Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sedimentary Dynamics and Coastal Changes on the South Coast of Ireland

Sedimentary studies of coasts sensitive to erosion in the south of Ireland are presented. Over 50 monitoring stations established in two bay-estuary systems (representing intertidal sandflats, pioneer to mature saltmarsh and extensive mudflats) incorporated sedimentation pins and buried plates to measure monthly surface elevation and linked sediment accretion changes. These measurements are supported by EDM Total Station and GPS transect surveys from the outer coastal areas to enable the quantification of contemporary net sedimentary movements and the analysis of the systems' sedimentation patterns. Results indicate significant localised beach profile adjustments ( 50cm annual vertical change) in the outer bay / estuary mouths. However, volumetric analyses indicate that only small (<5%) total beach volume changes are evident, thus suggesting that profile changes are a result of seasonal adjustments and exchange of sediment between profiles. Lateral erosion rates of local to regional soft shorelines within and adjacent to the study areas commonly exceed 1m yr . Estuary mudflats and saltmarshes in the systems are influenced by climatic seasonality and local morphologies, with averaged sedimentation rates of 6.0-6.5mm yr Sediment accretion at these inner coastal locations is possibly influenced by vegetation growth, particularly by spp. , together with other local physical environmental factors ( , creek meandering). Results form part of an initial 30-month study, designed to investigate relationships between the long-term regional drivers of coastal change, and the contemporary functioning of these southern coasts of Ireland. (Proceedings of the 8th International Coastal Symposium)
An Efficient Linear Octree-Based Grid Toward Magnetic Fluid Simulation

An Eulerian approach to fluid flow provides an efficient, stable paradigm for realistic fluid simulation. However, its reliance on a fixed-resolution grid is not ideal for simulations that exhibit both large and small-scale fluid phenomena. A coarse grid can efficiently capture large-scale effects like ocean waves, but lacks the resolution needed for small-scale phenomena like droplets. On the other hand, a fine grid can capture these small-scale effects, but is inefficient for large-scale phenomena. Magnetic fluid, or ferrofluid, illustrates this problem with its very fine detail centered about a magnet and lack of detail elsewhere. Our new fluid simulation technique builds upon previous octree-based methods by simulating on a custom linear octree-based grid structure. A linear octree is stored contiguously in memory rather than as a recursive set of pointers. This use of memory improves the cache coherency issues inherent in previous octree methods. By localizing high-resolution regions we can allow the simulation of small-scale phenomena, while at the same time maintaining efficiency in coarse grid regions. We believe our new simulation technique will provide a framework for simulating fer-rofluids which have not been simulated in a physically-based manner from a computer graphics perspective as of yet.
Competitiveness of Malaysia ’ s Fruits in the Global Market : Revealed Comparative Advantage Analysis

Malaysia practices an open market system and is a proponent of free trade. Its openness in embracing trade liberalization is evidenced by the signing of bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements. Being a signatory to various free trade agreements, Malaysia has been offered the opportunity to market its agricultural produce including tropical fruits, globally. Tropical fruits are considered exotic and have been found to offer health benefits. As such, demand for tropical fruits globally is increasing but the pool of players supplying these fruits is relatively small. Hence, the purpose of this paper was to assess the competitive position of Malaysiaś selected tropical fruits in comparison to five major tropical fruit exporters. Three of these exporters are from ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, and two are from Asia, i.e., China and India. The findings of this study demonstrate that Malaysia has a competitive edge in selected fruit types. In order to sustain its competitive position in the watermelon market, Malaysia should venture into downstream processing so as to add value, instead of focusing solely on marketing a whole fruit or minimally processed fruit.
Image-based approach for modeling , deformation , and synthesis of real objects

Rendering objects with arbitrary view direction and light direction using image-based rendering requires enormous amount of image samples of the objects. We have developed a specialized image capturing platform for this purpose, and a method to construct texture databases from captured image sets and to compress the databases using TPE (tensor product expansion) We also developed a scheme to render captured objects. With our method, objects can be rendered with arbitrary view/light direction and with geometrical deformation.
Annotated bibliographies can help maximise benefit of literature research skills exercises

This study evaluates annotated bibliographies as a way to ‘value-add’ to written assignments, to guide students towards strong literature research skills. While the annotated bibliography is an accepted research tool in social sciences, it is rare in most sciences disciplines. This study followed two small cohorts of biology students as they encountered annotated bibliographies. Students submitted their annotated bibliographies four weeks into a 10 week assignment. All students found the experience valuable, and felt that it increased their preparation for the final essay. Virtually all students said receiving written feedback on their bibliography was helpful. However, many students were ambivalent about whether the annotated bibliography exercise improved their literature research skills. When asked the question, ‘What do you think would most improve your literature research skills? ’, the most common response was ‘more practice’. Annotated bibliographies allow more practice indirectly, by facilitating greater effort and completion in existing essay-type assignments. Other advantages of annotated bibliographies identified in this study include timely identification of students headed down the wrong track and the ability to provide timely feedback to students. Possibly the major direct benefit perceived and appreciated by students is in facilitating early commencement and thus effective time management. The annotated bibliography is concluded to be a useful pedagogical tool to enhance the outcomes of any assessment requiring literature research skills.
Marker-less Motion Capture using Dense Human-body Shape Scanning System

