Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Customer readiness–customer participation link in e-services

ABSTRACT E-services such as online tourism, e-commerce, ride hailing, mobile banking, and payment are increasingly adopted in emerging markets. The paper, on the basis of service-dominant logic, aims to develop and validate an integrative theoretical model that centers on the customer readiness-customer participation link in e-services. From the perspective of customer, as both technology user and service consumer, this study proposes technology readiness, a technology-related factor, and customer empowerment, a firm-developed factor, as determinants of customer readiness and perceived value and satisfaction as outcomes of customer participation. A cross-sectional survey with PLS-SEM analysis of 257 customers in e-services in Hochiminh City, Vietnam, reports that all of eight hypotheses are empirically supported. This paper is among the first, with empirically affirming the roles of technology readiness and customer empowerment, two formative second-order constructs, to evidently investigate the two important formation mechanisms of customer readiness and the interconnection of these customer operant resources.
The impact of the Employer Training Pilots on the take-up of training among employers and employees

This report presents the final stage of the Employer Training Pilots impact study, conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The aim has been to assess the impact of the ETP on the take-up of training by eligible employers and employees from the start of the pilots up until Summer 2004. The ETP "offer" is of free or subsidised training leading to a basic skills or first Level 2 qualification for employees qualified to below Level 2, where the employees receive paid time off in which to train, and for which the employers are compensated. This report is a part of the wider evaluation of ETP, conducted by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), which has assessed a broader set of questions relating to the operation of ETP. The work undertaken by IES involves surveys of participating employers and employees, plus case study work in the pilot areas. Two reports of the findings have been published to date. These revealed high levels of satisfaction with ETP amongst participants (at levels comparable to those in the LSC's national learner satisfaction survey), and a range of perceived benefits for participating employers and employees. At the time of the most recent published report, rates of successful completion of Level 2 qualifications were slightly higher than the nearest comparator, and more recent evidence indicates that completion rates have risen further since then. The reports also pointed out some potential quality issues for ETP, including patchy provision of Information, Advice and Guidance and a lack of sufficient initial assessment of learners.
Investigating User Authentication in the Context of Older Adults

Knowledge-based authentication is almost ubiquitous due to low cost and relatively straightforward implementation. Despite its popularity, there are some well-known problems associated with knowledge-based authentication, such as the cognitive load of memorising multiple codes. As people age and their memory declines, remembering multiple codes is even more challenging. Due to lack of objective evidence regarding the performance of older adults with existing knowledge-based systems, a study was carried out where younger and older participants were required to learn and remember multiple PIN codes and their performance was evaluated over a three-week period. The results from this PIN study demonstrated a clear age effect where younger participants performed significantly more accurately and faster than the older participants. These results reiterated the need for authentication systems that are inclusive of older users and provided a benchmark performance measure for future evaluations. In the next phase four graphical authentication systems (GAS) were evaluated with younger and older adults using the same methodology as the PIN study to determine whether any of them were an improvement. The first system, Tiles, was based on a single image and participants were required to recognise segments of their image from segments taken from other images and yielded disappointing results where overall performance was not an improvement over that of PINs. The second and third systems tested were picture-based and face-based recognition systems. The performance of older participants was promising, especially with the face-based system but the systems could be improved to be more suitable for older users. In the final study, the face-based system was improved by using old faces and ensuring that no two codes shared a face. The results from the final face-based system provide preliminary evidence that a graphical authentication system that is inclusive of older adults may be achievable if designed correctly.
Aerodynamic heating of blunt nose shapes at Mach numbers up to 14

From Introduction: "The importance of blunt noses as a means of reducing the heat transfer to high velocity missiles has recently received much publicity. The question of just what blunt shape is best is still moot, and it is the purpose of this paper to present and examine some recent experimental results which may throw some light on this problem. "
Negatif Ağızdan Ağıza İletişim(Wom) ve Elektronik Ağızdan Ağıza İletişim (e-Wom): Yiyecek-İçecek İşletmelerine Yönelik Bir Araştırma

The customers are affected from various information sources about purchasing behaviour in today’s competitive environment. One of the most important information sources is customers’ affecting one another via word of mouth communication positively or negatively. It is aimed to find out the behaviors of consumers who are not satisfied by the services they got from food and beverage businesses like, whether or not, talking about the problems to the people in their surrounding area also sharing them on internet. As data collection method, the questionnaire is preferred and they are acquired from 269 people who are older than 18 years in the province of Yalova by face to face meeting. The data acquired are keyboarded in SPSS program first and then they are analyzed by various appropriate statistical methods. At the end, it is found out that the customers who are not satisfied by the services they got from food and beverage businesses are generally inclined to the negative word of mouth communication. Also it is comprehended that their dissatisfaction is shared by  Ogr. Gor. , Yalova Universitesi, Yalova Meslek Yuksekokulu, Turizm Isletmeciligi Bolumu  Doc. Dr. Gazi Universitesi, Turizm Fakultesi, Turizm Isletmeciligi Bolumuface to face meetings rather than internet to inform the people in their surrounding area about the mentioned negative experience.
Problem Solving Performance of Maintenance Trainees in a Fault Diagnosis Task

