Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing the Forest Fire Danger Index for the Country Kazakhstan by Using Geospatial Techniques

Forest fire is a major ecological disaster, which has economic, social and environmental impacts on humans and also causes the loss of biodiversity. Kazakhstan forests are more prone to fires due to the presence of coniferous forests and loss was enormous. There is a need of forest fire danger indices to estimate the potential fire danger so that fire officials effectively control the fires. Global forest fire danger indices require daily meteorological stations data as well as ground investigation data. But, there are less number of meteorological stations are available in Kazakhstan, hence, the satellite derived parameters were used to develop the fire danger index in this study. In this study, Static forest fire probability index was developed by using the SRTM DEM and MODIS TERRA and AQUA Land cover type product (MCD12Q1). Dynamic forest fire probability index was calculated by using the MODIS TERRA Land Surface Temperature (MOD11A1) and Surface reflectance (MOD09GA). Dynamic forest fire probability index has been developed from the parameters, i.e. LST, Normalized Multi-band Drought Index (NMDI), Visible Atmospheric Resistant Index (VARI) and Modified Normalized Difference Fire Index (MNDFI). Finally, Fire danger index was developed by adding both the static and dynamic probability indices and Fire hotspot data (MCD14) has been used for the validation of the index. Accuracy was ranging from 77.78% to 90.32% and the overall accuracy was 84.14%. Developed Fire danger index was in operational, calculating by using MODIS Near Real Time datasets and uploading and updating every day in the website.
Freshwater fish diversity and their distribution along the Keniyam River, Taman Negara Pahang, Malaysia

Studies on freshwater fish diversity and their distribution at Keniyam River, Taman Negara Pahang were conducted in March, August, and October of 2011 and January and June of 2012. Fish sampling was conducted utilising fish traps, gill nets, cast nets, hook and line and tajur depending on the suitability of sampling stations. A total of 743 fish specimens from 11 families and 28 genera comprising 34 species were recorded during the sampling period with Mystacoelucus marginatus being the most abundant fish sampled. Higher fish diversity was recorded from the upper reaches, while the middle reaches recorded higher fish abundance. River physical (water velocity, water depth, river bed structure) and physicochemical factors (dissolved oxygen and pH) affected fish distribution and abundance along the Keniyam River. Factors that influence fish distribution will allow for habitat management and conservation of the fish communities of Taman Negara Pahang.
Performance Testing Support in a Continuous Integration Infrastructure

The application of continuous integration allows an agile software development process by automating the build process, so it is nowadays seen as a good practice. However, if the build process is au- tomatized, also the testing has to be automatized, to ensure quality and to detect faults while integrating. One possible quality characteristic of a software that could be checked is its performance. In this paper, we propose a performance testing framework for Java that executes performance tests by using microbenchmarks. It uses the Java benchmarking toolkit JMH and can test for machine-dependent performance assertions. This framework can be included into the continuous integration server Jenkins, so performance tests will be executed automatically during the build process. We conducted an feasibility evaluation of this approach by applying it to the continuous integration infrastructure of the Pipe-and-Filter framework TeeTime.
CryoTEM with a Cold Field Emission Gun That Moves Structural Biology into a New Stage

Structural Biology, which reveals three-dimensional (3D) structures and the dynamics of biological macromolecules and complexes, is fundamental not only for life sciences but also for medical sciences and drug design, because all the biological functions, such as signal and energy transductions, and their mechanisms are determined by finely designed 3D arrangements of constituent atoms, their motions and interactions with specific partner molecules. X-ray crystallography and NMR are powerful tools but electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) is now attracting much attention as a tool for high-resolution structural analysis partly due to recent development of CMOS-based, highly-sensitive, fast image detectors that allows single electron counting and movie mode imaging [1]. Together with development of powerful image analysis software packages, such as RELION [2,3], cryoEM image analysis can now achieve near atomic resolution in 3D structural analysis of biological macromolecules with a very small amount of solution samples, as small as a few ten of µ grams, without the need of crystallization. All one needs is to apply a few µl sample solution on to a holey carbon grid, blot most of it to make thin solution films within each carbon hole and flash freeze the entire grid to embed biomolecules in vitreous ice thin film in a frozen hydrated native state. Transmission electron microscopes with a stable cryo specimen stage cooled conventionally by liquid N
Terrestrial Gastropods: Survey and Relationships between Land Snail Assemblage and Soil Properties

