Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TRA-952: ENHANCING RESILIENCE OF TRAFFIC NETWORKS WITH CONNECTED VEHICLES

Improving resilience of transportation infrastructure is a multifaceted subject. One of these addresses the traffic serving capability of the transportation system. As the profession progresses in finding ways to improve infrastructure resilience in physical terms, an associated thought process is underway to enhance the adaptive capacity in traffic networks with intelligent systems and advanced related methods in order to cope with shocks in the traffic environment caused by nature-induced or other events. This paper reports research in-progress on measures for enhancing the resilience of road traffic networks with applications of connected vehicles. The need for resilient road traffic networks is defined in order to reduce the risk of severe loss of capability to serve demand. Resilience is the ability to resist the loss of traffic-serving capability by using traffic (geometric) and control system design advances (i.e. the inherent resilience) and by dynamically activating capacity-enhancing measures (i.e. the dynamic resilience). There is a need to go beyond the adaptive traffic control of intersections by enhancing inherent plus dynamic resilience of the traffic system at a broader spatial scale of a corridor or a wide-area road network. Connected vehicle technology and associated methods that yield resiliency measures (i.e. adaptive capacity attributes) are described. Ideas are advanced on how to apply these resiliency measures in practice in order to address efficiency and other issues in urban transportation. Finally, concluding remarks are presented on the technical feasibility of implementing the research ideas presented in this paper.
Handbook for Arabic language teaching professionals in the 21st century

Contents: E. -S. Badawi, Foreword. Preface. Part I: Background. K. Versteegh, History of Arabic Language Teaching. K.C. Ryding, Teaching Arabic in the United States. S. Gass, Models of Second Language Acquisition. P.B. Stevens, Is Spanish Really So Easy? Is Arabic Really So Hard? : Perceived Difficulty in Learning Arabic as a Second Language. Part II: Contexts of Arabic Language Teaching. M.A. Nahla, Egypt: Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers in Alexandria University. M.H. Amara, Israel: Teaching Arabic in Israel. S. Hee-man, F. El-Khazindar, South Korea: Teaching Arabic in Korea. J. Dickens, J.C. E. Watson, Britain and Ireland: Arabic Teaching in Britain and Ireland. N. Anghelescu, Rumania: The Arabic Language at the University of Bucharest. Part III: Communicative Competence in Arabic. D. Wilmsen, What Is Communicative Arabic? K.M. Wahba, Arabic Language Use and the Educated Language User. M. Younes, Integrating the Vernacular With FuSHa in the Arabic-as-a-Foreign-Language Classroom. Part IV: The Learners. R.K. Belnap, A Profile of Students of Arabic in U.S. Universities. R. El Essawi, Arabic Language Learners' Needs: Pedagogical, Cognitive, Affective, and Social. Part V: Assessment. J. Eisele, Developing Frames of Reference for Assessment and Curricular Design in a Diglossic L2: From Skills to Tasks (and Back Again). P. Winke, R. Aquil, Issues in Developing Standardized Tests of Arabic Language Proficiency. Part VI: Technology Applications. E. Ditters, Technologies for Arabic Language Teaching and Learning. V. Stevens, Learner Strategies at the Interface: Computer-Assisted Language Learning. W. Samy, Instructional Media and Learning Arabic. A. Babler, Creating Interactive Web-Based Arabic Teaching Material With Authoring Systems. A.N. Madhany, Teaching Arabic With Technology: Word Processing, E-Mail, and the Internet. M. Van Mol, Arabic Receptive Language Teaching: A New CALL Approach. Part VII: Curriculum Development, Design, and Models. M. Abdalla, Arabic Immersion and Summer Programs in The United States. M. Al-Batal, Playing With Words: Teaching Vocabulary in the Arabic Curriculum. K. Brustad, Reading Fluently in Arabic. Z.A. Taha, Towards Pragmatic Competency in Arabic. J. Dickens, Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting Teaching in Britain. Part VIII: Arabic Language Program Administration and Management. M. Sawaie, International Arabic Language Programs. Part IX: Planning for the Future of Arabic Language Learning and Teaching. A. al-Rajhi, A Plan for the Future of Teaching Arabic: A Viewpoint From Within the Arab World. M. Al-Batal, R.K. Belnap, The Teaching and Learning of Arabic in the United States: Realities, Needs, and Future Directions. W.M. Martin, Marketing Arabic as a Second/Foreign Language Program. M. Alosh, H.M. ElKhafaifi, S. Hammoud, Professional Standards for Teachers of Arabic. L. England, Methodology in Arabic Language Teacher Education. Z. Ibrahim, J. Allam, Arabic Learners Heritage Students Redefined: Present & Future.
Single Cooper-pair pumping in the adiabatic limit and beyond

