Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of Import Demand in Pakistan: The Role of Expenditure Components

The paper uses imperfect substitution approach to derive the aggregate import demand function on the basis of disaggregated expenditure components. This derived import demand function is then empirically tested for Pakistan by using co-integration and error correction mechanism. The empirical results show that elasticity of import demand with respect to different macro components of final expenditure is different. The import demand in Pakistan is affected positively and significantly by all expenditure components. The relative prices have negative but insignificant relationship with import demand in Pakistan. The findings indicate that use of aggregate expenditure variable in the aggregate import demand function leads to aggregation bias because different macro components of final expenditure have different import contents. The model derived in this study provides in- depth guidelines for macroeconomic policy decisions in order to overcome the problem of persistent trade deficit in the country.
Software architectures for social influence : analysis of Facebook, Twitter, Yammer and FourSquare

Social media systems like Facebook and Twitter have experienced exponential growth in their user base as they fulfil basic human desires of communication, sharing of opinions, thoughts and intentions. Plus they also act as source of news and a place to network and meet interesting people who would otherwise be unreachable. Social media systems have thus become important tools for dissemination of information and addressing peoples’ information needs and as they are user driven and interactions are mainly over user-generated content, they provide useful features for supporting conversations which are the essence of such systems. This research is a conceptual analysis of how social media systems have been modeled to influence. The aim is to discern how the design choices made during development have enabled the growth of such systems and their prevalent influence on user interactions. The theoretical basis of the research is a persuasive context which describes how interactive computing systems have an impact on users’ thoughts and consequently lead to a change in their behavior. The study focuses on the architectures of Facebook, Twitter, Yammer and Foursquare to date among the most common social media systems serving different user needs while essentially encouraging conversations in a collaborative environment. The architectures of these systems mainly developed using open source software have undergone numerous changes in order to be able handle enormous amounts of user-generated data in real time and at the same time also be secure and respond to the user’s needs. Taking these factors into consideration, this research through review of literature, provides further insights into the use of social media systems and how their inherent design choices provide a platform to influence both user actions and interactions by: (i) contrasting between various social media systems, (ii) detailing the features that facilitate influence, (iii) analyzing the architectures of four social media systems, and (iv) analyzing the persuasion context and the resultant effects. The research is limited by the choice of the four systems for analysis and its conceptual nature which could not provide adequate opportunities for discerning key contextual issues like location, category and knowledge of users and so forth. This could be extended by empirical studies that are longitudinal in nature and use of data mining and/or social network analysis to discern the relationships and discussions within the respective systems.
A Comparison of the Beer and Penn Effect Models via Their Applications in the Renminbi Valuation

The behavioral equilibrium exchange rate (BEER) and the Penn effect models are compared via their applications on the valuation of the Renminbi (RMB). Considering the two models’ bases and applications, I conclude that, in time-series and cross-section data settings, the Penn effect model is the more reasonable or more robust model for currency valuation. In a panel data setting, the Penn effect model can be viewed as a special form of the BEER model; however, the latter includes many other forms that are different from the former. The criteria and methods of compari ng different model findings are given and used to compare typical misalignment results on RMB derived from the two models. According to the misalignment classification comparison, each model’s findings from the BEER model are only partly reasonable but each model’s findings from the Penn effect model are wholly reasonable. Thus, the latter is more reasonable than the former.
EVALUATING EFFECTIVENESS OF EXECUTING SUGGESTION SYSTEM ON FACILITATING EXECUTIVE PROCESS OF TEHRAN MUNICIPALITY

This paper presents a survey on effect of executing suggestion system on improving services within an organization. In this case, this study was conducted in Tehran municipality in 2011. The primary question was considered as establishing a comprehensive recommendation system in this organization leads to improve the executive process. In order to examine this query, the research developed as a descriptive study with survey method. The data was collected by questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by professional authorities. Furthermore, the statistical test on reliability of it was verified by Cranach’s alpha. The results of by non-parametric rating indicated that suggestion system of Tehran municipality is effective onFacilitating Executive Process of Tehran Municipality. Upon studying the subsidiary hypothesis it is indicated that suggestion system is efficient on following items: partnership and cooperation, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, improving quality and quantity of performance, education talent of employees, increasing flexibility of them against change, improving creativity and innovation at organization.
The development of a network thesaurus with morpho-semantic word markups

