Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Track Variables and Product Design on Insulated Rail Joints

Insulated rail joints are used for signal control and detection of broken rails in railway operations. Bonded insulated rail joints are the standard in freight railroads with heavy axle loads. While there have been many numerical and experimental studies investigating the mechanics of insulated rail joints, mechanisms to understand the impact failure of insulated rail joints require further attention. This study presents a dynamic finite element model designed to simulate the mechanics of an insulated rail joint starting from a wheel–rail contact interface to stresses and deflections at any point under the wheel loads at speeds up to 60 mph. Track configuration and product design options were chosen as input variables for the model. The selection of these variables was driven by the need to answer track engineers’ questions about supporting versus suspending joints on wood or concrete ties and responses of different design options to different track configurations. Results show that contact stresses did not change significantly as a result of track configuration. The differential deflection between the two rails right before the impact had a linear correlation with the resulting contact stresses on the rail head. Supporting joints were better at reducing bar stresses, especially on wood ties. Certain product features can greatly influence the bar and the adhesive stresses of the insulated rail joint.
Enabling long journeys in electric vehicles : design and demonstration of an infrastructure location model

This research develops a methodology and model formulation which suggests locations for rapid chargers to help assist infrastructure development and enable greater battery electric vehicle (BEV) usage. The model considers the likely travel patterns of BEVs and their subsequent charging demands across a large road network, where no prior candidate site information is required. Using a GIS-based methodology, polygons are constructed which represent the charging demand zones for particular routes across a real-world road network. The use of polygons allows the maximum number of charging combinations to be considered whilst limiting the input intensity needed for the model. Further polygons are added to represent deviation possibilities, meaning that placement of charge points away from the shortest path is possible, given a penalty function. A validation of the model is carried out by assessing the expected demand at current rapid charging locations and comparing to recorded empirical usage data. Results suggest that the developed model provides a good approximation to real world observations, and that for the provision of charging, location matters. The model is also implemented where no prior candidate site information is required. As such, locations are chosen based on the weighted overlay between several different routes where BEV journeys may be expected. In doing so many locations, or types of locations, could be compared against one another and then analysed in relation to siting practicalities, such as cost, land permission and infrastructure availability. Results show that efficient facility location, given numerous siting possibilities across a large road network can be achieved. Slight improvements to the standard greedy adding technique are made by adding combination weightings which aim to reward important long distance routes that require more than one charge to complete.
What can we learn from McLuhan? Electronic communication technologies and the future of schooling

In the 1960's, Marshall McLuhan predicted that schooling, among other things, would be transformed as society embraced electronic communication technologies. McLuhan and other medium theorists provided an evocative but controversial discussion of the effects of technological development on society and its institutions. McLuhan's ideas were widely criticised by his contemporaries, particularly educationalists; however, his ideas are not so radical today and visions similar to those formulated by McLuhan can now be found in mainstream educational literature. Predictions made by medium theorists about the future of schooling are consistent with both the reforms advocated by current-day educationalists and the speculations of technologists. In this paper, I revisit McLuhan's predictions for the future of education. I then draw parallels between McLuhan's vision and those espoused by contemporary educationalists. I argue that, although McLuhan's predictions have re-emerged, his analysis of the interaction between new technologies and old ways of doing have not re-emerged to the same extent, with many commentators neglecting to take account of the resilience of the institutionalised practices, structures and roles of traditional schooling.
Homeostasis and Cancer Initiation: Organoids as Models to Study the Initiation of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer represents a significant disease burden worldwide. The factors that initiate cancer are not well understood. Chronic inflammation such as that triggered by H. pylori infection is the most significant cause of gastric cancer. In recent years, organoid cultures developed from human and animal adult stem cells have facilitated great advances in our understanding of gastric homeostasis. Organoid models are now being exploited to investigate the role of host genetics and bacterial factors on proliferation and DNA damage in gastric stem cells. The impact of a chronic inflammatory state on gastric stem cells and the stroma has been less well addressed. This review discusses what we have learned from the use of organoid models to investigate cancer initiation, and highlights questions on the contribution of the microbiota, chronic inflammatory milieu, and stromal cells that can now be addressed by more complex coculture models.
Developing resilience in disaster relief operations management through lean transformation

