Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A framework for the integration of Green and Lean Six Sigma for superior sustainability performance

Evidence suggests that Lean, Six Sigma and Green approaches make a positive contribution to the economic, social and environmental (i.e. sustainability) performance of organisations. However, evidence also suggests that organisations have found their integration and implementation challenging. The purpose of this research is therefore to present a framework that methodically guides companies through a five stages and sixteen steps process to effectively integrate and implement the Green, Lean and Six Sigma approaches to improve their sustainability performance. To achieve this, a critical review of the existing literature in the subject area was conducted to build a research gap, and subsequently develop the methodological framework proposed. The paper presents the results from the application of the proposed framework in four organisations with different sizes and operating in a diverse range of industries. The results showed that the integration of Lean Six Sigma and Green helped the organisations to averagely reduce their resources consumption from 20 to 40% and minimise the cost of energy and mass streams by 7–12%. The application of the framework should be gradual, the companies should assess their weaknesses and strengths, set priorities, and identify goals for successful implementation. This paper is one of the very first researches that presents a framework to integrate Green and Lean Six Sigma at a factory level, and hence offers the potential to be expanded to multiple factories or even supply chains.
200/spl deg/C high-temperature and high-speed operation of 440 V lateral IGBTs on 1.5 /spl mu/m thick SOI

This paper experimentally verifies that high-voltage lateral IGBTs fabricated on SOI of less than 5 /spl mu/m exhibit high switching speed without the need for any special device design. This paper also verifies, for the first time, that thin SOI is a promising candidate for 200/spl deg/C high-temperature operation, because switching speed does not deteriorate at high temperature. <<ETX>>
Digital Student Conference Platform Implementation: The case study of the “Research Project” course

Today, during the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ which is led by the Internet and the digital ecosystem it creates, schools are expected to achieve the development of not only the functional skills of literacy and numeracy but also of general knowledge. The apparent inadequacy of the standardized education system to respond to the needs and interests of 21st-century students urges researchers to adopt new forms of teaching as meaningful and high-quality teaching requires a more active use of innovative educational methods and tools. With the rapid development of IT globally, there is a tendency to utilize the capabilities of e-learning as a mode of distance learning since it can function both independently of and in conjunction with conventional teaching. The varied applications of Web 2.0 tools create new possibilities in the educational sector. It provides the ability to develop innovative educational methods that transform students from passive recipients of information to knowledge creators through an active involvement in the learning process often within a modern interactive environment. This study presents the results of the implementation of a teaching intervention, with the use of a flexible and student-centered web system developed and used as complementary to the ‘Research Project’ course during the first term of the 2015-2016 school year. The ultimate goal of this effort was to highlight and consequently incorporate the use of a digital platform for student conferences which we implemented in schools as a means to research, learning, and skill development. The students had the opportunity to participate in a digital community which employed distance learning tools for communication, cooperation, and learning during a digital conference in which they had leading roles as writers and reviewers. The initial results of the pilot study indicated that the use of the digital platform increased the interest of students, supported the development of various skills and contributed to the overall improvement of the teaching and learning process.
Turbulence measurements in axisymmetric jets of air and helium. Part 2. Helium jet

