Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Approach For Detecting Strong Reflections In Rooms

In this thesis the influence of strong reflections in rooms is investigated. A strong reflection can have a negative influence on speech or music that is transmitted from the source to the receiver. Impulse responses including different strength of a reflection are modelled using a statistical model. From the impulse response, different parameters describing the strength of the reflection can be calculated and the detection thresholds for the parameters are found from listening tests. Three different parameters were compared, of which one is an existing parameter by Dietsch and Kraak and the other two are new parameters based on the energy decay curve of the impulse response. The threshold is given as the minimum level at which the subject can hear the reflection by listening to the impulse response. The detection threshold is found from impulse responses for rooms with different volumes and reverberation times and for different delay times of the strong reflection. The performance of the parameters is then discussed and a suggested technique for identifying and evaluating a strong reflection is given.
The Impact of Outcome-Based Assessment on Microenterprise Programs

The changing environment in the nonprofit sector has subjected microenterprise programs to a new paradigm that emphasizes rationality principles. These principles ask practitioners to increase their outcomes while minimizing costs and to demonstrate that they are doing so with outcome-assessment measurements. This paper presents a case study of what happened to 11 microenterprise programs that adopted outcome assessment. Factors affecting the adoption of outcome assessment were changing norms in the nonprofit sector, demands from state legislators for information on program outcomes, and mandates from funders. A funding formula was implemented; program responses included going along, adopting practices to fit the formula, embracing outcome assessment as a way towards program improvement, and possibly eliminating ineffective programs. Unintended consequences and ways to avoid them are discussed.
The influence of dance on selected risk factors of falls in Parkinson’s disease patients – A pilot study

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients may develop several motion control disorders leading to deterioration in body balance and general mobility, which in turn increases the risk of falls. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of therapeutic dancing classes on functional mobility, gait, body balance and endurance in Parkinson’s disease patients. Material/Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 10 participants (aged 69.9 ±6.47) suffering from PD. Testing was applied twice: at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks of dancebased intervention training. Tests used for the purpose of the study included: Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (parts 1 and 2), timed up-and-go test and 6 min walk test. Results: The study results indicate that therapeutic dancing classes significantly increased body balance (p = 0.002), gait (p = 0.047), functional mobility (p = 0.005) and endurance (p = 0.002) in PD patients. Conclusions: The acquired results can be instrumental in devising future therapeutic programs aiming at prevention of falls in PD sufferers.
Entrepreneurial Competencies and SMEs Business Success: The Contingent Role of External Integration

This is a conceptual paper to study the effects of entrepreneurial competencies on success of businesses in the context of Malaysian SMEs. This paper argues that the external integration moderates the influence of entrepreneurial competencies on success of SMEs businesses. Hence, the entrepreneurs should be competent enough to manage their relationships with their customers and suppliers to get competitive advantage. Only sustainable competitive advantage will ensure business survival and success. This paper adopts the resource based view of competencies (RBV) which claims that entrepreneurial competencies are valuable and intangible resources that lead towards the success of business. Entrepreneurial competencies alone are not enough to ensure the survival and success of businesses. Since, SMEs have scarce resources of finance, skills, technology and knowledge; therefore SMEs sustainable business success highly depends on many other factors such as supplier’s capabilities as well as customer’s integration. Moreover, the strong relationships of SMEs with their customers and suppliers enable them to access the information regarding latest customer choices and tastes, technologies and new methods of innovations. Therefore, this paper incorporates two theories namely, the resource dependence theory (RDT)and the resource based view (RBV) to explain the conceptual model, where RDT suggests that firms have to depend on external parties (suppliers and customers) to get critical resources for their survival. Particularly, there is a dearth of studies that have examined the influence of external integration on the relationship of entrepreneurial competencies and success of Malaysian SMEs businesses. Therefore, the current study strives to investigate the moderating impact of customer and supplier relationships on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and success of businesses of Malaysian SMEs in the manufacturing sector. Ultimately, this study will contribute the existing body of knowledge in entrepreneurial competencies, external integration and success of Malaysian SMEs businesses in the manufacturing industry.
Evaporation of Water Droplets by Radiation: Effect of Absorbing Inclusions

Numerical solutions are obtained for transient response of water droplets to radiative heating. Results are presented for evaporation of polydispersed droplets in the solar radiation field. The evolution of the temperature and size of the droplet are determined. The results are discussed based on cloud droplet evaporation in the presence of absorbing inclusions.
Association between the Socio-Economic Indicators and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Iran