We demonstrate controlled pumping of Cooper pairs down to the level of a single pair per cycle, using an rf-driven Cooper-pair sluice. We also investigate the breakdown of the adiabatic dynamics in two different ways. By transferring many Cooper pairs at a time, we observe a crossover between pure Cooper-pair and mixed Cooper-pair-quasiparticle transport. By tuning the Josephson coupling that governs Cooper-pair tunneling, we characterize Landau-Zener transitions in our device. Our data are quantitatively accounted for by a simple model including decoherence effects.
The effect of variations in low level thermodynamic structure on the rear flank downdraft of simulated supercells

Tornadoes remain one of the unsolved mysteries in the atmospheric sciences. They are capable of causing incredible amounts of damage and casualties despite their infrequent occurrence and relatively small spatial scale. A single event, such as the 3 May 1999 outbreak, is capable of producing more than $1 billion in damage and injuring hundreds of people (Marshall 2002). In order to minimize their impact, it is crucial to gain an understanding of their formation and evolution. The environmental conditions favorable for supercell formation are well documented (Weisman and Klemp 1986, Rasmussen and Blanchard 1998). Several studies (i.e. Brooks et al. 1994, Thompson et al. 2003, Bunkers et al. 2007) have used observational data to attempt to identify the conditions needed to support supercells that produce significant tornadoes. However, these conditions remain somewhat unclear. In addition to observations, storm scale models are a useful tool in understanding severe storms. Since their initial development (e.g. Klemp and Wilhelmson 1979), storm scale models have been used extensively to investigate the dynamics of supercells and attempt to understand the origins of low level rotation. Such studies have led to great advancements in our understanding of these systems. However, most of these simulations have utilized simplified microphysics and storm environments. This study examines the sensitivity of low level thermodynamic fields to these simplifications and shows how they relate to current leading theories on tornadogenesis.
Revisiting the Revolving Door: Capital Flight from Southeast Asia

The paper revisits hypothesized direct linkages between external borrowing and capital flight. It reviews the cases of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand to see if such linkages exist. The results indicate that, indeed, large sums of capital flowed in and out of these four countries in a revolving door process. Thus, the results lend support to the need for: better domestic management of external debt, sound macroeconomic management and solid macro-organizational foundations (with the government at the centre of policy making), active management of capital flows, and effective domestic and international involvement and coordination in capital flows.
In Vitro Immunotoxicity Testing of Pesticides using Human Cytokine Promoter Based Reporter Cell Lines

Pesticides including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides are the class of chemicals deliberately released into the environment because of their utility. Worldwide, an estimated, 3 million cases of pesticide exposure are reported per year. It has been established that pesticide chemicals can alter immune function and causes immunotoxicity. We have developed a model for immunotoxicity testing of chemicals in vitro by analyzing cytokine gene expression. The changes in cytokine geneexpression observed in vitro was used as an endpoint for studying perturbation of the immune system in vivo. This system employs cell lines that have been transformed using constructs that have promoter region of Th1, Th2 cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These promoter regions regulate the expression of areporter gene, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), and the activity of promoter to the external stimuli was compared with the expressionof endogenous cytokine genes. CyclosporinA, FK506 (tacrolimus) and pentoxifylline, have been tested on this model and they showed specific pattern of suppression of reporter gene expression treated with PMA/Ionomycin and LPS. These immunosuppressants also suppressed the PMA/Ionomycin and LPS induced endogenous gene expression of these cytokines. Thus our model has potential for application as a predictive screening test system for immunomodulatory activities of chemicals. The validation of the model was carried out using three pesticides chlorpyriphos, cypermethrin and captan that were known to have immunosuppressive activity on the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Following exposure to above pesticides, we also observed decrease in Th1 and Th2 cytokines promoter activity based GFP expression in our transformed cells line. Thus our model efficiently predicts the immunosuppressant nature of pesticides and therefore may serve as a tool for preliminary high throughput immunotoxicity screening of test agents such as pesticides and other environmental pollutants.
Numerical Solution of Singular IVPs of Lane-Emden Type Using Integral Operator and Radial Basis Functions

A numerical method for solving the Lane-Emden equations as singular initial value prob- lems is presented. The method is based on using integral operator and convert Lane-Emden equations to integral equations and interpolation by radial basis functions (RBFs). Also, Legendre-Gauss quadrature integration method utilized to reduce the solution of integral equations to the solution of algebraic equations. Several examples are given and numerical
CCD photometry and long-term optical variability of PKS 2155-304

