Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating Effect of Collision Aggregation on Safety Evaluations with Models of Multivariate Linear Intervention

This study investigated the effect of collision aggregation on safety evaluation through a case study from the 2001 Signal Head Upgrade Program of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Canada. Three types of evaluations were performed. Bivariate intervention models were used in the first two evaluations to assess the impacts of different collision severity levels [severe and property damage only (PDO)] and the impact of the time of the collision (daytime and nighttime) on safety. In the third evaluation, multivariate intervention models were used to determine the safety impacts of the program on each combination of collision severity and time of occurrence (i.e., severe–daytime, severe–nighttime, PDO–daytime, PDO–nighttime). Overall, the results indicated that the program was effective in improving the safety of the treated intersections. However, the results revealed that aggregate analyses could lead to misleading results. Aggregation of collisions over time of day indicated that the treatment resulted in significant reductions in PDO collisions but not in severe collisions. Alternatively, aggregation of collisions over severity levels indicated that the treatment resulted in significant reductions in both daytime and nighttime collisions. These results were different from the results of the disaggregate analysis, in which significant reductions were found for all collision types, except for severe collisions during the daytime.
Reply on RC2

Small mammalian herbivores often create extensive disturbance on grasslands, and might affect the ecosystem services of grassland ecosystem. This study uses plateau pika as an example herbivore to investigate the effect of disturbance by small mammalian herbivores and its disturbance intensity on ecosystem services of alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. This study finds that the presence of plateau pikas and its disturbance intensity have different effect on ecosystem services of alpine meadows when the indicators, which are used to estimate the ecosystem services of alpine meadows, are various. These findings can improve the understanding of small mammalian herbivores in relation to grassland ecosystem services. The experimental design is sound and results are striking. In my opinion, its topic is of interest to its audience of our journal. suggest some
Seismic characterization and depositional significance of the Nahr Menashe deposits: Implications for the terminal phases of the Messinian salinity crisis in the north‐east Levant Basin, offshore Lebanon

Over the last decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in the climatic and tectonic mechanisms that drove the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) and the associated deposition of thick evaporites. The MSC represents an unprecedented palaeoceanographic change that led to a very short (ca. 640 kyr) ecological and environmental crisis. However, across the Levantine offshore basin, the sedimentological nature of the top evaporitic units and the mechanisms that controlled the transition from a hypersaline evaporitic unit to brackish deposits (final MSC stage 3) are still disputed. Here, we re‐evaluate the deposits associated with the terminal phase of the MSC, named in offshore Lebanon as the Nahr Menashe Unit (NMU). We describe the NMU seismic facies, characterize and map its internal seismic stratigraphy and provide a new interpretation of its depositional environment, which persisted during the late Messinian and then evolved through a regional reflooding event. The base of the NMU overlies semicircular depressions, randomly distributed linear marks and surface collapse features, which are indicative of a period of intense evaporite dissolution. The NMU seismic facies observed from the slope to the deep part of the basin support the interpretation of a layered salt‐evaporite‐sand depositional system subject to complex reworking, dissolution, deposition and final erosion. A drainage network of valleys and complex tributary channels incising into the top NMU shows marked erosional characteristics, which indicate a dominant southwards sediment transfer following deposition of the NMU. The drainage network was subsequently infilled by layered sediments interpreted here to represent the post‐MSC marine sediments. Our analysis adds important details regarding previous interpretations of the NMU as fluvial in origin. Specifically, the presence of subcircular, linear dissolution features coupled with mound‐like features indicates that the NMU is composed dominantly of evaporites that were subject to dissolution prior to erosion associated with the drainage network. The NMU is interpreted to represent the deposition/redeposition of a mixed evaporite‐siliciclastic succession in a shallow marine or lacustrine environment during the tilting of the offshore Lebanese basin.
Green Auditing in the Anglican Church of Canada: To Finance or not to Finance

This paper analysis the results of the Anglican Church of Canada’s (ACC) green audit project. For this research, we interviewed nine parishes who participated in the green audit initiative. Our research found that a more standardized process with standardized forms and feedback within specified timeframes should be considered before a new program is adopted. The study found that green auditing in its current form is of little use to the church in developing meaningful financial metrics to fully measure the efficacy of environmental auditing. Ultimately, the ACC must maximize the benefits to parishes, while being mindful of the costs.
State of physical facilities in Nigerian tertiary educational institutions: Case study of The Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State Nigeria

