Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ROAD ORTHOPHOTO/DTM GENERATION FROM MOBILE LASER SCANNING

Abstract. This paper proposes a pipeline to produce road orthophoto and DTM from Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS). For the ortho, modern laser scanners provide a reflectance information allowing for high quality grayscale images, at a much finer resolution than aerial photography can offer. For DTM, MLS offers a much higher accuracy and density than aerial products. This increased precision and resolution leverages new applications for both ortho and DEM. The first task is to filter ground vs non ground, then an interpolation is conducted to build image tiles from the filtered points. Finally, multiple layers are registered and blended to allow for seamless fusion. Our proposed approach achieves high quality products and scaling up is demonstrated.
ICNNFC 1201 From Hydrophobic to Superhydrophilic Electrospun Surfaces

Carolina Fracalossi Rediguieri , Natalia Neto Pereira Cerize, Maria Helena Ambrosio Zanin, Adriano Marim de Oliveira, Terezinha de Jesus Andreoli Pinto 1, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, Brasília, Brazil Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, São Paulo, Brazil *rediguieri@yahoo.com. br, ncerize@ipt.br, mhzanin@ipt.br, amarim@ipt.br, tjapinto@usp.br
Undergraduates' Online Dating: Predictive Influence of Age, Gender, Motivation and Computer Efficacy

This study examines age, gender, motivation, and computer efficacy as factors predicting online dating among higher institution students in Oyo State. The study adopted a descriptive survey. The sample consisted of 166 undergraduates of the University of Ibadan. Three scales were used to collect information. Three research questions were raised and answered in the study. Data collected were analysed using multiple regression statistics for data analysis. Results indicated that there is a positive relationship between age and dependent variable (i.e. online dating) (r = 0.307); motivation (r = 0.242) and computer efficacy (r = 0.309). However, gender has no significant relationship with online dating. Research question two indicated that the R 2 value is 0.204 while the adjusted R 2 is 0.184. This translated into 18.4% of the total variance. This implies that the influence of the independent factors on online dating were not due to chance factor. The F value ratio of 10.292 further corroborated this. This showed that there is significant combined effect of age, gender, motivation and computer efficacy on online dating among the participants. The research question three explained the relative influence of age, gender, motivation and computer efficacy on online dating among the participants. Age (Beta = .282; t = 3.982) is the most potent contributor to online dating. This is followed by computer efficacy (Beta = .248; t = 3.267) and motivation (Beta = .181; t = 2.450). The least factor is gender (Beta = .077; t = 1.040). The findings from this study showed that online dating is real and has come to stay. Computer efficacy, motivation, age and gender are central to the dating activities of the university undergraduates, hence counselling psychologists must brace up to the challenges this new behaviour poses to stable and lasting relationship.
The Value Of Human Resource Information Systems In Human Resource Management

In today’s organizations Human Resource Management has become one of the key resources of business organizations. The need to integrate Human Resource Management (HRM) with information systems has become a necessity as modern firms are realizing that their people and information resources are vital for their survival. This is the reason Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) is now used extensively in all organizations irrespective of its size, tenure of establishment, complexities of operations etc. With the growing importance of human resource management and increasing size of the organizations, maintenance of employee related data and generating reports are the crucial aspects of any organization. Therefore more and more organizations are adopting computer based human resource management systems (HRMS) This paper is an attempt to highlight the value of information systems in Human Resource Management. The study is conducted through analysis of secondary data from books, journals and reviews.
The effect of growth and development intensity in replacement heifers on economically important traits of Holstein cattle in the Czech Republic

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of growth and development intensity in Holstein replacement heifers on economically important animal traits. The intensity of growth was assessed by the average live weight gain until 14 months of age. In addition, live weight and height at the sacrum at 14 months of age were analysed as indicators of growth and development when evaluating the length of productive life. The milk yield of first-calvers increased as the average daily live weight gain in the rearing period increased. An opposite tendency was recorded for cows in their second and third lactation and the total production also decreased with a higher growth rate of heifers. The analysis of the relationship between growth rate and the following reproduction traits revealed that the increased average daily live weight gain to 14 months was subsequently associated with reduced reproduction efficiency in cows. The differences between the groups with the lowest and the highest average live weight gains in the number of days open in the first and second calving interval were 26.78 and 17.47 days, respectively. This tendency was also confirmed in the other reproduction traits analysed. Productive life was sig - nificantly longer in animals with the lowest intensity of growth and development compared to the other groups (2.17 to 5.49 months, P < 0.01).
Does School Socio-economic Status Influence University Outcomes ?

