Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The program and policy change framework: A new tool to measure research use in low- and middle-income countries

Organizations that fund research to address global development challenges are increasingly interested in measuring the social and economic outcomes of research. However, traditional metrics for measuring research outputs are often insufficient for capturing the outcomes targeted by international assistance organizations. To address this, the Center for Development Research (CDR), part of the U.S. Global Development Lab at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has designed a new tool: the Program and Policy Change (PPC) framework for tracking and quantifying the influence of research on program and policy change in international development. The framework draws on existing conceptual frameworks of evidence uptake and the literature on policy change. This article describes the design of the PPC framework and presents the results of applying the framework to two USAID research programs. The benefits of the framework include applicability across research sectors, focus on evidence-informed policy at various levels of geographical influence, and inclusion of a numeric scoring system that enables quantification of outcomes.
Anisotropic eikonal solution using physics-informed neural networks

SUMMARY Traveltimes are essential for seismic applications ranging from imaging to tomography. Traveltime computations in anisotropic media, which are better representative of the true Earth, require solving the anisotropic eikonal equation. Numerical techniques to solve the anisotropic eikonal equation are known to suffer from instability and increased computational cost compared to the isotropic case. Here, we employ the emerging paradigm of physics-informed neural networks to solve the anisotropic qP-wave eikonal equation. By minimizing a loss function formed by imposing the validity of the eikonal equation, we train a neural network to produce trav-eltime solutions that are consistent with the underlying partial differential equation. We observe considerably higher accuracy compared to the ﬁrst-order ﬁnite-difference solution using the fast sweeping method. We also show that once the network is trained for a particular source location in a given anisotropic model, the traveltimes for a new source location and/or an updated model can be computed much more efﬁciently using the pre-trained network. This feature is particularly attractive as it can speed up seismic imaging and inversion applications sig-niﬁcantly.
Islam and Online Piety in Bangladesh

Due to various social advancements, Bangladesh has become more welcoming to digital technologies. Thus, a significant online community is flourishing here. Almost half of the country’s entire population uses the internet. The digital neighborhood is becoming larger the mediated interaction. What we now call online is nothing but a reflection of offline except its physicality. Like other social phenomena, religion and religious discourse is also a part of cyber society. Belief in cyberspace is often dubbed as “cyber-religion”. Debates on religion often harm the opposite group and contend faiths transform peace into communal animosity beyond cyberspace. Thus, society gets heated by hostile collective performances. In contemporary Bangladesh, online piety is an exclusive phenomenon that has considerable importance. By observing the dynamics of online religiosity, this paper focusing more on social media tries to present a concise overview of digital Islam(ism) and the social psychology of online Islamic piety in the context of Bangladesh.
Conceptual and analytical worldviews shape differences about global avian biogeography

In a recent paper, we generated a new time tree of modern birds and integrated it with biogeographic and palaeontological information to formulate a model for their biogeographic history. We postulated that modern birds originated in West Gondwanan continents, from where they dispersed around the world. Mayr suggested that our selective use of the fossil record may have biased our ancestral area reconstructions. We argue that the use of the fossil record must be selective in order to avoid the influence of its severe geographic bias: rock formations with numerous high‐quality fossil birds are found only in North America and Europe. An indiscriminate use of the avian fossil record would bias any biogeographic analysis towards these two continents. Our biogeographic model is perfectly consistent with the existence of diverse fossil avifaunas in the Eocene of North America and Europe because dispersion out of South America occurred earlier, in the Palaeocene.
Early childhood education candidates’ perspectives of their importance and responsibility for promoting physical activity and minimizing screen-viewing opportunities in childcare

