Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vibrating Piezoelectric Energy Conversion Efficiency of Sol-Gel PZT Films with Various Crystal Orientations on MEMS Buckled Diaphragm Structures

Vibrating energy conversion efficiency was investigated on piezoelectric transducers fabricated on MEMS buckled diaphragm structures from the viewpoint of crystal orientation of sol-gel derived lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) films. The crystal orientation dominates in-plane stress and spontaneous polarization direction of the PZT films. The in-plane stress affects the static buckling of the diaphragm where a large convex buckling results in a high mechanical conversion efficiency from the flexural vibration to the in-plain vibration. The polarization direction affects the intrinsic piezoelectric conversion efficiency. The crystal orientation of the sol-gel PZT was controlled through pyrolysis temperature between 250°C and 350°C, resulting in a texture variation from (100)-oriented films to (111)-oriented ones. Highly (111)-oriented films showed large polarizations but small buckling deflections, while highly (100)-oriented films showed vice versa. Intermediately textured films with 40-45% (111)-orientation index showed the highest conversion efficiency.
Prediction of Quality of Service Parameters Using Aggregate Software Metrics and Machine Learning Techniques*

In todays Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) world, software systems are built by composing web services offered by Service Providers (SPs). There are different SPs offering services for the same set of functional requirements. Service providers are expected to be highly competitive in their offerings to enhance their market. The quality of web services is an important factor that differentiates one service provider from another. Twelve parameters are identified by which quality of service can be measured. The prediction of these twelve QoS parameters help SPs to enhance the quality of their service. Each web service is realized by several programming files. CK and object oriented metrics of the underlying Java files of the web services are important features for predicting QoS parameters of the web service. The aggregated measure, mean, is chosen to be a feature in predicting the QoS parameters in earlier studies. We propose to build prediction models using 16 aggregate measures and show that there is significant difference between these aggregate measures. We find best feature subset using six feature selection techniques and build prediction models using Extreme Learning Machines with different kernels. We show that feature selection techniques might not enhance prediction accuracies and the ensemble algorithm out performs other learning algorithms.
Blind Physical Layer Authentication over Fading Wireless Channels through Machine Learning

The problem of determining the source of a message in a wireless communication link is challenging, especially for those systems in which cryptographic approaches are barely feasible due to limited resources. In this paper we consider a physical layer authentication protocol based on the characteristics of the communication channel and exploiting machine learning techniques to obtain authentication without needing any statistical knowledge of the channel from the authenticator. Different operational conditions are taken into account, considering a set of parallel channels affected by time-varying fading and assuming correlation between an opponent’s channel and the authenticator’s channel. Nearest Neighbor (NN) classification is used for authentication, and since the authenticator has no access to forged messages during the training phase, one-class NN classification algorithms are considered. We show that a good secrecy performance with a small training set may be achieved, allowing detection of an attacker with a very high probability in most of the cases. On the other hand, aiming at guaranteeing security even in the case of rapidly varying channels, these techniques prove to be quite conservative, and exhibit a high probability of refusing uncertain messages even when they come from the legitimate transmitter.
Future Life Expectancies in Ireland

Mortality forecasts for the Irish population are published following each census by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) as part of their labour force and population projections. The projections rely on identifying and extrapolating past trends in mortality improvements. However, since the calendar year 2011, there has been a significant slow-down in mortality improvements and, in fact, mortality rates observed at ages above 90 years increased in Ireland a reversal of the long-term trend decline that must cause much unease to public health policy-makers. The recent change in trend poses challenges when forecasting mortality rates. This paper sets out the approach eventually adopted by the CSO in the recent mortality projections, and contrasts it with other extrapolative methods including the increasingly popular stochastic and coherent methods. Comparing the outputs with these models gives a measure of the uncertainty of the future mortality forecasts for Ireland. The mortality projection for Ireland is also compared with the cohort-adjusted approach employed by the Office of National Statistics (UK) for mortality projections for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England & Wales. We report that there are only minor differences in projected life expectancies, despite the differences in approaches and assumptions used, so we can conclude that the official mortality rates for Ireland (Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CSO, 2018)) and Northern Ireland (Office for National Statistics (ONS, 2017b)) are not inconsistent. Previous CSO mortality projections have been adopted by the actuarial profession in Ireland and others over the last decade for reserving for pension liabilities, for estimating the value of pensions, and to help judge the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund. This detailed analysis of the CSO’s most recent projections, and comparison with other mortality projections for Ireland, will help those considering its adoption for their purposes and gives a measure of the uncertainty surrounding the forecast. We conclude by setting out the implied cohort life expectancy in Ireland, based on the CSO mortality projections, to help individuals’ planning for their future lifetime.
Extending Tangible Interactive Interfaces for Education: A System for Learning Arabic Braille using an Interactive Braille Keypad