A turbulent round jet of helium was studied experimentally using a composite probe consisting of an interference probe of the Way–Libby type and an × -probe. Simultaneous measurements of two velocity components and helium mass fraction concentration were made in the x/d range 50–120. These measurements are compared with measurements in an air jet of the same momentum flux reported in Part 1. The jet discharge Froude number was 14000 and the measurement range was in the intermediate region between the non-buoyant jet region and the plume region. The measurements are consistent with earlier studies on helium jets. The mass flux of helium across the jet is within ±10% of the nozzle input. The mean velocity field along the axis of the jet is consistent with the scaling expressed by the effective diameter but the mean concentration decay constant exhibits a density-ratio dependence. The radial profiles of mean velocity and mean concentration agree with earlier measurements, with the half-widths indicating a turbulent Schmidt number of 0.7. Significantly higher intensities of axial velocity fluctuations are observed in comparison with the air jet, while the intensities of radial and azimuthal velocity fluctuations are virtually identical with the air jet when scaled with the half-widths. Approximate budgets for the turbulent kinetic energy, scalar variance and scalar fluxes are presented. The ratio of mechanical to scalar timescales is found to be close to 1.5 across most of the jet. Current models for triple moments involving scalar fluctuations are compared with measurements. As was observed with the velocity triple moments in Part 1, the performance of the Full model that includes all terms except advection was found to be very good in the fully turbulent region of the jet.
The Causal Effect of Subscription Video Streaming on DVD Sales: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Video streaming services recently become a revenue driver of the home entertainment industry. By contrast, revenue from physical media continuously declines. Content owners, such as movie studios, face the important question of whether streaming media cannibalize the sales of physical media and to what extent. We answer these questions by exploiting a natural experiment that occurred on October 1, 2015 when Epix switched its streaming partner from Netflix to Hulu. This event created an exogenous shock that reduced the streaming availability of Epix’s content because of the significant difference in the market shares of the two video streaming sites. This occurrence allowed us to investigate the causal effect of streaming services on physical DVD sales. Our difference-in-difference analyses show that the decline in the streaming availability of Epix’s content causes a 24.7% increase in their DVD sales in the three months after the event. Our results validate the industry’s concern that video streaming services displace physical DVD sales. In addition, we find that cannibalization between the two media is stronger for DVDs released more recently and for movies with better box office performances. This study contributes to the understanding of the competition between streaming media and physical media and provides important managerial implications for content owners in selecting appropriate movies for streaming.
Acceptance of Tablet Apps for E-learning by Senior Users: A Test of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

Learning is a continuous process. The contemporary environment emphasizes also on de-learning and re-learning. This prompts the need to acquire knowledge and develop skills throughout the life cycle. Employees belonging to different sectors and hierarchical levels can now continue education through e-learning. Particularly considering the senior students (50+ years of age), they are more reluctant to accept technological resources. This study mainly examines the acceptance of Tablet PC (TPC) apps as a learning tool among senior users and what factors may accelerate TPCs use. Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was applied with slight modifications and responses of 173 senior users were collected. Results not only unfolded the repulsive behavior of senior students’ to use TPCs as learning device but also highlighted the influence of performance expectancy and facilitating conditions if policy makers wish to increase tablet apps use.
Domains and boundaries of non-stationary oblique shock-wave reflexions. 2. Monatomic gas

Interferometric data were obtained in the 10 cm × 18 cm hypervelocity shock tube of oblique shock-wave reflexions in argon at initial temperatures and pressures of nearly 300 °K and 15 Torr. The shock Mach-number range covered was 2 [les ] Ms [les ] 8 over a series of wedge angles 2° [les ] θw [les ] 60°. Dual-wavelength laser interferograms were obtained by using a 23 cm diameter field of view Mach-Zehnder interferometer. In addition to our numerous results, the available data for argon and helium obtained over the last two decades were also utilized. It is shown analytically and experimentally that in non-stationary flows six domains exist in the (Ms, θw) plane where regular reflexion (RR), single-Mach reflexion (SMR), complex-Mach reflexion (CMR) and double-Mach reflexion (DMR) can occur. The transition boundaries between these regions were all established analytically. The experimental results from different sources substantiate the present analysis, and areas of disagreement which existed in the literature are now clarified and resolved. It is shown that real-gas effects have a significant influence on the size of the regions and their boundaries. In addition, isopycnics (constant density lines) are given for the four types of reflexion, as well as the density distribution along the wedge surface. This data should provide a solid base for computational fluid dynamicists in comparing numerical techniques with actual experimental results.
Lean Design Management in Practice With the Last Planner System

Although mostly applied to planning of construction work, projects have also benefitted from adopting the Last Planner System (LPS) to the design phase. This paper investigates how LPS applies lean principles in design management by presenting a case study of a project changing from traditional planning of the design process to using LPS. Before the transition, the project struggled with several common challenges in design and was in danger of not submitting the design proposal on time. After implementing LPS, performance significantly improved, with the design proposal not just submitted on time, but also performing very well in terms of customer requirements regarding cost and quality. It was clearly stated from the design team that they benefitted significantly from LPS. Better team alignment, clearer task description, better sequencing and increased process transparency were some effects, as well as potential problems better identified and solved in time through a weekly plan “check, correct and lookahead”-routine in design meetings. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the practical understanding of how LPS can be applied to design and what outcomes can be achieved. Previous research has established LPS’ potential to counter common challenges in the design process, and the authors hope this paper further strengthens this notion by contributing with additional empirical findings.
Altered Mental Status in Emergency Department Patients with Cancer

