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The agricultural WSN (wireless sensor network) has the characteristics of long operation cycle and wide coverage area. In order to cover as much area as possible, farms usually deploy multiple monitoring devices in different locations of the same area. Due to different types of equipment, monitoring data will vary greatly, and too many monitoring nodes also reduce the efficiency of the network. Although there have been some studies on data fusion algorithms, they have problems such as ignoring the dynamic changes of time series, weak anti-interference ability, and poor processing of data fluctuations. So in this study, a data fusion algorithm for optimal node tracking in agricultural wireless sensor networks is designed. By introducing the dynamic bending distance in the dynamic time warping algorithm to replace the absolute distance in the fuzzy association algorithm and combine the sensor's own reliability and association degree as the weighted fusion weight, which improved the fuzzy association algorithm. Finally, another three algorithm were tested for multi-temperature sensor data fusion. Compare with the kalman filter, arithmetic mean and fuzzy association algorithm, the average value of the improved data fusion algorithm is 29.5703, which is close to the average value of the other three algorithms, indicating that the data distribution is more even. Its extremely bad value is 8.9767, which is 10.04%, 1.14% and 9.85% smaller than the other three algorithms, indicating that it is more robust when dealing with outliers. Its variance is 2.6438, which is 2.82%, 0.65% and 0.27% smaller than the other three algorithms, indicating that it is more stable and has less data volatility. The results show that the algorithm proposed in this study has higher fusion accuracy and better robustness, which can obtain the fusion value that truly feedbacks the agricultural environment conditions. It reduces production costs by reducing redundant monitoring devices, the energy consumption and improves the data collection efficiency in wireless sensor networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent germplasm resources are the foundation for cultivating high-quality, disease-resistant, and stress-tolerant varieties. In this study, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify 138 potato accessions collected from worldwide, and genetic cluster analysis was used to characterize the genetic diversity of the tested germplasm resources. The Potato virus Y (PVY) resistance of these potato accessions was identified by artificial friction inoculation combined with molecular marker detection, and potato accessions with different PVY resistance were screened based on disease index and incidence rate. Using SSR markers, 138 potato accessions were identified, and the results showed that the genetic distances between the tested potato germplasm resources ranged from 0.025 to 0.660, and the genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.489 to 0.975. The 138 accessions could be clustered into five subgroups using Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA). Among them, Z173, Biyin No. 4, Suyin No. 2, XN995, XN987, Biyin No 22, Bibiao104, Sarpo mira, XN996, XN979, Desiree, RUNSHI, Actrice, Jia 1219, Heyin No 12, and Moyin No.1 have relatively distant genetic relationship with another 122 accessions. Based on the disease index, the following different accessions were screened: five highly resistant, 11 resistant, 45 moderately resistant, 35 susceptible, and 42 highly susceptible. Fourteen resource materials with good resistance (disease index ≤ 33.74%, and a grading of high resistance (HR) or medium resistance (MR); incidence rate ≤ 67.58%) were identified. By combining genetic cluster analysis and PVY resistance identification, six accessions showed PVY resistance and had distant genetic relationships with other accessions selected which provided important materials for disease resistance breeding and quality improvement of potato. In this study, the genetic diversity and PVY resistance of global potato germplasm resources was explored, and potato germplasm materials with important utilization value were screened. The results obtained in this study could provide important references for the research and utilization of global potato germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different studies have tried to establish a relationship between dyslexia and the vestibular system function. Subjective Visual Vertical/Horizontal (SVV and SVH) and Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) are useful for studying the vestibular system and can be easily performed in children. Our aim was to evaluate the vestibular function in dyslexic children by SVV/SVH and VHIT. We enrolled 18 dyslexic children (10M/8F; mean age 10.7 ± 2.3 years; range 7–14 years) and 18 age‐matched children with typical development of learning abilities. All children performed VHIT, SVV and SVH. We found normal gain and symmetry of vestibulo‐ocular‐reflex both in dyslexic and typically developing children. Fifteen out of 18 dyslexic children (83.3%) showed a difference of at least one amongst SVV or SVH. The mean value of SVV was 2.3° and the mean value of SVH was 2.6°. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between typically developing and dyslexic children for both SVV and SVH. We confirm a relationship between dyslexia and the alteration of SVV and SVH. Our results could be related to the pathogenetic hypothesis of a visual processing impairment related to a dysfunction of the magnocellular pathway or to a general deficit related to a multimodal cortical network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algebraic expressions for averaging linear and nonlinear stiffness tensors from general anisotropy to different effective symmetries (11 Laue classes elastically representing all 32 crystal classes, and two non‐crystalline symmetries: isotropic and cylindrical) have been derived by automatic symbolic computations of the arithmetic mean over the set of rotational transforms determining a given symmetry. This approach generalizes the Voigt average to nonlinear constants and desired approximate symmetries other than isotropic, which can be useful for a description of textured polycrystals and rocks preserving some symmetry aspects. Low‐symmetry averages have been used to derive averages of higher symmetry to speed up computations. Relationships between the elastic constants of each symmetry have been deduced from their corresponding averages by resolving the rank‐deficient system of linear equations. Isotropy has also been considered in terms of generalized Lamé constants. The results are published in the form of appendices in the supporting information for this article and have been deposited in the Mendeley database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired numerosity perception in developmental dyscalculia (low "number acuity") has been interpreted as evidence of reduced representational precision in the neurocognitive system supporting non‐symbolic number sense. However, recent studies suggest that poor numerosity judgments might stem from stronger interference from non‐numerical visual information, in line with alternative accounts that highlight impairments in executive functions and visuospatial abilities in the etiology of dyscalculia. To resolve this debate, we used a psychophysical method designed to disentangle the contribution of numerical and non‐numerical features to explicit numerosity judgments in a dot comparison task and we assessed the relative saliency of numerosity in a spontaneous categorization task. Children with dyscalculia were compared to control children with average mathematical skills matched for age, IQ, and visuospatial memory. In the comparison task, the lower accuracy of dyscalculics compared to controls was linked to weaker encoding of numerosity, but not to the strength of non‐numerical biases. Similarly, in the spontaneous categorization task, children