Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voices of the Volunteers: an Exploration of the Experiences of Catchment Volunteers in Coastal Queensland, Australia

This paper discusses findings of a study of catchment care volunteers drawn from the east coast of Queensland, Australia. Catchment volunteering includes individuals in not-for profit stewardship groups with a catchment focus. Catchment volunteering was experienced by participants as maintaining a balance of perspectives; developing/maintaining an identity; networking; learning; empowering; and sustainable. An illustrative model (the Outcome Space), representing a set of scales, shows the relationship between conceptions. Results indicate that catchment volunteering offers many benefits to individuals and local communities. Although there were frustrations at times, many volunteers expressed deep levels of satisfaction about their volunteering experiences. Results suggest that satisfied volunteers are those that manage to balance volunteering with other aspects of their lives; identify strongly with some aspect of volunteering; enjoy learning from their volunteer experiences; and were willing and able to share and apply their new knowledge in a variety of ways. They also made friends with other volunteers; felt valued by others in the group, and believed that what they do is important. For these respondents, volunteering contributes richly to the fabric of their lives, providing meaning and satisfaction in routine activities, enhancing local communities and building sustainability.
Determinants affecting the use of an intermediary when buying meeting services

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to identify the factors determining a business organisation's use of an intermediary when buying convention packages and meeting services.Design/methodology/approach – The data are based on a case, a public organisation responsible for promoting and intermediating meetings, incentives, contentions and events (MICE) services provided by small and medium‐sized tourism organisations in southern Finland. An online questionnaire was used for the data collection and a total of 223 valid responses were collected. Explorative factor analysis was used to analyse the research results.Findings – Based on explorative factor analysis it is suggested there are three distinct factors as determinants of the phenomenon, namely “Attractive convention packages”, “Know‐how of the personnel”, and “Ease of buying a convention package”. The results of the structural equation modelling reveal that ease of buying a convention package is the primary reason for using the intermediary, while .
Analysis of resolution limit in community detection

In this paper, we discussed the resolution limit problem for an information approach that identifies communities in a network by finding an optimal compression of topological structure for the network. We tested the resolution scale of the approach on the examples mentioned by Fortunato and Barthélemy. We found that the approach can correctly uncover the build-in communities in the networks. We also compared the approach with some state of the art methods on LFR benchmark as well as on real-world networks. The results in this paper may provide us a deep understanding for the approach.
Effects of Process Parameters on Tensile Shear Strength of Friction Stir Spot Welded Aluminium Alloy (EN AW 5005)

Aluminium and its alloys have been used in automotive technology since the first model of the car. The need for aluminium material is getting increased for weight reduction, improved fuel economy and vehicle performance. The amount of the aluminium used in a car is mainly related with joining processes of aluminium alloy. This can be achieved by developing the welding techniques for aluminium alloys. The purpose of this study was to determine the eects of friction stir spot welding parameters on tensile shear strength of friction stir spot welded lap joint EN AW 5005 Aluminium alloy. The variable parameters were tool rotation (rpm), dwell time (s) and the tool pin height (mm). Tensile shear test results indicated that the weld performance was significantly aected by the tool rotation, dwell time and the tool pin height. The results of the study
Accumulation of impact markers in desert wetlands and implications for the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis

The Younger Dryas impact hypothesis contends that an extraterrestrial object exploded over North America at 12.9 ka, initiating the Younger Dryas cold event, the extinction of many North American megafauna, and the demise of the Clovis archeological culture. Although the exact nature and location of the proposed impact or explosion remain unclear, alleged evidence for the fallout comes from multiple sites across North America and a site in Belgium. At 6 of the 10 original sites (excluding the Carolina Bays), elevated concentrations of various “impact markers” were found in association with black mats that date to the onset of the Younger Dryas. Black mats are common features in paleowetland deposits and typically represent shallow marsh environments. In this study, we investigated black mats ranging in age from approximately 6 to more than 40 ka in the southwestern United States and the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. At 10 of 13 sites, we found elevated concentrations of iridium in bulk and magnetic sediments, magnetic spherules, and/or titanomagnetite grains within or at the base of black mats, regardless of their age or location, suggesting that elevated concentrations of these markers arise from processes common to wetland systems, and not a catastrophic extraterrestrial impact event.
MPK6 Contributes to Non-Host Resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in Arabidopsis thaliana

The rate of entry of Magnaporthe oryzae into pen2 mpk6 plants was higher than that into pen2 plants. The infection hyphae in the pen2 mpk6 plants were longer than those in the pen2 plants. The proportion of branched hyphae development in the pen2 mpk6 plants was higher than that in the pen2 plants. These results suggest that MPK6 functions in both penetration and post-penetration resistance to M. oryzae in Arabidopsis thaliana.
SN-FMIA: SDN and NFV enabled future mobile internet architecture

