Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The causal relationship between GDP and domestic air passenger traffic in Brazil

Abstract This paper examines the causal relationship between economic growth and domestic air passenger transport in Brazil, using Granger's causality test. Total domestic passenger-kilometres are used as a proxy for air transport demand and gross domestic product as a proxy for economic growth. The test spans the period from 1966 to 2006. The results lead to the acceptance of the hypothesis that there is a unidirectional Granger causal relationship from economic growth to domestic air transport demand in Brazil, having a high elasticity in the short term.
An Implementation of POPBL for Analog Electronics (BEL10203) Course at the Faculty Of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Uthm

A Project Oriented Problem Based Learning (POPBL) has been introduced to the first year students in the Analog Electronics (BEL10203) course at the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UTHM. The aim is to design an electronic circuit using transistors and diodes that can function as electronic appliances with low cost, low power consumption, and has the features of smart and portable. The total of 143 students were divided into groups and assigned to setup an electronic based company that will be manufacturing the electronic product. Each group had to conduct their regular meetings and develop different kind of products with their creativity. The overall evaluation is divided for both lecturer and peer assessment which carried 20% of their course work. The assessment covered 60% of evaluation for the group management, attitude, progress presentation, report writing while another 40% for the functionality and features of their product. As a result, the POPBL session has increased the student’s ability to analyze and design an analog circuit using various kinds of transistors and diodes. They also gained practical understanding on transistor and diode operation. The POPBL not only expanded their experience in using software tools for circuit design and simulation, but also developed greater awareness to conduct professional presentation and technical report. They also learned to work as professional, keen to ethical responsibilities and committed to the group. The analysis conducted has shown that 95% of the students agreed that the problem given helped them understands better the course syllabus and developed a good problem solving skills.
Enhancing the engagement of higher education academics in knowledge transfer through a rewards and incentives scheme using an action research approach

This research project considers approaches to enhancing the engagement of academics with Knowledge Transfer in UK Higher Education. The research, undertaken within the Health and Education School of Middlesex University, utilised an innovative approach through the application of an Action Research (AR) framework in supporting personal and organisational development. Through insider-researcher led AR Cycles, knowledge and theory was developed co-productively, leading to the development, implementation and embedding of a Rewards and Incentives Scheme (R&IS) to enhance academics’ engagement with KT. The research involved the use of on-line surveys, in-depth interviews and Action Research Groups to engage academics as participants in the process. Original contribution to the field is demonstrated through outcomes of the application of a highly reflexive AR framework, including higher level reflection at each stage of several AR Cycles, culminating in the expression of theory and thinking at a meta-level of learning. AR offered an innovative approach to engaging academics in KT through shaping and implementing policy as part of participatory approaches, culminating in the R&IS. The thesis itself adopts an innovative structure to reflect the AR framework utilised. Within the limitations of generalisability of an AR approach, the research findings are of value in a wider context, suggesting that: • The motivation to engage in KT involves a complex mixture of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, but in this particular study it was largely influenced by intrinsic factors such as having a positive impact in society • Academics in the health and education sectors may not respond positively to commercial-style descriptors of KT and econometric measures alone would not be a true reflection of KT activity levels • AR can be an effective approach to support management-led interventions and change management around a specific objective • Rewards and incentives could play an effective part in management initiatives to engage academics in KT.
Airbnb and Rental Markets: Evidence from Berlin

We exploit two policy interventions in Berlin, Germany, to causally identify the impact of Airbnb on rental markets. While the ﬁrst intervention signiﬁcantly reduced the number of high-availability Airbnb listings bookable for most of the year, the second intervention led to the exit of mostly occasional, low-availability listings. We ﬁnd that the reduction in Airbnb supply has a much larger impact on rents and long-term rental supply for the ﬁrst reform. This is consistent with more professional Airbnb hosts substituting back to the long-term rental market. Accordingly, we estimate that one additional nearby high-availability Airbnb listing crowds out 0.6 long-term rentals and, consequently, increases the asked square-meter rent by 1.8 percent on average. This marginal eﬀect tends to be smaller in districts with a higher Airbnb density. However, these district experienced a larger slowdown in rent increases following the reform due to larger reductions in Airbnb supply.
Negative symptoms: associations with defeatist beliefs, self-efficacy, and maladaptive schemas in youth and young adults at-risk for psychosis

