Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Automatic Method for Geometric Segmentation of Masonry Arch Bridges for Structural Engineering Purposes

Abstract. Despite the tremendous advantages of the laser scanning technology for the geometric characterization of built constructions, there are important limitations preventing more widespread implementation in the structural engineering domain. Even though the technology provides extensive and accurate information to perform structural assessment and health monitoring, many people are resistant to the technology due to the processing times involved. Thus, new methods that can automatically process LiDAR data and subsequently provide an automatic and organized interpretation are required. This paper presents a new method for fully automated point cloud segmentation of masonry arch bridges. The method efficiently creates segmented, spatially related and organized point clouds, which each contain the relevant geometric data for a particular component (pier, arch, spandrel wall, etc.) of the structure. The segmentation procedure comprises a heuristic approach for the separation of different vertical walls, and later image processing tools adapted to voxel structures allows the efficient segmentation of the main structural elements of the bridge. The proposed methodology provides the essential processed data required for structural assessment of masonry arch bridges based on geometric anomalies. The method is validated using a representative sample of masonry arch bridges in Spain.
Guide Me: A Research Work Area Recommender System

With the advent of Industrial Revolution, not only the choices in various fields increased but also the era of co mputer came into existence thereby revolutionizing the global market. People had numerous choices in front of them that often led to the confus ion about what product might actually fu lfill their requirements. So the need for having a system wh ich could facilitate the selection criteria and eradicate the dilemma of masses, was realized and ult imately recommender systems of present day world were introduced. So we can refer reco mmender systems as software tools that narrow down our choices and provide us with the most suitable suggestions as per our requirements. In this paper, we propose a novel recommender system i.e. RWARS (Research Work Area Reco mmender System) that will reco mmend research work area to a user based on his/her characteristics similar to those of other users. The characteristics considered here are hobbies, subjects of interests, programming skills and future objectives. The proposed system will use Cosine Similarity approach of Collaborative Filtering.
Lipopolysaccharide acts synergistically with the dengue virus to .1.1

j Background: Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) has been shown to be an important mediator of vascular leak in acute dengue. Antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) and microbial translocation has also shown to contribute to severe dengue. Since monocytes are one of the primary targets of the dengue virus (DENV) we sought to investigate if monocytes were a source of PAF, and die effect of ADE and microbial endotoxin (LPS) on; DENV infected i ' f ^ monocytes. Methods:! PAF and cytokine levels were evaluated in serial blood samples’ in patients with I S-v J i . v acute dengue infection. The effect of ADE and LPS in production of PAF and cytokines from i ■ ( DENV infected primary human monocytes derived macrophages (MDM0) was assessed. I . A' 7 Gene expression analysis was undertaken to investigate* mechanisms by which LPS potentiates PAF and cytokine production by DENV infected MDM0. Results:; Serum PAF levels significantly correlated with both TNF-a (p<0.0001) and IL-l|i (p<0.0001) in patients with acute DENV infection. Although primary human MDM0 produced inflammatory cytokines following infection with the DENV, they did not produce PAF following in vitro DENV infection alone, or in the presence of dengue immune serum. Levels of PAF produced by DENV infected MDM0 co-cultured with LPS was significantly higher ithan uninfected MDM0S co-cultured with LPS. Although TLR-4 was upregulated in uninfected MDM0S co-cultured with LPS, this upregulation was not significant in DENV infected MDM0. Only expression of R1G-I was significantly up regulated (p<0.05) when DENV infected MDM0 were co-cultured with LPS. 1 . r i j Conclusion: LPS acts synergistically with the DENV to induce production of PAF and other f j inflammatory cytokines, which suggests that microbial translocation that has shown to occur in acute dengue, could contribute to dengue disease severity. i I
Network Centrality and Public Service Motivation: The Medium of Organizational Commitment

Based on social network theory, this paper studies the mechanism of betweenness centrality on public service motivation and how this influence is mediated by organizational commitment. The theory of public service motivation, as a product of the crisis of Western social government, has attracted a lot of academic interest because of its completely different ideas. In the subsequent development, it has become a parallel with Weber's bureaucratic theory, representative bureaucracy, and public choice theory. One of the four theoretical schools that describe bureaucratic behavior. As an emerging topic in the field of public management research, in-depth study of public service motivation not only helps to select a qualified civil service, but also helps to better improve public service motivation in the public sector and accelerate service-oriented government construction pace. Through a questionnaire survey of 206 public sector members, the empirical analysis shows that the higher the betweenness are, the more motivated individuals are. In addition, the organization promises to play an intermediary role between the betweenness centrality and public service motivation. The article's research conclusions, from the point of view of social network theory, enrich the angle and strength of interpretation of public service motivation, and also provide new ideas for the future public sector to further enhance the public service motivation of the organization members. Keywords: public service motivation, betweenness centrality, organizational commitment
Unsteady MHD Convective Heat And Mass Transfer Past An Infinite Vertical Plate Embedded In A Porous Medium With Radiation And Chemical Reaction Under The Influence Of Dufour And Soret Effects