This study explores the role of schools’ socioeconomic status in determining academic performance at university. Data for first year domestic undergraduates at an Australian university in 2011 to 2013 are linked to schools’ data to examine the role of studentand school-level characteristics in influencing university marks. Schools’ socioeconomic status is found to have moderate impacts on university performance, with students from lower socioeconomic status schools faring better. Prior academic achievement, as proxied by ATAR scores, is found to be a strong determinant of university grades. School sector and resources are found to have negligible impacts on students’ academic performance at university. The results suggest that equity measures to increase university access for low SES students and those from lowerSES schools could be expanded without compromising academic standards.
Moral hazard and nonlinear pricing in a general equilibrium model

The paper analyzes a two period general equilibrium model with individual risk and moral hazard. Each household faces two individual states of nature in the second period. These states solely differ in the household's vector of initial endowments, which is strictly larger in the first state (good state) than in the second state (bad state). In the first period households choose a non-observable action. Higher leveis of action give higher probability of the good state of nature to occur, but lower leveIs of utility. Households have access to an insurance market that allows transfer of income across states of oature. I consider two models of financiaI markets, the price-taking behavior model and the nonlinear pricing modelo In the price-taking behavior model suppliers of insurance have a belief about each household's action and take asset prices as given. A variation of standard arguments shows the existence of a rational expectations equilibrium. For a generic set of economies every equilibrium is constrained sub-optimal: there are commodity prices and a reallocation of financiaI assets satisfying the first period budget constraint such that, at each household's optimal choice given those prices and asset reallocation, markets clear and every household's welfare improves. In the nonlinear pricing model suppliers of insurance behave strategically offering nonlinear pricing contracts to the households. I provide sufficient conditions for the existence of equilibrium and investigate the optimality properties of the modeI. If there is a single commodity then every equilibrium is constrained optimaI. Ir there is more than one commodity, then for a generic set of economies every equilibrium is constrained sub-optimaI. "Preliminary. Do not quote. I]: thank Stephen Morris for many discussions and comments during the elaboration of this paper . Herve eres, Atsushi Kajii, Miguel Molico and PaoIo Siconolfi provided many comments on an ear1y version. As always, to Magda .
Genetic diversity in Crambe maritima along the English Channel: the role of ocean currents in determining population structure

Bond, J. M. , Daniels, R. and Bioret, F. 2005. Genetic diversity in Crambe maritima along the English Channel: the role of ocean currents in determining population structure. � / Ecography 28: 374 � /384. We utilised genetic markers (ISSR’s) to investigate population structuring in Crambe maritima , a coastal perennial found in isolated populations on either side of the English Channel. Despite the expectation that smaller populations would contain lower levels of genetic diversity, we found no correlation with total population size or the number of flowering plants and genetic diversity. Although populations were genetically differentiated from each other, isolation by distance was not apparent in the whole data set or within the UK samples. Despite being sampled from a wide geographic range, the majority of diversity (71%) was contained within populations, with no unique genotype, or even allele, identifying any population. When genetic distances were plotted using MDS techniques, samples from each population had a tendency to cluster, but the spread of points was wide indicating high levels of gene flow. High levels of gene flow, through the dispersal of seeds, were verified by assignment testing, which showed that 8.7% of individuals were assigned to a population other than the one they were collected from. The pattern of genetic variation can be explained by examining the direction of currents in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. Gene flow, via seed dispersal, is possible between UK and French populations on either side of the English Channel. In contrast, French populations on the Bay of Biscay coast are effectively isolated by the direction of currents and consequently show a greater degree of genetic differentiation.
Interactive remeshing for navigation over landscape models

−− The performance of an algorithmic procedure to visualize digital landscapes based in the dynamic control of the size of the model is presented. Approximate representations are produced taking into account criteria relative to the observer position and the local curvature of the terrain. The algorithm leads to substantial reductions of the size of the final meshes, lowering the rendering costs down to 5%. An application of the algorithm is tested on a model of the Colorado Canyon is shown. Keywords−− surface simplification, landscape visualization, computational geometry, polygonal mesh.
Forecasting the global and partial system condition by means of multidimensional condition monitoring methods

Machines have many faults which evolve during their operation. If one observes some number of symptoms during the machine operation, it is possible to capture fault oriented information. One of the methods to extract fault information from such a symptom observation matrix is to apply the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), obtaining in this way the generalized fault symptoms. The problem of this paper is to find if the total damage symptom, being a sum of all generalized symptoms is the best way to infer on machine condition or is it better to use the first generalized symptom for the same purposes. There were some new software created for this purpose, and two cases of machine condition monitoring considered, but so far it is impossible to state that one of the inference methods is better. Moreover, it seems to the author that both inference methods are complimentary for each other, and should be used together to increase the reliability of diagnostic decision.
A Theory for the Vertical Alignment of a Quasigeostrophic Vortex

