Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental and numerical investigation of the transient charging of a dielectric surface exposed to a plasma jet

This work investigates the dynamical charging of a surface under exposure of a non-equilibrium plasma jet at atmospheric pressure through a quantitative comparison between modeling and experiments. We show using mono-polar pulses with variable pulse duration and amplitude that the charging time (i.e. the time from impact of the ionization wave till the fall of the high voltage pulse) is a crucial element determining the plasma-surface interaction. This is done through direct measurements of the electric field induced inside the target using the optical diagnostic technique called Mueller polarimetry and comparison with the electric field calculated using a 2D fluid model of the plasma jet interaction with the target in the same conditions as in the experiments. When the charging time is kept relatively short (less than 100 ns), the surface spreading of the discharge and consequent surface charge deposition are limited. When it is relatively long (up to microseconds), the increased surface spreading and charge deposition significantly change the electric field to which the target is exposed during the charging time and when the applied voltage returns to zero.
Privacy at the Margins| Socially Mediated Visibility: Friendship and Dissent in Authoritarian Azerbaijan

Socially mediated visibility refers to technical features of social media platforms and the strategic actions of individuals or groups to manage the content and associations visible on social media channels, as well as inferences and consequences resulting from that visibility. As a root affordance, the visibility of content and associations shared in mediated settings can vary, with users typically retaining only partial control over visibility. Understanding how social and technical factors affect visibility plays a critical role in managing one’s online self-presentation. This qualitative study of young dissident Azerbaijanis ( N = 29) considers the management strategies as well as the risks and benefits associated with increased visibility when sharing marginalized political views through social media. Socially mediated visibility helps dissidents advocate and connect with like-minded others, but also increases the likelihood that their dissent is visible to those who may disagree with it and can punish them for it. This study considers the effect of the visibility of dissent on peer relationships.
EFFECT OF DIETARY OF VEGETABLE SOURCES AND FEED ADDITIVES ON SOME PRODUCTIVE, REPRODUCTIVE AND NUTRIENTS UTILIZATION OF MANDARAH HENS DURING THE LATE STAGE OF EGG PRODUCTION CYCLE.

A total number of 240 hens of Mandarah local strain aging 58 weeks of age was used in a factorial design (3 source of vegetable oil groups x 4 feed additives) up to 70 weeks of age. Hens were divided randomly into three treatment groups. The 1 st group was fed basal diet, 2 nd group was fed the basal diet containing 3% corn oil, 3 rd group was fed the basal diet containing 3% sunflower oil. Each treatment group was divided randomly into four subgroups. The 1 st subgroup was fed basal diet without any supplementation t, 2 nd group was supplemented with vitamin C at 100 mg/kg diet, 3 rd subgroup was supplemented with kemzyme preparation at a rate of 0.05% of the diet, and the 4 th subgroup was supplemented with both of vitamin C (100 mg/kg diet) and kemzyme preparation at level 0.05% of the diet. The results indicated that feeding laying hens on vegetable oil sources (corn or sunflower oil at 3% diet) produced the best value of egg number, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion and hell thickness as compared to those fed control diet. However, chicks weight at hatching, values of serum cholesterol and yolk cholesterol were significantly (P<0.05) effect due to corn oil treatment as compared to other treatment. The vegetable oil sources had a beneficial effect on the digestion coefficient values of DM, CP and EE% and also improved the retained amount of calcium and phosphorus content as compared to the control diet. On the other hand, hens fed diets supplemented with kemzyme only gave the best values of egg number, egg production and feed conversion. Hens fed diet supplemented with vitamin C resulted in the best value of egg weight and egg mass, while the lowest value of feed intake was recorded by hens fed diet supplemented with the combination of vitamin C and kemzyme preparation. The addition of vitamin C and mixture of vitamin C and kemzyme preparation gave the best values of egg shell quality, in almost coefficients of digestibility, calcium and phosphorus retention, fertility and hatchability and also the chick weight at hatching, while it was lower both of serum cholesterol and yolk cholesterol and also increase serum calcium and phosphorus content when compared to the other treatments. 42 SHEHATA AND ELABD Interaction results indicated no significant for previous traits, except for feed intake, feed conversion and the values of serum cholesterol, yolk cholesterol and total lipid, which were significant (P<0.05) affected. Economic evaluation indicated that the use of oil (sunflower oil following corn oil) in supplementing layer diets improved NR and EE% as compared to the non supplemented diet, while kemzyme preparation recorded the highest value of NR and EE% follow by the mixture of vitamin C with kemzyme preparation as compared to the other treatments.
The impact of a sewage treatment plant's effluent on sediment quality in a small bay in Lake Geneva (Switzerland–France). Part 2: Temporal evolution of heavy metals