A two-dimensional unsteady MHD free convective heat and mass transfer flow past a semi-infinite vertical porous plate in a porous medium in presence of thermal radiation and chemical reaction has been studied numerically including the Dufour and Soret effects. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations have been reduced to the coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations by the similarity transformations. The resulting equations are then solved numerically using shooting method along with Runge-Kutta fourth order integration scheme. The numerical results are displayed graphically showing the effects of various parameters entering into the problem. Finally, the local values of the skin-friction coefficient, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also shown in tabular form.
Aerial parts of cassava as partial replacement for feed concentrates in the diet of lambs raised in semi-confinement

This study aimed to evaluate the performance and economic viability of including the aerial parts of cassava (PAM) in the feed of semi-confined lambs for partial reduction of food concentrates. Fifty-six sheep, including males and females of the Pantaneira genetic group weighing 18.84 ± 2.02 kg on an average were used. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized complete block design with four treatments, each with seven females and seven males. Each group of 14 animals received one of four treatments: control, 10% of food concentrate in diet replaced with PAM, 20% replaced with PAM, and 30% replaced with PAM. The average total gain in weight (GWT) of the male lambs was 26.89% higher than the gains observed in females. Based on the cost analysis, we observed a linear effect (P < 0.01), i.e., a decrease in the feed cost for male and female groups with increase in PAM content. For the study period, the expenditure for the control male group was the highest at $ 17.60 per animal. Expenditure for the PAM 30 male group was the lowest at $ 12.74 per animal. These figures reflect the actual operating costs (COE), i.e., the power is 75.78% and 74.77%, for male and female groups respectively. The total cost, decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with PAM 30 treatment costing the least at $ 47.90, which was $ 7.02 lower than the control. When assessing the net margin per kilogram among the female groups, we observed a quadratic effect (P < 0.01) with a maximum gain of 23.98% when adding PAM and $ 0.50 kg-1. Our results show that the raising of lambs in semi-confinement was economically viable, and the addition of the aerial part of processed cassava in the feed presented a higher economic return. Further, the addition of aerial parts of cassava did not affect the performance of the lambs.
Fabrication of floor cleaner using Wi-Fi module

There are a number of machines available now for floor cleaning. In that many, used for a specific purpose like mopping, vacuum cleaning and combination of both. But all these are operated manually with the help of humans. Nowadays, the technology has developed a lot and a new invention has come to overcome the existing model. Earlier, the moping and vacuum cleaner are combined with a single machine for cleaning the floor. This machine was big and operated manually with human with the continuous movement. But in this project, the movement with the machine was stopped and operated using Wi-Fi signal. With the help of circuit connections, this model was developed in a compact manner for floor cleaning. This floor cleaning machine was designed simply and can be handled very easily by everyone. This helps the people to clean the floor easily in every part of the area by sitting in a place. Here we used Arduino mega 2560 for controlling the working of this machine.
Improving our practice as mathematics teacher educators through teaching research

Due to the lack of a well-defined knowledge base for teaching elementary pre-service teachers (PSTs), mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) are often left to make their own judgments about the proper scope and sequence of topics for mathematics content courses for PSTs (National Research Council, 1996; Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education, 2010). Berk and Hiebert (2009) proposed the Continuous Improvement model for “systematically improving the mathematics preparation of elementary teachers, one lesson at a time” (p. 337). This process, in addition to helping the field build a knowledge base for elementary teacher mathematics education, also allows MTEs to become reflective practitioners of teacher education (Thanheiser et al, 2016). Moreover, most university-based MTEs, whether their preparation was in mathematics or mathematics education, did not have the opportunity to study and develop the practice of mathematics teacher education (Nicol, 1997; Heaton, 2000; Crespo & Speer, 2004). This issue has not been ddressed until recently. Thus, MTEs can feel unprepared and unsupported to take on the work of pre-service teacher preparation, especially in a new context. The project described in this paper grew out of a similar experience: all the authors of this paper, while experienced in (and in some cases, scholars of) teacher education, struggled without support to understand the challenges of pre-service teacher education in a new institution. By adapting the Continuous Improvement framework (Berk & Hiebert, 2009), we implemented a form of lesson study that helped us develop our understandings of elementary PSTs’ thinking and improve the curriculum of our elementary pre-service teacher courses. In this paper, specifically, we illustrate part of the project by describing an example of several iterations of a single mathematics lesson over serval semesters. One goal in presenting this example to share our experience with other teacher educators by showing how conducting the Continuous Improvement process helped us develop our knowledge of PSTs’ mathematical thinking. A second goal is to reflect on how the process helps us, as mathematics teacher educators, to develop tasks that support PSTs’ learning. The lesson we describe comes from the second course in a sequence of two mathematics content courses for pre-service elementary teachers. The second course focuses on algebra, geometry, statistics and probability. In particular, the lesson we will discuss in this paper is similarity. We chose similarity as one of the topics to be one of our research lessons because existing research documented that middle school students in the U.S. struggle with similarity (Masters, 2010; Seago et al, 2013). Starting
Serbian Wordnet for biomedical sciences

