Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motives of Knife-Carrying among the Youth in Azerbaijan: In-Depth Interviews Among 27 Experts and 5 Knife-Carriers

Drawing on in-depth interviews with psychologists, criminologists, and sociologists (n = 27), as well as five adolescents (aged between 15 and 17 years) with a history of knife-carrying in Azerbaijan, this study attempts to explore the motives for knife-carrying among the male youth. Using a phenomenological approach, the interviews found a set of mixed and interrelated factors as the key motivators of carrying a knife among male youth. The answers provided by members of both samples generally overlap, but each provides some unique insights as well. Experts argue that young men tend to suffer from poor socialization and fail academically, which forces them to seek companionship, status, and identity elsewhere. In such circumstances, adolescents become likely to fall under the influence of their peers, as well as the criminal world whose figures are widely popular in the country. Since knife-carrying provides a sense of power and self-esteem, as well as constitutes a core attribute of notorious criminal figures, it becomes attractive to the youth. Male interviewees with a history of knife-carrying, all with irregular class attendance and part of “circles” (deviant peer groups), were attracted to sharp objects (a) by their ability to project power to others around them, such as so-called “predators” and (b) rule of the circles. The desire to exercise informal control over an area (school or neighborhood) and emulate thieves-in-law was particularly critical in shaping adolescents’ decision to carry knives and five-knuckle. The findings not only largely confirm the results reported by the Western studies, but also advance our understanding of youth's inclination towards knife-carrying in a nonwestern society.
A multi-objective hybrid evolutionary algorithm for dynamic economic emission load dispatch

SUMMARY This paper presents a novel multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, namely chemical reaction optimization (CRO) algorithm for solving dynamic economic emission dispatch (DEED) problem of power systems. The DEED problem is a non-linear, non-convex, multi-dimensional, and highly constrained multi-objective optimization problem. It has no unique optimal solution with respect to all criteria because it involves multiple and often conflicting optimization criteria. In order to improve the convergence speed and quality of the solutions attained by CRO, it is combined with differential evolution to escape from local minima solutions. This hybrid differential evolution-based CRO (HCRO) methodology determines the feasible optimal solution of the non-linear DEED problem. To demonstrate the superiority of the proposed CRO and HCRO methods in solving non-convex, non-linear, and constrained DEED problem, the proposed frameworks are implemented on 10-unit and 30-unit test systems. It is found from the simulation results that HCRO exhibits significantly better performance in terms of solution quality and convergence speed for all the cases compared with CRO algorithm. Furthermore, the proposed HCRO algorithm is superior to most of the existing algorithms available in the literature. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Economic Analysis of Electron Accelerators and Cobalt-60 for Irradiating Food

Average costs per pound of irradiating food are similar for the electron accelerator and cobalt-60 irradiators analyzed in this study, but initial investment costs can vary by $1 million. Irradiation costs range from 0.5 to 7 cents per pound and decrease as annual volumes treated increase. Cobalt-60 is less expensive than electron beams for annual volumes below 50 million pounds. For radiation source requirements above the equivalent of 1 million curies of cobalt-60, electron beams are more economical.
Understanding the people and performance link: Unlocking the black box

This report, the most in-depth of its kind to date, confirms the powerful relationships between HR practices, employee commitment and operating performance. It is based on a three-year investigation which looked at the HR practices, staff views and performance in 11 large organisations including Jaguar Cars, Nationwide Building Society, Selfridges and Tesco. The study provides answers to why and how people management practices influence business performance - to unlock what has been termed the 'black box'. The key conclusions include: the most carefully thought-through HR strategy is a waste of time unless it is embraced by line managers who have the skills and understanding necessary to engage and motivate employees; where effective HR practices are not in place, levels of employee commitment are up to 90 per cent lower; an organisation needs a clear direction and purpose, beyond the bland mission statement or generic goal of financial returns, which engages, enthuses and unites people. At the Nationwide Building Society this is a commitment to mutuality. At Royal United Hospital Bath it is saving lives. This 'big idea' appears essential in motivating and directing people behind the strategy of the organisation.
Double Burden of Malnutrition: Toxic Metals in Breast Milk May Limit the Amounts of Micronutrients Available to Infants through Breast Milk

