Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robustness Enhancement of Networked Control Systems

In the last decade we can observe a growing interest in design and implementation methods for Networked Control Systems (NCS). Typically in an NCS, a plant is both controlled and monitored by a remote computer system connected with the plant via a communication channel performed by a computer network (Hristu-Varsekelis & Levine, 2005). This architecture of the control system differs significantly from the classical one, where all components of the system are attached directly to the control plant and exchange data using some wiring system. NCSs gain popularity due to the fact that they can be implemented more cost effective and can provide extended functionality as compared with classical control systems. Application of computer networks for a data exchange in automated production systems is not a new idea and during the last decades several industrial standards of computer networks have been developed. Industrial networks are typically based on asynchronous links (fieldbus) or technologies developed for specific areas. To this last category belong Profibus, CAN, ARINC, WorldFIP, and many others. The most important feature of these industrial networks is that they guarantee bounded transmission delays. However, NCSs based on industrial standards suffer from some disadvantages, like high installation and maintenance costs, excessive weight of physical links and difficulties with scalability and redundancy. One of the solutions enabling partial avoidance of these problems is application of standard, inexpensive, easy to purchase and replace devices typically used for office networking. To this class belongs Ethernet which currently dominates general networking and seems to become an industrial standard in the nearest future (Decotignie, 2005; PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation, 2006; Andersson, Brunner & Engler, 2003, IEC 61850, 2002). The guided media, that form a basis of today plants, although quite reliable in nature, have several disadvantages like limited scalability, quite high installation and maintenance costs, low flexibility. Networks are more and more often applied in new domains, where usage of guided media is impossible or inconvenient. These domains include home or building automation, military systems, inter vehicle communication (VANET), sensor networks and others (Murthy & Manoj, 2004; Schoch, Kargl & Weber, 2008; Callaway, 2004). Therefore more and more often the unguided (wireless) communication is seen as a significant complementary solution for wired communication (Willig, Matheus & Wolisz, 2005). 16
Neuromuscular Fatigue at Task Failure and During Immediate Recovery after Isometric Knee Extension Trials

We asked whether the level of peripheral fatigue would differ when three consecutive exercise trials were completed to task failure, and whether there would be delayed recovery in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, neuromuscular activation and peripheral fatigue following task failure. Ten trained sport students performed three consecutive knee extension isometric trials (T1, T2, T3) to task failure without breaks between trials. T1 and T2 consisted of repeated 5-s contractions followed by 5-s rests. In T1, contractions were performed at a target force at 60% pre-exercise MVC. In T2, all contractions were MVCs, and task failure occurred at 50% MVC. T3 was a sustained MVC performed until force fell below 15% MVC. Evoked force responses to supramaximal electrical femoral nerve stimulation were recorded to assess peripheral fatigue. Electromyography signals were normalized to an M-wave amplitude to assess neuromuscular activation. Lower levels of evoked peak forces were observed at T3 compared with T2 and T1. Within 5 s of task failure in T3, MVC force and neuromuscular activation recovered substantially without any recovery in evoked peak force. Neuromuscular activation 5–10 s after T3 was unchanged from pre-exercise values, however, evoked peak forces were substantially reduced. These results challenge the existence of a critical peripheral fatigue threshold that reduces neuromuscular activation. Since neuromuscular activation changed independently of any change in evoked peak force, immediate recovery in force production after exercise is due to increased central recruitment and not to peripheral mechanisms.
The Problem of Non-Compliance with Minimum Wage in the Public Service Organizations in Malawi versus Government as a Role Model Employer

Since enactment of the Regulation of Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act in 1964 and ratification of the International Labour Organisation Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention in 1965 by Malawi Government, Malawi has adopted the policy of Minimum wage fixing and continued setting and enforcing various rates of minimum wages to protect vulnerable employees from being subjected to low wages in various workplaces. The enforcement of, and compliance with, the set minimum wage are, however, not effectively done and thus non-compliance remains an issue that needs continued debate in Malawi. This qualitative study, using interviews and documents analysis methods, seeks to ignite debate and discuss the country’s status/position on minimum wage compliance in the public service organizations/institutions and to suggest practical solutions to address non-compliance problem with minimum wage. The key study finding is that government currently is non-compliant with current minimum wage of Mk687.70 (US$0.94) per work day with respect to its employees working under public works programme across the country. The paper thus, recommends adoption of combined enforcement approaches with involvement of private partners and lobbying for negotiations with donors towards incorporation of compliance condition with minimum wage within their negotiated funding agreements by Government.
Learning to Communicate with Deep Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning

We consider the problem of multiple agents sensing and acting in environments with the goal of maximising their shared utility. In these environments, agents must learn communication protocols in order to share information that is needed to solve the tasks. By embracing deep neural networks, we are able to demonstrate end-to-end learning of protocols in complex environments inspired by communication riddles and multi-agent computer vision problems with partial observability. We propose two approaches for learning in these domains: Reinforced Inter-Agent Learning (RIAL) and Differentiable Inter-Agent Learning (DIAL). The former uses deep Q-learning, while the latter exploits the fact that, during learning, agents can backpropagate error derivatives through (noisy) communication channels. Hence, this approach uses centralised learning but decentralised execution. Our experiments introduce new environments for studying the learning of communication protocols and present a set of engineering innovations that are essential for success in these domains.
Free-Space Availability and Larval Substratum Selection as Determinants of BarnaclePopulation-Structure in a Developing Rocky Intertidal Community

Variation in settlement and recruitment of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides (L.) was experimentally investigated in the high, mid and low intertidal zones at 2 adjacent sites (A and B) on a rocky shore in Nova Scotia, Canada, following a rare occurrence of ice-scouring. Manipulations in 100 cm2 quadrats at each intertidal height involved removal of various components of the sessile macrofauna and macroflora, removal of the total community and a control treatment. The availability of free space on the substratum in each quadrat was measured prior to the onset of settlement to determine whether differences in the density of barnacles among treatments were due to differences in the availability of free space or to manipulation. Where the density of settlers was high, it was positively related to the availabhty of free space suggesting that settlement was a simple function of the availability of free space. However, the pattern of settlement varied from the onset to the end of settlement: quadrats from which only barnacles had been removed were occupied early in the settlement period and later-arriving larvae were restricted to less favourable sites where free space was available. Thus, settlement preferences may be masked when the supply of larvae is saturating or the duration of the selction experiment is too long. Where the density of settlers was low and free space was non-limiting, there was no relationship between the density of settlers and the availability of free space. In the high intertidal zone at Site A, the density of settlers was greater in treatments with ephemeral algae (wetter quadrats) than in those without (drier quadrats) In general, early post-settlement mortality in treatments where algae had been removed increased with intertidal height, whereas in treatments where algae were present it remained relatively constant among heights. Post-recruitment mortality did not differ significantly among treatments in the high intertidal zone, suggesting that factors which influence selection of the substratum by cyprid larvae and promote early post-settlement survival may be particularly important in determining subsequent population structure of barnacles in this zone. Post-recruitment mortality, mainly due to predation by whelks, was highest in the low intertidal zone at both sites and did not differ significantly between treatments. In the mid intertidal zone at Site B, whelk foraging appeared to be constrained by desiccation stress and post-recruitment mortality was highest in treatments with Fucus spp. Where predation is intense, initial selection of the substratum by cyprid larvae may have little effect on the subsequent population structure of barnacles.
Understanding the Role of Relationship Maintenance in Enduring Couple Partnerships in Later Adulthood

ABSTRACT Intimate relationships in later adulthood are understudied despite their positive association with health and well-being. This cross-sectional mixed methods study sought to redress this gap by investigating relationship maintenance in later adulthood. Our international sub-sample comprised 1,565 participants aged 55 + and in an ongoing relationship. Results from hierarchical multiple regression indicated that overall happiness with the relationship had the largest effect size on relationship maintenance, with 53% of the variance explained. Content analyses of open-ended questions identified companionship and laughter as some of the “best liked” aspects of the relationship. Housework/cooking and saying “I love you” were among the behaviors that made participants feel appreciated. Results illustrated the types of maintenance behaviors adults in later adulthood who are in enduring partnerships employ.
Inflammasome activation markers are independently associated with hypoalphalipoproteinemia in a Mexican-Mestizo population

Background: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations are determined by environmental and metabolic factors, but systemic inflammation markers had been less studied. Aim: To evaluate the independent association of systemic inflammation markers to HDL-C concentration, considering the relative contribution of envioromental, and metabolic factors, in a well-characterized Mexican-Mestizo population. Methods: We used logistic regression and linear regression analysis to assess the effect of inflammatory (high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukins 6, 10, 15, and 1β), environmental (diet and physical activity) and metabolic factors (triglyceride (TG) levels, insulin resistance, abdominal visceral fat) on HDL-C concentrations, in 907 adults (46.5% female, aged 52 ± 9 years), without diabetes, TG ≤ 600 mg/dL, and hs-CRP ≤ 3 mg/L. Results: We found hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA: HDL-C ≤ 50 mg/dL in women and ≤ 40 mg/dL in men) in 44.8% of women and 48.8% of men. Carbohydrate intake (standardized coefficient β: -0.109 and -0.142), TG (-0.280 and -0.418), and interleukin-1β (-0.156 and -0.159) were inversely and independently associated to HDL-C levels, whereas adiponectin had a positive effect on the lipoprotein concentrations (0.196 and 0.169) for women and men, respectively (p<0.05 for all). Conjointly, these variables explained 33% of the variance in HDL-C levels. Conclusion: The study confirms the strong association of TG and carbohydrate intake with HDL-C levels. In addition, the results highlight the relevance of inflammatory processes in HA, which is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors in the Mexican population.
Mandatory Disclosure about Environmental and Employee Matters in the Reports of Italian-Listed Corporate Groups

