Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nachhaltiges Elektronikschrottrecycling durch individuelle Prozessgestaltung

Im Jahr 2014 fielen weltweit erstmals über 40 Mio. t an Elektround Elektronikaltgeräten an. Mit einer jährlichen Wachstumsrate von 3 bis 5 % wird für das Jahr 2018 eine Masse von nahezu 50 Mio. t Elektronikschrott prognostiziert [1]. Bei der Bewältigung dieser Mengen stehen Recycler gestern wie heute vor der großen Herausforderung einer nachhaltigen und wirtschaftlichen Verwertung der Schrotte mit gleichzeitiger Wiedergewinnung darin enthaltener Wertstoffe. In diesem Zusammenhang hat sich das IME – Institut für Metallurgische Prozesstechnik und Metallrecycling der RWTH Aachen zum Ziel gesetzt, ein Verfahrenskonzept zu entwickeln, bei dem sämtliche Metalle aus den Rücklaufgütern effizient und umweltgerecht wiedergewonnen werden können. Die Grundsteine bilden dabei hydround pyrometallurgische Prozesse sowie einzelne Schritte zur Vorkonditionierung des Materials. In Abhängigkeit vom Einsatzstoff und den gewünschten Produkten können die Teilprozesse nach dem Baukastenprinzip flexibel miteinander kombiniert werden, um auch speziellen Anforderungen gerecht zu werden.
A reorganização escolar em São Paulo: uma reflexão sobre o uso de argumentos demográficos em políticas educacionais

Apresentando como justificativa a redução da fecundidade e, por conseguinte, a redução da demanda por vagas na rede, a proposta de reorganização escolar da rede pública do Estado de São Paulo prevê o fechamento de 94 unidades escolares e o reagrupamento de alunos segundo a faixa etária correspondente ao ciclo de ensino (6 a 10 anos para Fundamental I; 11 a 14 anos para Fundamental II e 15 a 17 anos para o Ensino Médio). Este é um exemplo em que a Demografia é apropriada de forma restrita e reduzida à “contabilidade social”, termo empregado no século XIX por pioneiros da área. Propomos neste ensaio discutir o argumento demográfico enquanto subsídio para políticas públicas educacionais, retomando a relação histórica entre Demografia e políticas públicas e reconsiderando formas de aproveitamento do “bônus” demográfico. Intencionamos contribuir para um melhor aproveitamento do que a Demografia tem a oferecer para a gestão pública.
Predictors of survival among 60 patients with tissue proven primary cardiac amyloidosis

Background: Cardiovascular involvement among patients with primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) is common and predicts poor prognosis. Different parameters have been used to predict outcome. We studied the prognostic significance of clinical, ECG and echocardiographic parameters of 60 patients with tissue proven primary cardiac amyloidosis. Method and Results: Records of 60 patients with primary amyloidosis and cardiac involvement documented by endomyocardial tissue biopsy were retrospectively evaluated. Patients mean age was 57.9 ± 10.2 years. 71.6% were male and 86.6% Caucasian. Patients’ median survival was 12.2 ± 4.4 months with only 50% of patients survived for more than 1 year. 60% of patients had CHF (NYHA II-IV). CHF (NYHA II-IV), IVS, LVPW and LVEF were significant on univariate survival analysis (p
Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System Based Grading of Basmati Rice Grains Using Image Processing Technique

Grading of rice intents to discriminate broken and whole grain from a sample. Standard techniques for image-based rice grading using advanced statistical methods seldom take into account the domain knowledge associated with the data. In the context of a high product value basmati rice with an image based grading process, one ought to consider the physical properties of grain and the associated knowledge. In this present work, a model of quality grade testing and identification is proposed using a novel digital image processing and knowledge-based adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The rationale behind adopting a grading system based on fuzzy rules relies on capabilities of ANFIS to simulate the behaviour of an expert in the characterization of rice grain using the physical properties of rice grains. The rice kernels are characterized with the help of morphological descriptors and geometric features which are derived from sample images of milled basmati rice. The predictive capability of the proposed technique has been tested on a sufficient number of training and test images of basmati rice grain. The proposed method outperforms with a promising result in an evaluation of rice quality with >98.5% classification accuracy for broken and whole grain as compared to standard machine learning technique viz. support vector machine (SVM) and K-nearest neighbour (KNN). The milling efficiency is also assessed using the ratio between head rice and broken rice percentage and it is 77.27% for the test sample. The overall results of the adopted methodology are promising in terms of classification accuracy and efficiency.
Lane Detection Method of Statistical Hough Transform Based on Gradient Constraint