This article presents a new theory for the rate at which a quasigeostrophic vortex realigns, under conservative dynamics, after being tilted by an episode of external vertical shear. The initial tilt is viewed as the excitation of a three-dimensional ‘‘vortex Rossby mode. ’’ This mode, that is, the tilt, decays exponentially with time during its early evolution. The decay rate g is proportional to the potential vorticity gradient at a critical radius, where the fluid rotation is resonant with the mode. The decay rate g also depends on the internal Rossby deformation radius lR, which is proportional to the stratification strength of the atmospheric or oceanic layer containing the vortex. The change of g with lR is sensitive to the form of the vortex. For the case of a ‘‘Rankine-with-skirt’’ vortex, the magnitude of g increases (initially) with increasing lR. On the other hand, for the case of a ‘‘Gaussian’’ vortex, the magnitude of g decreases with increasing lR. The relevance of this theory to tropical cyclogenesis is discussed.
Effects of density dependent larval competition on the life history traits of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Consequences of larval competition at the population level provide explanation for the differences in relative abundance of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in different geographical regions. The outcome of competition is assessed through the estimates of the life history traits as a response to varying density and resource available for larval development. In the present study, variations in the life history traits due to density-dependent intra- and inter- specific competition involving A. aegypti and A. albopictus were assessed following the minimalist model. The instar-I larvae (0-day old F2 generation) of both Aedes species were reared to the adult stages using the initial rearing density of 1, 2, 4 and 6 (individuals/10ml) in multiple replicates. The age at pupation, pupal weight, adult weight and adult wing length of the individuals were considered as the response variables and surrogates of estimating the competitive interactions. Density dependent variations in the competitive interactions were evident for both the mosquitoes with reference to the selected life history traits. In A. aegypti, the life history traits varied with the levels of competition, which was not observed for A. albopictus . Although the density levels considered in the present instance were lower than in earlier studies, the observations were similar, with A. albopictus being competitively superior. It appears that irrespective of the density levels, interspecific competition affects A. aegypti and thus may bear population level consequences and overall abundance in the areas where both species are present.
Total Deformation of Multiple Implant-Supported Prostheses through Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

El proposito de este estudio fue evaluar mediante analisis de elementos finitos (FEA) la deformacion total o desplazamiento como un sistema completo de protesis multiples implanto-soportadas en la region anterior de la maxila con diferentes longitudes, conexiones y posiciones del implantes y variando el material de restauracion. Se utlizo un modelo hemi-maxilar de una region anterior desdentada de un modelo para ser analizado por medio de elementos finitos. Las simulaciones fueron divididas en dos grupos de acuerdo con el plan de tratamiento: 1) dos implantes se colocaron en los incisivos centrales superiores, simulando una protesis fija implanto-soportada (resina acrilica y metal-ceramica) de cuatro elementos con cantilever de ambos incisivos laterales superiores; 2) dos implantes colocados en los incisivos laterales superiores, simulando una protesis fija convencional de cuatro elementos con los dos incisivos centrales superiores como pontico. Los modelos con protesis en cantilever en resina acrilica mostraron los mayores valores de deformacion total, siendo 17 veces mayor a los de metal-ceramica en la cara distal de los incisivos laterales, independientemente del tipo de conexion del implante. En las protesis convencionales en resina acrilica, las conexiones hexagonales externas tenian valores deformacion total mas bajos en comparacion con la conexion cono morse. Tambien, se encontro que la longitud del implante no mostro ninguna influencia en los valores de la deformacion total. En conclusion, la deformacion total fue sustancialmente mayor en todos los modelos con restauraciones de resina acrilica.
Management of strategic coopetition among partners within international airline alliances

Background : International network-carriers span the globe by linking airports on all five continents. At the core of those networks are hub-airports that serve as the centers for (inter-)national in- and outboun d traffic flows. From a business model point of view, the major internati onal carriers are so-called network-carriers, for t heir core concept is based on transfer-oriented hub-and-spoke-systems. In orde r to maximize revenue streams of network-carriers, changes in strategic slot allocation and strategic net planning are beco ming increasingly relevant. The aim of this work was to analyze the impact of v arious elements of the management of strategic coop etition among partners within international airline alliances on the revenues obtained by individual partners. Methods : the problems related to the optimization of strat egic slot allocation and strategic net planning fro m the point of view of the individual profit shared and added net contribution margins were discussed. Results and conclusions : Two extreme scenarios may be projected. The first one is that partners within a given alliance system may start to increase merger and acquisition activities. Thereby scale effects may be utilized. The other one is, when rivalry becomes too dominant over time, some partners may (have to) exit alliance systems. Thereby "at omic" subsystems may be on the rebound. Strategic coopetition manage ment is aimed to keep leading international network carriers "on track" in the field of alliance management of that nature.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degradation by laccase from a tropical white rot fungus Ganoderma lucidum

