Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between technical knowledge and price-perceived quality in an industrial setting

OF THE THESIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRICE-PERCEIVED QUALITY IN AN INDUSTRIAL SETTING by Jeannie Helen Caicedo Florida International University, 1994 Miami, Florida Dr. Martha Aixchel Centeno, Major Professor As proven by many studies, non-industrial consumers perceive price as a strong quality indicator. However, the applicability of this behavior to an industrial setting has been long questioned. It is hypothesized in this research that the levels of price-perceived quality will decrease in an industrial setting as the technical knowledge of the buyer increases. Judgement Sampling method was used to select the most appropriate sample for this study. Since engineers are particularly important influencers in the purchase decision process in organization, engineering students and professors were chosen as the study population. A survey was administered to a sample population that consisted of 153 respondents out of which 3.3% were professors, 9.8% graduate students, and 76.4% undergraduate students; 70.6% males and 15.7% females; 13.7% Mechanical Engineering, 28.1% Industrial Engineering, 7.8% Civil Engineering, 34% Electrical Engineering, and 4.6% Computer Engineering students. We evaluated the relationship between technical
Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of the Aerial Part of Three Selected Plants

We investigate the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of the aerial parts of Annona senegalensis , Petiveria alliacea and Secamone afzelii that have been used as folk medicines. The methanolic extracts were tested on various microorganisms for the antibacterial and antifungal activity using agar well diffusion and poisoned food technique respectively. The length of the inhibition zone was measured in millimetres from the edge of the well to the edge of the inhibition zone. The extracts were assessed in an effort to validate the potential activity of the plants against microbes. The result showed the extracts possess considerable antimicrobial potentials. The phytochemical screening of the plants revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, saponins and anthraquiones. The phytochemicals attributed to the antimicrobials activity of the plants extracts Keywords : antibacterial, antifungal, Annona senegalensis , Petiveria alliacea , Secamone afzelii
Multi-dimensional optimization of visual content

In order to give consumers the ability to adapt a display to their own image preference, current displays are equipped with a number of knobs, by which the viewer can tune various image quality attributes to his or her preference. Despite of this possibility, many people seem to avoid adjustments, because they do not know how to end up with a satisfying result. Results of two studies on preferred television settings, which we conducted in our laboratory in order to improve our products, clearly illustrate the difficulties many people encounter when optimizing image preference in a multidimensional parameter space spanned by various display settings. The aim of the first study was to define a number of user profiles that might serve as predefined settings in future TV sets. Therefore, we investigated how a large group of users adjusted brightness, contrast, sharpness, saturation and white point of a conventional LCD-TV. In total, 176 participants started from a very poor image quality and were asked to adjust the TV to their own preference. Most people were unable to do so, and ended up with an image that was not pleasing them. In a second part of the study, the task was simplified: another 200 participants started from an acceptable image quality and had to further refine it by means of a series of one-dimensional optimizations. In this way, substantially more people were able to optimize the image to a satisfying result. In the second study, participants were asked to adjust gain and offset of a Philips nineview lenticular auto-stereoscopic 3D display to their preference. The gain setting affected the total range of stereoscopic depth that could be displayed, whereas the offset setting affected what part of the depth range was displayed in front or behind the screen. At first, 24 participants were requested to tune both gain and offset simultaneously. This resulted for many participants in inconsistent results. Therefore, the task was simplified. Another 21 participants were asked to tune the gain for some fixed values of the offset, and the offset for some fixed values of the gain. This largely reduced the spread in the data. The results of both studies clearly show that in general people are not able to optimize display settings when navigating in a multi-dimensional space. It seems that the simultaneous optimisation of even as few as two dimensions is already too difficult. This may be a consequence of (1) the limited ability of humans to acquire a correct mental map of the multi-dimensional space, or of (2) limitations in the visual memory, though which viewers are unable to accurately recall the quality of the previous image in the adjustment process. As a result, participants tend towards the middle of a scale, even if this position on the scale is not an acceptable setting.
Investment Evaluation of Tourism Industry: A Case Study of Coastal Recreation Areas in Hualien Taiwan

An increase in the number of tourists can boost the economic prosperity of tourist attractions; over-development or over-utilization of a tourist attraction will lead to the consumption of tourism resources and reduce recreational quality. This study used relevant studies on ecotourism and recreational carrying capacity and applied the Delphi-fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to identify the critical factors affecting the recreational carrying capacity of the Hualien Qixingtan coastal recreational areas, including 4 primary factors, namely, recreational environment, natural landscape, coastal animals and plants, and cultural assets, and 13 secondary factors, such as public infrastructure. The research results can be provided as reference for relevant government authorities and operators to develop measures taking into account both the resource conservation and recreational management of coastal recreational areas.
Geometric Matching for Free-Form 3D Object Recognition