Wordnet is a lexical semantic network having as nodes the sets of synonymous word (synsets) which are linked by various semantic relations. The first Wordnet built was the so-called Princeton Wordnet consisting today of approximately 140,000 synsets. Due to its remarkable size and successful inclusion in various computer-based applications it is considered as a de facto standard. In this paper we present the new electronic information resource Serbian Wordnet (SWN) and its initial development. Serbian Wordnet is based on the same principles as Princeton Wordnet (PWN), which means that it has not only inherited its basic structure but also the additional information associated to PWN. The development of Serbian Wordnet started with Balkanet project which was funded by European Commission from (2001-2004). The main goal of the project was development of wordnets for the Balkan languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Romanian, Serbian, Turkish and Czech and their alignment with PWN. The development of Serbian Wordnet continues after Balkanet with its enhancement in various domains. We describe how various traditional and Internet resources are being used for the enhancement of SWN in domain of biomedicine and how we see the possible practical usage of SWN in information retrieval this domain.
Classical and Robust Forward Selection: A Simulation Study and Real Data Application

In order to use any method as a model selection algorithm, it is needed to check the adequacy and stability of a model selected by the algorithm. Adequacy of a robust model was not checked by giving outliers in various ways. In this paper, several contamination cases have been introduced to check the adequacy of the robust model selected by robust forward selection (RFS). In each of the contamination case, the performance of RFS has been compared to standard forward selection (FS) through a simulation study. The adequacy and stability of the robust model has also been checked through a real data application. Based on simulation study and real data application, RFS has much better performance compared to standard FS.
Clarifying problems in behavioural control: Interface, lateness and consciousness

The target paper highlights a number of unresolved issues that, I believe, continue to impede the construction of a viable model of behavioural control in personality psychology; namely, (a) the relationship between controlled and automatic processing (the ‘interface’ problem') and (b) the time it takes for controlled processes, including consciousness, to be generated (the ‘lateness’ problem). The diversity of views expressed in the commentatories indicates that these are, indeed, real and unresolved problems. This response is structured around the following key questions. (1) How long‐term goal planning interfaces with the automatic machinery of behaviour? (2) The extent of the impact of the ‘lateness’ of controlled (including conscious) processes for building models of behavioural control? (3) How best to characterise the personality traits associated with the FFFS, BIS and BAS? (4) How does the BIS control mismatch detection, the generation of error signals, and response inhibition and switching? (5) Is consciousness really a necessary explanatory construct in models of behavioural control? (6) Might neural ‘crosstalk’ of encapsulated action‐goal response systems point to the functional significance of consciousness? (7) What are the implications of issues raised in the target paper for lexical and social‐cognitive approaches to personality? I conclude by re‐iterating the importance of the problems of ‘lateness’ and ‘interface’ for the construction of a viable model of behavioural control sufficient for the fostering of theoretical integration within personality psychology as well as affording the building of conceptual bridges with general psychology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling and Simulation Based on the Hybrid System of Leasing Equipment Optimal Allocation

Modeling of the hybrid system of leasing equipment optimal allocation and its optimal control methods are put forward based on the hybrid characteristics of succession and dispersion. After studying equipment unit’s hybrid automata model (the hybrid and basic structure), the hybrid system facing manufacture demand can be considered as the synthesis of some hybrid and basic structures, which efficiently avoid combination explosion of models due to the increase of systematic scale. On this basis, we study the hybrid and optimal control methods that meet the demand for some equipment and achieve the usage rate maximization. Following that, calculating methods of performance optimization and simulation are put forward based on the first- and second-order subsection linear model. At last, we also have made the numerical simulating calculation on the equipment’s optimal matching of some leasing company.
Epigenetics Evolution and Replacement Histones: Evolutionary Changes at Drosophila H3.3A and H3.3B

