Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is there Inspiration Through Observation? A Meta-analysis on Goal Contagion (PREPRINT)

Goal Contagion is a social-cognitive approach to understand how people are getting inspired by others: an observation of goal-directed behavior leads to an automatic inference of the goal on an implicit level before the goal is adopted and pursued thereafter. Most studies on goal contagion used an experimental design and measured either implicit inference or goal pursuit. There are many similarities between different studies (e.g., most use written stimulus material), but also crucial differences (e.g., the type of goal). To identify conditions under which goals are most contagious, we conducted a meta-analysis, including effects from published studies, unpublished studies and Registered Reports. The meta-analytic summary effect was small, g = 0.30, 95%CI [0.21; 0.40], τ² = 0.05, 95%CI [0.03, 0.13]. We investigated whether effects are lager for implicit inference or goal pursuit, if goals that are pursued by more people might be more contagious, if the manipulation material had an influence, and if control groups that were contrary to the goal might have driven the effect. None of these variables turned out to have a moderating effect on the results. Moreover, the original effect seemed to be biased through the current publication system: methods to correct for publication bias like p-uniform* lead to estimates of about half the size of the original effect. The meta-analytic estimate based on only unpublished studies and Registered Reports was close to zero. We suggest that future research on Goal Contagion makes use of Open Science practices to advance research in this domain.
Smarte nett med smarte målere: evaluering og analyse av muligheter

De siste arene har fokuset pa klimaendringene okt. Klimasporsmalet blir antagelig den viktigste drivkraften i energi- og miljopolitikken framover. Det er ogsa den viktigste drivkraften for a innfor .
Spatial distribution of asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections in low, moderate and high endemic settings in Ethiopia

Background: As countries move to malaria elimination, detecting and targeting asymptomatic malaria infections might be needed. Here, we investigated their spatial distribution and detectability in P. falciparum and P. vivax co-endemic settings in Ethiopia.Method: A total of 1093 dried blood spot (DBS) samples were collected from afebrile and apparently healthy individuals across ten study sites in Ethiopia from 2016 to 2020. Of these, 862 were from community and 231 from school based cross-sectional surveys. Malaria infection status was determined by microscopy, rapid diagnostics tests (RDT) and 18S rRNA nested PCR (nPCR). The annual parasite index (API) was used to classify endemicity as low (API>0 and<5), moderate (API ≥5 and <100) and high transmission (API≥100). Results: In community surveys, the overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infections by microscopy/RDT, nPCR and all methods combined was 12.2% (105/860), 21.6% (183/846) and 24.1% (208/862), respectively. The proportion of nPCR positive infections that was detectable by microscopy/RDT was 48.7(73/150) for P. falciparum and 4.6(2/44) for P. vivax. Compared to low transmission settings, the likelihood of detecting infections by microscopy/RDT was increased in moderate (AOR: 3.4; 95%CI:1.6-7.2, P=0.002) and high endemic settings (AOR=5.1; 95%CI=2.6-9.9, P<0.001). After adjustment for site and correlation between observations from the same survey, increasing age reduced the likelihood of detecting asymptomatic infections by microscopy/RDT (AOR per year increase = 0.95, 95%CI=0.9-1.0, P=0.013). Conclusion: Conventional diagnostics missed nearly half of the asymptomatic malaria reservoir detected by nPCR. The detectability of infections was particularly low in older age groups and low endemic settings. These findings highlight the need for sensitive diagnostic tools to detect the entire parasite reservoir and potential infection transmitters.
Ecotourism & certification : setting standards in practice

The idea of "ecotourism" has taken off in recent years, but a crucial detail is often neglected: how do we know that an enterprise truly meets the goals and standards of ecotourism? Certification - the rating of lodges, resorts, tour operators, and other sectors of the tourism industry by independent auditors who verify environmental and social impacts - has emerged as the most promising answer. Ecotourism and Certification offers a valuable overview of ecotourism certification and lays out the basic challenges and strategies for establishing certification programs. The book begins by offering baseline information on the tourism industry, situating ecotourism within the larger tourism industry, and tracing the history of certification. The second chapter explores the concepts underlying certification, followed by a chapter that examines certification as a tool in other industries such as forestry and coffee production. The remainder of the book highlights case studies of certification schemes around the world, written by experts who have been closely involved with the projects described. Ecotourism is a promising approach to protecting threatened environments and communities around the world and certification is a key to making it effective. This is the first book to take a global look at the emergence and application of certification, and it is an important contribution for ecotourism and development professionals worldwide.
THE VALUE OF THE NEW BUSINESSES FROM THE DIGITAL ECONOMY: CASE STUDY FROM E-COMMERCE

