Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CURVE is the Institutional Repository for Coventry University Experimental analysis of Pressed Adobe Blocks reinforced with Hibiscus cannabinus fibers

There is an on-going search for less polluting materials and technologies, which consume little energy in their production, construction and/or utilization. Nowadays, the attention of the researchers turns to materials which were used in engineering in pre-industrial times amongst them the local vegetable fibres and earth composites are the promising materials. This paper presents the results of research on the physical and mechanical properties of Hibiscus Cannabinus Fibres which have been used in the fabrication of Pressed Adobe Blocks (PABs). The PABs have been reinforced by Hibiscus cannabinus fibres with a content of 0.2 to 0.8 wt. % and a length of 3cm and 6cm. The microstructural characteristics of the PABs composites were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and video microscopy. It was established that the addition with 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % of 3 cm long fibres reduced the dimensions of the pores in the PABs with the improvement of their mechanical properties. However, the addition of 0.8 wt. % of 6 cm fibres had negative effects on the compressive strength. The elaborated Pressed Adobe Blocks specimens were suitable as a building material with an acceptable thermal comfort. * Corresponding author : Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sciences et Techniques (UFR/ST), Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso, 01 BP 1091 Bobo 01, Burkina Faso. Tel. : +226 70 26 33 83; fax: +226 20 98 25 77. E-mail address: millogokadi@gmail.com (Y. Millogo).
The Growing Female Advantage in College Completion: The Role of Family Background and Academic Achievement

In a few short decades, the gender gap in college completion has reversed from favoring men to favoring women. This study, which is the first to assess broadly the causes of the growing female advantage in college completion, considers the impact of family resources as well as gender differences in academic performance and in the pathways to college completion on the rising gender gap. Analyses of General Social Survey data indicate that the female-favorable trend in college completion emerged unevenly by family status of origin to the disadvantage of sons in families with a low-educated or absent father. Additional analyses of National Educational Longitudinal Survey (NELS) data indicate that women's superior academic performance plays a large role in producing the gender gap in college completion, but that this effect remains latent until after the transition to college. For NELS cohorts, who were born in the mid-1970s, the female advantage in college completion remains largest in families with a low-educated or absent father, but currently extends to all family types. In conjunction with women's growing incentives to attain higher education, gender differences in resources related to family background and academic performance largely explain the growing female advantage in college completion.
Soil microbial invasions V2.indd

Natural ecosystems show variable resistance to invasion by alien species, and this resistance can relate to the species diversity in the system. In soil, microorganisms are key components that determine life support functions, but the functional redundancy in the microbiota of most soils has long been thought to overwhelm microbial diversity function relationships. We here show an inverse relationship between soil microbial diversity and survival of the invading species Escherichia coli O157:H7, assessed by using the marked derivative strain T. The invader’s fate in soil was determined in the presence of (i) differentially-constructed culturable bacterial communities and (ii) microbial communities established using a dilution-to-extinction approach. Both approaches revealed a negative correlation between the diversity of the soil microbiota and survival of the invader. The relationship could be explained by a decrease in the competitive ability of the invader in species-rich versus species-poor bacterial communities, reflected in the amount of resources utilized and the rate of their consumption. Soil microbial diversity is a key factor that controls the extent to which bacterial invaders can establish. T H E B I O D I V E R S I T Y I N VA S I O N R E L AT I O N S H I P I N S O I L | 4 7
Effects of Explanation and Counter-Explanation on the Development and Use of Social Theories.

Social theories-beliefs about relations between variables in the social environment-are often used in making judgments, predictions, or decisions. Three experiments on the role of explanation in the development and use of social theories were presented. We found that explaining how or why two variables might be related leads to an increased belief in and use of the explained theory. A counterexplanation task was found to be effective in eliminating this initial explanation bias (Experiments 2 & 3). These explanation and counterexplanation effects occurred in a variety of theory domains (Experiment I), with simple belief measures (Experiments I & 3), and with complex social judgments involving multiple predictor variables (Experiment 2). Finally, we found that such new, explanationinduced beliefs did not lead to biased evaluation of new data. However, exposure to new data indicating a zero relation between the social variables in question only moderated the explanation-induced theories; it did not eliminate them (Experiment 3). Implications for decision making in real-world contexts and for understanding the cognitive processes underlying explanation effects in the present and in related judgment domains were also examined. Social judgments and decisions, ranging from the trivial to the absolutely crucial, frequently are made using social theories of dubious validity. By social theories we mean beliefs people hold about how and in what way variables in the social environment are related (cf. Anderson, Lepper, & Ross, 1980). Consider the decisions faced by emergency room doctors when presented with a 3-year-old child admitted for treatment of head injuries, bruises, and lacerations possibly due to parental child abuse. Should the attending physicians call the police, or try to get the parents to see the hospital counseling personnel, or simply ignore the evidence of child abuse? The decision will be based on the physicians' social theories about the effects of various interventions on the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being of abused children. Some may believe that legal prosecution of the parents, perhaps resulting in the courts placing the child in a foster or adoptive home, produces the best outcomes for abused children. Others may believe that family counseling, without legal intervention, is best. Still others may feel that legal and psychological interventions are both worse than doing nothing-namely, that the parents will probably not engage in abusive behaviors again, and that they will provide the best environment for their own child. Or consider political decisions concerning national defense issues. Should the United States continue the present massive build-up of nuclear and nonnuclear forces? People's judgments will depend on their social theories relating these actions to the responses of the Soviets. Do threatening gestures promote peace
Performance analysis of a 7‐kW crystalline silicon generator after 17 years of operation in Madrid