Abstract The impact of disasters in terms of the loss of human lives, infrastructure, and economy has been increasing over time. Planning and management strategies for disaster relief operations (DROs) have got the attention of researchers and policymakers, particularly on how to achieve resilience in such operations. This research aims to investigate the use of the lean transformation approach, which in this context is the process of evaluating relief operations’ performance in terms of responsiveness and road mapping interventions, for achieving resilience in DROs. A systematic lean-based method instigated through DROs’ management initiative was developed. This was validated through an empirical industrial fire case study where selected lean concepts and tools like Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs and Customer (SIPOC)-analysis, value stream maps (VSM), key performance indicators (KPIs), fishbone diagram, and plan-do-check-act (PDCA) were used to investigate DROs resilience in terms of their responsiveness. The VSMs were developed for ‘as-is’ and ‘to-be’ scenarios, and comparative analysis against standardized KPIs was carried out. The lean transformation approach was found effective in the studied case of industrial fire for developing resilience in DROs. Furthermore, lean tools could help in devising pragmatic strategies to prevent delays and achieve enhanced resilience through better coordination, communication, capacity building, and awareness. This research contributes to the operations management and disaster management fields through lean transformation.
Simple Strategies to Modulate the pH-Responsiveness of Lignosulfonate-Based Delivery Systems

The extensive use of non-degradable microplastics in a wide plethora of daily life products is causing serious pollution problems. More ecofriendly solutions are therefore urgently needed. In this context, the use of lignin, a largely available aromatic polymer, may represent a viable option. Due to the self-assembly ability of its molecules, lignin is in fact an ideal matrix for the fabrication of nanostructures. In this study, lignosulfonate microcapsules containing a limonene core were prepared and characterized in terms of their dimensions and of the physicochemical characteristics of the capsule-forming lignosulfonate molecules. The main purpose is to elucidate the key properties governing the pH-responsive behavior of the capsules to be able to achieve better control over the release kinetics of the entrapped compound(s). The results demonstrate that both the molecular weight and the concentration of sulfonate groups are the most important factors in this respect. Based on these findings, two strategies were followed to further tailor the capsules’ behavior: (i) fractionation of the starting lignosulfonate by solvent extraction and (ii) introduction of a specific additive in the formulation. The first approach permitted to fabricate highly resistant capsules both in acidic, as well as in alkaline conditions, while in the second case the chemical structure of the additive, the diester diveratryl sebacate, allowed for fast kinetics of release, as values above 70% were reached after 24 h of incubation at pH 4 and pH 12.
Grey wolf optimisation for optimal sizing of battery energy storage device to minimise operation cost of microgrid

Nowadays, optimal operational planning of micro-grid (MG) with regard to energy costs minimisation of MG and better utilisation of renewable energy sources (RES) such as solar and wind energy systems, has become the head of concern of modern power grids and energy management systems. Due to large integration of RES into the MG, the necessity of battery energy storage (BES) has increased rapidly. Size of BES plays an important role in the operation cost minimisation of MG. A cost-based formulation has been performed in this study to determine the optimal size of BES in the operation cost minimisation problem of MG under various constraints, such as power capacity of distributed generators (DGs), power and energy capacity of BES, charge/discharge efficiency of BES, operating reserve and load demand satisfaction. A recently developed optimisation technique known as grey wolf optimisation (GWO) has been applied here to solve the problem. The proposed algorithm is tested on a typical MG. Simulation results establish that the proposed approach outperforms several existing optimisation techniques such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimisation, tabu search, differential evolution, biogeography-based optimisation, teaching–learning-based optimisation, bat algorithm (BA) and improved BA in terms of quality of solution obtained and computational efficiency.
Risk Factors of Rejection in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Narrative Review

Multiple factors influence graft rejection after kidney transplantation. Pre-operative factors affecting graft function and survival include donor and recipient characteristics such as age, gender, race, and immunologic compatibility. In addition, several peri- and post-operative parameters affect graft function and rejection, such as cold and warm ischemia times, and post-operative immunosuppressive treatment. Exposure to non-self-human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) prior to transplantation up-regulates the recipient’s immune system. A higher rate of acute rejection is observed in transplant recipients with a history of pregnancies or significant exposure to blood products because these patients have higher panel reactive antibody (PRA) levels. Identifying these risk factors will help physicians to reduce the risk of allograft rejection, thereby promoting graft survival. In the current review, we summarize the existing literature on donor- and recipient-related risk factors of graft rejection and graft loss following kidney transplantation.
Non-linear Effect of Real Exchange Rate Variability with Macroeconomic Variable on Non-Petroleum Commodities of India– US Trade

