Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interplay Between the Tiers in Croatian Local Government

The paper examines, analyses, and evaluates the relations between the first and second tiers of the Croatian local government system and their longitudinal and cross-sectoral dynamics. Membership in the European Union has opened new relevant horizons for national territorial governance, primarily through the advocacy of multi-level cooperative governance arrangements and by providing opportunities for the acquisition of additional resources through European structural and investment funds. These issues are evaluated by analysing formal competence distribution between the tiers, by analysing the distribution of resources between tiers and through their cooperation in regional policy domain and service delivery. Furthermore, actors’ perceptions of their mutual relations are examined via the author’s own research and the research of other scholars. After the introductory chapter, the second chapter presents a theoretical framework and context for an analysis of vertical relations within the local government system; the third chapter provides a longitudinal overview of the main features and conceptual developments of the Croatian local government system. The fourth chapter is the central part of the paper that presents and analyses the available primary and secondary data. Preliminary findings suggest several conclusions: a) areas of contact between municipal and county levels have increased resulting in their more intensive interdependence; b) relations betweenthe levels have been differentiating and cannot be considered uniform: different kinds of relations have developed between counties and small municipalities and between counties and large towns; c) centralistic governance of the whole system stimulates the development of competition between the tiers, which endangers their collective and cooperative efforts in resolving local issues and stimulating local development; d) counties have solidified their position of an inevitable intersection of national sectoral policies and are of vital importance for their transmission to the local level.
WAVE ENERGY RESOURCE CHARACTERIZATION AT THE US NAVY'S WAVE ENERGY TEST SITE, HAWAII

The US Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) is the first such grid-connected facility in the United States. It is located off Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe on the windward (east) side of Oahu. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) has funded the infrastructure, including moorings, cables to shore, and onshore office space and grid interconnection hardware, as well as the environmental assessments required for site development. The location of the site, which consists of 3 berths at 30, 60, and 80 m water depth, is shown in Figure 1. Each berth includes a three-point mooring system for the connection of wave energy conversion (WEC) devices, as well as an undersea cable and junction box for transmission of power and data to shore. The prepermitted site is capable of hosting WEC devices up to 1-MW. Through a cooperative effort between NAVFAC and the Department of Energy (DOE), the site is hosting companies for the testing of their pre-commercial devices in an operational setting in order to advance their technology readiness level. The Hawaii Natural Energy
ELECTROPHORETIC TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTION OF GLYPTA FUMIFERANAE, AN ENDOPARASITOID OF WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM

Parasitoid‐free western spruce budworms and western spruce budworm larvae containing the endoparasitoid Glypta fumiferanae (Vier.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were assayed electrophoretically to identify isozyme bands diagnostic for the parasitoid. Bands characteristic of G. fumiferanae were observed with 4 of 15 enzymes tested. These were aconitase, esterase, leucine aminopeptidase and 6‐phosphoglucose dehydrogenase. Presence of these isozyme bands is a reliable indication of parasitism by G. fumiferanae. The efficiency of electrophoresis as a tool for routine detection of parasitoids is discussed.
CURRENT FORCES ON A USING COMPUTATIONAL

Subsea pipelines which present free Induced Vibration (VIV), which can damage and cause possible failure by this work, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to evaluat shedding forces. Seabed effects are also (D) is used to build two-dimensional numerical wall are carried out for the Reynolds number around 20000. Drag and lift forces are evaluated. circular section and the wall were considered An open source code (OpenFOAM ® ) Simulation results were compared with the literature. e/D>1. For 1<e/D<0.5, even though 0.3<e/D<0.1, vortex shedding is not observed. In general, the procedure here presented has shown good results for drag and lift forces.
44o CONGRESO ESPAÑOL DE ACÚSTICA ENCUENTRO IBÉRICO DE ACÚSTICA EAA EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL ACOUSTICS AND NOISE MAPPING INSTRUMENT MODELS AND ITS APPLICATIONS

