Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fatigue effects associated with freeze-thaw of materials

In a traditional freeze-thaw test, where the specimen is exposed to liquid water during thawing and/or during freezing, it is often observed that damage increses progressively with increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles. Sometimes, a certain "incubation" number of cycles is required before frost damage occurs. This behaviour is often believed to be an effect of fatigue. In this report it is shown that the damage progression observed is probably caused by a gradual water absorption during the test. Therefore, each new cycle is performed with a somewhat higher moisture level. Often a certain number of cycles ("incubation cycles") is required for frost damage to be initiated. Thereafter, due to the gradually increased water content during each new cycle, damage is increased with increasing number of cycles. This is not due to a fatigue effect of traditional type, but due to gradually higher internal stresses caused by the increased water level in the material. In the paper it is also shown that a certain low-cycle fatigue exists, and has an influence on the damage progression, but this effect is limited to rather few freeze-thaw cycles coming directly after the cycle that initiated frost damage. Equations for estimation of the progress of frost damage as function of the number of freezethaw cycles are given in the report.
How Critical Is Back Translation in Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Attitude Measures?.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three types of practices applied in Korea in enhancing the validity and equivalency of test instruments when cross-cultural adaptation of attitude measures is necessary. The three types of practices are: (1) translation and review (translation version); (2) translation, back translation, and review (back translation version); and (3) translation, back translation, review, and empirical validation study (validation version) . The focus was on the relative effectiveness of back translation applied to the construction of Korean versions of instruments. Participants were 734 fifth graders from 3 public elementary schools in Seoul (Korea) . Responses on the three test versions and two other motivation scales were collected within a 3-week period at approximately 1-week intervals. Results show that the back translation version is superior to the translation version in terms of its similarity to the validation version and construct-related evidence. However, results from item-response theory analyses reveal that the quality of the translated items is similar. The nature of adapted attitude scales is discussed. Appendixes contain the Academic Failure Tolerance Scale (M. Clifford 1988, 19991) and two back translation versions. (Contains 13 tables and 33 references.) (Author/SLD) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** How Critical is Back Translation in Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Attitude Measures?
Development of a Model of Family Management for Overweight Prevention in Urban Thai Preschoolers

The aim of this investigation was to develop, using Ecological Systems Theory (EST) as a contextual framework to determine influencing factors and desired outcomes, a family management model to prevent preschoolers from becoming overweight. A three-phase participatory action research (PAR) design was implemented with stakeholders in a public primary school in Thailand. In the first phase, 327 families with preschoolers were assessed, by way of a self-administered questionnaire, about factors that influence weight gain. The second phase consisted of two workshops, involving 59 stakeholders, and home visits to 27 families conducted for the purpose of developing the model. The final phase evaluated the effects of the model. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. A repeated measure ANOVA was performed to analyze the quantitative data, while content analysis was utilized to evaluate the qualitative data. A three component model (family, school and public health) for family management of overweight prevention in urban preschoolers emerged. The family component consisted of: a) family management processes: preparing a family's readiness, acting or managing behaviors, and observing and modifying behaviors; and, b) family essential elements: perceptions and concerns about their preschooler's body shape, nutritional knowledge and skills, participation and consensus. The school component consisted of networking among school organizations, while the public health component involved public health nurses, from the district, who provided school health services and served as co-investigators. Overall, based upon the spiral characteristics of the PAR process, the following procedural steps evolved: 1) preparing the participants; 2) organizing the family management; 3) sharing and promoting knowledge and experiences; and, 4) forming the network. The model may enhance parents' knowledge and skills of feeding practices, as well as improve preschoolers' health behaviors. Fifteen families, through application of the model, were able to maintain their preschoolers' healthy weight. Use of the model reduced the prevalence of overweight from 16.5% to 13.8 %. The keys to success were derived from strong family participation in the PAR process and collaborating with school officials to enhance sustainability of the model. Therefore, networking of families, schools and public health nurses are important.
911,What's My Emergency? Emotional Labor, Work-Related Rumination, and Strain Outcomes in Emergency Medical Dispatchers

