Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathways Linking Health Literacy to Self-Management in People with Type 2 Diabetes

Health literacy is considered to be an emerging determinant of health behaviors and outcomes. The underlying mechanisms linking health literacy to diabetes self-management are currently unclear. This study assessed a mediation model consisting of a direct pathway between health literacy and self-management, and indirect pathways via social isolation only, self-efficacy only, and social isolation and self-efficacy serially in people with type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional design was employed, and a total of 524 participants were recruited from outpatient clinics of multi-institutions from June 2020 to February 2021. The mediation model was analyzed using the PROCESS macro on SPSS with bootstrap bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with 10,000 bootstrapping iterations. Health literacy positively affected self-management. The estimated indirect effect of health literacy on self-management via social isolation was significant, at 0.018 (95% CI = 0.004–0.036). The indirect effect via self-efficacy was estimated at 0.214 (95% CI = 0.165–0.266). The indirect effect via social isolation and self-efficacy serially was 0.013 (95% CI = 0.006–0.023). The findings of this study suggest that clinical practice can be improved through more comprehensive diabetes self-management interventions that promote all of the components of health literacy, social contacts/networks, and self-efficacy in particular.
One Phish, Two Phish, How to Avoid the Internet Phish

Phishing is a social engineering tactic that targets internet users in an attempt to trick them into divulging personal information. When opening an email, users are faced with the decision of determining if an email is legitimate or an attempt at phishing. Although software has been developed to assist the user, studies have shown they are not foolproof, leaving the user vulnerable. Multiple training programs have been developed to educate users in their efforts to make informed decisions; however, training that conveys the real world consequences of phishing or training that increases a user’s fear level have not been developed. Conveying real world consequences of a situation and increasing a user’s fear level have been proven to enhance the effects of training in other fields. Ninety-six participants were recruited and randomly assigned to training programs with phishing consequences, training programs designed to increase fear, or a control group. Preliminary results indicate that training helped users identify phishing emails; however, little difference was seen among the three groups. Future analysis will include a factor analysis of personality and individual differences that influence training efficacy.
A study on how to improve the throughput time of Lean Six Sigma projects in a construction company

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the use of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology in a construction company. Design/methodology/approach – In our study we analyze 62 LSS improvement projects carried out within a Dutch company. In our analysis we focus on both speed, in terms of throughput time (THT), and impact, in terms of project completion, of each project. Findings – From the analysis we conclude that the current THT of a project is about a year and we identify important factors that cause large project's THTs These factors are then translated into recommendations for an efficient execution of LSS improvement projects. Research limitations/implications – The analysis is based on a sample from one company of the Dutch construction industry. The scope should be broadened as more companies adopt quality and process improvement programs, such as LSS. Originality/value – The narrowed scope, only one company and focused mostly on the speed of projects, helped to do an in-depth analysis. Theref.
Optimisation modelling for thermal fatigue reliability of lead‐free interconnects in fine‐pitch flip‐chip packaging

Purpose – This paper aims to present an integrated optimisation‐modelling computational approach for virtual prototyping that helps design engineers to improve the reliability and performance of electronic components and systems through design optimisation at the early product development stage. The design methodology is used to identify the optimal design of lead‐free (Sn3.9Ag0.6Cu) solder joints in fine‐pitch copper column bumped flip‐chip electronic packages.Design/methodology/approach – The design methodology is generic and comprises numerical techniques for computational modelling (finite element analysis) coupled with numerical methods for statistical analysis and optimisation. In this study, the integrated optimisation‐modelling design strategy is adopted to prototype virtually a fine‐pitch flip‐chip package at the solder interconnect level, so that the thermal fatigue reliability of the lead‐free solder joints is improved and important design rules to minimise the creep in the solder material, exp.
Generating tacit knowledge across borders: international collaboration and design innovation in Norway

ABSTRACT We analyse the international dispersion of inventor networks engaged in design innovation, by studying a dataset of design patents linked to Norway. Specifically, we examine the extent to which the international dispersion of design innovation is sustained by firms´ organisation-based pipelines, innovation capabilities and star designers’ personal linkages. We find that, in traditional design sectors, greater orchestration and innovative capabilities help firms source knowledge globally, while star designers tend to work independently or collaborate locally. Design innovation activities in high-tech sectors show higher international connectedness, largely driven by star designers’ personal connections. Surprisingly, firms with lower innovative capability tend to be connected to inventor networks that are more internationally dispersed. While increasing attention is being given to the value added by design, little is known about international design innovation networks. Our paper opens potential avenues for research on the distribution and orchestration of design innovation across borders.
Dynamic Modulus Prediction of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures through Computational Micromechanics

