Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Your Gadgets, Stress, and Performance: The Influence of Technostress on Individual Satisfaction and Performance

The Covid-19 pandemic changes the way employees work, and the use of technologies to support their work is increasing. The aim of this study is to investigate whether technologies can harm employee satisfaction and performance. The hypothesis developed stated, that the technostress creator predicted each individual role performance differently. Job satisfaction also became a mediator, whereas the technostress inhibitor was a moderator of the relationship between the technostress creator and job satisfaction. Two hundred and forty-four online responses were collected from employees in cities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Technostress (Ragu-Nathan et al., 2008), job satisfaction (Hackman & Oldham, 1976), and individual work performance (Griffin et al., 2007) questionnaires were used. The data were analyzed using path analysis. The results suggested that the technostress creator only statistically predicted individual task proficiency (ß = –0.124, SE = 0.060, and p = 0.039) and proactivity (ß = 0.134, SE = 0.060, and p = 0.026). The results found no effects from the mediator or moderator on the prediction of job satisfaction and individual role performances. Therefore, the technostress creator only increased employee stress if the technologies used disrupted their work. However, to some extent, the technostress creator can increase employee innovation when finishing work.
The orthotic treatment of juvenile hallux valgus

Pronation of the foot is proposed as a possible aetiological factor in hallux valgus. Root type foot orthoses have been shown to restrict foot pronation and therefore have been used to treat hallux valgus. A controlled prospective 3 year trial tested the value of a Root foot orthosis in the treatment of juvenile hallux valgus. Six thousand nine year old Kettering children were screened for hallux valgus using goniometric and clinical examination. A clinical diagnosis of hallux valgus was made in 150 children and confirmed using radiography in 122 cases. Pes planus was as common in children with hallux valgus as children with no hallux valgus. The biomechanical examination of hallux valgus children revealed that a plantarflexed first metatarsal was the only consistent biomechanical abnormality. The sagittal plane position of the first metatarsal did not however relate to the degree of metatarsus primus varus which is apparent in the unaffected feet of children with unilateral hallux valgus prior to the development of hallux valgus in both feet. The 122 children with hallux valgus were randomised into a non-treatment control group and a treatment group where Root foot orthoses were worn for three years. Compliance and fit of the orthoses were checked every 4 to 6 months. At the end of the 3 year period, 96 children underwent a second weight bearing radiograph of both feet. The same observer measured the intermetatarsal and hallux valgus angle on all radiographs. The hallux valgus had deteriorated significantly in both the control and treatment group. Though not statistically significant, the deterioration was slightly more marked in the treatment group. A Root foot orthosis prescribed to restrict foot pronation will not significantly alter the progression of juvenile hallux valgus. This may indicate that pronation of the foot is not an important aetiological factor in juvenile hallux valgus.
Modular robots for making and climbing 3-D trusses

A truss climbing robot has been extensively investigated because of its wide range of promising applications such as construction and inspection of truss structures. It is designed to have degrees of freedom to move in three-dimensional truss structures. Although many degrees of freedom allow the robot to reach various position and orientation, it causes complexity of design and control. In this thesis, the concept of modular robots is suggested as a solution to reconcile a trade-off between the functionality and the simplicity of a truss climbing robot. A single module has fewer degrees of freedom than required to achieve full 3-D motion, but it can move freely in a 2-D plane. For full 3-D motion, multiple modules connect to and cooperate with each other. Thus, modular truss climbing robots can have both properties: functionality and simplicity. A modular truss climbing robot, called Shady3D, is presented as the hardware implementation of this concept. This robot has three motive degrees of freedom, and can form a six-degree-of-freedom structure by connecting to another identical module using a passive bar as a medium. Algorithms to move the robot in a 3-D truss structure have been developed and tested in hardware experiments. The cooperation capability of two modules is also demonstrated. As a next step beyond truss climbing robots, the concept of a self-assembling truss robot with active and passive modules is presented. In this system, multiple Shady3D robots are employed as active modules and they become an active truss structure using passive bars. The procedure of self-assembling such a truss is demonstrated in computer simulations, which show a potential application in robotic truss assembly. Thesis Supervisor: Daniela Rus Title: Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Thesis Reader: Kamal Youcef-Toumi Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Regional assessment of environmental equity through GIS-based clustering and non-parametric statistical testing: a case study of Dallas County, Texas, USA

Previous GIS-based methods for assessing regional environmental equity issues tended to simplify the definition of impact area for a hazardous site by either directly adopting the pre-existing census unit or constructing a buffer with an arbitrary radius. Subsequent spatial analyses based on such a simplification support rather limited statistical analysis. The present paper reviews this methodological issue and proposes a more robust method combining statistical clustering, spatial overlay analysis, and non-parametric statistical testing for regional equity assessment. In this method, impact areas for individual population groups are derived through statistical clustering based on the internal data structure of multiple demographic variables, and facilities are tallied within each cluster zone to support a valid chi-square test. A case study on Dallas County, Texas, USA, demonstrated the advantages of this method, including data self-organisation for case-specific analysis, avoidance of arbitrariness of impact area definition, ability to provide a comprehensive evaluation based on multiple demographic characteristics, and statistical comparability with highly skewed data distribution.
Design and sled testing of a high back booster seat prototype offering improved side impact protection

