Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance Management for Growth: A Framework Based on EVA

Some of the constructs in the field of performance management are intuitive or not empirically validated. This study provides a data-driven framework for measuring and improving the performance through synchronized strategies. The ultimate goal was to provide support for increasing business performance. Empirical research materializes in an exploratory case study and a statistical analysis with econometric models. The case study revealed that a company can improve its performance, even in periods of growth, being characterized by consistent investments. The statistical analysis, performed on a restricted sample of companies, confirmed the results that were provided by the case study. The measurement of performance was made by capitalizing on financial and non-financial data precisely to intensify the interest for corporate sustainability. The obtained results, contrary to previous research that showed that economic value added (EVA) is negatively influenced by the increase in invested capital, open up new research perspectives to find out whether, at the industry level, performance appraisal that is based on EVA stimulates the development of a business’s economic capital. The research has a double utility: scientific (by providing an overview of the state of the art in the field of performance management) and practical (by providing a reference model for measuring and monitoring performance).
Image Based Identifcation of Ghanaian Timbers Using the XyloTron: Opportunities, Risks and Challenges

Computer vision systems for wood identifcation have the potential to empower both producer and consumer countries to combat illegal logging if they can be deployed effectively in the feld. In this work, carried out as part of an active international partnership with the support of UNIDO, we constructed and curated a feld-relevant image data set to train a classifer for wood identifcation of 15 commercial Ghanaian woods using the XyloTron system. We tested model performance in the laboratory, and then collected real-world feld performance data across multiple sites using multiple XyloTron devices. We present effcacies of the trained model in the laboratory and in the feld, discuss practical implications and challenges of deploying machine learning wood identifcation models, and conclude that feld testing is a necessary step and should be considered the gold-standard for validating computer vision wood identifcation systems.
COVID-19 vaccination: an attempt to control the pandemic

Background: Since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 was discovered in December 2019, there have been tireless efforts by the medical and scientific community to understand its pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention. Discussion: In the last several months, several therapeutic treatments, including a corticosteroid, antiviral drugs, convalescent plasma, and several others, have been tried in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 with varying results. Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines recently received approval for Emergency Use Authorization. Although COVID-19 vaccine is the first hurdle in an attempt to control the pandemic, the following challenges still remain: adequate vaccine doses, issues with mass distribution, global access, proper storage, and sufficient vaccine compliance. Summary: Vaccination, in addition to social distancing and wearing facemasks, will likely provide the best way to control the COVID pandemic. Healthcare professionals and government officials will need to address any concern or hesitancy the community has with the COVID vaccine to promote compliance. Keywords: coronavirus therapeutics, herd immunity, coronavirus vaccine, vaccine targets, clinical trials
Chemically Induced Phytoextraction of Lead (Pb) Contaminated Soil by Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)

Soils contaminated with lead (Pb) from human activities including industrial byproducts create an environmental and human health risk. Phytoextraction through chemical acquisition of Pb in soils offer a potentially cost effective and ecologically driven approach to remediation. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is known to have a tolerance for a wide range of heavy metals including Pb. Switchgrass is also able to grow in a wide range of climates. Soil chemistry manipulation, using chelates and plant growth promoters could provide an effective field method for phytoremediation using switchgrass. In this study chemically enhanced phytoextraction using the soil-fungicide Infuse (active ingredient propiconazole), the chelator nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and the phytohormones salicylic acid (SA) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) were tested on switchgrass grown in Pb contaminated soil from a former superfund site in Cedartown, GA. The soil chemical manipulation aimed at increasing the bioavailability and uptake of Pb by switchgrass. Previously, the chelate ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was found to be effective in increasing the bioavailability of Pb in soils but the main problem with its use was a long persistent time in soils. The chelator NTA is a derivative of EDTA which has been found to persist for a much shorter length of time in soils comparatively and in this study, is tested as an alternative to EDTA. Switchgrass was planted in 5L pots containing Pb-contaminated soil and grown in the Kennesaw State University Research Greenhouse. Pots were given 200 ml of nutrient solution twice a week for six months. On 49 days after planting (dap), foliar application of the phytohormones salicylic acid and benzylaminopurine were sprayed on target plants twice a week. On 170 dap, Infuse solution was given to target plants. On 184 dap, the NTA solution was
DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University

