Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Digital Commons@Lindenwood University Digital Commons@Lindenwood University

The realization of an interoperable and scalable virtual platform, currently known as the “metaverse,” is inevitable, but many technological challenges need to be overcome first. With the metaverse still in a nascent phase, research currently indicates that building a new 3D social environment capable of interoperable avatars and digital transactions will represent most of the initial investment in time and capital. The return on investment, however, is worth the financial risk for firms like Meta, Google, and Apple. While the current virtual space of the metaverse is worth $6.30 billion, that is expected to grow to $84.09 billion by the end of 2028. But the creation of an entire alternate virtual universe of 3D avatars, objects, and otherworldly cityscapes calls for a new development pipeline and workflow. Existing 3D modeling and digital twin processes, already well-established in industry and gaming, will be ported to support the need to architect and furnish this new digital world. The current development pipeline, however, is cumbersome, expensive and limited in output capacity. This paper proposes a new and innovative immersive development pipeline leveraging the recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) for 3D model creation and optimization. The previous reliance on 3D modeling software to create assets and then import into a game engine can be replaced with nearly instantaneous
of SHACL Constraints over KGs with OWL 2 QL Ontologies via Rewriting

Constraints have traditionally been used to ensure data quality. Recently, several constraint languages such as SHACL, as well as mechanisms for constraint validation, have been proposed for Knowledge Graphs (KGs). KGs are often enhanced with ontologies that deﬁne relevant background knowledge in a formal language such as OWL 2 QL. However, existing systems for constraint validation either ignore these ontologies, or compile ontologies and constraints into rules that should be executed by some rule engine. In the latter case, one has to rely on diﬀerent systems when validating constrains over KGs and over ontology-enhanced KGs. In this work, we address this problem by deﬁn-ing rewriting techniques that allow to compile an OWL 2 QL ontology and a set of SHACL constraints into another set of SHACL constraints. We show that in the general case the rewriting may not exists, but it always exists for the positive fragment of SHACL. Our rewriting techniques allow to validate constraints over KGs with and without ontologies using the same SHACL validation engines.
Group Support Systems – concepts to practice

This chapter explores the use of Group Support Systems (GSSs) for assisting managers who must negotiate the resolution of messy, complex and/or strategic problems in order to achieve an agreed outcome. Specifically the chapter reports and reflects upon an intervention involving social and psychological negotiation. Building on existing research in the area of GSSs (see chapter ACKERMANN), alongside research into the nature of failed decisions and knowledge of the processes of social and psychological negotiation, this chapter discusses how GSSs can be used to support and enhance social and psychological negotiation. In particular this chapter focuses upon a study of the use of a specific GSS to illustrate and explore a number of salient elements and their implications.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Ordinals are not as easy as one, two, three:The acquisition of cardinals and ordinals in Dutch

This study argues that the pattern and timing of ordinal acquisition differs substantially from that of cardinals and is influenced by different language-specific factors, such as (ir)regular ordinal morphology, superlative morphology, and the singular-plural distinction. We discuss data from a Give X task (Wynn 1992) administered to 77 Dutch monolinguals (2;11 – 6;04) that support a so-called knower-level acquisition pattern (e.g., Le Corre & Carey 2007) for Dutch cardinals but show a more complex picture for ordinals, which are acquired around the time a child masters the necessary counting principles and becomes a CP (cardinal principle) knower. Not only is the tiered pattern absent in regular low ordinals, we also see that it takes time for children to link drie ‘ three ’ to irregular derde ‘ third. ’ We take this as evidence that ordinals are acquired via rules, rather than being stored lexically one by one.
An automatic phase picker for local and teleseismic events

An automatic detection algorithm has been developed which is capable of time P -phase arrivals of both local and teleseismic earthquakes, but rejects noise bursts and transient events. For each signal trace, the envelope function is calculated and passed through a nonlinear amplifier. The resulting signal is then subjected to a statistical analysis to yield arrival time, first motion, and a measure of reliability to be placed on the P -arrival pick. An incorporated dynamic threshold lets the algorithm become very sensitive; thus, even weak signals are timed precisely. During an extended performance evaluation on a data set comprising 789 P phases of local events and 1857 P phases of teleseismic events picked by an analyst, the automatic picker selected 66 per cent of the local phases and 90 per cent of the teleseismic phases. The accuracy of the automatic picks was “ideal” (i.e., could not be improved by the analyst) for 60 per cent of the local events and 63 per cent of the teleseismic events.
Perspectives of preservice social studies teachers on character and value education course

