenchus spp. : 682. These high population densities show the need for research aimed at the management of plant-parasitic nematodes of banana in Alagoas state.
Determinants of Housing Developer’s Performance: A Case Study of Bumiputera Firms

ABSTRACT Despite the importance of the housing sector to the nation’s economy, little research has been conducted into the industry. In an industry dominated by Chinese businessmen, it is interesting to explore the factors affecting the performance of the minority players. This study thus focuses on Bumiputera housing developers in Malaysia. Using the mixed method approach, findings are based on the responses from 38 returned questionnaires and 18 interviews with industry players. Our analysis revealed that the performance of Bumiputera housing developers was influenced by the courses they had attended before starting their business, their propensity to take risks, geographical location-concentration strategy, and their close relationship with bankers and officers of local authorities. This study has significant ramifications for indigenous housing entrepreneurship in Malaysia. Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Bumiputera housing developers; housing industry and firm performance ABSTRAK Walaupun sektor perumahan amat penting kepada ekonomi negara, hanya segelintir penyelidikan telah dilakukan ke atas industri ini. Dalam industri yang dikuasai oleh pengusaha-pengusaha berbangsa Cina, adalah menarik untuk meneroka faktor-faktor yang memberi kesan kepada prestasi pemain-pemain minoriti. Dengan itu, kajian ini memberi penumpuan kepada pemaju perumahan Bumiputera di Malaysia. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan kaedah campuran, keputusan telah dibincangkan berdasarkan kepada respon yang diperoleh daripada 38 soal selidik yang dikembalikan dan 18 temu bual dengan pemain industri. Analisis menunjukkan bahawa prestasi pemaju perumahan Bumiputera telah dipengaruhi oleh kursus-kursus yang pernah mereka hadiri sebelum memulakan perniagaan, kecenderungan untuk mengambil risiko, strategi geografi lokasi tumpuan dan hubungan rapat mereka dengan bank-bank dan pegawai-pegawai pihak berkuasa tempatan. Keputusan temuduga telah digunakan untuk menyokong perbincangan. Kajian ini mempunyai penemuan yang signifikan implikasinya kepada aspek keusahawanan tulen pemaju perumahan di Malaysia. Kata kunci: Keusahawanan; pemaju perumahan Bumiputera; industri perumahan dan prestasi firma.
PROPERTIES OF COATED AND UNCOATED BIOMASS AGGREGATES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE STRENGTH AND WATER PERMEABILITY OF PERVIOUS GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE

Biomass aggregate (BA) is a by-product of biomass industries which is less dense and more porous than natural aggregate. In this two-part study, BA was mixed with fly ash and alkaline liquid, and heated in an oven at 80 °C for 24 h to produce coated biomass aggregate (CBA). The first part of this study was focused on the density, specific gravity, Los Angeles test, water absorption, aggregate impact value, and aggregate crushing value of BA, CBA, and normal aggregates (NA). The second part was focused on compressive strength and water permeability of pervious geopolymer concrete (PGC) that was produced with BA and CBA. Pervious concrete is a non-slip porous pavement concrete that allows water to slip through. In this study PGC was prepared from alkaline solution: fly ash ratio of 0:5, fly ash/coarse aggregate ratio of 1:7, Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio of 2:5, and NaOH concentration of 10 molarity. PGC was cured at 80°C for 24 h. PGC made with CBA had higher compressive strength without much effect on water permeability. It has been found that PGC made with BA and CBA had lower density than PGC made with NA. Results indicated that both BA and CBA are viable alternative aggregates for producing PGC.