Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Interactive Approach to Analyzing Incomplete Multivariate Data.

ABSTRACT This paper examines some of the problems that arise when conducting multivariate analyses with incomplete data. The literature on the effectiveness of several missing data procedures (MDP) is summarized. The most widely used MDPs are: (1) listwise deletion; (2) pairwise deletion; (3) variable mean; (4) correlational methods. No MDP should be used without considering the characteristics of the data at hand, even though the literature may support one MDP. An application of these MDPs was demonstrated using college placement data taken from a published article on predicting success in foreign language training. The data included 12 variables (10 predictors and 2 criteria) for 279 college students. Descriptive statistics were produced by listwise and pairwise deletions, and missing predictor values were imputed. Missing data indicator variables_were created_to indicate the presence or absence of values on each of the original variables. The matrix of correlations between the indicator variables and the original variables appears in Table 3. The primary analysis involved the use of stepwise regression equations based on three alternative MDPs. The conclusion is made that regardless of the MDP selected, it is important to first determine the properties of the missing values, and second to decide which MDP is most appropriate. (BAE)
Torque Prediction Based on Evoked EMG in Fatiguing Muscle Toward Advanced Drop Foot Correction

Electrical stimulation (ES) has been applied since 1961 for the correction of hemiplegic drop foot. One main drawback of the technique is the occurrence of early fatigue. Therefore, it is essential to predict force generation for precise ES closed loop control when the stimulated muscle becomes fatigued. This work aims to predict ankle torque using stimulus evoked EMG (eEMG) during different muscle fatigue states. Five healthy subjects participated in our study. Conventional stimulation for drop foot correction was applied by surface stimulation in sitting position. The results showed that during long-term stimulation the generated torque gradually declined due to muscle fatigue, the muscle activity (EMG) performed quite differently in different fatigue level. In this work, we carried out the torque prediction with an adapted parameters model according to muscle fatigue state by reidentification using the latest measurement. The prediction was improved with 21%~90.9% comparing to the fixed parameters model. The results revealed a promising approach to use evoked EMG for fatigue compensation in the application of drop foot correction.
An Introduction to the London Charter

While 3-dimensional visualisation methods are now employed in a wide range of humanities contexts to assist in the research, communication and preservation of cultural heritage, it is increasingly recognized that, to ensure that such work is intellectually and technically rigorous, and for its potential to be realised, there is a need both to establish standards responsive to the particular properties of 3D visualisation, and to identify those that it should share with other methods. Numerous articles, documents, including the AHDS Guides to Good Practice for CAD (2002) and for Virtual Reality (2002) and initiatives, including the Virtual Archaeology Special Interest Group (VASIG) and the Cultural Virtual Reality Organisation (CVRO) have underlined the importance of ensuring that 3D visualisation methods are applied with scholarly rigour, and that the outcomes of visualisation-inclusive research should accurately convey to users the status of the knowledge that they represent. There remains, however, a significant gap between theory and practice. Last February, therefore, as part of an AHRC-funded project, King’s Visualisation Lab, King’s College London, convened a Symposium, jointly sponsored by the AHRC ICT Methods Network and the EU Framework 6 Network of Excellence, EPOCH (Excellence in Processing Open Cultural Heritage), during which over 50 international delegates debated approaches to the issue of “transparency”. A smaller expert group then debated a discussion document on which the first draft of The London Charter for the use of 3dimensional visualisation in the research and communication of cultural heritage was subsequently based. “Cultural heritage” domains here encompass museums, art galleries, heritage sites, interpretative centres, cultural heritage research institutes, arts and humanities subjects within higher education institutions, the broader educational sector, and tourism. It is hoped that the Charter, currently in its first draft and being discussed by an international panel of experts, may be adopted as an EU and international benchmark. The Charter aims to define the fundamental objectives and principles of the use of 3D visualisation methods in relation to intellectual integrity, reliability, transparency, documentation, standards, sustainability and access. It does not aim to prescribe specific aims or methods, but rather to establish those broad principles for the use, in research and communication of cultural heritage, of 3D visualisation upon which the intellectual integrity of such methods and outcomes depend. The Charter attempts to establish principles that are sufficiently focussed to have an impact, but sufficiently abstract to remain current as methods and technologies evolve. Therefore, up-to-date guideline documents with specific recommendations about, e.g. technologies, standards, and methodologies, will be needed at subject community level. Categories and Subject Description: H.3. 7: Standards
Sampling Method for Welding Fumes and Toxic Gases in Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