Abstract Serious games can challenge users in competitive and entertaining ways. Educators have used serious games to increase student engagement in cybersecurity education. Serious games have been developed to teach students various cybersecurity topics such as safe online behavior, threats and attacks, malware, and more. They have been used in cybersecurity training and education at different levels. Serious games have targeted different audiences such as K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate students in academic institutions, and professionals in the cybersecurity workforce. In this paper, we provide a survey of serious games used in cybersecurity education and training. We categorize these games into four types based on the topics they cover and the purposes of the games: security awareness, network and web security, cryptography, and secure software development. We provide a catalog of games available online. This survey informs educators of available resources for cybersecurity education and training using interactive games.
THE FACTORS OF THE LATERAL ORIENTATION OF PORTRAITS

This paper analyses the portraits` aesthetic experience from side perspectives, including left and right orientation. Research was conducted by performing two experiments. The first experiment included 40 participants, the second had 26 participants of both genders who were not trained in the field of fine arts. The stimuli were 12 reproductions of portraits, profile orientation, of models made by famous painters. All the portraits represented adult persons, of different genders (male or female), spatial orientation (left or right) of the model and form (original or inverted). The participants assessed the presented portraits without time limitation on six scales, which measured two dimensions of aesthetic experience: evaluation and activity. The results support the hypothesis claiming that left side orientation (looking to the left) is valued higher with female portraits, while right side orientation with male portraits is valued higher. It has also been shown that the given differences in estimation were stable, keeping values in the same trend when the portraits were being inverted along a vertical axis.
Communication-Efficient Policy Gradient Methods for Distributed Reinforcement Learning

This article deals with distributed policy optimization in reinforcement learning, which involves a central controller and a group of learners. In particular, two typical settings encountered in several applications are considered: multiagent reinforcement learning (RL) and parallel RL, where frequent information exchanges between the learners and the controller are required. For many practical distributed systems, however, the overhead caused by these frequent communication exchanges is considerable, and becomes the bottleneck of the overall performance. To address this challenge, a novel policy gradient approach is developed for solving distributed RL. The novel approach adaptively skips the policy gradient communication during iterations, and can reduce the communication overhead without degrading learning performance. It is established analytically that: i) the novel algorithm has a convergence rate identical to that of the plain-vanilla policy gradient; while ii) if the distributed learners are heterogeneous in terms of their reward functions, the number of communication rounds needed to achieve a desirable learning accuracy is markedly reduced. Numerical experiments corroborate the communication reduction attained by the novel algorithm compared to alternatives.
The European Heat Wave 2018: The Dendroecological Response of Oak and Spruce in Western Germany

The European heat wave of 2018 was characterized by extraordinarily dry and hot spring and summer conditions in many central and northern European countries. The average temperatures from June to August 2018 were the second highest since 1881. Accordingly, many plants, especially trees, were pushed to their physiological limits. However, while the drought and heat response of field crops and younger trees have been well investigated in laboratory experiments, little is known regarding the drought and heat response of mature forest trees. In this study, we compared the response of a coniferous and a deciduous tree species, located in western and central–western Germany, to the extreme environmental conditions during the European heat wave of 2018. Combining classic dendroecological techniques (tree–ring analysis) with measurements of the intra–annual stem expansion (dendrometers) and tree water uptake (sap flow sensors), we found contrasting responses of spruce and oak trees. While spruce trees developed a narrow tree ring in 2018 combined with decreasing correlations of daily sap flow and dendrometer parameters to the climatic parameters, oak trees developed a ring with above–average tree–ring width combined with increasing correlations between the daily climatic parameters and the parameters derived from sap flow and the dendrometer sensors. In conclusion, spruce trees reacted to the 2018 heat wave with the early completion of their growth activities, whereas oaks appeared to intensify their activities based on the water content in their tree stems.
Innovative Technique of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Impaired Renal Function using Ultra Low Volume Contrast Agent Using Side Branch Wire as a Marker

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication in patients with chronic kidney disease with coronary artery disease who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in short and long term. The limiting volume of contrast agent is safest and most reliable strategy to prevent CIN. Here, we report a case of suc¬cessful primary PCI using only 13 ml of contrast (iodixanol) of mid left anterior descending artery where wire in diagonal branch served as a landmark in a 75-year-old diabetic and hypertensive male who had presented with ST segment elevation anterior wall myocardial infarction and had marked renal dysfunction having serum creatinine of 3.3 mg%. There was no change in basal renal function after the procedure and safely discharged.
The Development of MSMEs and the Growth of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending in Indonesia