A musical instrument can be recognized by its unique timbre. One way to parameterize the timbre of an instrument is to obtain the spectrum for each musical note. The use of instrument models makes possible to approximately estimate the spectrum produced by a harmonic instrument for each musical note. This information can be incorporated to improve a bunch of musical processing applications: score following, audio restoration, source separation or transcription per instrument. In this work, we show the results obtained when instrument models are used in these applications.
Driver's field of view from large vehicles: phase 3 - report

In response to DETR’s request to investigate ways and means of improving the drivers’ field of view from HGV’s, coaches and buses, nine representative vehicles were evaluated using CAD man-modelling techniques. Evaluation was made against a benchmark field of view requirement which was developed by ICE Ergonomics and based upon the swept path envelopes of large vehicles whilst manoeuvring and on road layout and design considerations. Each vehicle was assessed using eye-points for the 5th %ile female and 95th %ile male driver. Where a driver’s field of view fell significantly short of the benchmark requirement a number of improvement options were investigated. Predominantly, the options selected were those which were most cost-effective and entailed the use of additional and modified wide angle mirrors on both the near-side and off-side of the vehicle. When reversing, driver’s visual coverage of the blind zone to the immediate rear was provided by a CCTV system. To ensure that the CAD modelled solutions did not have a detrimental effect on other aspects of the driving task, and before road trials were conducted on the public highway, a number of user tests were carried out under controlled experimental conditions. Results showed that the minimum radii of curvature, currently stipulated for rear view mirrors, could be reduced without causing significantly greater numbers of driver judgement errors compared with existing mirror specifications. Final verification of the field of view improvement specification proposed was achieved through road trials using drivers in modified large vehicles.
Online Learning for Distributed and Personal Recommendations A Fair Approach

We present an interpretable Markov-chain mixture model for recommendations. Each component Markov-chain models how items are related and viewed according to different types of activities. The mixture distribution represents a user-specific blend of such activities. For a personalised model, we use Bayesian statistics and continuously update the user’s posterior from a stream of item-views. We propose an online learning algorithm for this purpose. In addition, for fairness and privacy, our approach does not use, collect or store any private information or personal data.
Submission to theParliamentary Inquiry:-Education of Gifted and Talented Students

Anecdotal conversations with academic colleagues at various institutions revealed confusion in defining and identifying a gifted child. In general, giftedness appeared to be identified with high academic achievement in external examinations. This in turn has been aligned with private school education, children belonging to families from high socio‐economic status (SES), privileged education and money.
Meta-synthesis on learners' experience of aggression in secondary schools in South Africa

This meta-synthesis is on research conducted by different researchers in a team research project on learners’ experience of aggression in secondary schools in South Africa. The objective was to obtain a broader understanding of their experience of aggression in different contexts in South Africa, as well as possible ways to assist learners to address the experienced aggression. Eleven completed research projects were purposively sampled. Data were collected utilising the following headings: objectives, sampling, research design, research method, and research results, and guidelines. At the end of the meta- synthesis process the results are described, with supporting direct quotations from participants and a literature control. Guidelines for learners to cope with aggression are described.
Determination of distance between DC traction power centers in a 1500-V DC subway line with artificial intelligence methods

The electrification system in rail systems is designed with regard to the operating data and design parameters. While the electrification system is formed, the minimum voltage rating that the traction force requires during the operation needs to be provided. The highest value of the voltage drop occurring on the line is determined by the distance between power centers. This value needs to be kept within certain limits for the continuity of operation. In this study, the determination of the distance between DC traction power centers for a 1500-V DC-fed rail system is done by means of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), support vector machines (SVMs), and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The distance occurring on the line is calculated with regard to the operating parameters by means of the ANFIS, SVMs, and ANNs. The ANFIS, SVMs, and ANNs are explained and a comparison is made. The data created regarding one-way and two-way supply conditions are examined for simulation. The main contribution of this paper is the determination of the distance between railway traction power centers with artificial intelligence methods.
Phylogenetic Position of Callosciurus erythraeus griseimanus from Vietnam in the Genus Callosciurus