Abstract Current booster seats do not offer effective protection in side impact. Previous studies have suggested that the level of protection provided by boosters in side impact can be substantially improved through relatively minor design changes to booster seat geometry. Previous studies have also shown that booster seat performance can be significantly enhanced by rigidly anchoring booster seats to the vehicle structure. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the level of side impact protection in booster seats can be increased through attention to booster seat geometry and booster seat anchorage. A high back booster seat prototype was designed and manufactured. It incorporates a rigid attachment, deep side wings, and a height adjustment system. It was then tested in side impact using a Hybrid III 6 year old dummy on a sled with a non-intruding side door structure. The improved design features of the prototype were then compared, in terms of the level of protection provided to the dummy, to the performance of two current booster seats available on the Australian market. Different upper side wings configurations were also tested. The prototype was also tested in frontal impact to verify that the level of protection had been maintained in that impact direction. Unlike current booster seat designs, the prototype succeeded in fully containing the dummy in all tests, therefore preventing contact with the side door structure. In 90 degree impacts, the prototype was found to reduce the HIC36 results by up two thirds when compared to the two current booster seats. The upper neck loads were also considerably reduced. While side wing height and depth was found to be an important feature in achieving these reductions in injury risk, side wing angle was found to have less of an effect. This study confirms that it is possible to offer significantly improved side impact protection in booster seats by using a rigid anchorage system, deep side wings and a height adjustment system.
COVID-19 Clinical Profile in Latin American Migrants Living in Spain: Does the Geographical Origin Matter?

The aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia according to their geographical origin. This is a retrospective case-control study of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia treated at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona) during the first wave of the pandemic. Cases were defined as patients born in Latin America and controls were randomly selected among Spanish patients matched by age and gender. Demographic and clinical variables were collected, including comorbidities, symptoms, vital signs and analytical parameters, intensive care unit admission and outcome at 28 days after admission. Overall, 1080 hospitalized patients were registered: 774 (71.6%) from Spain, 142 (13.1%) from Latin America and the rest from other countries. Patients from Latin America were considered as cases and 558 Spanish patients were randomly selected as controls. Latin American patients had a higher proportion of anosmia, rhinorrhea and odynophagia, as well as higher mean levels of platelets and lower mean levels of ferritin than Spanish patients. No differences were found in oxygen requirement and mortality at 28 days after admission, but there was a higher proportion of ICU admissions (28.2% vs. 20.2%, p = 0.0310). An increased proportion of ICU admissions were found in patients from Latin America compared with native Spanish patients when adjusted by age and gender, with no significant differences in in-hospital mortality.
Dynamic manipulation of asymmetric forebody vortices to achieve linear control

A wind tunnel experiment was performed to further investigate the potential of the dy­ namic manipulation of forebody vortices as a means of supplementing directional control of fighter aircraft at high angles of attack. Tests were conducted on a 65-deg delta-wing model fitted with a slender, pointed tangent-ogive forebody of circular cross-section and 12.8 deg semi-apex angle. Forward-blowing nozzles located near the apex of the forebody served as the means of manipulating the forebody vortices. As expected, forward blowing was very effective, i.e., little blowing effort was required to cause the forebody vortex on the blown side to assume the ‘high’ position. However, the magnitudes of yawing moment and side force developed by the slender forebody with blowing do not differ significantly from that of the no-blowing, baseline case. Moreover, blowing above a certain thresh­ old value produced an unexpected reversal, with blowing causing the vortex on the blown side to assume the ‘low’ position instead and the yawing moment and side force to change sense. The results have shown that the dynamic manipulation scheme is very successful in producing a linear variation of time-average yawing moment with a duty-cycle parameter, even with sideslip, for the aircraft-like model. The results also show that, by switching the vortex pattern rapidly, the linearity can be maintained up to a reduced frequency of at least 0.32, which is expected to be very satisfactory for practical applications. Cross-coupling effects were also identified between the control method and time-average rolling moment, pitching moment and normal force. The cross-coupling effects in rolling moment and nor­ mal force appear to benefit the flight mechanics, whereas the effect in pitching moment may not. Excellent effectiveness of forward-blowing in sideslip was demonstrated with nozzles located in close proximity to the apex of the forebody (xn/D = 0.095); a more aft location (xn/D = 0.159) may reduce effectiveness in sideslip but raises the threshold at which vortex reversal occurs and thus increases the margin for low blowing momentum coefficients. The preferred azimuthal position of 120 deg from the windward meridian
Aligning Capability with Strategy: Categorizing Projects to do the Right Projects and to do Them Right