The aim of this research is to examine recent development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), their main constraints and access to financing, and the growth of online-based Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending in Indonesia. This is a descriptive study which analyses secondary and primary data. Primary data were collected from: (i) a survey of 60 respondents, i.e. 30 owners of MSMEs and 30 managers/directors of P2P lending companies, of which a total of 40 were deemed usable (i.e. 10 MSMEs and 30 P2P), and (ii) a series of focus group discussions (FGD) with some of the selected P2P companies. This study’s results show the number of MSMEs continue to grow even though they face a number of obstacles with limited access to funding as the most serious. Although commercial banks are required by the government to extend credit to MSMEs, the percentage of total commercial credit to these enterprises is still very small. Therefore, as the survey’s finding suggested, the emergence of P2P is important as an alternative source of funding for MSEs. and bank is the main investor in P2P lending companies. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study ever done, at least in Indonesia. It takes stock of the empirical evidence in the literature through the lens of MSMEs’ owners.
Three Questions About the Metaphysics of Chance

Probability, we are often told, is graded possibility. In this paper, I offer an analysis of the chances which turn up in physics from the perspective of modal metaphysics. In particular, I offer three questions which probe the nature of chance and possibility, delineating a total of eight viable views on the metaphysical nature of chance. I contextualize this taxonomy of views with some discussion on physical chance-laws, and in particular the physical chances which arise in quantum mechanics. Gestures are made towards various avenues for further inquiry. I. An Inventory of Physical Chance Laws The formalism of probability is ubiquitous in the natural sciences. Despite its historical origins as a purely utilitarian tool developed to assist gamblers and investors in formulating risk assessments, probability and related notions have since found their way into our mathematical descriptions of the natural world. We often find ourselves saying “there is an 80% chance of rain,” and we do not necessarily think of ourselves as merely offering advice to bettors. The extent to which probabilistic talk today permeates our natural language perhaps obscures the fact that we don’t actually know what it is. What are we talking about when we talk about probability?
Probing the ISM of Heiiλ1640 emitters at z = 2–4 via MUSE

Abstract Heiiλ1640 emission in the absence of other metal lines is the most sought-after emission line to detect and characterize metal free stellar populations. However, even recent stellar population models with sophisticated treatment of stellar evolution also lack sufficient He+ ionising photons to reproduce observed He 0.1em ii fluxes. We use VLT/MUSE GTO observations to compile a catalogue of 15 z ∼ 2–4 He ii λ1640 emitters from ∼10–30 hour pointings. We show that both He ii λ1640 detections and non-detections occupy similar distribution in UV absolute magnitudes. Rest-UV emission line analysis of our sample shows that the emission lines of our He ii λ1640 emitters are driven by star-formation in solar to moderately sub-solar (∼1/20th) metallicity conditions. However, we find that even after considering effects from binary stars, we are unable to reproduce the He ii λ1640 equivalent widths. Alternative mechanisms are necessary to compensate for the missing He+ ionising photons.
Experimental study and modelling of sulfate sorption on calcium silicate hydrates

Cet article presente une etude detaillee des interactions entre les Silicates de Calcium Hydrates (C-S-H) et les sulfates. Des C-S-H de differents rapports Ca/Si (∼ 0.7-1.6) ont ete synthetises a partir de CaO et SiO2 en suspension, et du Na2SO 4 a ete ajoute au systeme, conserve a 20 ou 85°C. Les resultats de sorption montrent que la capacite des C-S-H a fixer des sulfates augmente avec le rapport Ca/Si du C-S-H, et que la temperature a peu d'impact pour un rapport Ca/Si donne. A partir de ces resultats, une modelisation de la sorption des sulfates sur les C-S-H est proposee.
Potential Freshwater Reservoir Effects in a Neolithic Shell Midden at Riņņkalns, Latvia

Riņņukalns is the only known prehistoric shell midden in the eastern Baltic, and is one of the few middens in northern Europe consisting mainly of freshwater mussel shells. Situated on the Salaca River at the outlet of Lake Burtnieks, in northeastern Latvia, the site was originally excavated in the 1870s, and reinvestigated several times over the following decades. A new excavation in 2011 showed that part of the midden remained intact. The new exposure, dated to the later 4th millennium cal BC, yielded rich fishbone and mollusk shell assemblages, herbivore, human and bird bones, and a wide range of artifacts typical of a subsistence economy based on fishing, hunting, and gathering. Human remains from burials excavated in the 1870s were also located in archives. The co-occurrence at Riņņukalns of human remains with a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic food remains provides an ideal setting to study freshwater reservoir effects and other isotopic signals of diet and mobility. The extent of 14C depletion in local freshwater resources is an essential parameter for such studies; on the basis of 14C ages of modern and paleoenvironmental samples, we estimate that the applicable reservoir age in Lake Burtnieks is in the order of 800–900 14C yr.
Optogalvanic and laser-induced uorescence spectroscopy of the Zeeman eect in xenon

