Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of ZnO nanowires and their photovoltaic application: ZnO nanowires/AgGaSe 2 thin film core-shell solar cell

In this investigation, hydrothermal technique was employed for the synthesis of well-aligned dense arrays of ZnO nanowires (NWs) on a wide range of substrates including silicon, soda-lime glass (SLG), indium tin oxide, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Results showed that ZnO NWs can be successfully grown on any substrate that can withstand the growth temperature (∼90°C) and precursor solution chemicals. Results also revealed that there was a strong impact of growth time and ZnO seed layer deposition route on the orientation, density, diameter, and uniformity of the synthesized nanowires. A core-shell n-ZnO NWs/p-AgGaSe 2 (AGS) thin film solar cell was fabricated as a device application of synthesized ZnO nanowires by decoration of nanowires with ∼700 nm thick sputtering deposited AGS thin film layer, which demonstrated an energy conversion efficiency of 1.74% under 100 mW/cm2 of simulated solar illumination.
Shariah issues in managing household debt: the case of Malaysia

The Edge Malaysia, in its 2011 publication, projects there will be 68,000 high net worth individuals (HNWI) in a population of 19.2 million by 2015. This means there will be one HNWI for every 282 persons in Malaysia. Hence, the Islamic wealth management industry is placing greater emphasis on wealth accumulation and preservation products vis-a-vis investment funds and assets. In their chase for HNWI clientele, financial institutions seem to neglecta fundamental stage of the Islamic wealth management process, namely wealth creation. In Islam, rizq is translated as subsistence or the means to live. In their search for income to meet their livelihood, Muslims need to ensure that their household’s wealth effect adhere to Shariah by linking the level of personal wealth to the spending or saving decisions. In recent years, household indebtedness in Malaysia has grown from 33% of banking sector loans in 1998 to 55% in 2011, representing 76.6% of the GDP. The cause for concern stems from the revelation that this growing pattern of debt is driven by personal consumption that is mismatched against income growth. The present paper provides an overview of the household debt situation in the Malaysia. In particular, the present study examines the concerns over the growing trend of Malaysian indebtedness from the perspective of consumers and evaluates consumer issues in seeking Islamic financing (personal and consumptive)products to meet livelihood needs. The paper offers suggestions for improvements in relevant products and development within the Malaysian wealth management landscape in light of maqasid al-Shariah.
CHARACTERIZING PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS CONTROLLING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BRAZILIAN SUGARCANE

Several models are available for sugarcane crop and all of them are based on physiological knowledge translated in mathematical equations coordinated in algorithms. For Brazilian sugarcane, however, there are few studies describing the main physiological characteristics to be included in the models. This paper has a major goal to characterize the physiological parameters controlling growth and development of two of the most important Brazilian sugarcane cultivars, and compare them with NCo376, a well-studied South African cultivar. As results, we found maximum leaf size differed little among Brazilian cultivars, being as large as 796 cm 2 for RB72-454 and 733cm 2 for SP83-2847. The mean value for the maximum green leaf number per stalk for the cultivars was approximately 9, and the observed biomass accumulation in the millable stalks closely mirrored the accumulation of above-ground biomass for the two cultivars, starting with 9% at 129 DAP to reach a maximum of around 65% after 330 DAP for RB72-454. Specific root length (m g -1 ) ranged from 16 m g -1 and 22 m g -1 on average from 125 DAP onwards.
The effects of minimum wage on wage distribution in urban China: Evidence from the CHIP data

Using data from the China Household Income Project, this study analyzes the effects of minimum wage policy on wage distribution in urban China from 1993 to 2013. Several major conclusions emerge from this research. First, with respect to the effects of the minimum wage on wages for low-wage groups: 1. ) The results of the ordinary least squares (OLS) and quantile regression (QR) models show that the minimum wage affected both the average wage and the wage levels for low-wage groups during 1993â€“1995, 1998â€“2002, and 2007â€“2013, with the greatest effect during 1993-1995; 2. ) The results using the Neumark, Schweitzer, and Wascher (2004) model indicate that the change in the minimum wage level affected changes in the wage level for low-wage groups during 1993-1995 and 1998-2002, with the greatest effect during 1993-1995; 3. ) The results of the DID model indicate that even when heterogeneity problems are addressed, the minimum wage considerably affects the wage levels for low-wage groups during all three periods. Second, all estimation results indicate the presence of a spillover effect in 1993â€“1995, but not in 1998â€“2002 or 2007â€“2013.
Coverage Hole Recovery Algorithm Based on Molecule Model in Heterogeneous WSNs