This paper aims to challenge the conventional wisdom in finance by studying the success factors of the development of unicorn companies as the most successful and fastest-growing start-ups/ established firms. Romania is now on the map of the International Unicorn Club, with two young Unicorns in technology, since 2018. The purpose of the paper is to analyze mergers and acquisitions and companies valued more than $1B. The research questions to be answered are: What is the value of control in mergers and acquisitions? Why the initial estimates of a company’s value can be very wrong? The market approach in this research allows the readers understand the context of the phenomena analyzed and the information on comparable transactions. The work to be discussed in the paper is the importance of choosing one valuable objective of the company, in the context of the theory of the value maximization as the single important objective of a company. The model of enterprise value for listed companies should encompass a market variable, such as the value of financing a sector gets and the ownership (control) variable
Hazard Response Modeling Uncertainty (A Quantitative Method). Volume 2. Evaluation of Commonly Used Hazardous Gas Dispersion Models

Abstract : The overall objective of this project is to develop and test computer software containing a quantitative method for estimating the uncertainty in PC- based hazard response models. This software is to be used by planners and engineers in order to evaluate the predictions of hazard response models with field observations and determine the confidence intervals on these predictions. This particular volume (II) provides an example of the application of the software to 14 typical hazard response models and 8 sets of field data. The U.S Air Force and the American Petroleum Institute, among others, have increased emphasis on calculating toxic corridors due to releases of hazardous chemical into the air. There are dozens of PC-based computer models recently developed in order to calculate these toxic corridors. However, the uncertainties in these models have not been adequately determined, partly due to the lack of a standardized quantitative method that could be applied to these models. Individual model developers generally present a limited evaluation of their own model, and the USEPA has published some partial evaluations, but a comprehensive study has not yet been completed.
Short Term Hydropower Planning in the Icelandic System

The format the text is saved as is unreadable, so i retyped it to my best ability. This master thesis contains my work of studies of a short term planning model, with the time span of one week, or 168 hours. The models are based on the future hydropower system in pjorsa- and Tungnaa- river system, located in the south part of Iceland.The purpose ot this thesis is to formulate and develop one week operation schedules for this future power generation system, which for a given inflow-and load forecast returns a good schedule for each power stations in the system.The planning problem is formulated as a mathematical programming problem. The models used to describe and implement the system under study are a piecewise linear models. For piecewise linear models the breakpoints of the model are the local best-efficiency points. The objective is to return operation plan for each power station in the system, where the the volume of stored water in the end of the planning period is maximized through optimal discharge plans. It is needed to supply contracted load, regulation- and balance power for each hour during the planning period under study.Two test cases are made for each model in this theises. The former case describe winter operation, with high consumptions and lower natural inflow to the reservoirs. In the latter case the consumption is low and river inflow high and is meant to describe summer time operation.Obtained results show that piecewise linear model gives more realistic results when the load consumption is high and the inflow is low. During summer time, with low load and high inflow. The piecewise linear models schedule more often discharge not on local best-efficiency points. This behavior can be decreased by insertion a penalty cost of discharge changes.
An Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Adoption of Cloud Computing in Higher Educational Institutions

This article aims to examine the main factors that may hinder or facilitate the adoption of cloud computing (CC) services by higher educational institutions in developing countries, exemplified here by Oman. A conceptual model was developed through extending the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework. Data was collected from 387 IT decision makers working in four higher educational institutions in Oman using a cross-sectional survey. Data was analysed using structural equation modelling based on AMOS 22.0. The results show that behavioural intention (BI) towards adopting CC services in higher educational institutions was influenced by top management support, relative advantage, attitudes towards change, technology readiness, complexity, government regulation, peer pressure, and data concerns in their order of influencing power. These all together accounted for 58.3% of the variance in BI. However, compatibility, vendor lock-in and external expertise did not have an influence on BI. This research provides original insight for cloud computing adoption within Oman from a managerial and IT professional perspectives. Specifically, this research would be helpful for government agencies, cloud computing providers and policy makers at higher educational institutions. It will also explain the relatively low penetration rate of cloud computing services at present, which will help in formulating strategies to encourage the adoption and acceptance of CC services by Omani higher educational institutions, where CC is still considered an innovation.
Realtime forecasting of COVID 19 cases in Karnataka state using Artificial neural network (ANN)