Callosciurus squirrels are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, eastern parts of South Asia, and southern parts of East Asia (Wilson and Reeder 2005). In this genus, there are 15 species; each species has many geographical forms (Corbet and Hill 1992; Wilson and Reeder 2005). Especially, at present, the Pallas’s squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus) has 25 subspecies (atrodorsalis, bartoni, bhutanensis, bonhotei, castaneoventris, erythrogaster, flavimanus, gloveri, gordoni, griseimanus, harringtonii, hendeei, hyperythrus, intermedius, michianus, ningpoensis, pranis, rubeculus, shanicus, siamensis, sladeni, styani, thai, thaiwanensis, and zimmeensis) (Wilson and Reeder 2005). These many geographical forms clearly make sub-specific classification of C. erythraeus complicated (e.g., Lekagul and McNeely 1988). Of these subspecies, 18 (atrodorsalis, bonhotei, castaneoventris, flavimanus, gloveri, gordoni, griseimanus, hendeei, michianus, ningpoensis, pranis, rubeculus, shanicus, siamensis, styani, thai, thaiwanensis, and zimmeensis) were previously assigned to a distinct species, the bellybanded squirrel C. flavimanus (Ellerman and MorrisonScott 1951; Moore and Tate 1965). Corbet and Hill (1992), however, regarded C. flavimanus as a subspecies of C. erythraeus (i.e., C. erythraeus flavimanus) and assigned all C. flavimanus subspecies to C. erythraeus. At present, this taxonomic status is generally accepted (Wilson and Reeder 2005). Debates on subspecific classification of C. erythraeus have been based on morphological characteristics, such as skull shapes and pelage patterns, but not on any other systematic characteristics, such as molecular and cytogenetic data. To provide additional evidence for resolving the taxonomic and systematic status of C. erythraeus subspecies, we examined the phylogenetic position of C. erythraeus griseimanus among Callosciurus squirrel species by using mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b gene sequences. Callosciurus erythraeus griseimanus is found in only the southeastern parts of the Indochina Peninsula. Judging from its restricted distribution pattern, this subspecies may be genetically distinct from other C. erythraeus subspecies and other Callosciurus species. We discuss here where we place this squirrel in the phylogeny of Callosciurus.
Influence of cadmium on protein profile of flax varieties (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Summary The aim of the study was the evaluation of the influence of cadmium on protein profile of flax varieties (Linum usitatissimum L.). Linola and Norlin explants were cultured on control medium Dorothy and with addition of 25 and 75 mg/l Cd(NO3)2. Extracts were separated on DEAE-Cellulose (20 mM Tris-HCl buffer, 0.2-1 M NaCl). Protein content was evaluated by measuring the absorbance at wavelengths 280 and 254 nm. Linola was characterized by proteins occurrence in fractions eluted by 0.4 and 0.6 M NaCl at 25 mg/l of Cd(NO3)2, at 75 mg/l and additionally by 0.3 M NaCl. Norlin showed response in the form of proteins appeared at 0.2, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 M NaCl gradient at 25 mg/l of cadmium, at higher concentration in fractions eluted by 0.2, 0.5 and 0.6 M NaCl. Electrophoretic analysis showed an increase in the protein bands intensity above 60 kDa and under 52 kDa in extracts from flax cultivated with Cd(NO3)2. Studies showed appearance of new proteins during stress condition. Streszczenie Celem badań była ocena wpływu kadmu na zmianę profili białkowych odmian lnu (Linum usitatissimum L.). Eksplantaty Linola i Norlin hodowano na podłożu kontrolnym Dorota oraz z dodatkiem 25 i 75 mg/l Cd(NO3)2. Ekstrakty rozdzielano na kolumnie DEAE-Celuloza (20 mM Tris-HCl bufor, gradient 0,2-1 M NaCl). Zawartość białek oceniano przez pomiar absorbancji przy długości fali 280 i 254 nm. Linola charakteryzowała się pojawieniem białek we frakcji wymywanej 0,4 i 0,6 M NaCl przy niższym stężeniu kadmu, natomiast przy 75 mg/l azotanu kadmu dodatkowo we frakcjach wymywanych 0,3 M NaCl. Norlin wykazała obecność białek we frakcjach wymywanych 0,2, 0,4, 0,5 i 0,6 M NaCl w obecności 25 mg/l Cd(NO3)2 w podłożu, przy większym stężenie kadmu pojawiły się białka we frakcjach wymywanych 0,2, 0,5 oraz 0,6 M NaCl. Analiza elektroforetyczna wykazała wzrost intensywności pasm białek w zakresie powyżej 60 kDa i poniżej 52 kDa pod wpływem kadmu w obu odmianach lnu. Przedstawione badania potwierdziły pojawienie się nowych białek w warunkach stresu kadmowego.
Grey Wolf Optimizer with Linear Collaborative Discriminant Regression Classification based Face Recognition