Background: The amounts of micronutrients in the diets of infants, and the factors that influence them needs to be monitored at the population level in order to avert detrimental developmental defects that impose lifetime-limitations on an infant’s regulatory and defense systems. This study therefore, sought to evaluate if increasing levels of the toxic metals, Hg, Pb and Cd in breast milk will result in reducing amounts of the micronutrients Zn, Se and Cu in breast milk. Methods: Breast milk samples of 114 women living in two mining areas (57 women each) in Ghana, whose babies’ amounts of breast milk intake at three months postpartum, and amounts of toxic metals had previously been determined in a prospective study, were analyzed for micronutrients by a combination of acid and microwave digestion, and quantifications were by two different modes (hydrogen and helium) of Octapole Reaction System Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (7500 ce. Agilent), equipped with an ASX-510 Auto-sampler (Cetac). Results: All the breast milk specimen collected contained detectable amounts of Cu, Zn, both at levels less than have been previously reported, and Se. For specimen that did not contain Pb the amount of Se ranged from about 110 to 245 ng/g of milk, however, as the amount of Pb increased, the corresponding highest detected amount of Se reduced steeply, resulting in a right-angle triangle-shaped scatter plot. Similar relationships were observed between other toxic metals and micronutrients studied. A curve fitting regression analysis showed significant quadratic and cubic relationships between the amounts of Hg and Se, as well as between Pb, As and Cu. Conclusion: The results clearly suggest a double burden of malnutrition in these mining areas, where high loads of maternal toxic metals in breast milk, related significantly with a progressive reduction in the amounts of the micronutrients Cu and Se in breast milk, potentially reducing in infants’ intake of these micronutrients.
Small devices in SOI: fabrication and design issues

There is a trend in photonic circuits to move to smaller device dimensions for improved cost efficiency and device performance. However, the trend also comes at some cost to performance, notably in the polarisation dependence of the circuits, the difficulty in coupling to the circuits, and in some cases, in increased device complexity. This paper discusses a range of Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) based optical devices, and the advantages and disadvantages in moving to smaller waveguide dimensions. In particular optical phase modulators based upon the plasma dispersion effect and ring resonators are considered, together with a device for coupling to small waveguides, the so-called Dual Grating Assisted Directional Coupler (DGADC). The advantages of moving to small dimensions are considered, and some preliminary experimental results are given. In particular, progress of the DGADC is evaluated in the light of promising experimental results.
Agent-based methods in economics and finance : simulations in Swarm

List of Figures. Preface. Contributing Authors. Introduction. Part I: A Modest Proposal. 1. Prospect for an Economics Framework for Swarm C. Bruun. Part II: New Tools. 2. Automated Trading Experiments with MAML L. Gulyas, T. Vincze. 3. VSB - Visual Swarm Builder - A Visual tool for Swarm Agent Based Environment A. Perrone, M. Tenuti. 4. SWIEE - a Swarm Web Interface for Experimental Economics R. Boero. Part III: Financial Applications. 5. Contagion of Financial Crises under Local and Global Networks A. Cassar, N. Duffy. 6. Simulating Fractal Financial Markets M. Corazza, A. Perrone. 7. Growing Theories from the 'Bottom Up'. A Simple Entry-Exit Model D. Delli Gatti, et al. 8. Cognitive Agents Behaving in a Simple Stock Market Structure P. Terna. Part IV: Other Contributions. 9. Production Partnerships Formation with Heterogeneous Agents: a Simulation in SWARM D. Fiaschi, et al. 10. Casino World: An Agent-based Model with Heterogeneous Risk Preferences and Adaptive Behavior M. Harrington, D. Higa. 11. Search in Artificial Labour Markets: a Simulation Study M.D. Sapienza, M. Fontana. Index.
Phase I Statistical Process Control Charts: An Overview and Some Results