This paper presents a part of the network frame of Croatian linguistics which focuses on a new kind of thesaurus, based on morpho-semantic features of words. Instead of the classic (e.g. MULTEXT-EAST) POS tagging of words for grammatical and some semantic categories (e.g. animate), in this paper every word has its hierarchical T-structure which can hold various data types in its branches (string, integer, link, word list, ordered word list etc.), and in that way words and their various occurrence possibilities in a text can be described even better. Moreover, the known WordNet or other semantic structures (e.g. the Croatian Language Portal, terminology repository or a network encyclopedia) can be presented as T-structure nodes in the same way. During this process each word in the definition of an entry is linked to a lexicon, which results in increasing the semantic connectivity of words by at least one order of magnitude (about ten times more semantic relations). Searching through and browsing such a network dictionary brings a new dimension, and words in the dictionary, beside the paradigmatic, also possess all the syntagmatic properties, because the computer processes their appearance in any utterance or sentence as a series of connected nodes (LOD objects). This provides the possibility of storing all data in triplestore (e.g. on the Virtuoso server).
The Relationship of Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law between Organizational Climate and Organizational Citizenship Behavior : A Case Study for Career Women

By 2060, Taiwan is expected to become a super-aged society with approximately 40% of its population classified as elderly citizens, and the labor shortage is expected to reach 1.96 million people. Although the labor shortage can be improved through industrial transformation and technological development, adding new sources of labor is the most direct solution. The proportion of female students in higher education in Taiwan is the second highest in Asia. However, its labor force participation rate is ranked at the 10 place. Therefore, “the rise of female power,” or married women in particular, will be a key labor source to solving Taiwan’s future labor shortage as a result of population aging. This study aims to explore the association between organizational climate, mother-inlaw relationship, and organizational citizenship behavior. Mother-in-law relationship was used as the moderator of the relationship between organizational climate and organizational citizenship behavior. The participants comprised working women in the Kinmen region, who had various roles such as that of a wife, mother, daughter-inlaw, worker, and the self. The quantitative research method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey involving convenience sampling. The main findings of this study show that mother-in-law–daughter-in-law relationship positively and significantly moderates the relationship between organizational climate and organizational citizenship behavior and that mother-in-law relationship positively and significantly influences organizational citizenship behavior. Keyword: organizational climate, mother-in-law relations, organizational citizenship behavior, career women.
Network traffic based assessment of reactive, proactive and hybrid MANET protocols

MANETS are the networks that do not need backbone infrastructure support and are easy to deploy. They are Useful in the conditions when infrastructure is absent, destroyed or impractical. It is a dense collection of different nodes such as laptops, handheld computers, PDA and portable computers and mobile devices. Since many of these small computers operate for hours with battery power, users are free to move without being constrained by wires. To sustain such type of circumstances MANET has been designed. MANET has several characteristics such as, dynamic topologies, bandwidth-constrained, variable capacity links, energy constrained operation and limited physical security. The paper reveals the performance comparison of proactive, reactive and hybrid protocols. I. Introduction Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) is a collection of wireless mobile nodes that dynamically form a network provisionally without any support of central management. Moreover, Every node in MANET moves randomly making the multi-hop network topology to change arbitrarily at capricious times. (1). The most popular routing protocols (2) in MANET are AODV (reactive), AODV (reactive), DSDV (proactive)and ZRP (hybrid). Reactive protocols find the routes when they are needed. Proactive protocols are table driven protocols and find routes before they need it. And finally hybrid routing protocols offer an proficient framework that can concurrently draw on the strengths of proactive and reactive routing protocols. (3). In this paper, we concentrate on three MANET routing protocols, AODV, DSDV and ZRP. We consider four parameters to appraise the performance of these routing protocols: number of packets sent, number of packets received, number of packets dropped and throughput. (3).
Research on the Thermal Effect of Long Pulse Laser Irradiation BK7 Glass

The temperature and thermal stress distribution on BK7 glass was numerical simulated by MATLAB according to heat conduction theory. Research has shown that the laser pulse number, spot radius and pulse width can change the extent of the damage threshold for BK7 glass. The results shown the damage threshold decreased with the laser pulse number and radius increasing. The laser power also increased with the pulse width reducing. At the same time, the damage threshold was corresponding reduced.
Health Risk Assessment and Remediation Suggestion for Lead Contaminated Soil in a Lead-acid Battery Factory of Shandong Province