911, What’s My Emergency? Emotional Labor, Work-Related Rumination, and Strain Outcomes in Emergency Medical Dispatchers Jessica Lee Deselms Master of Arts, Industrial Organizational Psychology Minnesota State University, Mankato; Mankato, MN 2016 The work of Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs) is filled with a variety of stressors, and one of those being emotional labor. Despite research on emotional labor, few studies have quantitatively examined this construct within EMDs. Compared to the plethora of emotional labor literature that focuses on the display of positive emotions, EMDs are required to suppress or neutralize any negative reactions they may experience. Hence, this study was concerned with the further examination of emotional labor, physical health outcomes, burnout, and job satisfaction in a unique population. Additionally, the construct of work-related rumination is in its infancy. It can be argued that surface acting and deep acting serve as antecedents to work-related rumination. One hundred one participants from a Midwest emergency communications professional group completed self-report surveys on emotional labor, work-related rumination, and strain outcomes. Results showed EMDs experience higher levels of surface acting compared to other professions, and surface acting is more detrimental and leads to more negative outcomes compared to deep acting. The affective rumination component of the work-related rumination was also positively correlated to strain outcomes. Lastly, those that reported higher levels of surface acting also endorsed higher levels of affective rumination. In conclusion, EMDs do experience high levels of emotional labor, and engage in the more taxing surface acting strategy. This also suggests that the relationship between surface acting and affective rumination, contributes to the most strain outcomes, and it may be that affective rumination mediates the relationship between suppression of feelings (surface acting) and strain outcomes. Further directions and limitations are also discussed. Running head: EMOTIONAL LABOR, RUMINATION, AND STRAIN IN EMDS 4 Table of
The first and second data releases of the Kilo-Degree Survey

Context. The Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) is an optical wide-field imaging survey carried out with the VLT Survey Telescope and the OmegaCAM camera. KiDS will image 1500 square degrees in four filters (ugri), and together with its near-infrared counterpart VIKING will produce deep photometry in nine bands. Designed for weak lensing shape and photometric redshift measurements, its core science driver is mapping the large-scale matter distribution in the Universe back to a redshift of ~0.5. Secondary science cases include galaxy evolution, Milky Way structure, and the detection of high-redshift clusters and quasars. Aims: KiDS is an ESO Public Survey and dedicated to serving the astronomical community with high-quality data products derived from the survey data. Public data releases, the first two of which are presented here, are crucial for enabling independent confirmation of the survey's scientific value. The achieved data quality and initial scientific utilization are reviewed in order to validate the survey data. Methods: A dedicated pipeline and data management system based on Astro-WISE, combined with newly developed masking and source classification tools, is used for the production of the data products described here. Science projects based on these data products and preliminary results are outlined. Results: For 148 survey tiles (≈160 sq.deg.) stacked ugri images have been released, accompanied by weight maps, masks, source lists, and a multi-band source catalogue. Limiting magnitudes are typically 24.3, 25.1, 24.9, 23.8 (5σ in a 2'' aperture) in ugri, respectively, and the typical r-band PSF size is less than 0.7''. The photometry prior to global homogenization is stable at the ~2% (4%) level in gri (u) with some outliers due to non-photometric conditions, while the astrometry shows a typical 2D rms of 0.03''. Early scientific results include the detection of nine high-z QSOs, fifteen candidate strong gravitational lenses, high-quality photometric redshifts and structural parameters for hundreds of thousands of galaxies.
Rotifer (microzooplankton) production through NPK fertilization

The young stages (spawn) of fish prefer small feed, particularly rotifers. Encouraging results of zooplankton production by using NPK mixture for pond fertilization have been obtained in different parts of the world (Tenner I960;.Prowse 1967, Rabanall967). The present investigation was carried out with locally available NPK mixture having ratio of 18:18:10. Special emphasis was to obtain higher population of rotifers under local environmental conditions.
Investigation of the Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Mortality in Old Patients Hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Intensive Care Unit from the Emergency Service

Objective: In our study, the purpose was to determine the relationship between thyroid hormones and mortality of patients over the age of 55 who were hospitalized in an intensive care unit from the emergency service. Material and Methods: This study was planned as a prospective, randomized study, and patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit from the emergency medicine department were enrolled in this study following ethics committee approval. A standard data collection form was used to collect the data. After confirmation from the patients and their relatives, we included 73 patients in our study: 48 (65.8%) males and 25 (34.2%) females. Blood samples were taken from each patient, and thyroid hormone levels were studied in our laboratory. The “SPSS for Windows version 18” program was used for statistical analysis of the data. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical measures between the groups. Mann-Whitney U-test and t-test were used to compare quantitative measurements between the groups. The log-rank test was performed under Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to determine the relationship between the estimated lifetime and free T3 (fT3), free T4 (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in mean ages and genders of patients who died and survived. The mean duration of hospitalization in the deceased patient group was lower than in the surviving patient group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. According to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the patients with low or high levels of fT3 were found to have a shorter median life expectancy. No significant relationship was found between mortality and fT4 TSH. Conclusion: According to our study, increased or decreased levels of fT3 in patients over the age of 55 without known thyroid disease, hospitalized in an intensive care unit from the emergency department, showed increased mortality. This study will be useful for emergency medicine physicians to be able to predict the mortality of patients and contribute to more clinical experience. FT3 levels can be used as a prognostic indicator after more detailed studies are completed. (JAEM 2014; 13: 71-4)
Technical strategic alliances and performance: the mediating effect of knowledge-based competencies