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of Italian Legislative Decree 32/2007 – following the 2003/51 European Directive – and the disclosure of environmental and employee matters in terms of overall volume, completeness of information, presence of bad/good news and target-oriented information. Content analysis has been applied to all Italian corporate groups that made public both the consolidated annual report and the stand-alone social and environmental report in 2005 and in 2010, for a total of 96 reports. The results show that despite the overall increase in sentences devoted to environmental and employee matters, the completeness of the information has not substantially improved, indicating that the 2007 regulation has been ineffective. The Italian experience could provide useful insights for European regulators. Such insights may inform policy recommendations to design a mandated social and environmental accountability process with the potential of providing information to societal stakeholders while facilitating accountability.
Dust devils on Earth and Mars

Dust devils, particle‐loaded vertical convective vortices found on both Earth and Mars, are characterized by high rotating wind speeds, significant electrostatic fields, and reduced pressure and enhanced temperature at their centers. On Earth they are subordinate to boundary layer winds in the dust cycle and, except possibly in arid regions, are only “nuisance‐level” phenomena. On Mars, though, they seem to support the persistent background atmospheric haze, to influence the surface albedo through the formation of “tracks” on the surface, and to possibly endanger future exploration because of their high dust load and large potential gradients. High‐resolution numerical simulations and thermophysical scaling models successfully describe dust devil–like vortices on Mars, but fitting dust devil action into the Martian global dust cycle is still problematic. Reliable parameterizations of their erosional abilities and solid temporal and spatial distribution data are still required to build and test a complete model of dust devil action.
Efficacy of the Integrated Harrington Seed Destructor on Weeds of Soybean and Rice Production Systems in the Southern United States

Herbicide-resistant weeds affect every major cropping system today. Worldwide, there are 47 and 51 confirmed cases of herbicide-resistant weed populations in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] and rice (Oryza sativa L.) production systems, respectively. Alternatives to herbicides are necessary to help combat herbicide-resistant weeds. The integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) has been developed to destroy weed seeds during crop harvest but has yet to be tested on weeds in soybean or rice. Thus, the objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of the iHSD in soybean and rice and to evaluate any limitations. Three experiments were conducted using a stationary iHSD mill. First, the efficacy of the iHSD was evaluated on weed seeds incorporated into soybean residue or rice chaff. Second, varying soybean chaff feeding rates were tested to determine the amount that could be processed without interfering with weed seed destruction. Third, varying soybean chaff moisture levels were tested to determine any limitations that high moisture content may have on the iHSD. The iHSD demonstrated high weed seed destruction efficacy (<1% survival) for 11 of the 12 weed species of soybean. Common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) seed had 3% survival. In rice, <1% survival was observed in all weed species. The soybean feeding rate and moisture experiments yielded <1% survival across all treatments. These results show that the use of the iHSD can be highly effective in soybean and rice production for reducing inputs to the soil seedbank. These studies highlight the promising seed destruction potential of the iHSD but also demonstrate opportunities for further research evaluating the iHSD as a combine-fitted system operating under commercial scale production fields. L.M. Schwartz-Lazaro and J.K. Norsworthy, Dep. of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704; M.J. Walsh, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney, 12656 Newell Highway, Narrabri, NSW 2390, Australia; M.V. Bagavathiannan, Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, Texas, 77843. Received 30 Mar. 2017. Accepted 24 June 2017. *Corresponding author (lmschwar@uark.edu). Assigned to Associate Editor David Stoltenberg. Abbreviations: BMP, best management practice; HSD, Harrington Seed Destructor; HWSC, harvest-time weed seed control; iHSD, integrated Harrington Seed Destructor. Published in Crop Sci. 57:2812–2818 (2017). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2017.03. 0210 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Published August 3, 2017
The tempo of continental arc construction in the Mesozoic Median Batholith, Fiordland, New Zealand

