Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finite‐time and fixed‐time sliding mode control for discontinuous nonidentical recurrent neural networks with time‐varying delays

This article investigates the synchronization problem in finite‐time and fixed‐time of the drive‐response delayed recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Moreover, it is assumed that the parameters of the RNNs are nonidentical and the activation functions are discontinuous. For addressing the synchronization problem in finite‐time and fixed‐time, an improved sliding mode control (SMC) approach is presented. In a first time, by applying the drive‐response concept and the synchronization error between the drive‐response model, two novel integral sliding mode surfaces are constructed such that the synchronization error can converge to zero in finite‐time and fixed‐time. In second time, two SMC is created to overcome the finite‐time and fixed‐time synchronization problem of delayed RNNs. On the basis of Lyapunov stability theory, several sufficient criteria are obtained for the considered discontinuous nonidentical RNNs with time‐varying delays models to achieve finite‐time synchronization and fixed‐time synchronization. Moreover, two types of setting time, which are dependent and independent on the initial values, are given respectively. In the end, three numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the synchronization criteria.
Workplace bullying and mobbing: autoethnography and meaning-making in the face of adversity in academia

Abstract Autoethnography has been used to examine employees’ physical and emotional experiences of workplace bullying and mobbing. In this approach of inquiry, data were extracted through; personal narratives, lived experiences, and opinions through meaning-making. Power structures in academia were found to play a significant role in academic bullying because authorities may perceive their power base to be under threat hence the desperate need to eliminate the perceived threat. Findings also suggest power structures in academia and “reluctant complicit mobbing” may be inclined to support bullies thereby impacting employee performance, production, health, and wellbeing. The African culture that subordinates and younger members of society should revere their bosses and elders was also found to influence bullying and mobbing. The authors hope to persuade academic authorities to formulate reporting systems and viable policies that protect employees. Values in individuals could be developed and reinforced, further strengthening individual’s abilities and resilience to face and deal with adverse events.
Semi-active Control Of Earthquake Induced Vibrations In Structures Using MR Dampers : Algorithm Development, Experimental Verification And Benchmark Applications

As Civil Engineering structures, e.g., tall buildings, long span bridges, deep water offshore platforms, nuclear power plants, etc., have become more costly, complex and serve more critical functions, the consequences of their failure are catastrophic. Therefore, the protection of these structures against damage induced by large environmental loads, e.g., earthquakes, strong wind gusts and waves, etc., is without doubt, a worldwide priority. However, structures cannot be designed to withstand all possible external loads and some extraordinary loading episodes do occur, leading to damage or even failure of the structure. Protection of a structure against hazards can be achieved by various means such as modifying structural rigidities, increasing structural damping, and by attaching external devices, known as control devices. Control devices can be deployed either to isolate the structure from external excitation or to absorb input seismic energy to the structure (absorber) so as to mitigate vibration in the primary structure. Seismic base isolation is one such mechanism which isolates a structure from harmful ground excitations. Seismic base isolation is a widely accepted and implemented structural control mechanism due to its robustness and ease in deployment. Following the Northridge earthquake (1994), and Kobe earthquake (1995), the interest of structural engineers in understanding near-source ground motions has enhanced. Documents published after these earthquakes emphasized the issue of large base displacements because of the use of none or little isolation damping (of viscous type only) prior to these events. More recent studies have investigated analytically and experimentally, the efficiency of various dissipative mechanisms to protect seismic isolated structures from recorded near-source long period, pulse-type, high velocity ground motions. Consequently, hybrid isolation systems, seismic base isolation supplemented with damping mechanisms, have become the focus of current research trend in structural vibration control. iii
Combining LOFAR and Apertif Data for Understanding the Life Cycle of Radio Galaxies

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) at the centres of galaxies can cycle between periods of activity and of quiescence. Characterising the duty-cycle of AGN is crucial for understanding their impact on the evolution of the host galaxy. For radio AGN, their evolutionary stage can be identified from a combination of morphological and spectral properties. We summarise the results we have obtained in the last few years by studying radio galaxies in various crucial phases of their lives, such as remnant and restarted sources. We used morphological information derived from LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) images at 150 MHz, combined with resolved spectral indices maps, obtained using recently released images at 1400 MHz from the APERture Tile In Focus (Apertif) phased-array feed system installed on the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. Our study, limited so far to the Lockman Hole region, has identified radio galaxies in the dying and restarted phases. We found large varieties in their properties, relevant for understanding their evolutionary stage. We started by quantifying their occurrences, the duration of the ‘on’ (active) and ‘off’ (dying) phase, and we compared the results with models of the evolution of radio galaxies. In addition to these extreme phases, the resolved spectral index images can also reveal interesting secrets about the evolution of apparently normal radio galaxies. The spectral information can be connected with, and used to improve, the Fanaroff–Riley classification, and we present one example of this, illustrating what the combination of the LOFAR and Apertif surveys now allow us to do routinely.
Penrose Process: Its Variants and Astrophysical Applications