In this era wireless technology gaining more popularity, people prefer wireless communication over wired communication due to mobility, scalability and ease of access. However, the traditional wireless network is complex, vendor dependent and inadequate feasibility to incorporate new services, protocols, and APIs. The rapid growth in wireless network raises many thoughtful challenges for network and telecom operators. On such grounds, Innovation of Software Defined Network (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) for mobile network opens a new arena of research. This research article presents future mobile Internet architecture (FMIA) with the integration of twin technologies, SDN and NFV that enable rapid access to Internet services. Moreover, the network manager can control services provided by ISPs through proposed architecture.
The Influence of Hotel Price on Perceived Service Quality and Value in E-Tourism

The relationship between price and postpurchase perceptions is an important topic in tourism and hospitality studies. However, little is known about how this relationship operates in an online context. Using 43,726 online reviews covering 774 star-rated hotels, this study empirically investigated the influence of price on customers’ perceptions of service quality and value. The results show that it has a positive impact on perceived quality but has a negative impact on perceived value. Price also has a more significant impact on perceived quality for higher-star, luxury hotels than lower-star, economy establishments. Additionally, it has a significant influence on perceived quality for business travelers but the equivalent value for leisure travelers is not significant.
Defensive medicine practices among gastroenterologists in Japan.

AIM To clarify the prevalence of defensive medicine and the specific defensive medicine practices among gastroenterologists in Japan. METHODS A survey of gastroenterologists in Hiroshima, Japan, was conducted by mail in March 2006. The number of gastroenterologists reporting defensive medicine behaviors or changes in their scope of practice and the reported defensive medicine practices, i.e., assurance and avoidance behaviors, were examined. RESULTS A total of 131 (77%) out of 171 gastroenterologists completed the survey. Three (2%) respondents were sued, and most respondents (96%) had liability insurance. Nearly all respondents (98%) reported practicing defensive medicine. Avoidance behaviors, such as avoiding certain procedures or interventions and avoiding caring for high-risk patients, were very common (96%). Seventy-five percent of respondents reported often avoiding certain procedures or interventions. However, seasoned gastroenterologists (those in practice for more than 20 years) adopted avoidance behaviors significantly less often than those in practice for less than 10 years. Assurance behaviors, i.e., supplying additional services of marginal or no medical value, were also widespread (91%). Sixty-eight percent of respondents reported that they sometimes or often referred patients to other specialists unnecessarily. CONCLUSION Defensive medicine may be highly prevalent among gastroenterologists throughout Japan, with potentially serious implications regarding costs, access, and both technical and interpersonal quality of care.
Structure, function, and dynamics of the dimerization and DNA-binding domain of oncogenic transcription factor v-Myc.

The protein product (c-Myc) of the protooncogene c-myc is a transcriptional regulator playing a key role in cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Deregulated myc genes, like the transduced retroviral v-myc allele, are oncogenic and cause cell transformation. The C-terminal bHLHZip domain of v-Myc, encompassing protein dimerization (helix-loop-helix, leucine zipper) and DNA contact (basic region) surfaces, was expressed in bacteria as a highly soluble p15(v-myc )recombinant protein. Dissociation constants (K(d)) for the heterodimer formed with the recombinant bHLHZip domain of the Myc binding partner Max (p14(max)) and for the Myc-Max-DNA complex were estimated using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and quantitative electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize the solution structural and dynamic properties of the v-Myc bHLHZip domain. Significant secondary chemical shifts indicate the presence of two separated alpha-helical regions. The C-terminal leucine zipper region forms a compact alpha-helix, while the N-terminal basic region exhibits conformational averaging with substantial alpha-helical content. Both helices lack stabilizing tertiary side-chain interactions and represent exceptional examples for loosely coupled secondary structural segments in a native protein. These results and CD thermal denaturation data indicate a monomeric state of the v-Myc bHLHZip domain. The (15)N relaxation data revealed backbone mobilities which corroborate the existence of a partially folded state, and suggest a "beads-on-a-string" motional behaviour of the v-Myc bHLHZip domain in solution. The preformation of alpha-helical regions was confirmed by CD thermal denaturation studies, and quantification of the entropy changes caused by the hydrophobic effect and the reduction of conformational entropy upon protein dimerization. The restricted conformational space of the v-Myc bHLHZip domain reduces the entropy penalty associated with heterodimerization and allows rapid and accurate recognition by the authentic Myc binding partner Max.
Prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in a rural district of Ethiopia.