ABSTRACT In practice, Phase I analysis constitutes an integral part of an overall SPC program in which control charts play a crucial role. An overview of the literature on Phase I parametric control charts for univariate variables data is presented. Since the Phase I signaling events are dependent and multiple signaling events are to be dealt with simultaneously in making an in-control or out-of-control decision, the joint distribution of the charting statistics is used to control the false alarm probability, which is defined as the probability of at least one false alarm, while designing the charts. An example is given. Concluding remarks include suggestions regarding future research problems.
The impact of down-regulation on obstetrics and perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies after IVF: a retrospective cohort study

Background Down-regulation has been widely used in IVF treatment; however, it lacks reports on the impact of down-regulation on obstetrics and perinatal outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of down-regulation on obstetrics and perinatal outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study on 3578 patients achieving singleton pregnancy after their first IVF attempt. The patients were grouped by the serum estradiol after down-regulation (E2D) into three groups: <30, 30-55, >55pg/ml. The cumulative live-birth rate, obstetrics and pediatric results were main outcome measures. General linear models and Chi-square test were performed for statistical analysis. Results The patients with E2D <30, 30-55, >55pg/ml had similar cumulative live-birth rate. The patients with E2D <30pg/ml had a lower risk for hypertension disorders than those with E2D 30-55pg/ml. No difference was found in the prevalence of placenta previa, placenta abruption, premature rupture of membrane, hemorrhage, gestational diabetes mellitus, or intrauterine growth restriction. The newborns of patients with E2D <30pg/ml had a lower risk for PICU attempt than those with E2D >55pg/ml. There was no difference in congenital anomaly or mortality rate. Conclusion We found no effect of down-regulation on cumulative live-birth rate. The patients with E2D<30pg/ml may have advantages in lower risks for maternal hypertension and newborns PICU attempt.
The effects of road salt application on the accumulation and speciation of cations and anions in an urban environment

This study aimed to assess the quality of road runoff in heavy traffic and residential areas of Hamedan province, in the western region of Iran. To investigate the effects of salt pollution, 14 runoff samples were collected from streets during the winter and spring of 2009. Streets received different amounts of deicing salt depending on the traffic density. Results showed that deicing salt has major affects on sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), chloride (Cl−), bicarbonate ( HCO 3 − ), sulfate ( SO 4 2 − ) and phosphate ( PO 4 3 − ) pollution. This is important because this type of watercourse contamination can lead to serious problems, such as eutrophication. We also found an increase in lead (Pb2+) concentration, which was not attributable to the application of deicing agents, but that was due to the combustion of leaded gasoline. Speciation of Ca, Mg, Pb and P chemical species in the samples was calculated using Visual Minteq 2.6 program. The results indicated that Ca and Mg were mainly present as free ions, Pb was mainly present as PbCO3 (aq), while the dominant P species were HPO 4 2 − and H 2 PO 4 − .
PENGARUH CAR, NPF, BOPO DAN FDR TERHADAP PROFITABILITAS BANK UMUM SYARIAH

Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menguji pengaruh Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non Performing Financing (NPF), Biaya Operasional/Pendapatan Operasional (BOPO), dan Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR), terhadap profitabilitas yang diproksikan dengan Return On Asset (ROA). Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah purposive sampling. Diperoleh jumlah sampel sebanyak 3 Bank Umum Syariah. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi linier berganda dengan persamaan kuadrat terkecil dan uji hipotesis menggunakan t-statistik untuk menguji koefisien regresi parsial serta F-statistik untuk menguji keberartian pengaruh secara bersama-sama dengan tingkat signifikansi 5%. Selain itu juga dilakukan uji asumsi klasik yang meliputi uji normalitas, uji multikolinearitas, uji heteroskedastisitas dan uji autokorelasi. Selama periode pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa data penelitian berdistribusi normal. Berdasarkan uji normalitas, uji multikolinearitas, uji heteroskedastisitas dan uji autokorelasi tidak ditemukan variabel yang menyimpang dari asumsi klasik. Hal ini menunjukkan data yang tersedia telah memenuhi syarat menggunakan model persamaan regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variabel CAR berpengaruh positif tetapi tidak signifikan terhadap ROA, variabel NPF dan FDR memiliki pengaruh negatif dan tidak signifikan terhadap ROA. Sementara variabel BOPO berpengaruh negatif dan signifikan terhadap ROA. Kemampuan prediksi dari keempat variabel independen terhadap ROA adalah sebesar 38,5% yang ditunjukkan dari besarnya Adjusted ��, sisanya sebesar 61,5 % dijelaskan oleh variabel lainnya di luar model penelitian. Kata Kunci : Return On Asset (ROA), Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non Performing Financing (NPF), Biaya Operasional/Pendapatan Operasional (BOPO), dan Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR)
Managing workplace safety and health: The case of contract labor in the U. S. petrochemical industry