with dyscalculia showed a weaker number‐based categorization compared to the control group, with no evidence of a stronger influence of non‐numerical information on category choice. Simulations with a neurocomputational model of numerosity perception showed that the reduction of representational resources affected the progressive refinement of number acuity, with little effect on non‐numerical bias in numerosity judgments. Together, these results suggest that impaired numerosity perception in dyscalculia cannot be explained by increased interference from non‐numerical visual cues, thereby supporting the hypothesis of a core number sense deficit. Research Highlights: A strongly debated issue is whether impaired numerosity perception in dyscalculia stems from a deficit in number sense or from poor executive and visuospatial functions.Dyscalculic children show reduced precision in visual numerosity judgments and weaker number‐based spontaneous categorization, but no increasing reliance on continuous visual properties.Simulations with deep neural networks demonstrate that reduced neural/computational resources affect the developmental trajectory of number acuity and account for impaired numerosity judgments.Our findings show that weaker number acuity in developmental dyscalculia is not necessarily related to increased interference from non‐numerical visual cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Animals Materials and Methods Results Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Demodicosis is common in dogs and is caused by proliferation of commensal Demodex canis mites.To evaluate the efficacy of sarolaner in combination with moxidectin and pyrantel (SMP) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs.One hundred and thirty dogs with generalised demodicosis.In two separate randomised masked studies (laboratory and field studies), dogs received monthly oral SMP or afoxolaner + milbemycin oxime (AM). In the laboratory study, dogs received three monthly treatments with biweekly mite counts and clinical evaluations. In the field study, mite counts and clinical evaluations were performed monthly and treatments were administered until two consecutive skin scrapings were negative.Both products were tolerated well. In the laboratory study, mite counts for SMP were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 88.8% on Day (D)14, by 99.2% on D29, and no live mites were detected thereafter with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.96) between the two treatment groups. In the field study, SMP provided 92.4%, 98.1%, 100% and 100% reduction in arithmetic mean live mite counts on D30, D60, D90 and D120, and was non‐inferior to the control product on D30 and D60. Clinical signs of demodicosis improved in all dogs.Monthly administration of SMP was effective for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs as it eliminated Demodex mites after two monthly treatments in the laboratory study, and at most after three monthly treatments in the field study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) and Ctenocephalides felis are among the most important year-round ectoparasites of dogs. The persistent efficacy of one treatment with fluralaner injectable suspension (Bravecto® 150 mg/ml powder and solvent for suspension for dogs, referred to as Bravecto® injectable) was investigated in a negative-controlled, randomised, partially blinded 12-month laboratory study. Methods: A total of 20 dogs were randomly allocated to two equal groups (treatment and control). Treatment-group dogs were injected subcutaneously on study day 0 with the investigational veterinary product at the recommended dose of 15 mg fluralaner/kg body weight (0.1 mL/kg), whereas the control group dogs received saline solution (0.1 mL/kg). Each dog was infested with 50 (25 female, 25 male) adult R. sanguineus s.l. and 100 adult C. felis 2 days before treatment, 5 and 28 days after treatment, and then once monthly for a 12-month period. Live tick and flea counts were performed 48 h after treatment or subsequent infestation, respectively. Efficacy was determined by comparing arithmetic means of the treatment group tick and flea counts with those of the control group. Infestation was considered adequate if at least 25.0% of ticks and 40.0% of fleas were recovered from at least six dogs in the control group at the respective assessment times. Results: Adequate R. sanguineus s.l. and C. felis infestations of control group dogs were observed at each time point. Arithmetic mean treatment group values were significantly lower than those of the control group at all time points. The immediate efficacy when treating existing infestations of R. sanguineus s.l. and C. felis (infestation 2 days before treatment), was 49.7% and 89.7%, respectively. The persistent efficacy against post-treatment re-infestations was 94.4–100% against R. sanguineus s.l. and 92.2–100% against C. felis. Seven dogs in the control group developed flea allergy dermatitis due to the repeated re-infestations over the study period, whereas no dogs in the treatment group were affected. No clinically relevant side effects were observed over the entire study period. Conclusions: The fluralaner injectable suspension (Bravecto® injectable) provides 1 year of efficacy against R. sanguineus s.l. and C. felis infestations in dogs following a single treatment, allowing once-yearly treatment, which can significantly improve owner compliance with year-round protection of dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent germplasm resources are the foundation for cultivating high-quality, disease-resistant, and stress-tolerant varieties. In this study, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify 138 potato accessions collected from worldwide, and genetic cluster analysis was used to characterize the genetic diversity of the tested germplasm resources. The Potato virus Y (PVY) resistance of these potato accessions was identified by artificial friction inoculation combined with molecular marker detection, and potato accessions with different PVY resistance were screened based on disease index and incidence rate. Using SSR markers, 138 potato accessions were identified, and the results showed that the genetic distances between the tested potato germplasm resources ranged from 0.025 to 0.660, and the genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.489 to 0.975. The 138 accessions could be clustered into five subgroups using Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA). Among them, Z173, Biyin No. 4, Suyin No. 2, XN995, XN987, Biyin No 22, Bibiao104, Sarpo mira, XN996, XN979, Desiree, RUNSHI, Actrice, Jia 1219, Heyin No 12, and Moyin No.1 have relatively distant genetic relationship with another 122 accessions. Based on the disease index, the following different accessions were screened: five highly resistant, 11 resistant, 45 moderately resistant, 35 susceptible, and 42 highly susceptible. Fourteen resource materials with good resistance (disease index ≤ 33.74%, and a grading of high resistance (HR) or medium resistance (MR); incidence rate ≤ 67.58%) were identified. By combining genetic cluster analysis and PVY resistance identification, six accessions showed PVY resistance and had distant genetic relationships with other accessions selected which provided important materials for disease resistance breeding and quality improvement of potato. In this study, the genetic diversity and PVY resistance of global potato germplasm resources was explored, and potato germplasm materials with important utilization value were screened. The results obtained in this study could provide important references for the research and utilization of global potato germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the extent of the negative academic effects and procedures to reduce them when using social work major students at Dhofar University in the Sultanate of Oman. Social media from their point of view; Its approach was the descriptive and analytical method. The tool was the questionnaire, with a sample of (41.25%), out of (400) male and female students who represent the study population, and the study came out with several results, the most important of which are: 1- The extent of the negative academic effects resulting from the use of social media by Dhofar University students was moderate. According to the arithmetic mean of (3.26), and the standard deviation of (0.83). 