Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Demand Functions Faced by New England Region Alpine Ski Resorts

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that different factors have on ski resort ticket sales. The primary focus is to examine the effect of price on total sales. This is done using revenue reports collected from Sugarloaf and Sunday River, two ski resorts in Maine owned by Boyne, USA. These sales quantities are regressed across a number of resort related variables such as trails, lifts, weather and other controls to analyze the effect. An instrumental variables approach is used to alleviate issues related to endogeneity between prices and ticket sales. The results snow that ticket sales are very sensitive to prices and that demand varies with weather and time related effects such as weekends and vacation weeks.
Monotonic Search Networks For Computer Vision Databases

Design criteria for an associative network database for com- puter vision which supports monotonic search for the best match of an unknown entity are discussed. The network paradigm used provides for associative clustering of similar entities, and thus higher levels of abstraction are supported. A small database using thirty entities, each represented by a Fourier feature vector, is constructed and tested.
Selection and evaluation of Internet information by adults with intellectual disabilities

Abstract Internet offers people with intellectual disabilities (ID) unique opportunities to access information and to participate in society. But concerns have been raised about the potential risks they face when accessing the Internet (e.g. giving credit to false information, being exposed to manipulative content). As part of the current debate between positive risk-taking and overprotection, our study empirically tested the extent to which 43 adults with ID identified and selected topically relevant as well as trustworthy web pages while searching the Internet for several topics (e.g. Can social networks use your pictures for advertisement? ). Participants also justified their search decisions. Results revealed that while searching familiar topics (i.e. social networks), participants selected more relevant and trustworthy pages than irrelevant and less trustworthy ones. Searches of less familiar topics (i.e. daily health), were carried out randomly, that is, without applying a specific criterion. Results point to the importance of topic familiarity on people’s with ID performance on Internet searching tasks. This pattern of results suggests that, first, we should avoid overprotection when people with ID search for familiar topics and, second, they need more support when searching for information about less familiar topics.
Dimensions of dry snow slab avalanches from field measurements

[1] Dry slab avalanches release by a sequence of propagating fractures. In this paper, I provide field measurements of the important length parameters resulting from fractures for hundreds fallen slabs including depth, length, and width. The field data show wide variations in these parameters. Probability plots of all dimensions (length, width, and depth) suggest they approximately obey log normal probability density functions. Given slab dimensions, two applications are considered on the basis of the field data. These applications are: (1) Estimates of total fracture energy consumed around the perimeter of the slab are given, where it is presumed fracture is mostly mode I, and along the base (weak layer) of the slab, where shear fracture (mode II and III) is expected. For average characteristic dimensions, the analysis suggests that energy consumed on the perimeter is somewhat less than in the weak layer. Even though fracture energy around the perimeter is expected to be higher than in the weak layer, the larger area fractured in shear at the base of the slab compared to area fractured in tension around the perimeter results in a comparable amount of total energy needed around the perimeter. (2) Approximate estimates of avalanche mass for average characteristic dimensions based on slab depth D (the only length possibly known prior to avalanching) are made. The mass is considered related to destructive potential and simple guidelines are given to estimate mass in relation to D with validation by considering concurrent size and estimates of D by mountain guides.
The Evidence-Based Practice Movement : Contributions , Controversies , and Recommendations

The evidence-based practice movement, particularly in the criminal justice field, has meant an increasingly influential role for social science research. Experimental program evaluations, considered to be the “gold standard,” are helping to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions amidst the need to cut costs. However, there continues to be questions about the implementation and conception of experimental designs in the “real-world,” and to be resistance to such program evaluations from many practitioners. Several remedies have emerged including statistical modeling, multiple methods, and consensus panels to promote broader dialogue regarding program effectiveness. The ideal maybe to return evidence-based practice to a more collaborative process rather than a bottom-line verdict.
Correlation between Learning Motivation to Student Learning Achievements MTSN Lampahan

Motivation and achievement is a very strong relationship in the world of learning, especially. Achievements discussed in this study are devoted in the achievement of English subjects to know students in learning a foreign language. For that Ha in this study is "There is a relationship between the motivation of learning with the achievement of learning English subjects on class VIII students MTsN Lampahan, Bener Meriah, Aceh". The population in this study is the students of class VIII, with the number of test samples as many as 30 people and the number of research samples amounted to 55 people. Sampling technique used in this research is cluster sampling technique. Based on the results of data analysis on the hypothesis of learning motivation to learning achievement, obtained correlation coefficient of r = 0,597 or59,7%, with p = 0,000 (<0,05). It shows that the Alternative (Ha) hypothesis states "There is a correlation between learning motivation and learning achievement of English subjects on grade VIII students of MTsN Lampahan,
Supplementary Materials : Pathwise Derivatives Beyond the Reparameterization Trick