In this paper, we propose a new marker-less motion capturing system using our original dense and high-frame-rate shape capturing system. The technique is useful for CG and movie production. In terms of 3D shape capturing system, we have developed a high fps and dense shape capturing technique with projector camera system. Here, we propose the system consisting of multiple sets of them to capture entire shape of human body and its useful applications, i.e. marker-less motion capture. The system mainly have three contributions. First, dense entire shape capture of human body wearing cloth is actually constructed, second, subtle and fast motion of muscle and facial expression can be captured, and third, marker-less motion capture with small number of cameras are realized. Marker-less motion capture is strongly required and Visual Hull based technique was proposed as a realistic solution so far. With our system, the number of camera can be drastically reduced to achieve the same quality.
Current Developments in LTE/LTE-Advanced : Adaptive-Proportional Fair Scheduling in LTE

This paper provides analytical expressions to validate and evaluate the performance of Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in terms of throughput, spectral efficiency and SINR which are subjected to the constraint of proportional fairness amongst users from the EnodeB. The proportional fair scheduling (PFS) algorithm is mainly focused on bandwidth allocation criterion in LTE networks for supporting high resource utilization while maintaining high fairness among network flows to each distributed User Equipment (UE). The most challenge of a PFS problem is the lack of analytic expression. Though the PFS algorithm has been a research focus for some time, the results are mainly obtained from computer simulations. The current existing research applies a simplified form of the PFS preference metric and the given analytic expression is capable to support certain cases. The proposed model is refined with respect to uniform modulation and coding, as applied in LTE networks. Besides, we show that our models are approximate estimates for the performance of rate-based proportional fair scheduling, while they outperform some simpler prediction models from related work significantly
Nitric oxide-mediated dispersal in bacterial biofilms

Biofilms  or films of bacteria  form on nearly every surface that has fluid flowing over it, be it the ocean, the walls of water distribution pipes or our bloodstream. The bacteria attach to a surface and begin to divide. Using cooperative traits such as cell-cell signalling (quorum sensing), bacteria in biofilms often develop three-dimensional structures known as microcolonies, in which cells become highly differentiated from free-living, planktonic bacteria (4). Microcolonies are generally highly tolerant to standard antimicrobial agents and previous studies have shown that bacteria embedded within such structures can be 1000-fold more resistant to antimicrobials compared to planktonic cells (1).
Service-Oriented Architecture for Supporting Collaborative User Interface Development

Abstract UI (AUI): defines abstract containers (AC) and individual components (AIC) [15] two forms of Abstract Interaction Objects (AIO) [25] by grouping subtasks ac-cording to various criteria (e.g., task model structural pat-terns, cognitive load analysis, semantic relationships identi-fication), a navigation scheme between the container and selects abstract individual component for each concept so that they are independent of any interaction modality, such as graphical, vocal, tactile, or haptic modalities. The AUI is said to be independent of any interaction modality . 3) Concrete UI (CUI): concretizes an abstract UI for a given context of use into Concrete Interaction Objects (CIOs) [25] so as to define widgets layout and interface navigation. It abstracts a final UI into a UI definition that is independ-ent of any computing platform. While the AUI is independ-ent of any interaction modality, a CUI assumes that a par-ticular interaction modality has been chosen, but that this CUI remains
A 12-b, 100 ns/b, 1.9 mW switched-current cyclic A/D converter

This paper presents a high-speed, high-resolution, and low-power CMOS switched-current cyclic Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). The high performance is attributed to the use of the following components: (1) a high-performance residual amplifier which takes two clock cycles to double a current; and (2) an efficient cyclic RSD algorithm which provides 1.5 b resolution without using two matched reference currents. Simulation results show that the developed ADC achieves 12-bit resolution, a conversion rate of 100 ns per bit, and a power consumption of 1.9 mW, where the low-cost MOSIS SCAN20 2 /spl mu/m CMOS process and 3.3 V supply voltage are employed.
Compile-Time Performance Prediction of Scientific Programs