Learning Braille for visual impairments means being able to read, write and communicate with others. There exist several educational tools for learning Braille. Unfortunately, for Arabic Braille, there is a lack of interactive educational tools and what is mostly used is the traditional learning tools, such as the Braille block. Replacing those tools with some more effective and interactive e-learning tools would help to improve the learning process. This paper introduces a new educational system with a tangible and interactive interface. This system aims to help blind children to learn Arabic Braille letters and numbers using an interactive tactile Braille keypad together with the educational website. The interactive tactile Braille keypad was built using an Arduino connected with the educational website. A usability test was conducted and results showed that the system is easy to use and suggested that using the interactive Braille keypad with the educational website will improve the learning outcomes for blind children.
Nature of Cross-Border Food Commodities Smuggling in Busia Town, Kenya

Smuggling is a global phenomenon which is quite complex due to its complex operations and the diverse commodities involved. The means by which commodities cross the border is the main issue that makes the cross border trade illegal. This illegal trade is common on the Kenya-Uganda Busia border town. This study examined cross-border smuggling of food commodities from Uganda influencing socio-economic status of households of Busia town, Kenya. The first specific objective was to analyze the nature of cross-border smuggling of food commodities from Uganda influencing socio-economic status of households of Busia town, Kenya. The study utilized human needs and transnationalism theories to examine cross-border smuggling of food commodities from Uganda influencing socio-economic status of households of Busia town, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Stratified sampling technique was used to arrive at 8 strata, namely that of transporters, local residents, traders, trade agents, hawkers, revenue collectors, opinion leaders and that of government officers. Sample sizes of 193 respondents were selected from these strata and they were arrived at through census, purposive and snowballing sampling methods. Data collection instruments were Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), interviews, observation and questionnaires and secondary data through document analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using appropriate descriptive statistics while qualitative data involved thematic and content analysis. The findings of study indicate that the social and economic effects of smuggling have both positive and negative effects on individual households, depending on the outcome in relation to an individual’s engagement in the activity. The study recommends that Kenya and Uganda governments work in collaboration come up with friendly policy on trading in food commodities so as to reduce illegal trade of food commodities.
Microbiological study and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of ear infections in patients with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) in Basrah Province

The ear infections are highly popular disease in the world. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is one of the prevalent hearing problems, this infection of the middle ear may extend to cranium that can cause many serious complications if not treated duly. It is famed for its return enduring infection. The causative agents of bacteria or fungi may be cause the CSOM infection. Therefore, our study is mainly aimed to identify the bacterial isolates which causing of CSOM and detect some isolates of fungi which implicated in this ear infection with performed of the antimicrobial susceptibility test. The study was executed on people whose attending the outpatients clinic of ENT in AL-Mwanee General Hospital during the period from November, 2016 to May, 2017 in Basrah governorate. Ear swab samples were collected and processed from eighty five (85) patients of CSOM by the following of standard bacteriological procedures mainly, for isolation and identification the bacterial pathogens, in addition, common diagnosis methods was used to detect of some fungal isolates. The positive microbial growth cultures were seen in 59 cases with frequent of (69.41 %) and 26 cases were negative in frequent of (30.58%). Their ages ranged from 1-60 years with high incidence of CSOM in age groups ≤ 10 and 31-50 years old in percent's of (38.82 % and 24.70 %) respectively. Polymicrobial samples from the total isolates (89) which identified in this study were (82) aerobic bacterial isolates in frequent (92.13 %) and 7 fungal isolates in frequent of (7.86 %). The most predominant bacterial isolated which causing CSOM was Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ratio (34.83 %) followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. , Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and P.vulgaris in proportions: 29.21% , 10.11% , 8.98% , 6.74% , 1.12% and 1.12% . While, the most common fungal detection which causing of CSOM was Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. with frequently: 71.42% and 28.57%. Susceptibility test was done for known the best antibiotic agents which can be used as a proper treatment to CSOM infection. In the present study the most effective antibiotics agents for most of bacterial isolates were Ciprofloxacin, Vancomycin, Amikacin, Augmentin, Amox-Clav and Gentamycin.
Quantum vacuum energy density and unifying perspectives between gravity and quantum behaviour of matter

