Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT FOR REMOTE SENSING AT MICROWAVE AND TERAHERTZ FREQUENCIES | NIST

The Noise Project in the Electromagnetics Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has proposed the development of standards for microwave brightness temperature for use in remote-sensing applications such as satellite-based weather observations. The standards would be based on existing fundamental standards for electromagnetic noise in waveguide systems. The connection to brightness temperature, which is a radiated quantity, would be made by means of a well characterized antenna. A heated calibration target would be used to supplement the basic standard, either as a check or to reduce the uncertainty by a redundant measurement. We have performed preliminary measurements at 26 GHz that demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed standard. A parallel effort is in progress for terahertz frequencies. For terahertz noise we are building a heated target to be used as a noise standard, since we did not already have fundamental noise standards for such high frequencies. This standard will be used with a terahertz radiometer. The radiometer is based on a receiver that uses a hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer that is coupled to the radiation by a quasi-optical adapter. We expect to perform terahertz noise measurements with the system by the end of the year.
Social and Economic Characteristics of Financial and Blood Donors in Germany

Surveys of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) have shown that Germans donated around 5.3 billion euros in 2009- right in the middle of the financial and economic crisis. The type and amount of donations made is well documented in Germany. However, until recently, there was very little information available on the identity of Germans who share their income with people in need. A new survey in the long-term SOEP study has now made it possible to collect this information systematically for the first time and to investigate questions such as: Which social groups do people who make donations belong to? Does a high income increase the willingness to donate money? Do education and age play a role? Do people who are happy donate more? Do the same motives apply for giving money as, for example, giving blood? In order to find answers to these questions, existing data sources on the Germans' willingness to give were analyzed, verified and matched with SOEP data for the first time. The results are conclusive: Women donate more than men, older people more than younger people. This only applies to donating money, however. As regards giving blood, social and financial differences are of much less importance. Here almost all social groups and classes donate as much-albeit much less frequently. While almost 40 percent of all Germans donated money in 2009, only seven percent gave blood.
Diet of free-ranging cats and dogs in a suburban and rural environment, south-eastern Brazil

In spite of the worldwide occurrence of domestic cats and dogs, and their close relationship with humans, the number of published papers on free-ranging cats Felis catus and dogs Canis familiaris, is small. The diet of both species was estimated in a suburban and rural environment in July 2002 and January 2003. Visual observations and scat collection of both species were accomplished along a 10 km transect line in the Campus 'Luiz de Queiroz', University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, south-eastern Brazil. The diet of both species was determined by analysis of sterilized, washed, dried and sorted scats. Estimated abundances of free-ranging cats and dogs in the sampled area were 81 ( � 4.32) and 42 ( � 2.96), respectively. Cats and dogs were more abundant in the suburban than in the rural environment (t= 3.78, Po0.001, N = 55; t= 8.38, Po0.001, N = 55, respectively) and cats were more abundant than dogs in the suburban environment (t= 6.76, Po0.001, N = 55), even though there was no significant difference between the abundance of both species in the rural environment (t = 0.82, P= 0.46, N= 55). Invertebrates were the most commonly consumed item by both species, followed by mammals (cats: 63.24 and 20.51%; dogs: 57.05 and 25.15%, respectively). Niche breadth was 0.4892 for cats and 0.4463 for dogs. Niche overlap was almost complete (0.97108). The consumption of mammals was estimated to be between 16.76 and 25.42 kg individual � 1 year � 1 for dogs and between 2.01 and 2.9 kg individual � 1 year � 1 for cats. These data might be useful to establish a management program to minimize the predation pressure of free-ranging cats and dogs on wildlife.
Properties of Er2O3 nanoparticles synthesized by a modified co-precipitation method

Er_(2)O_(3) nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation with the addition of ascorbate as stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles had spherical shapes with a mean diameter of 32 nm and were alocated in clusters, as determined by XRD, AFM, and optical microscopy. Characteristic green and red emissions from ER^(3+) were recorded by pumping the nanoparticles at 525 nm, 895 nm, and 975 nm. However, the luminescence spectra show an enhancement of red emission for NIR pump wavelengths. We proposed this behavior was due to phonon-assisted depopulation mechanisms and energy transfer processes related to the different excitation schemes.
Convenience and Online Consumer Shopping Behavior: A Business Anthropological Case Study Based on the Contingent Valuation Method

Abstract Success of the growing online retail industry arises from the phenomenon that consumers are willing to pay a premium for the convenience of online shopping. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the premium and begin to identify which factors affect it. Using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) in combination with the Spike Model, this paper finds that the premium, indicated by median willingness to pay (WTP), is 2.957 for an online product priced at 50 RMB. This suggests that online sellers may increase product prices by approximately 2.957 RMB, or 5.9 percent, especially for those goods, which can be purchased with a greater convenience online as opposed to offline. In examining the following two factors: online shopping frequency and gender, this paper finds that the first significantly affects the WTP, while the second has no significant impact.
The effects of bacillus thuringiensis on larval serpentine leaf miners liriomyza Cicerina (rondani, 1875)(dipetera: agromyzidae) in chickpea

