Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of potential impact of GM cotton on Chicks

A feeding study was conducted for 120 days on chicks ( Gallus gallus L.) to evaluate effect of two varieties of transgenic cotton containing Bt (CEMB-Cry1Ac +Cry2A) and GTG gene (EPSPS enzyme) on growth, egg productivity and clinical chemistry of blood, serum protein and histology of organs. A total of 90- and 15-days old layer chicks were taken and divided in three groups each with three replicates. Two types of diets were given to chicks i.e. transgenic cotton with Cry1Ac+Cry2A gene, cotton leaves containing GTG gene and non-transgenic cotton served as control. Birds weighed at fifteen days intervals showed no significance difference in their weight. Egg production rate was significantly different in the different treatments. Clinical chemistry of blood, serum protein and histological analysis of organs (heart, liver, spleen and intestine) showed no significant difference in the transgenic diet and control diet fed animals.
A NEW MULTIVARIATE NONLINEAR MODEL TO HANDLE THE VOLATILITY TRANSMISSION

Price volatility of stocks is an important issue in stock markets. It should also be taken into account that the stochastic nature of volatility affects decision-makers’ minds to a great extent. Therefore, predicting price volatility could help them make proper decisions. In this paper, a new multivariate fractionally integrated generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (MFIGARCH) model is proposed to handle the price volatility in stocks. In this model, a long-term parameter is considered and estimated along with other parameters. In estimating the parameters of this nonlinear model, the maximum likelihood estimation method, which could be solved by standard econometric packages, is applied. However, these packages are no longer efficient when the size of the model increases. Thus meta-heuristic approaches, which stochastically seek optimal or near-optimal solutions, were used. In this paper, the well-known Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) meta-heuristic method is used for solving the suggested multivariate FIGARCH model. Hence the main objective of this paper is to introduce a new model for addressing the stock price volatility (i.e., the development of FIGARCH to create the MFIGARCH model) and to apply an efficient estimation method (i.e. PSO) for finding the parameters of the problem.
Fine-tuned double-deck Stewart platform using base excitation with a 6DOF piezo driven hexapod

A parallel mechanism was designed and developed to perform tasks with micro meter accuracy within millimeter-range workspace. The system employs two Stewart platforms; while squiggle motors were used in one of the platforms to provide larger workspace, the second platform which uses piezoelectric actuators accurately positions the tool tip in the desired point. Error model for tool tip was developed for the first platform. Considering worst case scenario and using Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm, positioning error of the first platform was evaluated numerically throughout the respective workspace, upon which the design of the fine tuning piezo driven second stage was carried out. Positioning error and workspace of the whole system was evaluated. Using a single-deck platform with squiggle motors caused 40 micrometers positioning error while application of the fine-tuning piezo-driven Stewart platform reduced the total positioning error to 10 micrometers.
Migration and HIV/AIDS in Rural Areas: The Case of 'De-urbanization' in Parts of Zambia.

A tendency for populations to migrate back to rural places has of late been evident in parts of Zambia. This is a reverse of the earlier situation where migration was to urban areas for social economic motives especially employment, education, and health. This can be argued to play a role in redistributing and hence equalizing rural HIV/AIDS prevalence rates to urban rates. In rural areas, implications might manifest rapidly and severely. Amongst other reasons is that they at most are of lowest levels regarding income, education, and so on. By ascertaining the role of migration in equalizing the rates, it might help decision makers have clear objectives and target systems that contain the epidemic within regions. Recognizing the observation that fewer studies have considered migration and associated attributes of HIV together (Crush, 2005), this paper attempts to contribute by discussing the role of urban-rural migration (De-urbanization) in equalizing HIV/AIDS prevalence rates.
Dmitryivanovite: A new high-pressure calcium aluminum oxide from the Northwest Africa 470 CH3 chondrite characterized using electron backscatter diffraction analysis

