Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The morphological development of a wood burl shader

The Morphological Development of a Wood Burl Shader. (December 2003) Robert Simms Moyer, B.A., University of Maryland Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Donald House In the field of computer graphics, shaders provide an interface between lights and surfaces, giving the appearance of metal, plastic, wood, etc. As the field progresses, more and more shaders are required to simulate a wider and wider variety of materials. We present a new shader for the simulation of wood burl, a complex material used in furniture, art, car interiors, and a host of other luxury items. This shader was developed through a morphological approach – a study of the original material, its structure, and growth. Consequently, research began with a thorough look at wood burl, polished and unpolished, in an assortment of different species. We discovered the appearance can be broken into three sub-appearances – knots, curl, and a subtle undergrain. These three sub-appearances interact to create the characteristic swirls and whorls of burl. For the subtle undergrain, we used a common oak shader, added noise, and faded it into the background. We then developed a system of randomly placing points through the material to act as knots. Since the knots grow and distort the surrounding grain, we used distance-scaled forces to push the surface coordinates around and between all the knots. When the oak shader is applied, it appears to swirl and curl around the knots, much like a stream between rocks. This created the first level of curl or swirly grained wood, but one level alone appeared flat. To solve this, we procedurally blended levels of curl to give a look of increased depth. Finally, we added reflection, gloss, and other surface properties to give a look of warmth and polish. All of these properties are controlled by a set of parameters in the shader’s interface. By adjusting these parameters, the user can emulate a variety of different burl types.
Catering with Multiple Maturities

We study how firms choose their debt maturity structure. We argue that because of lower information-gathering costs, institutional investors prefer to invest in firms with bonds outstanding across multiple maturities. We show that, in segmented markets, this preference for firms with bonds of multiple maturities generates excess demand by institutional investors for these bonds. This greater demand is especially due to larger institutions, and mostly insurance companies. This results in lower bond yields, both in the primary as well as the secondary bond markets. Aware of these benefits, firms respond by issuing bonds across the spectrum of maturities. However, geographical segmentation of financial markets constrains the ability of the firms to exploit such a strategy.
Observing incidental harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena bycatch by remote electronic monitoring

Quantification of marine mammal bycatch is important in the context of conservation and management of protected species. Hitherto, using on-board observers has been the most reli- able and accurate method; however, observer programs can be prohibitively expensive. To inves- tigate the potential of closed-circuit television cameras to document bycatch of marine mammals, 6 Danish commercial gillnetters (10 to15 m in length) operating under the Danish catch quota management system were equipped with remote electronic monitoring (REM) systems. The REM systems provided video footage, time and position of all net hauls and bycatches of marine mam- mals. Comparisons between REM results and fishers' logbooks showed that the REM system gave more reliable results, since fishers, in many cases, did not observe the bycatch while working on the deck because the bycatch had already dropped out of the net before coming on board. Fur- thermore, very high coverage percentages at low cost, compared to on-board observers, could be obtained with REM. Alternative means of conducting the video analysis were tested; they were, however, not found to be very efficient.
Triebel–Lizorkin spaces with non-doubling measures

Suppose that μ is a Radon measure on R, which may be non-doubling. The only condition assumed on μ is a growth condition, namely, there is a constant C0 > 0 such that for all x ∈ supp(μ) and r > 0, μ(B(x, r)) ≤ C0r, where 0 < n ≤ d. The authors provide a theory of Triebel–Lizorkin spaces Ḟ s pq(μ) for 1 < p < ∞, 1 ≤ q ≤ ∞ and |s| < θ, where θ > 0 is a real number which depends on the non-doubling measure μ, C0, n and d. The method does not use the vector-valued maximal function inequality of Fefferman and Stein and is new even for the classical case. As applications, the lifting properties of these spaces by using the Riesz potential operators and the dual spaces are given.
Effect of Human Resource Contribution and Environmental Aspect of Corporate Social Reporting on Firm Performance: Evidence from Listed Firms in Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect human resource contribution and environmental contribution on firm performance in Nairobi Security Exchange (NSE) Kenya. Legitimacy Theory was used in the study. This research study covered population of 44 firms listed in Nairobi security exchange in Kenya operating consistently in the security exchange during the period 2005-2010 giving a total of 264 firms’ year observation. Inferential statistics comprised of correlation and regression analysis method. The study findings revealed that Human Resource Contribution and Environmental Contribution have a positive effect on the firm performance. From findings, the study concluded that human resource and environmental issues contributions affect the performance of firms’ particularly environment contribution. The study collective results help to explain why firms should disclose reports. The results also assist CSR practitioners in convincing top management that transparent voluntary environmental disclosures are informative in terms of enhancing firm performance.
Monthly variation in the morphological characteristics of Trichodina sp. (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) found on whiting Merlangius merlangus euxinus