Organizations that undertake many projects need to identify the types undertaken, and use labels to name them. These labels are attributes that form the basis of a project categorization system. There are two reasons why organizations need to categorize projects. The first is to develop and assign appropriate competencies to undertake projects successfully (do them right). The second is to prioritize projects within an investment portfolio to maximize return on investment (do the right projects). Prior research into project classification, the methodology adopted, and the model developed is described. Two major components of a project classification system, the purposes for classifying projects and the attributes used to classify them, are identified; as well as that attributes can be grouped into larger classes. There are also more complex, multidimensional systems for categorizing projects. Finally, how an organization can implement a categorization system is described. This research of project categorization was funded by the Project Management Institute.
Soft-switched high power factor boost type AC/DC converter and its fundamental analysis

By a combination of a lossless snubber and a sensor for the current or voltage, soft-switched high power factor AC/DC converters are realized by a simple circuit construction. These converters need twice the input peak voltage for soft switching. In this paper, a new technique to spread the range of the soft switching is proposed. To derive circuit characteristics such as the power factor and output voltage as functions of the circuit parameters, a nonlinear differential equation for the output voltage is given and solved under the proper assumptions. These analytical results are then verified by the experiments.
Long-Term Integrated Nutrient Management in the Maize–Wheat Cropping System in Alluvial Soils of North-Western India: Influence on Soil Organic Carbon, Microbial Activity and Nutrient Status

Integrated nutrient management (INM) is a widely recognized tool to ensure sustainable crop productivity while preserving soil fertility. The addition of organic manures in soil has been evidenced to improve soil characteristics, in addition to improving nutrient availability. The soil samples, with five treatment combinations of chemical fertilizers with farmyard manure (FYM), were collected from a 17-year-old field experiment conducted at PAU, Ludhiana to investigate the effect of INM on the buildup of organic carbon (OC), microbial community, soil nutrient status and improvement in soil physical properties under the maize–wheat cropping system. The INM technique enhanced the OC content (0.44 to 0.66%), available N (152.8 to 164.9 kg ha−1), P (22.8 to 31.4 kg ha−1) and K (140.6 to 168.0 kg ha−1) after 17 years. The DTPA-extractable and total micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn) status also improved significantly with FYM supplementation. The organic source, coupled with inorganic fertilizers, improved the water holding capacity, total porosity, soil respiration, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, and potentially mineralizable N. However, pH, EC, and bulk density of soil decreased with the addition of FYM, coupled with chemical fertilizers.
Access to verb bias and plausibility information during syntactic processing in adult Spanish–English bilinguals

Abstract In two experiments, we examine how proficient second language speakers integrate verb bias and plausibility information during online sentence comprehension. Spanish–English speakers and native English speakers read sentences in English in which a post-verbal noun phrase (NP) could be interpreted as a direct object or a sentential subject. To examine the role of verb bias, the post-verbal NP was preceded by a verb that is preferentially followed by a direct object (DO-bias verbs) or a sentential complement (SC-bias verbs). To assess the role of plausibility, the semantic fit between the verb and the post-verbal NP was either congruent or incongruent with the direct object interpretation. The results show that both second language speakers and native speakers used verb bias information to assign a grammatical role to the post-verbal ambiguous NP with small differences. Syntactic revision of an initially incorrect DO interpretation was facilitated by the presence of an implausible NP.
An Auditory Stroop Test to Implement in Cognitive Hearing Sciences: Development and Normative Data

Abstract. Objective: This study developed and gained insight in an auditory Stroop test, implementable in cognitive hearing sciences. Methods: An auditory Stroop test was developed and performed in 178 participants, aged between 18 and 69 years. This Auditory Stroop test consisted of two tests: Stroop-tones and Stroop-words whereby the pitch of pure-tones and spoken words (i.e., the words high and low) had to be identiﬁed by high or low, respectively. An interference score was calculated as a measure of verbal executive functioning. Regression models were conducted to examine the eﬀect of age, sex, education, awakeness, hearing, as well as visual and verbal working memory, and processing speed on the auditory Stroop scores. Normative data were obtained per age decade. Results: Compared to the visual counterparts, the auditory Stroop outcomes were better predicted by verbal working memory and processing speed. A trend was observed showing a decrease in performances with increasing age. No other participant-related variables had a signiﬁcant relationship with the auditory Stroop test. Conclusion: This auditory Stroop test was considered a good test for measuring executive functioning using auditory stimuli. Implementing this auditory Stroop test within cognitive hearing sciences will contribute to unravel the auditory-cognitive perspective of speech understanding.
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI VOLUME EKSPOR CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO) INDONESIA