Abstract Dmitryivanovite (CaAl2O4) is a newly described, calcium aluminum oxide from the Northwest Africa 470 (NWA470) CH3 chondrite (Ivanova et al. 2002). NWA470 contains abundant small Ca,Alrich inclusions (CAIs), and dmitryivanovite, whose composition is close to stoichiometric CaAl2O4 [Ca1.000(Al1.993Si0.003Ti0.002)1.998O4], was found in one of these CAIs. It occurs as ~10 μm subhedral grains intergrown with grossite (CaAl4O7), perovskite, and melilite. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis revealed that dmitryivanovite is a high-pressure polymorph of CaAl2O4 (a = 7.95, b = 8.62, c = 10.25 Å, β = 93.1°, space group P21/c, and Z = 12). Dmitryivanovite is the third phase to be described from nature in the binary system of CaO-Al2O3, the other two being hibonite (CaAl12O19) and grossite (CaAl4O7)-all are found in CAIs. The presence of CaAl2O4 in NWA470 suggests a local elevated dust/gas ratio in the solar nebula. The phase diagram of CaAl2O4 shows that ~2 GPa is required to stabilize the high-pressure CaAl2O4 polymorph at 1327 °C, above which CaAl2O4 condenses from the solar nebula. Because it is unlikely that the solar nebula ever had such a high total gas pressure, it appears more probable that condensation of the low-pressure polymorph occurred in the solar nebula with an enhanced dust-to-gas ratio and that subsequently the high-pressure polymorph was produced by shock metamorphism, most likely after the CaAl2O4-bearing CAI was incorporated into the NWA470 parent asteroid.
Performance of Spanish Encoding Functions during Record Linkage

Nowadays, many businesses suffer from duplicate records. For instance, information about the same provider, customer or product appears in multiple systems and in multiple formats across the company and simply does not tally from system to system. This situation seriously prevents managers to make well informed decisions. In the case of low data quality written in Spanish language, the identification and correction of problems such as spelling errors with English language based coding techniques is not suitable. In this paper, we have implemented, modified, and utilized three Spanish phonetic coding functions in our prototype called Universal Evaluation System of Data Quality (SEUCAD). A Spanish phonetic coding based on Soundex algorithm, a Spanish Metaphone coding, and a Modified version of the latter were utilized to detect duplicate text strings in the presence of spelling errors in Spanish. The results were satisfactory, athe Spanish phonetic algorithm performed well most of the time, demonstrating opportunities for an improved performance of Spanish encoding during the record linkage process. Keywords-— data mining; data matching; de-duplication; record linkage.
Antennes multi-norme pour systèmes de communications mobiles

Ce memoire presente l’etude d’antennes faible dimension utilisables pour la telephonie mobile de Troisieme Generation. Les antennes de Troisieme Generation necessitent un fonctionnement large bande, multi-bande avec un encombrement dimensionnel le plus faible possible. L’obtention de ces caracteristiques est menee a bien par l’utilisation de courts-circuits filaires, courts-circuits plans, fentes qui permettent d’aboutir a des structures rayonnantes faible dimension mais parfois a faible bande passante, alimentees par sonde coaxiale ou par guide d’ondes coplanaire. La mise en œuvre de l’ensemble de ces techniques permet d’aboutir a une antenne compacte bi-bande GSM/UMTS integrable dans un telephone mobile. Dans le cas de faible bande passante, des composants actifs sont integres au sein de ces antennes afin de realiser des antennes commandables en frequence. Des etudes sur le comportement de l’ensemble de ces antennes sont realisees. Elles sont accompagnees d’une interpretation des phenomenes physiques. Les performances realisables avec ces antennes sont validees par les mesures effectuees sur differents prototypes.
ORGANISATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOL: TRACKING DECISIONS DEPENDING ON GENDER AND ETHNICITY IN THE SWISS EDUCATION SYSTEM