A lane detection method of statistical Hough transform based on gradient constraint is proposed to solve the problem of computational cost and grid quantization precision of classical Hough transform. Statistical Hough transform uses the Gaussian kernel function to model each pixel in the image . The size of initial data set is limited by using the method of gradient constraint. Eventually lane parameters’ continuous probability density function is given. The results of the experimentation show that under highway circumstance the provided method can rapidly and robustly detect the lane.
Effect of phrasal accent on vocalic and consonantal nuclei

The main difference between vowels and consonants is their syllable position. Vowels occupy the syllable nucleus and consonants the onset or coda. Because of this, most studies treat vowels and consonants separately. In this study, we want to examine the effect of phrasal accent on vowels and consonants when both occupy the syllable nucleus. Slovak has two syllabic consonants, /l/ and /r/. They can occupy the nucleus of a stressed syllable, the position in which the effect of phrasal accent is expected to be most prominent. In general, prosodic prominence is predominantly carried by vowels, but this observation is usually confounded with syllable position. Slovak provides us with the opportunity to investigate whether phrasal accent can be implemented on consonantal nuclei as well. Previous studies have revealed two strategies with which prosodic prominence is produced. The first is sonority expansion, which is achieved by expanding the oral cavity, usually by lowering jaw and tongue (Beckman et al., 1992). The second is hyperarticulation (De Jong, 1995), which does not predict a specific articulatory or acoustic movement but a more distinct realization of features. For many vowels, hyperarticulation and sonority expansion go hand in hand in terms of a wider opening of the oral cavity. Yet for consonants, hyperarticulation leads to a narrower constriction, a movement opposite to that required by sonority expansion. The predictions made by hyperarticulation is based on syllables with vocalic nuclei and consonants in onset or coda position. Therefore, prosodic emphasis thus has the effect of enhancing the distinction between nucleus and syllable edge positions. Yet whether this is a syllable position or consonant-vowel effect is unknown and is the focus of the present investigation. If the effect of prosodic emphasis is to enhance the contrast between syllable edge and nucleus, under accentuation the nucleus is predicted to become more vocalic and sonorous, independently of whether the nucleus is occupied by a consonant and a vowel. For a syllabic consonant, the consonant would thus become increasingly ’vocalic’ with increasing prosodic emphasis. In the current paper we examine, based on Slovak syllabic consonants, whether the implementation of phrasal accent on consonantal nuclei is comparable to phrasal accent on vocalic nuclei. We analyze the nucleus of the first syllable of two phonotactically legal nonsense words: pepap (vocalic nucleus /e/) and plpap (consonantal nucleus /l/). In Slovak, word stress is fixed on the first syllable and fundamental frequency is a robust indicator for phrasal accent (Král’, 2005). The two target words were inserted in two carrier phrases to elicit two accent patterns:
Parameter Optimisation of a Viscothermal Time-Domain Model for Wind Instruments

Viscothermal losses are vital for realistic numerical models of wind instruments. Numerical methods for modelling acoustic tubes that include viscothermal losses are well understood in the frequency domain for many years now. In this paper, motivated by the aim to numerically investigate note transitions on wind instruments, we study time-domain models for acoustic tubes. Time-domain modelling is better suited to such nonlinear, as well as time-varying systems. Recent methods use rational function approximation for including viscothermal losses in the time domain. We pursue the same approach and present a semi-analytic technique for the numerical integration of losses. Finally, in an attempt to accurately reproduce experimental findings, a time-domain bore optimisation routine is presented that includes the effect of viscothermal and radiation losses.
The concept of future self-continuity and its effects

: Future self-continuity refers to the degree of perceived connectedness between one’s present self and future self. A large body of research has demonstrated the significant role of future self-continuity in influencing temporal decision making, saving and consuming behaviors, academic achievements, social behaviors and exercise behavior. Future research may examine the neural basis of future self-continuity, explore its factors, and expand its potential applications.
Whole Child Framework: Supporting Educators in Their Plight toward MTSS and Equity

The Whole Child Framework (WCF) was created to assist educators globally seeking to develop or refine a comprehensive system to meet the needs of all their students through the lens of equity. The WCF is rooted in social ecological model (SEM) and the various interventions approaches to the strategies within this framework are also rooted in empirical evidence from neuroscience, biology, psychology, and educational best practices. The WCF intentionally separates the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) domains and provides framework in each domain and tier that is rooted in evidence based educational techniques and wellness research. The academic domain is represented upside down on the trapezoid in between the SEL and behavioral pyramids that make up the trapezoid. The purpose is for educators to understand that SEL and behavior systems do not stand alone, and that they both serve as the pillars to completing the ‘whole child’ in education. SEL is considered as the process where students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills critical to understand and manage emotions, as well as the capacity to feel and demonstrate empathy, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions (Colorado Education Initiative, 2014). Generally, factors that hinder student success overlap and are multifaceted. These complex issues raise challenges when attempting to measure exactly how to support students through their academic journey. WCF was developed to help educators have a framework that is evidence based around academic, behavioral, and SEL interventions, since several notions are being presented de novo.
Development of Teaching Materials to Biographical Text Based on Ethical Value for Junior High School Student