2- The extent of the proposed academic measures to mitigate the negative academic effects of Dhofar University students’ use of social media was high, with a mean of (4.00) and a standard deviation of (0.52). 3- The study showed that there were no statistically significant differences at the level of statistical significance (a = 0.05) between the responses of the study sample towards the negative academic effects resulting from the use of social media by Dhofar University students, and the same result was regarding the proposed measures to mitigate those effects according to the gender variable. The study recommended: the necessity of continuing awareness programs and activities carried out by the concerned authorities from the university and outside it on the university campus to reduce and reduce the severity of the negative academic effects. It also recommends the establishment of youth groups on websites that adopt the academic issues of students and what affects them in this aspect, along with holding workshops and training programs. them to enhance methods and skills of cybersecurity and digital protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to present a proposed vision for developing the qualitative external efficiency of university education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the point of view of faculty members in light of the requirements of the labor market, by identifying the requirements and revealing the obstacles, and reviewing the statistically significant differences in the requirements and obstacles of the qualitative external efficiency of the humanities colleges at King Saud University attributed to the variable of the college and academic rank. The study used the descriptive survey method, and used the questionnaire tool to collect data. The most prominent results of the study are: The requirements for developing the qualitative external efficiency of university education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the perspective of faculty members in the humanities colleges at King Saud University in light of the requirements of the labor market were largely achieved in all four areas, as the general arithmetic mean of the responses of the study sample members on this axis reached (2.76), and the highest areas in the degree of approval of the study sample (the fourth area: professional ethics possessed by graduates of humanities colleges) obtained an arithmetic mean of (2.85), and the obstacles to developing the qualitative external efficiency of university education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the perspective of faculty members in the humanities colleges at King Saud University in light of the requirements of the labor market were largely achieved, as the general arithmetic mean of the responses of the study sample members on this axis reached (2.89). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this phase 1 single‐dose study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of mirikizumab in Chinese healthy adults. Sixty participants were randomized within 5 planned dose cohorts: intravenous (IV) 300 mg, IV 600 mg, IV 1200 mg, subcutaneous (SC) 200 mg, and SC 400 mg to receive mirikizumab (10 participants in each cohort) or placebo (2 participants in each cohort). No death or serious adverse events occurred. Twenty‐eight (56.0%) participants who received mirikizumab reported 49 treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and 8 (80.0%) participants who received placebo reported 18 TEAEs. The majority of TEAEs were mild in severity. Following IV 300‐1200 mg mirikizumab, the arithmetic mean of both area under the concentration versus time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC0‐∞) and maximum observed drug concentration (Cmax) increased by approximately 3.5‐fold, and the arithmetic mean half‐life (t1/2) ranged from 9.64 to 12.0 days. Following SC 200 and 400 mg mirikizumab, the arithmetic mean of both AUC0‐∞ and Cmax increased by approximately 1.6‐fold, the median time to Cmax (tmax) was 2.98 days for both, and the arithmetic mean t1/2 was 10.6 and 10.5 days, respectively. Absolute bioavailability based on pooled SC and IV dose data was 38.2%. In this study, the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of mirikizumab were consistent with what has been reported in other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcoding is an effective identification tool for tree ferns with heteromorphic generations with morphologically simple gametophytic phase. A complete reference dataset which includes coverage of the target local flora is necessary for accurate identification. Three different Cyathea sp.pl. were investigated to test the utility of plastid DNA barcode regions rbcL with the intention of developing an identification system for native pteridophytes. In addition, the inter-specific and inter-generic variations among the Cyathea sp.pl. were also focused. BLAST analysis revealed the similar rbcL sequences related to C. nilgirensis Holttum, C. gigantea (Wallich ex Hook. f.) Holttum and C. crinita (Hook.) Copel and a sum of 143 sequences viz., Cyathea sp.pl. (121), Gymnosphaera sp.pl.(4), Sphaeropteris sp.pl. (1) and Alsophila sp.pl. (17). The sequences of 143 plants were retrieved from GenBank in FASTA format. The sequences were aligned using multiple sequence alignment tool MUSCLE. The inter-specific and inter-generic distance percentage were calculated using Maximum Likelihood, Minimum Evolution, UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) and Neighbor-Joining method. The analyses were constructed using MEGA X software. The rbcL gene provided sequence variation with its strong resolving power. This study demonstrates the overall effectiveness of DNA barcodes for species identification of tree fern genus Cyathea in the pteridophyte flora of Southern Western Ghats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have become interested in security games in recent decades as a result of its successful application in real-world security issues. The security model is based on the Stackelberg Security Game (SSG), in which defenders (leaders) select a defensive strategy based on the optimal reaction of attackers (followers), who, at equilibrium, select the predicted assaulting strategy as a response. These applications, on the other hand, do not account for the time constraints posed by the game's players' journey time. Furthermore, players should be able to cope with dynamic settings in which their knowledge of the environment changes on a regular basis, allowing them to perform more effectively. This research proposes a security model based on a continuous-time Reinforcement Learning (RL) approach implemented using a temporal difference method that takes prior information into account to address these issues. We use a controlled, ergodic continuous-time Markov game to model the SSG. The game framework model assumes that all information is available. We calculate the number of transitions over a time interval divided by the entire value of the holding time to estimate the transition rates. The arithmetic mean of the observed cost of the individual players is used to estimate the cost for defenders and attackers. An iterated proximal/gradient approach is used to calculate the SSG equilibrium point. We offer a continuous-time random walk method for game implementation. In a numerical case relevant to rain-forest hazards, we analyze the performance of the suggested RL security solution and discuss the problems that should be considered in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the genomic feature of novel spotted fever-causing Rickettsia