Infant mortality is one of the main indexes in the assessment of a society's access to the primary health care services. Many factors are involved in this regard. The present study aimed at determining the structural association be- tween socio-economic variables and the rate of infant mortality rate. Methods: The required data and information were collected from the multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS,1998), reports of the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) from the population indices in 2003, the project of Incomes and Costs of the Iranian Families (2002) and the National Health Survey on Iran (NHS- 1999). In this study dependent variable was IMR and in- dependent variable was demographic and socioeconomic factors. The data were analyzed by Path Analysis method. Results: According to the standardized coefficients, the illiteracy rate of the women aged 15-46 years is one of the main factors that, not directly but indirectly awareness, attitude and performance of the women, increases IMR by as much as 0.8, partly about 0.3 due to the lack of access to the health services such as urbanity and the percentage of caesarean. In addition, the index of consumption costs has direct and decreasing effect of about 0.353 on the infant mortality rate. Conclusion: Reduction in women's illiteracy rate, increase of the families, welfare and the present of access to high quality services are the most important factors that decrease IMR.
Shear banding in large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOStrain and LAOStress) of soft glassy materials

We study theoretically shear banding in soft glassy materials subject to large amplitude time-periodic shear flows, considering separately the protocols of large amplitude oscillatory shear strain, large amplitude square or triangular or sawtooth strain rate, and large amplitude oscillatory shear stress. In each case, we find shear banding to be an important part of the material's flow response for a broad range of values of the frequency $\omega$ and amplitude of the imposed oscillation. Crucially, and highly counterintuitively, in the glass phase this persists even to the lowest frequencies accessible numerically (that seems consistent with it persisting even when $\omega\to 0$), although the soft glassy rheology model we use has an underlying monotonic constitutive curve of shear stress as a function of shear rate, and is therefore unable to support shear banding as its steady state response at constant shear rate. We attribute this to the repeated competition, within each flow cycle, of glassy aging and flow rejuvenation. Besides reporting significant banding in the glass phase, where the flow curve has a yield stress, we also observe it at noise temperatures just above the glass point, where the flow curve is of power law fluid form. Thus, our results suggest a predisposition to shear banding in flows of even extremely slow time-variation, for both aging yield stress fluids, and for power law fluids with sluggish relaxation timescales. We show that shear banding can have a pronounced effect on the shape of the Lissajous-Bowditch curves that are commonly used to fingerprint complex fluids rheologically. We therefore counsel caution in seeking to compute such curves calculations that impose upfront a homogeneous shear flow, discarding the possibility of banding. We also analyze the stress response to the imposed strain waveforms in terms of a `sequence of physical processes'.
A realistic smart antenna with E-shaped patch for 3G handsets

In this paper we present and investigate the concept of a novel smart microstrip E-shaped patch antenna for 3G handsets. The total radiated power and the overall gain performance of the proposed smart antenna is presented, analyzed and compared with the smart antennas consisted of rectangular patch. The smart antenna configuration for both cases is a linear array. In order to reduce the size of the antenna, which is incorporated into the backside of the handset, two antenna elements are considered with an inter-element spacing of a quarter wavelength (λ/4). The computer simulation results confirm that the antenna has a gain bandwidth of 10% for VSWR≤4. Moreover, the return loss S11 at 2GHz of the proposed smart antenna system is -20dB, a value that allows the E-shaped antenna to match easily to 50Ω source.
The Hold-Down Problem and the Boundaries of the Firm: Lessons from a Hidden Action Model with Endogenous Outside Option

This paper offers a rationale for limiting the delegation of (real) authority, which neither relies on insurance arguments nor depends on ownership structure. We analyse a repeated hidden action model in which the actions of a risk neutral agent determine his future outside option. Consequently, the agent can improve his future bargaining position, which gives the principal an incentive to retain sufficient control over the agent's actions. Using respective one-period contracts, the principal can implement the efficient outcome while "selling the shop" to the agent is sub-optimal. This provides an argument for integration if the boundary of the firm is defined by control rights rather than the entitlement to revenues.
Effect of Salinity on Photosynthesis and Leaf Carbohydrate Content in Two Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars

Plant growth is the result of many integrated and regulated physiological processes. Salinity, which is one of the major abiotic stresses, causes alterations in a wide range of physiological, biochemical and molecular processes in plants. Therefore, a factorial pot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete blocks design in green house condition to investigate the effect of salt stress on photosynthesis, leaf carbohydrate concentration and daytime leaf carbon budget of two wheat cultivars (CR and Ghods) over photoperiod. Plants were exposed to 0, 50, 150 and 250 mM salinity (NaCl and CaCl2 in 5:1 molar ratio) for 60 days. Measurements were done on fully youngest expanded leaves. Salinity caused a significant reduction in leaf net photosynthesis consequently total carbon fixed in both cultivars. Plants grown at low (50 mM) and high (250 mM) levels of salinity had net photosynthesis rates of 78.9 and 20.6% respectively compared to the control. However, salt stress significantly increased soluble carbohydrate concentration in both cultivars from 50 mM in the control to 150 mM at highest salt treatment. Starch concentration of leaves also increased with increasing salinity. As salinity had inverse effect on photosynthesis process, the total carbon fixed decreased with increasing salinity. At control condition the total carbon fixed by leaves of cultivars CR and Ghods were 255.2 and 225.3 mmol C m-2 leaf respectively, while at high level salt concentration (250 mM) only 95.4 (CR) and 63.1 (Ghods) mmol C m-2 fixed. Daytime amount of carbon translocated from leaf was reduced by salinity. However, CR exported greater amount of carbon from leaf than Ghods.
Tracking can be more equitable than mixing: Peer effects and college attendance

Parents and policy makers often wonder whether, and how, the choice between a tracked or a mixed educational system affects the efficiency and equity of national educational outcomes. This paper analyzes this question taking into account their impact on educational results at later stages and two main results are found. First, it shows that tracking can be the efficient system in societies where the opportunity cost of college attendance is high or the pre-school achievement distribution is very dispersed. Second, this paper shows that tracking is the most equitable system for students with intermediate levels of human capital required to attend college.
Health related quality of life of survivors of trauma six months after discharge

To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of survivors of major trauma at six months following discharge, using two popular HRQOL tools. A cross-sectional study was done on adult trauma survivors in Johannesburg. Subjects completed the EQ-5D and SF-36 HRQOL questionnaires. Additional demographic and clinical data were collected. The majority of subjects reported some problems in usual activities and pain/discomfort as measured with the EQ-5D at six months. The mean EQ-5D VAS was 68 (±26.1). lowest scores were reported in the role physical (44.6 ± 41.6) and role emotional (44.1 ± 45.4) domains of the SF-36. mean SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) score (62.1 ± 27.8) was higher than mental component summary score (58.7 ±20.1). EQ-5D VAS was found to be moderately correlated with age (r=-0.4; p=0.05). A negative correlation was found between SF-36 physical function score and ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS and age (r=-0.4 (p=0.03), -0.4 (p=0.03) and -0.6 (p=0.00) respectively). Statistical significance was observed in the correlation between age and SF-36 general health domain (r=-0.4; p=0.02) as well as age and PCS score (r=-0.5; p=0.01). Trauma survivors in Johannesburg experience limitations in specific emotional and physical domains of HRQOL at six months after discharge. Age was associated with the level of self-rated health as well as limitations in general health and physical function. ICU and hospital LOS were associated with limitations in physical function. There is a need for physical and psychological rehabilitation after discharge from trauma intensive care.
Mechanism of multisoliton formation and soliton energy quantization in passively mode-locked fiber lasers

We report results of numerical simulations on the multiple soliton generation and soliton energy quantization in a soliton fiber ring laser passively mode-locked by using the nonlinear polarization rotation technique. We found numerically that the formation of multiple solitons in the laser is caused by a peak power limiting effect of the laser cavity. It is also the same effect that suppresses the soliton pulse collapse, an intrinsic feature of solitons propagating in the gain media, and makes the solitons stable in the laser. Furthermore, we show that the soliton energy quantization observed in the lasers is a natural consequence of the gain competition between the multiple solitons. Enlightened by the numerical result we speculate that the multi-soliton formation and soliton energy quantization observed in other types of soliton fiber lasers could have similar mechanism.
Pola magnetyczne w zachowawczym leczeniu dolegliwości bólowych mnogich zrostów — opis przypadku Magnetic fields in the conservative treatment of pain in multiple adhesions — case description

Intra-abdominal adhesions related to a previous surgical procedure can significantly influence postoperative pain occurrence. There is still no proper and sufficiently successful method of their treatment and, in some complicated cases, a relaparotomy is required. In the Department of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine in Bytom, the authors take a decision the treatment the incidental case of a 26-year old female patient with pain ailments caused occurrence postoperative multiple adhesions with used variable magnetic fields with good effect.
Deliberation versus Bargaining on the U.S. Court of Appeal: Evidence from Sexual Harassment Law

This paper investigates indirect influences of gender diversification on the U.S. Court of Appeals, focusing upon whether and how women influence policy through pathways other than their individual votes. We analyze workplace sexual harassment cases spanning 1977 to 2006. Building upon recent work showing that women influence the votes of male colleagues when serving with them on three-judge panels, we probe the mechanism driving this pattern, and we find that deliberative processes rather than bargaining dynamics explain gender panel effects. We also find that the extent of doctrine which women have participated in crafting is positively associated with subsequent decisions for the plaintiff, and that the proportion of women on the full circuit, which exercises a monitoring role over individual panels, is associated with panel decisions for the plaintiff. We thus add to work showing that the influence of women on the U.S. Court of Appeals extends well beyond their individual votes.
Fake and Dishonest: Pathologies of Differentiation of the Civil and the Political Sphere in Hungary