The degradation observed on a 7‐kWp Si‐x photovoltaic array after 17 years of exposure on the roof of the Solar Energy Institute of the Polytechnic University of Madrid is presented. The mean peak power degradation has been 9% over this time, or an equivalent to 0.53% per year, whereas peak power standard deviation has remained constant. The main visual defects are backsheet delamination at the polyester/polyvinyl fluoride outer interface and cracks in the terminal boxes and at the joint between the frame and the laminate. Insulation resistance complies well with the requirements of the International Electrotechnical Commission 61215 tests. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors associated with attrition from HIV care during the first year after antiretroviral therapy initiation in Kenya.

Objectives: A secondary analysis of clinical trial data was used to: (1) estimate retention one year after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation; (2) determine factors associated with attrition; and (3) investigate whether participants deemed lost to follow-up (LTFU) were still engaged with the clinic through an interactive mobile phone intervention. Methods: Between 2007 and 2008, adults initiating ART were recruited from three clinics in Kenya. Telephone and community tracing were undertaken to track participants who did not attend their 12-month appointment. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between an interactive text-messaging intervention, purposively selected clinical and socio-demographic factors, and attrition. Data on participant engagement with the text-messaging intervention were extracted from a communications log. Results: Data from 538 participants were included. Retention in care at 6-months was 86.2% (461/535), decreasing to 81.8% (431/527) at 12-months. At 12-months, 53% (51/96) of attrition was due to death and 47% (45/96) to LTFU. A baseline CD4 count <100 was significantly associated with greater attrition (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.83, 95%CI: 1.14-2.94). At 12-months, increased travel time to clinic was significantly associated with greater attrition in females (AOR 1.55, 95%CI: 1.12-2.14), but not in males (AOR 0.95, 95%CI: 0.65-1.39). Of 16 intervention arm participants considered LTFU at 6-months, 11 were in contact with the clinic through text-messaging. At 12-months, less than half (7/18) of participants considered LTFU who were enrolled in the service were participating in the intervention. Conclusions: Our results confirm the association between a low baseline CD4 count and attrition, and suggest that travel time to the clinic is an important factor in retaining female patients. They highlight the importance of tracing studies to estimate retention and the opportunity provided by an interactive mobile health intervention to connect with patients considered LTFU.
New developments of the ZZ Ceti instability strip : the discovery of 11 new variables

Using the The SOuthern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) 4.1-m telescope, we report on the discovery of low amplitude pulsations for three stars previously reported as not-observed-to-vary (NOV) by Mukadam et al. and Mullally et al., which are inside the ZZ Ceti instability strip. With the two pulsators discovered by Castanheira et al., we have now found variability in a total of five stars previously reported as NOVs. We also report the variability of eight new pulsating stars, not previously observed, bringing the total number of known ZZ Ceti stars to 148. In addition, we lowered the detection limit for 10 NOVs located near the edges of the ZZ Ceti instability strip. Our results are consistent with a pure mass-dependent ZZ Ceti instability strip.
Following the user's flow in the Digital Pompidou