This study aims to determine the results of the development of teaching materials biography ethics-based text by students of class VIII MTsN 2 Medan. The teaching materials developed are modular. This type of research is a developmental study based on the development model of Borg and Gall. With the test subjects consisting of material experts, design experts, Indonesian teachers, and students of grade VIII MTsN 2 Medan. The result of the research shows that (1) validation from the material experts include the average content of the average obtained 89.84% and the valuation of the language aspect obtained the average 89.42% (2) Validation of design experts with an average of 84.58% (3) teacher response earns an average of 85.83% (4) Individual trial obtains an average of 75% (5) small group trials obtained an average of 83.56% (6) unlimited field testing obtained an average of 94.92%. The learning results of producing biographical texts before using the module earned 70.65 while the test result produced biographical text using modules increased by obtaining 81.09. Difference gained 10.44 from before and after using module. Keywords— teaching materials, biographical text, ethical value.
Iron dissolution kinetics of mineral dust at low pH during simulated atmospheric processing

Abstract. We investigated the iron (Fe) dissolution kinetics of African (Tibesti) and Asian (Beijing) dust samples at acidic pH with the aim of reproducing the low pH conditions in atmospheric aerosols. The Beijing dust and three size fractions of the Tibesti dust ( 20 ; 10 ; and 2.5 ) were dissolved at pH 1, 2 and/or 3 for up to 1000 h. In the first 10 min, all dust samples underwent an extremely fast Fe solubilisation. Subsequently, the Fe dissolution proceeded at a much slower rate before reaching a stable dissolution plateau. The time-dependant Fe dissolution datasets were best described by a model comprising three acid-extractable Fe pools each dissolving according to first-order kinetics. The dissolution rate constant k (h −1 ) of each pool was independent of the source (Saharan or Asian) and the size (PM 20 , PM 10 or PM 2.5 ) of the dust but highly dependent on pH. The "fast" Fe pool had a k (25 h −1 at pH = 1) of a similar magnitude to "dry" ferrihydrite nanoparticles and/or poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide, while the "intermediate" and "slow" Fe pools had k values respectively 50–60 times and 3000–4000 times smaller than the "fast" pool. The "slow" Fe pool was likely to consist of both crystalline Fe oxide phases (i.e., goethite and/or hematite) and Fe contained in the clay minerals. The initial mass of the "fast", "intermediate" and "slow" Fe pools represented respectively about 0.5–2%, 1–3% and 15–40% of the total Fe in the dust samples. Furthermore, we showed that in systems with low dust/liquid ratios, Fe can be dissolved from all three pools, whereas at high dust/liquid ratios (e.g., in aerosols), sufficient Fe may be solubilised from the "fast" phase to dominate the Fe dissolved and to suppress the dissolution of Fe from the other Fe pools. These data demonstrated that dust/liquid ratio and pH are fundamental parameters controlling Fe dissolution kinetics in the dust. In order to reduce errors in atmospheric and climate models, these fundamental controlling factors need to be included.
FII Ownership in Indian Equity Securities: The Firm-Level Determinants

This paper studies the stock ownership in Indian firms by Foreign Institutional Investors during 2013 to 2015. Several firm-level characteristics are used to measure the extent to which information asymmetry affects the level of FII ownership in these firms. The analysis reveals that the firm-size and the book-to-market ratio are significant variables in selecting the equity investments by this investor group. There is not much empirical support for beta or the export ratio as determinants of firm-level ownership. In their holdings of large-firm stocks, there is a strong evidence that FIIs prefer to hold more shares of high exports firms.
Change in the Standard Thai High Tone: An Acoustic Study

Standard Thai tones are divided into two categories; namely, level tones (mid tone, low tone, and high tone) and contour tones (falling tone and rising tone). The Thai high tone was found to have changed its height and shape between the years 1911 and 2006 (Bradley 1911; Abramson 1962; Tumtavitikul 1992; Morén and Zsiga 2006). The tone changed its shape from mid falling (1911) to high level (1962), and then to mid rising (2006). This study attempts to show that the high tone in Standard Thai is changing its phonetic characteristics from high level to mid rising. The informants were divided into two age groups: over-sixty and under-twenty. Each age group was comprised of twenty informants. The Praat program was used to conduct an acoustic analysis. The results show that the high tone shape in the over-sixty group is high level, but it is mid rising in the under-twenty group. It has also been found that the present characteristic of the high tone is similar to that of the rising tone. It is argued whether the Standard Thai high tone should be categorized as a contour tone. Standard
Fleet Restructuring, Rent Generation, and the Design of Individual Fishing Quota Programs: Empirical Evidence from the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