We present optogalvanic and LIF measurements of Zeeman effects on the 6s [1/2]1 → 6p [3/2]2 absorption line of neutral xenon at 834.682 nm. Excitation was provided by a narrow-linewidth (4ν < 10 MHz) TUI Optics TA-100/830 tapered-amplifier diode laser. Optogalvanic spectra were provided by a Hamamatsu L2783 xenon-neon galvatron placed in the gap of a C-coil electromagnet, while LIF spectra were taken in the plume of a hollow cathode mounted along the axis of a cylindrical solenoid. A half-wave plate and polarizing beamsplitter permitted easy rotation of the beam polarization vector E with respect to the magnetic field B. Zeeman splitting of the π-polarized (E ‖ B) spectrum is negligible at magnetic field intensities up to 300 gauss. The σ-polarized (E ⊥ B)spectrum, however, shows strong Zeeman splitting, with a 796-MHz gap between the main peaks of the spectrum at 300 gauss.
STUDY ON DIFFERENT FACTORS AFFECT COD REMOVAL CAPACITY OF HALANAEROBIUM LACRUISEI IN SALINE WASTEWATER

This study evaluated a number of factors (including salinity, pH and temperature) affecting the growth of Halanaerobium lacruisei bacteria in order to reduce organic compounds (COD concentration) in saline wastewater of a fish sauce processing plant. The results of the study showed that halophillic bacteria had good capacity of reducing COD concentration under specific conditions. Laboratory experiments with different bacterial culture conditions showed that 6 7 % salinity, pH 7.0 and 30 °C is the optimal culturing condition for Halanaerobium lacruisei treating COD in wastewater. In the laboratory condition, COD treatment capacity in saline wastewater of this microorganism could be up to nearly 88 % after 48 hours, ensuring that the effluent meets the environmental requirements. In pilot condition of culturing the bacteria (in plastic tank, stimulating the real condition), after 25 days, the COD removal decreased continously, 80 % effectively compared to the inlet wastewater. The effluent after an effective treatment by this experimental method satisfied the requirements of type B wastewater standard specified in QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT. This study revealed that Halanaerobium lacruisei can be used effectively to treat the COD parameter in saline wastewater which can be applied in industrial wastewater treatment area as well.
Dust evolution in galaxies at z > 7

Abstract Recently huge amount of dust Mdust ≃ 106−7M⊙ in galaxies at z = 7–8 has been discovered by ALMA observations. The suggested timescale of the dust production was a few–several×108 yr, while the stellar mass was several × 109M⊙. This amount of dust cannot be easily explained only by a supply from supernovae if we consider the dust destruction by reverse shocks. We propose that these values can be consistently explained if we take into account the grain growth in the interstellar medium (ISM). This scenario successfully reproduces the evolution of the dust mass, as well as the SFR, and stellar mass simultaneously. We conclude that even at such an early epoch of the Universe, the dust grain growth in the ISM plays a significant role in galaxies.
Understanding galaxy formation in the reionization era using the FIRE simulations

Abstract We present a suite of high-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations of galaxies at z⩾ 5using the state-of-the-art models for the multi-phase ISM, star formation, and stellar feedback from the FIRE project. We present a series of key results from these simulations, including the stellar mass–halo mass relation, the ultraviolet luminosity functions, dust attenuation and dust temperatures, the ubiquitous formation of bound star clusters, morphology and clumpiness, and the escape fractions of ionizing photons from high-redshift galaxies. We discuss how different simulations in the literature agree and disagree and what observations are most useful for testing the models in the era of ALMA and JWST.
Medical management of decompensated heart failure in adult patients: Part 1: Definition and medical management

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization in patients older than 65 years. It continues to increase in prevalence and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity including frequent hospitalizations. The American Heart Association is predicting that more than 8 million Americans will have heart failure by 2030 and that the total direct costs associated with the disease will rise from $21 billion in 2012 to $70 billion in 2030. The definition of ADHF has important limitations, and its management differs significantly from that of chronic heart failure. Although many large, randomized, controlled clinical trials have been conducted in patients with chronic heart failure, it was not until recently that more studies began to address the management of ADHF. The mainstay of ADHF management involves identification of precipitating factors, oxygen supplementation, sodium and fluid restriction, and diuresis. The phenomenon of diuretic resistance is a significant obstacle to relief of congestion and is a field of active investigation. Other important adjuncts to treatment include noninvasive ventilation, inotropes, vasopressors, nitrates, opiates, and vasopressin receptor antagonists. In this review, we will discuss the terminology and classification of ADHF, and review the multiple modalities and strategies available for the management of this disorder.