ABSTRACT Educators strongly influence young children’s behaviors, and their perspectives regarding physical activity (PA) and screen-viewing (SV) may influence their provision in childcare. This study gathered early childhood education (ECE) candidates’ perspectives regarding: 1. the importance of their role(s) in promoting PA/reducing SV; 2. how their ECE program and personal PA may influence these perspectives; and, 3. their interest in PA/SV training. An online survey was completed by 1,292 ECE candidates from 61 programs. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests explored these perspectives by PA/SV courses taken and by meeting the Canadian adult PA guideline. ECE candidates with PA-related training reported higher perceived importance (n= 2 items; p<.05*) and personal responsibility (n= 4 items; p<.05) for items related to teaching PA, compared to those without training. SV training was not reported to influence their perspectives. Candidates who reported meeting the PA guideline reported higher importance (n= 3 items; p<.05) and personal responsibility (n= 3 items; p<.05) for items related to promoting PA, than those not meeting the guidelines. Most candidates (77.5%-93.3%) showed interest in further PA/SV training. Findings underscore the benefit of PA-related training, and personal PA habits, with regard to positively influencing ECE candidates’ values and perceptions of their role in promoting PA in childcare.
Using under-ice hyperspectral transmittance to determine land-fast sea-ice algal biomass in Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract Sea ice, which forms in polar and nonpolar areas, transmits light to ice-associated (sympagic) algal communities. To noninvasively study the distribution of sea-ice algae, empirical relations to estimate its biomass from under-ice hyperspectral irradiance have been developed in the Arctic and Antarctica but lack for nonpolar regions. This study examines relationships between normalised difference indices (NDI) calculated from hyperspectral transmittance and sympagic algal biomass in the nonpolar Saroma-ko Lagoon. We analysed physico-biogeochemical properties of snow and land-fast sea ice supporting 27 paired bio-optical measurements along three transects covering an area of over 250 m × 250 m in February 2019. Snow depth (0.08 ± 0.01 m) and ice-bottom brine volume fraction (0.21 ± 0.02) showed low (0.06) and high (0.58) correlations with sea-ice core bottom section chlorophyll a (Chl. a), respectively. Spatial analyses unveiled the patch size of sea-ice Chl. a to be ~65 m, which is in the same range reported from previous studies. A selected NDI (669, 596 nm) explained 63% of algal biomass variability. This reflects the bio-optical properties and environmental conditions of the lagoon that favour the wavelength pair in the orange/red part of the spectrum and suggests the necessity of a specific bio-optical relationship for Saroma-ko Lagoon.
Inoculum Size and Age Studies on Single and Mixed Strain Fermentation of Grape Juice

Single and mixed strain fermentation were compared to check the effect on properties of wine. Two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MTCC 11815 & MTCC 170) were used to study the effect of inoculum age and inoculum size on fermentation of grape juice. The inoculum sizes used were 2%, 5%, 10% and 15%, while inoculum age effect was studied using 24 h, 48 h and 60 h old inoculum. Fermentation efficiency of 77.2% was achieved in mixed strain culture using 15% inoculum, 17% initial sugars giving ethanol concentration of 6.70% (w/v) after 48 hrs. Fermentation efficiency of 84.65% was achieved with MTCC170 using 15% inoculum and 17% initial sugars giving ethanol concentration of 7.34% (w/v) in 48 hrs. Strain MTCC11815 produced 8.5% (w/v) ethanol from 17% initial sugars giving 98% efficiency using 2 and 5% inoculum. Concentration of phenolics increased with inoculum concentration while nitrogen and phosphates did not show any regular trend. The nitrogen and phosphate concentration was affected by type of strain rather than other factors.
Profiles of wheat rhizobacterial communities in response to repeated glyphosate applications, crop rotation, and tillage

Abstract: Due to widespread adoption of no-till management and use of glyphosate-resistant transgenic crops, glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. However, its effect on soil microbial communities is inconsistent. We studied the effects of glyphosate, tillage, and crop rotation on the diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities in wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum Desf.) rhizosphere after 6 and 7 yr of glyphosate applications. In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design, there were two crop rotation treatments: continuous wheat (W–W) and wheat in rotation with field pea (Pisum sativum L.) (P–W); two tillage treatments: minimum tillage (MT) and no-till (NT); and two glyphosate treatments: no application or pre-seeding application at the recommended rate. None of the treatments affected wheat rhizobacterial α-diversity or the relative abundances of most bacterial groups. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria (25.1% relative abundance), Actinobacteria (21.7%), Acidobacteria (8.7%), Bacteroidetes (5.9%), Firmicutes (1.4%), Armatimonadetes (1.3%), and Verrucomicrobia (1.2%). Glyphosate reduced the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria in W–W rotation but increased it in P–W rotation, and it reduced the relative abundance of Opitutus spp. The W–W rotation had greater relative abundances of the classes Bacilli (Firmicutes) and Gammaproteobacteria, and genera Bacillus and Opitutus (Verrucomicrobia), than the P–W rotation. Compared with MT, NT increased the relative abundance of the phylum candidate division WPS-1, but it reduced that of Phenylobacterium spp. in W–W rotation. These treatment effects probably had implications for soil functioning, including nutrient cycling and biological disease/pest control.
Semi-Supervised Graph Convolutional Hashing Network For Large-Scale Cross-Modal Retrieval