Terrestrial gastropods (snail and slug) species were studied concerning their occurrence survey and population density in 25 localities representing five districts of Kafr EL-Sheikh Governorate, during September 2015 to August 2016. An attempts to obtain basic information concerning their relationships between land snail species assemblage and soil properties . Ten herbivorous species, eight land snails and two land slugs' species belonging to three families Helicidae, Succinidae, Limacidae of order Stylomatophora were found on different crops. Population density of Land snails and slug species varied in their incidence and level of infestation according to each locality and host type. Soil samples were taken from five districts due to analytical chemically and assess the relationships between low or high snail population density and soil component. There is positive relation between terrestrial gastropods population and soil calcium content. Organic matter, soil PH and salinity (EC, electric conductivity) with low and high density in all districts were average [(1.2 and 2.9), (7.54 and 9.01) and (1.54 and 4.52)] respectively. It is clearly that Organic matter, soil PH and EC had negative correlation with land gastropods low or high densities. However, the quantitative species composition of the land snail assemblage is related to soil properties to a lower degree than snail density and species richness, and other habitat characteristics such as vegetation can be important for species abundance.
Multi-dimensional Range Query on Outsourced Database with Strong Privacy Guarantee

Cloud services have provided important solutions for drastically reducing the cost of data management and maintenance. However, data outsourcing not only deprives clients of direct control over their data but also allows the server to gain direct access to the client data. Data encryption has been recognized as the solution to the privacy issue, but it also creates new challenges for both industry and academia. A naive question is whether the client still has the capability to query and obtain useful information when the data are encrypted and stored remotely. This paper investigates a solution to one of the most important types of query operations over encrypted data, namely multidimensional range queries. Our solution combines cryptographic techniques with the bucketization approach. We leverage a three-party architecture and secure multiparty computation to design and analyze the security of the protocols. Further, we discuss solutions for both static and dynamic datasets where new data records can be appended. First, we present the solutions for the case when the set of attributes in the query is pre-defined. Subsequently, we discuss the generalization.
Cleland, Joanne and Scobbie, James M. and Wrench, Alan A. (2015) Using ultrasound visual biofeedback to treat persistent primary speech

Growing evidence suggests that speech intervention using visual biofeedback may benefit people for whom visual skills are stronger than auditory skills (for example, the hearing impaired population, Bacsfalvi et al., 2007), especially when the target articulation is hard to describe or see. Diagnostic ultrasound can be used to image the tongue and has recently become more compact and affordable leading to renewed interest in it as a practical, non-invasive visual biofeedback tool. In this study we evaluate its effectiveness in treating children with persistent speech sound disorders that have been unresponsive to traditional therapy approaches. A case series of seven different children (aged 6;0 to 11;0) with persistent speech sound disorders was evaluated. For each child high-speed ultrasound (121fps), audio and lip video recordings were made whilst probing W;Iエ IエキノSげゲ ゲヮWIキaキI Wヴヴラヴゲ ;デ aキ┗W SキaaWヴWミデ デキマW ヮラキミデゲ ふHWaラヴWが S┌ヴキミェ ;ミS ;aデWヴ intervention). After intervention all of the children made significant progress on targeted segments, evidenced by both perceptual measures and changes in tongue-shape.
Can Hydropower Still Be Considered a Clean Energy Source? Compelling Evidence from a Middle-Sized Hydropower Station in China

The development of clean energy is of great importance in alleviating both the energy crisis and environmental pollution resulting from rapid global economic growth. Hydroelectric generation is considered climate benign, as it neither requires fossil carbon to produce energy nor emits large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG), unlike conventional energy generation techniques such as coal and oil power plants. However, dams and their associated reservoirs are not entirely GHG-neutral and their classification as a clean source of energy requires further investigation. This study evaluated the environmental impact of the Xiajiang hydropower station based on life cycle assessment (LCA) according to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines, focusing specifically on GHG emissions after the submersion of the reservoir. Results reveal that although hydropower is not as clean as we thought, it is still an absolute “low emissions” power type in China. The amount of GHG emissions produced by this station is 3.72 million tons with an emissions coefficient of 32.63 g CO2eq/kWh. This figure is lower than that of thermal power, thus implying that hydropower is still a clean energy resource in China. Our recommendations to further minimize the environmental impacts of this station are the optimization of relevant structural designs, the utilization of new and improved construction materials, and the extension of farmland lifting technology.
Research on automatic block binarization method of stained Tibetan ancient document image based on Lab color space

The binarization of Tibetan ancient document image have always been the focus of research, in this paper, an automatic block local binarization method based on Lab color space is proposed for stained Tibetan ancient document image. Firstly, weaken and eliminate the influence of the stains using the location information of the stains obtained by the information of the image itself in Lab color space. Secondly, the image is automatically partitioned according to the number and size of the character in the image. Finally, local binarization processing is performed and binarized image is obtained. The experiment shows that this method has a good binarization effect to the stained Tibetan ancient document image.
Household finance, consumption and health : evidence from China and European countries