Abstract This article characterizes anticipated changes in fleet structure, vessel harvesting activity, and economic performance in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery under an individual fishing quota management program. Results suggest that the current fleet of 117 vessels will be reduced by roughly 50%–66% to 40–-60 vessels, resulting in annual cost savings of $18–$22 million (based on 2004 price and cost estimates). However, cost savings could be significantly less if restrictions on quota trading across vessels are incorporated into the program design. Alternative modes of collecting fees to fund program administration and their impact on fleet size and total fishery value are also studied. We conclude that a program of individual fishing quotas, if carefully designed, can be an attractive alternative for management of the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. JEL Classification Codes: Q2, D24
Noise-robust Linear Prediction Cepstral Features for Network Speech Recognition

In this paper, we propose a perceptually-motivated method for modifying the speech power spectrum to obtain a set of linear prediction coding (LPC) parameters that possess good noiserobustness properties in network speech recognition. Speech recognition experiments were performed to compare the accuracy obtained from MFCC features extracted from AMR-coded speech that use these modified LPC parameters, as well as from LPCCs extracted from AMR bitstream parameters. The results show that when using the proposed LP analysis method, the recognition performance was on average 1.2% 6.1% better than when using the conventional LP method, depending on the recognition task.
Road Extraction from High Resolution Image with Deep Convolution Network – A Case Study of GF-2 Image

Recently, with the development of remote sensing and computer techniques, automatic and accurate road extraction is becoming feasible for practical usage. Nowadays, accurate extraction of road information from satellite data has become one of the most popular topics in both remote sensing and transportation fields. It is very useful for applying this technique to fast map updating, construction supervision, and so on. However, as there is usually a huge volume of information provided by remote sensing data, an efficient method to refine the big volume of data is important in corresponding applications. We apply deep convolution network to perform an image segmentation approach, as a solution for extracting road networks from high resolution images. In order to take advantage of deep learning, we study the methods of generating representative training and testing datasets, and develop semi-supervised leaning skills to enhance the data scale. The extraction of the satellite images that are affected by color distortion is also studied, in order to make the method more robust for more applicational fields. The GF-2 satellite data is used for experiments, as its images may show optical distortion in small pieces. Experiments in this paper showed that, the proposed solution successfully identifies road networks from complex situations with a total accuracy of more than 80% in discriminable areas.
Influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole on Atmospheric Subseasonal Variability

Abstract The relationship between atmospheric subseasonal variability and interannual variation of SST over the tropical Indian Ocean is examined using winds and humidity from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), and the monthly SST analysis. The primary focus is on whether and how the subseasonal variability is related to the zonal dipole structure of SST, which peaks during boreal fall. The level of subseasonal wind activity is measured by standard deviation of bandpass-filtered zonal wind fields on the 6–30- and 30–90-day time scales. During boreal fall (September–November), the interannual variation of 6–30-day (submonthly) near-surface zonal wind activity in the central and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean is highly correlated with the large-scale zonal SST gradient. The intensity of submonthly variability is largely reduced during positive dipole years. A significant reduction of intraseasonal (30–90-day) wind activity is also evident during large dipole events. However, the c.
Physiological and biochemical basis of fruit development and ripening-a review

Fruits and vegetables are the natural source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that play an important role in the human diet. Despite of tremendous increase in production and productivity, their per-capita availability for world population is a great challenge ahead due to constant postharvest losses occurring in perishable horticultural produce. These postharvest losses especially in terms of quality and nutritional composition could be controlled to a greater extent with better knowledge regarding their postharvest physiology. The ultimate physiological condition of the fresh produce determines their fitness for end use, including storability and acceptability for primary or secondary processing. Hence, it is indispensable to understand the physiological responses of perishable commodities to the storage conditions in direct relation to the intended end use. Physical, physiological and biochemical changes occurring during fruit ripening seem to modify their internal quality in terms of firmness, colour, starch content, organic acids and flavouring compounds. Thus, the knowledge on physiological profile of perishable fruits and vegetables could act as a powerful tool for their optimized commercial utilization.
How does family structure affect children's outcomes? Evidence from the civil war

We propose a novel approach to measuring the causal effect of family structure on a child’s outcomes. In a war, some fathers are killed in action and cannot return to their families. This creates a natural experiment in which the effects of a father’s absence can be tested. Using data from the U.S. Civil War, we find no evidence that a father’s death in the war affected his child’s labor income as a young adult. We also find no effect on labor force participation or the chance of being married in 1880. Daughters of fathers who died were less likely to be students in 1880, although we find no such effect on sons.