This paper presents a computational micromechanics modeling approach to predict the dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete mixtures. The modeling uses a finite element method combined with the micromechanical representative volume element (RVE) of mixtures and laboratory tests that characterize the properties of individual mixture constituents. The model treats asphalt concrete mixtures as heterogeneous with two primary phases: a linear viscoelastic fine aggregate matrix (FAM) phase and a linear elastic aggregate phase. The mechanical properties of each phase were experimentally obtained by conducting constitutive tests: oscillatory torsion tests for the viscoelastic FAM phase and quasistatic nanoindentation tests for the elastic aggregate particles. Material properties of each mixture phase were then used in the finite element simulation of two-dimensional mixture microstructures obtained from digital image processes of asphalt concrete mixtures. Model simulations were compared with the experimental dynamic moduli of asphalt concrete mixtures. Simulation results indicated that the micromechanical approach based on the mixture microstructure and phase properties could fairly predict the overall mixture properties that are typically obtained from laboratory mixture tests. Furthermore, the RVE dimension of 60 mm might be used to predict the undamaged viscoelastic stiffness characteristics of asphalt concrete mixtures with reduced computing efforts.
Review of: "The effect of spacers in dual drug-polymer conjugates toward combination therapeutic efficacy"

Review of: "The effect of spacers in dual drug‐polymer conjugates toward combination therapeutic efficacy" Siyuan Luo1, Daocheng Wu *1 1Xi’an Jiaotong University This is a study of tumor synergistic therapy using dual drug‐polymer conjugates, in which amide bond were used for MMC and DOX to conjugate dual drugs onto single XG carrier and synergistic chemotherapeutic effects of two drugs have been investigated. The principal finding was meaningful and polymer‐drug spacers present diverse therapeutic efficacy that consistent with other studies. [1-3]. The article has some innovative issues and the experimental results can support the conclusion. However, this study had some incomplete experimental design for control variables that may limit their further applications. There are some of concerns with this study which include the following: 1. Technically, peptide bonds and amide bonds are essentially the same meaning. They have the same chemical structure with different names. In the field of chemistry, CONH bonds is called amide bond while it is called peptide bond in protein structure. In current study, it should be use the same name of CONH bonds as amide bonds and peptide bond is not appropriate to describe them. If there needs a difference between two bonds, author should reasonably explain that nanoparticles linked with peptide bonds have similar properties with a kind of protein and different from amide bonds. 2. Different grafting methods, drug loading content and physical characteristics of nanoparticles would affect the drug release process. [4] At the same time, the degree of drug release will also affect the drug effect. [5] There is a significant difference in the drug release at 48 hours, indicates that the difference in treatment effect may be affected by the actual drug release, not by different chemical bonds. I realize these contents are required in this study. 3. Drug carriers (XG) have an impact on the delivery of drugs, for example, different particle size sizes can affect the time that nanoparticles reach the tumor, [6] thus indirectly affecting drug efficacy. Therefore, the influence of drug carrier(XG) for tumor synergistic therapy should be discussed. 4. In terms of therapeutic effect, this study is still within the scope of chemotherapy. Although there are significant differences in the therapeutic effect of cell experiments, in vivo efficacy experiments did not Qeios, CC-BY 4.0 · Review, December 15, 2021
Experimental investigation of thermal performance in a rectangular channel using compound structure

An experimental study was conducted to measure the heat transfer and pressure drop in a rectangular channel emphasizing a compound structure to improve the cooling performance of gas turbine blades. W shaped, semicircular, and multi semicircular shaped ribs with dimples are studied and applied to a lower surface of a channel. The experiment was carried out at a Reynolds number ranging from 10,000 to 32,000 and the ratio of pitch (P) to height (e) of the rib was 10. Also, the ratio of rib height (e) to channel hydraulic diameter (Dh) was 0.187 and the dimple depth (δ) to dimple diameter (D) ratio was 0.2. It was observed that the combination of ribs and dimple channel (compound channel) has an average of 23 % more heat transfer than the ribbed channel. W rib compound channel shows the highest thermal performance and enhanced up to 30 % more heat transfer than semi and multi-semicircular compound channel. friction rise was observed in the compound channel compared to the ribbed channel.
The role of parent-to-child maltreatment in the pathway of self-reported depressive symptoms in Pakistani adolescents

