Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial determinants and future land use scenarios of Paragominas municipality, an old agricultural frontier in Amazonia

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the role of the main spatial determinants of land use dynamics and simulates past and future scenarios of land use in Paragominas, an old agricultural frontier in Amazonia. Deforestation rates have been reduced since 2007–2008 but soybean cropping and tree plantations are currently undergoing intense expansion. During this transition period, deforestation has shifted from areas close to paved roads to more distant areas and to small farms. Soybean and tree plantations expanded away from paved roads. Soybean crop distribution has a marked influence on the the agricultural potential of the land. Future scenario simulations indicate a loss of almost half of the municipality’s forests by 2030 if pre-2007–2008 transition rates are considered. Zero deforestation scenarios show competition between pastureland and cropland, especially on the fertile plateaus. These results highlight the changes in spatial rules and the role of natural factors in an old agricultural frontier.
Fundamentals of Microwave and RF Design

Published by NC State University Distributed by UNC Press Fundamentals of Microwave and RF Design enables mastery of the essential concepts required to cross the barriers to a successful career in microwave and RF design. Extensive treatment of scattering parameters, that naturally describe power flow, and of Smith-chart-based design procedures prepare the student for success. The emphasis is on design at the module level and on covering the whole range of microwave functions available. The orientation is towards using microstrip transmission line technologies and on gaining essential mathematical, graphical and design skills for module design proficiency. This book is derived from a multi volume comprehensive book series, Microwave and RF Design, Volumes 1-5, with the emphasis in this book being on presenting the fundamental materials required to gain entry to RF and microwave design. This book closely parallels the companion series that can be consulted for in-depth analysis with referencing of the book series being familiar and welcoming.
Motivating, challenging, and moderating factors influencing loyalty program adoption in the business-to-business context

Loyalty programs can be described as a marketing tool that aims to secure customer loyalty. Where they are widely utilized and exploited in the business-to-consumer market, the business-to-business market is where their potential is just starting to show. Very little research on loyalty programs in the business-to-business context is to be found, while customer loyalty is a concept of equal importance here. Objective of this research is to identify motivating, challenging and moderating factors of loyalty program adoption in the business-to-business context. This can be translated to goals/benefits of the program and challenges that firms potentially run into when setting up a loyalty program. The findings highlight the complex nature of loyalty program adoption in the business-to-business market. Noticeable is that regardless of any moderating factors, loyalty programs can prove to be beneficial in almost every setting. Importance of relationship development is highlighted within the concept of loyalty in business-to-business. There are most likely multiple reciprocal relationships and interchangeabilities between the factors, that cannot be exposed to great detail within the scope of this research. This research can provide as a helpful guide to both firms operative in the loyalty program market, as well as companies considering loyalty program adoption.
Isotopic constraints on the processes favouring endoskarn- over porphyry-style mineralisation in Cu porphyry systems: An example from the Daye district, China

halos are produced by extensive lateral dispersion of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids derived from the mineralising intrusions. This is consistent with thermodynamic models involving fluid cooling and fluidrock interaction (Reed et al. 2013) but not with numerical models of fluid flow (Weis et al. 2012). Possible reasons to explain this contradiction and implications for exploration within propylitic domains for buried porphyry deposits are considered.
Mothers’ adverse childhood experiences, depressive symptoms, parenting, and attachment as predictors of young children’s problems

Abstract Given that young children of mothers with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) exhibit increased risk for maladaptive outcomes (including being maltreated by their caregivers), this study investigated a comprehensive model for predicting children’s emotional and behavioral problems in the context of mothers’ ACEs. A community sample of 146 mothers with children aged one and onehalf to five years provided ratings of their ACEs, depressive symptoms, parenting characteristics, mother–young child attachment, and young children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Mothers’ ACEs and depressive symptoms predicted uniquely young children’s internalizing problems. In contrast, mothers’ ACEs, depressive symptoms, and punitive parenting behaviors predicted uniquely young children’s externalizing problems. These results suggested the importance of trauma-informed interventions for high-risk mothers who may be involved with child welfare systems and for their young children who are likely to exhibit emotional and behavioral problems as child custody decisions are made.
Monetary Transmission Mechanism: Empirical Evidence from Eurozone