In diverse application fields, the increasing requisitions of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have more and more research dedicated to the question of sensor nodes’ deployment in recent years. For deployment of sensor nodes, some key points that should be taken into consideration are the coverage area to be monitored, energy consumed of nodes, connectivity, amount of deployed sensors and lifetime of the WSNs. This paper analyzes the wireless sensor network nodes deployment optimization problem. Wireless sensor nodes deployment determines the nodes’ capability and lifetime. For node deployment in heterogeneous sensor networks based on different probability sensing models of heterogeneous nodes, the author refers to the organic small molecule model and proposes a molecule sensing model of heterogeneous nodes in this paper. DSmT is an extension of the classical theory of evidence, which can combine with any type of trust function of an independent source, mainly concentrating on combined uncertainty, high conflict, and inaccurate source of evidence. Referring to the data fusion model, the changes in the network coverage ratio after using the new sensing model and data fusion algorithm are studied. According to the research results, the nodes deployment scheme of heterogeneous sensor networks based on the organic small molecule model is proposed in this paper. The simulation model is established by MATLAB software. The simulation results show that the effectiveness of the algorithm, the network coverage, and detection efficiency of nodes are improved, the lifetime of the network is prolonged, energy consumption and the number of deployment nodes are reduced, and the scope of perceiving is expanded. As a result, the coverage hole recovery algorithm can improve the detection performance of the network in the initial deployment phase and coverage hole recovery phase.
Intellectual Capital Performance of the Commercial Banking Sector of Malawi

In the current knowledge-based economy, the importance of intellectual capital as a factor of competitive advantage is undisputable. This is particularly true for the banking sector in which intellectual capital efficiency is critical for development of a cutting edge strategy. The purpose of the study was to measure the intellectual capital efficiency of the commercial banking sector of Malawi. The study used the value added intellectual capital coefficient (VAIC TM ) in order to measure performance, from 2010 to 2013 plus the performance level categorisations employed in Kamath (2007). The results indicate that the sampled commercial banks achieved on average, common performance in all the years under study, except in 2011 when they achieved good performance. Furthermore the trend analysis suggested an upward trend in terms of the level of efficiency, however at a very low rate. This suggests that the commercial banks have to put more effort to improve their intellectual capital efficiency. Furthermore, consistent with other prior studies, the study found that human capital efficiency of the sampled banks was relatively higher than structural capital and capital employed efficiencies over the entire period. This confirms the significance of human capital to value creation for the banks, hence a need for the management of the banks to pay required attention to their employees.
Some guidance for the use of Big Data in macroeconomic nowcasting

This paper develops an operational step by step approach aiming to facilitate the use of Big Data in nowcasting exercises. Each step includes a description of the problem and a set of recommendations addressing the most relevant available solution. The approach includes nine steps starting from the theoretical availability of Big Data until the publication of new nowcasting including also Big Data. In designing this operational step by step approach, the preliminary results of an ongoing Eurostat project on Big Data and macroeconomic nowcasting have been used as a starting point. Further elaboration has been carried out in order to make the operational step by step approach more concrete and prescriptive. Its aim is to provide a concrete help for experts involved in the construction of nowcasting especially in the judgment about the usefulness of the presence of Big Data in their models. It also provides guidance related to the dissemination of new nowcasting based also on Big Data.
Creep Crack Growth Modeling of Low Alloy Steel using Artificial Neural Network

Prediction of crack growth under creep condition is prime requirement in order to avoid costly and time- consuming creep crack growth tests. To predict, in a reliable way, the growth of a major crack in a structural components operating at high temperatures, requires a fracture mechanics based approach. In this Study a novel technique, which uses Finite Element Method (FEM) together with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) has been developed to predict the fracture mechanics parameter (C*) in a 1%Cr1%MoV low alloy rotor steel under wide range of loading and temperatures. After confirming the validity of the FEM model with experimental data, a collection of numerical and experimental data has been used for training the various neural networks models. Three networks have been used to simulate the process, the perceptron multilayer network with tangent transfer function that uses 9 neurons in the hidden layer, gives the best results. Finally, for validation three case studies at 538°C, 550°C and 594°C temperatures are employed. The proposed model has proved that a combinations of ANN and FEM simulation performs well in estimation of C* and it is a powerful designing tool for creep crack growth characterization.
Education in counselling and in psychotherapy with an accent to scenic symbolic work

