Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE PROBLEMS OF POLISH AND COLOMBIAN IMMIGRANTS EXPERIENCED DURING THE PROCESS OF THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-CULTURAL ADAPTATION TO THE HOST CULTURE IN USA

The cultural aspects of the problems of immigrants in the new country have gained much attention of acculturation researchers in the recent decade. This study analyzes the psychological and social adaptation issues of immigrants to the United States. The study focused its analysis towards Polish and Colombian immigrants. The conceptual framework of the study was based on Berry’s acculturation strategies and Ward’s dimensions of acculturation. The study employed a qualitative research design. Primary data collection instrument of the study was semi-structured interviews. There were 136 research participants living in Diocese of Paterson, New Jeresy with sixty eight from Polish origin and sixty eight from Colombian origin. The sampling method used was snowball sampling. The purpose was to investigate their problems from psychological perspectives as well as socio-cultural perspectives. The researcher analyzed the issues in the light of four acculturation strategies of assimilation, separation, integration, and marginalization. The researcher also analyzed the issues using the variables of psychological adaptation and socio-cultural adaptation. For psychological adaptation, the variables used were coping styles, life changes, social support, and personality. For socio-cultural adaptation, the variables used were length of stay, language fluency, and interaction with local people. There were some significant patterns found in the study. Participants who immigrated by choice were inclined towards assimilation, while those immigrated forcefully were inclined towards separation. Language proficiency in English was found as the biggest barrier in the acculturation process. The social support was positive if the cause of immigration was to join the family in the new country. It was negative if the cause of the immigration was better prospects. Families treated the immigrants as ignorant to the family and people also labeled them as unpatriotic. Time also plays an important role and the problems of acculturation reduce when the length of stay increases. Mixed trends were found in interaction with local people. Polish participants described their interactions as positive, while Colombian participants had concerns about it. Social policy implications of the research include measures in mental health and education.
A Mathematical Modeling to Predict the Cutting Forces in Microdrilling

In microdrilling, because of lower feed, the microdrill cutting edge radius is comparable to the chip thickness. The cutting edges therefore should be regarded as rounded edges, which results in a more complex cutting mechanism. Because of this, the macrodrilling thrust modeling is not suitable for microdrilling. In this paper, a mathematical modeling to predict microdrilling thrust is developed, and the geometric characteristics of microdrill were considered in force models. The thrust is modeled in three parts: major cutting edges, secondary cutting edge, and indentation zone. Based on slip-line field theory, the major cutting edges and secondary cutting edge are divided into elements, and the elemental forces are determined by an oblique cutting model and an orthogonal model, respectively. The thrust modeling of the major cutting edges and second cutting edge includes two different kinds of processes: shearing and ploughing. The indentation zone is modeled as a rigid wedge. The force model is verified by comparing the predicted forces and the measured cutting forces.
Region Growing Image Segmentation for Newborn Brain MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used to assess brain growth and development in infants. Such studies are based on quantitative analysis of anatomical segmentation of brain MRI images. However, the large changes in the brain shape and appearance associated with development, the lower signal-to-noise ratio and partial volume effects in the newborn brain are the present challenges for accurate segmentation of newborn MRI data. This system provides a framework for accurate intensity based segmentation of newborn brain using region growing algorithm.
Disruptive Innovation from China : Antecedents and Implications

A growing recognition of the importance of disruptive innovation has led researchers to examine the question of how disruptive innovation comes about and to what extent it reflects “discovery” versus “creation” of opportunities. Earlier research has focused on the organisational preconditions for disruptive innovation to arise. Much less attention has been paid to the role of innovation processes, including their goals and design, in promoting disruptive innovation. In this paper we aim to begin to fill this gap by better understanding how new innovation processes can act as antecedents for disruptive innovation. We adopt an inductive theory-building methodology using a set of case studies of Chinese firms to develop propositions about how novel R&D and production processes can foster disruptive innovation. We find that in the case of China the adoption of new innovation processes that re-define the focus of innovation and re-engineer traditional R&D processes in ways that allow the on novel deployment of Chinese cost advantages can create offerings that incorporate the key elements of disruptive innovation. We conclude by discussing the implications for global competition and possible responses as well as directions for future research. Disruptive Innovation from China: Antecedents and Implications
A qualitative study on perceived value and loyalty: A moderated-mediation framework