This paper examines the effectiveness and extent of monetary transmission mechanism from Federal Funds Rate (FFR) to London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The paper employs a co-integration technique, Granger causality test, and vector Error Correction (VEC) model to examine the direction of causality and the extent and size of the pass-through effect from FFR to LIBOR. The study considers two sub-periods: the first period spans 1994:02-2008:12, and the second period covers 2009:01-2019:01, recognized as a period of implementing unconventional monetary policy to find out if there is any difference between the size of the pass-through effect during the conventional and unconventional monetary policy. Finally, the study uses a structural VAR model to measure the impact of a shock to FFR on the Eurozone economic growth. The estimated results indicate a significant co-integration relationship between FFR and LIBOR for both sub-periods and the causality runs from FFR to LIBOR in both periods. However, the pass through effect is statistically stronger in the second sub-period during unconventional monetary policy. In addition, the results suggest that a shock to FFR has a significant impact on the level of economic growth in Eurozone. This result has important policy implications for monetary authorities in the Eurozone as they can offset the effects of a shock to FFR by using the appropriate monetary policy.
The Impact of Non-Ideal Ohmic Contacts on the Performance of High-Voltage SiC MPS Diodes

The wide band gap of SiC semiconductor devices constitutes a serious challenge to build good Ohmic contacts on the surface of the p-type material. This is reflected in the numerical analysis of ”realistic” devices, where we have to cope with serious problems, such as a shifting threshold voltage, reduced forward conductivity, and no noticeable conductivity modulation by minority carrier injection from p+-emitters, in matching measured data with simulation results, as a consequence of the significant impact of non-ideal poor Ohmic contacts. In this work, we used a Schottky contact model together with a barrier tunneling model, instead of common ideal Ohmic contact model, to simulate the non-ideal Ohmic contact on SiC MPS diodes. Based on this approach, the I-V characteristics of real Ohmic contacts can be reproduced in high-fidelity simulations, providing us physical insight of the observed operational behavior.
A fuzzy Delphi-AHP-TOPSIS framework to identify barriers in big data analytics adoption: case of maritime organizations

ABSTRACT Big data analytics has prospered in recent years and has triggered revolutionary changes in various industries. However, its adoption in maritime organizations is relatively lagged and there is no study addressing this phenomenon so far. This paper develops a fuzzy Delphi-AHP-TOPSIS framework to identify barriers in emerging technology adoption. A case study employs this framework to investigate the hurdles for big data analytics to be adopted in the maritime industry. The case study shows that the framework is useful in identifying and ranking barriers. The results unveil the most serious managerial, cultural, and technical barriers that impede the adoption of big data analytics in maritime organizations.
Exploring Links between FDI Inflows, Energy Consumption, and Economic Growth: Further Evidence from MENA Countries

This study aims to examine the nexus between economic growth, FDI inflows and energy consumption on a panel of 17 countries using a i®growth modeli¯ framework and simultaneous-equation models estimated by the generalized method of moments (GMM) over the 1990-2012 period. We also implement these empirical models for 17 countries selected on the basis of data availability. They include: (a) 12 Middle Eastern countries, namely: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Yemen, (b) 5 North African countries, namely: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya. Our results indicate that there is a bidirectional causal relationship between FDI inflows and economic growth, as between well as energy consumption and economic growth. Besides, there is a unidirectional causal relationship between energy consumption to FDI inflows for the global panel. This implies that the increase of energy consumption increases the FDI inflows for individual and collective countries.
How Motivation as Quality Influence ESL Learners’ Attitudes toward English Pronunciation Learning

The current study attempted to examine ESL learners’ attitudes toward L2 pronunciation learning and meanwhile, toinvestigate how these learners’ qualitative motivation explain their attitudes toward pronunciation learning. A total of124 ESL learners participated in the survey in which several questionnaires were included regarding L2 selfrepresentations (Papi et al., 2018), chronic regulatory focus (Higgins et al., 2001) and L2 learners attitudes towardpronunciation learning (Elliot, 1995a; Gardner, 1985). An exploratory factor analysis was performed on allpronunciation items and the results revealed a threefold-factor solution: importance of pronunciation, learningpronunciation for communicative purpose and preference for native accent. The data analysis suggested thatpromotion-focused orientation, ideal L2 self own, ought-to L2 self own and ought-to L2 self other were respectivelycorrelated with ESL learners’ attitudes toward all three factors of pronunciation learning. Particularly, ideal L2 selfown was found to predict more positive attitude toward the importance of pronunciation learning and toward thepreference for native accent than ought-to L2 self own, while the former one also predicted more negative attitudetoward learning pronunciation for communicative purpose. The study has yielded significant implications forresearchers regarding the understanding of motivation from its qualitative perspective which delineates individual’sinclination to different goals and to specific strategies for attaining these goals (Papi, 2018), as well as for ESLinstructors concerning the improvement of L2 pronunciation pedagogy and the selection of motivational approachesfor L2 pronunciation instruction.
Estimating energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions from energy rating and disclosure policies