This thesis presents three empirical studies on household finance. The thesis is inspired by the following phenomena: (1) the development of household finance; (2) the importance of enhancing financial inclusion; (3) the rising prevalence of obesity in western countries; (4) the global ageing challenge. Using the China Household Finance Survey, I investigate the determinants of financial inclusion, focusing on the role played by informal finance. I test the extent to which financial inclusion affects households’ consumption. My findings suggest that enhancing financial inclusion in China may play an important role in rebalancing the economy towards domestic consumption. Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, I investigate the extent to which households’ consumption profile changes after health shocks. My findings suggest that non-medical consumption is generally insured against health shocks in China. Using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, I find a positive association between financial stress and bodyweight in Europe. I find that individuals are more likely to respond to self-perceived financial stress than to objective levels of debt. Thus, policies aimed at improving citizens’ ability to cope with financial stress may play a role in tackling the obesity epidemic in Europe.
The Impact of Internal Communications on Employee Engagement in Iran’s Petrochemical Industry

Calismanin amaci: Bu calismanin amaci, ic iletisimin ve calisanlarin katiliminin kritik ozelliklerini belirlemektir. Ayrica, Iran petrokimya sirketlerinde ic iletisimin calisanlarin katilimi uzerindeki etkisini de arastiriyor. Tasarim ve Metodoloji: Ic iletisimin calisanlarin katilimi uzerindeki etkisini belirlemek icin calisma yapilmistir. Bir anket formu gelistirildi ve dogrulandi. Calisanlari proje yonetimi seviyesinden kurulusun kucuk olcekli ekip uyelerine kadar secmek icin basit rastgele ornekleme kullanilmistir. Toplam 225 anket dagitilmis ve 218 gecerli cevap toplanmistir. Toplanan veriler daha sonra SPSS yazilimi kullanilarak analiz edildi ve bes hipotez test edildi. Hipotezleri tahmin etmek ve tahmin etmek icin regresyon ve yapisal esitlik modellemesi kullanilmistir. Bulgular: Sonuclar, ic iletisimin frekans ve mod boyutlarinin calisanlarin katilimi uzerinde en az ve en az etkiye sahip oldugunu gostermektedir (β frekans = 0.317 ve β mod = 0.064). Yon ve kalite olculeri sirasiyla ikinci ve ucuncu pozisyonlari aldi. Ozgunluk: Arastirma, ic iletisimin Iran petrokimya sirketlerinde calisanlarin katilimi uzerindeki etkisini vurgulamaktadir. Calisma, Iran petrokimya sirketlerinde gelistirilen ve onaylanan kapsamli model konusunda benzersiz.
Work-Family Conflict, Organizational Commitment, and Burnout Among Food and Beverages Industries

Burnout is a problem encountered by employees in food and beverages industry in Kuta, Bali. According to Job Demand-Resources (JD-R) Model, burnout arises due to the work-family conflict. Although there is a significant relationship between work-family conflict and burnout, there is previous study that state individual is able to maintain their psychological wellbeing despite experiencing work-family conflict. The potential moderator in the relationship is organizational commitment. The sample was 196 employees from five food and beverages companies in Kuta, Bali which are registered in the Department of Human and Energy Resources of Bali Province. Data were collected through Burnout Instrument (r = 0.725), Organizational Commitment Instrument (r = 0.805), and Work-Family Conflict Instrument (r = 0.934). Data was analyzed using Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA). The results were work-family conflict significantly affected burnout (sig. Β1 = 0.000; β1 = 2.391) and organizational commitment significantly weakened the effect of work-family conflict on burnout (sig. Β3 = 0.035; β1 = 2.391; β3 = -0.876). Organizational commitment is a quasi-moderator in this study (sig. Β3 = 0.035; sig. Β2 = 0.034). Based on the results, company is able to create flexible work environment to reduce work-family conflict and designs training to increase organizational commitment in order to prevent burnout. Keywords: Work-Family Conflict, Organizational Commitment, Burnout, Food and Beverages DOI : 10.7176/EJBM/11-21-06 Publication date :July 31 st 2019
Do Informal Contracts Matter for Corporate Innovation? Evidence from Social Capital

We examine the relevance of informal contracting mechanisms for corporate innovation. Using social capital to capture the social costs imposed on opportunistic behavior by management, we report evidence that firms headquartered in states with higher levels of social capital are associated with more innovation. This result is more pronounced when employees are more susceptible to holdup (e.g., firms with low labor union coverage, firms located in states with weak legal protections for employees, and firms surrounded by few external employment opportunities) and when employees face higher levels of information asymmetry. Our study highlights the importance of informal contracts for innovation.
Role of community managed forests in forest biomass & carbon sequestration: A case of Odisha (India)