We present a review of the Penrose process and its modifications in relation to the Kerr black holes and naked singularities (superspinars). We introduce the standard variant of this process, its magnetic version connected with magnetized Kerr black holes or naked singularities, the electric variant related to electrically charged Schwarzschild black holes, and the radiative Penrose process connected with charged particles radiating in the ergosphere of magnetized Kerr black holes or naked singularities. We discuss the astrophysical implications of the variants of the Penrose process, concentrating attention to the extreme regime of the magnetic Penrose process leading to extremely large acceleration of charged particles up to ultra-high energy E∼1022 eV around magnetized supermassive black holes with mass M∼1010M⊙ and magnetic intensity B∼104 G. Similarly high energies can be obtained by the electric Penrose process. The extraordinary case is represented by the radiative Penrose process that can occur only around magnetized Kerr spacetimes but just inside their ergosphere, in contrast to the magnetic Penrose process that can occur in a more extended effective ergosphere determined by the intensity of the electromagnetic interaction. The explanation is simple, as the radiative Penrose process is closely related to radiated photons with negative energy whose existence is limited just to the ergosphere.
Twenty Years of New Zealand’s National Rivers Water Quality Network: Benefits of Careful Design and Consistent Operation 1

Davies‐Colley, Robert J., David G. Smith, Robert C. Ward, Graham G. Bryers, Graham B. McBride, John M. Quinn, and Mike R. Scarsbrook, 2011. Twenty Years of New Zealand’s National Rivers Water Quality Network: Benefits of Careful Design and Consistent Operation. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(4):750‐771. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011. 00554.x
The integration of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Theory Of Constraints (TOC) implementation in Malaysian automotive suppliers

The automotive industry is one of the most important and strategic industries in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. It supports a large number of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Malaysian automotive industry, especially the suppliers, must be able to stay competitive and be in business. In order to be able to achieve the above goals, suppliers should apply Total Quality Management (TQM) to improve the quality of products and services in satisfying the customers. Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a systems methodology that has been developed to assist people and organizations to think about their problems, develop breakthrough solutions and implement those solutions successfully. This study has attempted to integrate TQM and TOC in enhancing the implementation of TQM. There has not been any well research about the integration of TQM and TOC implementation, especially in Malaysia. So, it is hoped that this study can help Malaysian SMEs, especially automotive suppliers, to implement TQM better. Survey methodology and case study have been conducted to determine the extent of TQM and TOC implementation in Malaysian automotive suppliers. The TOC Thinking Process (TP) tools were used to analyze data from survey and case study to find out and reduce some of the problems of TQM implementation in Malaysian automotive suppliers. It was found that Malaysian automotive suppliers have achieved quite a high level of their quality implementation programs, although most of them are still in the early stage of implementing TQM. There were also still problems in their implementation of TQM. By using TOC TP tools, it was found that the core problem of the TQM implementation in Malaysian automotive suppliers was lack of management leadership and commitment to TQM. The main contribution of this study is a proposed framework for the integration of TQM and TOC in assisting companies for the implementation of TQM.
The Impact of Academic Freedom on Democracy in Africa

Abstract Shared experiences but diversified developments make Africa an interesting region in which to investigate the impact of education on democracy, and the role of academic freedom in this impact. As building expertise takes time, we focus on the causality between past experience of academic freedom and electoral democracy. Our theory is that independent experts advocating free and fair elections are acclaimed, which makes rigging elections a costly strategy for rulers. Using the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) index of Academic Freedom, and the Generalized method of moments (GMM) technique to estimate a dynamic panel model, we find a positive impact of preceding academic freedom on the quality of elections after the Post-Cold war democratic transitions. The result is robust when we check reverse causality and country-specific effects such as the initial level of democracy or dependence on oil exportation. The analysis is robust to indicators measuring democracy by accountability of the executive and Polity2 and Freedom House Indices as alternatives to V-Dem measures of democracy. We discuss the observed heterogeneity of countries showing a counterintuitive relationship. The study highlights the significance of scholars as a channel through which education supports democracy.
M1 Polarized Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) as Promising Prognostic Signature in Stage I–II Gastric Adenocarcinomas