This paper examined the state of physical facilities in Nigerian tertiary institutions in comparison with cost of facilities management in the institutions. This was achieved by determining the availability of physical facilities in the institution, assessment of the various facilities managers in the institution, and determining if the cost expended on facilities management in the institution, reflects the current state of the physical structures. The data collected were analyzed using mean method and simple regression analysis. The result of the analysis revealed that availability of physical facilities in the institution had a mean value of 2.226, performance of the various facilities managers in the institution had a mean value of 2.760, and the simple regression analysis showed that cost expended on facilities management in the institution, reflects the current state of the physical structures with R 2 value of 87%. The findings show that, the physical facilities in the universities were inadequate, cost of maintenance expended in the institution has a great impact on the state of the structures and performance of various facilities managers in the institution is just above average. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government should provide adequate funds to the universities in its annual budgetary allocation. Besides, adequate provision of facilities should be provided while students should be well-educated on how to maintain available facilities in Nigerian universities. Keywords: Facility management, Physical facilities, University structures Nigerian Journal of Technological Research
Wide-angle orthostereo

Anplar fields of view filling at least the region directly viewable on the optical axis of the eyes -about 90 - are necessary to support the illusion of being immersed in another space, be it computer generated or the product of remote cameras. Any greater view, up to 270° laterally, enhances the illusion. Stereopsis, and completing the 360° visual sphere by head motion, round out the illusion; they require the wearing of a head-mounted-display (HMD). This paper describes the optical viewing system used in almost all existing HMD systems, and makes the case that, compared to video monitors, these HMD systems provide a qualitatively different kind of access to remote or computer generated reality -a difference that, even in the present crude state of the art, is striking enough to herald a new order of computer interfacing and real time telepresence. A caveat is presented: that if the spatial presentation is false - not "orthospace" - then the charm and power of the illusion, and the utility of the system, are sharply diminished.
Ptosis

SUMMARY Twenty-five examples of ptosis occurring with an acute stroke are analysed. Thirteen of these patients had hemispheral infarctions in which ptosis could not be explained by third nerve or sympathetic dysfunction. The ptosis in these 'cerebral' cases was bilateral, with other factors such as pyramidal tract damage determining the asymmetry of the ptosis. In some patients, the eyelid was ptosed on the side of a hemiparesis, narrowing the palpebral fissure. The anatomical basis for this is probably damage to pyramidal neurones or their fibres. The 10 cases of ptosis in relationship to brain-stem infarction included two patients with isolated complete ptosis in one eye in association with a contralateral third nerve palsy.
Area Effect of Electrical Breakdown in Compressed SF6

This paper presents experimental results on the statistical properties of ac and dc breakdown field strength of compressed SF6. The experiment is performed on four gaps of different electrode area, ranging from 0.2 cm2 to 3000 cm2. Patterns of breakdown characteristics are classified into four categories depending on the type of distribution and the characteristics of conditioning effect. The criterion of the transition of these categories are discussed quantitatively.
Social Behavior and Welfare in Nile Tilapia

Fish social behavior can be affected by artificial environments, particularly by factors that act upon species that show aggressive behavior to set social rank hierarchy. Although aggressive interactions are part of the natural behavior in fish, if constant and intense, such interactions can cause severe body injuries, increase energy expenditure, and lead the animals to suffer from social stress. The immediate consequence of these factors is a reduced welfare in social fish species. In this paper, we consider the factors that impact on the social behavior and welfare of Nile tilapia, an African cichlid fish widely used both in fish farms and in research; this species is frequently used as a model for physiology and behavior research. This is a polygynous species whose males interact aggressively, establishing a territorial based hierarchy, where a dominant male and several subordinate males arise. When social stability is shrunk, the negative effects of prolonged fighting emerge. In this paper, we summarized how some of the common practices in aquaculture, such as classifying individuals by matching their sizes, water renewal, stock density, and environment lighting affect Nile tilapia social aggressive interactions and, in turn, impact on its welfare. We also discuss some ways to decrease the effects of aggressive interactions in Nile tilapia, such as environment color and body tactile stimulation.
Effect of the Seasonal Rainfall Distribution on Storm-Water Quality Capture Volume Estimation