Introduction Although cancer patients with acute altered mental status (AMS) often present to the emergency department (ED), there is lack of documentation for survival in ED cancer patients with related causes of AMS (structural or metabolic causes). The aim of this study was to evaluate reasons for acute AMS of cancer patients in the ED and their prognostic value for survival. Methods Medical records of cancer patients presenting to ED with acute AMS were reviewed. Patients were divided into 3 groups with respect to AMS etiologies: metabolic causes (Group 1), structural causes (Group 2) and both (Group 3). Median survival time was calculated from the ED presentation and Kaplan-Meier survival curve was generated to demonstrate survival in the three groups. Results Forty-nine patients had only metabolic causes of AMS (Group 1), 21 of whom had more than one metabolic abnormality. Forty-six patients had only structural causes (Group 2) and 7 had both metabolic and structural causes (Group 3). Survival probability at one month was 33% for all patients, 25% for Group 1, 48% for Group 2 and 0% for Group 3 (p=0.11). In Group 1, 32% of patients with only one metabolic disorder and 14% of those with more than one metabolic disorder were alive at one month (p=0.197). Conclusions Regardless of aetiology, cancer patients presented with AMS to the ED usually have poor outcomes. Survival in our ED cancer patients with AMS is not related to the either structural or metabolic causes of AMS. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2014;21:10-15)
Who Is on the Bandwagon? Core and Periphery in Mixed Methods Research

The rapid growth of mixed methods research over the past two decades matches what Fujimura (1989) called a “bandwagon effect. ” This study compares articles from the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, representing the core of the field, to a more peripheral set of randomly drawn articles. A content analysis of the two sets of articles shows strong differences, with the random sample dominated by convergent designs and lower integration between the qualitative and quantitative results. This research contributes to the field of mixed methods by showing systematic differences between articles published in its flagship journal versus a broad sample of articles from outside this core set. In addition, it offers recommendations for how to reduce this disparity.
Electrohydrodynamic stability of a slightly viscous jet

Many electro-spraying devices raise to a high electric potential a pendant drop of weakly conducting fluid, which may adopt a conical shape from whose apex a thin, charged jet is emitted. Such a jet eventually breaks up into fine droplets, but often displays surprising longevity. This paper examines the stability of an incompressible cylindrical jet carrying surface charge in a tangential electric field, allowing for the finite rate of charge relaxation. The viscosity is assumed to be small so that the shear resulting from the tangential surface stress can be large, even for relatively small fields. This shear can suppress surface tension instabilities, but if too large, it excites electrical ones. For imperfect conductors, surface charge is redistributed by the rapid fluid reaction to variations in tangential stress as well as by conduction. Phase differences between the effects due to the tangential field and the surface charge lead to charge ‘over-relaxation’ instabilities, but the maximum growth rate can still be lower than in the absence of electric effects.
The price elasticity of casino gambling: a case study in Argentina

ABSTRACT This paper expands on the scarce literature about the demand for casino gaming, particularly on electronic gaming machines (EGM). A dynamic panel data model is proposed for estimating the price elasticity of demand for slot machines in casinos located in Argentina. As far as we know, no similar study for Argentina or any other Latin American country has been previously conducted. In our study, the estimation of the elasticity coefficients was carried out by means of a procedure that corrects the construction bias generated by the model, something that has not been applied in the literature so far. The results, unlike most of the literature, show elasticity values greater than one in absolute value. Additionally, elasticities observed for touristic regions were greater (in absolute value) than for non-tourist areas.
The Effect of Postural Sway and Technical Parameters of 8 Weeks Technical Training Performed with Restrict of Visual Input on the 10-12 Ages Soccer Players