First, notice that for z = κ we have dz dκ = 1, which is what we would expect, since u = 1 is mapped to the rightmost edge of the interval at z = κ, i.e. F−1 κ (1) = κ. Similarly we have dz dκ = 0 for z = 0. For z ∈ (0, κ) the derivative dz dκ interpolates smoothly between 0 and 1. This makes sense, since for a fixed value of u as we get further into the tails of the distribution, nudging κ to the right has a correspondingly larger effect on z = F−1 κ (u), while it has a correspondingly smaller effect for u in the bulk of the distribution.
Identificação do Ponto de Deflexão da Freqüência Cardíaca em Mountain Bikers

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar o PDFC em mountain bikers. Foram selecionados 18 mountain bikers que disputam campeonatos estaduais e nacionais (24,4 ± 9,0 anos; 65,2 ± 5,5kg; 173,8 ± 6,7cm; 8,2 ± 2,6%G). Os atletas foram submetidos ao protocolo de cargas progressivas no ciclo-simulador. O teste foi iniciado com carga de 100W e incremento de 30W a cada estágio de 3min. , até a exaustão. A FC foi monitorada durante todo o teste. O PDFC foi identificado pelo método Dmax (KARA et al., 1996). A resposta da FC apresentou três comportamentos distintos durante o teste progressivo: PDFCc (convencional)45%, PDFCi (invertido) 33% e comportamento linear 22%. Com esta divisão, o estudo procurou comparar as diferenças entre o PDFCc e o PDFCi (teste t). A principal diferença entre os grupos, está em relação a intensidade em que é observada a deflexão, pois a Wdmax apresenta uma diferença de aproximadamente 60 W, ou seja, o PDFCi é alcançado em intensidades absolutas inferiores ao PDFCc. Em adição, os valores percentuais de potência (W) e FC são bem discrepantes, o que pode causar diversas dúvidas quanto a identificação e utilização desta variável. Assim, foi possível a identificação do PDFC (PDFCc +PDFCi) em 78% dos mountain bikers, sendo que o grupo PDFCc apresenta valores absolutos e percentuais em relação a Wdmax e FCdmax, superiores sobre o PDFCi. Desta forma, deve-se ter cautela quanto à interpretação dos resultados e à utilização prática em situações de prescrição de treinamento a partir destas variáveis.
Otolith elemental composition and adult tagging reveal spawning site fidelity and estuarine dependency in rainbow smelt

Observations of homing and straying in marine organisms based on traditional Eulerian approaches may fail to resolve dispersal kernels or be unable to differentiate homing from invariant local residency. The roles of spawning site fidelity and straying in structuring populations of anadro- mous smelt Osmerus mordax were examined in coastal Newfoundland through the analysis of otolith elemental composition and a series of adult tagging experiments. Otolith elemental baselines were generated from freshwater residents, estuarine juveniles and laboratory-held individuals (32 psu), using both a single-element (i.e. Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca) and multivariate approach (i.e. discriminant function analysis). Ten spawning fish of unknown dispersal history were sampled from each of 6 spawning locations, and otolith composition was examined using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry at 12 to 16 locations across each otolith. Single-element and multivariate approaches both indicated estuarine residency predominated, with limited marine (0.7%) signatures indicative of rare marine movements. Multiyear spawning site fidelity was examined through a fin- clipping (2003, n = 7076) and visual implant elastomer (VIE) experiment (2004, n = 13 524), encom- passing each of the 6 spawning locations. We observed limited straying, with 90 to 99% annual spawning site fidelity. Tag returns declined significantly with distance from location of tagging, and declines were linear over small (<50 km) distances (VIE: p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.99; fin clipping: p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.56). We conclude that population structure in anadromous smelt is maintained by small-scale habitat associations limited to a single estuary, supporting a hypothesis of demographic isolation among estuaries.
Miles and Snow Typology of Strategic Positioning on Performance of Mobile Telecommunication Companies in Kenya Njenga

Establishing a solid strategic positioning for the future has never been more important or more challenging for mobile phone company executives and their organizations. Most of the strategies adopted by mobile phone companies do not deliver the promised outcomes and this has intensified the competition and subsequently impacted on their performance. Accepting and adapting to that changing environment is the difference between those organizations that thrive – and those that do not. Analysts allude that the strategies the mobile phone operators employ make all the difference by how their strategic positioning is assumed and culminates with the tactical means to adapt continuously to an ever-changing environment (Allio, 2005). The study aimed to analyze the influences ofstrategic positioning onperformance in the mobile telecommunication industry in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influences ofdefender, prospector, analyzer and reactor typologies on performance in the mobile telecommunication industry in Kenya. The study was premised on miles and snow typology while applying a combination of explanatory design, descriptive survey research design and cross sectional design.A study of 3 mobile phone telecommunication firms was conducted to investigate the relationships between the typologies and performance. The results indicate that firm size and strategy explains the difference in the relationships between strategic positioning and performance.
Discrete Chicken Swarm Optimization for the Quadratic Assignment Problem