Histone modification and replacement in variant histones result in nucleosome remodeling and play an important role in epigenetics. The evolutionary mechanism of epigenetics was investigated by analysing the variant histone 3 genes, H3.3A and H3.3B, in 12 Drosophila species. A U11-48K-like gene coding for a zinc finger domain was located in the region upstream of the H3.3A gene in all Drosophila species studied. The U11-48K-like and H3.3A genes may be co-regulated, as is the case for the H3-H4 gene pair. However, no strongly conserved nucleotide sequence was found in the 5`- regions of the two genes. Various combinations of gene pairs were found upstream or downstream of the H3.3B gene but none were conserved amongst a broad range of Drosophila species. Moderately conserved DNA sequences were found in the H3.3B gene regions around the first intron and outside the coding region of the fifth exon, but DNA sequences in the upstream or downstream regions of the H3.3B genes were not strongly conserved. Different codon usages for three H3 genes (H3, H3.3A and H3.3B) were found for 13 of 18 amino acids and codon usages characteristic of replacement histones (H4r, H3.3A and H3.3B) were found for several amino acids. Several histone modification sites in H3, H3.3A and H3.3B showed extraordinarily biased codon usages. These results suggested the importance of the translational step for histone modification and for the development of epigenetic systems.
Strategic management accounting practices and value creation: towards good governance and accountability in government linked companies

Government Linked Companies serve as the backbone of Malaysia’s economy by contributing to 35 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing more than 270,000 employees.By definition, Government Linked Companies are government business entities that are privatized and are major shareholders as well as provide services deemed as a social responsibility to the public.As such, Government Linked Companies need to demonstrate good governance and a high level of accountability in order to achieve these objectives. This research paper aims at examine the relationship between strategic management accounting practices and value creation in the context of Malaysian Government Linked Companies. Based on questionnaires from 125 respondents drawn from Government Linked Companies, the findings showed a significant positive relationship between strategic management accounting practices and value creation. Thus, certain types of strategic management techniques have become the focus of a majority of the research carried out.Nevertheless, one important element, which is the relationship between strategic management accounting practices and value creation, has not been studied much. The company’s top management and management accountants have been urged to re-evaluate the emerging role of strategic management accounting in establishing firm value based on the practical guidance provided by this study. Moreover, this paper has enriched the pertinent literature and provided an assessment of strategic management accounting and value creation for researchers and practitioners.
Implications of tourism development on islets: Ilot Bernaches, Mauritius, as a destination management case study

Many islands promote their destinations by including islets that surround them. Conscious of the competitive tourism market, the move is based on the need for tourism diversification. Islets are endowed with unique flora and fauna, and when included in the tourism package, islets receive considerable prominence in the gaze of tourists looking for authentic experiences. Mauritius Island has not lagged behind in adopting this trend. Studies show that islets surrounding Mauritius are major tourism assets, but these seem to have received insufficient attention in tourism studies. The current study uses Jordan’s core-periphery model to investigate Ilot Bernaches, one of the popular islets of Mauritius. The uniqueness of this study is two-fold: first, it seeks to investigate implications of tourism development at Ilot Bernaches, and second, it makes a case for setting up an islet management authority. The research design is based on a mixed methodology. The major findings reveal that Ilot Bernaches has potential to diversify the existing tourism product and adds value to the Mauritian tourism product. The study discusses destination management implications, makes recommendations regarding tourism development at Ilot Bernaches, and sets the groundwork for further studies of islets in tourism. It is recommended that an islet management authority be established to help cope with core-periphery tensions.
Efficacy of SCoT and ISSR markers in assessment of genetic diversity in some Iranian pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars

Background: Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers were used to appraisegenetic diversity existed in 20 samples of four Iranian pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars and relative efficiencies of themarker systems were compared.Materials and Methods: 20 and 15 primers were used in SCoT and ISSR markers, respectively. Effective Multiplex Ratio(EMR), Marker Index (MI), Resolving Power (RP) and Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of the primers were assessedfor the two marker systems. Cluster analysis for molecular data was performed. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) wasdone too.Results: The most of the parameters examined were found to be more suitable in ISSR system. The most remarkable resultof the current research is that cluster analysis on SCoT and ISSR data clearly discriminated the cultivars in terms of theirgenetic characterizations. There was a high similarity between dendrogram derived from ISSR marker and dendrogramderived from both markers, in spite of some observed differences.Conclusions: It is shown in the current research that there is remarkable genetic diversity among evaluated samples. SCoTand ISSR analysis produces adequate polymorphisms for DNA fingerprinting. This research reports the first application of theSCoT marker in characterization of Iranian pistachio cultivars.