Forty trainees in an FAA certificate program participated in an experimental study of trouble-shooting of graphically displayed networks. The effects of network size, computer aiding, and training were considered. It was found that performance degraded as network size increased, improved with the use of computer aiding, and that skills developed with computer aiding were transferred to the unaided situation.
The Effect of Ventilation and Hand Holes on Loss of Compression Strength in Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated packaging is used to package approxi­ mately 90% of all products that reach retail store shelves and aisles in the United States. A large number of these corrugated shippers are used to ship fresh produce and perishables through the cold-chain environment that requires these boxes to haveventing to permit air cir­ culation. In addition, corrugated boxes for that are large in size and contain heavier products, may have hand holes to facilitate manual handling. The presence of ventilation and hand holes both cause a loss of material in two or more faces of the box. As a result the com­ pression strength required for shipping and stacking is compromised and can result in damageto contents. Hand holes that do not meetthe appropriate strength requirements can be a safety issue in manual handling if the contents are released when handling. This study was initiated to understand the loss of compression strength in corrugated containers as a function of size, shape and location of ventilation and hand holes used for handling ergonomics and extending shelf life for perishables with good air flow. Based on experimental data, results show thatthe loss in strength can range between 10 to 40% and is sig­ nificantly larger than previously reported.
Curiosity or underdiagnosed? Thoracolumbar spinal column injuries with concomitant trauma of the pancreas

Background: The pancreas is an organ which is at risk of damage as a consequence of thoracolumbar spine injury. However, to our knowledge, no studies have provided any prevalence data to support this assumption. Therefore, the coincidence of pancreatic trauma in patients with spine injury is still unknown. Data from the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) was analysed to estimate the prevalence of this correlation and to determine its influence on clinical outcome.Methods: A retrospective investigation of cases documented in the TR-DGU between 2008 and 2017 was performed. We included data of patients admitted to participating European trauma centres who had thoracic or lumbar spine injuries and met the following criteria: i) Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 9, ii) blunt trauma, and iii) no early transfer out of hospital. We investigated the coincidence of pancreas injury in patients with at least an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of 2 of the thoracic or lumbar spine. Therefore, we included all kind of relevant injuries of the thoracolumbar spine.Results: In the group with thoracolumbar injury with concomitant pancreatic injury, the mean age was 43.1 ± 18.6 years, and 68% of these patients were male. The most frequent mechanisms of trauma were car (38%) and motorbike (17%) accidents, as well as high falls (23.8%). The mean Injury Severity Score was 35.7 ± 16.0 points and the in-hospital mortality rate was 17.5%. The overall prevalence of pancreatic injury was 60.7 (0.61%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.58–0.65) per 10,000 patients. Patients with severe spinal injuries (AIS ≥ 2) were more likely to present with a concomitant pancreatic injury compared to patients with no or only minor spinal injury (AIS 0–1) (Odds ratio (OR) 1.78; 95%CI, 1.57–2.01). Conclusions: Concomitant pancreatic injury in patients with spinal injuries of the thoracolumbar spine is rare. However, patients with more severe spinal injuries were overall more likely (OR 1.78) to present with an accompanying pancreatic injury than those with minor thoracolumbar injuries. Therefore, trauma surgeons treating severely injured patients must be alert not to overlook this rare concomitant injury, because it does not clearly correlate with the severity of spinal injury.
Social science at the wildland-urban interface: a compendium of research results to create fire-adapted communities

Over the past decade, a growing body of research has been conducted on the human dimensions of wildland fire. As this research has matured, there has been a recognition of the need to examine the full body of resulting literature to synthesize disparate findings and identify lessons learned across studies. These lessons can then be applied to fostering fire-adapted communitiesthose communities that understand their risk and have taken action to mitigate their vulnerability and increase resilience. This compendium of social science research findings related to fire-adapted communities has resulted from a project funded by the Joint Fire Science Program. As part of these efforts, the research team reviewed more than 200 publications of research results. Then the team convened a workshop with 16 scientists who evaluated collective findings and discussed their application to support fire management activities. Within this document they describe their approach to completing this review and present key findings from the literature. The discussion is organized around five major topical areas: 1) homeowner/community mitigation, 2) public acceptance of fuels treatments on public lands, 3) homeowner actions during a fire, 4) postfire response and recovery, and 5) wildland fire policy and planning. The compendium concludes with a presentation of management implications and a bibliography of all material in this review.
Analysis of environmental effects on electromagnetic induction sensors

