Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Three-Dimensional Indoor Positioning Mechanism Based on Wireless LAN

The researches on two-dimensional indoor positioning based on wireless LAN and the location fingerprint methods have become mature, but in the actual indoor positioning situation, users are also concerned about the height where they stand. Due to the expansion of the range of three-dimensional indoor positioning, more features must be needed to describe the location fingerprint. Directly using a machine learning algorithm will result in the reduced ability of classification. To solve this problem, in this paper, a “divide and conquer” strategy is adopted; that is, first through k-medoids algorithm the three-dimensional location space is clustered into a number of service areas, and then a multicategory SVM with less features is created for each service area for further positioning. Our experiment shows that the error distance resolution of the approach with k-medoids algorithm and multicategory SVM is higher than that of the approach only with SVM, and the former can effectively decrease the “crazy prediction. ”
Amorphous ices: experiments and numerical simulations

Polyamorphism, i.e. the presence of more than one amorphous state, was observed for the first time in amorphous ice or glassy water. In addition to LDA (low-density amorphous ice), a second amorphous state, HDA (high-density amorphous ice), was discovered ∼20 years ago. Since then, polyamorphism has been observed in many other substances, such as SiO2, GeO2, Si, and Ge. Five years ago, experimental results suggesting the existence of a third amorphous state, VHDA (very high-density amorphous ice), were reported, opening the possibility that more than two amorphous states could also be observed in other substances. A consistent phase diagram of glassy water does not yet exist. Such a phase diagram is necessary if one also wants to understand the anomalous behaviour of supercooled liquid water. Since the discovery of HDA, a large amount of work based on experiments and computer simulations has appeared. It is the purpose of this work to review such studies with special emphasis in comparing the experimental and simulation results. In particular, we review the recent studies concerning VHDA and its nature, and discuss the main open questions relating to the phase diagram of glassy water.
BODY MASS AND DYNAMICS OF GROWTH OF BROILER CHICKENS OF DIFFERENT GENOTYPE IN IMPROVED REARING CONDITONS

Application of lower housing density and discontinuous light programme, which at the same time marked the application of moderate photoperiod, had positive effect on realized final body masses of broiler chickens of both investigated genotype, however, exhibited effect was higher in chickens of Cobb genotype, considering that significantly greater body mass was established. Chicken genotype is confirmed as important interactive factor in improved rearing conditions, considering higher average daily gains of Cobb chickens compared to Arbor Acres, also in all weekly investigations.
Effect of a Worksite Walking Competition on Health- Related Quality of Life Among University Employees

Worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs) aim to improve the health and wellness of employees in an effort to improve health related quality of life (HRQOL). The effect of exercise on improving HRQOL is well documented among clinical populations. However, few studies have examined the effect of WHPPs on HRQOL. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a six-week “Workplace Walk-Off Competition” (WWC) on HRQOL among university employees. One hundred and nine university employees were included in this study (WWC group: n=47, Control group: n=62). All study participants completed the Short Form 12 Question, Version 2 (SF-12v2), a HRQOL questionnaire, before and after the WWC. The SF-12v2 questionnaire determines HRQOL based on two components and reports scores for a physical component summary (PCS) score and a mental component summary (MCS) score. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed on PCS and MCS scores, followed by dependent t-tests for each group. There was no significant difference in PCS or MCS scores between the groups. Further, there were no statistically significant changes in PCS or MCS scores (p>.05) among either group, following the six-week WWC. Although much research deems WHPPs effective for improving many health indicators, this short-term program was not effective in improving PCS and MCS components of HRQOL.
Measuring the Perceived Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Islamic Bank Windows in Libya Based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)

The growth of the banking sector is vital for a country’s economic development as it provides most of the financing sources for businesses. Customer satisfaction is one of the most important factors in determining the feasibility of a banking operation. Thus, this study aims to measure customer satisfaction in Libyan commercial banks, using the structural equation model (SEM). This study uses the dimensions from the modified SERVQUAL model, namely Tangibility, Assurance, Reliability, Responsiveness and Empathy for 366 cross-sectional samples that were taken from three commercial banks in Libya, namely Gumhouria Bank, Wahda Bank and Sahara Bank in year 2012. The study found that responsiveness was the strongest indicator of customer satisfaction using the dimensions of perceived quality, followed by reliability, empathy and assurance. The results of this study will be useful for policy-making by Libyan authorities responsible for the development of the banking sector.
Double or Triple Therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Although the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy recommends triple therapy involving long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) only for further advanced patients, particularly for those at a high risk for exacerbation (GOLD D), triple therapy is widely prescribed in real-life management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even in patients with mild or moderate COPD severity, likely because physicians prefer to prescribe a full treatment to ensure the best care to their patients. While the available clinical evidence on triple therapy has greatly increased in recent years, there is still no solid evidence to indicate whether and when addition of an ICS to the LABA/LAMA combination provides additional clinical value. Therefore, a strong recommendation can still not be generated but the results of four recent pivotal triple therapy studies support the possibility that this treatment option should be considered also for GOLD B patients. (BRN Rev. 2018;4(4):287-303) Corresponding author: Mario Cazzola, mario.cazzola@uniroma2.it
Wages, training, and voluntary labor turnover: Comparing IT workers with other professionals: Working paper series--02-12

