Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SPARSE BAYESIAN LEARNING IN CLASSIFYING FACE FEATURE VECTORS

The Relevance Vector Machine (RVM), a Bayesian treatment of generalized linear model of identical functional form to the Support Vector Machine (SVM), is the recently developed machine learning framework capable of building simple models from large sets of candidate features. The paper describes the application of the RVM to a classification algorithm of face feature vectors, obtained by Eigenfaces method. Moreover, the results of the RVM classification are compared with those obtained by using both the Support Vector Machine method and the method based on the Euclidean distance.
Valuation Variance of Commercial Properties in Malaysia

Abstract This paper investigates the variance in terms of mean difference in valuation of commercial properties between Government Valuers and Private Valuers in terms of Insurance cases and between Declared values and Department’s valuations in terms of Stamp Duty cases. The data consists of valuations of commercial properties (shop houses and shop offices). The findings showed that there is no significant difference between the Government Valuers’ valuations and the Private Valuers’s valuations for Insurance purpose, and also between the Department’s valuation and Transaction Price for Stamp Duty purpose. The estimated range of variance for Insurance is between -1.53% and 4.82% and for Stamp Duty is between -3.1% and 2.93%. Seventy five percent of the differences in Insurance valuations is less than 10 per cent. As for stamp duty data, sixty nine percent of the difference is less than 10 per cent. It is also found tha, there is no valuation bias, but normal random differences from the mean value in both cases.
Active and Reactive Power Management of Wind Farm Based on a Six Leg Tow Stage Matrix Converter Controlled by a Predictive Direct Power Controller

In this paper we propose a new configuration of the wind farm connecting with an electrical grid. The proposed Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) is based on a two stages six-leg matrix converter using to drive a two Doubly Fed Induction Machines operating at different wind speeds. Each Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) is controlled through the rotor currents using the Finite Set Model Predictive Model (FSMBC). The proposed control method selects the optimal switching state of the converter that minimizes the cost function where it represents the desired behavior of the system. The optimal voltage vector is then applied to the output of the power converter. The most advantage of the proposed control is its simplicity in implementation, since the method avoids the use of any linear or nonlinear controllers except for the external speed loop and there is no need for any type of modulator such as in PWM or SVM modulation. A cost function is formulated according to desired performance such as regulation of the stator active and reactive powers of the DFIGs and reactive power in the filter side. The control algorithm selects and applies the optimal voltage vector to the DFIG rotor terminals. The supervision algorithm distributes the active and reactive power references in proportional way for each wind turbines. From a safety point, this algorithm provides each wind turbines still operate far from its limits. The performance of a six leg IMC in WECS chain is evaluated in term of a good tracking performance.
Critical Thinking in Personal Narrative and Reflective Journal Writings by In-service EFL Teachers in Iran: Assessment of Reflective Writing

Recently, there is a need for fostering the critical reflective side of L2 teacher education. This study investigated the implications of personal narrative (PN) and reflective journal (RJ) writing for Iranian EFL teachers’ reflective writing. Sixty (36 women and 24 men) in-service secondary school EFL teachers were selected based on the convenience sampling from Iran. L2 teachers equally divided into PN and RJ writing groups were provided with particular short stories. L2 teachers in the PN writing group engendered PN writings in response to themes of stories; however, L2 teachers in the RJ writing group had to write their reflections on stories in RJ writings. Hatton and Smith’s (1995) framework was used for the content analysis of data. The quantitative analysis indicated that PN writings were lengthier than RJ writings. Also, there was a statistically significant difference between mean ranks of descriptive and critical reflection writing types signified in PN and RJ writings. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between mean ranks of descriptive reflection and dialogic reflection writing types. Moreover, PN and RJ writings were more descriptive, less descriptive reflective, less and less dialogic reflective, and still less critical reflective. The qualitative analysis revealed that EFL teachers’ PN and RJ writings enjoyed dialogicity. Despite their unwillingness to express voice, findings indicated that Iranian English teachers adopted a more critical perspective through generating PN writings than via engendering RJ writings. In general, the English language teacher education domain in Iran needs a thinking renewal to foster critical L2 teaching.
Effect of exogenous application of ascorbic acid on physiological and biochemical characteristics of wheat under water stress