This study provides an empirical evidence of the relationship that exists between participation in technological strategic alliances and business performance by considering the knowledge-based distinctive competencies that the alliance is capable of generating as a mediating variable. The generation of knowledge in technological strategic alliances explains the contradictory results that emerge from the direct effect of strategic alliances on economic performance. The study uses a sample of Spanish industrial firms. The results findings prove that the relationship between RD and that the contribution of the participation in alliances to the growth of the firm? s knowledge stock depends on its creation of innovation competencies. RD y que la contribucion de la participacion en las alianzas en el crecimiento del stock de conocimiento de la empresa depende de la creacion de competencias en innovacion. Los directivos de I+D deben alentar el desarrollo de este tipo de competencias para conseguir un desempeno organizativo superior.
Concomitant Metal Organic Frameworks of Cobalt(II) and 3-(4-Pyridyl)benzoate: Optimized Synthetic Conditions of Solvatochromic and Thermochromic Systems

Two coordination networks, {[Co-(34pba)(2)]center dot DMF}(n) (1 and 2), where 34pba is 3-(4-pyridy1)benzoate, were prepared by solvothermal methods. 1 is a three-dimensional metal organic framework formed by linking [Co-2(34pba)(8)] clusters in a bcu net. 2 consists of single [Co(34pba)(4)] units in a tetragonal plane net of sql topology. The thermal conditions leading to their selective synthesis were established: 120 degrees C for 1 and 75 degrees C for 2. Their structures were solved and their thermal behavior was investigated. Further experiments established the activation energy for the desorption of the DMF molecules entrapped in their framework: 76(6)-106(16) kJ mol(-1) for 1 and 49(3)-58(3) kJ mol(-1) for 2. For 1, sorption experiments were carried out to demonstrate the ability of the coordination network to absorb different solvents, and the framework solvatochromic response was also ascertained.
Qualitative analysis of the teacher's performance in private and public sector schools: a developing country's experience

Indeed, the key role of education in prompting societal development is crystal clear and always indisputable. However, more important is quality education which increases productivity. Education right from primary to tertiary and higher levels is equally important. The main objective of this study is to understand whether is there any difference in teacher’s performance working in private school and public school in the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. This study based on qualitative approach using documents analysis, secondary data sources, where, mainly materials collected from the previous studies, Government of KP and Pakistan surveys. It has been concluded that though the government making efforts to improve quality and standard of public sector school but still relatively behind the private sector school in terms of quality education.It is evident that every year private school securing the maximum top position in the matric examination.It implies that teacher’s performance in the private school is far better as compared to the public school teacher’s performance.The finding of this study expected to contribute to the literature on the public-private sector schools performance in the country. The findings suggest that the government of KP needs to pursue check and balance, because without monitoring and strict policy, the quality and standard of education is not achievable.
On how proton radius shrinkage can be connected with Lorentz factor violation

Views Several new experimental findings have shown that atomic nuclei cannot have a similar structure of that adopted in the ‎Standard Nuclear Physics (SNP), because there are insurmountable obstacles to be transposed. Nuclear theorists have tried to ‎explain some of the misfires with bizarre theories, but there is a failure impossible to be explained by any theoretical attempt, ‎and such failure impossible to be solved represents the definitive proof that SNP works through wrong foundations. The failure ‎comes from the excited isotopes carbon-12, oxygen-16, Argon-36, calcium-40, and calcium-42. All them with spin 2, have null ‎magnetic moments, but this is impossible because it’s any combination of spins from which those excited isotopes, with spin 2, may ‎have a null magnetic moment, if we try to explain it with any of the current nuclear models of the SNP. ‎ And the unavoidable conclusion is that it’s impossible to eliminate the inconsistencies of the SNP by keeping its current ‎fundamental premises. ‎
Cross-Cultural Differences in Decision-Making Styles of Thai and Foreign Principals in Thai and International Schools in Bangkok