The aim of this study is to determine the views of preservice social studies teachers on the Character and Value Education course. The case study method, one of the qualitative research approaches, is used in the research. The study group consists of 15 pre-service teachers studying in the last year of the Department of Social Studies Education at Faculty of Educa tion in Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. The data collected face to face with a semi-structured interview form were analyzed using the MAXODA 2020 software and through inductive content analysis. As a result of the research, preservice social studies teachers stated that the Character and Value Education course is a course that teaches basic human values and aims to contribute to social order. According to the pre-service teachers, the most effective factor in character and value education is the environment. Another finding of the study is that love is the value that pre-service teachers most want to instill in their students, and the station technique is the most frequently used method in value education.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Ways of seeing

This article uses John Berger ’ s idea (1972) that images are connected to ‘ ways of seeing ’ to re ﬂ ect on the creation of interactive visualizations of peace agreement and peace process data. We re ﬂ ect on three visualizations created during a three-year long collaboration. We ﬁ rst describe our data, the peacebuilding ambitions for its use, and why we produced interactive forms of visualization. Second, we describe how the process of producing these visualizations created an interdisciplinary conversation and collaboration, which also connected different epistemic and geographic communities involved in peace processes. We term this ‘ visualization-as-scoping ’ . Third, we re ﬂ ect on both ‘ what we saw ’ , through the process of visualization, how it affected policy, and the lessons we learned regarding visualization in the peacebuilding ﬁ eld. In the article, we argue that our experience of ‘ visualization-as-scoping ’ inverts traditional assumptions about the connection of data visualization to policy in ﬂ uence. In place of the notion of visualization-as-communication, focused on transmitting clear policy ‘ messages ’ , we point to visualization-as-scoping as a practice of interchange, critique and re-iteration. Using John Berger as inspiration, we suggest that the ‘ ways of seeing ’ that result can usefully disrupt the idea of a data producing singular policy prescriptions, and rather enable people to grapple better with the complex political processes they are involved in.
Investigation of Pindan Soil Modi�ed with Polymer Stablisers for Road Pavement

Road failures are often caused by structural weaknesses, and particularly unsealed roads are vulnerable to water as water easily flows into road structures. Moisture susceptibility of materials is an important aspect when pavements are designed as moisture can weaken bonds between aggregates. Pindan soil is a red soil, known as a soft and moisture sensitive soil. Polymer stabilisers have been proved that they can improve soil mechanical properties by providing an internal waterproofing. Studies of the polymer-Pindan soil stabilisation have been focused on engineering performances, but literature shows little information on the fundamental information of Pindan soil. This project focuses on fundamental information of Pindan soil and its improved performances using polymer stabilisers. Plastic index, specific gravity and particle size distribution were tested to obtain the basic properties. Compaction, Unconfined Compressive Strength and California Bearing Ratio tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties. The chemical property was examined using X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the waterproof effect of the polymers on the stabilised Pindan soil was investigated from capillary rise tests. In addition, the mechanical properties of individual soil grains were investigated using nanoindentation tests. The materials used for this investigation primarily consisted of Pindan soil collected in Broome, Western Australia, and three polymer products manufactured in Australia. Based on the results, it is evident that the failure behaviour, strain and strength as well as the basic properties of the soils are affected and changed by the Polymer stabilisers. The type of polymer influenced the optimum moisture contents and strengths rather than the amount of polymer. Similarly, Nanoindentation technology provided various information such as elastic modulus, hardness, packing density, stiffness, cohesion and fracture toughness of soils at nano-scales. Polymers can reduce water ingress and minimise moisture in the pavement structures. Thus, the structures can maintain its strength and prevent deformation, which will increase the lifetime of unsealed pavements.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Development of an exergame to deliver a sustained dose of high-intensity training

Background: Sport science can play a critical role in reducing health inequalities. The inverse relationship between life expectancy, cardiorespiratory fitness, and socioeconomic status could be addressed by performing high-intensity training (HIT), delivered in a class salient and accessible approach. Commercially available exergames have shown encouraging compliance rates but are primarily designed for entertainment purposes rather than focusing on health-related outcomes. A serious game tailored toward delivering an exercise stimulus, while reducing the aversive protocols associated with HIT, could be beneficial to engage and improve health outcomes in socially deprived males. Objective: The aims of this study were to develop an exergame capable of delivering HIT and evaluate the effect on selected health outcomes in men recruited in regions of socioeconomic deprivation. Methods: We conducted an exploratory trial in our target population, and participants were allocated to intervention (n=14) or control groups (n=10) by third-party minimization. The intervention was a 6-week training program consisting of three sessions of exergaming per week. The sessions involved a structured warm-up,
Performance analysis of LDPC Decoder using OpenMP