Swiss secondary school consists of classes with different achievement requirements leading to non-equivalent academic titles. Depending on gender and ethnicity, pupils profit differently from this institutionalised dispersion of academic success. Referring to cantonal data (N=25 cantons) as well as to a set of individual data (N= 1425 pupils), empirical indices are found that educational opportunities are the consequence of institutional discrimination, school organisation making use of their pupils' cultural and symbolic capital to legitimate its tracking activities. Theoretical and empirical arguments indicate that schools are prompted to construct their clientele closer to reality in order to diminish unjustified institutionalised expectations.
Islamic Formula of Future Value of Asset : A Scientific Derivation

Increasing price of an asset being sold on credit is a common practice of Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) and certain retailers using formulas of compound interest (Riba) and speculation (Maysir). As Islam prohibits both of these concepts, relevant literature was qualitatively probed to find Shariah compliant mechanism for setting future value of an asset being sold on credit negating Riba and Maysir. The study thus extracted a formula from authentic Shariah sources and presented it quantitatively as an alternate to abandon the conventional formulas of interest and speculation. It further contributed recommendations for credit sellers and buyers in the light of Shariah principles and possible future research.
INFLUENCE OF EMBEDDED DIAGNOSTIC SENSORS ON STRUCTURAL DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF COMPOSITE ROTORS

of strength of composite rotor elements by means of optimization of matrix and anisotropic reinforcement properties allows us to decrease dynamical forces and thereby to increase the machinery efficiency. This unique material optimization is impossible in the case of rotors made of classical isotropic materials. The application of the composite rotors with high reliabili-ty demands causes that it is important to evaluate their durability and to investigate phenomena related to the complex material degradation process and to the rotor failures. One of the ways of the failure detection and observation of its evolution is to apply a diagnostic system which use methods based on relations between features of diagnostic signals and the technical state of the machine. Diagnostic signals, e.g. vibroacoustic signals, can be observed and supplied on-line to the diagnostic system. Signal observation requires an application of suitable sensors, which should be mounted as close as possible to the place where the failure can occur. Among of different solutions, a big attention is paid to piezoelectric sensors, which are embedded in composites. Such type of sensors, especially in high-speed rotors, can cause unintended changes of their dynamical properties. In the article, a short overview of requirements for a diagnostic system at the different stages of life of a composite rotor was shown. Exemplary results of numerical modal analysis of a composite rotor disk with embedded piezoelectric sensors was presented. The aim of the experiment was to identify how the size and the number of piezoelectric patches effect on dynamic behavior of the disk at different values of rotational speed.
Use of the Auction Algorithm for Target Object Mapping

Abstract : This report compares the performance of two algorithms in correlating observations from multiple sensors. This correlation problem can be treated as an assignment problem in operations research, with assignment costs being equal to the sufficient statistic of the generalized likelihood ratio test. In sensor to sensor correlation, the main concern is a one-to-the solution in which targets from one sensor are matched in an optimal manner with targets from the other sensor. This corresponds to a classical assignment problem that is often solved using Munkres' algorithm. In target object mapping, concern shifts to correctly associating a subset of high value targets between sensors. We hypothesize that this goal could be better attained by allowing for a many-to-one solution and propose the use of a modified auction algorithm to solve this generalized assignment problem. Results of Monte Carlo simulations of such situations are analyzed to compare the performance of the two solution methods.
COSTS AND PROFITABILITY IN FOOD PROCESSING: PASTRY TYPE UNITS

For each company, profitability, products quality and customer satisfaction are the most important targets. To attaint these targets, managers need to know all about costs that are used in decision making. What kind of costs? How these costs are calculated for a specific sector such as food processing? These are only a few questions with answers in our paper. We consider that a case study for this sector may be relevant for all people that are interested to increase the profitability of this specific activity sector.
Valuation of trips to second homes in the country: Do environmental attributes matter?