To determine the existence and extent of seasonal variation in morphological characteristics of Trichodina sp. , sixty whiting Merlangius merlangus euxinus were sampled monthly for one year, from the Eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey, using a line and hook. Strong seasonal morphological variations were detected; the denticle span, blade length and ray length showed significant seasonal variation, especially in June. The timing of primary production in the Black Sea and the changes in cellular organelles suggested a negative relationship between the body diameter of trichodinids and food availability in the surrounding environment.
Comparative Analysis of Nigeria's Economy during Pre - Reformed and Reformed Era.

This study was carried out to evaluate the economy during pre-reformed and reformed period in Nigeria.The study notes two eras of pre-reform (1970-1985) and the reformed (1995-2010) financial eras. Using both descriptive statistics and analytical methods, regression analyses were conducted and based on the results, it was discovered among other things that there was no significant difference in the growth and development of the economy vis-a-vis bank performance during the pre-reformed compared to the reformed financial era in Nigeria. To this end it was concluded that reforms so far implemented have not significantly move the economy foreword and consequently banks have not also performed as had been expected but rather the reforms have created avenues for executive fiat, corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
An Empirical Study of the Optimum Team Size Requirement in a Collaborative Computer Programming/Learning Environment

Pair programming has been widely acclaimed the best way to go in computer programming. Recently, collaboration involving more subjects has been shown to produce better results in programming environments. However, the optimum group size needed for the collaboration has not been adequately addressed. This paper seeks to inculcate and acquaint the students involved in the study with the spirit of team work in software projects and to empirically determine the effective (optimum) team size that may be desirable in programming/learning real life environments. Two different experiments were organized and conducted. Parameters for determining the optimal team size were formulated. Volunteered participants of different genders were randomly grouped into five parallel teams of different sizes ranging from 1 to 5 in the first experiment. Each team size was replicated six times. The second experiment involved teams of same gender compositions (males or females) in different sizes. The times (efforts) for problem analysis and coding as well as compile-time errors (bugs) were recorded for each team size. The effectiveness was finally analyzed for the teams. The study shows that collaboration is highly beneficial to new learners of computer programming. They easily grasp the programming concepts when the learning is done in the company of others. The study also demonstrates that the optimum team size that may be adopted in a collaborative learning of computer programming is four.
A proof of the interpretability of P/PML in a relational setting

In [1] we presented the logic P=PML, a formalism suitable for the speci cation and construction of Real{Time systems. The main algebraic result, namely, the interpretability of P=PML into an equational calculus based on ! -closure fork algebras (which allows to reason about Real{Time systems in an equational calculus) was stated but not proved because of the lack of space. In this paper we present a detailed proof of the interpretability theorem, as well as the proof of the representation theorem for ! -closure fork algebras which provides a very natural semantics based on binary relations for the equational calculus.
New Optimized Intermediate Band (IB) Design to Improve ZnTeO Solar Cell Performances

In this paper, a genetic algorithm-based approach is proposed to extract and optimize the design parameters of the intermediate band solar cell (IBSC) in order to improve the electrical performance and the conversion efficiency behavior of the device. The proposed approach is applied to investigate the effect of the energy level (Ei) intermediate band (IB) and electronic states density (Ni) influence on cell efficiency. The presented analytical models are used as objective functions, which are required for our optimization approach. The obtained results are compared with analytical results found in literature indicating the applicability of the genetic algorithm technique to study the electrical behavior of the IBSC design. Therefore, this approach will be extended to alternative solar cell for motivating experimental efforts to realize these promising photovoltaic devices.
Passive Modernization? The new Human Development Index and its components in Italy’s regions (1871-2007)

The article presents and discusses estimates of social and economic indicators for Italy’s regions in benchmark years roughly from Unification to the present day: life expectancy, education, Gdp per capita at purchasing power parity, and the new Human Development Index (HDI). A broad interpretative hypothesis, based on the distinction between passive and active modernization, is proposed to account for the evolution of regional imbalances over the long-run. In the lack of active modernization, Southern Italy converged thanks to passive modernization, i.e., State intervention: however, this was more effective in life expectancy, less successful in education, expensive and as a whole ineffective in Gdp. As a consequence, convergence in the HDI occurred from the late XIX century to the 1970s, but came to a sudden halt in the last decades of the XX century.
The Value of a Rolodex: CEO Pay and Personal Network