Job turnover among IT workers has been an important issue for employers and employer concern about turnover was heightened during the IT boom of the late 1990s. Job satisfaction studies have suggested that IT professionals are most satisfied when they have new and challenging work that allows them to acquire new skills. However, the application of computing technology may cause skills to become more generally-valued and less firm-specific. This, in-turn, may contribute to a new labor contract between employer and employees which places less value on loyalty and places more of the responsibility for skill management on the worker.
Seeing music performance: Visual inﬂuences on perception and experience

Abstract Drawing from ethnographic, empirical, and historical / cultural perspectives, we examine the extent to which visual aspects of music contribute to the communication that takes place between performers and their listeners. First, we introduce a framework for understanding how media and genres shape aural and visual experiences of music. Second, we present case studies of two performances, and describe the relation between visual and aural aspects of performance. Third, we report empirical evidence that visual aspects of performance reliably inﬂuence perceptions of musical structure (pitch related features) and affective interpretations of music. Finally, we trace new and old media trajectories of aural and visual dimensions of music, and highlight how our conceptions, perceptions and appreciation of music are intertwined with technological innovation and media deployment strategies.
The Effect of Level Shift in the Unconditional Variance on Predicting Conditional Volatility

We evaluate out-of-sample forecasting performance of different prediction models using different estimation windows to account for a variety of statistical characteristics such as the long range dependence and the structural breaks of the process. We identify the timing of the deterministic shifts in the unconditional variance and evaluate the impact of accounting for the level shifts in the unconditional variance on out-of-sample volatility forecasting. The modified iterated cumulative sums of squares algorithm identifies two shifts in the unconditional variance for the KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) returns. For the KOSPI returns process, the full sample performance of the recursive GARCH(1,1) model is worse than the competing models, which is unsurprising given two structural breaks in the process. The superiority of the competing models in forecasting performance can be attributed to the capability of the model which accommodates both the long range dependence by giving a slow hyperbolic rate of decaying weights on the past observations in forming the likelihood and the structural changes in the variance by discarding observations beyond a rolling window length distance in the past which may have come from a different regime. Although we try to improve the forecasting performance by incorporating statistical characteristics of the process into a prediction model, the out-of-sample performance of the prediction model can be tainted with uncertainties related to statistical tests and estimation methodologies.
The Catalytic Effect of Mn2O3 Nanoparticles on the Ignition Reaction of Pyrotechnic of Ammonium Nitrate(V)/Thiourea

The non-isothermal TG/DSC technique has been used to study the kinetic triplet and heat of ignition reaction of ammonium nitrate(V) (AN)/thiourea (TU) pyrotechnic in the presence of Mn2O3 catalyst nanoparticles under an argon atmosphere at different heating rates (5 K·min−1, 10 K·min−1, 15 K·min−1 and 20 K·min−1). The activation energies for the ignition reaction of AN/TU were calculated using the non-isothermal isoconversional Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Friedman equations for different conversion fraction (α) values in the range 0.1-0.9. The pre-exponential factor and kinetic model were determined by means of the compensation effect and the selected model was confirmed by a nonlinear fitting method. The average activation energies in the absence and presence of 5 wt. % Mn2O3 nanoparticles were 110.1 kJ·mol−1 to 117.3 kJ·mol−1 for the reaction model A3 (g(α) = [−ln(1−α)]1/3), and 86.5 kJ·mol−1 to 101.8 kJ·mol−1 for the reaction model A4 (g(α) = [−ln(1−α)]1/4). The evolved heat (ΔH) of ignition reaction in the presence of Mn2O3 was about 4 times that in the absence of the nano-sized Mn2O3.
Properties of the Set of Hadamardized Hurwitz Polynomials

We say that a Hurwitz polynomial is a Hadamardized polynomial if there are two Hurwitz polynomials and such that , where is the Hadamard product of and . In this paper, we prove that the set of all Hadamardized Hurwitz polynomials is an open, unbounded, nonconvex, and arc-connected set. Furthermore, we give a result so that a fourth-degree Hurwitz interval polynomial is a Hadamardized polynomial family and we discuss an approach of differential topology in the study of the set of Hadamardized Hurwitz polynomials.
A Novel Two-Step Method for Fabricating Silver Plating Cotton Fabrics