Digital mobile communication technologies, such as next generation mobile communication and mobile TV, are rapidly advancing. Hardware designs to provide baseband processing of new protocol standards are being actively attempted, because of concurrently emerging multiple standards and diverse needs on device functions, hardware only implementation may have reached a limit. To overcome this challenge, digital communication system designs are adopting software solutions that use central processing units (CPUs) or graphics processing units (GPUs) to implement communication protocols. In this paper, we proposed a parallel software implementation of low density parity check (LDPC) decoding algorithm, A modified version of Min-Sum algorithm (MSA) has been used for the decoding, which has the advantage of simpler computations compared to Sum-Product algorithm without any loss in performance and use a multi-core processor to achieve both flexibility and high performance. Specifically, by using Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP) to parallelize the algorithm and to implement on a multi-core processor. Processing information on H-matrices using OpenMP pragmas on a multi-core processor and compare the simulation speed against execution on single-core processor.
Assessment of Core Competencies and Entrepreneurship Development among Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Abuja

he study assesses core competencies and entrepreneurship development T among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Abuja. Despite SME ﬁrms having core competency in terms of core product with much skills, knowledge, technology, and attitude yet their products are imitated by others making the customers of the product to buy imitation of the product believing that it is the original product produced by such SMES. Point in time data were collected from primary source using questionnaire. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study is 1260 and a sample size of 348 is gotten using Taro Yamane formula. The regression and correlation statistical tools were adopted to analyse the data and ﬁndings reveal that core competencies and entrepreneurship development among SMEs in Abuja is signiﬁcant. It was also found that there is a relationship between core product and entrepreneurship development among SMEs in Abuja. The study concluded that core competencies contribute to entrepreneurship development among SMEs in Abuja The study recommends that SMEs in Abuja should ensure that they adopt creativity, innovation and should also try to add value to their existing products since it helps in maintaining core competency of the SMEs.
European Securitisation: A GARCH Model of CDO, MBS and Pfandbrief Spreads

Asset-backed securitization (ABS) is a highly flexible yet complex refinancing technique that involves the issuance of contingent claims with varying seniority on the cash flow performance of a designated pool of asset exposures. Efficient risk management of ABS obligations requires both investors and issuers to thoroughly understand the inherent spread dynamics in this growing segment of fixed income markets. We model the heteroskedasticity of weekly secondary market spreads of European CDO, MBS and Pfandbrief transactions in a multi-factor GARCH process for valuation and forecasting purposes. We find that expected spread changes follow a positive trend with asymmetric mean reversion depending on the direction of past spread changes. Model estimates indicate a statistically and economically stronger contribution by negative first moments of past spreads on mean spread changes. Most of the conditional spread volatility is informed by negative past innovations, which constitute most of the economic significance of a positive general GARCH effect. These spread dynamics over our sample period imply that negative shocks associated with unexpected spread declines seem to induce higher spread volatility when persistent (or increasing) spread levels testify to negative investor sentiment.
Genomic prediction ability and genetic parameters for residual feed intake calculated using different approaches in Nellore beef cattle

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and the prediction ability and bias of the genomic values for residual feed intake (RFI) using genotypic and phenotypic records from 8,354 Nellore animals. The RFI was calculated using a regression equation for each test (RFI test ) and for the whole population (RFI pop ). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the same dataset and number of records was performed to verify the adequacy of the regression equations applied to estimate the RFI test and RFI pop . The (co)variance components were obtained using the single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) under single and two-trait animal model analyses. The ssGBLUP method was used for the genomic prediction and the cross-validation method as a validation strategy. The prediction ability and bias were estimated to compare the RFI test and RFI pop genomic breeding values (GEBVs). The RFI pop ANOVA showed a higher signi�cance level (p < 0.0001) than did the RFI test for the �xed effects. The RFI pop displayed higher additive genetic variance estimated than the RFI test , although the RFI pop and RFI test displayed similar heritabilities. Overall, the RFI test showed higher residual correlations with growth, reproductive and carcass traits, while the RFI pop displayed higher genetic correlations with such traits. The GEBV for the RFI test was slightly biased than that obtained for the RFI pop . The method of calculating the RFI in�uences the decomposition and estimation of variance components, and genomic prediction. The genetic correlations between RFI pop and RFI test were high, implying that changes in sires ranking and genetic response are expected using one or the other. The application of RFI pop would be more appropriate for genetic evaluation purpose to adjust or correct for non-genetic effects and to decrease the prediction bias.
E-Business Model: A Content Based Taxonomy of Literature

