Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of the DEVS Framework in Construction Simulation

The discrete event systems specification (DEVS) framework is based on systems engineering principles and is used for modeling and simulation in many application domains. This framework supports a number of important features such as component based hierarchical simulation model development, scalability, reusability and distributed simulation. This paper demonstrates the application of the DEVS framework for construction simulation through a simple, but representative real world application. The application focuses on analyzing the work flow between various trade contractors in production home building. The software tool 'DEVSJAVA' is used for modeling and simulation of the construction application. DEVSJAVA is object oriented; it implements the DEVS framework using Java programming language. This paper consists of three main components: an overview of the state-of-the-art in construction simulation methods and tools, an introduction to the DEVS framework, and a detailed construction example to highlight the application of DEVS framework
The Effects of Specific Exercise Program on Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Abilities of Preschool Children

In order to determine the effects of specific exercise program on anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of preschool children, a battery of eight anthropometric measures and 7 motor tests were applied. The current study was conducted on a sample of 60 preschoolers (31 in the experimental and 29 in the control group), aged 4 to 5. They were the respondents in the project implemented by the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Novi Sad. The obtained data was analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). It can be concluded that the application of experimental and control models of exercise resulted in substantial improvement of certain motor skills in the experimental group compared to the control group. In regard to the anthropometry there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. In fact, the practical value of this work is to analyze the model of kinetic activities, which as such can be applied to all clubs and schools that work with children of preschool and early school age.
Political Determinants of Regional Financing: The Case of Spain

We contribute to the literature on the political determinants of regional financing by analyzing the case of Spain, a largely decentralized country. Using a dynamic panel data model, we argue that the rise in relative bargaining power of regional parties in Spain can partly explain the increase in budgetary allocations to regions observed during the period 1986–2006. In particular, our results show that the rise in parliamentary representation of the nationalist Catalonian party, measured by the Banzhaf voting power index, has been a significant factor in ensuring increasing financial resources to regional governments. In addition, the traditional hypotheses of the political economy literature on legislative apportionment are tested for the case of Spain, with no significant results observed. The overall distribution of regional financing in Spain seems to be in general well aligned with the basic economic principles of efficiency and equity recommended for such a system.
Constant-temperature molecular-dynamics algorithms for mixed hard-core/continuous potentials

We present a set of second-order, time-reversible algorithms for the isothermal (NVT) molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation of systems with mixed hard-core/continuous potentials. The methods are generated by combining real-time Nose thermostats with our previously developed Collision Verlet algorithm [Mol. Phys. 98, 309 (1999)] for constant energy MD simulation. In all we present five methods, one based on the Nose–Hoover [Phys. Rev. A 31, 1695 (1985)] equations of motion and four based on the Nose–Poincare [J. Comput. Phys. 151, 114 (1999)] real-time formulation of Nose dynamics. The methods are tested using a system of hard spheres with attractive tails and all correctly reproduce a canonical distribution of instantaneous temperature. The Nose–Hoover based method and two of the Nose–Poincare methods are shown to have good energy conservation in long simulations.
Institutionalizing Deliberative Democracy: the ‘Tuscany laboratory’

Although deliberative theory has attracted increasing attention from many quarters, a relevant question that has not yet received adequate consideration is whether it should be institutionalized (Fung et al. 2005), and how that might be done. Although there have been many successful ‘one shot’ experiences of deliberative participation, there are few examples of institutionalization as a routine practice. This raises several issues including the relationship of deliberative processes with representative institutions and processes. Compared with other developed nations, Italy has not traditionally been a leader in the application of public participation practices. However, several regional administrations have ventured into this field in recent years. At the end of 2007 the Region of Tuscany passed Law no. 69 defining Rules on the Promotion of Participation in the Formulation of Regional and Local Policies, an innovative legal provision explicitly aimed at pro-actively promoting citizen engagement in local and regional decision making. This law, by incorporating features explicitly derived from deliberative theory, institutionalizes citizen participation; that is, the involvement through group dialogue of citizens and stakeholders in decision-making about issues or problems of public interest. Tuscany has become a remarkable ‘laboratory’ for empirically testing the validity of deliberative participation in the real world, for verifying the effects and possible benefits of its institutionalization, and for applying a specific model which enables representative government and mini-publics to co-exist (and to become complementary and mutually reinforcing). The results from this laboratory will be of relevance to scholars, practitioners and politicians who are interested in such democratic innovations. Law no. 69/07 might well inform the uptake of citizen engagement well beyond Tuscan borders, both in Italy and internationally. An analysis of the approach adopted by the Law offers an opportunity to reflect on how authorities might go about actively promoting and institutionalizing citizen participation. This paper examines the impetus for the Law and the participatory process through which the Law itself was designed; it illustrates the goals of the Law and how these have been operationalized into legal provisions, with specific attention to the role of the administrations (including an ad hoc independent Authority) who were entrusted with the implementation of the Law; it highlights the deliberative features of the Law; and finally it offers a preliminary discussion of the outcomes of the Law – both successful and less so – during its first three years of existence.
Retrieving aerosol height from the oxygen A band : a fast forward operator and sensitivity study concerning spectral resolution , instrumental noise , and surface inhomogeneity