A novel two-step method was presented for fabricating silver plating cotton fabrics (SPCFs) with high electrical conductivity and excellent washing fastness. First, polydopamine (PDA) film was coated on the surface of cotton fabrics by in situ polymerization of dopamine, the silver ions in silver nitrate solution were reduced by the catechol groups of polydopamine, and silver nanoparticles were combined with polydopamine by covalent bond on the surface of cotton fabrics. Second, silver ions were reduced by glucose, and silver plating was coated on the surface. Subsequently, the properties of SPCFs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and so forth. With the increasing of silver-ammonia solution concentration or dopamine concentration, the surface resistivity of SPCFs decreases and gradually stabilized. The surface resistivity of the SPCFs can reach 0.12±0. 02źź, and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (ESE) of the SPCFs can reach 58.5±4. 5źdB. Conductive fabrics have wide application prospect in many of fields, such as antibacterial, intelligent textiles, smart garments, electromagnetic shielding, and flexible sensors.
The Impact of Individual and Social Attitude in Business Information Technology Knowledge Sharing

This exploratory study attempts to analyze the way women and men perceive talking about information and communication technology, and its impact in knowledge sharing. Based in 14 focus groups we have defined a conceptual model to interpret this impact in ICT knowledge sharing. Our research findings show that there are differences between men and women, thus gender is a critical factor in ICT knowledge sharing. Also, social, cultural and educational factors have a strong negative impact in their behaviour. Furthermore, we posit that the attitude predisposes a favourable (men) and unfavourable (women) reaction to talk about ICT and this affects ICT knowledge sharing.
Nonstationarities in Stock Returns

The paper outlines a methodology for analyzing daily stock returns that relinquishes the assumption of global stationarity. Giving up this common working hypothesis reflects our belief that fundamental features of the financial markets are continuously and significantly changing. Our approach approximates the nonstationary data locally by stationary models. The methodology is applied to the S&P 500 series of returns covering a period of over seventy years of market activity. We find most of the dynamics of this time series to be concentrated in shifts of the unconditional variance. The forecasts based on our nonstationary unconditional modeling were found to be superior to those obtained in a stationary long-memory framework and to those based on a stationary Garch(1, 1) data-generating process.
Prevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Aborted Bovine Fetuses in Korea

Several efforts have been made to eradicate bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) in Korea. However, there is still insufficient information on how the BVD virus (BVDV) affects bovine abortion. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of BVDV, and age of fetuses with BVDV infection in 350 aborted fetuses from 314 farms submitted to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency in Korea from 2008-2017. Histopathologically, all fetal tissues were autologous, or had no specific lesions. BVDV was detected in 83 (23.7%) fetuses from 77 (24.5%) farms by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and revealed more than 30% higher detection rates in Chungnam and Gyeongbuk provinces compared to other regions, based on both total data and farm-associated analyses. Estimated age of fetuses with BVDV infection by converting the measured crown-rump length into fetal age showed that most cases occurred with abortions being induced during fetal period considered to be middle and late stage abortions. These results suggest that in order to successfully eradicate BVD in Korea, control programs such as vaccination and enhanced biosecurity should be applied to prevent fetal infections.
Revealing the binary origin of Type Ic superluminous supernovae through nebular hydrogen emission

We propose that nebular H-alpha emission as detected in the Type Ic superluminous supernova iPTF13ehe stems from matter which is stripped from a companion star when the supernova ejecta collide with it. The temporal evolution, the line broadening, and the overall blueshift of the emission are consistent with this interpretation. We scale the nebular H-alpha luminosity predicted for Type Ia supernovae in single-degenerate systems to derive the stripped mass required to explain the H-alpha luminosity of iPTF13ehe. We find a stripped mass of 0.1 - 0.9 solar masses, assuming that the supernova luminosity is powered by radioactivity or magnetar spin down. Because a central heating source is required to excite the H-alpha emission, an interaction-powered model is not favored for iPTF13ehe if the H-alpha emission is from stripped matter. We derive a companion mass of more than 20 solar masses and a binary separation of less than about 20 companion radii based on the stripping efficiency during the collision, indicating that the supernova progenitor and the companion formed a massive close binary system. If Type Ic superluminous supernovae generally occur in massive close binary systems, the early brightening observed previously in several Type Ic superluminous supernovae may also be due to the collision with a close companion. Observations of nebular hydrogen emission in future Type Ic superluminous supernovae will enable us to test this interpretation.
Significance of Teachers and Education in Promoting National Economic Development: A Case Study of Pakistan