The Bay of Vidy is the most contaminated area of Lake Geneva, Switzerland, as a result of the release of treated and untreated waste water from the municipal sewage treatment plant of the city of Lausanne and its surroundings. The reconstruction of the historical deposition of heavy metals in the sediment of the bay has been performed by the analysis of several dated (radiocaesium) sediment cores. The presence of sewage-derived contaminants in the Bay of Vidy since the beginning of the sewage treatment plant’s operations in 1964 is clearly observed, when a sharp increase in heavy metal contents is recorded, with maximum concentrations of cadmium, copper, zinc and lead occurring between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Despite considerable improvement in recent times, the present concentrations of the investigated heavy metals in sediments of the Bay of Vidy are still higher than concentrations measured at the centre of the lake, the latter close to Lake Geneva’s natural background values. It is concluded that the quantity of heavy metals deposited in the bay is considerable and, because of sediment instability, will constitute a potential hazard for biota.
Study on Growth Effects of Major-Nutrients Composition to Banana Cultivation in Coastal Areas of Sindh, Pakistan

The composition of major nutrients, i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), is a critical factor in banana cultivation and also influences crop yield. This study was aimed to analyze the concentrations of NPK in different banana growing locations of coastal areas of Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 15 composite soil samples at the depth of 0 - 15 and 15 - 30 cm and the same number of banana leaves were collected. The samples were analyzed for the concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn and Cl concentrations. Results showed that the surface and sub-surface soils of coastal areas were heavy in texture, non-saline, medium alkaline and moderately calcareous in nature. Medium to adequate in Organic Matter (OM), medium in total nitrogen, medium to optimum in available phosphorus, medium to high in exchangeable potassium and deficient in available zinc at both tested depths. The analysis of soluble anions indicated that the carbonates were absent and that chlorides were dominant as compared with bicarbonates. Nitrogen and zinc concentrations of banana leaves were below the critical level, whereas P, K, Mn and chloride ion concentration were above the critical levels. In addition, the relative percentages for K, Ca and Mg were 57.72 to 61.72, 19.05 to 21.00 and 17.70 to 20.00 respectively.
Works Title Information Mismatch : Cancer Risk Counseling with Diverse Underserved Patients Permalink

As genetics and genomics become part of mainstream Medicine, these advances have the potential to reduce or exacerbate health disparities. Gaps in effective communication (where all parties share the same meaning) are widely recognized as a major contributor to health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine GC-patient communication in real time, to assess its effectiveness from the patient perspective, and then to pilot intervention strategies to improve the communication. We observed 64 English-, 35 Spanishand 25 Chinese-speaking (n = 124) public hospital patients and 10 GCs in 170 GC appointments, and interviewed 49 patients who were offered testing using the audio recordings to stimulate recall and probe specific aspects of the communication. Data analyses were conducted using grounded theory methods and revealed a fundamental mismatch between the information provided by GCs and the information desired and meaningful to patients. Several components of the communication that contributed to this mismatch and often resulted in ineffective communication included: (1) too much information; (2) complex terminology and conceptually difficult presentation of information; (3) information perceived as not relevant by the patient; (4) unintentional inhibition of patient engagement and questionasking; (5) vague discussions of screening and prevention recommendations. Our findings indicate a need to transform the standard model of genetic counseling communication using evidence-based principles and strategies from other fields of Medicine. The high rates of limited health literacy in the US, increasing access of diverse populations to genetic services, and growing complexity of genetic information have created a perfect storm. If not directly addressed, this convergence is likely to exacerbate health disparities in the genomic age.
Coega and East London industrial development zones (IDZs): the financial and socio-economic impact of the Eastern Cape IDZs and their prospects

The aim of this article was to assess the financial and socio-economic impact of the two Industrial Development Zones (IDZs) emanating from the public-private partnerships (PPPs) arrangement in the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities, located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The metropolitan municipalities, despite the introduction of PPPs, are still faced with serious socio-economic challenges such as slow economic growth, increased poverty levels, unemployment and mostly stagnant infrastructure development as a result of underfunding. In addition, metropolitan municipalities remain obliged to deliver on their constitutional mandate, which is the provision of services to communities consistent with the Municipal Financed Management Act (MFMA) and Municipal Systems Act (MSA). Municipal financial planning and management leads to the development of methods to achieve sound financial performance in municipalities in line with service delivery demands. Sound municipal financial performance enables the municipalities to provide goods and services to all citizens. The study adopted a quantitative research approach, where a structured questionnaire was administered to 50 purposely selected participants. A core finding of the study suggested that the metropolitan municipalities benefited from the IDZs PPP arrangements where project planning, development and management skills were transferred to government officials, impacting on improved service delivery. A key recommendation forwarded suggests that both the national government and metropolitan municipalities need to champion PPP procurement through the enhancement of the Mu-nicipal Public Private Partnership Implementation Framework. The study concluded that a regulation, such as the aforementioned, without a structured implementation plan, eminently jeopardiz es an investor’s interest in PPP arrangements, with negative financial consequences for the state.
Napping and morningness-eveningness

