Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of MDF Exports: A Panel Data Analysis

This study analysed the factors influencing the exports of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) with the aid of the panel data approach procedures. The analysis was carried out with the data collected on MDF exports over 10 years (1996–2005) and across 28 countries all over the world using the panel data analysis in estimating the MDF exports with various factors. The result shows that the changes in export quantities of MDF are significantly determined by export price and exchange rate at 1 percent and 5 percent respectively. However, average world GDP is not significant in influencing exports demand of MDF. On the other hand, the Hausman test of the random effects and fixed effects specification give the evidence that the random effects specification is preferable in this model.
Interactive comment on “Mapping soil hydraulic properties using random forest based pedotransfer functions and geostatistics” by

In the manuscript by Brigitta Tóth et al. maps of soil water retention characteristics (i.e. soil water contents at saturation, field capacity and the wilting point) are derived for the catchment of lake Balaton from direct measurements (MARTHA data) and additional spatial information on soils, vegetation, topography and climate. In a first step the applicability of two tree-based machine learning algorithms was tested with the result that random forest outperformed generalized boosted regression models. In a second step random forests were combined with classical geostatistical methods to
Attraction and Resistance in the Picea abies - Ips typographus System Host Choice in the Eurasian Spruce Bark Beetle

Decades of research have gathered detailed knowledge about the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) and its interaction with its host tree Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H Karst). The strong pheromone attraction enabling this beetle to kill healthy host trees is a well known process, and pheromones are widely used to trap beetles in forest pest management. Yet, host finding and final host choice by the first attacking pioneer beetles is only vaguely understood. The aim of this thesis was to identify olfactory cues for host choice from habitat to final colonisation. The importance of non-host volatiles (NHV) and old-host volatiles (OHV) for habitat finding, indicating unsuitable habitats, was confirmed in a large scale field experiment at forest edges in Slovakia and Sweden. A blend of NHV/OHV dispensers created an artificial semiochemical diversity, and reduced attacks in treated versus untreated plots. An active inhibitory range of ≈15 m was determined for the protection. A detailed study of host bark chemistry in relation to natural bark beetle attacks showed the importance of induced host defence capacity for resistance in P. abies against I. typographus attacks. The only individual host compound that seemed to influence host choice in this study was 1,8-cineole. Volatiles that were collected from bark of felled and standing healthy trees were tested on I. typographus antennae by using combined gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection. The electrophysiological studies also including single sensillum recording technique revealed eight novel ligands of host compounds, of which six are oxygenated, eliciting strong responses in olfactory sensory neurons. Proportional increase of oxygenated host compounds in host chemistry were shown to be related to induced defence and decay of host bark, and are proposed as semiochemicals for host evaluation by I. typographus. Quantification of host volatiles released by felled, healthy, and naturally attacked standing trees indicate that the onset of beetle attack correlated with high amounts of released host volatiles. Field trapping experiments and laboratory no-choice feeding assays with a subset of the oxygenated compounds confirmed the inhibiting activity of 1,8-cineole, and indicated both negative and positive effects on pheromone attraction and feeding by other antennally active compounds.
The potential of subterranean microbes in facilitating actinide migration at the Grimsel Test Site and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Microorganisms may affect the long-term stability and mobility of radionuclides disposed of in deep geological formations. Of particular concern is the association of radionuclides with subterranean microbial cells and their subsequent transport as biocolloids. We characterized the total microbial populations in two groundwater samples: one from the Culebra dolomite member of the Rustler Formation at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), NM, and the other from the granitic formation at the Grimsel Test Site (GTS), Switzerland. Culebra groundwater (ionic strength 2.8 M, pH 7) contained 1.51 ± 1.08 × 105 cells ml-1, with a mean cell length of 0.75 ± 0.04 μm and width of 0.58 ± 0.02 μm. In contrast, low ionic-strength GTS groundwater (0.001 M, pH 10) contained 3.97 ± 0.37 × 103 cells ml-1, with a mean cell length of 1.50 ± 0.14 μm and width of 0.37 ± 0.01 μm. Adding appropriate electron donors and acceptors to the groundwaters facilitated the growth of aerobic, denitrifying, fermentative, and acetogenic microorganisms. Uranium biosorption was studied in two isolates from these groundwaters, as well as several pure cultures from saline and non-saline environments. Halophilic and non-halophilic bacteria exhibited differences in the amount of U associated with the cells. Plutonium uptake by Acetobacterium sp. isolated from GTS varied from 30 - 145 pg of Pu mg-1 dry weight of cells.
Fast Width Detection in Corridor Using Hough Transform