The purpose of the study is to examine the safety and health issues relating to the use of contract labor in the U.S. petrochemical industry. The study was commissioned by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the October 23, 1989, explosion and fire at the Phillips 66 Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, TX. The explosion killed 23 workers and injured 232 others. This incident brought the long-standing debate over the use of contract workers in the petrochemical industry to the attention of national policymakers. This study was therefore designed to produce a better factual base from which policy and practice on the use of contract workers might be better informed.
Composing Letters with Computer-Based Text Editors

This experiment studies how people compose letters using computer-based text editors and compares the results with longhand writing of similar letters. Ten research professionals who regularly use computer-based text editors composed four letters with each method. Results show that participants spent two-thirds of their time "planning" their text-edited letters, just as was found in previous experiments for writing, dictating, and speaking. Text-edited letters and written letters were of comparable quality, but text-edited letters required 50% more time to compose than did written letters. This was due in part to more changes, and to time taken in formatting, text positioning, and in reviewing and modifying the formatted version of text-edited letters.
Use of thickness-shear mode in adaptive sandwich structures

A new adaptive sandwich structure is constructed using the shear mode of piezoelectric materials. A comparative study of the sandwich structure and the corresponding surface-mounted actuation structure is performed using finite-element analysis. The effects of actuator length and location on actuation performance of the structures are studied. The stress distributions under mechanical and electrical loads are investigated for both the sandwich beam and the surface-mounted actuation beam. It is shown that the stress level within the actuators is more severe for the surface-mounted actuation beam than for the sandwich. Also, the interface-stress distribution between actuator and host structure is analysed. It is shown that sandwich construction offers many advantages over conventional surface-mounted actuation constructions.
Potential Updates to 2004 Green Book's Acceleration Lengths for Entrance Terminals

AASHTO's Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (Green Book) notes that drivers entering a highway from a turning roadway accelerate until the desired highway speed is reached. Because the change in speed is usually substantial, provision is made for acceleration to be accomplished on an auxiliary lane, called an acceleration lane, to minimize interference with through traffic and to reduce crash potential. The 2004 Green Book contains acceleration lane lengths. The procedure identified to reproduce these values assumed running speed for the limited-access highway and the ramp along with acceleration rates from 1930s studies. Potential acceleration length values were then calculated by (a) updating the assumptions within the identified procedure and (b) using spreadsheets that can generate second-to-second acceleration. Findings from recent studies were compared with the existing Green Book values and the calculated suggested acceleration lengths. The suggested lengths determined in this paper, which are based on more realistic speed assumptions, more current acceleration lengths, and findings from recent research, are longer than the values in the Green Book. The paper recommends that additional research be done on acceleration lengths to determine whether the Green Book values should be increased.
Stream Tube based Analysis of Problems in Prediction of Cross-Ventilation Rate