Abstract Background: Investigations into possible mechanisms that may contribute to the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of negative symptoms are needed. Defeatist beliefs, self-efficacy, and early maladaptive schemas have been shown to contribute to negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Likewise, negative symptoms occur in those at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine if negative symptoms were associated with defeatist beliefs, self-efficacy, and early maladaptive schemas in CHR participants of a group therapy intervention study. Method: All CHR participants (n = 203; 99 males, 104 females) were recruited as part of a three-site randomized control trial: Recovery through Group Study (ReGroup). Negative symptoms, defeatist beliefs, self-efficacy and early maladaptive schemas were assessed by trained clinical raters. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between defeatist beliefs, self-efficacy, functioning, and negative symptoms. Results: The majority of CHR youth (72.9%) had at least one negative symptom of moderate to above moderate severity at baseline. In multiple mediation analyses, both asocial beliefs and social self-efficacy mediated the effects of social functioning on negative symptoms. Finally, defeatist performance attitudes significantly mediated the effects of role functioning on negative symptoms. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of considering beliefs and attitudes in relation to functioning and severity of negative symptoms. Psychosocial interventions may wish to target beliefs and attitudes in effort to reduce negative symptoms and improve functioning in CHR youth.
PROFITABILITY OF 'EGUSI' MELON (Citrullus Lanatus Thunb. Mansf) PRODUCTION UNDER SOLE AND MIXED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the profitability of ‘egusi’ melon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb. Mansf) under sole and intercropping systems in Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. Primary data were used for the investigation. The primary data were obtained through the use of questionnaire in Okehi LGA. 240 farmers were purposively sampled and 120 were randomly selected for the study. Descriptive statistics and net farm income analysis were employed in the analysis of the data. The result showed that the average net farm income per hectare for sole melon, melon in 2, 3, and 4 crops mixture were N1,328.69, N915.77, N887.27 and N414.57 respectively. The total gross return per hectare for melon (from the pooled data) averaged N12.638. 61 while the total cost of production was N8, 838.74 on the average. The total net farm income per hectare for both sole and mixed (pooled data) was N3, 799 on the average, implying that ‘egusi’ melon production is profitable in the area. Based on the findings, it was recommended that farmers in the area should continue to focus more attention on sole melon production. Also the Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) in the state should intensify melon production awareness and mobilize the local industries for ‘egusi’ melon processing and extraction of the oil for better utilization in the area.
Keeping in Touch with the Crowd An Exploratory Study of Relationships Between Firms and Funders after Successful Reward-based Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has become more than just a mean of raising money for firms thatdevelop products. Through crowdfunding can firms get in touch with potentialcustomers and get market validation of the product. On the other hand, the individualsthat participate as funders in crowdfunding campaigns have shown to do so becausethey want to be a part of the community that affects and ultimately realises theproduct. This has created an interesting relationship between firms and funders wheremutual benefits besides the transactional affairs exist. Previous research has mainlyfocused on topics and processes related to the actual crowdfunding campaign.However, much less research has examined howfirms that have successfullycrowdfunded their products continue to work with their funders after the campaign.Thus, the aim of this thesis has been to investigate this.The conducted research was exploratory in nature, where a multiple case-studyapproach was used to investigate nine firms from all over Europe that hadcrowdfunded products. Using a content analysis was the collected empirical datacoded, which formed propositions. These were ultimately discussed in relation toprevious literature in order to form conclusions for the research. Analyticalgeneralisation was sought in the research, meaning that the findings were generalisedin the context of the study. Additionally, the results were also used to proposesuggestions for future research.The results of the study showed that the investigated firms experienced that the funderrelationship was demanding in terms of communication and information transparency.The firms acknowledged that there was a common interest among the funders toremain updated on the continuous product development. Thus, firms had to maintainfrequent communication with their funders and also transparently share informationon the development progress. On the other hand, the funders were found to act asvalue co-creators by giving firms feedback on their products. Furthermore, in somecases the funder community was used to find lead users that could be involved in coproducing activities.
Modelling and simulation of non-Rayleigh radar clutter

