Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strength Behavior of Fly Ash-Stabilized Soil Reinforced with Coir Fibers in Alkaline Environment

ABSTRACT Alkaline activation has received much attention in recent years as a method for improving the soil properties. This paper presents the details of laboratory investigation to evaluate the feasibility of using the alkaline activation along with the treated coir fibers for improvements of engineering characteristics of soils and subgrade performance of pavements. In the presence of high alkali solutes, the fly ash (FA) was used as a precursor due to its amorphous nature and high silica-to-alumina ratio. Additionally, this study adopted the physical treatment of the fiber surface with the linseed oil. Treated coir fibers and fly ash were added to soil in 1% and 60% ratios (by weight), respectively. Accordingly, a series of unconfined compressive strength (UCS), modulus of elasticity (Es), direct shear (DS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were conducted on the stabilized soil with and without pairing with treated fibers. By adding alkali-activated (AA) fly ash and inclusion of treated fibers led to increasing deformability and failure strain. Based on the atomic force microscopy tests, the addition of treated fibers contributes to the enhancement of AA-stabilized soil through yielding a denser and more uniform structure. The findings encouraged the application of AA-stabilized soils reinforced with treated fibers to improve the strength of soils in alkaline environment as subgrade of pavements.
Force Control of SEA-Based Exoskeletons for Multimode Human–Robot Interactions

In this article, a proxy-based force control method is proposed for three important human–robot interaction modes: zero-impedance mode, force assistive mode, and large force mode. A two-mass dynamic-model-based nonlinear disturbance observer is used to meet the zero-impedance output and accurate force tracking requirements with respect to disturbances from the wearer and environment. Additionally, significant force compliance can be achieved to guarantee the wearer's safety when the interaction torque is large. The proposed method is evaluated via experiments by comparison to the conventional proportional–integral–derivative and proxy-based sliding mode control methods. The results indicate that the proposed approach achieves better force tracking accuracy, robustness, and force compliance in three-mode human–robot interactions.
Global environmental change effects on forest dynamics: lessons from permanent sample plot networks

II CONTENTS . IV CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER 2: TREE SIZE THRESHOLDS PRODUCE BIASED ESTIMATES OF FOREST BIOMASS DYNAMICS . 5 2.1 Abstract . 5 2.2 Introduction . 5 2.3 Materials and Methods . 9 2.3.1 Study area and long-term repeatedly measured sample plots . 9 2.3.2 Biomass component calculation . 10 2.3.3 Explanatory variables . 11 2.3. 4 Data analysis . 11 2.4 Results . 12 2.5 Discussion . 19 2.6 Conclusion . 21 CHAPTER 3: TEMPORAL DECLINES IN TREE LONGEVITY ASSOCIATED WITH FASTER LIFETIME GROWTH RATES IN BOREAL FORESTS . 22 3.1 Abstract . 22 3.2 Introduction . 23 3.3 Datasets and methods . 25 3.3.1 Study area and long-term repeatedly measured sample plots . 25 3.3.2 Explanatory variables . 27
Agro-morphological and quality attributes of Moroccan carob