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean zone where plantsgenerally suffer from water stress during heading and reproductive stages. This research wascarried out at the experimental farm of the faculty of agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University usingtwo water treatments (water stress and well-watered), four N levels (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha-1)and two ascorbic acid levels (0 and 200 mg l-1). Water stress substantially reduced yield andrelated-traits compared with well-watered crop; however, AA application improved yieldproductivity and chlorophyll content was associated with the maintenance of leaf water statusunder water stress. Catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activity showed significant increasesin plants treated with ascorbic acid (AA) under water stress. Among different nitrogen levels,the highest N level (240 kg N ha-1) performed better during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons.Under water stress condition the higher N level (240 kg ha-1), despite determining an increase ingrain N content, did not imply an increase in NUE, due to a decrease in grain yield whichpositively related to N uptake. Exogenous application of ascorbic acid (AA) has been foundvery effective in mitigating the adverse effects of water stress, which might be attributed byactivities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and POX). In addition, inducing a stimulatory effect onall the yield-related traits. Maximum productivity and related traits were recorded under wellwatered condition treated by 240 kg N ha-1. Nonetheless, exogenously applied ascorbic acid hasbetter able to produce appropriate productivity under water stress.
OptimumWater Allocation at Basin Scale Using Meta-Modeling

Evolutionary optimization algorithms, in many cases, suffer from a high computational cost due to the high-fidelity simulation models performed for objective function evaluations. Meta-modeling is one of the useful approaches to overcome this problem in which a surrogate model, running of which is much faster than the exact model, is used in lieu of the simulation model. To build a meta-model it is required to use a function-approximation procedure by which the expensive simulation model is approximated. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), as meta-models, have shown different applicability in various engineering design problems. However, training ANNs needs enough input-output data (design of experiments) each of which is obtained by running the expensive simulation model. A methodology is presented in this study in which the problems of design of experiments, function approximation and function optimization are sequentially solved in a feedback loop so that a much fewer number of experiments is required for the task of function approximation. The proposed approach adaptively utilizes the information obtained from function optimization, finds the regions where more data are needed, updates the training data set to fill the space and sequentially improves the accuracy of the meta-model. The performance of the proposed approach is analysed using a optimization problem on a benchmark multi-modal mathematical function and a realworld water allocation optimization problem at basin scale.
Pengaruh Leader-Member Exchange, Persepsi Dukungan Organisasional, Budaya Etnis Papua dan Organizational Citizenship Behavior, terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Sekda Provinsi Papua

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze and determine the effect of Leader-Member Exchange, the perception of organizational support and cultural (ethnic culture of papua) on organizational citizenship behavior and its impact on employee performance. Access the sample consisted of 300 employees who have a chance papua ethnic working in SEKDA Papua. This study uses descriptive analysis to determine the characteristics of respondents for each indicator variable. Meanwhile, to test the relationship between variables used methods of SEM analysis with AMOS approach 6. The results of this study have shown that the Leader-Member Exchange have not been able to establish good organizational citizenship behavior, and improve employee performance. Furthermore the perception of organizational support, cultural (ethnic culture papua) are partially able to form organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance. In addition, the results suggest that in order to improve labor discipline and work ethic better employees, leaders must consider the factor of local culture, communication and work commitments. Keywords: leader-member exchange, papua ethnic culture, organizational citizenship behavior, perception support organization, employee performance
Recent changes in land use and productivity in agro-pastoral Inner Mongolia, China

This study challenges the prevailing assumption that the expansion of cultivated land areas and increasing number of livestock in the agro-pastoral regions of northern China have aggravated the process of land degradation since the start of the rural reforms in 1978. Land-use and productivity trends in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), with special attention to the Keerqin steppe region, have been analysed. A combination of methods including household surveys, analysis of agro-statistics and satellite-based productivity modelling has been applied on different spatial scales. Increase in grain yields was found, though considerable interannual variability persists, rendering livelihood insecure for farmers. Although statistics for cultivated land area are inferior the area of cultivated land seems to be increasing mainly in the pastoral counties. Farmers acknowledge the importance of the 30-year contract on cultivated land introduced in 1997 with respect to their investment in long-term management, but ranked the availability of chemical fertilizers and the economic means to buy them as more critical for crop production than soil erosion. This indicates the increase in use of and dependence on agro-chemicals, a trend confirmed by regional statistics, and concern is raised regarding the sustainability of the rapid agricultural development. The spatio-temporal dynamics of primary production for the IMAR was analysed by means of a regionally adapted light use efficiency model. The model, driven by a combination of NOAA AVHRR data and climatic data, has been used to map monthly Gross Primary Production (GPP) for the period 1982-1999. Though the high inter-annual variability in primary production undermines the identification of significant trends, it is indicated that in the western regions there has been no change in biological production, whereas a large area in central IMAR shows a marked increases for the period 1982-99. A combination of increasing crop yields, an increase in precipitation, as well as afforestation projects are probable factors explaining the pattern of regional increase in primary production.
Principals ’ Professional Practice Ratings Reflect Their Contributions to Student Achievement ? Evidence from Pennsylvania ’ s Framework for Leadership