This stud y a imed to investigate the effects o f Bacillus th uringiensis on Liriomyza c icerina (Rondani) (D ipetera: A gromyzidae). L. cicerina is a n important p est in chickpea growing areas in aanlýurfa, T urkey. Field trials were carried out i n the experimental f ield of F aculty of A griculture in Harran University through the March to Jun e i n 20 06 and 2007, employing randomized complete bl ock design with four re plicates. B. thrungiensis Berliner was applied at a co ncentration o f 60x10 /mg Bacillus 6 thrungiensis spore. It was applied at the reco mmended rate o f 75g/100 l water. Application da tes were set when the pest d ensity reached a l evel of 2-3 larvae/leaf in 50 % of plants in a field which are economic t hreshold. The ap plications of insecticides were done t he 3 and 5 weeks throughout the rd th production periods, because the pest density reduced a level of 2-3 l arvae/leaf in 50% of plants in a field. Total applications of insecticides were done 2 times throughout the chickpea production period. The leaves were sampled weekly from a pplications (Cyromazine and B. thuringiensis) treated and control plots and kept in l aboratory under ob servation t o compare the num ber of emerging l eaf miner adults and their parasitoid s pecies. Cyromazine and B. thuringiensis reduced leaf miners as co mpared to control plots. It was d etermined that t here was n o difference between applications (C yromazine, B. thuringiensis-treated plots) for a verage numbers of adult and larvae statistically (P>0.05) but there wa s difference bet ween applications (C yromazine, B. thuringiensis treated) and control plots statistically (P<0.05). On t he other hand, yield val ues for t reatments were di fferent from each other. There wa s difference bet ween applications and c ontrol plots for average yield s tatistically (P<0.01). The lowest yield w as achieved on control plots. The percentage of parasitization i n t he B. thuringiensis (Bt ) treated pl ots was higher than Cyromazine treated plots, and t he percentage of parasitization were 37.70-35.08% in the Bt and 15. 79- 13.33% in the Cyromazine treated plots re spectively.
What makes South African Tourism competitive

Global tourism is constantly increasing, creating fierce competition between tourist destination proponents. Because of this, various researchers have developed models which aim to determine the factors that make destinations competitive to give them a competitive advantage over others. This applies in South Africa too. The last study carried out to determine the factors that make this country a competitive destination found that the factors that were most important for South Africa’s competitiveness were safety and security, quality service, value for money, geographical features and attitude towards tourists. Competitive research specifically regarding this country has been limited since 2002. South Africa’s global competitive ranking is not improving at the same rate as previously, making it necessary to explore the components that contribute to its competitiveness in this industry, which could contribute to the strategic management strategy of the country. The goal of this paper was thus to determine which components determine South Africa’s competitiveness. To achieve this goal a structured questionnaire was emailed to delegates who attended the Tourism Indaba in 2013. Thirty six (36) attributes were measured on a five point Lickert scale and a factor analysis was done to determine the factors that contribute to the competitiveness of South Africa. Nine factors was identified namely cuisine, tourism services, location, economic benefits, attributes, entertainment and activities, stability, African experience and brand and image.
PSO Optimized Load Frequency Control of a Multi Area Power System under Restructured Scenario

In power systems, Load Frequency Control is the main goal to maintain the power system frequency of each area and tie line power at a stable condition. In this paper a Proportional Integral with Derivative Filter (PIDF) is proposed to get an accurate result of Load Frequency Control (LFC) problem. With this PIDF controller the system considering some important physical constraints such as Generation Rate Constraint (GRC) and Time Delay (TD) are considered and the parameters are tuned using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique considering an objective function Integral Time multiplied Absolute Error (ITAE). The performance of proposed PIDF controller using PSO optimization technique is valuate at different operating conditions that takes place in restructured scenario.
Experimental observation of the proportional effect hypothesis of the kinematic theory : preliminary report

Abstract —For more than ten years, the Kinematic Theory has been exploited successfully in ap-plications dealing with handwriting processing. The theory uses Delta-Lognormal profiles to model the behaviors of the motor control and the neuromuscular system involved in the produc-tion of rapid movements. Its main underlying assumption is that the cumulative time delays of the propagated impulse responses, recorded along different points on a neuromuscular system are linked by proportional relationships. The study reported in this paper aims at using the physiolog-ical knowledge of the upper arm to deeply investigate this assumption. First, the concept of a subsystem is clarified and justified. Then, to observe the proportionality hypothesis, surface elec-tromyographic signals (SEMG) recorded from the upper limb, during the execution of rapid handwriting movements, are analyzed. The results reveal proportional regressions, with strong correlation, between the cumulative time delays of the muscle activities, calculated from SEMG envelopes. This finding highlights the relationships that exist between the macro-delays observed on the SEMG bursts and constitutes an observation proof of the proportionality hypothesis. These developments add further support to the usefulness of the Kinematic Theory as a tool for the study and understanding of human movement.
ROLE OF CALCIUM IN ANTAGONIZING CADMIUM INDUCED HEAVY METAL TOXICITY IN MUNGBEAN SEEDLINGS