Laccase enzyme was produced from an isolate of the white rot fungus, Ganoderma lucidum Chaaim-001 BCU. The enzyme was subsequently evaluated for its degradative ability towards sixteen types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The G. lucidum laccase degraded antracene completely with or without a redox mediator (2 mM 1-hydroxybenzotriazole) and also degraded benzo[a]pyrene, fluorine, acenapthene, acenaphthylene and benzo[a]anthracene up to 100.0, 98.6, 95.4, 90.1 and 85.3 %, respectively, when the mediator was present. In the absence of the mediator, the ability to degrade these compounds dropped to 71.71, 62.9, 80.49, 85.85 and 9.14% respectively. Compared to the laccase enzyme from Trametes vesicolor, G. lucidum laccase appeared to retain more of its capability to degrade these PAHs when the mediator was absent.
Effect of Calcination Kinetics and Microwave Sintering Parameters on Dielectric and Peizo-Electric Properties of(K0.5Na0.5) NBO3 Ceramics

An intense research on lead free piezo-electric ceramics is being carried out worldwide for more than a decade due to environmental concern and toxicity of lead-based ceramics [1-2]. Investigation based on alkali niobates (ANbO3) has gained momentum in recent times. The general form of these lead-free perovskite materials is ANbO3 [3]. Potassium niobates (KNbO3) exhibited greater piezo-electric properties, which are stable along the non-polar crystallographic directions than along the polar axis and exhibits stable orthorhombic phase over a wide temperature range [4-6]. It has high piezoelectric coefficient among the lead free based piezo materials. KNbO3 is extensively used in amalgamation with sodium niobates (NaNbO3) as a binary system which makes it one of the most promising lead-free piezoelectric materials. It is a combination of ferroelectric (FE), KNbO3 and an anti-ferroelectric (AFE) NaNbO3. Ferroelectricity is reported to be up to 90% in KNbO3 in the binary system of KNbO3-NaNbO3[7]. Based on a study on various stoichiometric ratios, it was observed that the composition K0.5Na0. 5NbO3 (KNN) was favorable, and the composition (50/50) is in between two orthorhombic phases at morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) as observed in lead zirconate titanate (PZT) [8]. Potassium sodium niobate (KNN) is satisfactorily recommended for a broad range of applications due to its high Curie temperature (Tc) of 420 °C and a low density of 4.51 g/cm3[9]. The Conventional solid-state route, wet chemistry methods such as sol-gel, hydrothermal has been applied for synthesis of KNN nano-size powders [10-13]. Sol-gel and solid-state synthesis of KNN ceramics have drawn much interest due to its ability to obtain nano-size powders. The hydrated carbonated phases formed during sol-gel process needs high temperature (near melting point ~1140 °C) to decompose and this increases the volatile behavior of alkaline elements of KNN [11,12]. The use of soft chemistry though reduced the synthesis temperature overcoming volatile behavior of alkaline elements but could not avoid the presence of carbonates during heat treatment, there by showing the need for high temperature [11,12]. Since solid state route can easily decompose oxides and carbonates, it is extensively used to synthesize ferroelectric Abstract: An efficient solid-state approach was established to synthesize (K0.5Na0.5) NbO3 ceramics using calcination kinetics and microwave assisted sintering. Milling of carbonate and oxide raw materials were carried out for 15 h to obtain homogeneous nano particles. The crystallite size of 5.30 nm was obtained for the KNN system after calcination through optimized parameters and observed to be stoichiometric in nature. The obtained nano particles showed phase transition from orthorhombic to tetragonal crystal structure without any secondary phases. The high relative density and tetragonality ratio of KNN ceramics obtained through optimized sintering parameters yielded with significant piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties.
Spatial and temporal assessment of gaseous pollutants in the Highveld of South Africa

Diverse natural and anthropogenic activities in the Highveld of South Africa contribute to elevated levels of inorganic and organic gaseous pollutant species. The primary aims of this investigation were to determine spatial and temporal distributions of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ozone (O 3 ), as well as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in this area. Sampling was conducted on a monthly basis for a year at eight strategically selected sites. The highest NO 2 , SO 2 and BTEX concentrations were measured at sites with significant local sources and/or sites impacted by more remote sources, as indicated by overlay back trajectories. O 3 concentrations were found to be lower at sites with high levels of NO 2 , SO 2 and BTEX. NO 2 and SO 2 peaked during winter, while O 3 peaked in spring. NO 2 and SO 2 temporal concentration variations were ascribed to differences in seasonal meteorological conditions, as well as additional sources in winter. The O 3 peak coincided with a seasonal CO peak, which was identified as an important precursor for O 3 formation. No distinct seasonal trend was observed for BTEX. The annual average concentrations for SO 2 , NO 2 , O 3 and benzene were below the South African annual standards at all sites.