The paper presents the first evidence for long-term optical variability and colour behaviour of the X-ray-selected BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304, which is the first example of its class. Our results show that the amplitude of the optical variations of PKS 2155-304 has been only about 1.4 magnitudes from its photometric history; no significant correlation between brightness and colours is found for PKS 2155-304. Our recent CCD photometry of PKS 2155-304 during September-October 1993 and July 1994 showed that it was the same brightness state as that in November 1991 (Smith et al. 1992).
Information Problem Solving: Analysis of a Complex Cognitive Skill

textabstractIn (higher) education students are often faced with information problems: tasks or assignments which require the student to identify information needs, locate corresponding information sources, extract and organize relevant information from each source, and synthesize information from a variety of sources. It is often assumed that students master this complex cognitive skill all by themselves. In our point of view, however, explicit and intensive education is required. In order to design education that fosters the information problem solving skill, a skill decomposition is required. In this research the complex cognitive skill of information problem solving is analysed. Experts and novices were observed while solving an information problem. Preliminary results reveal that experts spend more time on the sub-skills 'defining the problem', 'processing the information' and 'presenting the information'. They also regulate their process more often
The Impact Assessment of the VAT reduction in Tourism Sector

As a part of measures to support tourism sector as one of the government’s strategic priorities, the Albanian government reduced the tourism value added tax (VAT). The main purpose of this article is to analyze the effects of reducing the VAT for Tourism from 20% to 6%. In order to evaluate the impact and benefit of the introduction of the VAT rate reduction in an informed manner and determine whether the objectives of the initiative have been met, the following questions are considered: • Did the reduction in the VAT rate result in lower consumer prices in the impacted categories? • Has there been an increase in tourist numbers as a result of the VAT rate reduction and what has been the impact on revenue? • Has there been an increase in demand / activity in the tourism industry as a result of the VAT rate reduction? • Has there been an increase in employment in the tourism industry as a result of the VAT rate reduction? The assessment framework enables an indicative assessment of the VAT rate cut’s impact through consideration of the key questions referred to previously. The term “indicative assessment” is used owing to the data challenges around aligning various data sets, data lags and the limited time since the cut came into effect. Clearly the question of whether a specific input or policy measure, such as the VAT decrease, has contributed strongly to, or in effect led to, an increase in tourism activity or employment within tourism sector.
RADIO-CONTINUUM EMISSION FROM THE YOUNG GALACTIC SUPERNOVA REMNANT G1.9+0.3

We present an analysis of a new Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) radio-continuum observation of supernova remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, which at an age of ~181±25 years is the youngest known in the Galaxy. We analysed all available radio-continuum observations at 6-cm from the ATCA and Very Large Array. Using this data we estimate an expansion rate for G1.9+0.3 of 0.563%±0.078% per year between 1984 and 2009. We note that in the 1980's G1.9+0.3 expanded somewhat slower (0.484% per year) than more recently (0.641% per year). We estimate that the average spectral index between 20-cm and 6-cm, across the entire SNR is α={0.72±0.26 which is typical for younger SNRs. At 6-cm, we detect an average of 6% fractionally polarised radio emission with a peak of 17%§3%. The polarised emission follows the contours of the strongest of X-ray emission. Using the new equipartition formula we estimate a magnetic field strength of B≈273μG, which to date, is one of the highest magnetic field strength found for any SNR and consistent with G1.9+0.3 being a very young remnant.
Emergent literacy performance across two languages: assessing four-year-old bilingual children

There are few emergent literacy assessments available for bilingual children. This study investigated the usefulness of a screening battery of oral language and print-related measures as an assessment tool for bilingual Samoan–English speaking children. A total of 18 children were recruited from three Samoan language immersion kindergartens (Aoga Amatas) in Auckland, New Zealand. A control group of 15 monolingual children were recruited from neighbouring kindergartens. Both Aoga Amatas and the kindergartens run programmes that are based on Te Whāriki – the New Zealand National Early Childhood Curriculum – regardless of the language spoken. The bilingual children were assessed on two occasions, once in English and once in Samoan by undergraduate speech pathology students, who were fluent in Samoan or English, on measures of story retelling and comprehension, phonological awareness, letter name knowledge and vocabulary. Results were analysed for each language, and across languages using composite scoring, and showed that the bilingual children's performance in one language (either Samoan or English) significantly underestimated their composite language performance. Furthermore, the bilingual children significantly outperformed their monolingual peers on receptive vocabulary when composite scoring was used. Practical implications of these findings are outlined.
A Study on the Non-English Majors ’ Use of Metacognitive Strategies in English Learning