Lead is one of the heavy metals which are poisonous to human being, and lead-acid battery is a vital sources for lead pollution. With the development of economics and improvement of environmental consciousness of public, the relocation policy for enterprise was proposed and old factories had to move to the suburban area. The site of a demolished lead-acid factory in Shandong province was investigated and the health risk of lead for human being was assessed by Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model. 87 soil samples were collected and the detection results of the sampling sites demonstrated that the soil had been polluted seriously, lead content of 62.1% of the soil samples have exceeded the standard level (600 mg/kg), and 11.5% of the samples have exceeded the standard limit for 10 times. Health risk assessment result confirmed that 70% of the soil samples have serious threat to children’s health, and the investigated site needed to be remediated urgently. Solidification/Stabilization technique was recommended to remediate the lead contaminated soil. This study provided a relative integrated procedure to monitor and assess the health risk of lead contaminated soil for human being, which has a vital reference significance to the future investigation for lead contaminated sites.
Synergistic effect of spices in a decoction regulates the energy metabolism in liver cancer cells

Lactic acid fermentation and not oxidative phosphorylation is reported to be one of the major bioenergetics mechanisms by which cancer cells thrive and proliferate with such rapidity in non-ambient hypoxic conditions. The objective of the study was to determine the synergistic effect of spices in a decoction; Turmeric ( Curcuma longa ), Pepper ( Piper nigrum ) and Garlic ( Allium sativum ) in combination, on the metabolism of Hep G2 liver cancer cells. The biochemical studies of 2 major enzymes involved in cellular metabolism of cells namely; Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) showed that the decoction down regulated the activity of LDHA and increased the activity of PDH in cancer cells, thereby shifting the metabolic mechanism towards normal functioning in the cancer cells. The expression studies of major molecules involved in regulating metabolic machinery in cells viz . , tumour suppressor p53 and oncogene MYC mRNAs; and western blot analysis of Hypoxia inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF-1α) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) showed that the decoction regulated the expression of these factors helping to revert the metabolism in cancer cells, which could be attributed to the effect of turmeric and also garlic, rich in pantothenic acid, that aids in turning on oxidative phosphorylation in cancer cells. With the above results, it could be concluded that the decoction alters the metabolic mechanism in a cancer cell from lactic acid fermentation to oxidative phosphorylation, like in any other normal cell, thus inhibiting further growth of the cancer.
A Facial Expression Recognition Method for Baby Video Surveillance

Facial expression recognition (FER) has been widely used in video surveillance and other fields. In this paper, we built a face image database containing four different kinds of infant expressions. Based on the analysis of the features of infants’ eyes and mouths, this paper proposed a method of infant facial expression recognition. The experimental results showed that this method could be used for infants’ facial expression recognition with good performance. Moreover, the presented method achieved low computation complexity, thus it is suitable for video surveillance applications such as intelligent baby-care.
Design of High Performance Decoder with Mixed Logic Styles

The CMOS technology is the mostly portable technology used in the designing of the circuits and in its fabrication. Designing of the circuits using CMOS technology requires the high power, high transistors count and low performance. The basic idea of the project is in order to reduce the count of transistors, time delay, and power consumption and to increase the performance of the circuits such as line decoders. The line decoder is a combinational circuits to which „n‟ no . of inputs are given as input and the output is 2^n based on the selected input and it requires 20 and more than 20 transistors to design any MxN decoders using CMOS technology . In order to configure the parameters and to make it more portable we are using different types of logic styles this usage of technologies more than one technologies on each circuit is a mixed logic styles . In this concept we observe the results as per required . The technologies we use in this is TGL/DVL. The suggested framework “Design about low Power, helter execution 2-4 What's more 4-16 blended rationale offering Decoders” is executed done 45nm engineering utilizing cadence virtuoso tool. The circuit schematic is designed and the circuits are simulated for functionality verification
The statistical origins of gauge coupling and spin

A previous one-dimensional derivation of Schrodinger's equation from statistical assumptions is generalized to three spatial dimensions, gauge fields, and spin. It is found that the same statistical assumptions that imply Schrodinger's equation determine also the form of the gauge coupling terms, and the form of the corresponding local (Lorentz) forces. An explanation for the role of the electrodynamic potentials, as statistical representatives of the Lorentz force, is given. Spin one-half is introduced as the property of a statistical ensemble to respond to an external gauge field in two different ways. A generalized calculation, using the twofold number of variables, leads to Pauli's equation. The new spin term is again the statistical representative of the corresponding local force. The classical limit $\hbar \to 0$ of Schrodinger's equation and closely related questions of interpretation of the quantum mechanical formalism are discussed.
Influence of neural network training parameters on short-term wind forecasting

This paper investigates factors which can affect the accuracy of short-term wind speed prediction when done over long periods spanning different seasons. Two types of neural networks (NNs) are used to forecast power generated via specific horizontal axis wind turbines. Meteorological data used are for a specific Western Australian location. Results reveal that seasonal variations affect the prediction accuracy of the wind resource, but the magnitude of this influence strongly depends on the details of the NN deployed. Factors investigated include the span of the time series needed to initially train the networks, the temporal resolution of these data, the length of training pattern within the overall span which is used to implement the predictions and whether the inclusion of solar irradiance data can appreciably affect wind speed prediction accuracy. There appears to be a relatively complex relationship between these factors and the accuracy of wind speed prediction via NNs. Predicting wind speed based on NNs trained using wind speed and solar irradiance data also increases the prediction accuracy of wind power generated, as can the type of network selected.
The Construct Validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS)

The Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) are two relatively new behavior assessment scales that measure youth problem behavior. The ASCA is designed to be completed by the child's classroom teacher. The PKBS is designed to be completed by the child's teacher, parent, or day care provider. Both scales are unique and are considered to be technically adequate. Many of their syndromes/subscales and global scales/composites are similar in nature and description according to their respective manuals. No research, however, has been conducted establishing convergent evidence of construct validity between these two instruments. The current study attempted to provide this needed research by comparing the ASCA and the PKBS. A sample of 5 and 6 year old children (n = 123) from regular education classrooms were participants in the study. Regular education teachers were asked to complete both scales for randomly selected children in their kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms. Comparisons between the two scales were studied through correlational analysis. Results indicated preliminary evidence for convergent validity between the two instruments on the core syndrome/subscale level and on the global scale/composite level. Nonsignificant mean differences between ratings on the two scales yielded further evidence of convergent validity among like syndromes/subscales and global scales/composites. The information provided in this study is beneficial to school psychologists and other educational professionals looking for a more psychometrically sound, less subjective methods of assessing problem behavior in youths.
Intimité, extimité, public. Riletture dello spazio pubblico

Lo spazio pubblico e al centro di una riappropriazione neoliberista della citta, costruita a partire dal nesso tra qualita urbana e giustizia spaziale. E pertanto urgente ritornare a ragionare su un tema da sempre al centro di studi e progetti urbani. Lo scritto si muove in questa direzione, utilizzando le categorie di intimite, extimite e public. L’ipotesi e che esse siano utili a fare qualche passo in avanti nella direzione della pluralizzazione del pubblico di cui parlava Dewey nel 1927, ripensata entro le condizioni della citta contemporanea. Lo scritto fa riferimento a casi e riflessioni sviluppate nel progetto ‘Territories in crisis’, condotto da ricercatori del Politecnico di Torino, e dell’Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne e coordinato da chi scrive
STRATEGIES FOR RECLAMATION OF AREAS COVERED BY DWARF PINE

Uncontrolled development of natural afforested areas might represent a problem by itself, often implying loss of cultural landscapes and habitat variety, bio and eco-diversity depletion, territorial homogenization with loss of economic and natural resources. In the northern area of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, a plateau area in the Venetian Alps, dwarf pine has been the most invasive specie, with an high impact in the occupation of alpine pasture land, road, paths and historical sites. In this work a strategy to contain the spreading of this specie along the forest road network is analyzed. The analysis considers the operative costs for both felling and transport of dwarf pine stems to intermediate landings. The logistic problem has been widely analyzed by a GIS based decision support system based on network analysis model and assuming different scenarios considering different level of upgrade of the forest road network. Supply-cost curves have been then constructed to analyze the total reclamation cost in terms of quantities of wood material. The study shows that on the one hand the invasion of forest roads represents a growing problem and on the other hand it highlights that the operative costs are high. The supply-cost actually ranges from 52 ! t -1 to 143 ! t -1 and it decreases, ranging from 52 ! t -1 to 107 ! t -1 , only if the upgrade of the forest road network is concerned.