Background Parent-to-child maltreatment has been demonstrated to drastically affect a child’s mental well-being and plays a significant role in developing depressive symptoms. However, little is established about the effect of frequency of parent-to-child maltreatment on the development of depressive symptoms among Pakistani adolescents. Methods A longitudinal prospective study was conducted, from 2015 to 2017, with 800 adolescents aged 11–17 years old recruited from 32 systematically selected urban and peri-urban areas of Karachi. First, these adolescents were screened for parent-to-child maltreatment in 2015 in a cross-sectional survey. Children with diagnosed psychiatric conditions were excluded from the study. In the second phase, these individuals were followed for 2 years to investigate the symptoms of depressive disorder using a validated tool, “CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies) Depression scale. ” The Cox proportional algorithm was used to examine the relationship between the frequency of parent-to-child maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Results Approximately 11% of frequently, 9% of occasionally parent-to-child, and 7%of negligibly maltreated adolescents reported depressive symptoms over 2 years. The other significant predictors of depressive symptoms were no formal education of the child (RR: 3.15, 95% CI: 1.35–7.34), presence of stressful home environment (RR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.22–3.94), and having both uneducated parents (RR: 1.70, 95% CI: 0.90–3.21). The frequently maltreated females were found to have 4 times the higher risk compared to rarely maltreated males. In addition, frequently maltreated males were twice likely to develop depressive symptoms. Conclusion The results suggested that frequent parent-to-child maltreatment occurring during childhood leads to the development of depressive symptoms later in the adolescence period. Thus, there is a dire need for interventions to raise awareness among the society on the issue of parent-to-child mistreatment to minimize later mental health consequences.
RECEPTIVITY AND LINEAR STABILITY OF STETSON'S MACH 8 BLUNT CONE STABILITY EXPERIMENTS

Currently, the mechanisms leading to hypersonic boundary layer transition are still poorly understood. The transition in the boundary layer depends on the receptivity process, which is the process of environmental disturbances initially entering the boundary layers and generating disturbance waves. The receptivity of hypersonic boundary layers to free stream disturbances is altered considerably by the presence of bow shocks in hypersonic flow fields and by the entropy layers created by the blunt nose. This paper conducts a numerical simulation study of the receptivity to freestream acoustic disturban& waves for Mach 7.99 axisymmetric flow over a io half-angle blunt cone, and compares the numerical results with experimental results by Stetson et al. (1984) and with those obtained from linear stability. Both steady and unsteady flow solutions of the receptivity problem are obtained by computing the full Navier-Stokes equations using a high-order accurate shock-fitting finite difference scheme, which can accurately account for the effects of bow-sho&/free-streamsound interactions on the receptivity process. In addition, a normal-mode linear stability analysis is also used to study the stability and receptivity properties of the boundary layer affected by the entropy layer. The main focus of this study is on the excitation of the second mode waves in the receptivity process in the presense of freestream acoustic waves. One of the major findings of this study is that, for the case of receptivity to fast freestream acoustic waves with a blunt nose, the second mode waves are not excited in the early region dong the cone surface where the second modes are pre dicted to be unstable by the linear stability analysis. It is shown that the delay of the second mode excitation is due to the unique stability characteristics of the current flow which are affected by the entropy layer produced by the nose bluntness. The understanding of such receptivity processes may lead to a better understanding of nose bluntness effects on hypersonic boundary layer transition and the accuracy of the LST analysis.
Exploring the Impacts of Alcohol and Other Drug Use on HIV Care Among Older African American Adults in Kentucky: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study

Abstract This grounded theory study examined the use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) on the management of HIV disease among 27 older African Americans (≥50 years). Interview transcripts were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory analytic techniques. Participants reported facing (a) environmental impacts of AOD use and (b) discrimination from the health care system. The analysis revealed six phases of AOD use, occurring at various stages of the HIV care continuum: (a) linking AOD use as the cause of HIV diagnosis, (b) having AOD use facilitate denial of HIV, (c) experiencing problematic use as a barrier to care engagement, (d) “testing the waters,” (e) relying on AIDS service organizations and medical providers, and (f) changing or maintaining patterns of AOD use to maintain engagement with care. Recommendations include assessing a patient's AOD use in relationship to the care continuum to evaluate patients' experiences and barriers within systems of care.
The Development of Ballast Water Management in Canada: A Critical Analysis of the Journey