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may be noticed in gastric carcinomas (GC), but their clinicopathological significance has not been yet explored. From a histological review of 400 cases of tubular/papillary adenocarcinomas, 24 cases of stage I–II gastric adenocarcinomas with intraglandular and stromal TAMs were identified. Their clinicopathological features were compared with 72 pT-matched as well as stage-matched control cases of adenocarcinomas without TAMs. TAMs present in GC cases were present either in glands or in neoplastic stroma, showing an immunoreactivity for CD68 and CD80; sometimes, they were organized in mature granulomas with occasional giant cells. Therefore, the stained TAMs were reminiscent of a specific polarized macrophage M1 phenotype; however, in any case of our cohort, no M2 phenotype macrophages were documented by CD 163 and CD 204 immunostainings. Statistically, no significant differences in age, gender, tumor location, size, and lymphovascular and perineural invasion between the case group with TAMs and pT- as well as stage-matched controls were reported; furthermore, the case group showed lower frequency of lymph node metastasis (p = 0.02). In addition, a significantly different clinical course and overall survival rate were also observed in gastric adenocarcinomas with M1 TAMs (p = 0.02) in comparison to controls. These results suggest that tumor-associated M1 macrophages are related to a quite indolent growth and a better prognosis of patients with this peculiar variant of gastric adenocarcinomas.
Crosslinking Efficacy and Cytotoxicity of Genipin and Its Activated Form Prepared by Warming It in a Phosphate Buffer: A Comparative Study

The aim of the present study was to compare the acute and cumulative cytotoxicity of intact (n-GE) and warmed genipin (w-GE), while investigating the differences in crosslinking capabilities of these two genipins by rheological and mechanical tests. The n-GE solution was prepared by dissolving genipin powder in a sodium phosphate buffer solution. The w-GE solution was prepared by warming the n-GE solution at 37 °C for 24 h. The mechanical tests for chitosan (CH)/genipin gels showed the crosslinking rate of w-GE was much greater than that of n-GE up until 6 h after preparation, whereas the degree of crosslinking of CH/n-GE gels became higher at 12 h. The ISO 10993-5 standard method, which is established specifically for evaluating cumulative cytotoxicity, determined equivalent IC50 for w-GE (0.173 mM) and n-GE (0.166 mM). On the other hand, custom-made cytotoxicity tests using a WST-8 assay after 1 h of cultivation showed that the acute cytotoxicity of w-GE was significantly higher than that of n-GE at concentrations between 0.1–5 mM. The acute cytotoxicity of w-GE should be taken into consideration in its practical uses, despite the fact that the much faster crosslinking of w-GE is useful as an effective cross linker for in-situ forming gels.
Non-Probabilistic Sampling in Quantitative Clinical Research

Quantitative researchers need a probabilistic sample to generalise their findings, but research constraints often compel them to use non-probabilistic samples. The use of non-probability sampling methods in quantitative studies has therefore become a norm. Interestingly, even studies published in top-quality journals compromise best practices that the use of non-probabilistic samples requires. Based on a thorough review of relevant studies, we developed a typology of non-probability sampling methods used in quantitative health studies. An attempt was made to discuss the limit of inference under each type of non-probability sampling method. Non-probability sampling in quantitative research was also delineated as a way to maximise response rate. This study is expected to guide students and early career epidemiologists to understand how to apply non-probabilistic sampling methods in quantitative approaches and plausibly document or report their chosen methods.
The Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate in a Dense Graded Aggregate Base Course

The research project was broken up into 2 different parts. The first part involved evaluating the potential use of the Time Domain Reflectometry, TDR (ASTM D6780), as a non-nuclear means for determining the dry density and moisture content of granular base and subbase aggregates during quality control. Just prior to the study, Humboldt Equipment Company provided a device called the Electrical Density Gauge (EDG) that also claimed to be a non-nuclear means of determining dry density and moisture content. Both units were used on five separate field trials (5 sections for the TDR and 3 sections for the EDG) and compared against the New Jersey Department of Transportation's (NJDOT’s) nuclear density gauge. The field trials indicated that the TDR test method, as it currently stands according to ASTM D6780, does not compare well with the nuclear density gauge readings. This was mainly attributed to the TDR’s soil constant calibration procedure. There also appeared to be a lack of sensitivity with the TDR method when compared to the nuclear gauge. The EDG showed a better correlation to the nuclear gauge, although this was expected since at the time of the study, the EDG device required field calibration. A newer version of the EDG now incorporates a laboratory calibration procedure that would eliminate the need for field calibration with a nuclear gauge. The second part of the research study was to evaluate potential methods of increasing the permeability of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), while attempting to maintain its structural integrity (i.e. – California Bearing Ratio, CBR). Before laboratory testing began, a survey was developed, sent to various state agencies, and tabulated to determine if other state agencies currently utilized RCA, and if so, what experience did they have regarding the drainage characteristics of the material. After the survey results were tabulated, laboratory testing was conducted on RCA blended with different aggregates; dense-graded aggregate (DGA), NJDOT I-3, and poorly graded sand. Work was also conducted on RCA material which was processed over a coarser sieve size (2 in.), as opposed to the finer 1.5 in. currently specified by NJDOT, in an attempt to include a larger, coarser fraction that could open up the internal structure of the RCA. This was in an attempt to meet some of the state agency specifications of the various states who responded to the survey saying they did not have any current issues with the permeability/drainage of their RCA materials. The results of the laboratory testing showed that the best performing modification to the RCA was when blended with 50% DGA. This increased the permeability to levels considered average, while still providing excellent bearing strength. The attempts of using the NJDOT I-3 and poorly graded sand did not dramatically increase the permeability, while a decrease in bearing strength was still reported. Increasing the top size of the processed/screened RCA from 1.5 in. to 2.0 in. helped to increase the permeability, while achieving the same bearing strength properties (CBR).
Robots: Assistive technologies for play, learning and cognitive development