A model of a three-dimensional quantum vacuum based on Planck energy density as a universal property of a granular space is suggested. This model introduces the possibility to interpret gravity and the quantum behaviour of matter as two different aspects of the same origin. The change of the quantum vacuum energy density can be considered as the fundamental medium which determines a bridge between gravity and the quantum behaviour, leading to new interesting perspectives about the problem of unifying gravity with quantum theory. PACS numbers: 04. ; 04.20-q ; 04.50. Kd ; 04.60. -m.
C-strain vaccination against Classical Swine Fever: effects on epidemic and final screening

In this project it is evaluated how the use of C-strain vaccine instead of E2-subunit vaccine will affect the effectiveness of controlling Classical Swine Fever (CSF). To this end a CSF transmission model was developed that describes virus transmission on three different levels: between animals, between pens and between herds. The results of transmission and vaccination experiments as well as the data from the 1997/1998 CSF epidemic in The Netherlands serve to parameterize the model. With the model hypothetical epidemics are simulated under different scenarios.
A Case Study of Sandplay Therapy for a Boy from a Grandparents-grandchildren Family Experiencing Difficulties in School Work: A Focus on Alchemical Viewpoints

This study explored the sandplay therapy case of a 5th grade boy from a grandparents-grandchildren family experiencing difficulties in school work from the viewpoints of sandplay theory and analytical psychology, in particular, alchemical ones. The goal of the therapy was to lessen his various difficulties within the free and protected space in sandplay therapy. Fifty-one therapy sessions were held. The client revealed his conditions in the initial phase of therapy (sessions 1~3, the expression of being locked and wanting water, prima materia) by making a locked castle and pouring water in a waterfall. In the intermediate phase of therapy (sessions 4~38, struggling, combustion & purification), he struggled, expressed his innermost mind, performed rituals and revealed alchemic combustion and purification. In the final phase of therapy (sessions 39~51, the castle recovered and a golden car, philosopher’s stone), he recovered the castle locked in the initial phase and found a philosopher’s stone. This study showed that there was an archetypal pattern in the internal world for even a boy dealing with cognitively and environmentally difficult situations and revealed the effectiveness of sandplay therapy since the client became more adjusted in dealing with his various situations.
Evaluating Local Community Attitudes towards the Effects of Mass Tourism (Case Study: Boyer-Ahmad County)

Purpose- Over the past few decades, tourism has played an important role in revitalizing the nature, creating employment and income, preserving natural, historical and cultural heritage, and ultimately sustainable development by utilizing the natural and cultural capacities of the region. Since tourism has different economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts on host communities, awareness of the attitude of the host community as a tourism product provider is of great importance. The main objective of the study is to investigate the local residents' attitude toward mass tourism effects in Boyer-Ahmad County. Design/methodology/approach- The present study is descriptive-analytical in nature. It takes an empirical approach. The research instrument was a questionnaire with 82 items that gathered the information needed for the research. The sample size was calculated to be 195 individuals using PASS software at 95% of confidence level. One-sample t-test, ANOVA, Friedman, and Scheffe post-hoc tests were used to analyze and respond to research hypotheses in SPSS software. Finding- The results of t-test considering the significance level of the test and the high and low levels of confidence indicated the impact of tourism in the environmental, economic, social, and fundamental dimensions, while the results of ANOVA test showed that the average of each dimension was different. The results of Friedman test with a significant level of 0.00 have assigned the highest rank to the fundamental dimension.
Optimizing contractor’s selection and bid evaluation process in construction industry: Client’s perspective

DOI: 10.7764/RDLC.18. 3.445 Construction in developing countries is often encountered with multifarious challenges including contractor’s performance due to lack of qualification and resources. The lowest bid criterion is binding in public procurements. However, contractors exploit the loopholes in the bid process management system. This paper scrutinizes the prevalent rules for the bid evaluation and investigates the criterion used by both clients and consultants in selecting the contractors during the bids evaluation phase of construction projects in Pakistan. The current research uses the relative importance index and severity index approach to analyze the data. It was discovered that proper planning, credit worthiness, transition plans, plant and equipment holding, financial stability, past performance, and quality, are the most imperative factors, influencing the contractor’s selection procedures used by clients and consultants. Likewise, a high probability of success is presaged if the contractors are selected using the multi-criteria method. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by revealing the significant factors impacting the contractor’s selection and bid evaluation process, especially in a developing country. Its results and methodology can also be generalized with caution in other developing countries having similar work environment.
Trend of Respiratory Tract-Associated Streptococcus dysgalactiae Subsp. Equisimilius at General Japanese Hospital from 2013 to 2015