In Morocco, the carob tree is currently enjoying renewed interest with the introduction of a local development strategy based on the development of this resource. Sixty accessions of carob fruits from four regions in northern and southern Morocco are studied for phenotypic and physico-chemical criteria of pods. The phenotypic characterization of the fruits showed that the Chaouen region (north) is characterized by long (13.3 cm), wide (2.02 cm), thick (0.72 cm) and heavy (13.0 g) pods, a high pulp weight (10.8 g) and the lowest seed yield. The southern regions (Beni Mellal and Tafraout) are characterized by relatively short pods with high seed yield. The physico-chemical analysis of the pulp showed a significant variation between the studied regions, ranging from 35.3 to 51.5 % for total sugars, 5.3 to 11.3 % for polyphenols and 11.1 to 14.2 % for total fibers. The three minerals investigated (Fe, Ca, Mg) were detected in all carob samples, mainly in Tafraout, and their contents vary from one region to another. Keywords: Morocco, Ceratonia siliqua L, pod, morphological characterization, chemical features, pulp
Sexual Practices of Female Sex Workers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are highly at risk to sexually transmitted infection considering the factors associated with the nature of their work (multiple sex partners, violence, and drug use). Some of the contributing factors to HIV problem in Oyo state include promiscuity and multiple sexual partners which is related to sex worker’s working condition. This study assessed sexual practices of female sex workers in Ibadan, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study used a three-stage sampling method to select 205 female sex workers in Ibadan. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire to Original Research Article Adelekan et al.; ISRR, 6(2): 1-10, 2017; Article no.ISRR. 36756 2 explore respondents’ sexual practices. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chisquare test. The mean age was 27.0 ±4.52 years. A majority (44.4%) of the respondents had secondary school certificate, 70.7% were Christians while 5.9% were currently married. Few 1.5% of the respondents had never used condom, 37.6% of respondents had sometimes used condom and 42.0% reported using condom most of the time. Many (47.3%) of the respondents sometimes drink alcoholic beverages prior to or during sexual intercourse, 6.3% use cocaine or another drug prior to or during intercourse most of the times and only 15.6% always avoid sexual intercourse when they have sores or irritation in their genitals. Consistency in condom use should be encouraged among female sex workers and interventions targeted at reducing alcohol intake should be planned and implemented.
When “Good” Beliefs Go Bad: The Upsides and Downsides of Believing Emotions are Controllable

Beliefs we hold about whether emotions are controllable influence how we approach our own emotions – but what about how we approach others’ emotions? I propose that believing someone’s emotions are controllable shapes how we treat them, but the exact nature of this treatment is subject to two competing hypotheses: promoting either more positive responses or more negative responses towards that person’s distress. The present investigation tested these hypotheses in two studies (Ns = 308 and 314) measuring participants’ behavioral intentions towards a person struggling with emotional distress. Across both studies, individuals who believed this person’s emotions were relatively controllable were less positive and more negative towards them. Believing this person’s emotions were relatively controllable also predicted stronger attempts to have her control her emotions using interpersonal emotion regulation strategies likely to backfire. These results suggest beliefs about emotion controllability may powerfully shape our interpersonal interactions, carrying crucial interpersonal downsides.
New-Regionalism: The Slipknot of the Two Rival Trends?

The world’s security structure is facing a qualitative change and there is an ongoing search for achieving equilibrium for global security. There is a need to analyze what the catalytic determinants of the contemporary security issues are. Examining the issue of regionalism may be helpful to reveal those determinants to some extent. The fact that new threats to the new security environment are regional in scope and effect, regions and regionalism can be considered as the prominent unit of analysis level. Especially, regionalism may suggest a theoretical framework for assessing the two main trends of globalization which are consolidation and disintegration. In an effort to widen the scope of regionalism, this study firstly overviews the regionalism studies of the Cold War era. Secondly, the ‘new-regionalism’ and the alternate approaches within the new-regionalism studies are mentioned. Finally, it is offered that how a regional perspective can enrich the inquiry of the catalytic determinants. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and explain the theoretical basis of new-regionalism in security studies and to contribute to the acceleration of the discussions since regionalism can be the slipknot of the consolidation and disintegration trends both in theory and in practice.
Predictive Factors for Cosmetic Surgery in Iranian Females