Robots have been widely used in rehabilitation. Among the various applications, robots have been developed to assist children with motor disabilities in play and academic activities. Several studies have shown the efficacy of these robot ic tools, not only for allowing children to actively participate in th e activities, with direct impact on the development of their cognitive, social, and linguistic skills, but also as a means to assess c hildren's understanding of cognitive concepts, when stand ard tests cannot be used due to physical or language limitations. In this paper the use of robots for assistive play is reviewed from the perspectives of rehabilitation engineering and robot desi gn, aiming at defining a set of desirable characteristics for such robots. Commercially available robots are then surveyed in comparison to the defined characteristics to evaluate to what extent they can be used as assistive robots for play, learning and cognitive development.
Dynamic Hillslope Soil Moisture in a Mediterranean Montane Watershed

Variations in hillslope soil moisture control forest hydrologic fluxes and storage pools, yet sparse observations combined with the complexity and heterogeneity of water movement and storage in the vadose zone can make temporal and spatial patterns and processes difficult to predict. We used two years of field observations of volumetric soil moisture at three depths (15, 30, and 100 cm) across five topographic positions (riparian, toeslope, sideslope, shoulder, and ridge) along three hillslope transects to better understand how soil moisture changes with hillslope position and through time. As expected, we found higher values of soil moisture at all depths at the riparian and toeslope positions. Unexpectedly, we found that ridges were particularly wet during the wet winter months and dried quickly during the summer months, indicating that topography alone cannot account for mean wet season soil moisture in our Mediterranean climate field site. The variability in soil moisture across all soil depths and topographic positions was greatest when soils were dry and decreased under wet soil conditions; this variability remained high in the deeper soil horizons, regardless of season. Lastly, event analysis suggests that the response to early season rainfall was highly variable along the hillslopes and was likely dominated by localized controls such as microtopography and vegetation as well as soil texture, antecedent moisture conditions, and rainfall characteristics. Our results suggest that the drivers of wet and dry season soil moisture dynamics can vary across topographic positions along a hillslope and do not always follow topographic controls.
Implementation of innovation by manufacturers subcontracting to construction projects

Purpose: To explore the role played by manufacturers of patented products on construction projects. -- Methodology: Four projects are reviewed to investigate the research question “How can manufacturers ensure the successful implementation of their product innovations on construction projects? ”-- Findings: Using a framework comprising six key innovation determinants, case-study analysis demonstrates the critical role played by relationships and knowledge-flows in creating conditions that support project-based innovation by manufacturers. Such conditions comprise:-- 1. advanced procurement systems,-- 2. robust internal firm competencies,-- 3. performance-based regulations,-- 4. effective technical support providers, and-- 5. project-imbedded manufacturers. -- Research Limitations: The study was designed to meet industry needs and hence does not emphasise theoretical aspects. -- Practical Implications: Manufacturers can improve the diffusion of their product innovations on construction projects by using relationship networks to promote the above conditions, or to locate contexts where such conditions prevail, or to leverage those conditions that are most favourable. -- Originality: The paper addresses four gaps in the construction management literature (1) there is very little literature on the role of manufacturers in innovation on construction projects (2) the literature on subcontractors tends to assume easily substitutable supplies (3) there is a focus in the literature on large projects, and (4) the literature is dominated by quantitative studies. By undertaking a qualitative analysis of manufacturers of patented products subcontracting to small projects, this paper addresses the above shortcomings. --