COVID-19 is a pandemic that has caused lot of deaths and infections in the last 6 months and is showing an increasing trend not only in the number of infections and deaths, but also in the recovery rate. Accurate prediction models are very much essential to make proper forecasts and take necessary actions. This study demonstrates the capability of Multilayer Perceptron (MLP, an ANN model for forecasting the number of infected cases in the state of Karnataka in India. It is trained using a fast training algorithm namely, Extreme Learning machine (ELM) to reduce the training time required. The parameters required for the forecasting model have been selected using partial autocorrelation function (PACF), which is a conventional method and its performance has been compared with parameters selected using cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, which is a very popular nature-inspired optimization algorithm. The testing of the forecasting model has been done and comparison between the two parameter selection methods has been carried out. Use of CS algorithm has resulted in a better forecasting performance based on mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), with a value of 6.62 % on training data and 7.03% on the test data. Further to check the efficacy of the model, the data of COVID-19 cases of Hungary from 4th March to 19th April 2020 has been used, which resulted in a MAPE of 1.55%, thereby establishing the robustness of the proposed ANN model for forecasting COVID-19 cases for the state of Karnataka.
Ultra-High Capacity Networking Enabled By Optical Technologies

Abstract : Project Pegasus, as this project came to be called, consisted of collaborative work in the following four areas: exploration of a novel internet protocol packet router using waveguide grating router devices; research into next generation internet backbone networks that are scalable by 1000 time the aggregate capacity of current internet backbone networks; development of applications requiring very high speed networking that enable leading edge research; and finally the design and demonstration of an all optical regenerator based upon terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexes.
Utilizzo di algoritmi evolutivi per il controllo in tempo reale di antenne intelligenti

Abstract – In this paper, an algorithm based on a customized genetic algorithm for the real-time adaptive antenna control is presented. The method is aimed at efficiently cancelling interfering signals during an on-line working process obtained by tuning the discretized phase coefficients of the array elements. In order to assess the effectiveness and robusteness of the proposed approach, an exhaustive numerical analysis has been carried out and some selected results, concerning linear and planar arrays, are presented and discussed. I. I NTRODUZIONE Lo sviluppo di adeguati sistemi di antenna per migliorare le prestazioni di un sistema di radiocomunicazione soggetto ad interferenti stocastici di varia natura, rappresenta un’area di ricerca di grande interesse sia dal punto di vista teorico che applicativo. Numerose tecniche sia di tipo analitico [1] che numerico [2] sono state sviluppate ed implementate in sistemi reali e non solo in prototipi di laboratorio. Al fine di realizzare apparati convenienti anche dal punto di vista economico, facendo ricorso per quanto possibile a dispositivi di tipo digitale, si sono altresi analizzate le prestazioni di una classe di metodologie basate su tecniche di tipo evolutivo in grado di ottimizzare in tempo reale le prestazioni modificando solo alcuni dei parametri funzionali del sistema di antenna. In tale contesto, un interessante approccio basato sui concetti dell’evoluzione e della dominanza cromosomica e stato presentato in [3] e sviluppato successivamente in [4][5] al fine di migliorarne le prestazioni anche in contesti maggiormente realistici. In questo lavoro, l’approccio basato su tecniche evolutive viene analizzato e discusso, mettendone in evidenza criticita ed elementi di innovazione oltre che efficienza nel rispondere alle variazioni istantanee dell’ambiente di propagazione.
FECUNDITY STUDIES OF ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA ON DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Objective: Andrographis paniculata is widely used in Asia for various medicinal purposes. The plant has a major bioactive chemical constituent Andrographolide, which exhibits various essential pharmacological properties. Recently, to enhance immunity against viral fevers especially dengue viral fever during monsoon season, Tamil Nadu state government has advised rural health centres to provide a tea or kashayam made from a mixture containing this plant leaf along with selected plant roots and leaves. However, there is concern among the general public population that this plant extract may have a negative impact on potency. This study is being done to investigate the toxic effects of Andrographis paniculata on fecundity and physiological properties of Drosophila melanogaster. Methods: The flies were treated and mated in pure and mixed form of Andrographis paniculata separately. Results: The results were obtained in the form of egg count, which was compared to control and the conclusion was obtained that Andrographis paniculata might affect the fecundity and at the same time, it was observed that the developmental span from an egg to an adult fly increased upon treatment in successive generations. More importantly, the effect of pure form plant on the fecundity was found to be significant, while that of the mixed form was not. On mating a treated male with an untreated female and an untreated male with a treated female when the treatment is being discontinued, it can be very well seen that there is no effect on the fecundity of the flies. Conclusion: Since the continuity of the treatment played a major role on the effect of fecundity, highlighting the importance of the period of treatment and the exposure time of the compound on the fly system, therefore this research suggests that the conception of tea or kashayam extracted from mixed plant content could not have the same effect as the similar concentration of pure Andrographis paniculata and it does not have any acute effect on the fecundity when being consumed over a short period of time in Drosophila melanogaster model.
Novel Method for Broadband On-Chip Noise Characterization