This paper investigates a new approach to the recognition of 3D objects of arbitrary shape. The proposed solution follows the principle of modelbased recognition using geometric 3D models and geometric matching. It is an alternative to the classical segmentation and primitive extraction approach and provides a perspective to escape the difficulties found with it when dealing with freeform shapes. The heart of this new approach is geometric registration which is performed by a closest point matching algorithm. Reported investigations examine the practical effectiveness of this approach for views obtained from range imaging and address relevant aspects of associated computational costs. The paper proposes solutions allowing to keep track with these costs and presents results assessing the practical feasibility of this approach.
A Monolayer Multi-Octave Bandwidth Log-Periodic Microstrip Antenna

In this paper, a novel monolayer multi-octave bandwidth log-periodic microstrip antenna (LPMA) is presented. This antenna consists of a 50› microstrip feed-line and fourteen rectangular patch elements. Twelve rectangular patch elements are fed by edge-coupling from the microstrip feed-line and two other patch elements are directly connected with the microstrip feed-line. A mixed microstrip line feed is applied to expand the bandwidth. Our measured results closely agree with the simulated results. These results show that the proposed antenna lends itself well to operation in the impedance bandwidth from 2GHz to 8GHz with a voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2.
Impact of hydration on muscle contraction properties of elite competitive wrestlers

Background & Study Aim: The wrestling events included in the Olympic Games have different weight classes. Most wrestlers reduce their body weight a few days before competition so they can enter the right weight category. Often they use irratio nal nutritional strategies to make the weight, sometimes even drastically reducing their water intake. The purpose of this study was the knowledge about influence of pre-competition level of hydration on muscle con tractile properties in elite wrestlers. Material & Methods: Sixty three wrestlers participated in the study (27 female and 36 male). We sampled data from the weigh-in for an international competition, recording each athlete’s hydration level using bioelectrical impedance analysis and using tensiomyography to analyze the contractile properties of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris and biceps femoris (BF) muscles of both legs. Among wrestlers 16 were classified as “less-hy drated” (total body water <60%) and 47 were classified as “more-hydrated” (total body water ≥60%). Results: Less-hydrated wrestlers of both sexes had a greater (p<0.05) contraction time for all muscles and lower (p<0.05) maximal radial displacement of muscle belly for VL, VM and BF than those who were more-hydrated. Normalize response speed was significantly higher (p<0.05) in more-hydrated athletes of both sexes for both sides of VM and VL and for right side of BF. Conclusion: Wrestlers who were less-hydrated at the weigh-in had poorer muscle contractile properties, due mainly to the additional contraction time and the lower radial muscular displacement. Years of reducing body weight by wrestlers based on irrational nutritional strategies may have negative effects on health in the future. Therefore, regular monitoring of the health of the wrestlers at the end of their sporting career is essential to develop recommendations for practice of training.
Faces in the museum: revising the methods of facial reconstructions

Museum displays of faces derived from skeletal remains – typically referred to as facial reconstructions – are extraordinarily popular, and frequently function as iconic representations of a much broader engagement with collections from a particular people, time and place. Their actual ability to meaningfully represent either an individual or a museum collection is questionable, as facial reconstructions created for display and published within academic journals show an enduring preference for applying invalidated methods. Since 2002 there has been an increase in verified skull-soft tissue relationships, and these, together with research findings from related academic fields, can be incorporated within an evidence-based estimation of facial appearance. By illustration, a face given to an individual from the Museo de la Plata collection is critically revised to show how validated relationships result in a different face, and furthermore a face that is more closely aligned to what constitutes knowledge and display within the contemporary museum.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT: A FRAMEWORK OF UNDERSTANDING

The topic of supply chain management (SCM) is complex to understand because it encompasses many different flows of activities, components, functions, and role-players. The literature is scattered across multiple functions, varies in scope, and is often confined to certain elements within SCM. This article aims to provide a literature overview of SCM. It is explained with the aid of a newly-developed framework of understanding that offers a graphical representation of the term. It unifies and condenses different components within SCM and shows the relationship between them. The framework was developed by identifying the main themes in the definitions for SCM, examining existing categorisations and frameworks in SCM, and analysing frameworks in other disciplines. The outcome of this article can be used as a guide to explain and orientate researchers and practitioners in the field. OPSOMMING Die onderwerp van voorsieningskettingbestuur (VKB) is kompleks om te verstaan omdat dit baie verskillende komponente, vloei van aktiwiteite, funksies, en rolspelers insluit. Die literatuur oor VKB is versprei oor verskeie funksies, wissel in omvang, en word dikwels beperk tot sekere elemente binne VKB. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om ’n literatuur oorsig oor die onderwerp van VKB te voorsien. VKB word verduidelik met behulp van ’n nuut-ontwikkelde raamwerk van verstaan: ’n grafiese voorstelling van die term. Dit verenig die verskillende komponente binne VKB, en toon die verwantskap tussen hulle. Die raamwerk is ontwikkel deur die belangrikste temas in die definisies van VKB te bestudeer, en bestaande kategorisering en verwysingsmodelle te ontleed. Die uitkomste van die artikel kan gebruik word as ’n gids om navorsers en praktisyne te orienteer in die veld.
Fixed-point Theorems in G-complete Fuzzy Metric Spaces