As the undesired echo from a radar environment (clutter) is often not Rayleigh distributed, problems arise in specifying the clutter as a non-Gaussian random process and in computer-generating realisations of clutter for simulation purposes. The paper shows that modelling the clutter as a compound Gaussian or a spherically invariant random process allows a complete specification of the clutter suitable for use in radar design. It also lends itself readily to computer simulation procedures. Specific procedures for generating clutter realisations with assigned correlation properties and with K or Weibull amplitude distributions are suggested, and are validated by statistical tests. Then the issue of resolving between the Weibull and K distributions is considered, and empirical operative characteristics of the associated hypothesis test are computed.
Cover cracking in reinforced concrete elements due to corrosion

The article considers analytical modelling of crack initiation in the concrete cover caused by corrosion of reinforcing steel. Initially, existing analytical models describing this phenomenon are critically reviewed. A new analytical model proposed by the authors is then presented and calibrated against available experimental data. The model is based on a thick-walled cylinder approach. To account for partial cracking of the concrete cover the cylinder is divided into two parts – a cracked inner cylinder and an uncracked outer one. The model ensures a consistent stress–strain formulation within both the inner and outer cylinders and enables to achieve complete continuity of stresses and strains on the boundary between the cylinders that distinguish it from the previously published analytical models. The model is then used to estimate the amount of corrosion products, which have diffused into concrete pores and cracks before full cracking of the concrete cover. It is shown that this amount may be larger than has been previously assumed. It is also shown that the assumption that corrosion products diffuse into concrete only until they fully fill the so-called ‘porous’ zone around a reinforcing bar leads to results, which are difficult to explain from a physical point of view. An alternative approach to account for the diffusion of corrosion products into concrete is proposed. Finally, a possible decrease in the corrosion rate with time and its influence on the prediction of the time to crack initiation are considered.
The stability of tips and spoil heaps

1. Introduction The problem of the stability of tips and spoil heaps was brought to public attention with dramatic force in 1966 by the disaster at Aberfan, when a slide involving only some 140 000 yd3 of colliery rubbish resulted in the loss of 144 lives, 116 those of children mostly between the ages of 7 and 10. Not only to the public, but also to most professional engineers and geologists—even to those concerned with mining—it came as a problem to which they had given little, if any, serious attention; though the discussion on Knox's 1927 paper to the South Wales Institute of Engineers suggests that there was local awareness of the problem of tip stability. This lack of attention is perhaps surprising when we look at the scale of the problem of the disposal of waste from mining, from industrial processes and power generation, and from domestic sources (Table 1). The total quantity is about 120 million tons per annum within the United Kingdom, of which the largest contribution, nearly 60 million tons, comes from the mining of coal. It is of interest to note that the quantity of colliery waste has risen from 7 million tons in 1930 to 60 million tons in 1970 as a result of mechanization, although the overall quantity of coal produced has decreased. † It is also very significant that of the 60 million tons, about 5 million tons are in the form of slurry or tailings. If tipped in the form of a
Assessment of Spanish Food Consumption Patterns during COVID-19 Home Confinement

People’s eating habits and lifestyle can have a negative impact on health. In situations of difficulty or socioeconomic crisis, these habits tend to be modified, leading to unhealthy dietary patterns that result in an increase of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Previous studies have indicated that, due to the state of alarm imposed in Spain to combat the spread of COVID-19, an increase in the purchase of non-core products occurred, along with a decrease in the daily physical activity of the population. This could be a risk factor for COVID-19 infection. The objective of this observational study was to analyze the dietary pattern of the Spanish population during home confinement and to compare it with the pattern of habitual consumption collected in the last National Health Survey, analyzing the possible changes. More than half of the respondents in the sample increased their consumption of sweets and snacks during confinement, while the consumption of fresh products decreased. Most claimed to be emotionally hungry, leading to an increase in their daily energy intake. The stress and anxiety generated by confinement could be the cause of the increased consumption of products rich in sugars and saturated fats, which are associated with greater stress and anxiety.
SIZE EFFECT IN PUNCHING OF RC SLABS

There appears to have been no review made of existing test data in which the size effect in punching has been given any special consideration and the proposed paper seeks to fill this gap. Its objectives are to set out the current state of knowledge on size effects and the parameters that influence them by considering of experimental results of 87 reinforced concrete flat slabs without shear reinforcement. These tests are carefully selected to form a large database, including specimens with a significant variation of effective depth. These experimental results are compared with design codes of EUROCODE 2, FIB Model 2010 and to the Critical Shear Crack Theory (CSCT) by Muttoni et al. The comparison show that both EC2 and CSCT have good prediction to test results while MC90 is rather underestimate the punching shear strength of thinner slab compared to EC2 particularly for reinforcement ratio less than 0.1% and this is due to ignoring the limit on the factor of size effect beyond of 2.0.
Improvement of Growth, Yield, Seed Production and Phytochemical Properties of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad by Foliar Application of Boron and Zinc

Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad is a valuable and endemic medicinal plant. Boron and zinc are essential elements for the vegetative and reproductive growth of plants and have significant effects on yield, essential oil composition and the seed production of plants. To investigate the effects of the foliar application of zinc and boron on the growth, yield, seed production and phytochemical properties of S. khuzistanica, a study was conducted in a factorial experiment with three replicates in two consecutive years based on a randomized complete block design. The foliar application of boron (B) at three concentrations (control or distilled water, 0.4% and 0.8% as H3BO3) and zinc (Zn) at three concentrations (control or distilled water, 0.3% and 0.6% as ZnSO4) was carried out. Our results showed that the foliar application of B resulted in a significant increase in the fresh and dry weights of plants, the dry weight of stems, drug yield, seed yield, seed germination and 1000-seed weight. At the same time, the application of B resulted in a significant decrease in seed emptiness. The fresh and dry weights of plants, drug yield, seed yield, 1000-seed weight and seed germination were also significantly improved by Zn foliar spraying compared to the control. Application of 0.8% B resulted in a significant decrease in seed emptiness by 14.16% and 22.37%, as compared to the control. The foliar spraying of B and Zn improved the total phenolic content, the essential oil content and the yield and antioxidant activity of S. khuzistanica. Moreover, B application generally concentrated more carvacrol in the essential oil (in the first experimental year). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between Zn treatments in carvacrol content and total flavonoids. The use of several microelements, such as B and Zn, could improve both the quantity and quality of S. khuzistanica. Additionally, improvement of seed set and seed quality by the foliar spraying of Zn and B may be useful for growing plants in arid and semi-arid areas.
UNDERSTANDING PERCEIVED RISKS IN PROXIMITY MOBILE PAYMENT ADOPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF PERCEIVED VALUE

The purpose of this study is to empirically test the relationship between perceived risk factors and adoption of proximity mobile payments, and to explore the mediating effect on perceived value. Using a descriptive research design, an online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 297 users of proximity mobile payments in South Africa. Confirmatory factor analysis using Amos version 27 was used to analyse the data. The assessment of the path coefficients indicates a statistically significant relationship between psychological insecurity and adoption of proximity mobile payments. Further analysis indicated that perceived value fully mediates the relationship between psychological insecurity and adoption of proximity mobile payments. To the best knowledge of the author, this study is the first to provide empirical evidence of the mediating effect of perceived value on the relationship between perceived risk factors and adoption of proximity mobile payments in an emerging economy. Therefore, the study makes valuable contributions to academicians and practitioners in quest for safe proximity mobile payment apps.
Limitations on lightwave communications imposed by optical-fiber nonlinearities

Optical nonlinearities in the context of lightwave systems limitations are described. The nature and severity of system degradation due to stimulated Raman scattering, carrier-induced phase noise, stimulated Brillouin scattering, and four-photon mixing are discussed. The system power limitations are plotted as a function of a number of wavelength-multiplexed channels. Methods for scaling these results with changes in system parameters are presented. >
Low-Cost Techniques for Improving the Surface Durability of Pervious Concrete

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study to improve the durability of pervious concrete by using readily available and low-cost techniques. Surface raveling of pervious concrete is a concern for long-term use, and remediation techniques have not previously been investigated. A high void-content pervious concrete was cured in worst-case hot and dry conditions to produce poor surface durability. Pervious concrete mixtures included a traditional binder and one that included a superabsorbent polymer for internal curing. Various remediation methods included overlaying with fresh pervious concrete and applying latex paint, epoxy, or a surface densifier to the pavement before abrasion testing with the ASTM C944 rotary cutter method. Results showed that the durability of the internally cured mixture was superior to that of the traditional mixture. Of the surface-applied materials, epoxy provided the best improvement in durability, followed by latex paint and the densifier. Material analysis showed that modifying a mixture to include superabsorbent polymer was the lowest-cost option. On a poorly performing pervious pavement, latex paint or a thin overlay both had low material costs. Low-cost methods are effective techniques for improving the surface durability of pervious concrete.