The main objective of our research is to improve an adaptation of the chicken swarm optimization algorithm (CSO) to solve the quadratic assignment problem, which is a well-known combinatorial optimization problem. The new approach is based on the CSO without using a local search, the CSO-QAP is a stochastic method inspired from the behavior of chickens in swarm while searching for food. The experiments are performed on a set of 56 benchmark QAPLIB instances. To prove the robustness of our algorithm a comparative analysis is done with the known metaheuristic of Genetic algorithm based on SCX. The average percentage of error to get the best Known solution in our proposed work with the results obtained by applying a simple genetic algorithm using sequential constructive crossover for the quadratic assignment problem. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed CSO-QAP to solve the Quadratic assignment problem in term of time and quality of solutions. The proposed adaptation can be further applied by using a local search strategy to solve the same problem or another combinatorial problem.
Functional role of connexin 46 in lens epithelial cell differentiation and growth

The vertebrate lens relies on gap junction-mediated intercellular communication to maintain cellular homeostasis and lenticular transparency. Differentiation of cuboidal lens epithelial cells into cortical fiber cells involves the degradation of endogenous gap junction protein, connexin 43 (Cx43) and the up-regulation of connexin 46 (Cx46). Cx46 may also be involved in the hypoxia response in other tissues; a function that can possibly be attributed to unique phosphorylation sites at the cytoplasmic C-terminus. In this study, we have developed a mammalian (rabbit) lens epithelial cell (RLEC) culture model that overexpresses Cx46 to ascertain the role of Cx46 in differentiation and oxidative stress response. The cell line N/N1003A was stably transfected with a GFPCx46 plasmid construct, and analyzed for differentiation markers including endogenous gap junction protein isoforms (Cx43 and Cx50). Western blot analysis and visual observation determined that the stable overexpression of Cx46 (sCx46OE) induced the degradation of Cx43 and elicited morphological changes indicative of fiber cell elongation. Total RNA from RLEC culture was isolated and analyzed for mRNA levels using RT-PCR. Comparable levels of Cx43 transcript were present in wild type, transient Cx46OE (tCx46OE), and sCx46OE which suggests a post-transcriptional regulation of Cx43 degradation. Treatment of sCx46OE with proteasome inhibitors restored Cx43 protein levels, and scanning confocal microscopy supported our hypothesis that Cx43 is degraded in differentiating lens cells by way of a ubiquitinmediated proteasomal pathway. It is our conclusion that Cx46 has application in hypoxic conditioning and differentiation in addition to its conventional role as a gap junction protein.
Controlling und Unternehmensethik

Prof. Dr. Philipp Schreck ist Inhaber des Friede-Springer-Stiftungslehrstuhls für Unternehmensethik und Controlling an der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg und Vorstandsmitglied im Wittenberg-Zentrum für Globale Ethik. E-Mail: philipp.schreck@wiwi.unihalle. de Controlling und Unternehmensethik haben mehr miteinander zu tun, als gemeinhin anerkannt. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt anhand einiger Beispiele auf, wie sich beide Disziplinen jeweils in ihren eigenen Aufgaben unterstützen können.
Assessment of Some Salivary Biomarkers in Sample of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a very common problem in childhood and any one deal with children is likely to encounter it. It is multifactorial disorder which results from combination of environmental and genetic factors. If children with ADHD are identified early and appropriate interventions are made the problem is likely to be mitigated. Aims of the study: This study is the first to assess the psychosocial endocrine hormonestress in a sampleof Iraqi primary school children experiencing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared against normal pupilsand provide further information of the role of some salivary biomarkers. Materials and methods: The study sample included 85 school males pupils, with the age ranged between 8-12 years, selected from primary schools, at Al-Qadisiyah city. Revised version of Rutter Child Behavior Questionnaire has been used as a means for identification of children with ADHD and children with prosocial(control). Assess the DMFT/dmft index, flow rate, serological and hormonal analysis were made to estimate peroxidase and alpha-amylase levels in saliva of 50 ADHD pupils and 35 normal pupils as control group, using Indirect enzyme linked immuonosorbent assay. This study was conducted during the period from the beginning of 2015 to the end of 2016. Results: In Oral Health Status investigation we found the level of DMFThighly significant increased (p=0.001) in ADHD pupils than in control group (1.488 vs. 1.031). While the dmft level was not significant (p>0.05),in ADHD group compared with control group (1.820 vs. 1.314). In Physiological investigation we found the level of salivary flow rate in ADHD group and controls group wasno significantly difference (0.186 ml/min) in ADHD group when compared to control group (0.183ml/min),at p-value (p>0.05)and.In hormonal and biochemical investigation we found the Salivary Alpha-amylase levels are highly significant increased (p=0.01) in ADHD pupils (253.364 unit\L)than in control group (136.863 unit\L). Also the levels of the Salivary peroxidase were highly significant increased (p=0.01) among ADHD pupils (0.369 unit\L) compared with control group (0.247 unit\L). Conclusion:It was concluded; the percentage of the dental caries in ADHD among primary schools children is high in the studied schools and may be due to the changes in the levels of hormones. Due to the little information about this disorder, this study is considered as important baseline data for ADHD in Iraq.
Multistage Infrastructure System Design: An Integrated Biofuel Supply Chain against Feedstock Seasonality and Uncertainty