In the present paper we introduce generalized contraction mapping in fuzzy metric space and some fixed-point theorems for G-complete fuzzy metric space are proved. Our results generalize and extend many known results in metric spaces to a (non-Archimedean) fuzzy metric space in the in the sense of George and Veeramani [George A, Veeramani P, On some results in fuzzy metric spaces, Fuzzy Sets and Systems 1994;64:395-9].
Human dimensions of Marine Protected Areas

Charles, A. , and Wilson, L. 2009. Human dimensions of Marine Protected Areas. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 6-15.Planning, implementing, and managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) requires that attention be paid not only to the biological and oceanographic issues that influence the performance of the MPA, but equally to the human dimensions: social, economic, and institutional considerations that can dramatically affect the outcome of MPA implementation. This paper explores ten human dimensions that are basic to the acceptance and ultimate success of MPAs: objectives and attitudes, “entry points” for introducing MPAs, attachment to place, meaningful participation, effective governance, the “people side” of knowledge, the role of rights, concerns about displacement, MPA costs and benefits, and the bigger picture around MPAs. These people-orientated factors and their impact on the success and effectiveness of MPAs are examined in relation to experiences with MPAs globally, and in relation to two Canadian examples specifically, one coastal (Eastport, Newfoundland) and the other offshore (the Gully, Nova Scotia).
Globalization, Peripherality and Regional Unemployment Divergence

The cultural and geographic proximity between two regions otherwise very distant (both in terms of factor endowment and of specialization pattern) makes the wage perceived as fair in the peripheral region dependent on the wage prevailing in the core region. As a consequence, the peripheral wage is too high and unemployment results. This problem is exacerbated by the greater international division of labor brought about by globalization, which increases the coriperiphery labor productivity gap and so brings about a surge in unemployment in the periphery. Hence, this paper challenges, in a regional context, the view that a finer division of labor reduces unemployment, and offers an explanation of the growing differentials in the regional rates of unemployment observed in many EU countries in the last decades.
Criteria for Differential Equations in Computer Vision

Differential equations (ODEs or PDEs) appear in many computer vision fields. Shapefrom-shading, optical flow, optics, and 3D motion are examples of such fields. This report discusses theoretical criteria for the corresponding continuous problem, theoretical criteria for discrete numerical schemes, and experimental measurements for the implemented numerical schemes. These criteria are illustrated by discussing a shape-from-shading problem in which the reflectance map is linear. 1 Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907 WA, Australia 2 CITR, Tamaki Campus, University Of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Criteria for Di erential Equations in Computer Vision Ryszard Kozera 1 and Reinhard Klette 2 1 Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Australia Nedlands 6907 WA, Australia 2 CITR, University of Auckland Tamaki Campus, Building 731, Auckland, New Zealand Abstract: Di erential equations (ODEs or PDEs) appear in many computer vision elds. Shape-fromshading, optical ow, optics, and 3D motion are examples of such elds. This report discusses theoretical criteria for the corresponding continuous problem, theoretical criteria for discrete numerical schemes, and experimental measurements for the implemented numerical schemes. These criteria are illustrated by discussing a shape-from-shading problem in which the re ectance map is linear. Di erential equations (ODEs or PDEs) appear in many computer vision elds. Shape-fromshading, optical ow, optics, and 3D motion are examples of such elds. This report discusses theoretical criteria for the corresponding continuous problem, theoretical criteria for discrete numerical schemes, and experimental measurements for the implemented numerical schemes. These criteria are illustrated by discussing a shape-from-shading problem in which the re ectance map is linear.
Most Common Medico-Legal Autopsy-Related Human and Nonhuman Biological Samples for DNA Analysis