Although states and school districts have begun to evaluate school principals, there is little evidence on the validity of principal evaluation measures. To fill this gap, we examined Pennsylvania’s Framework for Leadership (FFL), a tool for measuring and evaluating principals’ professional practices. Using data on more than 300 principals, we find that FFL evaluation scores are significantly and positively correlated with estimates of principals’ contributions to student achievement. The strongest relationships are in the domains of (1) systems leadership and (2) professional and community leadership. Contributions to math achievement were more highly correlated than contributions to achievement in other subjects. The results are driven mainly by evaluations of principals who have led their schools for at least three years. This is the first study to find evidence that ratings of principals’ professional practice are correlated with credible measures of principals’ contributions to student achievement. The authors are grateful to staff at the Pennsylvania Department of Education for their help throughout this study. The authors also appreciate thoughtful input on early drafts of the paper from Matt Johnson and programming assistance from Clare Wolfendale, Swaati Bangalore, and Irina Cheban. They also thank Cindy George and Alfreda Holmes for editorial and production support, respectively. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-IES-12-C-0006. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Tracing preschoolers’ ability to form and use categories

This paper reports on a small-scale exploratory case study that aims at highlighting preschoolers’ ability to categorize, grasp criteria for categorizing and use categories for attributing properties to target entities. Conducting individual, semi-structured interviews with 10 preschoolers (age 4-5) of a public kindergarten in the broader area of Patras, we attempted to trace their ability to (a) form categories by appealing to coherent criteria, (b) recognize the criteria that were used in the formation of given categories, and (c) infer the properties of target entities from the category they belong. The analysis of our qualitative data within the “NVivo” software showed that the informants of the study lacked the ability to coherently form categories, while they didn’t seem to encounter significant difficulties in recognizing how given categories have been structured. Furthermore, they seemed capable for category-based reasoning that allowed them to predict the properties of target entities according to the category they belong when they were made aware of this category. The educational implications of our findings are thoroughly discussed in the paper.
Improving the Quality of Applying eXtreme Programming (XP) Approach

This paper is focused on improving the quality of applying eXtreme Programming (XP) approach on software development process. It clarifies the fundamentals of agile methods of software development. It presents the basic concepts and features of XP approach. XP approach can be viewed as life cycle phases that include six phases: exploration, planning, iterations to release, production, maintenance, and death. Each XP phase can be achieved through performing a set of steps. In this paper, the researcher develops a set of elaborated steps for achieving each XP phase. In addition, the researcher proposes a quality assurance approach for applying XP approach. The proposed quality assurance approach can be used for assuring the quality of achieving XP phases. Then, the deviation between the actual quality and the acceptable quality level can be identified and analyzed. The weaknesses of the software development practices can be discovered, treated to improve the quality of each phase, and avoided in further phases. The strengths of the practices can be discovered, utilized, and encouraged.
Gapurana dan Talango) yang masyarakatnya menanam

Abstrak—Salah satu potensi Pulau Poteran Sumenep adalah bidang pertanian. Beberapa desa di Kecamatan Talang o tanaman holtikultura ditanam di lahan kering dan kurang subur. Salah satu penyebabnya adalah rendahnya P-tersedia padaha l dilaporkan P total tanah Madura adalah sedang hingga tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengisolasi Bakteri Pelarut Fosfat (BPF) tanah di Desa Talango dan Poteran agar diketahui keanekaragaman dan efisiensi pelarut fosfat bakteri tersebut. Isolasi bakteri dilakukan dengan metode pengenceran bertingkat dan metode sebar pada medium NA. Isolat murni diama ti secara deskriptif makroskopis (bentuk, tepi, elevasi, dan warna koloni), mikroskopis (morfologi sel dan pewarnaan) dan karakter biokimia berdasarkan panduan Bergey’s Manual of Determinative serta diukur efisiensi pelarut fosfat dengan medium Pikovskaya. Berdasarkan hasil isolasi dan ka r kterisasi didapatkan 2 isolat berbeda yang kecenderungan masu k ke dalam dua genus Edwardsiella dan Corynebacterium. Efisiensi pelarut fosfat kedua isolat bakteri tersebut berturut-turut sebesar 43.86 dan 45.63 sehingga diasumsikan bakteri-bakteri ters ebut berpotensi sebagai biofertilizer.
Land Supply and Capitalization of Public Goods in Housing Prices: Evidence from Beijing