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an 8 week soccer-specific technical training with limited vision perception on postural control and technical parameters in 10-12 aged soccer players. Subjects in this study were 24 male young soccer players (age: 11.00 ± 0.56 years, height: 150.5 ± 4.23 cm, body weight: 41.49 ± 7.56 kg). Subjects were randomly divided as two groups: Training and control. Balance performance was measured by Biodex Balance System (BBS). Short pass, speed dribbling, 20 m speed with ball, ball control, juggling tests were used to measure soccer players’ technical performances with a ball. Subjects performed soccer training 3 times per week for 8 weeks. In each session, training group with limited vision perception and control group with normal vision perception committed soccer-specific technical drills for 20 min. Data were analyzed with t-test for independent samples and Mann-Whitney U between groups and paired t-test and Wilcoxon test between pretest and posttest. No significant difference was found balance scores and with eyes open and eyes closed and LOS test between training and control groups after training (p>0.05). After eight week of training there are no significant difference in balance score with eyes open for both training and control groups (p>0.05). Balance scores decreased in training and control groups after the training (p<0.05). The completion time of LOS test shortened in both training and control groups after training (p<0.05). The training developed speed dribbling performance of training group (p<0.05). On the other hand, soccer players’ performance in training and control groups increased in 20 m speed with a ball after eight week training (p<0.05). In conclusion; the results of this study indicate that soccer-specific training with limited vision perception may not improves balance performance in 10-12 aged soccer players, but it develops speed dribbling performance.
Assessing Students’ Learning Attitude and Academic Performance Through m-Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to assess college of education students’ learning attitude and academic performance in using m-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a pre-test and post-test experimental research design with 50 students from the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Nigeria. Two research instruments were used to collect data from the participants on two occasions. The first instrument was a students’ attitude questionnaire that measured the attitude of the participants towards learning. The second instrument was the students’ academic performance test that measured the students’ scores. The differences between pre- and post-tests were measured through independent t-test. Demographic data are presented in a bar chart and show that the majority of the students own mobile devices that were suitable for learning; that the majority of the students used mobile devices for learning; and that all the respondents in the experimental group possessed mobile devices with the Zoom app. The pre-test findings revealed no significant differences in the attitude and performance of students towards m-learning and traditional learning (p>0.005) while the post-test findings showed significant differences in the attitude and performance of students towards m-learning and traditional learning (p<0.005). These findings suggest that m-learning should be integrated into the school curriculum.
The input signal to a carbonate aquifer highlights recharge processes and climate evolution under temperate Atlantic conditions

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study are to characterize the input signal of a shallow carbonate aquifer in northeastern France and to clarify the recharge and groundwater mineralization processes, by analysing the chemical and isotopic (δ18O, δ2H) composition of rain and groundwater. The groundwater isotopic signature was very close to the calculated local meteoric water line and showed a narrow range, which is explained by the buffer effect of the matrix-dominated chalk aquifer. Nevertheless, intensive fracture networks can exist at local scale and lead to rapid aquifer response to rainfall, as attested by observed large variations in groundwater isotopic and chemical signatures at one specific site. Main factors controlling the groundwater mineralization are highlighted, including the input signal, water-rock interactions and human activities. Moreover, groundwater isotopic signatures are related to groundwater ages and historical climate conditions, showing that groundwater isotopic signal could also be used as a record of climate changes.
A universal gradation for highway pavement base course materials

Around the world, several standards and guidelines exist for the construction of highway pavement base courses. In the current global construction environment, an engineer may be dealing with a highway project sitting in a place far away from the construction site, and there may be an urgent need to work on a preliminary analysis and design of the pavement. In such situation, it would be advantageous to have a universal gradation of the base course materials. Therefore, this study aims to develop such a gradation, considering the standard guidelines being adopted in several countries including Australia, Brazil, various European nations, India, Iran, New Zealand, South Africa and USA. The analysis has resulted in three different particle-size distribution (PSD) ranges; however, one of the three has been proposed as the universal gradation in view of the most common or widespread practice. The gradation has been developed both in the form of a PSD curve, as well as in a tabular form. It was observed that the universal gradation consists of the largest particle size of 50 mm and permissible fines (particles smaller than 0.075 mm) content of 2–8%.