SETTING A rural district in Southern Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN In this cross-sectional study, adults aged >14 years were surveyed by home-to-home visit, and asked about cough of > or = 2 weeks with or without sputum, chest pain or difficulty in breathing. Symptomatic suspects submitted three sputum samples for standard smear microscopy. RESULTS Of 16697 adults surveyed, 436 (2.6%) were symptomatic and submitted sputum samples. Thirteen (3%) were positive for acid-fast bacilli, and the prevalence of smear-positive TB was 78 per 100 000 population (95%CI 36-120). Twenty-four smear-positive cases identified through the existing health care delivery were on anti-tuberculosis medication at the time of the survey. The ratio of smear-positive cases on treatment to those newly detected by the survey was 2:1. CONCLUSION The prevalence of TB in this rural setting was unexpectedly low. For every two cases of smear-positive TB on treatment, there was one undetected infectious case in the community. However, as our screening technique did not allow detection of cases who did not report symptoms, the true prevalence may have been underestimated.
Another method for constructing t-EC/AUED codes

An improved method to construct t-EC/AUED (t-error correcting and all unidirectional error detecting codes) is presented. In many cases, the new method matches or improves the best known t-EC/AUED codes. Furthermore, the construction does not require complementation of codewords except the all zero and the all ones words. So, this method is also superior to the previous techniques when the code parameters are the same.
Social Security Pension Reform in Europe

Social Security in the United States and in Europe is at a critical juncture. Through the essays assembled in Social Security Pension Reform in Europe , Martin Feldstein and Horst Siebert, along with a number of distinguished contributors, discuss the challenges facing Social Security reform in the aging societies of Europe. A remarkable range of European nations—Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Hungary—have implemented or are about to implement mixed Social Security systems that combine a traditional defined benefit of the pay-as-you-go system with an individual retirement account defined contribution of a capital-funded system. The essays here highlight the problems that the European pension reform process faces and how it differs from that of the United States. This timely volume will significantly enrich the debate on pension reform worldwide.
Comparison of power and performance for the TFET and MOSFET and considerations for P-TFET

A detailed circuit assessment of Tunneling Field Effect Transistors (TFET) versus MOSFET transistors operating at a supply voltage near device threshold is reported, including the consideration of P-TFET device design. 20nm gate-length InAs TFET and Si MOSFET device characteristics are simulated and used in circuit simulations. For ultra low power logic applications, TFET logic can operate at equal standby power and switching energy to MOSFET logic, but with better performance. The study shows that the P-TFET device has a lower ION/IOFF ratio than the N-TFET due to the low conduction-band density of states (DOS) in III–V materials. It is shown that for a specific TFET power-performance target, the source doping level needs to be optimized.
Conversion of one-step to two-step self-etch adhesives for improved efficacy and extended application.

PURPOSE One-step self-etch adhesives have restricted use due to their acid-base incompatibility with autocured composites and their behavior as permeable membranes after polymerization. This study examined the feasibility of their conversion to two-step self-etch adhesives via the adjunctive use of a non-solvented, relatively hydrophobic resin coating. METHODS iBond, Xeno III and Adper Prompt were used either in multiple coats, or in a single coat followed by the use of a layer of Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus bond resin for coupling to light- and auto-cured composites. Four types of experiments were performed. Bonded specimens were examined with TEM after immersion in an ammoniacal silver nitrate tracer. Fluid flow measurements of iBond were conducted using the two application protocols to compare the permeability of the bonded dentin with the original smear layer. Permeability of vital dentin bonded with both application protocols were compared for the transudation of dentin fluid across the bonded dentin. Microtensile bond strengths of dentin bonded with the two protocols were examined for their compatibility with an auto-cured composite. RESULTS The results of the four experiments were complementary. iBond and Xeno III exhibited "apparent incompatibility" to auto-cured composites that resulted from their inherent permeability. This was confirmed by the presence of dentin fluid transudate on the adhesive surfaces when they were bonded to vital dentin. Conversely, Adper Prompt exhibited "true incompatibility" to auto-cured composites that was caused by adverse acid-base interaction, masking the inherent permeability of this adhesive. "True" and "apparent" incompatibility issues were eliminated upon their conversion to two-step self-etch adhesives.
Industrial relations in the SME sector of the British economy: an empirical perspective

Despite the growing significance afforded to small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in contemporary Britain, much of the industrial relations (IR) literature in this country is based on research undertaken in large organisations. The minority of IR studies that are focused on smaller firms tend to be prescriptive and their results polarise into either the “small is beautiful” or the “bleak house” perspective and involve relatively small target samples. As a result, there is a paucity of quantitative research that could be generalised across this important sector of the British economy. The research (1998‐2000) on which this article is based originated from a perceived need to redress this imbalance. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a target sample of 6,000 organisations. Preliminary results indicate that the majority of small business owner/managers in the sample exhibited personalised and mostly informal management styles. It emerges that IR in this type of business can be as varied as the characteristics, personalities and preferences exhibited by the respondents in the research sample.
Potenziale und Grenzen eines nutzenbasierten ökonomischen Leitbildes für die amtliche Inflationsmessung / What Role Should Economic Reasoning Play in the Compilation of the Official Consumer Price Index?