A biofuel supply chain consists of various interdependent components from feedstock resources all the way to energy demand sites. This study focuses on the design of an efficient biofuel supply chain system against seasonal variations and uncertainties of feedstock supply in an integrative manner. An effective design strategy for biofuel supply chain that is economically viable and hedges well against a wide range of future uncertainties is sought by integrating planning and operational decisions in a stochastic programming framework. A California case study is implemented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methods in evaluating the economic potential, the infrastructure needs, and the risk of wastes-based bioethanol production.
Interactions Among Three Trophic Levels: Influence of Plants on Interactions Between Insect Herbivores and Natural Enemies

In his recent review of the developing theory of insect-plant interactions, Gilbert (52) identified four major thrusts in research: insect-plant coevolution, host plants as islands, plant apparency and chemical defense, and resource predictability versus evolutionary strategies of insects. From his review it is evident that, with a few exceptions (23, 45, 53, 64), developing theory is addressing primarily a two trophic level system. In reality, of course, all terrestrial communities based on living plants are composed of at least three interacting trophic levels: plants, herbivores, and natural enemies of herbivores. We argue that theory on insect-plant interactions cannot progress realistically without consideration of the third trophic level. A closer look at the mechanisms of interactions reveals a paradox, and plants have many effects, direct and indirect, positive and negative, not only on herbivores but also on the enemies of herbivores. The third trophic level must be considered as part of a plant's battery of defenses against herbivores.
DEVELOPMENT OF PATTERN RECOGNITION SYSTEM FOR NIGERIA FABRIC

The study acquired and analyzed Nigeria fabric patterns, developed a recognition model for the patterns and implemented a prototype of the model for mobile devices. This was with a view to addressing the problem of information failure constraining the development of commerce and business in Nigeria. Collected Nigeria fabric patterns were analyzed using image processing and wavelet analysis techniques to extract the relevant features for recognition purposes. The recognition model was a multi-layered artificial neural network with an adaptive back-propagation learning scheme. The fuzzy inference engine was used to extract the subset of matching images to reduce storage computation time. The model was designed in a Matlab environment. The performance evaluation of the model with respect to the accuracy of extracted images was done using the sensitivity and specificity analyses. The study concluded that the model has a strong capability to recognize the patterns of the fabrics used in the study. It will also provide timely information in decision making process. Results from simulation experiment indicated that the recognition model obtained 100% correct detection rate for all the fabrics. The model also obtained correct rejection rate of 100% for and Aso-oke fabric and 86% correct rejection rate for Adire fabric.
Open and closed random walks with fixed edgelengths in R

In this paper, we consider fixed edgelength n-step random walks in R. We give an explicit construction for the closest closed equilateral random walk to almost any open equilateral random walk based on the geometric median, providing a natural map from open polygons to closed polygons of the same edgelength. Using this, we first prove that a natural reconfiguration distance to closure converges in distribution to a Nakagami(d/2, d/d−1) random variable as n→∞. We then strengthen this to an explicit probabilistic bound on the distance to closure for a random n-gon in any dimension with any collection of fixed edgelengthswi. Numerical evidence supports the conjecture that our closure map pushes forward the natural probability measure on open polygons to something very close to the natural probability measure on closed polygons; if this is so, we can draw some conclusions about the frequency of local knots in closed polygons of fixed edgelength.
VERSION ( PrePrint )

Rising sea levels, heat waves, bush fires, cyclones, drought and flood present a growing threat to Australian settlements. Policy responses to these climate change driven concerns are polarised. The two main political parties at the federal level display starkly different perspectives on approaches to greenhouse gas reduction. Nationally and at a state level, mitigation of climate change vies with adaptation concerns and policy makers flip flop between top down and bottom up solutions. This paper examines the characteristics of Australian cities in the light of a changing climate. It discusses government actions at federal, state and local levels, contrasting top-down mitigation driven concerns to more bottom-up adaptation focussed responses. Climate driven research, policy and action are examined to address questions of urban resilience. Can Australian cities adapt to a changing climate both to reduce the risks from climate change and to reduce their greenhouse footprint or do their historic land use patterns and resident behaviours represent ingrained characteristics that are an obstacle to appropriate adaptation?