For many robotics and smart car applications it is vitally important to calculate the width. The present paper proposes a new approach for finding the width of a corridor within a constructed image frame that would keep a robot on a safe track away from walls. The main advantage of this approach is less computation time and hence faster response for path recognition. In this new approach, the Hugh Transform technique is also used as the basis of the provided algorithm. Within the determination of corridor width, in order to avoid the accident in the future researches, some approaches such as identify open space, modeling and reconstruction of three-dimensional space, can also be used.
Lifetime of Sensor Network by Exploiting Heterogeneity- A Survey

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are emerging in various fields. A large number of sensors in these applications are unattended and work autonomously. Lifetime is an important parameter which is critical for different algorithms for data transfer. Moreover it is responsible for the throughput and the failure of the network. Heterogeneous wireless sensor network, on top of clustering technique, has evolved as the major parameter to increase the lifetime of the Sensor network, data transfer, energy consumption and the scalability of the sensor network. This paper surveys the different clustering algorithm and dependencies for heterogeneous wireless sensor network. This paper is for scholars to gain sufficient knowledge of wireless sensor network (WSN), its important characteristics, and performance metrics with factors responsible for a WSN system. It can help a scholar to start a quick research by understanding all the respective parameters and energy oriented strategies in WSN.
WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS AND FUSION OF CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION FOR WEATHER OUTLIER DETECTION

Weather stations are often expensive hence it may be difficult to obtain data with a high spatial coverage. A low cost alternative is wireless sensor network (WSN), which can be deployed as weather stations and address the aforementioned shortcoming. Due to imperfect sensors in WSNs context, provided raw data may be drawn in from of a low quality and reliability level, expectedly that is an emergence of applying outlier detection methods. Outliers may include errors or potentially useful information called events. In this research, forecast values as contextual information are utilized for weather outlier detection. In this paper, outliers are identified by comparing the patterns of WSN and forecasts. With that approach, temporal outliers are detected with respect to slopes of the WSNs and forecasts in the presence of pre-defined tolerance. The experimental results from the real data-set validate the applicability of using contextual information in the context of WSNs for outlier detection in terms of accuracy and energy efficiency.
Exploring Portfolios in the Elementary Classroom with Students with Disabilities/Exceptionalities: Timely or Time-Consuming?.

In the inclusive/special education literature, practitioners oft en claim that using portfolios is excessively timeintensive, while other researchers lay claim to posi-tive possibilities for students with disabilities/ exceptionalities, such as increased self-esteem, internal locus of control, choice-making, and active participation in learning. To explore both the time-consuming charge and the positive possibilities associated with portfolio use, we conducted a case study with students with dis-abilities/exceptionalities and some labelled at-risk in the second author’s elementary classroom. Data sources included a research journal, general class-room observations, and structured student interviews. We found that the teacher identifie d more examples of positive outcomes than did her students and that im-plementing portfolios can indeed be a protracted process. We theorize about these find ings and offe r some concluding suggestions to mitigate labour intensity to bet-ter support students with disabilities/exceptionalities. ISSN 1918-5227 Pages 148- 165 Follow this and additional works at: htt p://ir.lib. uwo.ca/eei
Diving into the world of biologging

On the occasion of the publication of the proceedings of the Third International Biologging Science Symposium, we present a summary of the incidence of biologging in studies of animal behaviour. Studies investigating diving activity were used as a proxy to examine the use of a biologging technology. Specifically, studies referenced in the Penguiness Book, an internet-based diving database, were used to examine: (1) on which taxa of diving animals biologging is principally used; (2) which countries are the principal users and producers of biologging technology; and (3) the incidence of this approach in peer-reviewed publications. Each of these items is discussed in the light of the intrinsic limitations of biologging approaches.
Places Change Minds: Exploring the Psychology of Urbanicity Using a Brief Contemplation Method

An accruing body of research suggests that urban environments negatively affect mental health and well-being. It is thought that some of this so-called “urbanicity effect” can be explained by the perceived quality of the living environment. The two studies reported here used online survey methods to explore changes to self-reported psychological mechanisms thought to underpin mental health and well-being before and after participants briefly contemplated urban/rural or desirable/undesirable residential images. Our findings demonstrate that even brief contemplation of places change how we consider our futures and that places deemed relatively undesirable appear to promote a threat-focused anticipatory set. Importantly, these changes were not found to be associated with perceived urbanity but rather with perceived desirability of place. These findings should be considered alongside increasing evidence that urban regeneration and place-making are matters of public health concern.
Measuring Crustal Lg-Waves Attenuation in the Northern Part of Africa

Lg-waves propagate over long distances in the northern part of Africa and are recorded on the seismic station located close to Abeche (Chad). We have applied the well-known coda analysis method developed by Aki and Chouet [1] to study the Lg-wave anelastic attenuation in this area. We found a frequency dependence: Q( f ) = (650±34) f (0.77±0.2). This result shows an average value of Q0 (Q0 ≈ 650) for earthquakes occurred in tectonic areas as the East African Rift system, Turkey, Greece and Red Sea. The higher value of Q0 (Q0 ≈ 800) is obtained for the event occurred in the middle of the stable plate close to the Tamanrasset (TAM) station in Algeria.
Identification of serratia marcescens se1 and determination of its herbicide 2,2-dichloropropionate (2,2-dcp) degradation potential