This article aims to explore the asymmetric influence of real exchange rate volatility on India–US trade commodity-wise. In this study, the assumption of symmetric relation is neglected and assessed on the asymmetric effect of real exchange rate volatility on 90 commodities distributed under 6 industries. This study verifies short-run and long-run asymmetry effects, the short-run effect in 21 Indian exporting commodities and 19 Indian importing commodities. However, the short-run effect lasting onto the long run in 16 exporting commodities and 27 importing commodities strongly supports the J-curve. Also, non-linear causality is witnessed in this study running from real exchange rate variability to export trade and import trade. The empirical analyses explain that commodities will benefit the export or import growth with the depreciation of exchange rate or discouraging with the appreciation of exchange rate. The findings of the study provide a view for policy making. JEL Codes: C22, F1, F14, F31, O19
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND DEVELOPMENT IN NONMETROPOLITAN AREAS

The current revival of development in small urban and rural communities is one of the more dramatic changes in socioeconomic trends in this century. Since other writers have suggested that the Interstate Highway System played a key role, this paper empirically examines the relationship between the location of freeways and migration and employment change between 1950 and 1975 in all nonmetropolitan counties in the United States by using both descriptive statistics and regression models. The results show that, while counties with freeways as a group have higher average growth rates, even after confounding factors such as proximity to metropolitan areas and presence of urban population concentrations are controlled, the presence of a limited access highway is far from an assurance of development for an individual county. Tourist services are the industry most closely associated with Interstates but, contrary to common conceptions, manufacturing and wholesaling are not clearly associated. The Interstate system was less able to explain the spatial pattern of development than nontransportation factors. Its role appears to have been to raise accessibility levels throughout the nonmetropolitan United States, which has benefited many communities, not just those adjacent to Interstates. (Author)
Stressor-Induced Reduction in Cognitive Behavior is Associated with Impaired Colonic Mucus Layer Integrity and is Dependent Upon the LPS-Binding Protein Receptor CD14

Purpose Commensal microbes are impacted by stressor exposure and are known contributors to cognitive and social behaviors, but the pathways through which gut microbes influence stressor-induced behavioral changes are mostly unknown. A murine social stressor was used to determine whether host–microbe interactions are necessary for stressor-induced inflammation, including neuroinflammation, that leads to reduced cognitive and social behavior. Methods C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to a paired fighting social stressor over a 1 hr period for 6 consecutive days. Y-maze and social interaction behaviors were tested following the last day of the stressor. Serum cytokines and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) were measured and the number and morphology of hippocampal microglia determined via immunohistochemistry. Intestinal mucous thickness and antimicrobial peptide expression were determined via fluorescent staining and real-time PCR (respectively) and microbial community composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. To determine whether the microbiota or the LBP receptor (CD14) are necessary for stressor-induced behavioral changes, experiments were performed in mice treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail or in CD14−/− mice. Results The stressor reduced Y-maze spontaneous alternations, which was accompanied by increased microglia in the hippocampus, increased circulating cytokines (eg, IL-6, TNF-α) and LBP, and reduced intestinal mucus thickness while increasing antimicrobial peptides and cytokines. These stressor-induced changes were largely prevented in mice given broad-spectrum antibiotics and in CD14−/− mice. In contrast, social stressor-induced alterations of social behavior were not microbe-dependent. Conclusion Stressor-induced cognitive deficits involve enhanced bacterial interaction with the intestine, leading to low-grade, CD14-dependent, inflammation.
Hand Hygiene Compliance at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hand hygiene actions are essential to reduce healthcare-associated infections and the development of antimicrobial resistance. In this cross-sectional study at two tertiary hospitals, Freetown, Sierra Leone, we observed hand hygiene compliance (defined as using handwash with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) amongst healthcare workers between June and August 2021. Using the WHO Hand Hygiene tool, observations were made in relation to the type of opportunity, different wards and types of healthcare worker. Overall, 10,461 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed, of which 5086 (49%) resulted in hand hygiene actions. ABHR was used more often than handwash (26% versus 23%, p < 0.001). Overall, compliance was significantly better: after being with a patient/doing a procedure than before (78% after body fluid exposure risk compared with 24% before touching a patient—p < 0.001); in Paediatric (61%) compared with Medical wards (46%)—p < 0.001; and amongst nurses (52%) compared with doctors (44%)—p < 0.001. Similar patterns of compliance were observed within each hospital. In summary, hand hygiene compliance was sub-optimal, especially before being with a patient or before clean/aseptic procedures. Improvement is needed through locally adapted training, hand hygiene reminders in wards and outpatient departments, uninterrupted provision of ABHR and innovative ways to change behaviour.
Functional and sensory properties of Indonesian bay leaf (Syzygium polyanthum)
herbal tea