Zusammenfassung Welche Bedeutung sollte dem ökonomischen Theorieansatz und damit insbesondere dem ökonomischen Kostenindex der Lebenshaltung (im Folgenden als „nutzenbasierter Ausgabenindex“, NBA, bezeichnet) in der amtlichen Inflationsmessung eingeräumt werden? In diesem Beitrag werden die Potenziale des NBA ausgelotet. Zugleich werden aber auch die Grenzen aufgezeigt. Es wäre insbesondere ein Fehler, den ökonomischen Theorieansatz und dabei den NBA als das einzig legitime Leitbild für die Inflationsmessung zu protegieren. Der NBA kann nicht für alle Bereiche der Inflationsmessung befriedigende Antworten liefern. Ferner steht bislang keine konsistente, schnelle und verlässliche Berechnungsmethode für den NBA zur Verfügung. Letztlich muss die offizielle Inflation deshalb auf Basis eines statistischen Preisindex (SP) berechnet werden. Bei der Suche nach geeigneten SPs kann man einer direkten und einer indirekten Suchstrategie folgen. In der direkten Strategie muss ein SP bestimmte Grundanforderungen an ein vernünftiges Inflationsmaß erfüllen (axiomatische Indextheorie). In der indirekten Strategie muss ein SP den NBA möglichst gut approximieren (superlative Indizes). Befürworter des NBA sind der indirekten Suchstrategie verhaftet, Gegner des NBA eher der direkten Suchstrategie. Manche erachten beide Strategien als nutzlos. In dieser Studie wird erläutert, dass beide Strategien wichtige Impulse für eine gute SP-Wahl und damit für eine verbesserte Inflationsmessung geben können. Summary This paper addresses the question, What role should economic reasoning play in the compilation of the official consumer price index (CPI) ? It is argued that economic theory has developed some extremely helpful techniques such as the economic cost of living index (COLI). However, by contending that the COLI should provide the only conceptual framework for a CPI, too much is expected from it. The COLI’s theoretical and practical limitations require us to find supplementary guidance outside the COLI framework. Furthermore, a consistent, fast, and reliable computational method for a COLI is not yet in sight. Therefore, the CPI must be computed by some sort of statistical price index (SP). For finding an appropriate SP, one can follow a direct and an indirect search strategy. In the direct approach, a SP is regarded as suitable, only if it satisfies a number of basic properties that are considered as indispensable for a meaningful CPI (axiomatic index theory). In the indirect approach, one looks for those SPs that provide a particularly close approximation to a COLI (superlative price index formulas). Advocates of the COLI are natural supporters of the indirect method. Opponents of the COLI lean more towards the direct method. Some regard both approaches as useless. Here it is argued that both approaches provide useful guidance when selecting a SP.
Why you can’t afford to ignore the invisible Web

While most users of the World Wide Web rely heavily on the standard range of commercial search engines and metasearching agents, they should be careful to note their limitations and inability to furnish access to material residing in the so-called “invisible Web”, which the search engines either cannot or will not index. Although it is felt by many users that the invisible Web is not worth covering, being full of duplication, “spam” and other ephemeral material, the fact remains that some of the best resources available on the Web exists in this form and to overlook it would be to detract from the full value of the Web. Users should seriously consider using the invisible Web on account of: the large size of the resource; the quality of the sites; the fact that a lot of the sites have quite specialized content within very clearly defined subject areas; the fact that it is often possible to tailor the output to meet users’ needs; and the fact that here may be the only location on the Web where the information can be found. The major obstacle to using the invisible Web is the intrinsic difficulty in accessing it. Personal recommendation can also be a useful means of being alerted to useful resources on the invisible Web but the main key to success lies in knowing where to look for such information and, having found a useful Web site, rely on it for future use.
Targeted Sanctions in a World of Global Finance

This is the golden age of economic statecraft—and the study of economic statecraft. This is in large part due to the evolution of economic coercion from trade embargoes to targeted financial sanctions. Targeted financial sanctions are attractive because they can generate economic costs similar to those of more comprehensive sanctions, with fewer negative externalities. Over time, however, the intersection of economic sanctions with globalized capital markets will provoke three interesting research questions. First, do financial sanctions spare a target country’s population from negative humanitarian and human rights outcomes? Second, to what extent are financial sanctions an exercise in learning by both targets and senders? Third, will the United States’ use of financial sanctions trigger blowback against US primacy in the international financial system? These last two questions offer the prospect to linking research on economic statecraft with larger questions of international security and global political economy.