The article is focused on education in counselling and psychotherapy with an accent to scenic symbolic work. The focus of this work with a client can be found in Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor. Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (henceforth PBSP) is one of the therapeutic systems which address the “I” of an individual in a distinctive way. Also, it could be classified as a holistic approach. PBSP defines five basic needs – place, nurturance, support, protection and limits. One of its basic principles is the principle of the shape and the counter shape. Every emotion/action of the client is a “shape” and it requires an adequate response from outside – an adequate “counter shape”. The satisfaction of a need happens in five steps – energy, action, interaction and meaning. According to PBSP, every individual carries an inborn image of what s/he needs. In the real world, our needs are not satisfied in the ideal way, the degree of frustration and the personality of the individual are important.
Designing cost-efficient surveillance strategies for early detection of invasive species

Wood borers and bark beetles are among the most serious forest pests worldwide. Many such species have become successful invaders, often causing substantial, costly damages to forests. Here we design and evaluate the cost-efficiency of a trap-based surveillance program for early detection of wood borers and bark beetles at risk of establishing in New Zealand. Though costly, a surveillance program could lead to earlier detection of newly established forest pests, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful eradication and reducing control costs and damages from future invasions. We develop a mechanistic bioeconomic model that relates surveillance intensity (i.e., trap density) and invasion size to probabilities of detection and control; it captures the dynamics of invasive species establishment, spread, and damages to urban and plantation forests. We employ the model to design surveillance programs that provide the greatest net present benefits. Our findings suggest that implementing a surveillance trapping program for invasive wood borers and bark beetles would provide positive net benefits under all scenarios considered. The economically optimal trapping strategy calls for a very high investment in surveillance: about 10,000 traps in each year of the 30-year surveillance program, at a present value cost of US$54 million. This strategy provides a 39% reduction in costs compared with no surveillance, corresponding to an expected net present benefit of approximately US$300 million. Although surveillance may provide the greatest net benefits when implemented at relatively high levels, our findings also show that even low levels of surveillance are worthwhile: the economic benefits from surveillance more than offset the rising costs associated with increasing trapping density. Our results also show that the cost-efficiency of surveillance varies across target regions because of differences in pest introduction and damage accumulation rates across locales, with greater surveillance warranted in areas closer to at-risk high-value resources and in areas that receive more imported goods that serve as an invasion pathway.
Community perception on tourism development and its impacts: a study on Passikudha, Sri Lanka

The study is mainly to identify the community perception and their involvement in the tourism development activities. Research was carried out at Passikudha, one of the planned tourism development site in Sri Lanka, adopting the mixed methodology. A survey was conducted using a semi structured questionnaire with 251 respondents from the local community. Additionally, in-depth interviews with six community leaders were conducted. The local community of Passikudha tourism resort area consists of 712 families, which was considered for the survey. The findings indicate that more benefits have been brought to the area due to the ongoing tourism development activities, however the local community is not in a position to get the real benefits of the tourism development due to lack of proper education, knowledge, experience, capacity etc. The community bear mixed perception about the ongoing development in the study area. On the other hand, those who get benefits through tourism hold positive perception and attitudes while those who have not received any tangible benefits hold negative attitudes about the tourism development. The results highlighted that, it is necessary to have a well planned awareness program about the community involvement for the ongoing tourism development activities. Therefore, the authorities should concern more about the community awareness and capacity building programs in order to deliver the benefits of tourism development to the local community also to ensure the long term sustainability of the industry.
Exploration of Climate Data Using Interactive Visualization

In atmospheric and climate research, the increasing amount of data available from climate models and observations provides new challenges for data analysis. The authors present interactive visual exploration as an innovative approach to handle large datasets. Visual exploration does not require any previous knowledge about the data, as is usually the case with classical statistics. It facilitates iterative and interactive browsing of the parameter space to quickly understand the data characteristics, to identify deficiencies, to easily focus on interesting features, and to come up with new hypotheses about the data. These properties extend the common statistical treatment of data, and provide a fundamentally different approach. The authors demonstrate the potential of this technology by exploring atmospheric climate data from different sources including reanalysis datasets, climate models, and radio occultation satellite data. Results are compared to those from classical statistics, revealing the complementary advantages of visual exploration. Combining both the analytical precision of classical statistics and the holistic power of interactive visual exploration, the usual workflow of studying climate data can be enhanced.
Sustainable development and trade liberalisation: the opportunities and threat roused by the WTO