El propósito de este documento es estimar el ahorro de energía y las reducciones de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de las políticas de calificación y divulgación de energía en la ciudad de Nueva York. Durante los primeros seis años de la política, la Ciudad registró un ahorro de energía acumulada del 10.8% y reducciones acumuladas de GHG del 8.5%. Sin embargo, estos grandes cambios no necesariamente se pueden atribuir a las políticas de evaluación comparativa y transparencia. Para estimar el escenario "contrafactual", ¿qué hubiera pasado si la política no se hubiera implementado? , se utiliza el método de dobles diferencias emparejadas. Con base en este modelo, concluimos que la divulgación de Energy Star Scores al público no tuvo un efecto significativo en el ahorro de energía y las reducciones de emisiones de GEI para edificios multifamiliares.
Various parameters in the preparation of chitosan/polyethylene oxide electrospun nanofibers containing Aloe vera extract for medical applications

Objective(s): The present study aimed to fabricate chitosan/polyethylene oxide (CS/PEO) electrospun nanofibers loaded with Aloe vera extract for biomedical applications. The polymer-to-extract ratio and electrospinning parameters (applied voltage and nozzle-to-collector distance) were evaluated in order to optimize the process of nanofiber fabrication. Materials and Methods: The characterizations were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ImageJ software, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), tensile strength test, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Results: The obtained results indicated that the fabrication of nanofibers from pure Aloe vera extract was unsuccessful, and reducing the extract concentration from 100% to 92% resulted in the formation of the nanofibers. Moreover, further reduction in the extract from 92% to 50% led to the production of fine nanofibers (mean diameters: 204±42 and 398±51 nm, respectively). Therefore, it was concluded that the reduced concentration of the herbal extract increased the diameters of the prepared nanofibers. In addition, the results of the optimization process indicated a direct correlation between the applied voltage and nanofiber diameters, as well as an inverse correlation between the nozzle-to-collector distance and nanofiber diameters. The FTIR spectroscopy also confirmed the presence of CS, PEO, and Aloe vera in the final prepared scaffold. The release measurement revealed a burst effect within the first five hours, followed by a sustain release within 30 hours. Moreover, the biocompatibility assay confirmed the proliferative potential of Aloe vera within seven days.Conclusion: According to the results, a nanofibrous scaffold composed of CS and PEO could be fabricated as the carrier of Aloe vera extract, which is a suitable platform for biomedical applications.
The role of academic tasks in emotional dynamics of undergraduates. A study in Education Careers

This paper aims to provide theoretical contributions and suggest lines of action that contribute to the emergence of emotional states beneficial to the learning of university students. We worked with 38 students from a public university located in the province of Cordoba, Argentina, during the first four months of 2016. The instruments and methods used for data collection were the Achivement Emotions Questionnaire by Pekrun, Goetz and Perry (2005), semi-structured interviews and analysis of protocols of academic tasks. The results broaden the range of theoretical and methodological tools that are available for the design of situations potentially promoting positive emotions for learning in the university context.
Pairs trading with illiquidity and position limits

We investigate the optimal investment among the money market account, a liquid risky asset (e.g. stock index) and an illiquid risky asset (e.g. individual stock), where the two risky assets are cointegrated. The illiquid risky asset is subject to a proportional transaction cost and the portfolio of the three assets faces certain position limits. We develop the optimal investment strategy to maximize the gain function, which is realized through an expected sum of discounted utilities given transaction costs and position limits. The problem formulation uses a singular control framework with cointegration that determines optimal trading boundaries among holding, selling and no-trading regions. We conduct comprehensive numerical analysis on the optimal investment strategy and features of the optimal trading boundaries given various levels of position limits.
The Relationship of Three Financial Aid Appeal Interventions with Academic Progress and Student Persistence