For the past few decades, biometric Face Recognition (FR) is the active research area in different domains such as image processing, pattern recognition, etc. The existing FR system has several limitations such as Single Sample Problem, maximum Reconstruction Errors (REs), these problems decreases the FR rate. In this research paper, an efficient FR method is proposed, namely Grey Wolf Optimizer based Linear Collaborative Discriminant Regression Classification (GWO-LCDRC). The optimization technique of GWO algorithm is applied in LCDRC to select the relevant weight value in LCDRC. For every training sample, optimal weight values are selected to improve the recognition rate. The proposed GWO-LCDRC method maximize the collaboration of Between Class RE (BCRE) and minimize the Within Class RE (WCRE). An experimental analysis conducted on the two standard facial databases namely ORL and YALE. The proposed GWO-LCDRC method improved the performance of recognition accuracy with respect to different training samples. Also, the performance is compared with the traditional methods Linear Regression Classification (LRC), Linear Discriminant Regression Classification (LDRC), and LCDRC. The overall experiment demonstrated that the proposed GWO-LCDRC method achieved approximately 3% and 6.5% of FR accuracy improvement with respect to ORL and YALE respectively.
Establishment of natural regeneration under severe browsing pressure from white-tailed deer after group seed-tree cutting with scarification on Anticosti Island

The use of large clearcuts with protection of advance regeneration is inappropriate for regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. ) under severe browsing from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann)). However, little is known about the effects of tree-retention methods along with scarification on the establishment of balsam fir in a context of severe herbivory. Consequently, we hypothesized that seed-tree-group cutting in conjunction with soil scarification creates favourable conditions for balsam fir regeneration. In 1998 and 1999 we set up three circular forest groups of different sizes (40, 60, and 80 m in diameter) surrounded by three different intensities of scarification (no treatment, single pass, double pass) in two balsam fir stands on Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. Moreover, we used a network of fenced and unfenced regeneration plots to evaluate the impact of white-tailed deer browsing. The results showed that up to 7 years after harvest, seed-tree-group cutting did .
The karyotype of Alstroemeria diluta Ehr. Bayer subsp. chrysantha (Alstroemeriaceae).

The karyotype of Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha Ehr. Bayer from Chile was examined. The species has 2n = 2x = 16 chromosomes, with 4m + 4sm + 2st-sat + 4t + 2t-sat. The reported karyotype is very asymmetrical (AsK % = 71.4 and Syi = 40.0%). This karyotype is similar to that published previously for Alstroemeria graminea Phil.
The Effect Of A Variable Percentage Of Limestone Filler On Some Mechanical Properties Of Self-Compacting Concrete