In this disertation we present a compile-time performance prediction environment for Fortran scientific programs. The performance data are expressed as symbolic expressions, with variables for program constructs, input data size and machine parameters. We focus on modeling the processor and its memory hierarchy. The results from the static estimation can be used to drive optimizations or can be displayed using performance visualization tools. The integration of our model within the Delphi system allows the user to do performance tuning and scalability analysis faster and easier than by using instrumentation. The main contribution of this work is the cache behavior estimation using the stack distances algorithm. We have designed and implemented a compile-time algorithm that computes the stack histogram at compile-time. We use the stack histogram to predict program performance statically with very good accuracy. Experimental results are presented for two processor/memory architectures, the MIPS R10000 and UltraSparc IIi. The most interesting feature of the stack algorithm is that once the histogram is computed, the number of cache misses can be estimated for any cache size. We use stack distances to quantify locality and we show that the average locality computed using stack distances is a very reliable metric. A new algorithm for stack processing, that is 30% faster than the best know algorithm on the suite of programs traced, is also presented.
SENSORY MARKETING AND TOURIST EXPERIENCES MARKETING SENSORIAL E A EXPERIÊNCIA TURÍSTICA

Marketing has been increasing its focus on the role of the five human senses in consumer behaviour, since research under the experiential paradigm has pointed to multisensory stimuli as intensifiers of consumers’ experiences, such as tourist experiences. Whereas previous studies in tourism touted vision, current research claims a holistic approach to sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch in order to develop effective communication and branding strategies, as well to boost the performance of destinations and tourist organizations by designing and creating conditions to enhance tourist experiences. This study aims to present the main contributions of the literature on a sensory marketing approach to the tourist experience, and to discuss some preliminary results of an empirical study on the role of human senses in tourist experiences in rural areas. Data analysis from a questionnaire presented to tourists supports the multisensory nature of tourist experiences and the importance of the five senses to the intensity of the experience.
The maximum sampling rate of digital filters under hardware speed constraints

This paper presents a framework for Fiding efficient multiprocessor realizations of digital filters. Based on simple graph-theoretic concepts, a method is derived for determining the minimal sampling period of a given digital filter structure when the speed of arithmetic operations is given but the number of processing units Is unlimited. It Is shown how realistic hardware implementations can be found and evaluated by using the timing diagram of this maximal rate realization as a starting point. The minimal sampling periods of several common digital filter structures are given in terms of addition and multiplication times.
Impact of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 on productive performance of gestating sows

The primary goals of this research were to evaluate the impact of diet supplemented with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (Hy・D®) on sow’s body condition and reproduction performance. A total of sixteen multiparous sows [(Landrace × Yorkshire), average parity = 3.79 ± 0.32] and their litters were randomly allotted to 2 treatments to give 8 replicates per treatment. Diet treatments were randomized to receive a non-active (ND) or active 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (AD) diet (0.36 mg cholecalciferol/g) during pregnancy. The results of this experiment were observed at the gestation of d 58 75, d 76 95, d 96 110, and d 111 115. A cornsoybean meal-based diet was formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements recommended by NRC (2012). Results indicated that the sows’ farrowing duration was shortened (4.71, 5.38 h), and the average number of mummified fetuses decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in AD treatment compared with ND treatment (0.1, 0.5) while birth weight was significantly (p < 0.05) improved (1.44, 1.18 kg). There were no significant effects on body weight, backfat thickness, and fecal score during the gestation of sows in different phases (p > 0.05). And the total birth, stillbirth, live birth, and survival rates of the litter did not change (p > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the farrowing duration of sow pigs will be shortened and the number of mummies will be decreased while their litters’ body weight may be improved, if fed active 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (0.36 mg/g) during pregnancy phase.
Visualization and Classification of Information Spreading on “ Twitter ”

We visualized information spreading on the web service “Twitter”. Twitter is a kind of social networking service that users can send and read their short messages (Tweet) . There are tweets related to other ones (e.g. Reply and Retweet). Generally, tweets are lined in order of time, and it is called “Time Line”. Time Line is useful to read recent tweets, but it is difficult to see relations among tweets. Therefore, we developed a system “Vital Atlas” that visualized the relations using a technique of recursive clustering. Then, we found out that patterns and features about distribution of clusters existed.
Coverage Methods for Early Groundwater Contamination 1 Detection 2 3

A method based on space-filling coverage designs to optimize groundwater 4 monitoring networks for plume detection and quantification is proposed. Space-filling 5 objective functions are then compared with more classical functions. The method was 6 applied to a hypothetical case-study with 160 candidate locations, resulting in final 7 optimal design monitoring networks with 40 locations. Results show that the method is 8 superior to those based strictly on the probability of contamination detection for 9 quantifying maximum and mean values. In the light of these results fractal properties of 10 space-filling coverage methods and of simulated annealing are also discussed. 11
Bioremediation of crude oil and hydrocarbons by actinomycetes with the enhanced production of bioactive compounds