Since 2007, the Centre Pompidou, major modern art museum in Paris, developed a new digital strategy aiming at providing a global platform for online digital content: the Centre Pompidou Virtuel, which could literally translate as “Virtual Pompidou Center” or more accurately “Digital Centre Pompidou” . This platform provides access through a unique entry point to the whole digital production of the organization and associated institutions (Bpi, Ircam): digitized works of art, documents about art and art history, videos and podcasts, archival material, library books records, etc. The goal of the project was to make the online presence of the Centre Pompidou focus on the content rather than being just an institutional showcase mainly targeting physical visitors of the building in Paris. On the contrary, the Pompidou website is now a reference online tool for anyone interested in modern and contemporary arts, or in the humanities in general.
Process Monitoring of Polymer Systems by using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Polymers are a very important class of organic materials. Nowadays, polymers have been widely used in many fields due to their specific and excellent properties. They have become increasingly significant in our lives. With the growing demands on the quality of polymer products as well as reduction of costs in production and processing, the fast, accurate and reliable monitoring methods become more and more important. The traditional off-line monitoring methods have many limitations, one of which is lag effect. This is mainly because sampling and lab testing can be very time-consuming and for some tests a long time is required before the results are obtained. It is obviously that there is a large time gap between sampling and obtaining the results. Meanwhile, the reaction or processing of unknown quality polymer continues. Hence, the sample and end product don’t have the same properties, which can result in large amounts of wasted material (Rohe et al., 1999). Another problem is that the sample analysed is small and as a result might not have all the properties that the bulk possessed (Coates et al., 2003). Due to these limitations and problems, the off-line measuring methods are clearly unsuitable for the process monitoring. Undoubtedly, it is exciting to observe that the spectroscopic techniques can meet the above demands required by the process monitoring of the polymer systems. The vibrational spectroscopy is ideally suited to qualitative and quantitative analysis of polymers. Moreover, it can also give valuable information at the molecular level about the reactions extent and the products quality. It deserves to be specially noted that Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a promising tool among the spectroscopic techniques. Near-infrared spectroscopy lies between the visible and mid-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, whose region extends from about 12,500-4000 cm-1. This region encompasses bands that result from the harmonic overtones of fundamental and combination bands associated with hydrogen atoms, which is why compounds containing CH, OH and NH bonds lend themselves favourably to analysis by NIR spectroscopy. However, NIR spectroscopy is comparatively weaker than mid-infrared, and contains molecular structure information seriously overlapped which resulted in the silence of its research in the early stage. The modern earliest analytical applications of NIR spectroscopy were reported in the early 1960’s (Butler & Norris, 1960; Norris & Butler, 1961). Nowadays, NIR spectroscopy
In vitro antibacterial effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart. and Theobroma grandiflorum hydroalcoholic extracts

This study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of these species against strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The hydroalcoholic extracts were prepared from dried leaves, pulp and seeds of E. oleracea Mart. and T. grandiflorum by continuous percolation with 70% ethyl alcohol. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against four microorganisms by the agar disc diffusion method and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The antimicrobial activity showed that the acai pulp and seeds possessed significant inhibition in Clostridium perfringens (320 and 640 MIC), Staphylococcus aureus (80 and 320 MIC) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (640 and 2560 MIC). Cupuassu extracts showed no effect on any bacteria. The use of acai extract products can be a sustainable, viable and an accessible alternative for antimicrobial treatment. New studies should be conducted to determine better results for acai herbals and new formulations of cupuassu extracts.
Content and Retention of Provitamin A Carotenoids Following Ripening and Local Processing of Four Popular Musa Cultivars from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Changes in the concentrations and retention levels of total and individual provitamin A carotenoids (pVACs) during ripening and local processing of the four most popular Musa cultivars of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were established through HPLC analysis. The predominant pVACs were all trans β- and α-carotene, together constituting about 90% of total pVACs content in raw and processed Musa fruit pulp. The proportion of β- and α-carotene was not significantly different in the tested East African Highland Bananas (AAA-EAHB) (‘Nshikazi’ and ‘Vulambya’); in the plantains (‘Musilongo’ and ‘Musheba’), proportion of β-carotene was almost twice that of α-carotene. An increase in total pVACs was observed during ripening, with highest levels at ripening stage 3 in all four cultivars. Total pVACs values were as high as 1081µg/100gfw in ‘Vulambya’ and 1819µg/100gfw in ‘Musilongo’. Boiling of the AAA-EAHB and AAB-Plantains resulted to retention of between 40-90% and >95% respectively. Plantains deep-fried in fully-refined palm oil and crude red palm oil for 2 minutes did not seem to lose any pVACs, the levels of total pVACs observed after frying were 100% of what was observed when the fruit was raw. Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE), in boiled products varied between 22.3 and 173 RAEµg/100gfw, whereas deep fried products had >190 RAEµg/100g edible portion. These results show that the tested AAA-EAHBs and the plantains could meet at least 14% and 30 % of Vitamin A recommended dietary intakes respectively. The findings can therefore guide consumer consumption patterns to maximize vitamin A intake for improved health in these regions and also direct researchers in the selection of Musa cultivars to be incorporated within existing farming systems in the fight against vitamin A deficiency (VAD).
ACTIVE CONTROL OF SOUND RADIATION FROM A PLATE USING A POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE VOLUME DISPLACEMENT SENSOR