Non-indigenous species (NIS) and aquatic invasive species (AIS) create significant risks when introduced to foreign ecosystems. One of the many vectors facilitating the transport of NIS is ballast water, and as commercial shipping increases globally so too does the use of ballast water. Despite Canadian regulations and international guidelines put forth by the International Maritime Organization, ballast water has facilitated the introduction of several NIS to Canada. This paper seeks to analyze the development of, and identify gaps in, Canadian ballast water management, in the context of marine ecosystems. Although large-scale ballast water management in Canada began in the late 1980s, many management gaps have persevered through time, and put Canada’s coasts at risk of NIS introduction. Such management gaps include: intracoastal shipping; salinity issues associated with mid-ocean exchange and euryhaline species; vessels reporting ‘No-Ballast On Board’; lack of monitoring, and; issues surrounding political will. Additionally, ballast water regulations for the Canadian Arctic have not been thoroughly considered which represents a significant management gap, especially since the Arctic will continue to see an increase in warming and subsequently, commercial shipping in the future. Relevant case studies of ballast water-mediated introductions to marine ecosystems are also explored, including: European green crabs (Carcinus maenas) to Newfoundland; Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) to the St. Lawrence River, and; copepods to the Pacific Northwest. Several recommendations for Canadian ballast water management are generated in order to protect Canada’s vulnerable marine ecosystems for generations to come.
Peacebuilding through Dialogue and Education: Lessons from the Gülen Movement

The article examines responses by Muslim faith-based organisation to address Islamic international terrorism. After describing the root causes of international terrorism associated with Islam, it assesses traditional national and international responses and finds that they have globally failed to address the root causes of the problem. It then considers responses emanating from the Muslim community, particularly indigenous and innovative solutions promoted by faith-based organisations. These have created mechanisms, notably the ‘Amman Message’, to exclude extremists and to strengthen mainstream Islam. In other instances, for instance in the case of the Muhammadiyah organisation in Indonesia, they act daily with their communities and others to promote dialogue and understanding, notably . The article tries to assess their impact in providing hope, in enlarging the base for peaceful and mainstream Islam and in countering Islamic extremism.
Circulating IgG Levels in SARS-CoV-2 Convalescent Individuals in Cyprus

Long-term persistence and the heterogeneity of humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this work is to study the production of circulating immunoglobulin class G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with past infection in Cyprus. Individuals of the general population, with or without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, were invited to visit the Biobank at the Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research of the University of Cyprus. Serum IgG antibodies were measured using the SARS-CoV-2 IgG and the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assays of Abbott Laboratories. Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 were also evaluated against participants’ demographic and clinical data. All statistical analyses were conducted in Stata 16. The median levels of receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific IgG in 969 unvaccinated individuals, who were reportedly infected between November 2020 and September 2021, were 432.1 arbitrary units (AI)/mL (interquartile range—IQR: 182.4–1147.3). Higher antibody levels were observed in older participants, males, and those who reportedly developed symptoms or were hospitalized. The RBD-specific IgG levels peaked at three months post symptom onset and subsequently decreased up to month six, with a slower decay thereafter. IgG response to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 is bi-phasic with considerable titer variability. Levels of IgG are significantly associated with several parameters, including age, gender, and severity of symptoms.
RESEARCH METHODS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION RESEARCH

Engineering Education is developing rapidly into a mature field of research in its own right. A renewed interest for scholarly research in engineering education in the USA has boosted the level of interest. Renowned Universities in the USA like Stanford, Purdue and Virginia Tech have established their own departments for Educational research on Engineering Education. As the NSF makes substantial funds available for this kind of research other universities are quick to follow. Also in Australia and Asia the trend to strengthen Engineering Education through research and innovation is manifest. Starting as a USA initiative with a NSF grant in 2007 Research on Engineering Education Network (REEN) is presently taking shape as a world wide network of Engineering Education researchers [1].
Sine-fit versus discrete Fourier transform-based algorithms in SNR testing of waveform digitizers

The performance of discrete Fourier transform (DFT)-based algorithms employed in signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) testing of waveform digitizers is analyzed and compared to the performance obtained using sine-fit procedures. Theoretical results are recalled, emphasizing their relevance and importance. Evaluations based on experimental data, obtained by an 8-bit digitizing oscilloscope, show that the accuracies approaches are comparable, while in several respects the methods appear complementary, rather than alternative.
A new approach to the microstrip lines with finite strip thickness and conductivity

A method is proposed to deal with the microstrip line with layer structure in which the thickness and conductivity of the signal strip are finite. The phase constant beta and attenuation constant alpha of the microstrip line with finite strip thickness and finite conductivity are examined together with the current distributions along the signal strip. The advantage of the CPU time is reflected in the fact that the approach requires 30 s to calculate the phase and attenuation constants per frequency point using the Sun SparcStation 2. The proposed method can be applied to structures with superconductor signal strip and/or semiconductor substrates. <<ETX>>