Exogenous application of calcium plays an important role in antagonizing deleterious effects of cadmium induced toxicity in mungbean seedlings. An interaction of the two ions prevent losses in root and shoot growth and chlorophyll pigments, thus alleviating Cd induced heavy metal toxicity. Calcium plays a significant role in alleviating Cd induced toxicity probably restoring uptake of water through vascular tissues, chlorophyll biosynthesis and accumulation of biomass. The presence of Cd in the root tissue surroundings has its residual effects particularly when calcium is used in lower concentrations. The efficacy of Ca +2 is more with higher doses (80 µM) in an amalgam and plays a significant role in
Inbreeding and relationship in the German Shepherd dog population in area of Cracow Branch of Polish Kennel Club

2Cracow Branch of the Polish Kennel Club, ul. Żywiecka 36, 30-427 Krakow The German Shepherd seems to be most popular and widely used dog breed in the world and also in Poland. The aim of the work was to estimate inbreeding and relationship coefficients in the population of German Shepherd dogs from the herdbook of Cracow Branch of the Polish Kennel Club. As the material, four-generation pedigrees of 60 animals (17 dogs and 43 bitches) born in 1994-2005 were used. The inbreeding (F X ) and relationship (R XY ) coefficients among all animals for each sex separately and R XY between dogs and bitches were calculated. Among all 60 animals 54 were inbred (90%). The F X values for all and for inbred animals were: 0.1286 and 0.1429, respectively. In the group of 17 males 16 were inbred (over 94%) and in the group of 43 females 38 were inbred (88.4%). Average F X was 0.1560, 0.1178, 0.1658, 0.1333 for all dogs, all bitches, inbred dogs and inbred bitches, respectively. About 98.9% of 1770 pairs of individuals were related; for all and related pairs the values of R XY were 0.0391 and 0.0395, respectively. In 136 male pairs, 100% were related with average R XY 0.0414. For the females those values were 903 pairs and 98.4% related pairs with R XY 0.0353 and 0.0359, respectively. From the total number of 731 dog x bitch pairs 99.2% were related and average R XY were 0.0433 and 0.0436, respectively.
Environmental Expertise as Group Belonging

What is environmental expertise? The background to this question is that many scholars consider environmental expertise crucial for discovering, diagnosing, and solving environmental problems but do not discuss in any depth what constitutes expertise. By investigating the meaning and use of the concept of expertise in three general theories within environmental sociology—the treadmill of production, risk society, and ecological modernization— and findings from science and technology studies (STS), this article develops a sociological understanding of environmental expertise: what it is and how it is acquired. Environmental expertise is namely about group belonging and professional socialization around specialized skills; that is, it concerns both substantial competence and social recognition. The implications of this general view on expertise are then used to enrich theories in environmental sociology.
Intelligente regeltechniek voor nieuwe generatie mechatronica

Intelligentere aansturing is essentieel om toekomstige mechatronische systemen aan de steeds strenger wordende nauwkeurigheids- en snelheidseisen te laten voldoen. Recente doorbraken op regeltechnisch gebied door intensieve samenwerking tussen academia en research- en developmentafdelingen maken het mogelijk om aan deze toekomstige producteisen te voldoen. De recente installatie van een hightech flatbed printer van Oce bij de Control Systems Technology groep en de oprichting van het High Tech Systems Center moeten de ontwikkeling van een systematische en industrieel toepasbare aanpak voor intelligente aansturing voor mechatronische systemen mogelijk maken.
Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy on the postoperative complication rate in rectal cancer

Purpose: The impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) on the postoperative complication rate is discussed controversially. Thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative complication rate in our patient population. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to examine all patients documented online who had undergone conventionally fractionated adjuvant or neoadjuvant CRT from 2001 to 2009 in conjunction with curative resection (R0) for sporadic primary colorectal cancer in the middle or lower third. A total of 246 patients were included and analyzed. Two groups were formed: Group I, 2001-2004, adjuvant CRT, n108, and Group II, 2005-2009, neoadjuvant CRT, n138. Results: The two groups had comparable patient-, tumorand therapyrelated characteristics. No difference was found in the anastomotic leak rate (Group I vs. II: 10% vs. 11%). The rate of perineal wound healing problems differed significantly (Group I vs. II: 5% vs. 36%, p0.016). While no patient died in Group I, lethality amounted to 1.5% (2/138) in Group II. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant CRT does not lead to a higher anastomotic leak rate or lethality in comparison to patients who were primarily operated and received adjuvant CRT in the further course. The rate of perineal wound healing problems is significantly increased.
Improved Protection Schemes for DFIG Based Wind Turbines during the Grid Faults