Background: Cosmetic surgery became increasingly popular in recent years. In some cases, cosmetic surgery caused some complications and did not create a durable improvement of quality of life. Objectives: The current study aimed at determining the predictive factors for cosmetic surgery in Iranian females. Methods: The current case-control study was conducted on 98 females admitted to the plastic surgery clinics (the case group) and 102 females admitted to other clinics as the control group. The simple random sampling method was used. The inclusion criteria were no obvious physical defects and known mental disorders. Duplicates and the ones not interested to cooperate with the study were excluded. Study data were collected using demographic, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS). The Chi-square test was used to assess the categorical variable. The logistic regression model was applied to measure odds ratio. Results: The relationship between educational level as well as occupation, and cosmetic surgery were statistically significant. The social support from friends and others was significantly associated with tendency toward cosmetic surgery. While family support and perceived stress showed no differences between the females with and the ones without cosmetic surgery. The logistic regression analysis showed that higher education level, being a housewife, and external supports had a significant relationship with cosmetic surgery. Conclusions: Factors including higher education level, being a housewife, and external supports were the important factors affecting the tendency toward cosmetic surgery among females in Ilam, Iran. Identifying the risk factors of unnecessary cosmetic surgery is needed in every society, to plan counseling programs and reduce unnecessary surgeries.
Assessment of rejuvenation by change of lid-cheek junction after transconjunctival and traditional subciliary incision blepharoplasty

Background: Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty (TCLB) and traditional subciliary incision blepharoplasty (TSIB) are most commonly used to improve the appearance of an aged lower eyelid. The lid/cheek junction (LCJ) is located between the lower lid and midface, where structural changes caused by aging associated with both areas occur simultaneously. Thus, it may be a landmark that reflects the rejuvenation effects of lower blepharoplasty. However, there is no research-based proof yet. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rejuvenation effects of these two lower blepharoplasty procedures by observing changes in LCJ length and shape. Methods: The changes in LCJ length and shape in 32 patients with good follow-up among patients who underwent lower blepharoplasty between 2012 and 2016 were investigated. The patients were categorized as either TCLB (Group 1) or TSIB (Group 2) patients. Each group was further divided into the subgroups G1p, G1n, G2p, and G2n, according to the positive/negative globe-to-skeletal relationship. Results: The shape of LCJ changed from a V-shape to a round shape, and its length decreased in G1p, G2p, and G2n, but increased in G1n. The pattern of LCJ was also affected, corresponding to the partial deformity of the zygomaticomaxillary bone. Aged lower lids were significantly improved in all groups, but infraorbital hollowness was not improved, and indeed was even worse, in G1n. Conclusion: Patients undergoing TCLB and TSIB surgeries significantly showed rejuvenation effects for fat protrusion, skin laxity, and wrinkles without any volume restoration, and particularly, G1n showed a worse result. Therefore, TCLB should not be recommended in G1n, and combination procedures that change a negative vector into a positive vector and improve infraorbital hollowness are necessary to achieve better outcomes.
Detecting somatic growth trends for summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) using a state-space approach

In the past four decades, summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) abundance in the Northwest Atlantic shifted with no definitive explanation for this shift. Here, we extract patterns in population-level size variability from summer flounder mean length-at-age data from 1992 to 2015 using an autoregressive state-space modeling approach and annual fishing and oceanographic covariates. We found that summer flounder length-at-age varies annually, suggesting that productivity can vary annually due to variable sizes. We found that location and depth of the observed fish, exploitation, and the Gulf Stream appeared to influence the magnitude of length-at-age variation, whereby lengths-at-age were above the mean length at greater depth, northern latitudes, and during periods characterized by a northerly Gulf Stream position or higher fishing exploitation. These factors should be considered as indicators to track size and more accurately understand productivity as the summer flounder population changes and the fishery adapts in response. This study brings us closer to annual proxies for summer flounder length-at-age variation, an important tool for fisheries managers and stock-assessment scientists to more accurately predict fish stock abundances and productivity.
CHECK’D?! : determinants of participation in a two-stage cardiometabolic screening among underserved groups