The rapid worldwide growth of e-commerce and the resulting great interest on the digital business, caused a proliferation of contributes by academics and practitioners, that identified by different points of view, the fundamental concepts, codes and functions of e-business models. The quantity and the variety of approaches adopted made the concept of e-business model fuzzy and vague, with little consensus about its ontology and definition. The relevance of the topic asserts a claim for the classification of contributions as a first step to a general definition of the concept of e-business model. This paper provides an integrated literature review of contemporary academic writings to ascertain and classify the various approaches to the study of e-business models. The literature examined is classified in a content based taxonomy which highlights the relevant characteristics of e-business model, emerging from the analysis of literature. The framework proposed points out some significant implications that are a first
Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters

(PDF) Waves in Oceanic and Coastal WatersWaves in Oceanic and Coastal WatersWaves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters by Holthuijsen, Leo H . Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters (February 5, 2007 .Linear wave theory (coastal waters) (Chapter 7) Waves in . Waves In Oceanic And CoastalThis page intentionally left blank UNAM Campus SisalWaves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters eBook by Leo H . Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters: Amazon.co.uk . Bing: Waves In Oceanic And CoastalWaves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters: Holthuijsen, Leo H . WAVES IN OCEANIC AND COASTAL WATERS, by Leo H. Holthuijsen . Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters: Holthuijsen, Leo H . Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters by Leo H. Holthuijsen(PDF) Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters, by Leo H . Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters NASA/ADSWaves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters KnovelWaves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters: Holthuijsen, Leo . 9780521129954-Waves in Oceanic and Coastal WatersStatistics (Chapter 4) Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters
Impact of Monetary Policy on the Growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

his study examines the impact of monetary policy on the growth of SMEs in T Nigeria from 1986 to 2020.Data used for this study was sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 2020 statistical bulletin, SMEDAN and bureau of statistics. SMEs outputs was used as dependent variable, while the monetary policy variables such as interest rate, inflation, money supply and exchange rate were used as the independent variables. The unit root pre-diagnostics test was run on all the variables in order to ascertain the order of integration, all variables were found to be stationary at first difference 1(1) except SMEs OPT which was found to be stationary at level 1(0). Therefore, this justifies the adoption of the Autoregressive Distributed lag (ARDL) method of analysis. The result of the findings revealed that the independent variables interest rate and inflation have a negative relationship with the dependent variable SMEs Outputs and were found to be statistically insignificant at 5% level of significance, furthermore, exchange rate and broad money supply were positively related to SMEs outputs, but broad money supply was statistically significant with a P-value less than 5% level of significance (0.0393<0.05). The error correction model (ECM) stood at 0.66 showing 66% speed of adjustment to the long run equilibrium. The regression results show R-squared to be 0.925802 and adjusted R-squared to be 0.682008 which shows an excellent goodness of fit, that is, 92% variation of SMEs output was accounted for by joint variation of a combination of the independent variables. The study
Competitive Intelligence and Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Selected Insurance Companies in Nigeria

his paper investigated competitive intelligence and sustainable T competitive advantage of selected insurance firms in Nigeria. Survey research design was engaged for the study. The population of the study comprises 3,439 administrators and experts in the thirty-six selected insurance companies that have their headquarters in Lagos-State, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling method was employed. Data was collected via questionnaire and analysed using Pearson moment correlation coefficient. Results showed that competitive intelligence had a positive relationship with competitive advantage of selected insurance firms in Nigeria.This study recommends that managers and directors of insurance companies equip their organisations with new marketing and information systems to enable them use market opportunities which will give them an edge over their competitors.
Unified Power and Admittance Adaptation for Safe and Effective Physical Interaction With Unmodelled Dynamic Environments

When interacting with unmodelled dynamic systems, a robot controller should be capable of adapting online its behavior, in order to be robust to the changing environmental conditions. In the paradigm of passivity-based control, virtual energy tanks allow to perform such adaptations in a robustly stable way, by bounding the amount of energy allocated to the controller. Nevertheless, when the workspace is shared with human collaborators, additional limits have to be imposed to the power the system can exert, in order to guarantee the overall safety. These bounds are difficult to estimate a priori, might vary over time and can significantly affect task execution. In this letter, we tackle this problem by simultaneously adapting online the admittance and the power limits in the controller, ensuring both safety and task performance. Experimental results with a collaborative manipulator validate the presented framework.