Ashtar S. Al-Luhybi Assistant Lecturer University of Mosul/College of Engineering/Civil Engg. Dept. Abstract The first aim of this experimental program is to produce and evaluate Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC); the second aim is to replace part of cement by predetermined percentages of limestone powder CaCo3 (LSP) to find out the effect of a variable percentage of LSP on some mechanical properties of SCC. The study also takes into account the difference between using the LSP as a replacement or as an additive of cement to the mix. Six concrete mixes were prepared. The first one was without LSP (0%), second, third and fourth ones contained LSP as percentage replacement of cement in the order of 20,30,40% respectively, fifth and sixth mixes contained 20,30% LSP but as an additive to the cement. Results showed that using LSP as replacement of cement led to the production of SCC. Using LSP as replacement also led to economical advantages due to the decrease in plasticizer content, with no noticeable differences in mechanical properties of SCC, but causing a fluidity increase of SCC when using LSP as an additive.
Labor Force Projections to 2018: Older Workers Staying More Active

As the baby-boom generation ages, the share of workers in the 55-years-and-older age group will increase dramatically; the participation rates of older workers in the labor force are expected to increase, but will remain significantly lower than those for the prime age group, and, as a result, the participation rate and overall labor force growth rate will decline Mitra Toossi Mitra Toossi is an economist in the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics. T he U.S. labor force is undergoing a gradual but significant change. Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, three major demographic trends—slowing growth, aging, and increasing diversity—led to changes that have had a considerable impact on the profile of the labor force in the United States and are projected to affect the workforce in the foreseeable future. Slowdown in the growth of the labor force. The high growth rate of the labor force from the 1970s to the 1990s has been replaced by a much slower growth since 2000. The slow growth rate of the labor force is expected to continue over the next decade. Aging of the labor force. With the aging of the baby-boom generation, defined as persons born between 1946 and 1964, the older age cohorts are expected to make up a much larger share of the labor force. In 2008, the baby-boom cohort was 44 to 62 years of age. By 2018, almost all the baby boomers will be in the 55-years-and-older age group. Age is a major factor in labor market behavior, and the aging of the labor force will dramatically lower the overall labor force participation rate and the growth of the labor force. Changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the labor force. As a result of higher population growth—stemming from an increased number of births and increased immigration—and high labor force participation rates by Hispanics and Asians, the share of the workforce held by minorities is expected to increase significantly. In addition to exploring these trends, this article describes the labor force projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the 2008–18 timeframe, for 136 demographic groups broken down by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. The dynamic factors that have led to changes in the composition of the workforce resulting from persons entering, leaving, or staying in the labor force also are highlighted. Finally, the article discusses the …
Reproductive Ecology of Pseudemys floridana and Trachemys scripta (Testudines: Emydidae) in Northwestern Florida

Abstract The Cooter, Pseudemys floridana, and the Pond Slider, Trachemys scripta, are two abundant freshwater turtles in the southeastern United States, but little is known of their reproductive ecology in northwestern Florida. I studied their nesting phenology and behavior, clutch size and frequency, rates of nest predation, and hatchling overwintering behavior from 2001–2003 at Lake Jackson, Leon County, Florida. Both species nested from mid-April to mid-July with peaks in May (47% of P. floridana and 55% of T. scripta nests). All 43 nests of P. floridana had a central chamber and two side holes. Nest predation on both species was high and may have been caused by a combination of artificial habitats (road-side and drift fences). Mammalian predators and imported red fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) destroyed all or part of 99 nests (98%; P. floridana, N = 30; T. scripta, N = 69) found at drift fences. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) destroyed eggs in all three chambers in 24 of 26 nests of P. floridana. Mean clutch size for P. floridana was 12.4 eggs and female size and clutch size were positively related. Mean clutch size for T. scripta was 6.6 eggs. There was a weak positive relationship between female size and clutch size of T. scripta. Some hatchling P. floridana and T. scripta emerged from mid-July to early October in the year of oviposition, whereas others remained in nests for up to 10 months and emerged from February to May in the following year. A review of published literature reveals that some reproductive traits, such as nesting season, that vary geographically in P. floridana do not vary substantially among populations of T. scripta. Geographic variation in some reproductive characteristics of P. floridana is apparently the result of a gradient in temperature whereas others (e.g., unique behavioral traits) may be adaptations to past or present regional conditions.