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius are pathogenic bacteria which cause various infectious diseases from acute pharyngitis to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Although Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius infection has been increasing recently, the recent characteristic investigation of respiratory tract associated Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius has not been performed in Japan. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between respiratory tract and norespiratory tract associated Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius by investigating the recent clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptible patterns of 98Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius isolated during 2013-2015 in Japan. There was significant difference of gender between respiratory tract and no respiratory tract associated Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius. No Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius from no respiratory tract were found under 18 years-old patients. The prevalence of clindamycin non susceptible Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius isolates from respiratory tract was significant greater than those from non-respiratory tract. We also analyzed the relationship between respiratory tract associated Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius and Streptococcus pyogenes in 2014.There was no significant difference of gender between Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius and Streptococcus pyogenes. The numbers of Streptococcus pyogenes-infected patients were significantly greater than those of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius-infected patients in children from 1 to 18 years old. From antimicrobial resistance, we found that the numbers of clarithromycin resistant Streptococcus pyogenes were greater than those of clarithromycin resistant Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius among respiratory tract isolation. Our results suggest that the clinical and antimicrobial susceptible patterns are useful for screening the respiratory tract associated Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilius infection.
Late toxicity after therapy of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

A higher proportion of patients with gestational trophoblastic tumours or neoplasia (GTT or GTN), as opposed to other tumour types, are at risk of long-term toxicity because of the very high cure rate and young age at treatment. Consequently, prolonged surveillance of these patients post-treatment is essential to facilitate (1) detection of late side effects and (2) subsequent modification of therapy to minimize late risks. This chapter investigates several well-known late side effects of chemotherapy such as infertility and induction of second tumours as well as the psychological sequelae of both losing a pregnancy and having to receive therapy for cancer.
THE IMPACT OF A HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME: EVIDENCE FROM A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN KENYA

We evaluate the impact of introducing a new health insurance product using an RCT in rural Kenya, in an area where there are competing health insurance products. During the intervention period, the adoption of health insurance increased similarly in both the control and treatment area from about a quarter to about half the households in the area. We do not find evidence that the basic marketing of the new product (at full price) expanded the market, but the new product captured a substantial market share. Market demand is sensitive to price discounts, but not to training in financial and risk literacy. Surprisingly, a referral incentive whereby the product is sold with a discount if other clients are joining as well, reduces the market size, possibly because it reminded potential clients of local Ponzi schemes. In terms of impact, we find that health insurance reduced net health expenditures, reduced informal borrowing for medical costs and increased non-food and overall consumption. This suggests a positive impact, even though health outcomes are not significantly different between control and treatment groups. Finally, we investigate consumer satisfaction with the product and find that substantially more buyers are positive than negative. We also find that the main determinants of (hypothetical) renewal are positive or negative usage experiences, rather than hospital usage and price.
Effect of calving assistance and supplementation of colostrum with sodium bicarbonate on newborn calf vigor, success of passive transfer, health, and growth of dairy calves

The objective of this research was to examine the efficacy of supplementing colostrum with sodium bicarbonate for improving passive transfer, health, and growth. An additional objective was to evaluate the effects of calving difficulty on calf vigor. A total of 543 heifer and bull calves from 9 commercial dairy herds were enrolled in this randomized double-blind field trial. At birth, calves were assessed for vigor by the dairy producer, using a prototype calf vigor assessment tool which rated Visual appearance, Initiation of movement, General responsiveness, Oxygenation, and Rates of heartbeat and respiration (VIGOR). Subsequently, calves were fed colostrum supplemented with either 20 g of sodium bicarbonate (SB) or placebo powder. Blood was collected from each calf between 1 and 8 days of age for serum total protein (STP). Each calf was assessed with a standardized clinical score for general health, and measured for growth using a heart girth weight tape at 1, 2, 3, and 6 weeks of age. The findings suggest that calves born with assistance, or that were malpositioned at calving, had lower vigor than those born unassisted. Yet, calf vigor improved with time following birth. Measures from the VIGOR score, including slower responsiveness and a higher heart rate, were associated with reduced health. There was a significant interaction between sex of the calf and SB supplementation of colostrum with STP. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation of colostrum was not significantly associated with improved passive transfer, and had no significant effect on weight gain. Assessment of calf vigor in calves born with assistance may be an important management tool for dairy producers as an indicator that further intervention may be needed to improve health.