The key objective of the present paper is to highlight the consequence of education along with the importance ofteacher in education and its overall influence on the national economic development Pakistan. It is crystal clearthat the role of education and teachers has become more important in improving human capital and consequentlyhas a positive impact on the national development and prosperity. The results of this study show that teachers inall level including primary school, middle school teacher and high school teacher play a positive and statisticallysignificant role in promoting national economic development. Therefore, these findings have some importantpolicy implications. The government of Pakistan at both the federal and provincial levels needs to formulateappropriate and education promoting oriented policy in order to encourage education and increase quality trainedteachers in the country. Consequently, it will further help to promote overall economy performance and largelymitigate poverty and improve social welfare in the country.
Random graph models and their applications

This thesis explores different models of random graphs. The first part treats a change from the preferential attachment model where the network incorporates new vertices and attach them preferentially to the previous vertices with a large number of connections. We introduce on top of this model the deletion of the oldest connections in the system and discuss the impact on the degree of the vertices. We show that the structure of the resulting graph doesn't resemble the structure of the former graph. The second and third part of the thesis concern the phase transition in a model combining the classical random graphs model and the bond percolation model. We describe the phase diagram on the different parameters inherited from percolation model and classical random graphs. We show that the phase transition is of second order similarly to the classical random graphs and give the size of the largest connected component above the phase transition. In the last part, we study the spread of activation on the classical random graph model. We give, for a given probability of connection of the vertices, conditions on the original set of activated vertices under which the activation diffuses through the graph and conversely, conditions under which the activation stops before spreading to a positive part of the graph. (Less)
Spiroplasma kunkelii sp. nov.: characterization of the etiological agent of corn stunt disease.

Nine strains of spiroplasma subgroup 1-3, which comprise the etiological agent of corn stunt disease, were similar in their serological properties. Strain E275T(T = type strain) was studied by using criteria proposed by the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology Subcommittee on Taxonomy of Mollicutes for descriptions of new mollicute species. This strain was shown to belong to the class Mollicutes by the ultrastructure of its limiting membrane, its procaryotic organization, its colonial morphology, and its filtration behavior and to the family Spiroplasmataceae by its helical morphology and motility. Although some serological cross-reactions with other group I spiroplasma strains was observed, strain E275Tcould be readily distinguished from representatives of other group I subgroups. Subgroup 1-3 spiroplasmas and other group I strains also differed in their one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel protein patterns, plant and insect host ranges, and pathogenicities. Growth in MIA or MID medium occurred at 20 to 30°C. Cholesterol was required for growth. Glucose was fermented, and arginine was catabolized. Subgroup 1-3 strains, including strain E275T, reacted with considerable homogeneity in deformation tests and were completely separable from strains belonging to subgroup I-1 (Spiroplasma citri) and subgroup I-2 (Spiroplasma melliferum). Strain E275Twas also serologically distinct from subgroups I-4 through I-8, Spiroplasma floricola (group III), Spiroplasma apis (group IV), Spiroplasma mirum (group V), and representative strains of spiroplasma groups II and VI through XI. The deoxyribonucleic acid of strain E275Thybridized with the deoxyribonucleic acid of S. citri at significant levels (33 to 68%, depending on the technique used). These results demonstrate that strain E275Tand similar strains meet the criteria proposed by the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology Subcommittee for elevation of spiroplasma subgroups to species. We propose that such strains be named Spiroplasma kunkelii. Strain E275Thas been deposited in the American Type Culture Collection as strain ATCC 29320T.
The effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse on intermittent sprint performance in soccer players *

Aim: Carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinsing in the oral cavity has been shown to increase especially endurance exercise performance. Mechanisms responsible for this ergogenic effect may be related to receptors in oral cavity that detect CHO, in turn, increase neural drive to the motor unite. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of CHO mouth rinsing on intermittent sprint performance in soccer players. Material and Method: With randomised, double-blind, crossover, counterbalanced research design, fifteen amateur male soccer players (Mean±SD age:20.00±2.44 years, height:177.66±4.80 cm, body mass:75.02±6.42 kg) completed 3 sessions consisting of 12x4 seconds intermittent sprint tests with administering 10-second mouth rinse protocols before each sprint; a-) %6.4 carbohydrate solution (CHO) b-) water as a placebo (PLA) and 3-) no rinse as a control (CON). At rest, immediately after test and in active and passive recevory periods, blood glucose (BG), blood lactate (BL), heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Results: Compared with the CON condition, CHO and PLA increased significantly peak and mean power output (P<0.05), but there was no difference between CHO and PLA condition. BL and BG values were not statistically different between condition (P>0.05) but HR were significantly different in CON than CHO and PLA. Morover, RPE was significantly different in CON than PLA but not than CHO. Conclusion: CHO mouth rinsing does not improve peak and mean power when compared to PLA, but as a nocebo effect, CHO and PLA improve peak and mean power output with regard to CON.