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THREE FINANCIAL AID APPEAL INTERVENTIONS WITH ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND STUDENT PERSISTENCE Jeannetta Lynn Hollins Old Dominion University, 2015 Director: Dr. Dana Burnett Poor academic performance can result in financial aid suspension and can decrease the opportunity or likelihood o f students continuing their college education. The objective of this preliminary quantitative study was to investigate an under-researched area o f financial aid, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal interventions, to determine whether any of the three approaches studied influenced student academic outcomes. This study was confined to one large, multi-campus community college institution. The study was conducted ex post facto, using binary logistic regression to analyze data collected over a period o f four consecutive semesters. The interventions were designed to provide an academically struggling population with an opportunity to overturn their financial aid suspension with strategies designed to meet minimum federal academic criteria and to persist to graduation. The financial aid appeal interventions consisted o f workshops, academic advising, credit enrollment restrictions and writing appeal letters. Students were compared according to the intervention type while covariates such as race, gender and developmental education placement were considered. Student outcomes included measures o f course completion rates, GPA thresholds, and persistence. The relationship between the treatment (appeal interventions) and student outcomes was determined through the use of logistic regression analysis. Results showed that participation in the three-pronged appeal intervention consisting of workshops, advising and enrollment restrictions was associated with significant positive community college course completion and persistence rates. Correlations between a one-pronged (writing an appeal letter) and two-pronged intervention (advising and workshops), with and without the race, gender and developmental education placement covariates included in the model, were not statistically significant with the course completion rate rule, GPA conditions and persisting the next semester.
Crustal Structure of the Eastern Arunta Region, Central Australia, From Magnetotelluric, Seismic, and Magnetic Data

We present a 3‐D inversion of magnetotelluric data acquired along a 340‐km transect in Central Australia. The results are interpreted with a coincident deep crustal seismic reflection survey and magnetic inversion. The profile crosses three Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic basement provinces, the Davenport, Aileron, and Warumpi Provinces, which are overlain by remnants of the Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Centralian Surperbasin, the Georgina and Amadeus Basins, and the Irindina Province. The inversion shows conductors near the base of the Irindina Province that connect to moderately conductive pathways from 50‐km depth and to off‐profile conductors at shallower depths. The shallow conductors may reflect anisotropic resistivity and are interpreted as sulfide minerals in fractures and faults near the base of the Irindina Province. Beneath the Amadeus Basin, and in the Aileron Province, there are two conductors associated strong magnetic susceptibilities from inversions, suggesting they are caused by magnetic, conductive minerals such as magnetite or pyrrhotite. Beneath the Davenport Province, the inversion images a conductive layer from ∼15‐ to 40‐km depth that is associated with elevated magnetic susceptibility and high seismic reflectivity. The margins between the different basement provinces from previous seismic interpretations are evident in the resistivity model. The positioning and geometry of the southern margin of the crustal conductor beneath the Davenport Province supports the positioning of the south dipping Atuckera Fault as interpreted on the seismic data. Likewise, the interpreted north dipping margin between the Warumpi and Aileron Province is imaged as a transition from resistive to conductive crust, with a steeply north dipping geometry.
Comparison of Iberian Peninsula Official Tourism Websites

An official website is a key component for tourist’s decision-making processes. Official websites transmit confidence to the user, since they are managed by government entities. It is important that they are of quality with regard to the contents available, but also with respect to other aspects such as efficiency, functionality and usability. Although, it is difficult to make a systematic and complete evaluation on websites, they are of quality due to their diversity of functionalities, which make them complex to analyses. Many studies have proposed new website evaluation frameworks and criteria. The main objective of this paper is to analyse Portugal and Spain tourism official websites, using one model to evaluate tourism websites and a qualitative method approach in order to assess the quality of the respective websites and to identify possible improvements.
Pre-Service EFL Teachers’ Perception of Using Facebook Group for Learning

The current development of ICT has been revolutionizing education. The revolution has now overflown learning beyond the four walls boundary of the classroom. By using ICT, students today can learn anytime and anywhere. This study aimed to explore pre-service EFL teachers' perception of the use of Facebook Group (FBG) in learning. Employed a mixed methods research designed, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 56 (29 first-year and 27 second-year) students of the English Education Department of Universitas Kristen Indonesia Jakarta using a questionnaire and interview. The finding revealed that the majority of the participants had positive perception towards using FBG as a learning platform. However, since their experience in the informal language learning environment through FBG was new, their view towards the use of FBG for interpretative communication activates was lower than for interpersonal communication.