Aims: The goal of the study is to isolate species of bacteria that capable of utilizing 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (2,2-DCP) as sole carbon source from soil sample collected from surrounding lake water located in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor. Methodology and Results: Genomic DNA from bacterium SE1 was extracted and PCR amplification was carried out using universal primers, Fd1 (5' - AGA GTT TGA TCC TGGCTC AG - 3') and rP1 (5'- ACG GTC ATA CCT TGT TAC GAC TT - 3') before sending for sequencing. The 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences were compared with Basic Local Alignment Search Tool nucleotide (BLASTn) and further analyzed using phylogenetic tree of Neighbour-Joining method (MEGA 5). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that SE1 strain clearly shared 97% homology to the genus of Serratia marcescens and therefore designated as Serratia marcescens sp. SE1. SE1 exhibited the ability to utilize 2,2-DCP as sole carbon source at 20 mM concentration with cell doubling time of 5 h and maximum chloride ion release of 38 μmolCl-/mL. This result suggests that the dehalogenase enzyme present in the bacteria has high affinity towards the substrate. Based on morphological and partial biochemical characteristics, strain SE1 was a non-motile Gram negative bacterium with red colonies, that gave a catalase positive reaction. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: A better understanding of dehalogenases enzyme produce by this S. marcescens sp. SE1 in general will be useful to be used as bioremediation tools for environmental management. This is the first reported case that Serratia sp. has the ability to degrade halogenated compound.
Endowment of Duplicated Serial Number for Window-controlled Selective-repeat ARQ

We consider a window-controlled selective-repeat ARQ scheme for error control between two adjacent nodes lying on a communication path. In this scheme, each packet to be transmitted is endowed with a serial number in a cyclic and sequential fashion. In turn, the transmitting node is not allowed to transmit a packet belonging to a window before every packet in the previous window is positively acknowledged. Such postponement of packet transmission incurs a degradation in throughput and delay performance. In this paper, aiming at improving packet delay performance, we employs a supplement scheme in which a serial number is duplicated within a frame. Classifying duplication rules into fixed, random and adaptive categories, we present candidate rules in each category and evaluate the packet delay performance induced by each duplication rule. From numerical examples, we observe that duplicating serial numbers, especially ADR-T2 effectively reduces mean packet delay for the forward channel characterized by a low packet error rate. We also reveal that such delay enhancement is achieved by a high probability of hitting local optimal window size.
Business Valuation – Practice of domestic WSE members in 2016

Goal – The aim of this paper is to check the popularity of various valuation methods in practice, as well as to present the statistics of parameters used in valuation processes and recommendations issued by domestic Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) members in the year 2016. Methodology – The study was prepared basing on 514 valuations of 118 companies gathered from 263 recommendations issued by 8 domestic WSE members. These input data were processed using statistical tools. Finally, they were aggregated and compared with textbooks and previous studies to present final conclusions. Results – Basing on the conducted analysis, the authors stated that broadly spread opinion about high popularity of DCF and relative model in business valuation is confirmed. More interestingly, it seems that practitioners often made valuations basing on the same or very similar assumptions, which is the most visible in the adopted period of detailed analysis. It should be noted that findings are based on historical data, which do not refer to the future and apply only to companies which are listed on the stock market. Originality – Authors’ analysis provides knowledge on how domestic WSE members apply the theory of business valuation in practice, which approaches are the most commonly used, and aims at explaining to answer why it is so. This knowledge can constitute a basis for reviewing and improving valuation tools used in stock recommendations. The authors encourage to conduct further discussion regarding the practice-theory gaps, and provide data to it.
Risk-Averse Newsboy Problem with Incomplete Demand Information

In the traditional inventory control literature, it is a quite common assumption that the probability distribution of the demand is completely known to the risk-neutral decision maker. However, in reality, there are ample evidences where the demand distribution is not known with certainty because of several factors such as availability of substitute products, competitors' prices, economic conditions, market regulations, etc. which are beyond the control of the firm. In order to cope with the practical situation, it is, therefore, necessary to investigate inventory models with available incomplete information. This contributes to the literature by providing a solution of the newsboy problem when the demand distribution is not perfectly known and decision maker is risk averse. We derive a forecast cost for the period based on sample observation used to set the value of an unknown parameter of the distribution. From numerical study we observe that the expected forecast cost increases when less information about demand is available and that the risk-averse inventory manager incurs higher cost than risk-neutral manager.
Confrontation with Acinetobacter Baumannii by Exploiting its Biofilm: An Insight to Vaccine Development