Cross-modal retrieval aims to provide flexible retrieval results across different types of multimedia data. To confront with scalability issue, binary codes learning (a.k. a. hash technique) is advocated since it permits exact top-K retrieval with sub-linear time complexity. In this paper, we propose a new method called -Semi-supervised -Graph -Convolutional $\underline{H}$ashing network (SGCH), which tries to learn a common hamming space by preserving both intra-modality and intermodality similarities via an end-to-end neural network. On one hand, graph convolutional network is utilized to explore high-order intra-modality similarity, and simultaneously propagate the semantic information from labeled samples to unlabeled data. On the other hand, a siamese network is connected to project the learnt features into a common hamming space. To bridge the inter-modality gap, adversarial loss which aims to learn modality-independent features by confusing a modality classifier is incorporated into the overall loss function. Experimental evaluations on cross-media retrieval tasks demonstrate that SGCH performs competitively against the state-of-the-art methods.
Fintech and Banking: Evidence from Vietnam

The paper focuses on understanding fintech and the application of fintech in the banking sector in Vietnam. To solve this research objective, the authors analyze fintech development trends, especially the fintech application in the banking sector in Vietnam. To improve the quality of fintech services at banks, the authors conducted consideration of factors affecting customers’ intention to use fintech services. To accomplish this, the authors collected data through a survey of 620 customers of the banks located in Ho Chi Minh City – the largest economic center in Vietnam. For the analytical method, the authors used multivariate regression to estimate the research model. Research results show that fintech service is very important for the banking sector in Vietnam. Moreover, this paper has achieved great success by identifying the factors that influence customers’ intention to use fintech services. Accordingly, the intention to use fintech (INT) services is positively affected by the perception of usefulness (PU), social impact (SI), customer trust (TRU), and perceived ease of use (PEU). Based on the results of this study, bank managers will have a basis to improve the quality of fintech services. Not only that, the results of this study are also valuable for policymakers and researchers.
Students' Perceptions and Information-Sharing Patterns in Learning Authoring System Course through Blogging

The use of blogs in teaching and learning has emerged as a useful education-al technology resource. Hence, this study’s objective is to investigate the students’ perception of blogs and the blog usage patterns from the educa-tional aspect. Eighteen samples were chosen purposively in this study. The study collected both qualitative and quantitative data. The research instru-ments were questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and students’ blogs. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the data collected was an-alysed descriptively and thematically. The results revealed the positive outcomes of students’ perceptions of blog aspects such as writing, reading and making comments. In terms of blog usage patterns, student frequencies in writing and sharing information in blogs were high when they were given tasks or activities that would be evaluated by an instructor. This showed that instructors play an important role in motivating the students to be ac-tively involved in blogs. Therefore, rewards or marks need to be given as an encouragement to the students for them to continuously and actively use blogs for learning.
Cooperative goals and dynamic capability: the mediating role of strategic flexibility and the moderating role of human resource flexibility

Purpose The dynamic capabilities theory indicates that uncertain environments necessitate firms’ dynamic capability. This study aims to examine how dynamic capability can be shaped based on cooperative goal interdependence with supply chain partners by focusing on the mediating role of strategic flexibility and the moderating role of human resource flexibility. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire surveys were administered to firm presidents, chief executive officers, chief human resources officers (CHOs) and other senior managers at 300 firms located in China. The data collection process was carried out in one wave with multiple sources. Of the firms contacted, the sample in this study consisted of 233 matched “CHO-other top manager” dyads. Structural equation modeling and the bias-corrected bootstrap method were used to test the proposed causal relationships, moderation model, mediation model and moderated mediation model. Findings Cooperative goal interdependence with both upstream companies and downstream companies was positively related to dynamic capability and strategic flexibility mediated these main effects. Moreover, human resource flexibility moderated the positive direct relationship between strategic flexibility and dynamic capability and the indirect relationships among cooperative goals, strategic flexibility and dynamic capability such that these relationships in companies with high human resource flexibility were stronger than these relationships in companies with low human resource flexibility. Originality/value The findings contribute to the literature on dynamic capability by providing empirical evidence regarding the relationships among cooperative goals, strategic flexibility, human resource flexibility and dynamic capability, which enriches the theory of cooperation and competition and suggests a new path to promote dynamic capability.
Artificial Snowmaking: Winter Sports Between State-Owned Company Policy and Tourist Demand

Due to changing climatic conditions, artificial snowmaking has become a major method of ski resort adaptation globally. It is a financially intensive operation requiring high start-up investment and involving operating costs that are dependent on weather conditions. Operational costs and the expansion of artificial snowmaking systems increase the price of ski passes. In our work, we analyzed the operations of a public company that operates the largest ski resorts in Serbia and directs the flow of winter sports tourism. We tried to determine, by means of correlation, the extent to which ski pass prices in the biggest winter resort in Serbia are influenced by factors such as natural snow cover, number of tourist overnights, ski run length, and local wages. The results of the survey indicate an increasing transformation of the ski resort into a thematic attraction independent of climatic factors in terms of determining ski pass prices.
Difference in shade tolerance drives the mixture effect on oak productivity