There are many negative impacts of the grid faults in Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIG) based wind turbines such as stator and rotor over currents, DC-link over voltage, electromagnetic torque oscillations, active and reactive power fluctuations at the grid connection point. Negative impacts of the grid faults have potentially led to destabilization of the power system network. Eliminating the negative impacts enhances the DFIG based wind turbines performance. This paper proposes a comprehensive study about the performance analysis and protection of a 1.5MW DFIG-based wind turbine in order to keep the wind turbine connected to the grid under the symmetrical and asymmetrical grid faults. This study discusses and compares the simulations of two improved protection schemes to eliminate the negative impacts of the grid faults. The investigated protection schemes are simple in construction and cost efficient. The performance of the DFIG is highly improved during the grid faults. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of these schemes.
Visitors' Preferences for Interpretation at Heritage Sites

Research on interpretation at heritage settings commonly centers on the display. The current study highlights visitor preferences for on-site interpretation, an essential element in the management of heritage tourist attractions. This research focuses on the Wailing Wall, a religious “must-see” attraction in Jerusalem. The role of interpretation as a facilitator of emotional experience rather than a means to gain knowledge is explored. Results indicate the need to customize the interpretation to meet visitor preferences and motives. Furthermore, the study reveals the need to capture heritage tourism not only as a search for naïve nostalgia or a simplified romantic version of the past but also as a more complex phenomenon. Implications for marketers and heritage site operators are suggested, highlighting the need to adopt innovative approaches to the management of heritage tourist attractions and provide different interpretations for different visitors.
Application of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor in Removal of Ciprofloxacin From Real Hospital Effluent: Effect of Operational Conditions

The presence of pharmaceutical wastewater containing antibiotic compound is one of the new problems relating to the environmental pollution. Antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP), widely used in medical treatments, can induce antibiotic resistance in low concentrations in the ecosystem and aqueous solutions. In this study, CIP was removed using moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) from real hospital-derived wastewater. This study was carried out at Beasat hospital in Hamadan, Iran. CIP (100 mL) was applied in 2 sets of plexiglass tubular columns as MBBR. Microorganisms were grown on the suspended carriers. To achieve this purpose, polyethylene kaldnes (K1) was chosen as reactor bed in 500 m2 /m3 specific area. The effect of operating parameters such as mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) (100, 1000, 3000 mg/L), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (8, 12, 24 hours), and support media with carrier K1 (30%, 50%, 70%) were evaluated. According to the results, the yield of CIP removal at 30%, 50%, and 70% of K1, reaction of 24 hours at MLSS 3000 mg/L was obtained 50.5%, 68.9%, and 97.6% respectively. In the same conditions, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was achieved 26.78%, 30.49%, and 80.07%, respectively. Results indicated that the MBBR process can be used as an effective approach for removing CIP and COD from hospital effluent. Moreover, these data suggested that the K1 carrier could be useful in terms of mineralization and efficiency. Furthermore, development of biofilm in MBBR was mostly affected by K1.
Vehicle Constraints Enhancement for Supporting INS Navigation in Urban Environments

The complementary nature of INS and GPS can be used advantageously in navigation system design as long as GPS measurements are available. However, circumstances of complete GPS denial may occur in urban environments or in signal blockage scenarios. In such cases, the INS navigation solution drifts over time due to its inherent bias. To circumvent the INS drift, it is usually fused with external sensors. Nonetheless, use of external sensors increases the overall system cost. To reduce the need for external sensors, incorporation of vehicle constraints into the estimation process has been recently proposed. In order to improve the effect of these constraints, we propose implementing vehicle constraints both into the system and measurement models thereby enhancing the estimator performance. The paper demonstrates the contribution of the proposed approach via several field experiments. In all experiments, introducing system dynamics constraints reduced the navigation errors, compared to using only measurement constraints.
Value Relevance of Accounting Information in the United Arab Emirates

This paper examines the value relevance of accounting information in per and post-periods of International Financial Reporting Standards implementation using the regression and portfolio approaches for sample of the UAE companies. The results obtained from a combination of regression and portfolio approaches, show accounting information is value relevant in UAE stock market. A comparison of the results for the periods before and after adoption, based on both regression and portfolio approaches, shows a decline in value relevance of accounting information after the reform in accounting standards. It could be interpreted to mean that following to IFRS in UAE didn’t improve value relevancy of accounting information. However, results based on and portfolio approach shows that cash flows’ incremental information content increased for the post-IFRS period.