Abstract Our main aim in this work was to investigate the difference in napping behavior in relation to morningness and eveningness. We assessed morningness, eveningness, habitual sleep-wake times and different measures of napping, namely, start time, end time and duration on both weekdays and weekend days. Napping start time did not differ between weekdays and weekends, but napping ended later on weekends. Morning affect positively and eveningness negatively were related to nap end on weekend, nap duration on weekdays/weekend, average nap duration, and midpoint of napping on free days (MNFc). Nap duration was related to morningness and eveningness, with evening-oriented people napping longer. Midpoint of sleep and midpoint of napping were also positively correlated. Further, longer naps do not seem to compensate for lack of sleep on weekdays. As a conclusion, we identified napping as a correlate of morningness, eveningness and midpoint of sleep.
Meat Quality and Cooking Characteristics in Broilers Influenced by Winter Transportation Distance and Crate Density

A study was conducted to determine the effect of transportation distance and crating density on meat quality traits during winter. ROSS-308 broilers aged 35 days were divided into 10 treatment groups based on three transportation distances (80, 160, and 240 km) with three crating densities (10, 12, and 15 birds per crate) along with birds slaughtered on farm without crating as a control group. Each treatment was replicated 10 times and placed at various locations in the truck. The birds were transported in plastic crates of 0.91 m×0.55 m×0.30 m at ambient temperature and relative humidity of 3.6–9.5°C and 63.3–78.8%, respectively. The breast meat quality parameters including pH, color, drip loss, shear force, marinade uptake and retention, cooking losses, and yield were determined. The results showed significantly higher pH 15 min post-slaughter (PS), drip loss, lightness, marinade uptake, raw meat cooking yield, and shear force in birds slaughtered on farm without any transportation. The birds transported for 240 km had significantly higher pH at 2 hours (h) PS, marinade retention, and cooking yield. Whereas, pH at 24 h PS, meat redness, yellowness, chroma, and marinated meat cooking yield were significantly higher in all transported treatments compared to the control group. Among different crating densities, the birds transported with 10 birds per crate showed significantly higher meat redness, marinade retention, and cooking yield. The crating density of 15 birds per crate had significantly higher lightness, hue, cooking loss, and shear force. However, no effect of crating density was observed on meat pH, drip loss, and marinade uptake. It can be concluded that an increase in transportation distance and low crating density during winter can negatively affect physical quality of meat with significant improvement in marination and cooking characteristics.
Effects of Bank Credit on Industrial Performance in Nigeria

This paper investigates the effect of bank loans and advances on industrial performance in Nigeria between 1975 and 2009. Co-integration and Error Correction technique was adopted for the analysis. The results showed that industrial performance co-integrated with all the identified explanatory variables. Industrial sector as dependent variable is proxied by real GDP, while Commercial Banks’ Loan and Advances to Industrial Sector (BLM), Aggregate Saving (SAV), Interest rate (INT), Inflation Rate (INF) are the independent variables. This suggests that the behavior of real Gross Domestic Product contributed by industrial sector in Nigeria is significantly explained by the commercial banks’ loan and advances to industrial sector, aggregate saving, interest rate and inflation rate. The findings implies that every action towards infrastructural development, strengthening of commercial banks, deregulation of interest rate, encouragement of saving among rural dwellers and reduction of inflation rate will boost the performance of industrial sector significantly. Key words: Bank credit; Industrial performance; Nigeria
Decentralized recovery for survivable storage systems

Modern society has produced a wealth of data to preserve for the long term. Some data we keep for cultural benefit, in order to make it available to future generations, while other data we keep because of legal imperatives. One way to preserve such data is to store it using survivable storage systems. Survivable storage is distinct from reliable storage in that it tolerates confidentiality failures in which unauthorized users compromise component storage servers, as well as crash failures of servers. Thus, a survivable storage system can guarantee both the availability and the confidentiality of stored data. Research into survivable storage systems investigates the use of m-of-n threshold sharing schemes to distribute data to servers, in which each server receives a share of the data. Any m shares can be used to reconstruct the data, but any m − 1 shares reveal no information about the data. The central thesis of this dissertation is that to truly preserve data for the long term, a system that uses threshold schemes must incorporate recovery protocols able to overcome server failures, adapt to changing availability or confidentiality requirements, and operate in a decentralized manner. To support the thesis, I present the design and experimental performance analysis of a verifiable secret redistribution protocol for threshold sharing schemes. The protocol redistributes shares of data from old to new, possibly disjoint, sets of servers, such that new shares generated by redistribution cannot be combined with old shares to reconstruct the original data. The protocol is decentralized, and does not require intermediate reconstruction of the data; thus, one does not create a central point of failure or risk the exposure of the data during protocol execution. The protocol incorporates a verification capability that enables new servers to confirm that their shares can be used to reconstruct the original data.
Are Negative Cognitions Associated With Severe Acute Trauma Responses?