In 2009 there were 28,840 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia which represented 94.2 % of the total establishments in the manufacturing sector. Job tasks in manufacturing sectors above all involve welding processes. The issues in SMEs mainly resolve around poor working conditions contributing to worker’s safety and health problem. Welding fumes and toxic gas assessment in SMEs welding workplace is essential in order to ensure the minimum level of exposure is maintained as required by the prevailing standards. This paper outlines the methodology for fumes and toxic gas sampling by taking into account analytical method currently available for analysis in the government accredited laboratory. The proposed methods are divided into two; the pilot test and the actual measurement. Standardize sampling method using sampling pump along with direct reading measurement are consider in both the pilot test and actual measurement. The proposed sampling method hopefully will benefit researcher, stakeholders or SMEs by giving guidance on the suitable method for welding workplace assessment.
Axial vibration analysis of cracked nanorods with arbitrary boundary conditions

The axial vibration of cracked nanorods (carbon nanotubes) with arbitrary boundary conditions is studied. The nonlocal elasticity theory is used, and the crack severity is modeled by an axial spring representing the discontinuity in the axial displacement. The present model is set up by dividing the nanorod into two segments connected by an axial spring located at the cracked section. The axial displacement functions are sought as the combination of two Fourier sine series and Stokes’ transformation. Vibration frequencies of a nanorod for variant crack positions under different boundary conditions are calculated by means of the proposed method. The purpose of this study is mainly to present a general analytical method for the dynamical analysis of cracked nanorods with arbitrary boundary conditions (rigid or restrained) rather than to investigate a specific problem.
A theoretical framework for evolutionary economic geography: industrial dynamics and urban growth as a branching process

We propose a framework that specifies the process of economic development as an evolutionary branching process of product innovations. Each product innovation provides a growth opportunity for an existing firm or a new firm, and for an existing city or a new city. One can then obtain both firm size and city size distributions as two aggregates resulting from a single evolutionary process. Gains from variety at the firm level (economies of scope) and the urban level (Jacobs externalities) provide the central feedback mechanism in economic development generating strong path dependencies in the spatial concentration of industries and the specialisation of cities. Gains from size are also expected, yet these are ultimately bounded by increasing wages. The contribution of our framework lies in providing a micro-foundation of economic geography in terms of the interplay between industrial dynamics and urban growth. The framework is sufficiently general to investigate systematically a number of stylised facts in economic geography, while at the same time it is sufficiently flexible to be extended such as to become applicable in more specific micro-contexts. A number of extensions related to the concepts of knowledge spillover and lock-in, are also discussed.
B3-Graphs and its application

In this paper, we construct a class of planar graphs with m, n and p vertices of degree 3, 4 and 2 respectively and then investigate various properties relating to domination number and block graph. An application of chemical substances has been put forwarded through the 3regular and 3-coloring properties. Finally, a new class of graphs which is n-colorable has been constructed from the planar graph and some theoretical properties have been studied. AMS SUB classification: 05C30, 05C45
New models of inclusive innovation for development

This special issue of Innovation and Development focuses on inclusive innovation; specifically on analysis of the new models of this form of innovation which are emerging. After discussing the growing need for research into those models, this editorial paper interrogates the meaning of ‘inclusive innovation’ and what it means to understand inclusive innovation in terms of models. The editorial then outlines the contribution of the papers that make up this special issue before drawing out some lessons for inclusive innovation policy and practice, and discussing future research priorities.
The Effects of the Fair Value Option under IAS 40 on the Volatility of Earnings

The study examines the effects of applying fair value accounting under IAS 40 on the volatility of earnings. It studies how the addition of unrealized gains and losses in the income statement might affect the incremental explanatory power of earnings. The study covers the period of 2002-2009 and the data collected from the Jordanian Shareholding Companies listed on Amman Stock Exchange. In this study the valuation model of Ohlson (1995) and the technique of Theil (1971) have been utilized. The results point out that unrealized gains and losses affect the net income and the results of cross-sectional regression indicate that net income and book values jointly and individually are positively and significantly related to stock prices. The incremental information of net income is greater than that of book values and the addition of unrealized gain in income increases the explanatory power of the model.
Georgian prison torture videos and their socio-political consequences