It has been well established that underserved groups have an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease and are less likely to attend health checks. This differential uptake of health checks leads to suboptimal health gains from cardiometabolic screening and contributes to the widening of health inequalities in society. The cost-effectiveness of the Dutch cardiometabolic health check is still under study, but with the knowledge we already have it seems advisable to focus primarily on the underserved groups, as they have the most to gain from systematic screening. The findings described in this thesis provide strategies to optimize uptake and may be used to design future studies on this topic. In the general discussion we also advocate that the Government should invest in population-based prevention and move away from the trend of taking own responsibility as this may provide underserved groups the best possible opportunities for a healthy life(style).
Reduced graphene oxide today

Reduced graphene oxide has similar mechanical, optoelectronic or conductive properties to pristine graphene because it possesses a heterogeneous structure comprised of a graphene-like basal plane that is additionally decorated with structural defects and populated with areas containing oxidized chemical groups. The graphene-like properties make reduced graphene oxide a highly desirable material to be used in a plethora of sensorial, biological, environmental or catalytic applications as well as optoelectronic and storage devices. To further advance the development of the existent technologies and to design novel and better applications based on reduced graphene oxide, it is first necessary to understand which synthetic routes and processing strategies are suitable to significantly boost specific properties of this material alone or as a component in various composites. Therefore, in this work, we review the most important categories of recent applications based on reduced graphene oxide, with the emphasis on the relationship between the enhanced composite/device functionality and methods used to synthesize, to functionalize and/or to process and to structure reduced graphene oxide.
Physical–mechanical properties of wood from a eucalyptus clone planted in an integrated crop-livestock-forest system

Integrated crop-livestock-forest (iCLF) systems are consolidated as alternatives for multiple use of agricultural lands to produce grains, meat, milk, timber and non-timber products. This article reports the analysis of the wood quality of a eucalyptus clone grown in conventional homogenous plantation and iCLF system and evaluated at 7-year age. For this purpose, 12 and 36 trees, respectively, from a conventional plantation and the iCLF system, were collected and sampled to determine their chemical composition (ashes, extractives, total carbohydrates and lignin contents) and physical–mechanical properties. Higher contents of ashes, extractives and holocellulose were found in wood from the iCLF system. Wood from that system had higher density and both static bending and compressive strength. Linear and volumetric shrinkage as well as the anisotropic factor were not influenced by the management system. Despite being juvenile, the wood from iCLF can be employed for industrial uses, notably sawn lumber and firewood.
Abdominal obesity in primary care

Background: Obesity is one of the important challenge in primary care. Abdominal obesity is associated with future cardiovascular disease when compared to non-obese individuals. The objective was to study the prevalence of abdominal obesity in patients attending primary care physician and to analyse abdominal obesity across different age groups and gender. Methods: The study was done as cross-sectional study at primary care centres in and around Pondicherry. Patients visiting primary care physician were included in the study. All adult patients of age more than 18 years, of both sexes visiting the primary care physician were included in study. Pregnant women, patients with abdomen diseases and patients those who are not willing to give written consent for participation in the study were excluded from the study. Demographic profile, anthropometric measurements were recorded. Abdominal circumference of all patients were recorded using a standard measuring tape. Abdominal obesity was diagnosed when the abdominal circumference was more than 90 centimetres in male and more than 80 centimetres in female. Results: A total number of 1030 patients were included in the study. There were 189 patients in age group 60-69. Females 535 outnumbered males 484. In the age group 50-59, 33 (40%) of males and 45 (44%) of females had increased abdominal circumference more than 90 centimetres in males and 80 centimetres in females. Across all age groups 121 (24%) males had abdominal circumference more than 90 centimetres in the study and 147 (28%) females had abdominal circumference more than 80 centimetres. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity is common at primary care level. The prevalence of abdominal obesity is more in females when compared with males. Hence all primary care physicians have to be stressed about the importance of abdominal obesity.
Feedback engagement of Chinese international doctoral students