Objective: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections in humans by colonization of medical devices. The capacity of this pathogen to persist in hospital settings could be due to its ability to form biofilms. In the present study we evaluated the effect of antibodies against one of surface components of A. baumannii on in vitro biofilm formation. Materials and Methods: The 1113 bp fragment of Bap (biofilm associate protein)gene from A. baumannii genome was amplified and cloned. The recombinant protein was expressed and purified and used to raise antibodies in mice. Antibody titer was evaluated by ELISA. In vitro biofilm inhibition was evaluated using the mice sera. Results: Injection of Bap subunit resulted in high titers of antibody. Immunized mice serum had significant (P< 0.001) inhibitory effect on biofilm formation. In vitro inhibition of biofilm formation by A. baumannii was studied at 1:50 concentrations of immunized and unimmunized mice sera. Immunized mice serum had significant (P <0.001) inhibitory effect on biofilm formation Conclusion: Adsorption of antibodies to Bap might interfere with bacterial adhesion to the surface. These antibodies were found to be potent biofilm inhibitors.
Biometrics Acceptance - Perceptions of Use of Biometrics

With the exception of Deane et al. (1995), Furnell et al. (2000), Clarke et al. (2002), Giesing (2003) and Ho et al. (2003), much of the research conducted in Biometrics has only examined the technical aspects of biometrics. Given the importance of user issues and the gap in existing literature, this exploratory study will attempt to understand the ‘people’ side of biometrics. To examine the issues behind user acceptance and biometrics, the Biometrics User Acceptance Model (Ho et al. 2003) will be explored. This will be used as a framework within which to answer the research questions: (1) What are the perceptions of user acceptance issues surrounding the use of a biometric authentication system? , and (2) What are the perceived enablers and inhibitors of biometric adoption? This model will be used as a basis for a survey instrument and will be tested on post graduate students at the University of New South Wales.
Nepheline-"IRON NEPHELINE" Solid Solutions

The phase diagram of the join NaAISi04 (iiepheline) ・`NaFe3'Si04" (iron nephe}in'e) was determined, and the unit-cell Climensions of tliie nepiiteline solid solt}tions belonging to this join and of the nepheline solid solutions crystallized in the join NaAISi04 NaFe3'Si206 (acmite) were measured. "NaFe3" Si04 " is iRcorporated into nepheline, by Fe3" A} replacement, as much as 25 mol % NaFe3'Si04 at 7000C at oRe atmosphere. The data on tmit-cell dimensions also show that iron-bearing nephelines in the join NaAISi04 NaFe3'Si2 06 may be enriched in silica. Therefore, the nepheline in this join must be described with reference to the three components, NaAISiO,, NaFe3'Si04, aiid Si02 and the formula Na. +y [IIII] sT(.y) Fe3" . A}ySi i6. (.y) 032 is given to this nepheline solid solutioR.
Linguistic scene analysis and the importance of synergy

This chapter explores the possibility that speech is decoded using cross-spectral and cross-modal integration strategies that are inherently synergistic. Combining information from separate spectral channels or across modalities may result in far greater intelligibility and phonetic recognition than predicted by linear-integration models. This is because decoding speech relies on multi-tier processing strategies that are opportunistic and idiosyncratic. Models incorporating synergistic integration are more likely to predict linguistic comprehension than conventional, linear approaches, particularly in challenging listening conditions.
Estimating the recreational value of wilderness areas in the tourist season with contingent valuation method (Case Study: Sadiq Abad Desert)

Desert can be an interesting place for tourists and it can make them familiar with different perspectives in beauty of nature and green landscape. From the perspective of European tourists, wilderness excursions have attractions and can be a significant source of revenue for the country, especially in the towns and villages in the desert. In classification of goods, deserts are in nonmarket goods categories and have accordingly no market price and there is no benchmark for comparison with other commodities. This study is to determine the recreational value of Sadiq Abad Desert in the city of Bafg in Yazd and to measure willingness to pay for recreation in this area using contingent valuation and dimensional dichotomous choice questionnaire. To evaluate the effect of explanatory variables on the willingness of people to pay, a logarithmic logit model was used and parameters used in the model are estimated using maximum likelihood. Results have shown that 67.13 % of the subjects in this study were willing to pay the entrance fee. Average willingness to pay per person for recreational use of wilderness is obtained 38520 rials per month.In other words, each family is ready to pay 294,501,529 of annual income per household for a walk in the desert. The annual recreational value of wilderness Sadeqabad is estimated at 963,020,000. Accordingly, the results suggest an important role of deserts in society leisure and city managers are obliged to respect the opinions of visitors to wilderness areas, moreover these deserts can be very economical for the revenue plan.