Electromagnetic induction sensors are widely used in a number of applications, such as mine clearance, improvised explosive detection, treasure hunting and geophysical survey. Our focus is on pulse induction metal detectors used in the scope of humanitarian demining to detect anti-personnel mines, but most developments remain valid for other applications and for other types of electromagnetic induction sensors. The detection performance of metal detectors may significantly be affected by the environment. In this thesis, we consider the effect of a magnetic soil, the effect of a water layer on the head of the detector and the effect of the electromagnetic background. The analysis is based on a detailed model of the detector, including the coil and the fast time electronics. Classically, the voltage induced in a coil is assumed to be equal to the time derivative of the linked flux. We show, by resorting to the quasi-static approximation of the reciprocity expression, that an additional contribution, related to the incident electro quasi-static field, must be taken into account. In many applications this contribution is negligible but in some cases, for example when using some metal detectors over dew grass, the additional term is required to explain the observed phenomena. Regarding the soil, a general model is developed, which is valid in the presence of inhomogeneities or soil relief and for an arbitrary head geometry. Then the volume of influence is rigorously defined and computed for typical head geometries. Regarding the effect of water, important losses of sensitivity were reported from the field when scanning over dew grass with some detectors. The problem was investigated in the nineties. The effect could be reproduced and the conditions under which it occurs were well understood but the underlying physics could not be explained. Circuit and field level models are developed to explain the various phenomena observed. We show that the loss of sensitivity is due to an electro quasi-static interaction between the water layer and the coil. Finally, we show that the electromagnetic background may affect the detector for frequencies from below 1 Hz to about 20 MHz, with a sensitivity peak around 100 kHz. For the maximum allowed background fields, the effect may be very severe, significantly lowering the sensitivity or even preventing the normal functioning of the detector.
A mathematical model to set speed limits for vehicles on the highway

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical model that could guide certain speed limits for vehicles on roads. Excessive speeds on roads have been a major indirect cause of deaths on highways due to the sudden impact of vehicles that lead to accidents. The model presented here is developed on a measure of impact force of two vehicles engaged in a head‐on collision. A hypothetical case study was investigated based on the impact of force on the human body. The results showed a variation of speed with occupation position distance. The paper also examines the role of seatbelt as a safety feature for vehicle occupants. Practically, developing a quantitative approach for evaluating the impacts of speed would help road regulatory authorities in reducing accidents and deaths on roads. It would also assist them in tracking “road traffic offenders” by setting controls to which road users must conform.
Leak detection using instantaneous frequency analysis

Leaking pipes are a primary concern for water utilities around the globe as they compose a major portion of losses. Contemporary interest surrounding leaks is well documented and there is a proliferation of leak detection techniques. Although the reasons for these leaks are well known, some of the current methods for leak detection and location are either complicated, inaccurate and most of them are time consuming. Transient analyses offer a plausible route towards leak detection due to their robustness and simplicity. These approaches use the change of pressure response of the fluid in a pipeline to identify features. The method used in the current study employ a single pressure transducer to obtain the time domain signal of the pressure transient response caused by a sudden opening and closing of a solenoid valve. The device used is fitted onto a standard UK hydrant and both cause a pressure wave and acquire the pressure history. The work described here shows that the analysis using Hilbert transform (HT), Hilbert Huang transform (HIHT) and EMD based method is a promising tool for leak detection and location in the pipeline network. In the first part of the work, the analysis of instantaneous characteristics of transient pressure signal has been calculated using HT and HHT for both simulated and experimental data. These instantaneous properties of the signals are shown to be capable of detecting the reflection from the features of the pipe such as leakages and outlet. When tested with leak different locations, the processed results still show the existing of the features in the system. In the second part of the work, the study is based on newly method of analysing nonstationary data called empirical mode decomposition (EMD) for instantaneous frequency calculation for leak detection. First, the pressure signals were filtered in order to remove the noise using EMD. Then the instantaneous frequency was calculated and compared using different methods. With this method, it is possible to identify the leaks and also the features in the pipeline network. These were tested at different locations of a real water distribution system in the Yorkshire Water region.
Harmonic distortion in laterally asymmetric channel metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors operating in the linear regime