This paper studies the extent to which spatial heterogeneity in housing prices is affected by housing supply in Beijing's specific context of centralized metropolitan government without local property tax. Taking data sets of residential land leases and private housing sales records from 2006 to 2008 within Beijing's metropolitan area, this paper examines how the capitalization of school quality and subway accessibility in housing prices varies with land availability instrumented by the employ- ment density of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) at the beginning of SOE reform. Results confirm that the capitalization of school quality and subway accessibility is larger in supply-constrained locations.
EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRE

This paper addresses the importance of the actions to be taken before the project planning phases begin. The approach taken stems from the production planning paradigm, with emphasis on the product, rather than on the process. It is argued that a complete part list or product breakdown structure (PBS) is the absolute prerequisite for the design of a successful work breakdown structure (WBS) for a project. This process requires the definition of the design and configuration disciplines during the engineering phase. These critical issues of concurrent engineering and product development are also emphasized in the paper. The WBS is, in turn, needed to establish a suitable organizational breakdown structure (OBS or organigram) for the project. Finally, the assembly sequence and the related assembly breakdown structure (ABS) of the end product is required before commencing the project planning phase, which provides the schedules, resource allocation, progress control, and the like for the project management. Detailed definition of the product enables the definition of the work packages within the WBS, which combined with the installation information provide the means to structure the layout for the project organization. The result of the entire process, that begins with the product definition phase and ends with the completion of the planning phase, is called the project management plan. The procedure described in the paper will be used to design the project management plan for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a ten-year "ordeal" commencing at the beginning of the 1995, at CERN.
Comparative study of higher education influence on economic growth of G8 and OPEC countries

In this study, based on developed neoclassic growth model, a comparative study about higher education effect on economic growth of two different groups of countries; G8 (first eight developed or industrialized countries) and OPEC (petroleum export countries) has been conducted by econometric and panel data methods. In addition, regression model’s coefficients of 14 countries have been calculated by EViews software during 1990 – 2010. Finally, obtained results of these two groups were compared with each other. Obtained results showed that in OPEC countries, higher education has not a meaningful effect on economic growth, and contrary, in G8 countries higher education have meaningful effect on economic growth.
What are the determinants of lending decisions for Chinese Peer-to-Peer lenders?

Online peer to peer lending is an emerging and essential financing approach for small and micro enterprises. Over the past years, Chinese P2P lending market has developed very fast, and has become the largest market in the world. With such a rapid growth, inherent risk has also increased, especially for lenders. Prior researches summarize that P2P lenders suffer from information asymmetry, which is a fundamental and severe problem. From a lender’s perspective, information asymmetry not only occurs between borrowers and lenders, but also between platforms and lenders. As a consequence, it would decrease lenders’ trust on platforms/borrowers, and may lead to considerable obstacle to the development of online P2P market. To resolve it, this research aims to discover the most important determinants for Chinese lenders that influence their lending decisions; and give suggestions to borrowers and platforms on providing high-quality of information. This research has proposed 13 hypotheses from previous studies, where 13 factors were mentioned to have impacts on lending decision. However, most of the researches were based on American context. This work validates them with an online questionnaire conducted in China, where 241 respondents were collected. Among them, 177 were willing to lend via P2P, and 64 were not willing to lend, which we analyzed with a binary logistic regression model. According to statistical analysis outcome of this model, 8 hypotheses were consistent with prior studies, while 5 were rejected. This result suggested 5 important determinants for Chinese P2P lenders; they are factors of “verified documents”, “safety protection from platforms”, “service quality provided by platforms”, “transaction fee” and “endorsement from borrower’s friend”. The findings reveal that Chinese lenders’ willingness to lend is affected by the quality of platforms and borrowers, rather than perceived benefit. As an indication for different parties, lenders could use the factors as a checklist to judge the quality of a loan; platforms should improve services or functions as above-mentioned to create a healthier environment for the development of P2P lending; and borrowers provide as more high-quality information (i.e. verified documents) as they can. Thus, this study provided meaningful suggestions for three parties.