Abstract Recent cognitive models of trauma response predict that negative trauma appraisals are central to the development of psychopathological stress reactions. Fifty-nine civilian survivors of motor vehicle accidents (MVA; n = 24) and nonsexual assaults (n = 35) were assessed within 4 weeks of their traumatic event for acute stress disorder (ASD), prior traumatic events and prior mental health contact, and were administered the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory. Participants who were diagnosed with ASD displayed more maladaptive appraisals about their functioning following their trauma and reported higher levels of concern regarding anxiety symptoms than those who were not diagnosed with ASD. Negative beliefs were strongly associated with acute stress severity. These findings are discussed in the context of cognitive mechanisms that may influence maladaptive adjustment following trauma.
A practical verification and validation approach for Computational Wind Engineering simulations using an experimental design technique

Understanding the sensitivity of computational wind engineering (CWE) solutions to simulation parameters facilitates the development of useful solutions. The traditional approach adopted in other fields through verification and validation (V&V) with well-defined benchmarks is not always possible in CWE. Complex flow phenomena in even simple flow conditions are not readily defined analytically or measured experimentally. This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity of CWE solutions to various simulation parameters with a view to identifying the optimal simulation configuration yielding more reliable results with the least computational effort. To this end the study uses the experimental design technique and seeks to verify the optimal size of the computational domain and level of mesh refinement.
Causality between financial development and economic growth: an application of vector error correction and variance decomposition methods to Saudi Arabia

This article makes an attempt to test the possible directions of causality between financial development and economic growth, which were labelled by Patrick (1966) as the supply-leading and demand-following hypothesis. Saudi Arabia is taken as a case study. The methods applied are the error correction and variance decompositions techniques including the most recently developed ‘long-run structural modelling (LRSM)’ (Pesaran and Shin, 2002), which by imposing exactly identifying and overidentifying restrictions on the cointegrating vector has taken care of a major limitation of the conventional cointegrating estimates in that they were atheoretical in nature. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been any study on this issue with the application of the techniques that incorporate ‘LRSM’. The stability of the functions has also been tested by Cumulative Sum (CUSUM), Cumulative Sum of Squares (CUSUMSQ) and Chow Test (CHOW) tests. Our findings, based on the above mentioned rigorous techniques, tend to suggest that the direction of causation between financial development and economic growth is supply-leading (rather than demand–following), as expected at the early stage of development. These findings have clear policy implications in that a pro-active policy of growth and reform of the financial sector will help enhance economic growth in an open developing economy like Saudi Arabia.
ASSESSMENT OF TWO SINGLE-END FAULT LOCATION ALGORITHMS IN AN ATP APPROACH

The paper presents the results of the implementation of two single-end data algorithms in ATP-EMTP program, the modules of the algorithm being associated with different power distribution grids. In the ATP-MODELS the algorithm developed by Takagi, but adapted for one-machine systems, and that developed by Das, improved in this approach, are implemented. DFT and replica impedance filters are used to calculate the fundamental frequency phasors of the transient voltages and currents. The considered parameters of the presented analysis are: line’s load, fault’s type and resistance and fault position along the power grid’s lines.
Damaging micromechanisms characterization in a ferritic-pearlitic ductile cast iron

The analysis of the damaging micromechanisms in Ductile Cast Irons is often focused on ferritic matrix. Up to ten years ago, for this grades of DCIs, the main damaging micromechanism was identified with the graphite elements - ferritic matrix debonding. More recent experimental results showed the presence of an internal gradient of mechanical properties in the graphite elements and the importance of other damaging micromechanisms, with a negligible importance of the graphite elements - ferritic matrix debonding mechanism. In this work, damaging micromechanisms development in a ferritic - pearlitic DCI have been investigated by means of tensile tests performed on mini-tensile specimens and observing the specimens lateral surfaces by means of a scanning electro microscope (SEM) during the tests ("in-situ" tests). Experimental results have been compared with the damaging micromechanisms observed in fully ferritic and fully pearlitic DCIs.