koreansis strain CNH17-7, which is different from R. japonica that is a causative agent for Japanese spotted fever (JSF), and to perform its comparative genomic analysis. Methods: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 by using the Illumina Miseq system. After WGS, assembly and annotation were done by SPAdes. Then, its genomic features were compared with 19 different Rickettsia species. Based on the average nucleotide identity (ANI) value, an unweighted pair group method with an arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram was generated. Following the dendrogram analysis, pan-and core-genome analysis was performed. Then additional comparative analyses with two genetically closest Rickettsia species were conducted based on gene repertoire. Results: R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 has a chromosome consisting of 1,392,633 bp with GC content of 32.4%. The ANI-derived UPGMA showed that R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 is genetically close to R. japonica YH and R. heilongjiangensis 054 but is distinctively differentiated. The ANI value of R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 to R. japonica YH and R. heilongjiangensis 054 are 98.14% and 98.04% respectively, indicating R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 is sufficient to be classified as a new species. Other than ANI, R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 also contains novel CDS and its COG functional category proportion which is distinct compared to R. japonica YH and R. heilongjiangensis 054. Conclusion: We have revealed genomic features of the novel R. koreansis strain CNH17-7. Hence, we propose R. koreansis strain CNH17-7 as new Rickettsia species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Curriculum & Teaching Methodology / Maǧallaẗ al-Manāhiǧ wa-Turūq al-Tadrīs is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study aims to reveal the degree to which the managers of schools affiliated to Ma'an education possess supervisory competencies associated with modern teaching strategies. the researcher used the descriptive survey method to achieve the purposes of the current study. The results of the study showed that the managers of Public Schools in Ma'an have supervisory competencies associated with modern teaching strategies to a generally high degree with an arithmetic mean (4.0575) and a standard deviation (.593). The study recommended that Ministry of Education should pay attention to the development of extension competencies associated with the use of modern teaching strategies among public school principals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting anomalies in engine and machinery data during ship operations is crucial for maintaining the safety and efficiency of the vessel. We conducted experiments using device data from the maritime industry, consisting of time series records from IoT (Internet of Things) datasets such as cylinder and exhaust gas temperatures, coolant temperatures, and cylinder pressures collected from various sensors on the ship's equipment. We propose data enrichment and validation techniques by generating synthetic outliers through data degradation and data augmentation with a Transformer backbone, utilizing the maritime operational data. We extract a portion of the input data and replace it with synthetic outliers. The created anomaly data are then used to train the model via a self-supervised learning approach. Synthetic outliers are generated using methods such as the arithmetic mean, geometric mean, median, local scale, global scale, and magnitude warping. With our methodology, we achieved a 17.23% improvement in F1 performance compared to existing state-of-the-art methods across five publicly available datasets and actual maritime operational data collected from the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Economic Administrative & Legal Sciences is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding the agglomeration behavior between inclusions during steelmaking is crucial to control steel quality and cleanliness. This work reviews the state-of-the-art lateral capillary interaction between inclusions attached to the gas/steel or slag/steel interfaces, which is an essential aspect of inclusion agglomeration. The origin of the lateral capillary force, the methodologies to measure the force, and the development of the capillary theory are discussed. High-temperature confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) has been intensively used for the in situ observation of inclusion agglomeration at the gas/steel or slag/steel interfaces. To calculate the lateral capillary force between inclusions from a series of 2D CSLM images, the particle mass, the inter-particle distance, and the drag force on the inclusions are the main input parameters. We compared the capillary force between two ellipsoidal particles obtained from different particle radius approximations (long and short radii, arithmetic mean, equivalent and effective radius, and equivalent volume), separation distances (inter-center and inter-surface), and capillary models (Yin's, Chan's, Mu's, K–P, and sub-particle models). The results highlight the importance of consistency in the parameters used in the force calculation from CSLM images and capillary models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature shows conflicting results regarding inter- and intra-rater reliability, even for the same movement screen. The purpose of this study was to assess inter- and intra-rater reliability of movement scores within and between sessions of expert assessors and the effects of body-shape on reliability during a movement screen using a custom online visualisation software. Methods: Kinematic data from 542 athletes performing seven movement tasks were used to create animations (i.e., avatar representations) using motion and shape capture from sparse markers (MoSh). For each task, assessors viewed a total of 90 animations. Using a custom developed visualisation tool, expert assessors completed two identical sessions where they rated each animation on a scale of 1–10. The arithmetic mean of weighted Cohen's kappa for each task and day were calculated to test reliability. Results: Across tasks, inter-rater reliability ranged from slight to fair agreement and intra-rater reliability had slightly better reliability with slight to moderate agreement. When looking at the average kappa values, intra-rater reliability within session with and without body manipulation and between sessions were 0.45, 0.37, and 0.35, respectively. Conclusions: Based on these results, supplementary or alternative methods should be explored and are likely required to increase scoring objectivity and reliability even within expert assessors. To help future research and practitioners, the custom visualisation software has been made available to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global validation for SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) Level-4 surface soil moisture using well-established core validation sites does not comprehensively account for all landscapes on earth's surface due to the diverse nature of their intrinsic characteristics. Due to the inhibitive cost of implementing a standard validation site, this study presents an alternative sampling approach suitable for localized validation of SMAP data in non-complex terrains. It involves clustering a large heterogeneous study area to smaller units of non-complex terrains where landscape-defining characteristics are largely homogeneous, thus permitting the computation of areal soil moisture as a simple arithmetic mean of near-linear point measurements. This allows optimization of limited resources (a hand-held moisture sensor with site-specific calibrations) to balance the need for spatial representativeness of samples in the sampling unit and the need for temporal proximity of sampled measurements to the aggregation time of the satellite product being validated. For ease of movement, transect