Assessing how species productivity in mixtures is influenced by species shade tolerance (ST) and phylogeny would be helpful to improve our general understanding of the relationship between tree species diversity and productivity in forests. We investigated the effects of differences in ST and phylogenetic distances (PDs) between pairs of species on the productivity of Quercus petraea growing in 18 mixtures in lowland temperate forests. We calculated the mixture effect as the difference in productivity of Q. petraea in mixed vs. pure stands. Our analyses were based on data from seven annual campaigns of the French National Forest Inventory covering 1,573 plots. The mixture effect on Q. petraea productivity increased when the ST of the companion species decreased. Compared to its productivity in pure stands, Q. petraea productivity in mixed coniferous stands varied from −14.6% up to +39.6% as the ST of the companion species inversely varied from highest to lowest. With broadleaved companion species, the mixture effect varied from −10% up to +13.9% with decreasing ST. We found no effect of PD between Q. petraea and the companion species on the mixture effect. Synthesis. Our results confirm that shade tolerance is an important driver of the diversity effect on productivity at species level in temperate forests and that phylogenetic distance is not a relevant proxy for species functional dissimilarity.
Sentiment analysis in education research: a review of journal publications

ABSTRACT Sentiment analysis (SA) is widespread across all fields and has become one of the most active topics in education research, and there is a growing body of papers published. So far, however, there has been little discussion about comprehensive literature reviews in SA in education. Therefore, this study aims to review the high-qualified scientific literature of SA in education and reveals the future research prospects of SA based on the reviewed papers. After systematically searching five online bibliographic databases, 41 relevant articles were located and included in the study. Results show that most studies focus on higher education, and more studies adopt smaller datasets. SA is actively employed in the learning domain of engineering and technology, and teachers/educators are the primary stakeholders considered of studies. Further, utilizing hybrid approaches for SA research is predominant, more studies have refined the granularity of sentiment categories in education. Finally, four major SA research topics, including designing SA methods/systems, investigating learners’ satisfaction/attitude/concerned topics, evaluating teachers’ teaching performance as well as examining the relationship among sentiment, behavior, performance, and achievement, were identified and discussed deeply. Accordingly, several implications and research issues for SA in education research are provided.
Evaluation of genetic potential of intrahirsutum F2 populations through line × tester analysis.

The objectives of research were to estimate the GCA, SCA and heritability for yield and fiber traits in F2 populations. Four lines were crossed with 4 testers and 16 F2 populations were obtained for evaluation for determining combining ability and heritability estimates. The trials were laid-out in RCBD with four replications during 2013 and 2014. Combined analysis revealed that genotypes performed differently over the years; however genotype × year interactions were non-significant for majority of the traits. Mean squares for lines and testers were significant, indicating the importance of GCA with additive genes while lines × tester interactions implied the importance of SCA with dominant genes. The lines, Sadori and CIM-573 and testers FH-113 and IR-1524 were good general combiners hence showed their suitability for hybridization and selection programmes. Degree of dominance was higher than unity which suggested the prevalence of dominant genes. The heritability estimates were generally low because of greater portion of dominant variances.
Activity patterns of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) in a Mediterranean habitat

Abstract. There is increasing recognition of the occurrence of non-native species that are invasive and potentially contribute to biodiversity loss. A two-year camera trap survey was undertaken on Mountain Mosor, Croatia to determine the daily and seasonal activity patterns of recently introduced non-native aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). Aoudad were most active in open rocky habitats and least active in forest habitats. The effect of habitat on the recorded number of aoudad was significant, while the effects of month and the interaction month × habitat were not. The results showed a typical bimodal activity pattern of aoudad, with a modest peak in activity between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m., and a second, more pronounced activity peak between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Since the native habitat of aoudad is similar to that in the Mediterranean region, the inferred range of daily and seasonal activities show that the species is well adapted to the new habitat.
Behavioral Models for the Analysis of Dynamic Wireless Charging Systems for Electrical Vehicles

In this paper, an analytical behavioral model is proposed to describe the dependence of the mutual inductance on the real trajectory of an electrical vehicle, recharged by a dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system. The model is derived by means of a multi-objective genetic programming algorithm, which uses a training data set provided by a 3D magneto quasi-static numerical solver. The model is herein applied to a real WPT system working at 85 kHz and successfully validated.