Multiculturalism in schools in Thailand is a new and rapidly expanding phenomenon. Both foreign and Thai school administrators are challenged by leading and managing cultural and linguistic diversities of teachers and students. They need to be aware of and prepared for dealing with the cultural differences through understanding behavior in other cultures and basing their decisions not only upon their professional knowledge and experience but upon cultural competence as well. This study has attempted to reveal the relation between decision-making styles of Thai and foreign principals in Thai and international schools in Bangkok and their cultural characteristics. A sample of 25 Thai and 25 foreign (North American, British, Australian and New Zealand) principals and heads was selected from the total population of 127 Thai and international schools in Bangkok. A Likert-scale questionnaire was adopted as the instrument of the study which measured three groups of variables: demographic profile, cultural dimensions (adapted from Schwartz‘s (1995) value orientations and Trompenaars (1998) cultural dimensions) and decisionmaking styles (adapted from Vroom-Yetton (1973) decision-making styles model). The findings of the study will (1) increase awareness among present and future school administrators and teachers of the importance of cultural differences; (2) reveal the effects of national culture on decision-making styles of educational administrators; (3) reveal relationship between established cultural dimensions and decision-making styles of principals from different cultures; (4) provide the ground for and encourage further research on cultural differences in the field of educational administration.
A report on asthma genetics studies in Pakistani population

Pakistan is globally sixth most populous, economically developing south Asian country with tremendously increasing trend of urbanization. This increase in urbanization along with consanguineous marriages trend in Pakistani nationals might contribute as most important factors of increasing asthma prevalence. Up-till now, a few studies related to asthma genetics have been conducted in Pakistan. These studies suggest that the SNP variants like (rs2569190, rs2569191), (rs2243250, rs2227284), (rs1800896) , (rs1881457, rs20541, rs1800925), (rs2280091, rs2787094, rs528557), (rs1131882) in CD14, IL-4, IL10, IL-13, ADAM33 and TBXA2R genes respectively and the SNPs ( rs3816470, rs6503525, rs3859192, rs12603332) on chromosomal region 17q21 are significantly associated in Pakistani population whereas the haplotype “CCTCAG" of SNPs (rs12936231, rs7216389, rs7216558, rs9894164, rs1007654 and rs7212938) in 17q21 and ‘AAGTCG’ of SNPs (rs2280089, rs2280090, rs2280091, rs44707, rs528557, and rs612709) in ADAM-33 region are protective factor against asthma susceptibility. These studies will definitely contribute in understanding genetic basis of asthmatic complications in Pakistan and large population cohort size and sub-ethnic studies in future will give more meaningful conclusions to predict possible asthma susceptible genomic variants in sub-ethnic and general population of Pakistan.
Comparison of models of the short-term LIBOR rate

This paper replicates part of the study conducted by Chan et a1 (1992) wherein different diffusion models of the short-rate were compared as special cases of a more general unrestricted short-rate model. Using the Generalized Method of Moments, it was found that while the models which allowed for higher elasticity of variance were better able to forecast squared changes in interest rates. However, the most successful models in capturing the interest rate dynamics are not always the models which allow the conditional volatility of the interest rate changes to be highly sensitive to the level of the interest rate.
Corrigendum to Optimum Tower Crane Selection and Supporting Design Management

To optimize tower crane selection and supporting design, lifting requirements (as well as stability) should be examined, followed by a review of economic feasibility. However, construction engineers establish plans based on data provided by equipment suppliers since there are no tools with which to thoroughly examine a support design’s suitability for various crane types, and such plans lack the necessary supporting data. In such cases it is impossible to optimize a tower crane selection to satisfy lifting requirements in terms of cost, and to perform lateral support and foundation design. Thus, this study is intended to develop an optimum tower crane selection and supporting design management method based on stability. All cases that are capable of generating an optimization of approximately 3,000 ~ 15,000 times are calculated to identify the candidate cranes with minimized cost, which are examined. The optimization method developed in the study is expected to support engineers in determining the optimum lifting equipment management.
Forecasting High-Frequency Long Memory Series with Long Periods Using the SARFIMA Model

This paper evaluates the efficiency of the SARFIMA model at forecasting high-frequency long memory series with especially long periods. Three other models, the ARFIMA, ARMA and PAR models, are also included to compare their forecasting performances with that of the SARFIMA model. For the artificial SARFIMA series, if the correct parameters are used for estimating and forecasting, the model performs as well as the other three models. However, if the parameters obtained by the WHI estimation are used, the performance of the SARFIMA model falls far behind that of the other models. For the empirical intraday volume series, the SARFIMA model produces the worst performance of all of the models, and the ARFIMA model performs best. The ARMA and PAR models perform very well both for the artificial series and for the intraday volume series. This result indicates that short memory models are competent in forecasting periodic long memory series.