We investigate the temporal record of magmatism in the Fiordland sector of the Median Batholith (New Zealand) with the goal of evaluating models for cyclic and episodic patterns of magmatism and deformation in continental arcs. We compare 20 U-Pb zircon ages from >2300 km2 of Mesozoic lower and middle crust of the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss to existing data from the Median Batholith to: (1) document the tempo of arc construction, (2) estimate rates of magmatic addition at various depths during arc construction, and (3) evaluate the role of cyclical feedbacks between magmatism and deformation during high and low magma addition rate events. Results from the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss indicate that the oldest dates are distributed in northern and southern extremities: the Worsley Pluton (123–121 Ma), eastern McKerr Intrusives (128–120 Ma), and Breaksea Orthogneiss (123 Ma). Dates within the interior of the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (Misty and Malaspina Plutons, western McKerr Intrusives) primarily range from 118 to 115 Ma and signify a major flux of mafic to intermediate magmatism during which nearly 70% of the arc root was emplaced during a brief, ∼3 m.y. , interval. The spatial distribution of dates reveals an inward-focusing, arc-parallel younging of magmatism within the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss during peak magmatic activity. Coupled with existing data from the wider Median Batholith, our data show that Mesozoic construction of the Median Batholith involved at least two high-flux magmatic events: a surge of low-Sr/Y plutonism in the Darran Suite from ca. 147 to 136 Ma, and a terminal surge of high-Sr/Y magmatism in the Separation Point Suite from 128 to 114 Ma, shortly before extensional collapse of the Zealandia Cordillera at 108–106 Ma. Separation Point Suite magmatism occurred at all structural levels, but was concentrated in the lower crust, where nearly 50% of the crust consists of Cretaceous arc-related plutonic rocks. Existing isotopic data suggest that the flare-up of high-Sr/Y magmatism was primarily sourced from the underlying mantle, indicating an externally triggered, dynamic mantle process for triggering the Zealandia high–magma addition rate event, with only limited contributions from upper plate materials.
Comparison of gas test system based on the syringe with the reading pressure technique

An investigation was conducted to compare the syringe gas test system with the reading pressure technique (RPT). A series of mixtures of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and maize starch were incubated using both systems and the ratios (wt/wt) of maize starch in the mixtures were 0, 10.0, 20.0, 25.0, 33.3, 50.0, 55.6, 62.5, 71.4, 83.3 and 100%. The gas production (GP) was recorded at 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. There was no significant difference in potential GP between two systems (corrected to 200 mg substrate basis) (P>0.05), while the GP at a short time of incubation were lower in the RPT system than in the syringe and the rate constant of GP was significantly higher in the syringe (P<0.05). However, a strong relationship was observed between the 24 h GP values (GP24h) in the syringe system and the RPT, which was described by: GP24h for the syringe system (ml) = 1.2628 × GP24h for the RTP system (ml) + 6.2592 (R2=0.9784; P<0.01; n = 132). It is indicated that the GP24h in the two systems can be revised reciprocally and appropriate system could be chosen according to the research objectives and characteristics of both methods.
Mothers Satisfaction with Triage Nursing Care System for their Children in Pediatric Emergency

Mothers satisfaction is considered an important indicator of quality care from the perspective of the consumer and has been widely studied in many setting. However, few studies have examined mother's satisfaction with emergency nursing services in the particular area of triage. Aim: This study aims to assess the mother's satisfaction with triage nursing care system for their children in pediatric emergency. Design: Descriptive design was used in this study. Setting: Pediatric Emergency Department in Jordan university hospital. Sampling: A systematic random sampling method with criteria (triage level III, IV and V) were used in this study, 240 children with their mothers were randomly chosen. Tools: Consumer Emergency Care Satisfaction Scale (CECSS); this instrument was used. Findings: Most of mothers were age of 30 years and two thirds of them highly educated and working mothers. Concerning of children ages third of them were 1-3 years old, while half of them were male and two thirds of them complained from pain during their attendance at the pediatric ED. Two thirds of nurses were female for shift applying triage and half of them were 3-5 years of experience, while most of them had a bachelor degree. Half of children were classified as level IV or semi urgent. The majority of mothers had a higher degree of satisfaction with pediatric ED nursing care but the teaching items around half and two thirds of them had satisfaction in the all items. Regarding to professional qualities of nurses half of mothers saw that the nurses efficient, professional a n d personal quality of caring nurses. Regarding welcome nurse to the mothers and their children were less than half described it as very good. Positive relations between the mothers' satisfaction and nurses socio-demographic characteristics as education and their experience. There were statistical significant differences regarding satisfaction. Recommendations: Use of different triage scale and more qualified personnel performing triage to safety risk for the pediatric patients. Triage nurses require excellent communication and assessment skills as well as knowledge of the legal and professional principles that underpin their practice. Continuing training on triage systems for nurses will improve staff capacity building in Jordan and elsewhere in the pediatric ED. There should be continuing evaluation of the effectiveness of triage training programmes on the perceptions, practice and knowledge of triage nurses. Developing an educational program for pediatric nurses to improve their communication skills and thus improve the way of conveying information to and from pediatric patients.