Although spending time in a summer home is a popular leisure activity in many developed countries, little is known about the welfare impacts of such recreation in monetary terms. We use data from Finland to provide first estimates of the extent of the recreation benefits obtained from visits to second homes. Special emphasis is placed on how environmental attributes of second homes, such as the presence of algae, the availability of a beach, and electricity, influence the recreation value of visits. The impacts are valued through revealed preferences using the travel cost method. We estimate the recreation value to be about EUR 170 – 205 per trip if a summer home is electrified, if a beach is available and if algae do not prevent aquatic recreation. The aggregate nonmarket benefits of the use of the current summer home stock are considerable – about EUR 500 million per annum. The presence of algae that prevent aquatic recreation decreases the value per trip by 40 percent, and the lack of a beach reduces it by 45 percent; electrification increases the value by 3–5 percent. These impacts should be balanced against the social costs of second homes when designing environmental policies on leisure-time housing.
ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF GROUNDWATER: A CONTINGENT VALUATION APPROACH

he Water Framework Directive of the European Union has become a milestone in the water policy for this area. This Directive aims to achieve a “good ecological status” of bodies of water in the Member States of the European Union by 2015. The Water Framework Directive calls for the application of economic principles, economic approaches, tools and instruments. The functions of this economic analysis include identifying methods to estimate resource and environmental costs. The purpose of this paper is to define the applications of Environmental Economics techniques in a groundwater valuation, taking the Gavilan Aquifer, located in the southeast of Spain, as a case study. This aquifer discharges support a very important wetland, with high biological, recreational and landscaping values. As this groundwater is also used for agricultural purposes, it is an ideal case to test a methodology aimed at measuring both environmental and resource costs. Two valuation techniques % Contingent Valuation Method and Production Function Approach% were applied so as to achieve this goal. The total economic value estimated for this groundwater is 0.454 €/m3, out of which 16.1% is related to environmental and recreational aspects.
Structure of Business Firm Networks and Scale-Free Models

We study the structure of business firm networks in the Life Sciences (LS) and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors. We analyze business firm networks and scale-free models with degree distribution P(q) proportional to (q + c)^-λ using the method of k-shell decomposition. We find that the LS network consists of three components: a "nucleus", which is a small well connected subgraph, "tendrils", which are small subgraphs consisting of small degree nodes connected exclusively to the nucleus, and a "bulk body" which consists of the majority of nodes. At the same time we do not observe the above structure in the ICT network. Our results suggest that the sizes of the nucleus and the tendrils decrease as λ increases and disappear for λ greater or equal to 3. We compare the k-shell structure of random scale-free model networks with the real world business firm networks. The observed behavior of the k-shell structure in the two industries is consistent with a recently proposed growth model that assumes the coexistence of both preferential and random regimes in the evolution of industry networks.
Mobile Object Detection from an Embedded camera: how to minimize the latency time?

Abstract This paper presents a global approach devoted to the detection of Mobile Objects from images acquired by a single camera embedded on a vehicle or a robot. The general method is presented involving at first optical flow extraction from tracked interest points, then clustering between static points belonging to the background and mobile ones extracted on different mobile objects, and then the tracking procedure performed for every detected mobile object. First results obtained from a sequential implementation, have shown that the latency time was too important. Here two improvements are proposed: first, a probabilistic map is built in order to detect points in more probable regions where a mobile object could be found. Then sequential and parallel architectures proposed to integrate point detection, point tracking and point clustering, are analyzed with respect to the latency time. Finally experimental results are presented and discussed.
Shape-induced phase transition of domain patterns in ferroelectric platelets

Using a combination of experimental and computational techniques, changes in the domain structures seen in freestanding single-crystal platelets of BaTiO${}_{3}$ have been described in terms of a second-order phase transition. The transition is driven by the change in the length-to-width ratio of the platelet sidewalls and results in a symmetry breaking of a complex, quadrant domain pattern. The phenomenon can be described by a Landau formalism in which (1) the order parameter is not the polarization but rather is the degree to which the domain pattern becomes off-centered, and (2) the shape anisotropy of the platelet substitutes for temperature in the conventional Landau expansion as the controlling thermodynamic variable. Bistability, in terms of the direction in which the domain pattern moves off center, coupled with the spontaneous macroscopic polarization and toroidal moment that result from this off-centering, prompt the possibility of a new form of memory storage.
A taxonomic revision of the Jurassic turtles Portlandemys and Plesiochelys. American Museum novitates ; no. 2574