Thewater quality capturevolume (WQCV) is a design parameter that is used for sizing urban storm-water treatment facilities. The storage, treatment, overflow, and runoff model (STORM) in NetSTORM was used to translate historical hourly rainfall records into storm event runoff data and to compute the WQCV (set at the 85th percentile capture of the annual runoff volume) of eight cities located in various climatological areas of South Korea. For each city, one-parameter and two-parameter exponential distributions were fitted to the set of storm event runoff volumes that were computed by STORM, and the 85th percentile runoff volume that was determined from the STORM was compared to the 85th percentile runoff volumes that were obtained from the two exponential distributions. The results demonstrate that the more easily applied distribution approach is adequate in South Korea for determining the WQCV. In Seoul, which is a city located in the northwestern part of South Korea, the two-parameter exponential distribution yielded the best estimate of the WQCV computed by STORM. For Chuncheon, Wonju, and Daejeon, which are cities located in the north-central and central parts of South Korea, the WQCVs were accurately estimated using both the one-parameter and two-parameter exponential distributions. Finally, in the cities of Gangneung, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan, which are located in the northeastern and southern parts of South Korea, the WQCVs were best estimated using the one- parameter exponential distribution. It was found that seasonal variations in rainfall and rainfall event depth are important factors in assessing the WQCV. This study also found that the one-parameter exponential distribution approach, which is the most common approach used in the United States, may not be adequate for WQCVestimation if the standard deviation for average monthly rainfall is significant. DOI: 10.1061/ (ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000204. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Nonpoint pollution; Parameters; Rainfall; Seasonal variations; South Korea; Stormwater management; Water quality.
Anticipation and flexibility in dynamic scheduling

Many real-world optimization problems change over time and require frequent re-optimization. We suggest that in such environments, an optimization algorithm should reflect the problem's dynamics and explicitly take into account that changes to the current solution are to be expected. We claim that this can be achieved by having the optimization algorithm search for solutions that are not only good, but also flexible, i.e. easily adjustable if necessary in the case of problem changes. For the example of a job-shop with jobs arriving non-deterministically over time, we demonstrate that avoiding early idle times increases flexibility, and thus that the incorporation of an early idle time penalty as secondary objective into the scheduling algorithm can greatly enhance the overall system performance.
Calculation of Cutoff Wavenumbers for TE and TM Modes in Tubular Lines with Offset Center Conductor (Short Paper)

The cutoff wavenumbers of TE and TM modes (higher order modes) in a tubular line having an offset center conductor have heen calculated. Whereas most previous methods used to study this structure were of an approximate nature, the analytical method developed by Singh and Kothari leads to a rigorous analytical formulation. The boundary conditions on both conductor boundaries, assumed to be perfectly conducting, are satisfied exactly. The cutoff values calculated show that some results previously reported are inaccurate.
Seleção dos indicadores da qualidade das águas superficiais pelo emprego da análise multivariada

Multivariate statistical technique, factor analysis/principal component analysis (FA/PCA), was applied to identify the human activity effects and natural processes on surface water quality in Low Acarau basin, Ceara, Brazil. Water samples were collected in four different campaigns from Feb/2003 to Mar/2004, at seven sampling stations sited in low Acarau watershed. Twenty-five physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters were examined in this study. The FA/PCA allowed the identification of the total variance. The best model was adjusted with four components, explaining 82.1% of the data variance. The first factor was mainly associated with suspended solids defining the erosion process and runoff; that is, a suspended solids component. The second factor was mainly associated with sewage, agricultural runoff and others non-pontual pollution; the third one was defined as an organic component and represents the anthropogenic activites; while the fourth was mainly correlated with soluble salt, expressing the weathering and leaching. Besides, the factorial analysis did not result in data reduction, since 18 of the 25 parameters have been kept to explain 82% of the data variance.
A review of overall models for maintenance management

Reviews overall models for maintenance management from the viewpoint of one who believes that improvements can be made by regarding maintenance as a “contributor to profits” rather than “a necessary evil”. The reasons why maintenance is such a “Cinderella function” are largely historical and can mostly be overcome by new information technology (IT) and its falling cost. Progress is now being held up by outdated notions of what is economically possible in data acquisition and analysis, and failure to revise basic maintenance and reliability concepts, some of which are now 30 years out‐of‐date. Integrated IT permits mathematical optimisation of supra‐departmental management decisions, e.g. co‐planning of production with maintenance, overhaul/renewal of machinery and improvement of product performance/quality. Life‐cycle profit (LCP) is a fair measure of overall effectiveness that emphasises the value rather than the cost of terotechnological activities.
Sustaining business excellence