NOVEL METHOD FOR BROADBAND ON-CHIP NOISE CHARACTERIZATION SEPTEMBER 2014 MOHAMMAD GHADIRI-SADRABADI B.Sc., UNIVERSITY OF TEHRAN M.S.E.C. E. , UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor J. C. Bardin A novel method for on-chip noise characterization of mm-wave circuits is presented. Different available methods for noise measurements and requirements for on-chip noise measurements are studied. The Y-factor method is chosen to be the more suitable method for in-situ applications since it does not require absolute measurements. A state of the art CMOS noise source is implemented in 32nm SOI CMOS technology to enable the in-situ noise measurements of a 20-35 GHz reconfigurable low noise amplifier. Measurement results show that the ENR of the noise source is repeatable enough so that the calibration of the noise source is only required for one integrated circuit. Using different scenarios for the noise figure response of the LNA, the performance of the noise source is evaluated. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that an on-chip CMOS noise source is used for in-situ noise characterization of mm-wave frequency circuits.
Research on Helicopter Rotor Noise

Abstract : Research was conducted on aspect of noise generation by helicopters. A general review of helicopter noise was prepared and published as one part of the work. Methods were developed for the analysis of high frequency broadband noise from rotors. Physical and analytical approximations were devised which allow practical calculation of noise from various loading mechanisms. Atmospheric turbulence noise was investigated including some effects of inflow distribution. A method for predicting trailing edge noise for rotors was developed. The results show that trailing edge noise can be quite important at high frequencies when the small scale components of ingested turbulence are weak compared to those of the blade boundary layer turbulence. In the area of high speed noise from high Mach number advancing blades the research was primarily concentrated on the radiated sound from the Lighthill stress associated with the occurrence of unsteady shock formation and disappearance on advancing transonic rotor blades. A simplified model of an impulsively started and stopped shock was used as the known near field in order to find the far field radiation.
Biogranules containing photosynthetic bacteria for carbon dioxide reduction in palm oil mill effluent treatment

Presently global warming is the most highlighted subjects in environmental issues which is related to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions especially carbon dioxide (CO2). In Malaysia, one of the major sources of GHG is from industrial wastewater treatment such as ponding system to treat palm oil mill effluent (POME) where the accumulation of these gases will contribute to the greenhouse effect causing global warming. Since photosynthetic process offers the most effective and natural way of sequestering CO2, biogranules containing photosynthetic microorganisms were developed in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system using POME. A mixed sludge consists of sludge taken from a local sewage treatment oxidation pond, palm oil mill facultative pond treatment system and POME was used as seed sludge. Intermittent supply of light with intensity at 3600 lux was provided for 100 days with an organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.75 kg COD/m3/day, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 hours and superficial air velocity of 2.07 cm/s. The developed biogranules had shown potential in retaining high accumulation of biomass concentration in the reactor (10.5 g/L), good settleability (43.5-102.9 m/h) and improvement in size from 0.5 to 2.0 mm as well as high physical strength at integrity coefficient (IC) of 2 %. The initial structure of sludge changed from dispersed loose shaped into denser, compact and more stable structure with sludge volume index (SVI) maintained between 10.30 to 14.80 mL/g SS leading to a good solid-liquid separation compared to conventional activated sludge. Also, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal of 26 %, 21 % and 62 % were achieved during the development of the biogranules. The pigment analysis indicated the presence of the bacteriochlorophyll a implying the presence of purple photosynthetic bacteria. Molecular identification of the bacteria showed the presence of Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus cereus, Lysinibacillus sp. which possess photosynthetic pigments. For CO2 reduction using the biogranules, approximately 18 to 21 % of CO2 removal was achieved due to possible formation of calcite were observed with FESEM-EDX. The biogranules had achieved a CO2 biofixation rate at approximately 0.234 g/L/day in a week while using the regression analysis; the maximum CO2 biofixation rate in a year was estimated at 1.733 g/L/day.
Working Overseas: Implementing Technology for a Branch Campus in the Middle East

On July 5, 2003, I landed in Qatar, a newly minted CIO from College Station, Texas. My charge: to design and implement the required IT infrastructure—including telecommunications, networking, computing, and instructional technology—necessary to support Texas A&M University’s newest branch campus, Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). With the exception of centralized administrative systems (student information, financial accounting, budget and payroll, and library services), this infrastructure was to be provided locally by a dedicated technology team in Qatar. The next 18 months proved to be challenging and ultimately fulfilling for me, leading the development of infrastructure in a culture with values and expectations that differed significantly from those in the United States regarding work, communication, and schedules.