This paper presents a new volume displacement sensor (made of shaped strips of PVDF film) and the experimental implementation of this sensor in an active control system. A design strategy for a PVDF sensor detecting the volume displacement induced by a vibrating 2D structure is presented. It is based on the modal representation of the plate response. It actually consists in designing a PVDF sensor, composed of several shaped PVDF strips bonded to the surface of the structure, in such a way that the output signal of the sensor is directly proportional to the volume displacement. The design methodology is based on the experimental measurements of the plate mode shapes (eigenfunctions) and is valid for any type of boundary conditions. The experimental implementation of such a volumetric sensor in an active control system is then presented. The experimental results obtained validates this new type of volume displacement sensor.
Chapter 2 Langmuir ‐ Blodgett Methodology : A Versatile Technique to Build 2 D Material Films

The Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) methodology is based on the transfer process of a monolay‐ er adsorbed at the water interface, Langmuir film, from the air‐water interface onto solids by vertical dipping of the substrate immersed on the subphase. The technique allows the continuous variation of material density, packing, and arrangement by compressing or expanding the film by using barriers. Consequently, it provides the possibility of preparing films with the control of interparticle distance necessary to exploit the two‐dimensional (2D) materials in technological applications. In this chapter, we present some examples of fabrication of thin films of 2D material using this methodology. We show some methodologies based on this technique to build thin films of graphene oxides, Quan‐ tum Dots (QDs), and silver nanowires.
Understanding the predictability of seasonal precipitation over northeast Brazil

Using multiple long-term simulations of the Center for Ocean—Land—Atmosphere Studies (COLA) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) forced with observed sea surface temperature (SST), it is shown that the model has high skill in simulating the February—March-April (FMA) rainy season over northeast Brazil (Nordeste). Separate sensitivity experiments conducted with the same model that entails suppression of all variability except for the climatological annual cycle in SST over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans reveal that this skill over Nordeste is sensitive to SST anomalies in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. However, the spatial pattern of SST anomalies in the tropical Atlantic Ocean that correlate with FMA Nordeste rainfall are in fact a manifestation of El Ni˜no Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean. This study also analyzes the failure of the COLA AGCM in capturing the correct FMA precipitation anomalies over Nordeste in several years of the simulation. It is found that this failure occurs when the SST anomalies over the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean are large and not significantly correlated with contemporaneous SST anomalies over the eastern Pacific Ocean. In two of the relatively large ENSO years when the model failed to capture the correct signal of the interannual variability of precipitation over Nordeste, it was found that the meridional gradient of SST anomalies over the tropical Atlantic Ocean was inconsistent with the canonical development of ENSO. The analysis of the probabilistic skill of the model revealed that it has more skill in predicting flood years than drought. Furthermore, the model has no skill in predicting normal seasons. These model features are consistent with the model systematic errors.
The Representation of Verbs: Evidence from Syntactic Priming in Language Production

Abstract We report five experiments that investigate syntactic priming ( 982592 ) using a written completion task. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that priming occurs if the prime and target contain different verbs, but that stronger priming occurs if the verb is repeated. Experiment 1 also showed that priming occurs even if the detailed structure of prime and target differ. Experiments 3, 4, and 5 found that priming was unaffected by whether tense, aspect, or number of the verb stayed the same or differed between prime and target. We argue that these results provide evidence about the representation of syntactic information within the lemma stratum. We use these results to extend the model proposed by 982592 , 1993). In particular, we argue that combinatorial information is phrasal in nature, is associated with the verb's lemma rather than a particular form of the verb, and is shared between different lemmas.
ADIABATIC EFFECTIVENESS MEASUREMENTS FOR A BASELINE SHAPED FILM COOLING HOLE

Film cooling on airfoils is a crucial cooling method as the gas turbine industry seeks higher turbine inlet temperatures. Shaped film cooling holes are widely used in many designs given the improved performance over that of cylindrical holes. Although there have been numerous studies of shaped holes, there is no established baseline shaped hole to which new cooling hole designs can be compared. The goal of this study is to offer the community a shaped hole design, representative of proprietary and open literature holes that serves as a baseline for comparison purposes. The baseline shaped cooling hole design includes the following features: hole inclination angle of 30° with a 7° expansion in the forward and lateral directions; hole length of 6 diameters; hole exit-to-inlet area ratio of 2.5; and lateral hole spacing of 6 diameters. Adiabatic effectiveness was measured with this new shaped hole and was found to peak near a blowing ratio of 1.5 at density ratios of 1.2 and 1.5 as well as at both low and moderate freestream turbulence of 5%. Reductions in area-averaged effectiveness due to freestream turbulence at low blowing ratios were as high as 10%.