ABSTRACT Almost 25 years has passed since transition, and Hungarian democracy is in a deplorable state. Party politics pervades every aspect of political life, undermining the autonomy of civil actors, treating them as a potential ‘fan club’ of parties rather than cooperating and consultative partners. In order to capture what went wrong in Hungarian civil society, we propose a structural analysis that highlights pathologies of the differentiation between the political and civil spheres. We elucidate how the political sphere usurps the autonomy of the civil sphere; thereby not only does it undermine trust in civil actors, but also undercuts their capacity to perform their control function over the political sphere. In the analysis, we concentrate on what we identify as the ‘fake-civil/pseudo-civil’ phenomenon and related discourses, relying on the conceptual and theoretical apparatus developed by Arato and Cohen.
Can clinical staging of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis be of any therapeutic benefit

Naegleria fowleri, is a free-living amoeba (FLA) known to infect humans and cause a fatal disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). All of the patients are commonly admitted to the emergency room (ER). Often, treatment in the ER is delayed due to the rarity of disease leading to a delay in the diagnosis and late arrival of patients to the ER. The attempts to reduce raised intracranial pressure and subsequent herniation of the brain stem are challenging and become the cause of death in the affected patients during their stay in ER. Use of drugs like mannitol to reduce raised intra-cerebral pressure (ICP) could prove dangerous in the presence of cerebral haemorrhage and this fact could be overlooked during the management of patients with PAM. No precise therapy is followed for PAM, and most often a course of broad spectrum anti-protozoal drugs is employed. A CDC recommended drug miltefosine has show success in early diagnosed cases. So far, there is no clinical staging of PAM, and patients are managed for the complications that develop while their stay in the ER. Given the health scare associated with N. fowleri in countries with tropical climates, and its potential ability to cause severe meningoencephalitis that often progresses to lethal outcomes, we believe it is imperative to stage PAM into clear progressive stages to help its management in the ER and debate its therapeutic gains. Such a clinical staging could aid in efforts to diagnose and treat PAM. Furthermore, it will help in raising public awareness, in educating healthcare and allied personnel.
A comparison between Asian and Australasia backpackers using cultural consensus analysis

This study tests the differences in the shared understanding of the backpacker cultural domain between two groups: backpackers from Australasia and backpackers from Asian countries. A total of 256 backpackers responded to a questionnaire administered in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Krabi Province (Thailand). Cultural consensus analysis (CCA) guided the data analysis, to identify the shared values and the differences in the backpacker culture of the two groups. The findings revealed that while the two groups share some of the backpacker cultural values, some other values are distinctively different from one another. The study provides the first empirical evidence of the differences in backpacking culture between the two groups using CCA. Based on the study findings, we propose some marketing and managerial implications.
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Escherichia coli in drinking waters in Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State, North-Eastern Nigeria

Fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli are bacteria that inhabit the human or animal intestinal tracts, therefore associated with human or animal wastes. Their presence in drinking water is a strong indication of sewage or human/animal wastes contamination and determines the safety/quality of the water. When these waters are used as sources of drinking waters without treatment or inadequate treatment, these bacteria may end up in drinking waters and causes diarrheal related infections. In an attempt to determine the occurrence of E. coli in drinking waters in Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State, North-eastern Nigeria, 300 water samples comprised of well, bottled, sachet and waters from commercial water vendors (popularly called “YanGaruwa) were analyzed. The results show that 28 (9.3%) E. coli were isolated with well waters having the highest isolation rate of 15/80 (18.5%) followed by Yan-Garuwa, 8/80 (10.0%) and sachet waters, 5/60 (8.3) (P < 0.05). No E. coli was isolated from both borehole and bottled waters analyzed. The antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility patterns of the 28 E. coli show high resistance to ampicillin (100%), penicillin (100%) tetracycline (78.6%), and erythromycin (71.4%). However, low resistance was recorded against streptomycin (28.6%) and ciprofloxacin (17.9%), respectively. On the other hand, the highest susceptibility was observed with gentamicin, chloramphenicol and Nalidixic acid with 28 (100.0%), 23 (82.1) and 25 (89.7), respectively. The study recommends disinfection and proper hygienic measures during preparation and handling of water and also proper construction of wells to avoid run-off of sewage during rain.