The entanglement of trade and sustainable development agenda raises two different and obvious concerns we would like to dwell upon. The first one basically deals with the definition of sustainable development and the fear that the concept might become looser and looser the more it pervades trade and corporate arenas. The second concern pertains to the compatibility of internationdal trade laws embodied within the WTO, with international environment and labour agreements hosted by the UN. This paper provides some argument to the debate by focusing on the implications, on these two areas of concerns, of sustainable development pervading the WTO. Our two main arguments are as follows. Firstly, the social component of sustainable development is today the poor relation of sustainable development’s inscription among the WTO objectives. Secondly, effective restrictions on trade for either health or natural resource preservation are extremely rare. Article XX of the Gatt, allowing for such a restriction (“exception” is the appropriate word), cannot be referred to as long as WTO members omit to abide to non-discriminatory principles in their trade policies. Whatever the reasons one country requests to escape WTO rules, it has to do so while treating its trading partners on the same foot. These two results may reassure those developing countries that fear a “new” or “green” protectionism (which seems more fantasized than real in so far) from rich countries. Does it all suggest that WTO principle-compatible trade and sustainable trade is the same animal? The case law would rather suggest that WTO and its sustainable development objective seems more an organisation aimed at preventing countries from using sustainable development as a fallacious argument for trade restriction than an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable trade per se.
A shortened version of the Dementia Drivers’ Screening Assessment

Introduction: Cognitive tests are used to inform recommendations about the safety of people with dementia to continue driving. The Dementia Drivers’ Screening Assessment (DDSA) is a neuropsychological battery designed to assist in this process. However, it is lengthy to administer and requires materials from various test batteries. Aims: The primary aim of this study was to develop a shortened version of the DDSA for individuals with dementia. Methods: Data on participants with dementia from two studies were analysed. These participants were all drivers with dementia who were identified by community mental health teams and psychiatrists. Each participant was assessed on the DDSA and also assessed on-road by an ‘approved driving instructor’ using the Nottingham Neurological Driving Assessment. Results: This study analysed 102 participants, who had a mean age of 74.0 (SD=7.7) years and of whom 80 (78%) were men. Twenty three drivers were judged to be unsafe and 79 safe. The agreement between the short version and on-road assessment was 79%. The assessment was better at detecting safe drivers than unsafe drivers. Conclusion: The findings suggested that the shortened DDSA is suitable for participants who are unable or do not wish to undergo lengthier assessment.
Transsaccadic integration is dominated by early, independent noise

Humans are able to integrate pre- and postsaccadic percepts of an object across saccades to maintain perceptual stability. Previous studies have used Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) to determine that integration occurs in a near-optimal manner. Here, we compared three different models to investigate the mechanism of integration in more detail: an early noise model, where noise is added to the pre- and postsaccadic signals before integration occurs; a late-noise model, where noise is added to the integrated signal after integration occurs; and a temporal summation model, where integration benefits arise from the longer transsaccadic presentation duration compared to pre- and postsaccadic presentation only. We also measured spatiotemporal aspects of integration to determine whether integration can occur for very brief stimulus durations, across two hemifields, and in spatiotopic and retinotopic coordinates. Pre-, post-, and transsaccadic performance was measured at different stimulus presentation durations, both at the saccade target and a location where the pre- and postsaccadic stimuli were presented in different hemifields across the saccade. Results showed that for both within- and between-hemifields conditions, integration could occur when pre- and postsaccadic stimuli were presented only briefly, and that the pattern of integration followed an early noise model. Whereas integration occurred when the pre- and post-saccadic stimuli were presented in the same spatiotopic coordinates, there was no integration when they were presented in the same retinotopic coordinates. This contrast suggests that transsaccadic integration is limited by early, independent, sensory noise acting separately on pre- and postsaccadic signals.
Evaluation of being overweight/obese and related sociodemographic factors in 0-5 year age group in Turkey: Turkey Demographic Health Survey 2013 advanced analysis

Background/aim To determine risk factors of overweightness/obesity in children aged 0-5 years in the Turkish population. Materials and methods We made advanced analysis using the Turkey Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) 2013 female database, in which data from children aged under five years and their mothers are included. Analyses were performed using weight for height index data. The children were divided into two groups by age as 0–23 months and 24–59 months. Results The analysis comprised 2196 children aged under 5 years. Several factors were associated with an increase in overweightness/obesity of children aged under 5 years. Overweight/obesity in children aged 0-23 months was associated with several factors such as age (12–23 months) (OR: 2.89 CI: 1.62-5.13), high birth weight (OR: 2.36 CI: 1.26-4.44), maternal obesity (OR: 2.09 CI: 1.33-3.27), and maternal smoking (OR: 2.07, CI: 1.28-3.33). Overweightness/obesity in children aged 24–59 months was associated with several factors such as education level of the mother (OR: 2.27, CI: 1.08-4.75), consanguineous marriage (OR: 2.86, CI: 1.83-4.47), and which region of Turkey the family lives in (OR: 2.79, CI: 1.53-5.08). Conclusion Our results from the TDHS 2013 showed several risk factors of children overweight/obesity. Determining obesity risk factors, monitoring obese children/adults, and providing a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment and prevention of obesity will be useful for the future.