Prison torture videos disseminated in Georgia in September 2012 were significant to Georgian people, because they uncovered negligence of officials and abuse of basic human rights of protection. People protested the system, which was unable to prevent the violence, and moreover, was implementer of brutal harassment of inmates. Immediate protest rallies were scheduled online, without any political leader. Social media and primarily Facebook served as the platform for expressing indignation stimulated by the case. Young Georgians were active and uncompromising, being on the foreground of the events. I decided to study the impact of the videos and its online exposure, and gain deeper insight regarding the influence of social media on political attitudes and engagement on young Georgians. By monitoring and analyzing Facebook groups created in response to violent footages, as well as Youtube comments to the videos and nine semi-structured interviews, this study examines the capacity of the case to alter political position and activism of young Georgians, while addressing their motivations for political activism.
FFT-Adsorptive Voltammetric Technique for Pico-Level Determination of Tetracycline in Capsules at an Au Microelectrode in Flowing Solutions

This study illustrates a novel method for fast monitoring of tetracycline in flow-injection systems. The fast Fourier transformation, along with continuous cyclic voltammetry (FFTCV) at a goldmicroelectrode in a flowing solution system, was usedfor the d of tetracycline in its pharmaceutical formulation. The benefit of the developed technique is that it is simple, precise, accurate, time-saving, andeconomical comparedto all of the previously reportedmethod s. The effects of various parameters on the sensitivity of the methodwere investigated . Three considerable advantages are demonstrated by this method, which other methods do not possess. Firstly, there is no requirement for oxygen removal from the test solution; secondly, a picomolar detection limit is gained; and, finally, rapid determination of any such compound in a broad range of chromatographic methods. As a result, the methodwas foundto be linear over the concentration range of 16-440 pg/mL (r = 0.9962), with a limit of detection and quantitation of 4.5 and 16 pg/mL, respec- tively. Furthermore, the technique shows the requisite accuracy, sensitivity, precision, andselectivity to assay tetracycline in capsules.
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Screening of some Plant Derived Medicine to Treat Dysmenorrheal Pain by the Rajbanshi Community

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is a sort of painful menstrual disorder. Several plants like Allium sativum L. , Areca catechu L. , Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Crinum amoenum Ker Gawl. Ex Roxb, Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Nymphaea rubra Roxb. Ex Andrews, Piper nigrum L. , Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck were used in appropriate ratio to make herbal formulation to cure dysmenorrheal pain by the traditional healers of Rajbanshi community. Objective: By semi-structured questionnaires in the course of scheduled interviews with the local herbal practitioners, four herbal formulations (coded as DYS1, DYS2, DYS3 and DYS4) were recorded. Pharmacognostic characterization was carried out for the authentication of the powder drugs which includes powder microscopy, fluorescence analysis and physicochemical evaluation. The presence of any therapeutic potential in DYS1, DYS2, DYS3 and DYS4 was determined by qualitative evaluation of phytochemicals of various successive solvent extracts based on their polarity. Thin layer chromatography was performed for screening various phyto-active compounds like arbutin, alkaloids, coumarins, cardiac glycoside, etc. Results: Powder microscopy revealed the presence of calcium oxalate crystal, stone cells etc. Various fluorescence colors were exhibited by these herbal drugs under UV after reacting with chemical reagents. Physical analyses values were also obtained in a satisfactory way. TLC and qualitative phytochemical analysis showed the presence of active phytoconstituents like arbutin, alkaloids, coumarins, cardiac glycoside etc. Conclusion: The results support the use of plants as a traditional medicine for the prevention disorders like Dysmenorrhea. Further evaluation is required for determining the efficacy of those herbal drugs and the active phytoconstituents involved in Dysmenorrheal therapy.
Dynamic Compaction Vibration Monitoring in a Saturated Site

Dynamic Compaction is a well established ground improvement technique in which a heavy pounder is dropped from a significant height to improve the soil’s mechanical properties. The pounder impact creates waves that compact the soil; however these waves may also be a nuisance to and damage neighbouring structures and facilities. Peak particle velocity (PPV) has been identified as the most suitable parameter for assessing vibration associated risks. Previous researchers have proposed a number different equations for predicting PPV. Dynamic Compaction has recently been used for soil improvement in Oman’s Blue City Project. Particle velocities and vibration frequencies in three directions have been monitored at several distances during the different phases of ground treatment. In all phases PPV has been recorded to be in the radial direction. It has been observed that although it appears that vibration frequency is not influenced by the deep compaction phase, does increase with the progression of work and application of later phases of Dynamic Compaction. This increase is more pronounced at farther distances, but becomes negligible when impact point is closer than a critical distance.
Participation in export markets and the role of R&D: establishment-level evidence from the UK Community Innovation Survey 2005