A taxonomic revision of the Jurassic chelonian family Plesiochelyidae recognizes two valid genera: Plesiochelys Riutimeyer and Portlandemys, new. The genera Craspedochelys Riutimeyer and Stegochelys Lydekker are junior synonyms of Plesiochelys, whereas Plesiochelys jaccardi, P. solodurensis, and P. sanctaeverenae are synonymized with Plesiochelys etalloni. The British Plesiochelys planiceps and the central European Plesiochelys etalloni, both represented by cranial material, are the only species of this genus recognized here. Portlandemys mcdowelli, new genus and species, is proposed for the specimens referred to by Parsons and Williams as the "Portland skulls. "
Rainfall prediction for sustainable economic growth

Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy with the majority of Zimbabweans being rural people who derive their livelihood from agriculture and other agro-based economic activities. Zimbabwe’s agriculture depends on the erratic rainfall which threatens food, water and energy access, as well as vital livelihood systems which could severely undermine efforts to drive sustainable economic growth. For Zimbabwe, delivering a sustainable economic growth is intrinsically linked to improved climate modelling. Climate research plays a pivotal role in building Zimbabwe’s resilience to climate change and keeping the country on track, as it charts its path towards sustainable economic growth. This paper presents a simple tool to predict summer rainfall using standardized Darwin sea level pressure (SDSLP) anomalies and southern oscillation index (SOI) that are used as part of an early drought warning system. Results show that SDSLP anomalies and SOI for the month of April of the same year, i.e., seven months before onset of summer rainfall (December to February total rainfall) are a simple indicator of amount of summer rainfall in Zimbabwe. The low root mean square error (RMSE) and root mean absolute error (RMAE) values of the proposed model, make SDSLP anomalies for April and SOI for the same month an additional input candidates for regional rainfall prediction schemes. The results of the proposed model will benefit in the prediction of oncoming summer rainfall and will influence policy making in agriculture, environment planning, food redistribution and drought prediction for sustainable economic development.
Iris localization by means of adaptive thresholding and Circular Hough Transform

In this paper, a new iris localization method for mobile devices is presented. Our system uses both intensity and saturation threshold on the captured eye images to determine iris boundary and sclera area, respectively. Estimated iris boundary pixels which have been placed outside the sclera will be removed. The remaining pixels are mainly the boundary of iris inside the sclera. Then, circular Hough transform is applied to such iris boundary pixels in order to localize the iris. Experiments were done on 60 iris images taken by a HTC mobile device from 10 different persons with both left and right eyes images available per person. Also, we evaluate the proposed algorithm on MICHE datasets include iphone5, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Tab2. Experimental evaluation shows that the proposed system can successfully localize iris on tested images.
Duality for modules and its applications to the theory of rings with minimum condition

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theory of dualities for modules and to give some applications to the theory of rings with minimum condition for one-sided ideals. Dualities with which we are concerned are functorial dualities based on the notion of functors in the sense of Eilenberg and MacLane [5] and are not axiomatic ones such as discussed by MacLane [16] and Buchsbaum [2]. 1. Let A and B be two rings with unit elements. Let ~l be a class of left (or right) A-modules and iE a class of left (or right) B-modules. The category in which" objects" are modules in ~l (resp. iB) and" maps" are all A-homomorphisms (resp. B-homomorphisms) will be denoted by the same letter ~l (resp. iB). A function T which assigns to each module X in ~X a B-module T(X) in iE and to each A-homomorphism f: X -)XI (X, XI E ~l) a B-homomorphism T(f): T(X) -> T(X/), is called a covariant functor from the category ~l to the category iB if the following conditions are satisfied: