Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are autonomous vehicles better off without signals at intersections? A comparative computational study

We model and analyze a futuristic intersection that serves only connected, autonomous and centrally managed vehicles. Under consideration are three control strategies that aim to minimize the total system delay by choosing an optimal trajectory for each vehicle. The first two abandon the concept of signal timing all together whereas the third strategy keeps it. The difference between the two signal-free strategies has to do with a fail-safe buffer requirement introduced to provide redundancy. Each control strategy leads to a unique version of a trajectory-based autonomous intersection management (T-AIM) problem, which is formulated as a mixed integer linear program and solved using a variety of techniques. We found the signal-free strategy holds an overwhelming advantage over the signal-based strategy in terms of efficiency. However, its success is fragile and dependent on the faith in the safety and reliability of the system. When the fail-safe buffer is introduced, the efficiency of the signal-free strategy degrades to a level comparable to that of a properly designed signal-based strategy. Surprisingly, the signal-free strategy with redundancy tends to arrange vehicles in groups that take turns to cross the intersection together. This ``signal-like behavior" manifests itself whenever congestion rises to certain threshold. In addition, solving the T-AIM problem based on signal timing enjoys significant computational benefits, because it eliminates cross conflicts. Thus, the basic logic of signal timing---if not the physical equipment---may survive even after humans are no longer allowed to drive.
Financial Literacy and Exercise Behavior: Evidence from Japan

Lack of exercise, which increases the risk of many serious physical and mental illness, has been a common health issue in Japan. Recent studies confirm that financial literacy discourages irrational behavior like gambling and smoking. We therefore investigate how financial literacy, as a rational decision-making instrument, relates to peoples’ exercise behavior in Japan. We hypothesize that financial literacy encourages people to exercise regularly. Using Osaka University’s Preference Parameters Study (PPS) for 2010, we categorized respondents into two groups: those who exercise regularly or at least once a week and those who do not. Our probit estimation results show that financial literacy is positively related with exercise behavior, meaning that financially literate people are more likely to exercise regularly. As the COVID-19 health pandemic seems to exacerbate peoples’ physical inactivity, the results of our study show an alternative approach to encourage exercise. We therefore recommend that governments implement a financial literacy improvement policy to alleviate the lack of exercise.
Long-term grazing effects on rough fescue grassland soils in southern British Columbia

Krzic, M. , Lamagna, S. F. , Newman, R. F. , Bradfield, G. and Wallace, B. M. 2014. Long-term grazing effects on rough fescue grassland soils in southern British Columbia. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 337-345. Rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.) is a highly palatable forage species with little resistance to continuous grazing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term cattle grazing on soil properties, above-ground biomass, and canopy cover of key grass species on rough fescue grasslands in the southern interior British Columbia. Soil and vegetation properties were determined on a total of six open grassland sites located at the Lac du Bois and Hamilton Mountain. At all sites, grazing use has decreased over time, with the heaviest grazing occurring prior to 1960. The long-term (25-75 yr) elimination of grazing on these semi-arid grasslands has led to greater above-ground biomass and canopy cover of rough fescue, as well as increased soil polysaccharides; however, no differences in total soil C, N, and aggregate stability were found between pastures with and without grazing. Both soil bulk density and mechanical resistance were greater on grazed plots compared with those without grazing, with differences being more pronounced at the Hamilton Mountain location. The current grazing regime has not allowed for the elimination of negative effects of overgrazing on soil compaction on these rough fescue grasslands, especially at the location that continued to be grazed more heavily (i.e., Hamilton Mountain). Our findings suggest that soils in these grazing-sensitive grasslands need more than 75 yr to fully recover from the impacts of overgrazing.
Facilitation promotes plant invasions and indirect negative interactions

Numerous pressures influence the ecological capacity and health of drylands globally. Shrubs are often a critical component of these systems and can function positively as foundation species through facilitation of other species. Nonetheless, limited attention has been paid to the potential negative and indirect effects of shrubs. Here, we tested the hypothesis that plant facilitation can both accelerate the invasion process and amplify the negative effects of an invader on the native community. The invasive species Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens capitalized on facilitation by resident native shrub species. This in turn further degraded California mixed grasslands by negatively impacting other annual protégé plant species in these specific microhabitats. Indirect shrub-mediated interactions were thus a critical component of the ecological community assembly processes, and this suggests that we need to move beyond pairwise interactions to more rapidly advance grassland management and restoration theory.
Effect of chemical treatments on the chemical composition and properties of flax fibers

Flax fibers were modified with NaOH and NaClO2 under different conditions in order to not only clarify the effects of hemicelluloses and lignin removal on the morphology and properties of flax fibers, but also to improve the fiber quality. The quality of flax fibers was characterized in terms of chem­ical composition, fineness, whiteness, and mechanical and sorption properties. Both treatments, alkali treatment leading to hemicelluloses removal (up to 72 % of the hemicelluloses removed) and chlorite treatment leading to lignin rem­oval (up to 96 % of the lignin removed), induce a modification of the mor­phology and properties of flax fibers. For 5 % NaOH treatments, as well as all NaClO2 treatments, an increase in the crystallinity was observed, while for higher NaOH concentrations, the mercerization phenomenon induced a slight decrease in the crystallinity. Modification with NaClO2 resulted in fiber fibril­lation while modification with NaOH at boiling temperature resulted in smoother fiber surfaces. Both treatments cause a decrease in tensile strength and water retention values, with the maximal decrease obtained with NaOH treatment at boiling temperature. Chlorite treatment resulted in finer fibers having a higher whiteness index compare to the alkali-modified fibers.
Peer Review May Not Be Such a Bad Idea: Response to Heesen and Bright

In a recent article in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Heesen and Bright argue that prepublication peer review should be abolished and replaced with postpublication peer review (provided the matter is judged purely on epistemic grounds). In this article, I show that there are three problems with their argument. First, it fails to consider the epistemic cost of implementing the change to postpublication peer review. Second, it fails to consider some potential epistemic benefits of prepublication peer review, which involve avoiding bias. Third, it fails to consider some potential epistemic disadvantages of postpublication peer review, which stem from the greater number of papers that would be published under that system.
Organizing Means–Ends Decoupling: Core–Compartment Separations in Fast Fashion

Means–ends decoupling, the institutionally induced implementation of ineffective practices, has become increasingly common. Extant theory suggests that means–ends decoupling has real consequences, which makes it unstable and difficult for organizations to sustain. Yet little is known of how, and with what outcomes, firms organize such means–ends decoupling. We examine organizing via multiple qualitative and longitudinal case studies of how Swedish fast fashion retailers implement and manage the collection of used garments. We find that firms combine two organizational arrangements: structural and temporal core–compartment separations, which mitigate consequences of means–ends decoupling by obscuring and justifying efficiency gaps. Thereby we provide a theoretical explanation for how means–ends decoupling can persist over time.
The business model as a generative replicator

Abstract This paper proposes a new conceptualization of business model (BM) that rigorously exploits the important insights this notion offers and links them to related views developed in economics and business studies. We develop the foundations of a BM concept consistent with the principles of generalized Darwinism (GD) and with contributions already developed within this framework. Thus, we demonstrate the relevance of GD as a unifying framework for developing the evolutionary theory of firm and industry. We suggest analysing BM as a generative replicator hosted by the firm, which structures interactions between the members of this organization and the social entities of its industrial environment. We argue that GD allows us to clarify the nature and boundaries of the BM concept and to specify its relationships to other key evolutionary concepts, such as organizational routines.
Incorporating Wind Information in the Inversion of Co‐Located Pressure and Seismic Data for Shallow Elastic Structure

When surface pressure is large, seismic noise between about 0.01 and 0.05 Hz is mostly generated by wind‐related surface pressure changes. By analyzing this phenomenon using co‐located pressure and seismic data, we can derive shallow elastic structure in the uppermost 50–100 m. However, there still remains a difficult question on seismic excitation by wind‐related surface pressure because of complexity in wind behaviors. Roughly speaking, it consists of the mean shear flow and turbulence. The mean flow should act like a moving pressure source on the surface while turbulent parts act like a stochastic source as the surface pressure field becomes heterogeneous. We point out that this complexity may be reduced by selecting time intervals of stable wind direction. During such time intervals, pressure changes occur in the direction of winds, which justifies us to use a relatively simple, moving pressure source model. We quantify the stability of wind direction by the standard deviation of wind direction data (ΔΨ). For stations with co‐located wind, pressure, and seismic data, we propose to select time intervals with small ΔΨ first and apply our inversion method based on the moving pressure model. In the absence of wind data at a station with co‐located pressure and seismic data, we propose to analyze the high‐pressure end of data, as this selection partially satisfies the stable wind condition.
Effect of staggered date of sowing and fertilizer application on yield and yield attributing characters of Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.)

The investigation was carried out under AICRP on Niger and Sesame at JNKVV, Jabalpur in split plot design (SPD) with three replications having treatments comprised of main plot, dates of sowing viz., Before RDS at sufficient moisture under pre monsoon rainfall, Recommended date of sowing [RDS], One week after RDS and Two weeks after RDS and sub plot, fertilizer applications viz., Control, Recommended dose of fertilizer [N,P,K] and RDF [50%N and 100% P,K was applied as basal application and 50%N was given in two split doses]. ]. Last week of August date of sowing and F3 (100% P & K and 50% N as basal and 50% N in two split doses) fertilizer dose was found best for most of the yield and yield attributing characters viz., plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, length of capitulum, No. of seeds capitulum, No. of seeds capitulum, test weight, biological yield, economic yield and harvest index and seed quality parameters.
Becoming a Socially Responsive Co-Learner: Primary School Pupils’ Practices of Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction in Cooperative Learning Groups

Promoting pupils’ face-to-face promotive interaction (FtFPI) is crucial for effective cooperative learning (CL) in group work. This article provides insight into interpersonal behaviour and supportive communication as two important aspects of FtFPI. Sixteen pupils 9–10 years of age were videotaped in four structured mixed-ability groups during CL sessions at two primary schools in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The features of FtFPI that pupils use for peer support in small CL groups and on interfering factors that pupils encounter during FtFPI were analysed using a thematic hybrid approach. The study found that pupils used verbal and non-verbal features for co-learners’ responsive actions during FtFPI. However, the findings also revealed some factors that interfere with the pupils’ FtFPI, such as having insufficient knowledge and personal skills about peer attention, encouragement and praising. The study recommends that future studies should implement the intervention necessary to foster both teachers’ and pupils’ understanding and functional knowledge of FtFPI for successful small CL groups.
Flexible Smart Material With Excellent Energy Harvesting

The field of power harvesting has experienced significant growth over the past few years due to the ever-increasing desire to produce portable and wireless electronics with extended lifespans. The present work aims to introduce an approach to harvesting electrical energy from a mechanically excited piezoelectric element and investigates a power analytical model generated by a smart structure of type polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) that can be stuck onto fabrics and flexible substrates, although we report the effects of various substrates and investigates the sticking of these substrates on the characterization of the piezoelectric material.
Ranunculus solhanensis (Ranunculaceae), a new species from eastern Turkey

Ranunculus solhanensis sp. nov. (Ranunculaceae) is described from Bingöl province (Eastern Anatolia) in Turkey. It is related to R. bulbilliferus and R. munzurensis also distributed in east Anatolia. The new species is easily distinguished from its relatives by morphological features of stem, corolla, stamen and achenes. Achenes and pollen characteristics have been assessed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Distribution, ecological data and IUCN conservation status of the new species are also provided.
How acidity rules synergism and antagonism in liquid–liquid extraction by lipophilic extractants—Part II: application of the ienaic modelling

ABSTRACT In this article Part II, we consider the application of ienaic modeling for solvent extraction of rare earths in the case of the mixed DMDOHEMA/HDEHP extractant system. The system exhibits a synergistic extraction effect depending on the acid concentration and the extractant mole fraction, as demonstrated in the experimental article Part I. In this work, we directly compare experimental findings with theoretical predictions of the droplet model. The model considers the effective free energy of transfer as a combination of competing molecular forces, but contrary to previous micelle models that focus only on the dominant stoichiometry, it allows calculations of free energies of every possible spherical aggregate. The resulting image of the extraction process is that different behaviors can be obtained depending on the acidity and mole fraction of extractants, which are associated with different aggregation regimes in a complex free energy landscape of the system. Nevertheless, self-assembly is tuned by the extraction of all solutes, and not only the target metal cations.
Compaction Model for Shale in Differences of Geological Ages Using A 3D Empirical Relationship in Northeastern Thailand

Shales are well known for their strong anisotrophic properties. The classical Athy’s model on the exponential porosity reduction with the depth commonly uses based on localities only. Shale compaction curve affects the results of the basin modeling as it is important input data, thus the standard compaction curve of shales needs to be established. This study provided a new data and complies available data of Thailand shales to propose the new empirical relationship among porosity, burial depth, and geological age. The numerical data of the geological time were estimated by the application from the relationship of velocity and depth in each geological ages. The variation of the Thailand shale data due to the different geological ages was found in this study. Finally, the standard curve of shale compaction proposed by Puttiwongrak et al. [9] was examined and confirmed by this research findings.
In Vitro Evaluation of pH-Responsive Nanoscale Hydrogels for the Oral Delivery of Hydrophobic Therapeutics

About 70% of pharmaceutical drug candidates are poorly soluble and suffer from low oral bioavailability. Additionally, a large number of therapeutics are also substrates for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) receptors present on the intestinal cell lining and undergo efflux that further reduces their oral bioavailability drastically. Nanoscale hydrogels are promising candidates for oral delivery of hydrophobic therapeutics as they hold immense potential in improving solubility and increasing intestinal permeability of such therapeutics. In this report, we describe the in vitro evaluation and comparison of four novel, pH-responsive poly(methacrylic acid-g-polyethylene glycol-co-hydrophobic monomer) nanoscale hydrogels for their capacity to load and release chemotherapeutic doxorubicin, as well as their ability to modulate permeability in vitro for improving doxorubicin transport. The resulting nanoscale formulations showed appreciable loading, and in vitro release studies demonstrated excellent pH-triggered release ki.
Carbon Fiber Two-Pull Solid Ankle-Foot Orthoses versus Serial Casting in the Treatment of Idiopathic Toe Walking with Ankle Equinus Contracture

ABSTRACT Introduction Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a common pediatric diagnosis. Serial casting, a common treatment used for an ankle equinus contracture, may not be appropriate for all children. This pilot study investigated whether carbon fiber two-pull solid ankle-foot orthoses (CTP-AFOs) would have similar outcomes as serial casting in the treatment of children with a diagnosis of ITW and ankle equinus contracture. Materials and Methods Children with ITW (n = 35) were randomized to receive CTP-AFOs or serial casting. Assessments were at initial, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up with therapy protocols until posttreatment. Results There was no statistical difference in active (<0.001) and passive (<0.001) dorsiflexion range of motion, the Observational Gait Scale (<0.001), the Pediatric Reach Test (<0.01) popliteal range of motion (<0.001), strength in dorsiflexion (<0.001) and plantarflexion (0.21), and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (0.31). Both groups demonstrated significant improvement over time with therapeutic intervention performed by a physical therapist. Conclusions Carbon fiber two-pull solid ankle-foot orthoses are a noninferior alternative to serial casting in a population with ITW and ankle equinus contracture. Therapeutic interventions for treatment of ITW and ankle equinus contracture have demonstrated improvements in motor outcomes.
The Determinants of eWoM in Social Commerce: The Role of Perceived Value, Perceived Enjoyment, Trust, Risks, and Satisfaction

The influence of eWoM use for s-commerce in the context of Arab region remains unexplored. To bridge this gap, this study develops a model for eWoM use for s-commerce post adoption. This model link three antecedents-factors (trust towards other people, trust of internet/Instagram, and perceived risks) to eWoM use for s-commerce through the mediation of perceived enjoyment, perceived value, and customer satisfaction. The model is validated with a large sample of 843 Instagram users using LISREL tool. Research findings revealed that propensity to trust, trust of internet, perceived risk, and perceived value affect use of eWoM through the indirect effect of perceived enjoyment and satisfaction, while perceived value has no direct effect on eWoM. Customer satisfaction was a predominant predictor of eWoM use. The model has relevant contributions and implications for both research and practice.
A Comprehensive Study on the Existence and Stability of Equilibria of DC-Distribution Networks With Constant Power Loads

Constant power loads (CPLs) may cause instability of direct-current (dc) distribution networks. This article studies the existence and stability of equilibria of dc-distribution networks where the sources are buck converters under droop control, the cables are resistances and inductances, and the loads are ZIP (constant impedance, constant current, and constant power) loads. Particularly, a sufficient and necessary condition that guarantees the existence of equilibria is determined. Then, the conditions to guarantee that the system has at least one stable equilibrium are determined. First, a sufficient condition for power-flow solvability of the dc-distribution networks is obtained based on the monotone convergence theorem. Then, the sufficient and necessary condition is obtained based on the successive approximations. When the system has multiple equilibria, it is proved that only the high-voltage equilibrium is stabilizable and all the low-voltage equilibria are inherently unstable and unstabilizable under droop control. Moreover, the robust stability condition for the high-voltage equilibrium is obtained by analyzing the eigenvalues of the linearized system dynamics. Overall, the obtained conditions provide references for building reliable dc-distribution networks.
Effect of Bacterial Inoculation, Bacillus Megaterium, Vermicompost, and Phosphate Pock on Growth and Yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

This study aimed to investigate the interaction between bacterial bio-inoculation by Bacillus megaterium and vermicompost and three phosphate rock fertilizer (0, 100, and 200) kg.ha−1 on the growth and yield of sunflower, Halianthus annuus L. A field experiment was conducted in the fall season of 2020 in the field of silt clay loamy soil. The results showed that inoculation with Bacillus and Vermicompost, individually or together, led to a significant increase in (plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll, and total yield) traits compared to the control treatment. The highest mean was obtained with biological and organic inoculation and phosphate rock fertilizer at the level (100) kg.ha−1 valued at (134.3, 7250, 48.70, and 2808) for the studied indicators, respectively, compared to the comparison treatment.