Abstract The airflow rate of a building ventilated by wind is usually predicted by using the wind pressure coefficients obtained for a sealed building and discharge coefficients based on measuring the airflow characteristics through an opening in a sealed chamber (chamber method). This can result in the underestimation of wind driven flow through large openings located on opposite sides of a room. In this paper, the discharge coefficient, based on the chamber method, and the actual condition of cross-ventilation are calculated and compared with each other by means of stream tube analysis. The driving pressure based on wind pressure coefficients obtained from a sealed building are also compared with those based on pressures inside the stream tube of the actual flow field representing a porous rather than sealed building. A building model of dimensions 120 mm (width)×120 mm (height)×180 mm (length) was used for the analyses. The size of openings, expressed as the porosity (opening area divided by façade area), was 11.6 %, 20.7 % and 46.5 %. These models were analyzed by CFD simulation and the stream tubes caught by the opening were determined. From the analysis the errors in discharge coefficient and wind pressure coefficient were identified. Finally, the flow rate based on these discharge coefficients and driving pressures were calculated and compared. It is shown that the effect of the underestimation of the discharge coefficients by the chamber method is significant for all cases of porosity studied in this paper. Moreover, it is shown that the use of wind pressure coefficients is not appropriate for the case of extremely large openings.
YYFZBJS inhibits colorectal tumorigenesis by remodeling gut microbiota and influence on M2 macrophage polarization in vivo and in vitro.

Our previous studies indicated that the extract of Yi-Yi-Fu-Zi-Bai-Jiang-San (YYFZBJS) had potent anticancer activities by significantly inhibiting intestinal tumor development in ApcMin/+ mice. However, knowledge regarding the mechanism and effect of YYFZBJS in the prevention of colorectal cancer is limited. In this study, we aim to investigate the preventive effects of YYFZBJS in enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF)-colonized mice with azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced tumorigenesis. First, the colonic tissues of the AOM/DSS mouse models were collected for biomedical analysis, and gut microbiota profiling was detected post YYFZBJS treatment using a 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Then, antibiotic solution (Abx) mice were acclimated with AOM/DSS treatment and then fed with ETBF with or without YYFZBJS for three cycles. As expected, the intragastric administration of YYFZBJS in the AOM/DSS mouse model significantly decreased the tumor load, the severity of disease activity index (DAI) scores, and the level of M2 macrophage markers such as CD206, Arg-1 and IL-10. Notably, the reverse of polarized macrophages induced by YYFZBJS could suppress CRC cell proliferation and infiltration, as demonstrated by the decrease of some tumor proliferation-related proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, ETBF dysbiosis can contribute to colon tumor development by stimulating p-STAT3 mediated M2 macrophages polarization to promote chronic inflammation and adenoma malignant transformation, which YYFZBJS can effectively limit. Altogether, we demonstrate that ETBF dysbiosis may contribute to M2 macrophages-promoted colon carcinogenesis and progression of CRC cells, while YYFZBJS could be a promising protective agent against ETBF-mediated colorectal cancer.
Experimental Studies on Water Mist Suppression of Liquid Fires with and without Additives

The purpose of this article is to examine the effect of additives on the extinguishment of liquid pool fires with water mist. Tests are conducted using gasoline, diesel, and ethanol pool fires in a 3.0 × 3.0 × 3.0 m well ventilation compartment. The additives included representative kinds of metal compound, NaHCO3, film-forming agent, AFFF, and a multi-component agent, MC additive. Results showed that the suppression performance varied greatly depending on fuel type, additive type, and concentration. The higher the fire point, the easier it is to extinguish the hydrocarbon liquid pool fires with water mist. But for the polar fuel, small fractal flames existing around the pool edge after the fire is suppressed increased the suppression difficulty. The benefit of adding film-forming additives is observed in the suppression of hydrocarbon fires when forming a thin film layer by fluorinated surfactant on the surface. However, too much film-forming additive decreased the marginal fire extinguishing effectiveness due to the saturation effects of surfactants. Addition of a small quantity of film-forming additives did not improve the performance of water mist for ethanol fires, which is considered to be eroded by the fuel. Addition of metal compounds increased the effectiveness of water mist gradually both for ethanol and hydrocarbon fires, but there also existed upper agent limit because of the associated limiting vapor pressure of the active metal compound. The multi-component additive showed a combined suppression effect of film-forming agent and metal chemicals. It effectively extinguished both ethanol and hydrocarbon fires though coupling the physical and chemical fire suppression mechanisms and seems worth further exploration.