Hyperspectral radiance measurements in the oxygen A band are sensitive to the vertical distribution of atmospheric scatterers, which in principle allows the retrieval of aerosol height from future instruments like TROPOMI, OCO2, FLEX, and CarbonSat. Discussed in this paper is a fast and flexible forward operator for the simulation of hyperspectral radiances in the oxygen A band and, based on this scheme, a sensitivity study about the inversion quality of aerosol optical thickness, aerosol mean height, and aerosol type. The forward operator is based on a lookup table with efficient data compression based on principal component analysis. Linear interpolation and computation of partial derivatives is performed in the much smaller space of expansion coefficients rather than wavelength. Thus, this approach is computationally fast and, at the same time, memory efficient. The sensitivity study explores the impact of instrument design on the retrieval of aerosol optical thickness and aerosol height. Considered are signal to noise ratio, spectral resolution, and spectral sampling. Also taken into account are surface inhomogeneities and variations of the aerosol type.
Do male two-spotted gobies prefer large fecund females?

A male mating preference for large females may be expected when female size is correlated with fecundity. We tested for such a preference in a fish, the two-spotted goby (Gobiusculus flavescens, Gobiidae), for which a male preference for colorful females has been demonstrated. We offered males a choice between two stimulus females of different size, controlling for female color and stage of egg maturation. We also analyzed the relationship between size and fecundity (total number of eggs in the clutch) by allowing females of different size to spawn in a controlled environment. Female length explained 37% of the variation in fecundity, but males showed only a weak preference for large females. We compared the coefficient of variation (CV) in fecundity between female two-spotted gobies and other fish species for which male preferences for large females have been reported. The CV in fecundity in the two-spotted goby was among the lowest. We suggest that the low variation limits the potential fecundity benefit to be gained by a male selecting females on the basis of size alone. Our study emphasizes the importance of the variation in partner quality for the direction and the strength of mate preferences, as suggested by theoretical models. Copyright 2003.
MAPPING BORON AND BENEFICIAL HEAVY METAL IONS FOR WHEAT-CULTIVATING SOILS IN TURKEY ’ S BORON-MINING ZONE

The mapping of boron (B) and beneficial heavy metals in the agricultural soils of mining zones is essential to evaluating the deficiencies and toxicity of those elements. Given its high annual production of boron, the Kırka Boron Mine (KBM) ranks among the largest mining complexes in Turkey. There, this research was conducted to determine the variation of some properties of soil with B and beneficial heavy metal ions (i.e., Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) according to great soil groups and to map their ions in wheatcultivating soils at different distances from KBM. Results showed that the B, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn contents of wheat-cultivated soils changed according to soil group and distance from KBM. The Fe content of soils decreased as the distance from KBM increased, and B content reached toxic values at a distance of 20–30 km. Mn and Zn contents were low, though B and Fe contents were toxic, whereas Cu content was sufficient for wheat cultivation. Available B and beneficial heavy metal maps can be useful in confirming B and Fe pollution and in recommending fertiliser use in mining zones.
Clusters without Content? Icelandic National and Regional Tourism Policy

This paper explores the relationship between Icelandic regional policy and tourism development. It is inspired by the efforts of the Icelandic government to introduce industry clusters in tourism development over the last few years. With tourism gaining increasing recognition as a central pillar of the national economy and clustering being seen as central means to success, the paper presents a critical evaluation of the cluster concept. The introduction of industry clusters in Icelandic regional policy is illustrated through a short case study from North Iceland, where industry clusters have been promoted in general regional development and tourism for the longest and gone through two successive stages. This case underpins the central argument of the paper that industry clusters as promoted by the Icelandic government do not reflect an engagement with regional socio-spatial specificities and the nature of the tourism product. These specificities need to be recognised and worked with in order to establish the necessary foundations for any successful cluster initiative. Thus the paper concludes with questioning the efficiency of top-down governance approach in enhancing tourism.
Contractile response of alveolar epithelial cells to biochemical or mechanical stimulation probed by traction microscopy

ADVERTIMENT. La consulta d’aquesta tesi queda condicionada a l’acceptació de les següents condicions d'ús: La difusió d’aquesta tesi per mitjà del servei TDX (www.tesisenxarxa.net) ha estat autoritzada pels titulars dels drets de propietat intel·lectual únicament per a usos privats emmarcats en activitats d’investigació i docència. No s’autoritza la seva reproducció amb finalitats de lucre ni la seva difusió i posada a disposició des d’un lloc aliè al servei TDX. No s’autoritza la presentació del seu contingut en una finestra o marc aliè a TDX (framing). Aquesta reserva de drets afecta tant al resum de presentació de la tesi com als seus continguts. En la utilització o cita de parts de la tesi és obligat indicar el nom de la persona autora.
A Gender Integrative Conceptualization of Entrepreneurship

Guided by feminist perspectives, we critique existing approaches to the study of womenʼs entrepreneurship on epistemological grounds and suggest that the entrepreneurship field needs to recognize gendered assumptions in theorizing. Deploying a feminist framework, we suggest that understanding the “gender gap” in entrepreneurship requires focus on institutional and structural barriers women entrepreneurs face. Existing studies of women entrepreneurs often compare women with men without considering how gender and gender relations impact the very concepts and ideas of entrepreneurship. We propose, therefore, a conceptualization of entrepreneurship that illuminates gender bias and calls attention to the interrelated individual, institutional, and structural barriers in the entrepreneurial process that arrive out of societal and cultural gender norms. Through praxis or engaged practice, we redirect scholarship in the entrepreneurship field, while proposing ways that can promote gender equality in entrepreneurial activities. In all, our gender integrative conceptualization of entrepreneurship contributes to the entrepreneurship field by recognizing and addressing a more expansive realm of influential factors within the entrepreneurial ecosystem that have previously been researched separately.
Diagnostic Direct DNA Sequencing and Systemic Treatment with Voriconazole in Scedosporium apiospermum Keratitis? A Case Report

Scedosporium apiospermum keratitis is a rare but challenging infection because of its high misidentification rate and resistance to many antifungal agents. A 35-year-old immunocompetent man with severe Scedosporium apiospermum keratitis diagnosed by both microbiology and DNA sequencing methods, which was successfully treated with systemic voriconazole was reported. Diagnosis and drug susceptibilities were discussed.
Waterfowl Kill by Cree Hunters of the Hudson Bay Lowland, Ontario

From 1974 to 1976 annual interviews were conducted with 97% of male Indian potential hunters at James Bay and Hudson Bay coastal villages to determine waterfowl kill. Sample interviews were conducted at inland villages. Of those interviewed at coastal communities, 87% hunted waterfowl. The mean yearly take of all species ranged from 55 to 145 birds per hunter. Lesser Snow Geese and large Canada Geese were the main prey, averaging 38,350 and 23,152 birds shot per year, respectively. Small numbers of other goose species were taken. The duck kill averaged 22,715. Eighty percent of the large Canada Goose kill occurred in spring; 76% of Snow Geese were taken in fall. Considerable inter-year variation in total kill occurred. The take for the highest kill year (1975-76) exceeded that for the lowest (1976-77) by 61% for Snow Geese and 34% for large Canada Geese; the spring kill was particularly variable. The kill of Snow Geese has apparently increased by a factor of 2, and that of large Canada Geese by a factor of 3, since the mid-1950s. Through analysis of band recoveries, the kill was determined to have been apportioned among separately managed stocks. The Indian kill made up approximately 13% of the total hunting kill of the Tennessee Valley Population, 9% of the Mississippi Valley Population, and 7% of Hudson Bay Lesser Snow Geese. Key words: Indian wildlife kill, waterfowl harvest, Hudson Bay Lowland, Cree
Utilization of solar UV radiation by coastal phytoplankton assemblages off SE China when exposed to fast mixing

During May 2002 we carried out studies with tropical phytoplankton assemblages from coastal waters off SE China to assess the combined effects of solar UV radiation (UVR, 280 to 400 nm) and mixing rates. Water samples were taken daily and incubated using in situ and simulated in situ conditions under 3 radiation regimes (photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) + UVR, PAR + UV-A and PAR only). Variable radiation regimes, to simulate the irradiance field in the upper mixed layer (UML), were obtained by using a device consisting of 1 fixed (static samples) and 1 rotating system (moving samples). Solar UVR inhibited phytoplankton photosynthesis in the water column (i.e. dur- ing in situ experiments), and this inhibition (mean value at surface = 24%) decreased with depth, so that at 1.2 m there were no significant differences between radiation treatments. However, at 1.8 m depth, the samples receiving UV-A had significantly higher carbon fixation than those receiving only PAR. Simulated in situ experiments showed that solar UVR stimulated phytoplankton photosynthesis under fast mixing conditions (i.e. when the irradiance levels changed from 100 to 6% and back in less than 30 min). With slower circulation periods, solar UVR reduced carbon fixation and consequently the integrated inhibition within the UML approached the values from the static samples. Previous model predictions based on the interactive effects of UVR and mixing might have underestimated phytoplankton photosynthesis in these regions. Overall, our results suggest a high resistance of these coastal tropical assemblages to solar UVR as compared to other regions of the planet.
On the Multihop Relays with Multiple Antennas for LTE-A

In this paper, we analyze cooperative communications for broadcast/multicast wireless communication systems based on the LTE-A standard. Multihop relays utilizing the same frequency bands as the base station are considered. These relays are equipped with multiples antennas (MIMO), at least the double of those employed at the base station side. The simulation results show that multihop relays achieve an improvement of power e-ciency, while keeping the average coverage and the overall network throughput unchanged. This can be viewed as an energy-e-cient wireless transmission technique, which contributes to the implementation of the green cell networks concept, as it allows a reduction in the carbon emission footprint.
Locating the solar source of 13 April 2006 magnetic cloud

Using Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) in situ data we identify and describe an interplanetary magnetic cloud (MC) observed near Earth on 13 April 2006. We also use multi-instrument and multi-wavelength observations from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) and ground-based solar observatories to determine the solar source of this magnetic cloud. A launch window for the MC between 9 and 11 April 2006 was estimated from the propagation time of the ejecta observed near Earth. A number of large active regions (ARs) were present on the Sun during this period, which were initially considered to be the most likely candidate source regions of the MC. However, it was determined that the solar source of the MC was a small, spotless active region observed in the Northern Hemisphere. Following an eruption from this region on 11 April 2006, the ACE spacecraft detected, 59 h later, the passage of the MC, preceded by the arrival of a weak, forward fast shock. The link between the eruption in this active region and the interplanetary MC is supported by several pieces of evidence, including the location of the solar source near to the disk centre and to the east of the central meridian (in agreement with the spacecraft trajectory through the western leg of the magnetic cloud), the propagation time of the ejecta, the agreement between the amount of flux in the magnetic cloud and in the active region, and the agreement between the signs of helicity of the magnetic cloud and the active region (which differs from the sign of helicity of each of the other active regions on the Sun at this time). In addition, the active region is located on the boundary of a coronal hole, and a high speed solar wind stream originating from this region is observed near Earth shortly after the passage of the magnetic cloud.
Local adaptation and ecological genetics of host-plant specialization in a leaf beetle

The tendency of insect species to evolve specialization to one or a few plant species is probably a major reason for the remarkable diversity of herbivorous insects. The suggested explanations for this general trend toward specialization include a range of evolutionary mechanisms, whose relative importance is debated. Here we address two potentially important mechanisms: (i) how variation in the geographic distribution of host use may lead to the evolution of local adaptation and specialization; (ii) how selection for specialization may lead to the evolution of trade-offs in performance between different hosts. We performed a quantitative genetic experiment of larval performance in three different populations of the alpine leaf beetle Oreina elongata reared on two of its main host plants. Due to differences in host availability, each population represents a distinctly different selective regime in terms of host use including selection for specialization on one or the other host as well as selection for utilizing both hosts during the larval stage. The results suggest that selection for specialization has lead to some degree of local adaptations in host use: both single-host population had higher larval growth rate on their respective native host plant genus, while there was no difference between plant treatments in the two-host population. However, differences between host plant treatments within populations were generally small and the degree of local adaptation in performance traits seems to be relatively limited. Genetic correlations in performance traits between the hosts ranged from zero in the two-host population to significantly positive in the single-host populations. This suggests that selection for specialization in single host populations typically also increased performance on the alternative host that is not naturally encountered. Moreover, the lack of a positive genetic correlation in the two host-population give support for the hypothesis that performance trade-offs between two host plants may typically evolve when a population have adapted to both these plants. We conclude that although there is selection for specialization in larval performance traits it seems as if the genetic architecture of these traits have limited the divergence between populations in relative performance on the two hosts.
Coalition Formation in Networked Innovation: Directions for Future Research

Sie, R. L. L. , Bitter-Rijpkema, M. E. , & Sloep, P. B. (2010). Coalition Formation in Networked Innovation: Directions for Future Research. In L. Dirckinck-Holmfeld, V. Hodgson, C. Jones, D. McConnell, & T. Ryberg (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Networked Learning (pp. 369-377). May, 3-4, 2010, Aalborg, Denmark.