Whom a CEO knows has a substantial impact on pay. An additional connection to an executive or director outside the firm increases a CEO‟s compensation by over $17,000 on average, and explains about 10% of total pay. An additional premium is associated with “important” members: insiders at other firms, geographically local connections, or those within the same industry. Needy firms – those whose non-CEO executives are poorly connected and those geographically isolated from industry peers pay the highest prices for a CEO‟s rolodex. Pay-for-connectivity is unrelated to several measures of corporate governance, evidence against rent extraction in favor of a market-based explanation for CEO pay. * We have benefited from discussions with Andres Almazan, Aydogan Alti, Shane Corwin, Adolfo de Motta, Charlie Hadlock, Jay Hartzell, Tim Loughran, Mitchell Petersen, Gordon Phillips, Anil Shivdasani, Antoinette Schoar, Paul Schultz, Geoffrey Tate, Sheridan Titman, and David Yermack. We thank seminar participants at the University of Texas (Austin) for helpful comments. We are grateful to the University Development Office at Notre Dame for funding the purchase of the BoardEx database. We wish to thank Jacqueline Higgins and Shoshana Zysberg at Management Diagnostic Limited for assistance with the BoardEx database. Xian Cai provided excellent research assistance. ‡ Contact: Joseph Engelberg, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (Email) joseph_engelberg@kenan-flagler.unc. edu, (Tel) 919-962-6889; Pengjie Gao, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, (Email) pgao@nd.edu, (Tel) 574-631-8048; and Christopher Parsons, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (Email) chris_parsons@kenan-flagler.unc. edu, (Tel) 919-962-4132. Please address all correspondence to Joseph Engelberg.
Accelerating of Pink Pigment Excretion from Cyanobacterium Oscillatoria by Co-Cultivation with Anabaena

The freshwater cyanobacterium Oscillatoria BTCC/A 0004 excretes pink pigment containing lipoproteins with molecular weights of about 10 kDa. This pigment has surfactant properties with strong emulsification activity toward several hydrocarbons. This extracellular metabolite was suspected as toxin or allelochemical in their habitat. In this study, I investigated the effect of co-cultivation of Oscillatoria with Anabaena variabilis on the pigment excretion to explore the physiological roles of this pigment in its natural environment. The dead or viable cells and medium of A. variabilis were added into Oscillatoria cultures. Results showed that co-cultivation of free viable cells of A. variabilis enhanced the excretion of pigment without effect on the cell growth. Co-cultivation with viable cells in separated method and dead cells did not influenced the pigment production. The addition of A. variabilis medium was slightly increased the excretion of the pigment. Those results indicated that direct contact with A. variabilis caused Oscillatoria released a certain signaling compound. Key words: Oscillatoria, Anabaena variabilis, biosurfactant, cyanobacterium, pink pigment
Triglycerides / HDL Ratio And Its Impact On Risk Of Diabetes Mellitus Development During 1 Antiretroviral Therapy 2 Short running title : Triglycerides / HDL Ratio and Diabetes ' risk 3

1. “San Gerardo” Hospital, University Milano-Bicocca, Division of Infectious Diseases, 8 Department of Internal Medicine MONZA, Italy 9 2. “Lazzaro Spallanzani” National Institute for Infectious Diseases-IRCCS 10 ROME, IT 11 3. Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine & Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, 12 Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus 13 LONDON, UK 14 4. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science Luigi Sacco, Infectious Diseases, University 15 of Milan, MILAN, IT 16 5. Infectious Disease Unit, Niguarda Cà Granda Hospital MILAN, IT 17 6. Department of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, University Vita-Salute 18 San Raffaele, MILAN, IT 19 7. San Paolo University Hospital MILAN, IT 20 21 § Members are listed in the acknowledgments’ section 22 23 These data were presented as poster at CROI 2014, Boston, USA, 3-6 March 2014. 24 25
A Design on Reduction Cogging Torque of Dual Generator Radial Flux Permanent Magnet Generator for Small Wind Turbine

In this paper, the design for an electromagnetic structure and reduction cogging torque of a dual generator structured RFPM generator, which is a combination of the inner- and outer-rotor types, has been proposed. We call this a dual generator radial flux permanent magnet generator. To reduce the cogging torque, firstly, stator tooth pairing was designed; secondly, stator displacement was designed and finally, stator tooth pairing and stator displacement were carried out simultaneously. We found the optimal design condition about stator tooth pairing angle combination and stator displacement angle for cogging torque minimization. As a result, a cogging was reduced by 93.3[%] by this study.
Opredelitev krvotvornih matičnih in predniških celic v pripravkih za presaditev

Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells have been successfully used for autologous and allogeneic transplantations for many years. Quantitative and qualitative laboratory assays allow controlling different cellular products during collection, concentration and preservation. The information about cell number, viability, functionality and purity of the graft ensure safe application and help predict the likelihood of successful engraftment. Almost 50 years of research have disclosed the great heterogeneity of cells that exhibit a haematopoietic differentiation potential. This will enable the identification of subpopulations within the population of CD34-positive haematopoietic stem cells. Citirajte kot/Cite as: Maličev e, Krašna M. opredelitev krvotvornih matičnih in predniških celic v pripravkih za presaditev. Zdrav Vestn. 2018;87(1–2):58–68. DOI: 10.6016/ZdravVestn.1602
IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM) FOR THE NEW FIXED ASSETS INDONESIAN TAX ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS

There is a large difference between IFRS-based Accounting Standards and taxation rules the Government of Indonesia. In 2011 Indonesian Institute of Accountants (IAI) decide to adopted IFRS-based as Indonesian Accounting Standards. Fixed assets ware one of the most affected accounts in financial report because of adapted IFRS rules in Indonesian Accounting Standard. Unfortunately, changes in accounting standards are not followed by a change in the tax rules. Fiscal reconciliation process must be undertaken because variety of the fixed assets and depreciation methods or valuation. Various in types and high number of fixed assets and tax payers lack capability of tax reporting, leads high complexity problem in fixed asset tax accounting. Therefore software that is able to accommodate the interests and demands of the standard tax is one means to facilitate required reporting. This study used an experimental method using two groups of samples which taxpayers and consultants. With the purpose of comparison tests performed a between-subject testing. By using an independent testing sample t-test results showed that there is not difference perceived usefulness (PU) by the taxpayer and consultants. Both groups of experimental units assume that the system is able to improve their performance. Therefore the first hypothesis is rejected in this research. The results of the second test indicates the second hypothesis is accepted, it means a significant difference of the level of ease of use (Perceived Ease of Use) perceived by the taxpayer and consultants. In general, these results show the potential tax accounting software users are more focused on the consultants.
Light quark energy loss in strongly coupled N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma

We compute the penetration depth of a light quark moving through a large N{sub c}, strongly coupled N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma using gauge/gravity duality and a combination of analytic and numerical techniques. We find that the maximum distance a quark with energy E can travel through a plasma is given by {delta}x{sub max}(E)=(C/T)(E/T{radical}({lambda})){sup 1/3} with C{approx_equal}0.5.
Dairy farmers’ values and how their values affect their decision

Values affect humans’ perception of situations and problems and guide our actions. The objective of this study was to explore the values of dairy farmers, and whether their values influenced their decisions to maintain dairy farming or to buy consultancy services. During late fall 2007 we visited and interviewed 90 farmers. First we did a qualitative analysis of the data and then we merged the interview data with the existing database of financial data from the year 2007 to do statistical analyses. We also checked whether the farmers still produced milk in 2013, six years after the interviews. Most farmers had terminal values like keeping up the tradition and to have an interesting work. Value combinations with instrumental values such as to earn money and to produce milk were common. Realizing that many farmers prioritize terminal values over instrumental values has important consequences for dairy companies, dairy consultants and politicians.
Role of Youth Diplomacy in Governments' Foreign Relationships by Using YNGOs Capacity (Youth Non-governmental Organizations)

In current world, regarding the daily event occur in human communications domain, the process of international problems causes blurring the role of governments and this new situation leads to evolution in common traditional diplomacy of past centuries. Parallel with the communities' evolution, it is evident, new scenarios engender in diplomacy and international relations arena which seek the modern preferences along methods adoption and modern means like using non-governmental players capacity especially NGOs. Regarding the youth role-playing in various countries specially developed onesas a thinking, work and providing ideas forces in institutions, scientific and administrative centers and the YNGOsdevelopment process in the global system along various programs including welfare and philanthropic measures beyond the countries' boundary; and creating active youth global network and developing this network in most youth communities along influence in philanthropic and universal programs in international arena which causes the influence on the minds of different masses of people and even governments and international organizations; new discourse with the title of youth diplomacy as modern diplomacy is created. Therefore, the present study aimed toinvestigate what is the role of youth diplomacy in developing philanthropic discourse and promoting welfare measures in international system by using NGOs. It seems, meanwhile, moving in the way of developing mutual understanding among youth in other countries, who has motivation and concerns to encounter the spread of war, ethnic conflicts, migration, the spread of AIDS, environmental degradation and other similar cases; will be the reason of the creation of the effective youth global network in countries along governments and YNGOs-orientated by unofficial meanshave the approach of achieving a better future in order to achieve the peace and pressure on the governments have the role in promoting violence and extremism.