A Monte Carlo investigation of the linear regime harmonic distortion in laterally asymmetric channel (LAC) and conventional metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors (MOSFETs) for radio frequency applications is presented. Simulations of nonlinearities are carried out both considering the Fourier analysis in AC conditions (at 5 and 20 GHz) and the integral function method. The results show a general good agreement between both modeling techniques, with the exception of the third harmonic distortion at the higher frequency, which is underestimated by the integral function method at low gate bias. A general improvement in the total harmonic distortion and second harmonic distortion is evidenced in LAC MOSFETs as compared to conventional devices. While the third harmonic distortion at low gate bias is slightly degraded in LAC transistors, at high VGS, the LAC MOSFET also improves this figure of merit as compared to conventional transistors, which confirms the suitability of LACs also for large‐signal radio frequency applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stability analysis of yield and its components in bush type French bean

An experiment was conducted to study the stability parameters, viz., regression coefficient (bi) and mean square deviations (S2di) from linear regression, along with per-se performance of 13 varieties of bush type French bean for 9 yield related characters. Highly significant pooled deviation for green pod yield/plant, number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant and pod weight and highly significant/significant GxE (linear) interaction for days to 50% flowering, plant height and pod length indicated the preponderance of non-linear components of GxE interaction. The linear and non-linear components of GxE interactions were high and low, respectively, for pod width. The roundish and stringless podded line EC 350949 was better performing, stable and suitable for favourable environment for green pod yield (23.74 t/ha) and number of pods/plant (20.18) and suitable for unfavourable environment for number of branches/plant (5.14). EC 398564 was also better performing, stable and suitable for favourable environment for green pod yield (16.32 t/ha), pod length (17.63 cm), pod width (1.20 cm), pod girth (0.86 cm) and pod weight (10.68 g.). EC 398570 was better performing, stable and suitable for favourable environment for pod girth (0.88 cm) and suitable for unfavourable environment for pod length (19.42 cm) and pod width (1.97 cm). EC 350955 was better performing, stable and suitable for favourable environment for number of branches per plant (5.14) and number of pods/plant (18.10) and suitable for unfavourable environment for pod girth (0.90 cm).
Evaluation of the Primary School Component of Universal Basic Education in Lagos East Senatorial District of Nigeria

The study evaluated Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme at the primary school level in Lagos East Senatorial District of Nigeria. It used the descriptive design of survey type and CIPP evaluation model. The sample comprised 450 teachers and 45 head teachers using multistage sampling technique. Educational Resources Inventory Scale (ERIS) (r = 0.78) and Learning Resources Utilization Scale (LERUS) (0.69) were used in data collection. Frequency counts, simple percentages, median, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Results of analysis showed that writing materials, multimedia learning aids, good and conducive classroom, measuring instruments like ruler, compass and instructional materials were the adequate (Median = 3.00) educational resources in primary schools located in the District. The result further showed a progressive increase (Mean > 58.04) in enrolment of pupils. Teachers were found to be adequate (Mean = 10.62) in number when compared to the national standard of 1:40 teacher-pupil ratio. However, funds for the smooth running of the schools were grossly inadequate (Mean = 1.00). Lastly, the finding revealed that teachers adequately utilized (Median = 3.00) the available educational resources in the schools. The conclusion was that resource and fund gap still widely exist among primary schools in the District. It was therefore recommended that government should be more alive to its responsibility of providing requisite educational resources in all public primary schools supported with an initiative to make funds available.
TNT Equivalency of Nitroglycerine

Abstract : TNT equivalency tests were conducted on Nitroglycerine. One-, two-, and four-pound charges were ignited with various size boosters ranging from a number 6 blasting cap to 127 grams of C4 explosive. In one case a hot wire was successfully used to detonate the nitroglycerine sample. Pressure and positive impulse was measured in the scaled distance range of 4 to 50 ft. /cu root lbs. Peak pressure TNT equivalency ranged from 240 to 80 percent in that scaled distance range and the impulse TNT equivalency ranged from 190 to 120 percent. No variations in the explosive output of Nitroglycerine were observed when different size boosters were used. Similarly no effect of charge size on TNT equivalency was observed.
Real-Time HWIL Simulation of Liquid Food Process Lines

This paper describes a newly developed Modelica and Dymola based solution for hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) simulation in the food processing industry. The solution has been evaluated for potential larger scale deployment into the operational processes of Tetra Pak Processing Systems. The solution consists of a real-time enabled model library for liquid food processing, which is compiled into a process simulator using Dymola, and custom developed software for communication between the process simulator and a production PLC control system using industry standard OPC protocols.