Tropical forests are known for their huge contribution to terrestrial carbon sequestration and global carbon cycle. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) provides incentives to developing countries for positive elements of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. In view of these roles of forests, a study was conducted in Odisha to estimate the impact of community led management practices on forest biomass and carbon sequestration. The study was conducted in 13 forested villages of 5 selected blocks including community managed/treated sites and natural forest/control sites. Following a quadrate sampling approach, the study found that community managed sites have comparatively higher contribution to total biomass and carbon content. The green tree biomass was found in the range of 10-115 t/ha in case of community managed sites and 7-180 t/ha in case of control sites. The average biomass in case of community managed sites was 63.56 t/ha against 56.73 t/ha for control sites. Similarly, the average carbon content value for treated sites was 32.91 t/ha against 29.49 t/ha for control sites. Overall, the community managed forest sites showed 12% higher biomass and carbon content than that of the control sites.
A scoping review of data logger technologies used with manual wheelchairs

Proceedings of 2015 RESNA Annual Conference. In recent years, more and more studies are using data logger technologies to document driving and physiological characteristics of manual wheelchair users. However, the technologies used offer marked differences in characteristics such as measured outcomes, ease of use, burden, etc. The objective of this study is to examine the extent of research activity that relied on data logger technologies for manual wheelchair users. We undertook a scoping review of the scientific and gray literature. Five databases were searched from January 1979 to November 2014: Medline, Compendex, CINAHL, EMBASE and Google Scholar. This review retained 104 papers. The selected papers document a wide variety of systems and technologies, measuring a whole range of outcomes. Of all technologies combined, 16.8% were accelerometers installed on the user, 14.8% were magnetic odometers or odometers installed on the wheelchair, 10.2% were accelerometers installed on the wheelchair and 8.67% were heart monitors. So, it is not surprising that the most reported outcomes were distance, speed and acceleration of the wheelchair, and heart rate. In the future, it may be necessary to reach a consensus on what outcomes are important to measure and how. Technological improvements and access to less expensive devices will probably make it possible to easily measure many important outcomes at relatively low cost.
Mediating Effect of Cross-Cultural Competency on International Experiences and Self-Efficacy among Hotel Employees

ABSTRACT Despite the importance of cross-cultural competency in the hospitality and tourism industry, minimal information is available regarding its antecedents and consequences. Accordingly, by uniquely adopting and integrating experiential learning theory and a cultural competency model, the present study explored the mechanisms that underlie cross-cultural competency, international experiences, and self-efficacy. The hypothesized relationships were tested via partial least squares–structural equation modeling using survey data from hotel employees. Results showed that the international experiences of employees positively predicted their cross-cultural competencies (i.e., metacognitive, cognitive, motivational, and behavioral dimensions). Moreover, motivational and behavioral competencies fully mediated the relationship between international experiences and self-efficacy.
A Research on the Role Played by Local and International Media into Conflict Management

While several scholar had drew their study focusing on the role of media into conflict management, few have pay attention to the types, levels, and phases of the conflict. Looking to fulfill the research gap, this study aimed to investigate the effect of media into conflict management focusing on the level of media. Israel and Palestine conflict was use as a case study and to frame the analysis, the research data were collected through a series of questionnaires. As concluded by previous scholars, local media are a potential tool of deescalating in global conflict, in line with these literatures, our finding show that local media are source of peace building and conflict deescalating however international media interfere into conflict management according to their national interest and as an instrument of influencing foreign policy to the parties involve. We finally concluded that the current and future relationship and level of tension between Israel and Palestine could be predict by Al jazera.
Social Network Addiction Scale: The Validity and Reliability Study of Adolescent and Adult Form

In this study, it was aimed to develop a valid and reliable social network addiction scale for adolescents and young adults. In the Exploratory Factor Analysis of the scale, the application was conducted to 425 high school students between 14-17 years of age and 310 young adults between 18-43 years of age. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed on a different group and for this purpose, 322 high school students and 197 young adults were included in the analysis. As a result of the analyses performed, the scale exhibited a-10-item and three-factor structure in both groups. The total variance explained was 71.51% for adolescents and 70.96% for young adults. The total Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was . 87 for adolescents and . 84 for young adults. With the 1st and 2nd level Confirmatory Factor Analysis performed on a similar study group, a good model was revealed for both adolescents and young adults. The Social Network Addiction Scale developed within the scope of this study is thought to have the adequate validity and reliability structure that can be used to measure social network addiction levels of adolescents and young adults.