Indonesian bay leaf (Syzygium polyanthum) has been reported to contain antioxidants and antidiabetic agents that can bring many health benefits. To increase its consumption, it can be processed into herbal tea with a simple processing method. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of drying temperature, brewing temperature, and brewing time on functional properties and sensory acceptance of Indonesian bay leaf herbal tea. Indonesian bay leaf was dried at three different temperatures (40, 50 and 60oC) for 24 hrs to increase its shelf life. A drying temperature of 40oC was selected for its highest antioxidant properties among the dried Indonesian bay leaf. Indonesian bay leaf herbal tea was prepared with different brewing temperatures (80, 90 and 100oC) and brewing times (10, 20 and 30 mins). Results showed that lower brewing temperature (80oC) and longer brewing time (30 mins) could increase its functional properties, with the highest antioxidant activity (IC50) of 984.07±28.92 ppm. Indonesian bay leaf herbal tea brewed for 30 mins showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibition activity of 4704.79±26.31 ppm, about 85 times weaker compared to acarbose. However, brewing time and temperature did not affect the sensory acceptance of bay leaf herbal tea with an overall hedonic score ranging from 4-5 (slightly like).
Helmholtz equation for a Neumann condition on a curved boundary: spurious resonances

The 2D canonical case of a semi-circular canyon is addressed via two types of boundary-integral equations (BIE) methods which are shown, via Galerkin procedures, to lead to matrix equations with kernels that vanish at two different sets of (what appear as resonant) frequencies. This physically impossible result is interpreted as being the sign that the two BIE methods are generally defective and that the resonances are ‘spurious’. This ‘disease’ is cured by combining two BIE's into one which gives rise to a closed-form solution identical to the exact separation-of-variables solution devoid of resonances.
Cities and Economic Development: From the Dawn of History to the Present by Paul Bairoch (review)

"A hefty history, from the Neolithic onward. It's ambitious in scope and rich in subject, detailing urbanization and, of course, the links between cities and economies. Scholarly, accessible, and significant. " -- "Newsday" "This book offers a path-breaking synthesis of the vast literature on the history of urbanization. " --John C. Brown, "IJournal of Economic Literature"
FAIRNESS IN GAMES: A STUDY ON CHILDREN’S AND ADULTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF PROBABILITY

This study aims to analyse the reasoning that children and adults with the same school level use to assess and justify the fairness of games, considering aspects of probability such as randomness, sample space, and comparison of probabilities. Data collection included a Piagetian clinical interview based on games of chance. The results showed that the participants’ judgments about the fairness of the games depends mainly on the understanding about independence of events, analysis of the sample space, and perception of proportionality when comparing probabilities, and that they have misunderstandings about these ideas. The similar low performance of adults and children on probabilistic reasoning, indicates that the maturity and experience of these adults were not enough to properly develop probabilistic reasoning and to instrumentalize it to assess the fairness of a game consistently. Thus, teaching interventions to expand and consolidate students' learning in the field of probability are recommended and the activities presented in this study may serve as a basis for such interventions.
THE EFFECT OF WORKLOAD AND REMUNERATION ON PERFORMANCE WITH JOB SATISFACTION AS A MEDIATION AT MEURAXA HOSPITAL IN BANDA ACEH CITY

This study intends to examine the effect of workload and remuneration on performance with job satisfaction as a mediating variable at the Meuraxa Hospital in the city of Banda Aceh. The population was nurses at Meuraxa Hospital, totaling 323 people. Sampling in this study was carried out using the Slovin formula so that a total sample of 179 nurses was obtained. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method. The results of the study prove that workload significantly affects nurse performance, remuneration significantly affects nurse performance, remuneration significantly affects nurse satisfaction, workload significantly affects nurse satisfaction, satisfaction significantly affects nurse performance, satisfaction mediates the effect of workload on nurse performance, and satisfaction mediates the effect of remuneration on Nurse performance. From these results, it is also explained that satisfaction in the model functions as a partial mediator. So these results summarize academically that the model for improving the performance of nurses is a function of workload and remuneration and satisfaction, whereby increasing the adjustment of workload and remuneration will create an increase in the satisfaction of nurses, which in turn will have an impact on increasing their performance. Academically this model contributes to science and serves as a new premise so that further researchers can develop this tested model by adding variables such as nurse leadership and also nursing culture in the hospital.