This research conducts a qualitative study by proposing a conceptual framework that explains customer loyalty, as well as its mediators and moderator based on the signaling theory. The signaling theory was originally derived from information economics under conditions in which buyers and sellers possess asymmetric information during their interactions in the market. This study refers to perceived brand prestige as the underlying and unobservable signal that fulfills the needs or demands of consumers observing the signal. In the proposed framework of this study, loyalty is indirectly related to CSR disclosure quality and perceived brand prestige through the full mediation of customer satisfaction and desirable expectation of new products. Moreover, the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty and between desirable expectation of new products and loyalty are both moderated by perceived brand prestige. This study is a pioneer in proposing the desirable expectation of new products as a mediator and perceived brand prestige as a moderator in the loyalty formation. This study suggests that marketers successfully shaping brand prestige can reduce the mutable influence of customer satisfaction on loyalty, leading to stable loyalty. Lastly, managerial implications for marketers based on the propositions of this
The Effects of Arousal and Disfluency on the Confirmation Bias

The confirmation bias is the tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that agrees with preconceived notions and ignores or distorts information that is not consistent with preconceived notions (Nickerson, 1998). This study implements a between-subjects experimental design to explore the effects of arousal and disfluency on the confirmation bias. Level of arousal (high and low) and disfluency (disfluent text and fluent text) are the independent variables. Confirmation bias is the dependent variable and is measured using the method described in Hernandez & Preston (2013). The combination of high arousal and disfluent text was hypothesized to have the most success in reducing the confirmation bias. Results indicated no significant main effects of arousal or disfluency on the confirmation bias and no significant interactions, but the data are trending in the hypothesized direction, highlighting that disfluency and high arousal may be potential variables that can limit biased evaluations of arguments. Limitations of this study include an ineffective arousal manipulation, and a small sample size. These limitations could potentially explain the lack of significant effects. Research focusing on limiting confirmation bias is fairly scant, so it is important to continue to look for ways to minimize the errors people make when evaluating evidence.
Poverty and Nutrition: A Case Study of Rural Households in Thailand and Viet Nam

We analyze the link between nutrition and poverty in two Asian countries where monetary-based poverty reduction was especially successful. Thailand and Viet Nam are two emerging market economies where poverty rates are now below 10% and are declining further. Despite this success, it is not clear to what extent it has translated into similar improvements in the nutritional situation of the people, and especially of children. We find that undernutrition continues to be a problem in Viet Nam with child underweight rates of 27% and therefore higher than headcount rates of the $1.25 poverty line. Also, Thailand, after the economic crisis, with 19% of children underweight, is still above the World Health Organization’s threshold. We investigate the factors that influence nutrition outcomes, measured as Z-scores of the weight-for-age indicator, by using Tobit regressions for four different groups of children, based on income (poor vs. non-poor) and nutrition (underweight vs. non-underweight). We find that poverty and income influence nutrition outcomes, but other factors such as mother’s height, education, migration and sanitation also affect nutrition. Coefficients of respective variables differ by poverty status. Our conclusion that non-monetary factors matter to reduce undernutrition, and, therefore, monetary poverty reduction is not a sufficient condition, is further underlined by a prediction of future undernutrition rates based on regressions. Also, we find that, even under the assumption of high growth, income growth alone will not be able to reduce undernutrition to a level of low severity until the year 2030.
BIAS CORRECTION AND ENSEMBLE TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT: FOCUS ON O3 AND PM OVER PORTUGAL

After removing the bias from each model, different ensemble techniques were applied and compared. Besides the median (MED), several weighted ensemble approaches were tested and intercompared: static (SLR) and dynamic (DLR) multiple linear regressions (using less-square optimization method) and the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) methodology. The goal of the comparison is to estimate to what extent the ensemble analysis is an improvement with respect to the single model unbiased results. The obtained results revealed that no one of the 4 tested ensembles clearly outperforms the others on the basis of statistical parameters and probabilistic analysis (reliability and resolution properties). Nevertheless, statistical results have shown that the application of the weights slightly improves ensemble performance when compared to those obtained from the median ensemble. The same statistical analysis, together with the probabilistic measures, demonstrates that the SLR and BMA methods are the best performers among the assessed methodologies.
Behavioural responses of western gray whales to a 4-D seismic survey off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia

A seismic survey was conducted off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia in 2010. The survey area was adjacent to the only known near-shore feeding ground of the Critically Endangered population of western gray whales Eschrichtius robustus in the western Pacific south of the Aleutian Islands. This study examined the effectiveness of efforts to minimize the behavioural responses of the whales to vessel proximity and sound during the survey. Two shore-based behavioural observation teams monitored whale movements and respirations pre-, during and post-seismic survey. Theodolite tracking and focal-animal follow methods were used to collect behavioural data. Mixed linear models were used to examine deviations from 'normal' patterns in 10 movement and 7 respiration response variables in relation to vessel proximity, vessel/ whale relative orientations and 8 received sound metrics to examine if seismic survey sound and/or vessel activity influenced the whales' behaviour. Behavioural state and water depth were the best 'natural' predictors of whale movements and respiration. After considering natural variation, none of the response variables were significantly associated with seismic survey or vessel sounds. A whale's distance from shore and its orientation relative to the closest vessel were found to be significantly influenced by vessel proximity, which suggested some non-sound related disturbance. The lack of evidence that the whales responded to seismic survey sound and vessel traffic by changing either their movement or respiration patterns could indicate that the current mitigation strategy is effective. However, power analyses suggest that our sample sizes were too small to detect subtle to moderate changes in gray whale behaviour.
Retiming of Single Flux Quantum Logic Circuits for Flip-flop Reduction

We propose a retiming method of super- conductive Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) logic circuits for flip-flop reduction. Because SFQ logic circuits use pulse logic, each input of logic gates has latching func- tion. The number of flip-flops in SFQ circuits can be reduced by utilizing the latching function. We formu- late retiming for flip-flop reduction as an instance of integer linear program considering the latching func- tion. Experimental results show that most of flip-flops in SFQ circuit realizations of ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits can be eliminated by the proposed method.
Effect of Prioritization on Regression Testing

Software systems are developed to serve particular requirements of both a business and a technical nature. Faults make software systems to fail, causes user and stakeholders aggravation and cost business organization business money. Regression testing is used to validate new features added as well as regression faults which occur during software development life cycle as well as during maintenance. To test everything is not possible, the time required and resource commitment makes it impractical. Regression testing comprises of various techniques, each having its own merits and demerits. In this paper we are concerned with finding how the prioritization technique help in revealing the defects earlier in the test execution phase.
Norwegian salmon exporters and the changing structure of Japanese seafood distribution

in Norwegian: Japan har lenge vaert et viktig marked for norsk laks. Samtidig er det japanske markedet kjent for a representere en komplisert distribusjonsstruktur med mange mellomledd. I den senere tid er dette systemet utfordret av nye distribusjonsmater hvor aktorene forsoker a finne nye veier utenom de tradisjonelle grossistmarkedene. Her kjennetegnes sjomatdistribusjon av storre grad direkte kontakt mellom produsenter, importorer og dagligvarekjeder. Denne artikkelen undersoker hvordan norske eksportorer og deres japanske kunder forholder seg til disse endringene, og hva dette medforer for deres markedsaktiviteter. Artikkelen presenterer resultatene fra et storre forskningsprosjekt i form av fem megatrender som for tiden kjennetegner det japanske markedet. Abstract in English:in English: For many years Japan has been an important market for Norwegian salmon. At the same time Japan has been characterised by a complicated distribution structure with several layers of wholesalers and middlemen. Recently this system is challenged by new distribution patterns bypassing the traditional wholesale markets. This new system is characterised by more direct contact between producers, importers and retailers. This article analyses how Norwegian exporters and their Japanese customers handle these changes and what this means for their marketing strategy. The results from part of a wider research project and are presented in form of five megatrends currently characterizing the Japanese seafood market.
Effects of Opening on Underwater Vehicle’s Resistance and Acoustics

In this paper, the effects of the opening’s shape, position and the grille plant orientation on underwater vehicle’s resistance and acoustics are studied by CFD tools. SST - and DES method has been implemented to simulate three related series objects which had resistance experiments. The comparison of CFD simulation results and experiment data shows a good agreement, illustrating that the different flow mixture leads to the different resistance and acoustics. Moreover, it finds that the eigenfrequency of the entire acoustic field is related to the opening length in the inflow direction.
MICROPLATE METHODOLOGIES APPLIED TO ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Microarray technology is a high-throughput technique that allows a researcher to reduce the amount of reagents for each experiment as well as conduct multiple experiments with varying conditions simultaneously with the capability of analyzing this data quickly. Such microarray techniques have been applied in different fields such as environmental, pharmaceutical, microbiology, and biomedical among others (Kricka 2001). Chapter 1 provides an introduction to microarray technology with a description of three different techniques: Phenotypic Microarray, DNA Microarray and Protein Microarray, used to study different aspects of microorganisms. Chapter 2 presents the first manuscript, “A novel application of microarray technology to respiration study of Escherichia coli”, with a focus on the development of a respirometric protocol to monitor the respiration of Escherichia coli over time. Chapter 3 presents the second manuscript, “Effect of Dysprosium oxide nanoparticles on Escherichia coli”, with a focus on the application of the developed respirometric methodology in Chapter 2 to the toxicity effect of dysprosium oxide nanoparticles on Escherichia coli. Chapter 4 presents the third manuscript, “Anaerobic growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans using microarray technology”, with a focus on the development of an anaerobic growth methodology for the reduction of iron to be used in future nanotoxicity studies.
Composition of the essential oil from leaves of Smallanthus quichensis (Asteraceae) from Costa Rica

Smallanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family, which has about 24 species, ranging mostly from southern Mexico and Central America to the Andes in South America. The aim of the present study was to identify the chemical composition of leaf essential oil of S. quichensis, growing wild in Costa Rica. The extraction of the oils was carried out by the hydrodistillation method, using a modified Clevenger type apparatus. The chemical composition of the oils was analyzed by capillary GC-FID and GC-MS using the retention indices on DB-5 type capillary column. A total of 100 compounds were identified, accounting for about 90% of the total amount of the oils. Smallanthus quichensis leaf produced a monoterpenoid-rich oil, whose composition was dominated by α-pinene (64.5%) and 1,8-cineole (9.7%) or, in a different sample, by α-pinene (35.5%) with moderate amounts of p-cymene (11.5%), β-phellandrene (9.2%), α-phellandrene (9.0%) and limonene (5.8%). This is the first report of the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from this plant species.
Nanoscale Measurement Technique of In-Plane Motion for MEMS Based on Correlation Fitting Calibration Method

Motion measurement is a key to get characteristics and dynamic parameters of micro-electro-mechanical system(MEMS) resonator in every moment.The results of measurement give important reference to MEMS design.A completely novel calibration subpixel motion measurement algorithm based on phase correlation method was derived,through which not only the error of phase correlation can be calibrated and compensated,but also the resolving power was improved to nano-scale.MEMS motion process was analyzed using the algorithm to get the amplitude-phase curve of MEMS in special driving frequency.The phase-frequency character was also analyzed,and the amplitude-frequency curve was acquired through sweep frequency measurement.Experimental results indicate that the method has a good measurement precision and the resolving power of measurement is less than 5.nm.
Environmental aspects of the use of microbial phytase in the feed for pigs and poultry

The influence of phytase supplementation in the feed on performance, nutrient digestibility and enzyme activity in the excreta was studied in experiments with growing pigs and laying hens. To a standard diet a commercial phytase was added according to the recommendations and in a ten-fold overdose. The experiments were performed with 15 growing pigs and 21 laying hens in individual pens and cages respectively. Although innate phytase activity in the pig diets was high phytase supplementation improved phosphorus digestibility. Performance and digestibility of energy and nitrogen were not affected significantly by the phytase sup plementation. In laying hens phytase supplementation led only to a significant reduction of excreta dry matter content. In no case (pigs and poultry) a phytase activity could be detected in exreta.
Continuous volatility and jump volatility in China's stock market

Based on the non-parametric approach, we decompose the realized volatility into the continuous volatility and the jump volatility with the high-frequency data of Hushen 300 index, investigate the statistic characteristics of these two different volatility components, together with the check of size effect and leverage effect of the return. We find that: jump-cluster phenomena exist in the process of stock market index; China's A-share stock market has longer lagged autocorrelations than the US market; the leverage effect is not significant in all sample period but the size effect is significant in most of the sample period, which means the size of the returns has more influence then the sign of the returns, especially in bull market.
Modeling annual Coffee production in Ghana using ARIMA time series Model

In the international commodity trade, coffee, which represents the worldâ€™s most valuable tropical agricultural commodity, comes next to oil. Indeed, it is estimated that about 40 million people in the major producing countries in Africa derive their livelihood from coffee, with Africa accounting for about 12 per cent of global production. The paper applied Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) time series model to study the behavior of Ghanaâ€™s annual coffee production as well as make five years forecasts. Annual coffee production data from 1990 to 2010 was obtained from Ghana cocoa board and analyzed using ARIMA. The results showed that in general, the trend of Ghanaâ€™s total coffee production follows an upward and downward movement. The best model arrived at on the basis of various diagnostics, selection and an evaluation criterion was ARIMA (0,3,1). Finally, the forecast figures base on Box- Jenkins method showed that Ghanaâ€™s annual coffee production will decrease continuously in the next five (5) years, all things being equal