The purpose of this research to explain the factors that affect the volume of Indonesia ’s CPO export s which include domestic CPO production, domestic CPO prices , international CPO prices and the exchange rate of the Rupiah against the US dollar against the volume of Indonesia ’s CPO export s both together eously and partially. Type of research is explanatory research with quantitative approach. F ocus of research is volume of Indonesia's CPO export s period 2009-2013. D ata analysis method is multiple linear regression statist ic supported by SPSS 21. R esult of F-Test indicates that domestic CPO production, domestic CPO prices , international CPO prices, and the exchange rate of the Rupiah against the US dollar together eously have significant effect on volume of Indonesia ’s CPO export s . Partially, there are three variables that have significant effect on volume of Indonesia ’s CPO export s, there are domestic CPO production, domestic CPO price, and the exchange rate against the US dollar, while the international CPO price effect is not significant to volume of Indonesia's CPO export s . Keywords: Domestic CPO Production, Domestic CPO Prices, International CPO Prices, the E xchange Rate of the Rupiah against the US dollar , V olume of Indonesia ’s CPO E xport s Abstrak Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menjelaskan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi volume ekspor CPO Indonesia yang meliputi produksi CPO domestik, harga CPO domestik, harga CPO internasional dan nilai tukar rupiah terhadap dolar AS terhadap volume ekspor CPO Indonesia secara bersama-sama maupun parsial. Jenis penelitian dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian penjelasan dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Fokus penelitian adalah volume ekspor CPO Indonesia periode tahun 2009-2013. Analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis statistik regresi linier berganda dengan menggunakan program SPSS 21. Hasil Uji F menunjukkan bahwa produksi CPO domestik, harga CPO domestik, harga CPO internasional, dan nilai tukar rupiah terhadap dolar AS secara bersama-sama berpengaruh signifikan terhadap volume ekspor CPO Indonesia. Secara parsial, terdapat tiga variabel yang mempunyai pengaruh signifikan terhadap volume ekspor CPO Indonesia yaitu produksi CPO domestik, harga CPO domestik, dan nilai tukar rupiah terhadap dolar AS, sedangkan harga CPO internasional berpengaruh secara tidak signifikan terhadap volume ekspor CPO Indonesia. Kata Kunci: Produksi CPO Domestik, Harga CPO Domestik, Harga CPO Internasional, Nilai Tukar Rupiah terhadap Dolar AS, Volume Ekspor CPO Indonesia
Understanding the Impact of Drought in Coffea Genotypes: Transcriptomic Analysis Supports a Common High Resilience to Moderate Water Deficit but a Genotype Dependent Sensitivity to Severe Water Deficit

Water scarcity is the most significant factor limiting coffee production, although some cultivars can still have important drought tolerance. This study analyzed leaf transcriptomes of two coffee cultivars with contrasting physiological responses, Coffea canephora cv. CL153 and Coffea. arabica cv. Icatu, subjected to moderate (MWD) or severe water deficits (SWD). We found that MWD had a low impact compared with SWD, where 10% of all genes in Icatu and 17% in CL153 reacted to drought, being mainly down-regulated upon stress. Drought triggered a genotype-specific response involving the up-regulation of reticuline oxidase genes in CL153 and heat shock proteins in Icatu. Responsiveness to drought also included desiccation protectant genes, but primarily, aspartic proteases, especially in CL153. A total of 83 Transcription Factors were found engaged in response to drought, mainly up-regulated, especially under SWD. Together with the enrollment of 49 phosphatases and 272 protein kinases, results suggest the involvement of ABA-signaling processes in drought acclimation. The integration of these findings with complementing physiological and biochemical studies reveals that both genotypes are more resilient to moderate drought than previously thought and suggests the existence of post-transcriptional mechanisms modulating the response to drought.
Enterprise resource planning systems in the aluminium conversion industry

Several publications have reported the benefits of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in different types of companies, in such areas as healthcare systems and government organisations. In this research, emphasis is put on the relevance of ERP principles in the specific area of the aluminium conversion industry (ACI), which has not (to the authors’ knowledge) been addressed in the related literature. The processes involved (e.g. casting and rolling), their constraints, and the particular structure of products, are such that the relevance of certain ERP principles (e.g. use of MRP concepts) may appear questionable. Our article aims at identifying important benefits, but also limitations and problems, which may arise when implementing ERP in ACI companies. We identify specific features of ACI that are likely to cause problems, and quickly recall some important principles of ERP and MRP systems. We show that if benefits can indeed be expected, in certain cases important limitations exist, mainly due to the use of MRP concepts, which can significantly affect the production planning of these companies. We conclude that, depending on the commercial strategy of the ACI companies concerned, specific developments may be required in ERP in order to fully fulfil their needs. Several major research perspectives are proposed.