sampling is implemented along access roads that run across the sampling units to allow sufficient measurement replications within a reasonably short time. Validations with four different landscapes in Kenya show a good agreement between in situ measurements and SMAP with R2 of 0.76, 0.72, 0.80, and 0.82, and biases of −0.0246, +0.0113, 0.0004, and + 0.0035 m3 m−3, respectively for Mawego, Kuresoi, Sotik and Kapsuser sites. These results only marginally differ from those obtained with a spatially distributed sampling method, indicating the potential of the proposed sampling design for time and cost effectiveness in validations at non-complex terrains. An analysis of the temporal variability of SMAP soil moisture in the watershed is also presented, with an assessment of its significance in the selection of sampling sites for validation. Particularly, the concept of temporal stability of soil moisture as a basis for clustering validation sites is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Ratio Test and the Root Test for absolute convergence/divergence of series of numbers $ \sum _{n=0}^{\infty }a_n $ ∑n=0∞an are frequently discussed and proved independently in Calculus courses. The Root Test is stronger (verifies convergence for more series) than the Ratio Test. This relation inspires introduction of some intermediate strength tests (stronger than the Ratio Test and weaker than the Root Test) that we call Power Mean Tests (they, in particular, include the Arithmetic Mean Test). We show the connection between the Root, the Power Mean and the Ratio Tests. We also note that all these tests are related to the test that we formulate and call Generalised f-mean Test (or Kolmogorov–Nagumo–de Finetti mean Test). We provide an example of an infinite series, where the Arithmetic Mean test is the test that should be used for convergence verification, because the Root and the Ratio Tests are not easy to apply. We conclude this work with the statement emphasising why it is ‘fair’ to include the summarising Corollary 3.1 in our Calculus course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Understanding the relationships between taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and endemism across environmental gradients is essential for elucidating the eco-evolutionary mechanisms that shape local plant communities. Methods: A database was compiled from field surveys, national herbarium records, and virtual records of perennial plant specimens collected in the aridity gradient of northern Chile, between 18 and 32°S. A large-scale dated phylogeny of available perennial plants was used, and 11 functional traits were selected to construct a dendrogram using the Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) method for the species present in our database. We calculated spatial patterns of a-diversity, including taxonomic (TD), functional (FD), and phylogenetic (PD) diversity, as well as weighted (WE), functional (FE), and phylogenetic (PE) endemism. We used multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) to identify spatial congruencies and discrepancies among these dimensions and to test different eco-evolutionary processes. Results: The diversity indices TD, FD and PD showed similar geographic patterns (R2 > 0.93), with lower diversity observed in absolute desert regions. The pattern of weighted endemism (WE) showed a weak association with functional endemism (FE) and phylogenetic endemism (PE) (local R2 < 0.48). The regions with lower FD or PD than expected given the TD (i.e. FDWE and PE>WE), they are found in arid, high Andean and transitional zones, at different altitudes, which would indicate a greater presence of phylogenetic lineages and species with morpho-functional traits related to extreme environmental conditions and transitional biomes (arid-semiarid). Discussion: These spatial discrepancies suggest different eco-evolutionary drivers between the dimensions of diversity and endemism (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic). Areas of high diversity and high endemism do not necessarily coincide, and both should be addressed by conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Range maps are used to estimate the geographic extent of taxa, providing valuable information for biodiversity and conservation research and management. Freshwater macroinvertebrates are not well-represented in the range map literature relative to freshwater vertebrates. To address this knowledge gap, we provide range maps for 1158 freshwater macroinvertebrate genera based on two decades of publicly available occurrence data from the USEPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, which included 11,628 sites and 6,906,990 organisms across the contiguous USA. Maps were created by applying unweighted and weighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering and single-linkage clustering algorithms to the occurrence data and creating three layers of polygons from the minimum convex hulls of clusters. A total of 25 freshwater macroinvertebrate classes are represented in the range map dataset. Most mapped genera were insects (394/1158), followed by malacostracans (242/1158), polychaetes (182/1158), and bivalves (121/1158). Additionally, we provide waterbody type percent occupancy data for all genera, detailing how genera are partitioned between boatable streams, wadeable streams, inland lakes, Laurentian Great Lakes, and coastal estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the reality of practice of innovative leadership among deans of colleges of educational sciences in Palestine from the point of view of faculty members, and identifying differences according to study variables (gender, academic degree, and years of experience). To achieve the aim of the study, the researcher adopted the descriptive analytical method. The study sample consisted of (50) full-time faculty members in the faculties of educational sciences in the Palestinian universities (Al-Quds Open, Jerusalem, Hebron), the study tool (questionnaire) was distributed randomly to the study sample. The results of the study showed that the arithmetic mean of the ratings of the study sample as a whole was (4.02), with a high rating, and the field of “innovative leadership towards perseverance and persistence” came in first place, with a arithmetic average of (4.15), and a high level. While the field of “innovative leadership towards new ideas” came in the last place, with a mean of (3.83), and a high level, the results of the study also showed that there are no statistically significant differences between faculty members’ estimates of the reality of practicing innovative leadership among deans of colleges of educational sciences in Palestine due to the variables (degree and years of experience). There were statistically significant differences on the variable (gender) in the total score and in the second and fourth domains, and the differences appeared in favor of males, Based on the results, the study recommended the necessity of finding modern strategies that enable leaders to deal with new ideas, and to move away as much as possible from routine methods in leadership practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to determine the digital skills of Islamic studies teachers in the secondary stage in light of the European Digital Framework for Teachers (Dig Comp Edu) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to reveal the degree to which they possess them from their point of view. The questionnaire was used and the descriptive survey approach was adopted,. The study showed a number of results, including the general arithmetic mean for the axis (2,49) with a standard letter (0,54), and this indicates that the degree of possession of Islamic studies teachers in the secondary stage of digital skills was low, where professional interaction comes. It ranked first with a arithmetical mean (2.57) and with a standard letter (0,62), followed by evaluation with a arithmetical mean (2,50) and with a standard letter (0,82), and in third place it comes after empowering learners and facilitating digital competence with a arithmetical mean (2,48) and with a standard letter (0,81), and in fourth place. It comes after teaching and learning with a mean of (2,47) and a standard letter of (0.81), and finally comes after digital resources as the least dimension of digital skills in terms of the degree of possession among female teachers with an arithmetic mean of (2.42). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a lot of works have been done on the study of the failure rate (FR), the aging intensity function (AI) and their properties. In the article, we analyze the aging classes based on monotonicity of new functions viz., arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and harmonic mean of AI function, respectively. Also, the relationships between these functions and the classical AI function are discussed. Moreover, some characterizations of distributions based on these functions are established. Some characterizations of proportional hazard rate and AI family of distributions are discussed. Investigations are illustrated by some examples and applications of aging functions in data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychology is one of the important sciences that requires extensive study and deep understanding due to its significant impact on individuals. It is a field that has seen increased demand in recent years, especially in the educational sector, because of its effective influence on the educational process. It is one of the crucial sciences with a direct impact on enhancing and improving the performance levels of learners, making it a vital focus in scientific studies within the field of education. The research aimed to identify: *The level of communication skills among students from certain departments of the College of Basic Education at the University of Mosul. *The differences in the level of communication skills between students from certain departments of the College of Basic Education at the University of Mosul. To verify this, the researchers hypothesized the existence of: *Varying levels of communication skills among students from certain departments of the College of Basic Education at the University of Mosul. * Differences in the level of communication skills between students from certain departments of the College of Basic Education at the University of Mosul. The research sample consisted of 121 students from some departments of the College of Basic Education at the University of Mosul. To collect data, the researchers employed the "Communication Skills" scale developed by Ali Hussein Najm Al- Omrani, which included 38 items. The scale was subjected to scientific statistics before the final application on the research sample. The researchers utilized the following: arithmetic mean, standard deviation, simple correlation coefficient, percentage, theoretical mean analysis of variance for unequal samples, and the least significant difference value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of alternative energy sources has gained significant traction in recent years, driven by the urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards sustainable energy. Among these alternatives, C O 2 plume geothermal and hydrothermal systems have emerged as promising options due to their potential for providing clean, renewable energy. This study presents a probabilistic investigation into the sensitivity of C O 2 plume geothermal and hydrothermal systems under various reservoir conditions in the Williston Basin, North Dakota. In addition to elucidating the impact of reservoir conditions on system performance, the study utilizes probabilistic methods to assess energy output of C O 2 plume geothermal and hydrothermal systems. Insights derived from this probabilistic investigation offer valuable guidance for the working fluid selection, systems design and optimization in the Williston Basin and beyond. Results from the sensitivity analysis reveal the profound influence of reservoir conditions on the behavior and efficiency of C O 2 plume geothermal and hydrothermal systems. Our case study on Red River Formation and Deadwood Formations shows a potential of 34% increase and 32% decrease in heat extraction based on varying reservoir conditions. Our investigations in the Beaver Lodge field within the Red River Formation yielded arithmetic mean values for C O 2 best case resources, hydrothermal resources and the C O 2 worst case as 6.36 ×   10 18 J, 4.75 ×   10 18 J and 3.24 ×   10 18 J, respectively. Overall, this research contributes to advancing the knowledge and understanding of C O 2 plume geothermal and hydrothermal systems as viable pathways towards sustainable energy production and carbon sequestration. By highlighting the sensitivity of these systems to reservoir conditions, the study provides valuable insights that can inform decision-making processes and future research endeavours aimed at fostering the transition to a low-carbon energy landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic similarity determines the extent to which two genotypes share common genetic material. It can be measured in various ways, such as by comparing DNA sequences, proteins, or other genetic markers. The significance of genetic similarity is multifaceted and encompasses various fields, including evolutionary biology, medicine, forensic science, animal and plant breeding, and anthropology. Genetic similarity is an important concept with wide application across different scientific disciplines. The research material included 21 rapeseed genotypes (ten interspecific Brassicaceae hybrids of F2 generation and 11 of their parental forms) and 146 alleles obtained using 21 ISSR molecular markers. In the presented study, six measures for calculating genetic similarity were compared: Euclidean, Jaccard, Kulczyński, Sokal and Michener, Nei, and Rogers. Genetic similarity values were estimated between all pairs of examined genotypes using the six measures proposed above. For each genetic similarity measure, the average, minimum, maximum values, and coefficient of variation were calculated. Correlation coefficients between the genetic similarity values obtained from each measure were determined. The obtained genetic similarity coefficients were used for the hierarchical clustering of objects using the unweighted pair group method with an arithmetic mean. A multiple regression model was written for each method, where the independent variables were the remaining methods. For each model, the coefficient of multiple determination was calculated. Genetic similarity values ranged from 0.486 to 0.993 (for the Euclidean method), from 0.157 to 0.986 (for the Jaccard method), from 0.275 to 0.993 (for the Kulczyński method), from 0.272 to 0.993 (for the Nei method), from 0.801 to 1.000 (for the Rogers method) and from 0.486 to 0.993 (for the Sokal and Michener method). The results indicate that the research material was divided into two identical groups using any of the proposed methods despite differences in the values of genetic similarity coefficients. Two of the presented measures of genetic similarity (the Sokal and Michener method and the Euclidean method) were the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium factor F is one of the parameters that should be considered when assessing the effective dose based on radon activity concentration. Since the equilibrium factor in various environments ranges theoretically from a value close to 0 to 1, it is expected that dose assessment based on one recommended coefficient value may lead to an underestimation or overestimation of the dose. That is why it is essential to measure this quantity if the basis for dose assessment is the radon concentration and not the concentration of radon decay products. The equilibrium factors were determined based on measurements of radon activity concentration and potential alpha energy concentration and varied from 0.15 to 0.94, with an arithmetic mean of 0.55. The average effective dose calculated for the employee taking into account these values was 31 mSv, assuming an annual working time of 1800 h. In turn, the average effective dose calculated for the equilibrium factor of 0.2 as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) was equal to 13 mSv. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have investigated the gut bacterial composition of wild ungulates in the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau. However, the relationship between their gut microbiome dendrograms and their phylogenetic tree remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed 45 amplicons (V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene) from five wild ungulates—Pseudois nayaur, Pantholops hodgsonii, Gazella subgutturosa, Bos grunniens, and Equus kiang—from the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau to clarify the relationship between their phylogenies and gut microbiome dendrograms. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that G. subgutturosa is closely related to P. nayaur; however, these results were inconsistent with their phylogenetic trees. Additionally, the indicator genera in the microbiome of each wild ungulate showed strong associations with the diets and habitats of their host. Thus, diet and space niche differentiation may primarily account for the differences between the gut microbiome characteristics of these wild ungulates and their phylogeny. In summary, our research provides insights into the evolutionary factors influencing the gut microbiome of wild ungulates in the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, physical and mechanical properties, as well as color changes and FT-IR analyzes of 13 different wheat varieties, which are intensively produced, were examined. For this purpose, Altay, Harmankaya, Çetinel, Yunus, Mufitbey, Soyer 02, Dumlupınar, Bezostaja, Sönmez, ES-26, Reis, Karaman2000, and Nacibey varieties were used. As a result of the research the Soyer-02 variety exhibited the largest seed width (3.42 mm) and thickness (2.96 mm), while the Müfitbey variety had the smallest width (2.72 mm) and thickness (2.36 mm). Dumlupınar showed the greatest seed length (7.82 mm), with Müfitbey having the shortest (6.07 mm). Surface area was greatest in Dumlupınar (53.35 mm²) and lowest in Müfitbey (36.03 mm²). Arithmetic and geometric mean diameters were largest in Dumlupınar (4.61 mm and 4.12 mm, respectively), with Müfitbey showing the smallest (3.72 mm and 3.54 mm). Sphericity ranged from 61.22% in Reis to 52.67% in Dumlupınar. The thousand-kernel weight varied significantly, with Reis recording the highest (46.36 g) and Altay the lowest (33.58 g). Fracture resistance was highest in Dumlupınar and Bezostaja (10.89 N to 11.3 N), with the lowest in Altay (5.89 N). Color analysis revealed L values ranging from 63.77 in Çetinel to 51.16 in Harmankaya, with all varieties showing positive 'a' values, indicating red tones, and 'b' values indicating yellow tones, with Soyer-02 having the highest (32.81) and Harmankaya the lowest (24.68). FT-IR analysis revealed broad O-H stretch vibrations (3270-3300 1/cm) in Müfitbey, Altay, Soyer, and Reis, suggesting high moisture or phenolic content. Amide I (1640-1650 1/cm) and Amide II (1540-1545 1/cm) bands in Bezostaja, Yunus, Dumlupınar, and Çetinel indicated high protein content. Aliphatic C-H stretch vibrations (2920-2925 1/cm and 2850-2854 1/cm) in ES-26 and Karaman 2000 suggested high lipid content, while carbohydrate-specific C-O and C-C stretch vibrations (1000-1240 1/cm) in Sönmez and Harmankaya suggested high starch content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques are among the fastest-growing technologies for producing even the most geometrically complex models. Unfortunately, the lack of development of metrology guidelines for these methods, related to dimensional and geometry accuracy and surface roughness, significantly limits the commercialization of finished products manufactured using these methods. This paper aims to evaluate the macro- and micro-geometry of models manufactured using the PolyJet method from three types of photopolymer resins: Digital ABS Plus, RGD 720, and Vero Clear. For this purpose, test parts were designed and then manufactured on an Object 350 Connex3 3D printer. The Atos II Triple Scan optical system and the InfiniteFocusG4 microscope were used to evaluate macro- and micro-geometry, respectively. For both systems, measurement procedures were developed to obtain statistical results for evaluating geometric accuracy and surface roughness parameters. In the case of macro-geometry, for Digital ABS Plus and Vero Clear materials, 50% of the central deviations (between first quartile Q1 and third quartile Q3) lie within the range (−0.06, 0.03 mm) and for RGD 720 material within the range (−0.08, 0.01 mm). For micro-geometry, the arithmetic mean height (Sa) values for the Digital ABS Plus and Vero Clear samples were approximately 1.6 and 2.0 µm, respectively, while for RGD 720, it was 15.9 µm. The total roughness height expressed by reduced peak height (Spk) + core height (Sk) + reduced dale depth (Svk) for the Digital ABS Plus and Vero Clear samples was approximately 9.1 and 10.5 µm, respectively, while for the RGD 720, it was 101.9 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a feature-centric strategy for predicting adsorption energies of key CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) adsorbates, CO and H species, utilizing density functional theory-based calculations for eight adsorption sites and considering alloying effects of nine transition metals at single-atom concentrations. Here, we explore a class of materials consisting of a majority host metal where individual atoms of a different element are dispersed called single-atom alloys (SAA). A total of eight feature selection methods are assessed within Gradient Boosting Regression and Linear Regression models. This study proposes a practical and effective two-stage approach that narrows down the initial 86 features to subsets of 10 and 7 for CO and H adsorption energy predictions, respectively, with the arithmetic mean of valence electrons (VE-am) feature consistently emerging as highly influential, validated through permutation and Shapley additive explanations-based feature importance analyses. The models exhibit robust performance on unseen data, indicating their generalization capability. The findings emphasize VE-am as a potential key machine learning feature for CO2RR on SAA surfaces and underline the effectiveness of the feature-centric approach in understanding feature impacts in machine learning models for CO2RR on SAA systems. Additionally, while other features based on structural, electronic and elemental properties may not individually impact the model significantly, their collective contribution plays a vital role in achieving more accurate adsorption energy predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Listy Cukrovarnicke a Reparske is the property of VUC Praha a.s. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An essential component of case-based reasoning (CbR) is the similarity function. The existence of incorrect similarity values, one of the primary issues of similarity function, occurs when two cases seem to have a lot in similarity but actually differ greatly from one another. The aim of this study is to suggest a fuzzy similarity function that might be used with CbR, which has been executed in three primary phases. Firstly, a knowledge base is created. Secondly, the inference engines are created. To determine fuzzy similarity values, the proposed approach employs Graded Mean Integration Representation (GMIR), which takes into consideration the impact of each evidence on the case. Finally, model testing is determined by comparing GMIR with the additive function and additive weighting and using them as the sensitivity test. A comparison of similarity methods was carried out using the k-NN, Euclidean, and Pearson similarity. Expert evaluation carries out external validity checking. The degree of similarity between the CbR output solution and the expert solution is determined using the Intuitive Fuzzy Weighted Arithmetic Mean (IFWAM). The results demonstrate that the GMIR function applied with thresholds of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8 provides the fewest instances of similar cases when compared to the additive and additive weighting approaches. GMIR is able to provide a variety of alternatives using the threshold value. IFWAM performs 93.33% when used in 15 test scenarios, and only one of the solutions from the CbR output differs from that offered by the pshycologs. The main reason is the challenge of selecting keywords for every item of evidence provided. When CbR's validity was examined, it was also demonstrated that IFWAM was reliable in estimating the degree of similarity between CbR output and expert solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed and compared the locale differences in social-emotional competency and job satisfaction among secondary school teachers. For this purpose, 300 teachers aged between 30-40 years were taken. The research tools used were Teachers' social-emotional competency by Nonglait and Myrthong (2020) and Job Satisfaction Scale by Singh and Sharma (2012). The data was analyzed using suitable statistics frequency and percentages, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, t-test, z-test and multiple linear regression analysis. Results indicated that teachers' social-emotional competency contributes to their job satisfaction. Non-significant differences were found in teachers' social-emotional competency and job satisfaction based on their locale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Humanities & Educational Sciences Journal is the property of Humanities & Educational Sciences Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In an attempt to develop tests of auditory temporal resolution using gap detection, we conducted computer simulations of Zippy Estimation by Sequential Testing (ZEST), an adaptive Bayesian threshold estimation procedure, for measuring gap detection thresholds. The results showed that the measures of efficiency and precision of ZEST changed with the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the initial probability density function implemented in ZEST. Appropriate combinations of mean and SD values led to efficient ZEST performance; i.e., the threshold estimates converged to their true values after 10 to 15 trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of the decision-making problems being analysed has led to the development of multiple multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. One of the more recent methods belonging to this group is the evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) method. To date, it has found extensive use in solving real-world decision-making problems and has seen many extensions to input data types other than real numbers. One of these is the EDAS method for group decision-making in a fuzzy environment. This method aggregates individual evaluations of decision-makers into a group evaluation using the arithmetic mean. This may result in equal group ratings despite the variety of individual ratings, making it difficult or even impossible to rank alternatives because the EDAS algorithm will be blocked. The paper proposes a new fuzzy extension of EDAS called the PFEDAS method for group decision-making. The main difference between the proposed method and the original one is that at the initial stage the individual decision matrices are not aggregated into a group matrix but are transformed into matrices of alternatives. As a result, the new PFEDAS method is based on the initial data instead of their averaged values which allows a more accurate comparison of alternatives. Using a numerical example, the PFEDAS method is compared with other similar methods known from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of road pavement friction is crucial for maintaining road safety. This study explores the prediction of the friction coefficient (µ) using 3D texture parameters of pavement surfaces. Measurements were conducted on 17 different rural road sections using the Traction Watcher One (TWO) for friction coefficients and a newly developed Static Road Scanner (SRS) for surface texture. Multiple linear regression models were created, incorporating texture parameters such as the valley material portion (Smr2,MIC), arithmetic mean peak curvature (Spc,MAC), and dale void volume (Vvv,PS). The results demonstrate a strong correlation between texture characteristics and friction, with R2 values up to 0.80 and an RMSE as low as 0.076, validating the model's accuracy. This approach highlights the potential of using non-contact texture measurements for reliable prediction of friction, offering a significant advancement in pavement management and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose. To assess the state of budget financing of Ukrainian HEIs, determine their funding structure, and identify prerequisites for developing hybrid financing as a tool for stability and strategic development. Methodology. Dynamic and structural analysis, the Hirschman-Herfindahl index (HHI(DI) and such methods as quantitative, arithmetic mean, limit values, graphic, visualization, and system methods were used in the research process. The practical testing of research hypotheses was carried out on the basis of a comprehensive approach to the financing of HEIs of Ukraine and a panel sample of 35 universities, which takes into account rating indicators, industry and regional aspects. Findings. Transformation processes at various levels are linked to trends such as reduced budget funding, structural changes, staff and student migration, decreased demand for additional services, and military factors, creating prerequisites for hybrid university funding. The article identifies conditions for hybrid financing, highlights negative trends in HEIs budget financing –including systemic underperformance and inflation impacts – and analyzes income diversification in Ukrainian universities using the HHI(DI). Limiting and average values were determined using the quantitative method, which made it possible to classify universities into sustainable (HHI(DI) ≤ 0.55) and risky (HHI(DI) > 0.55) ones; tendencies towards a slight diversification of universities’ incomes are revealed; a conceptual model is proposed of hybrid financing of universities to expand their financial autonomy, based on cooperation between university management, stakeholders, and staff core, with the aim of creating value propositions which satisfy the needs of stakeholders and generate cash flows; a new approach to the division of hybrid financing tools into three groups is proposed: passive or image-based, active-intellectual, and passive-innovative ones. This approach is innovative in the development of financial strategies for universities. Originality. New tools for making management decisions aimed at ensuring financial stability and developing financial strategies for universities are proposed. In particular, they include an original approach to the classification of universities into sustainable and risky ones based on the value of the HHI; the conceptual model of hybrid financing of universities, which promotes the expansion of their financial autonomy; the innovative approach to the division of hybrid financing instruments into three categories: passive or image-based, active-intellectual, passive-innovative. Practical value. The study’s results can be used to make management decisions on expanding financial autonomy of universities. The introduction of the conceptual model of hybrid financing will contribute to the diversification of income, increase in financing, as well as ensuring financial stability and strategic development of universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Social Sciences Research / Sosyal Bilimler Arastirmalari Dergisi is the property of ODU Journal of Social Sciences Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)