With the deepening of education for all-round development, modern education pays more and more attention to how to make students learn with lesser time and energy but being efficient, which, undoubtedly, involves study of a series of problems concerning learning strategies, and theories related to metacognitive strategies are the most suitable and supporting theories to learning strategies. The research aims to discuss what metacognitive strategies are usually used by non-English major students as well as how these metacognitive strategies function. The research has been carried out in the form of a questionnaire, about 100 non-English majors from Yuncheng University attended the questionnaire. The results show that metacognitive strategies and cognitive strategies always work together. And with the help of these metagnitive strategies, students can find suitable ways to learn the language, they can think and work more independently, making learning plan in a more reasonable way, which help them become the host of learning, and be a successful learner. The author hopes that her research findings may be of some significance in English teaching and learning although there are still some deficiencies and the need of further research.
Supermarketization of the "Emerging Markets" of the Pacific Rim: Development and Trade Implications

There has been extremely rapid transformation in the past decade of the food retail sector, embodied in the rapid spread of supermarkets, in East and Southeast Asia and Latin America-the emerging markets of the Pacific Rim region. As the supermarket sector develops, leading chains are rapidly adopting technological, organizational, and institutional changes in their product-procurement systems. These changes alter the market that farmers face and have the potential to substantially transform the nature, composition, and volume of trade in the region. These trends in turn present both opportunities and challenges for development that require careful program and policy attention.
Men's Heavy Alcohol Use and Risk of HIV Acquisition and Transmission to Sexual Partners within Marriage in India

Background: Heavy episodic drinking by men in India and elsewhere is associated with their sexual risk behaviors, thereby increasing the risk for HIV. This paper assesses whether heavy episodic drinking is associated with acquisition of HIV among married men and its transmission to their spouses in India. Methods: A case-control study was conducted from March-August 2010 among 595 cases (HIV positives) and 611 controls (HIV negatives) aged 18 years and above, recruited from HIV testing and treatment centers in seven districts of eastern and northern India. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between heavy episodic drinking (defined based on frequency and quantity) in the past 7 days and the following outcome variables: extramarital sex, men’s HIV status and their spouse’s HIV status. Results: No significant difference was observed in the HIV status of men reporting heavy episodic drinking and those reporting light drinking (41% vs. 50%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.5-1.0, p=0.083). However, men reporting heavy episodic drinking were more likely to have had sex with a paid partner (past 12 months) than light drinkers (25% vs. 12%, AOR=3.0; 95% CI=1.9-4.7, p<0.001). A higher proportion of men who were heavy episodic drinkers reported having an HIV positive wife than light drinkers (53% vs. 42%, AOR=4.1; 95% CI=1.8-9.2, p<0.001). Conclusions: Men’s heavy episodic drinking is associated with higher prevalence of HIV infection among their spouses. Prevention of heavy episodic drinking and associated men’s risk behaviors may augment efforts to reduce the secondary transmission of HIV.
Dependence of Premature Births from Periodontal Status of Pregnant Women

Background: Early birth is 37 weeks or less, pregnancy maturity! Clinically active presence, or positive culture of vaginal secretions, means excessive production of cytokines and prostaglandins also encountered in amniotic fluid. Bacterial vaginosis appears with their clinical outbreak in a combination of bacteria. Some of these bacteria are basic members in the creation of bacterial plaque. Objective: The purpose of this study is to find the link between the presence of specific bacteria in the mouth, bacterial vaginosis as one of the causes of premature birth, and the latter. Methods: The study was applied to 30 pregnant women in the burden pathology ward at Fier maternity, divided into two groups. The first group consisting of 20 women in the 2-month period, August-September 2011. The number of women in the ward was 10 days maximum! All women were treated with cortisone and serum IV, magnesium sulphate, antibiotic prophylaxis! Results: 55% of women were under the age of 25 and 45% of women were over the age of 25. The age effect is mentioned for classifying the diseases that causes Actinomyces. Under the age of 25, a teenager and a 25-year-old are chronically ill. The final index was G2! All females were positive for the presence of salicylic acid in saliva and vaginal secretions. Conclusions: Premature birth is a complex process with some gynecological reasons, but in high percentage of cases there is coverage with the presence of infection by Actinomyces Actinomycetemcomitans in the oral cavity, which depending on the age causes two different types of periodontitis with special characteristics.
Agency and the network franchise system: collaboration and dissonance

Franchise systems are networks structured by cpntractual ties. Traditional governance literature suggests that the contract and inform:rion exchange mechanism provide necessary and sufficient means for franchisors to exercise control of the system. However, network literature belies this perspective. This paper reports research that supports the validity of network theories in franchise situations via the content of the language used by actors within a franchise network.