Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical Analysis of Solar Radiation Data

Abstract Solar radiation is the most important parameter in the design and study of solar energy conversion devices. The present work is based on statistical analysis of solar radiation data for the city of Valparaiso in the coast region of Chile. Ex perimental data were obtained from the Santa Maria University in Valparaiso over a five-year period measured by the actinograph and the pyranometer. The error between the actinography values in relation to the pyranometer ones was determined. The most frequent error percent for the actinograph was from 10% to 20% and it corresponds to the 56% of the days of the year. The greatest error frequency is estimated in the solar radiation range between 3001—4000 Wh/m2, which corresponds to the 21% of the days of the year. Solar radiation data in Chile exists from about the 1960's; however, due to the inaccuracy of the measuring equipment, the enginery calculations have overestimation errors in the calculated area to be exposed to the sun. Those errors may imply overestimations around 15%; this is why the determination of a measurement error is necessary to correct the values and incorporate them to a more precise economical analysis.
Habit Formation in Wearable Activity Tracker Use Among Older Adults: Qualitative Study

Background Wearable activity trackers are popular devices used to motivate behavior change. Wearable activity trackers are especially beneficial for encouraging light physical activity such as walking, which is an ideal behavior for older adults or individuals who cannot be physically active at moderate and vigorous levels. A common problem is that people do not continue to use these wearable devices, with initial behavioral change gains eroding as people disengage. Limited research is available regarding the continued use of wearable activity trackers. The habit formation literature may provide insights into the long-term use of wearables and other health informatics devices. Objective This study aims to uncover the mechanism underlying the long-term continued use of wearable devices among older adults through the theoretical lens of habit formation. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants who were aged 65 years or older and had used wearable activity trackers for more than 6 months to understand their experiences and the strategies they employed to support continued use. Results Thematic analysis of data revealed 8 themes related to habit formation, including aspects in initiation and goal setting, use of contextual cues, action planning, and coping planning. Long-term users tended to have meaningful initiation of wearable activity trackers. They usually started with a small behavioral change goal and gradually increased it. They used consistent time and locational cues to make the use of wearable activity trackers routine. Long-term users also used creative contextual cues and reminders to facilitate action planning, engaged in coping planning to deal with anticipated problems, and had a positive mindset and inventive strategies for managing unfulfillment and lapses. Conclusions The results of this qualitative study of long-term users of wearable activity trackers suggest specific ways to enhance long-term habit formation among older adults. These best practices by long-term users can inform the future design of technology-based behavior interventions.
Studies in cortical network models

This thesis consists of ﬁve chapter-articles, each proposing simple solutions to nontrivial questions and problems in computational neuroscience. The ﬁrst chapter presents a reimplementation of the Potjans-Diesmann (PD) model of the local cortical microcircuitry, and a rescaling method for the number of neurons in the model that is capable of maintaining both the connection probabilities and the behavior of the network activity even when rescaled to 1 % of original size. The second chapter, based on mean ﬁeld potential, formally explains the scaling method and presents a new method to correct and compensate for the activity of boundary neurons in networks with spatial extension without introducing toroidal connections and/or oscillations. The third chapter introduces spatial extension to the PD model, solves the boundary problem, and studies the spatial (topographic) resolution of the network activity as a consequence of the structural resolution. The fourth chapter, based on phase transition and meta-stability, innovatively studies the false steady state and activity lifetime in networks that do not receive forced external input to keep them active. The ﬁfth chapter contains a characterization of the primary somatosensory cortex network of the rat in terms of a statistical survey of the parameters. It also presents a model of the somatosensory cortex using the stochastic Galves-Löcherbach (GL) neuron, which was con-structed based on the somatotopic parameters raised. At the end of the chapter, a method for replacing deterministic leaky integrate-and-ﬁre neurons by GL neurons in neural network models is presented.
Sizing energy storage to reduce renewable power curtailment considering network power flows: a distributionally robust optimisation approach

: The limited reserve of fossil fuels and public awareness of environmental issues prompt the rapid development of renewable energy generation. However, the centralised utilisation of renewable energy in bulk power systems is impeded mainly by its volatile nature and transmission congestion, leading to the spillage of renewable power. The energy storage unit is expected to be a promising measure to smooth the output of renewable plants and reduce the curtailment rate. This study addresses the energy storage sizing problem in bulk power systems. To capture the operating status of the power system more accurately, the authors use a dedicated power flow model which involves voltage and reactive power. The uncertainty of renewable generation is described via inexact probability distributions encapsulated in a data-driven Wasserstein-metric based ambiguity set, based on which the renewable energy curtailment rate is formulated as a distributionally robust chance constraint. The objective is to minimise the total investment cost, and the optimal sizing problem gives rise to a distributionally robust chance-constrained program, and is reformulated as a tractable linear program via conservative approximation. Case studies conducted on the modified IEEE 30-bus and 118-bus systems demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the proposed approach.
Local structure changes of microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 upon acid treatment

In the present work, the local structure changes of microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 upon treatment with citric acid, phosphoric acid, and nitric acid were characterized using XRD, FTIR, Raman, XPS, DR-UV, 29Si MAS NMR, and 1H−29Si CP MAS NMR techniques. The experimental results suggested that regardless of the nature of the acids, the replacement of alkali cations by protons altered the local structure of ETS-10 solid, including partial dissolution of the siliceous matrix and leaching of titanium species from the TiO6 chains. In the meantime, it was observed that the hexacoordinated Ti species of ETS-10 were changed to penta- and/or tetracoordinated ones, generating terminal TiOH groups, accounting for the observed enhancement of photodegradation activity of the acid-treated ETS-10 materials toward phenol compounds.
Web based and voice enabled IVRS for large scale Malayalam speech data collection

Speech corpora are vital resource in development and evaluation of automatic speech recognition systems, as well as for acoustic phonetic studies. Collecting a huge corpus is not an easy task. The lack of such resources is one of the reasons for the absence of good quality speech recognition systems in Indian languages. Here we have automated such process by developing web based tool for collecting broad band speech data and an IVR system with speech recognition for collecting narrow band speech data. The main features includes the full support for the typical recording, annotation and project administration workflow, easy editing of the speech content, with an advantage of a fully localizable user interface. This paper describes in detail the development of web based speech collection tool and an IVR system which will enable end-to-end building of speech corpus with minimum manual effort.
Equity Crowdfunding: Factors Influencing the Performance of Firm in Malaysia

This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the performance of the firms funded by equity crowdfunding after the campaign ended successfully. The factors investigated are the top management team (TMT), social networks and the platform provider (PP). Not many studies discuss on the related variables on ECF ecosystem in Malaysia. As such, this study adopts conceptual research approach by examining and analysing previous literatures on the topic. This study will answer the following questions; i) How TMT, social networks and platform provider influence the performance of the ECF funded firm. The findings indicate that under crowdfunding ecosystem, the characteristics of the founder and TMT play an important roles to attract the investors’ attention. They form a strategic human assets in the firm. This implicitly signals the firm’s values and reduce the asymmetry information. The values upsurge with the social traits among their networks. The networks can be among other those with more funding capability to inject more money when requested by the entrepreneur. Investors in crowfunding scenario invest based on closeness and trustworthiness. Thus, ECF funded firm with promising human capital, networks capital generated internally and externally as well as well known platform provider plus the workable business plan able to attract financial capital from investors when needed. The emergence of ECF fund and other new emergence financing instruments have evolved the entrepreneurial landscape worldwide. Moreover, these funding are unique as they can be tailored according to the firm funding objective. Nowadays, these type of funding have been widely used in real estate, agricultural and health industries too. The revolution in financial industry known as fintech is a plus to crowdfunding ecosystem. Despite of disrupting the traditional banking and financial institutions, crowdfunding provides opportunities to potential ventures with scarce capital resources. The uniqueness of this research is that previous studies yet to discuss how PP moderates the effect of founder, TMT and networks towards the ECF funded firm performance.
The Osmometer Model of the Root: Water and Solute Relations of Roots of Phaseolus coccineus

Water and solute relations of young roots of Phaseolus coccineus have been measured using the root pressure probe. Biphasic root pressure relaxations were obtained when roots were treated with solutions containing different osmotic test solutes. From the relaxations, the hydraulic conductivity (Lpr), the permeability coefficient (Psr), and the reflection coefficient (σsr) of the roots could be evaluated. Lpr was 1.8 to 8.4 . 10−8 m . s−1 . MPa−1 and Psr (in 10−10 m . s−1): methanol, 27–62; ethanol, 44–73; urea, 5–11; mannitol, 1.5; KCl, 7.1–9.2; NaCl, 2.1; NaNO3, 3.7. The hydraulic conductivity was similar when using osmotic and hydrostatic pressure gradients as driving forces. The hydraulic conductivity of individual root cortex cells (Lp) was by two orders of magnitude larger than Lpr (Lp = 0.3 to 4.7 . 10−6 m . s−1 . MPa−1) which indicated a predominant cell-to-cell rather than an apoplasmic transport of water in the Phaseolus root. Except for distances shorter than 20 mm from the root apex, the hydraulic resistance of the roots was limited by the radial movement of water across the root cylinder and not by the hydraulic resistance within the xylem. Reflection coefficients were low: methanol: 0.16–0.34; ethanol: 0.15–0.47; urea: 0.41–0.51; mannitol: 0.68; KCl: 0.43–0.54; NaCl: 0.59; NaNO3: 0.54. The transport coefficients (Lpr, Psr, σsr) have been critically examined for influences of unstirred layers and active transport. The low σsr suggests that the common treatment of the root as a rather perfect osmometer (σsr = 1) analogous to plant cells should be treated cautiously. The reasons for the low σsr and the possible implications of the absolute values of the transport parameters for the absorption of water and nutrients are discussed.
Rheological Properties of Batters for Coating Products - Effect of Addition of Corn Flour and Salt

The contributions made by corn flour (0, 3 and 6%) and salt (0 and 5.5%) to the rheological properties of a commercial batter mix were studied. The properties of the wheat flour that are the base of the mix were studied first, then the corn flour, salt and other ingredients were added step by step. All the samples showed a shear-thinning behaviour. An increase in the consistency index was obtained when corn flour was present, while the presence of salt produced a remarkable decrease. No differences in viscoelastic behaviour were found when corn flour up to 6% was added, and the behaviour had a clear elastic component. The addition of salt produced a more viscous behaviour. An increase in the gelatinisation temperature of batters was observed in the formulations with salt.
Developing Therapies that Prevent Progenitor Cell Migration for Preventing the Development and Further Growth of Endometriotic Lesions- Future Prospects-A Short Communication

Endometriosis represents a frequent as well as benign gynecological disease that is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue (glands as well as stroma) in sites external to the normal endometrium as well as rest of the parts of uterus [1]. About 10% of women of childbearing age have endometriosis with the rate escalating in recent years. There is an immediate need for getting efficacious therapies. Earlier we had reviewed on the etiopathogenesis ,management of Endometriosis as well as Adenomyosis in infertile patients ,effect on oocytes along with Endometriosis in adolescents and effectively managing both pain as well as infertility along with preventing risk of malignancy in endometriosis but still no permanent solution is coming hence the endeavor to keep looking for newer avenues [2-8].
Challenges to Social Mobility in Singapore

Singapore had achieved impressive economic growth together with a high level of upward mobility since her independence in 1965. However, the growth process might have become more uneven, in addition to diminishing growth for a matured economy like Singapore, which is also a highly open city state subject to competitive forces from other economies. Singapore has fared well recently, evident from the 2020 social mobility findings reported by the World Economic Forum and the decline in Gini coefficients for the past decade. We discuss the education system in Singapore and the recently formed National Jobs Council, both important institutions for the advancement of social mobility, followed by some forthcoming policies on foreign manpower, and other related policies to tackle inequality and issues on social mobility. COVID-19 brought forth four consecutive Budgets addressing not just immediate and short-term concerns but planning for the recovery and growth in the future. We examine challenges to social mobility: future growth prospects and processes, fiscal sustainability expecting greater social spending, and opportunities of the middle-income class together with other familial challenges in Singapore. Using a simple model which endogenizes inequality and upward mobility, we analyse important past events and future scenarios: past influx of and future reduction in migrant unskilled workers, preference shift toward equity, early education intervention, and jobs in the future. We recommend a dedicated office to coordinate and evaluate various social mobility programmes. Strengthening the social compact via policies encouraging concern for others will bring a positive spill-over on both social well-being and social mobility in Singapore.
Linear and Nonlinear Drying Behavior in Tuberous Crop Slices

Understanding drying physics is a complex task because interactions between phases and variations in thermal properties change over time. In this investigation we used two models to simulate the drying of potatoes slices. Drying kinetics were modeled by both the drying characteristic curve (DCC) method and by a mechanistic approach implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics. The DCC was developed on the basis of experimental data and a referential drying rate, which for potatoes is the maximum evaporation rate during the process. The surface thermal evolution was considered to estimate the drying rate curve and the drying stages. The phenomenological model considers both the transport of free water and water vapor by applying a mechanistic approach. In order to simulate free water transport we took into account the capillary diffusivity term, and to simulate water vapor evacuation we considered the desorption isotherm. Two drying conditions were analyzed, 1.0 and 2.2 m/s of air flow with 60°C and 30% relative hum.
Human Resource Practitioner Professional Ability and Management System Construction, Achievement Motivation as Mediator

This research explored the relationship among human resource practitioner professional ability, achievement motivation and the degree of human resource management system construction. The research focus was the human resource management practitioners in enterprises and data were collected through convenience sampling. Three hundred questionnaires were sent out, 223 valid questionnaires were returned(74.33%). The results show that there is a significant influence between the: (1) professional ability of human resource management practitioners and the degree of human resource management system construction and (2) achievement motivation of human resource management practitioners and human resource management system construction and also that (3) achievement motivation has a partial mediating effect between professional ability and the degree of human resource management system construction.
A Unified Treatment of Selection Rules and Symmetry Relations for Sum-Frequency and Second Harmonic Spectroscopies

A simplifying treatment is developed for describing the molecular origins of electric dipole allowed sum-frequency generation (SFG) and second harmonic generation (SHG). The full sum-over-states expressions for the nonlinear polarizability simplify tremendously at or near resonance to straightforward formulas easily connected to intuitive molecular properties. For resonance enhancement at the sum or second harmonic frequency, the molecular nonlinear polarizability tensor is shown to be the direct product of the transition moment and the two-photon absorption (TPA) polarizability tensor. To our knowledge, this is the first rigorous mathematical demonstration indicating such a simple relationship directly connecting second harmonic generation with TPA, providing a link between the two fields of inquiry. Under resonance enhancement with one of the incident frequencies, the SFG and SHG nonlinear polarizability tensors similarly are given by the products of the transition moments and the anti-Stokes Raman pola.
Preparation and Characteristics of Fine Hollow Carbon Particles

Submicrometer-size carbon particles of uniform size were prepared by pyrolysis of fine polystyrene/polyacrylonitrile composite particles which were produced by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Hollow carbon particles were formed from composite particles of more than 10 mol% polystyrene content. The size of the hollow increased with increasing polystyrene content.
Shifting crop planting calendar as a climate change adaptation solution for rice cultivation region in the Long Xuyen Quadrilateral of Vietnam

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddies in the Long Xuyen Quadrilateral Region of Vietnam have regularly met the increased risks under the impacts of climate change (ICC), resulting in a decline in crop productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the suitable times for broadcasting rice crops in the rice cultivation paddies belonging to Long Xuyen Quadrilateral as a mitigation solution to the negative ICC. To conduct this research, crop model namely the FAO-AquaCrop (Version 6.0) was selected to simulate grain yields of rice crops based on different scenarios of crop broadcasting calendar (CBC). The results point out that the grain yield of winter-spring (WS) and summer-autumn (SA) cropping seasons can increase up to 6.2% and 5.3% if the CBC is delayed from 7 to 14 d compared to the current broadcasting calendar (baseline) in the two experimental areas while the grain yield of the autumn-winter (AW) cropping season can increase 6.4% if the CBC is shifted 14 d compared to the baseline. In general, a shift in the CBC for all rice broadcasting crops compared to the baseline can be considered as an effective solution to minimize the negative impacts of weather factors as well as contribute to improve rice productivity.
Western Corporate Credibility: Is it applicable in Malaysia?

Credibility is an essential element for corporate to hold individual trust and confidence towards the corporate. Despite many elements that may influence the credibility of a corporate, less researches concentrate on factors that may affect corporate credibility as a whole in different dethronement particularly in Malaysian perspective. Thus, the study focuses on element derived from Western corporate credibility index and adding factors that may affect corporate credibility from Malaysian perspectives. The finding of the study indicates that factors that affect coporate credibility from Malaysian perspectives are Honesty, Customer Focus, Celebrity Engagement and Innovation. The results of the study can be an important inspiration to impement suitable strategies to enhance corporate credibility particularly in Malaysia
Public Economic Efficiency and Case-Based Reasoning: A Theoretical Framework to Police Performance

 Abstract — At present, public efficiency is a concept that intends to maximize return on public investment focus on minimizing the use of resources and maximizing the outputs. The concept takes into account statistical criteria drawn up according to techniques such as DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis). The purpose of the current work is to consider, more precisely, the theoretical application of CBR (Case-Based Reasoning) from economics and computer science, as a preliminary step to improving the efficiency of law enforcement agencies (public sector). With the aim of increasing the efficiency of the public sector, we have entered into a phase whose main objective is the implementation of new technologies. Our main conclusion is that the application of computer techniques, such as CBR, has become key to the efficiency of the public sector, which continues to require economic valuation based on methodologies such as DEA. As a theoretical result and conclusion, the incorporation of CBR systems will reduce the number of inputs and increase, theoretically, the number of outputs generated based on previous computer knowledge.