Many concepts have appeared fashionable as a process of business management and the latest of these is connected to sustainability. Often these concepts are merely refinements of other concepts but are presented as the answer to managing a business. We argue in this paper that these concepts do not replace earlier concepts. Instead, we argue, that the way to manage a business for excellence and sustainable competitive advantage is to focus on the four key areas of profitability, sustainability, reputation and governance.
PENGARUH ORIENTASI KEWIRAUSAHAAN, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, DAN STRATEGI KEMITRAAN TERHADAP KEUNGGULAN BERSAING SERTA IMPLIKASINYA PADA KINERJA PERUSAHAAN (Studi Pada UMKM Kerajinan Logam Kecamatan Cepogo Kabupaten Boyolali)

This research was conducted to develop a model to analyze the effect of entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management, strategic partnership to competitive advantage as well as its implications on the performance of the company. The research problem posed is a decrease in production value and investment value along with the increasing number of metal craft business units in Cepogo, Boyolali Regency. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the entrepreneurial background, knowledge management and partnership strategies to competitive advantage and business performance. To test and analyze the performance excellence of enterprises. This research was conducted on the owners of SMEs which are in Sub Cepogo Boyolali, using a survey of 229 sample survey. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS software program version 23. Results from seven hypotheses show entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management, and partnership strategies positive and significant competitive advantage. Entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management, and competitive advantages positive and significant impact on business performance. Partnership strategy does not affect the performance of the business.
Molecular Detection and Risk Factors of African Horse Sickness Virus (AHSV) in Different Governorates of Sudan

| African horse sickness (AHS) is one of the most prevalent vector born viral diseases that threaten the equine industry in Sudan. A study was carried out during fall 2018 and 2019 to estimate the prevalence of the disease in horses, to detect the virus in Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) pools and assess the contribution of major risk factors for the occurrence of the disease in horses. Whole blood samples (n=184) were collected randomly from horses from two governorates in Khartoum state and three provinces in Southern Darfur state. In addition, 1916 insects in 18 pools, the pool range 70-150 non-engorged females of different species of Culicoides biting midges were collected from Khartoum governorate and tested for the presence of ribonucleic acid of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) using one-step reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique. The obtained results revealed that the overall prevalence of AHSV in horses was 38.5% and from the 18 pools of Culicoides spp. the virus was detected in 6 pools (33.3%). Furthermore, in the univariate analysis, risk factors such as locality (p = 0.0001), age (p = 0.018) and sex (p = 0.011) were significantly associated with the prevalence of AHSV in horses. However, the breed of horses did not show statistically significant associations (p>0.05). In the multivariate analysis, locality (OR = 28.271, p = 0.0002) was found to be the most statistically significant risk factor for the occurrence of AHSV. The results of this study highlight that the overall prevalence of AHSV was high in the areas surveyed. The high abundance of the Culicoides recognized as potential AHSV vectors, suggests possible risk of the emergence of AHSV as pandemic in the study area.
Development and validation of an advanced motorcycle riding simulator

This paper illustrates and discusses the main features of the motorcycle riding simulator designed and built at the University of Padua over recent years. The simulator has been developed for a variety of purposes: to develop and test electronic devices aimed at improving rider safety and vehicle performance (antilock braking systems, traction control systems, etc.), to investigate different design choices and parameter effects on vehicle dynamics, to train riders, and to study their behaviours in different scenarios (normal riding, dangerous situations, etc.). Within the simulator the rider sits on a motorcycle mock-up provided with all the inputs available on a real motorcycle (throttle, clutch, brakes, etc.). These controls are used as inputs for an advanced virtual motorcycle model which computes the real-time vehicle dynamics. With the aim of giving the rider a proper motion cue, a washout filter converts the motion of the virtual motorcycle into the proper motion of a five-degrees-of-freedom motorcycle mock-up. Finally the audiovisual cues are delivered with a 180° panel and 5.1 surround sound system. To validate the simulator, a specific protocol which includes both an objective evaluation and a subjective evaluation was designed and carried out. External devices such as advanced rider assistant systems, on-bike information systems, and human–machine interfaces can be easily integrated into the simulator by means of a standard controller area network.