Biosurfactants act as stimulants for biodegradation by increasing the surface area of the hydrophobic substrate available for microbial attachment. The study aims the analysis of biosurfactant production by actinomycetes in order to reduce the toxicity of pollutants in soil by bioremediation. Biosurfactant producing actinomycetes were isolated from polluted environment by oil displacement method and identified by physiological, biochemical and morphological characterization. Production of biosurfactants was measured by Adhesion to Hydrocarbons (ATH) Assay as 91.2% and the emulsification index was determined to be 83.3%. Biosurfactant production kinetics was estimated at different intervals of time and biosurfactant production was maximum in the strain numbered TCD06 at 72 hrs of incubation, the extraction was carried out through chloroform methanol method. Characterization of biosurfactants by Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectrum (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids and cyclopentanol. Dense growth of the strains was observed with olive oil substrate for the strains with bioremediating properties with high emulsification index and production of biosurfactants. This study reveals the presence of new and powerful biosurfactants in actinomycetes which can emulsify the toxins and hydrocarbons and use them as their food source. The study is crucial in utilizing Actinomycetes as a potent organism for the production of biosurfactants in remediating heavily polluted soils. Emulsification index and biosurfactant production are comparatively higher than other microbial strains available for bioremediation. Incorporating such consortia of actinomycete strains into highly polluted soils can mitigate the problem of pollution.
THE MIND SYSTEM: THE MORPHOLOGICAL-ANALYSIS PROGRAM,

Abstract : A detailed description of the ANALYZE module of the MIND information system is presented. This part of the system receives English sentences as input, segments then into words, and reduces the words to their ultimate lexical components through morphological analysis. Dictionary entries providing morphological, syntactic, and semantic information about the components are retrieved and amalgamated into word-level grammatical representations, and are then concatenated to form a bottom-level grammatical representation of the input sentence. This representation is passed to the PARSE module for further processing. Significant developments incorporated in the module include: (1) a sophisticated morphological analysis procedure, (2) a very efficient dictionary referencing organization, (3) powerful techniques for representing lexical generalizations, and (4) simple but effective means for morphological recombination of lexical components. (Author)
TRANSFORMING PEDAGOGY WITH TECHNOLOGY: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES ON A UNIVERSITY ONLINE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Following the widespread adoption of the Learning Management System (LMS) by Ghanaian higher education institutions as a technology for facilitating teaching and learning, this study examined the adoption and usage of the Moodle LMS by instructors at a private university in Ghana. The objective was to determine: (1) the rate of adoption of the LMS by members of the university's instructional group, (2) the functionalities of the LMS that instructors mostly use, (3) the predominant teaching and learning activities that instructors use the LMS for, and (4) possible changes in instructor pedagogy on the LMS as they recurrently use the LMS every academic semester for 3 years (6 semesters). The study used unobtrusive data collection procedures to retrieve and analyze web server backend records of instructor activities on the LMS platform over the course of the six semesters. Findings reveal a rather slow rate of adoption of the LMS by instructors, whilst their instructional practices on the LMS did not change significantly as time progressed. Implications of these findings for further research and practice are discussed within the context of educational technology adoption and use in the Ghanaian higher education context, and the challenges and prospects therein.
Based on correlation coefficient in image matching

With the development of image technology, the application of image technology in industrial manufacturing become more and more widely. Image matching is animportantbranch of the image processing, and also it is very important in the process of industrial detection. The main purpose of this paper is aiming at the traditional image correlation matching algorithm in the application of detection in industrial, which based on similarity matching principle. This paper is going to discuss the similarity of the image matching algorithm on the application of detection in the connector. This paper improves the algorithm to speed up the detection velocity. In some specific circumstance, while correlation coefficient method is more simple and easy to use, the software development cycle will be short.
INFLUENCE OF EDDY COVARIANCE SENSOR HEIGHT ABOVE THE OIL PALM CANOPY ON CO 2 AND ENERGY FLUXES

A study was carried out to determine the influence of eddy covariance (EC) sensor placement above the oil palm canopy on footprint, CO2, and energy fluxes. The study was carried out on 18-year old oil palms planted on mineral soil at an inland location in Peninsular Malaysia. Measurements were done from July to September 2016. The open path CO2/H2O analyser and 3-D sonic anemometer were initially installed at 30 m height. Both sensors were later repositioned at 19 m height on 2 August 2016. The different sensor heights had a significant effect on the diurnal CO2 fluxes above the oil palm canopy. The average CO2 flux measured was about -3.77 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 at 30 m and was reduced to -0.75 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 at 19 m height. Lowering the sensor height also reduced the CO2 flux footprint by about 40% to a distance of 584 m. The energy imbalance is evident at the two different sensor heights and needs to be further studied.