There is a strong expectation in the literature that exporting and innovation activities (particularly R&D) are strongly related, and that the need to be innovative is increasing over time due to globalization. In this study, we find that R&D is endogenous in a model that determines which British establishments enter export markets, and when such simultaneity is taken into account the strength of the export–innovation relationship is generally quite weak (especially in the nonmanufacturing sector). Rather, we find that the size of establishments and firms, foreign ownership, the extent of international co-operation and, most importantly, the industry sector to which the establishment belongs, are the most significant in explaining which establishments are able to overcome entry barriers into overseas markets.
Effective International Knowledge Exchange to Rehabilitate Rivers in Urban Delta’s with RDM approach

In coastal and low-lying vulnerable delta cities, such as the Rotterdam Metropolitan region and Metropolitan Manila, there has been an increase in vulnerability of urban flooding and water quality problems. New approaches address the current and future effects of climate change and increase urban quality, reduce vulnerability and increase water quality. New arrangements for international cooperation are set up in order to address these problems in the project ‘IWASTO’ (‘to correct and to prevent’) where several organisations from the Philippines and The Netherlands join forces to rehabilitate rivers and introduce new innovations for water quality monitoring and waste collection using the ‘Research Design and Manufacaturing (RDM)’ approach. One of the concrete results from this RDM approach in 2016 is the development and implementation of the ‘Longganisa’, a waste collection tool that was designed by a Dutch- Philippine team. In addition, the waterquality was measured and mapped with innovating methods using apps in order to locate and prioritize highly polluted areas. In the near future measures will be implemented to rehabilitate the rivers in Manila and a knowledge exchange forum will be set up to share the best management practices on international scale in countries as Indonesia, India and China.
Evaluating Project Characteristics for Selecting the Best-fit Agile Evaluating Project Characteristics for Selecting the Best-fit Agile Software Development Methodology: A Teaching Case Software Development Methodology: A Teaching Case

Agile methods have attracted significant attention in the industry as an approach for software development and IT project management due to fast-changing business environments, cost, and competitive pressures. Choosing the right approach among various agile development models, however, is a complex, multi-criteria decision that can have significant implications on project success. In this article, we present a teaching case designed to help Information Systems students improve their skills in understanding and evaluating complex business requirements and in selecting the most appropriate software development methodology to match the needs of a specific IT project, and the organization. The teaching case includes a comparative overview of various agile methodologies, as well as the use of multi-criteria decision tools for solving the problem of methodology selection.
A Methodical Approach to Design and Valuation of Weather Derivatives in Agriculture

The paper deals with weather derivatives as the potentially effective risk management tool for agricultural enterprises seeking to mitigate their income exposure to variations in weather conditions. Design and valuation of the weather derivatives is an interdisciplinary approach covering agrometeorology, statistics, mathematical modeling, and financial and risk management. This paper first offers an overview of data sources and then methods of design and valuation of weather derivatives at the regional level. The accompanied case study focuses on cultivation of cereals (wheat and barley) in the Czech Republic. However, its generalizability is straightforward. The analysis of key growing phases of cereals is based on regression analysis using weather indices as the independent variables and crop yields as dependent variables. With the bootstrap tool, the burn analysis is considered as useful tool for estimating uncertainty about the payoff, option price, and statistics of probability distribution of revenues. The results show that the spatial and production basis risks reduce the efficiency of the weather derivatives. Finally, the potential for expansion of weather derivatives remains in the low income countries of Africa and Asia with systemic weather risk.
Media coverage of climate change: An international comparison

We present an international comparison of broadsheet newspaper coverage of climate change. We employ two complementary theoretical lenses, multiple streams theory and institutional theory, to explore why climate change has become headline news in some countries but has received comparatively little coverage in others. The study utilises a worldwide sample across 41 different countries for the year 2008, covering 113 leading national broadsheet newspapers. A cross-sectional regression model is used to identify whether and how a range of contextual factors impact coverage of climate change. To a certain extent, a country’s direct exposure to climate change and the measures that have been taken to combat global warming influence the position of climate change on the media agenda. Crucially, however, we identify a number of contextual factors that impact climate change-related media coverage in different national contexts. In particular, we find a significantly positive relationship between regulatory quality and levels of media coverage. At the same time, unemployment trends are significantly negatively related to media attention to climate change. Gross domestic product per capita does not help to explain levels of climate change-related media coverage. In other words, climate change appears to have moved beyond simply being a ‘rich country issue’.