ABSTRACT Despite the burgeoning research on feedback, we know little about the ways in which students engage with supervisory feedback in doctoral writing – a crucial element for understanding students’ feedback uptake. To address this issue, this study uses text analysis and semi-structured interviews to explore Chinese international doctoral students’ engagement with supervisory feedback from invisible and overt dimensions [Handley, Karen, Margaret Price, and Jill Millar. 2011. “Beyond ‘Doing Time’: Investigating the Concept of Student Engagement with Feedback. ” Oxford Review of Education 37 (4): 543–560]. We contextualise this study within intercultural doctoral supervision and focus on the process of students’ writing and revising their PhD proposals. Results show that by engaging invisibly and overtly with the feedback, the students not only co-construct and lead the feedback dialogues but also maintain their voice and ownership of the writing. However, the findings also suggest the danger that supervisors may neglect students’ invisible feedback engagement and interpret their mindful reflections as none or superficial engagement with feedback. Students’ feedback engagement involves negotiations with multiple, even conflicting cultural values mainly from disciplinary norms and their inherited Chinese cultures (e.g. the different manifestations of critical thinking). We suggest developing a constructive attitude towards cultural diversity to facilitate feedback dialogues in intercultural doctoral supervision.
Carbonaceous Aerosol From Open Burning and its Impact on Regional Weather in South Asia

ABSTRACT Seasonal open biomass burning contributes to significant carbonaceous aerosol loading over South Asia. This study analyzes long-term trends in emissions in two hot spot regions, Myanmar and Punjab, based on data from the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED4s) and Fire INventory (FINN) from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Our analysis reveals that emissions during active fire seasons increase by approximately 83–106% and 2338–3054% for Punjab and Myanmar, respectively, compared to the estimates of anthropogenic emissions obtained with FINN. We also examine the impact of carbonaceous aerosol from open biomass burning on regional weather by using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) to conduct a year-long simulation of the post-monsoon and pre-monsoon periods when active fires were reported. The results indicate that the carbonaceous aerosol is vertically lofted by as much as 3–5 km into the atmosphere and, rising as high as the 850 hPa level from the surface, disperses horizontally throughout South Asia. Our calculations on the radiative forcing suggest that changes of up to –6.14 W m–2 and –0.50 W m–2, and –42.76 W m–2 and –1.91 W m–2 occur at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere over Punjab and Myanmar, respectively. We also find that carbonaceous aerosol (black carbon + organic carbon), similar to black carbon (BC), reduces the surface temperature, despite the scattering effects of organic carbon (OC). Overall, open biomass burning causes the surface temperature to decrease by 2 K, the relative humidity to increase by 8% and the planetary boundary layer height to change by as much as 600 m. Changes in the precipitation patterns and volume due to the carbonaceous aerosol from open biomass burning, however, are negligible when considering only the direct radiative feedback.
Correlation of thrombocytopenia with degree of atypical lymphocytosis as a prognostic indicator in dengue

Background: Dengue viral infections may occur as epidemics and are of public health concern in India especially due to high mortality in advanced stages. Early diagnosis and treatment reduces the mortality significantly. To assess the utility of atypical lymphocyte counts with relation to platelet counts as a marker for severe dengue. Methods: A total of 132 serologically proven (by rapid card method) cases of dengue with atypical lymphocytosis (≥10%) and thrombocytopenia (<150×109/l) were analyzed during November 2016. The complete blood counts (obtained from automated hematology analyzer and Leishman stained peripheral smears) were analyzed. Results: Dengue infections were mostly seen in younger age (12-25 years) with slight male predominance. The relevant haematology findings noted were leukopenia in 36% and severe thrombocytopenia (<50×109/l) in 57% of cases. The differential count showed lymphocytosis in 64% with significant (≥20%) atypical lymphocytes in 52% which inversely correlated with platelet counts. Atypical lymphocytosis (≥20%) was noted in 9% of cases with mild as against 32% of severe thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Atypical lymphocyte count can be used as predictor of severe thrombocytopenia and severe dengue. This helps in early diagnosis and proper management and drastic reduction in mortality.