The identification and individualization of biological evidences is crucial to actual criminal investigations. In spite of the differences at the national level, all the legal processes attribute particular importance to forensic DNA analysis. However, none of the qualified results from any professional laboratory can produce substantive, valuable evidence with insufficient quality of samples and/or problems with provision of a pristine and controlled environment. The methodology and efficiency of sampling are distinct in case of living persons and in medico-legal autopsy and crime scenes. This chapter is a short overview from the basic introductory information up to ongoing research, and in accordance with constraints on the chapter size, it briefly discusses the important topics of sample collection at medico-legal autopsy for DNA analysis. The content sorts the major types of samples, reviews the common methods of sampling and the potential risk of poor sampling or contamination transfer. The corpses can be more or less degraded, which in special cases (e.g., paraffin embedded tissues, drowned, burning and/or buried cadaver) allow only for analysis of highly degraded samples. The samples can be associated with tissues of a corpse (e.g., blood, soft tissues, bone, tooth, hair) and/or additional extraneous tissues and remains, which are often mixed (e.g., blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluid, debris of fingernails) on the corpse.
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background : Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is known to be one of the key molecules for tumor invasion and metastasis. MMP-2 activity is modulated through interaction with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods : Using immunohistochemical staining, we investigated the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in 30 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and 10 normal pancreas. Results : MMP-2 expression was present in tumor cells in 11 cases, and in stromal cells in 24 cases, out of 30 carcinomas. MMP-2 expression of tumor cells was significantly higher in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas than in well/moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas, and in cases with vascular invasion than in cases without. MMP-2 expression was stronger in the marginal areas than in the central area of the tumor. TIMP-2 expression was detected in the tumor and stromal cells of all carcinomas. MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression had no significant correlation with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, or TNM stage. MMP-2 expression was not correlated with TIMP-2 expression. Conclusions : These results suggest that MMP-2 expression may play an important role in the invasive property of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, whereas TIMP-2 expression increases as a reaction to invasion.
SM2RAIN-CCI: a new global long-term rainfall data set derived from ESA CCI soil moisture

Abstract. Accurate and long-term rainfall estimates are the main inputs for several applications, from crop modeling to climate analysis. In this study, we present a new rainfall data set (SM2RAIN-CCI) obtained from the inversion of the satellite soil moisture (SM) observations derived from the ESA Climate Change Initiative (CCI) via SM2RAIN (Brocca et al., 2014). Daily rainfall estimates are generated for an 18-year long period (1998–2015), with a spatial sampling of 0.25° on a global scale, and are based on the integration of the ACTIVE and the PASSIVE ESA CCI SM data sets. The quality of the SM2RAIN-CCI rainfall data set is evaluated by comparing it with two state-of-the-art rainfall satellite products, i.e. the Tropical Measurement Mission Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis 3B42 real-time product (TMPA 3B42RT) and the Climate Prediction Center Morphing Technique (CMORPH), and one modeled data set (ERA-Interim). A quality check is carried out on a global scale at 1° of spatial sampling and 5 days of temporal sampling by comparing these products with the gauge-based Global Precipitation Climatology Centre Full Data Daily (GPCC-FDD) product. SM2RAIN-CCI shows relatively good results in terms of correlation coefficient (median value > 0.56), root mean square difference (RMSD, median value The SM2RAIN-CCI rainfall data set is freely available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.846259 .
Chemical Constituents of Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sung et al.), a Valued Traditional Himalayan Medicine

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sung et al. is popularly known as Yarsagumba (winter worm summer grass) in Nepal. It is a well-known entomogenous fungus distributed in alpine nival zone of trans-Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Its occurrence in extreme biological niche and cohabitation with insect [Thitarodes (Hepialus)] larvae has led to unique assemblage of metabolites including proteins and nitrogenous compounds, polysaccharides, sterols, nucleosides, fatty acids and their derivatives, vitamins and inorganics. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is one of the most trusted main ingredients for several preparations of remedy from wide range of human health conditions. Several biological activities from O. sinensis have been reported that include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-metastatic, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, insecticidal, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycemic, anti-ageing, lipolytic, neuroprotective, renoprotective effects, etc. The chemical constituents and their pharmacological uses are reviewed here highlighting the potentiality of this highly esteemed traditional Himalayan medicine.
Productivity and Economic Growth in the European Union: Impact of Investment in Research and Development

Abstract This paper focuses on investment in research and development as a factor of labour productivity and economic growth. Our analysis confirms the link between expenditure for research and development (expressed in % of GDP) and labour productivity (expressed in the number of hours worked) based on selected data for EU Member States in the period 1995-2013. A causal link between variables of the concave parabola was confirmed, and the value of expenditure for research and development (2.85% of EU GDP) maximising productivity (per hour of work) was determined based on the examined data. In accordance with these findings, EU’s target of reaching 3% of GDP spent on research and development to be achieved by 2020 seems in support of reaching maximum productivity in the EU.