Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can TQM Act as Stimulus to Elevate Firms’ Innovation Performance?: An Empirical Evidence From the Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan

The current research empirically investigated whether total quality management (TQM) as a multidimensional construct (organic and mechanistic) has a better explanatory power toward innovation performance dimensions with the mediating effect of business innovation capability (BIC) and moderating effect of business innovation culture. After an in-depth examination of the literature, a holistic TQM–BIC–innovation performance framework is being developed based on theoretical knowledge as well as empirical justification. This would help scholars and practitioners to comprehend ways through which quality and innovation are integrated. To this end, structural equation modeling–partial least squares (SEM-PLS) is used for analyzing the data. It has been found that both soft and hard TQM trigger innovation performance and firm BIC mediates this relationship. Lastly, the role of business innovation culture in enhancing firm’s radical innovation performance was empirically established. Thus, developing BIC and business innovation culture in a TQM-based firm could trigger innovating performance.
A Systematic Review on Inclusive Education of Students with Visual Impairment

This was a systematic review on the inclusive education of students with visual impairment. This study focused on two of the most addressed topics: the perceptions of general education teachers and challenges faced by students with visual impairment in accessing academic subjects. It synthesized the findings of 18 peer-reviewed articles published in English from 1980 to 2020. General education teachers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with visual impairment were both positive and negative and were influenced by teacher-, student-, and environment-related factors. Feeling unprepared, one of the main teacher-related factors, seemed to have a great effect. In terms of access to academic subjects, the most discussed subjects were Mathematics, Science, and Physical Education. Although students with visual impairment seemed to be studying at or above their grade level, their exclusion from participation in classroom activities was apparent. Unfortunately, these challenges lead to short- and long-term consequences. Key elements in increasing accessibility to subjects were: general education teachers possessing a generic set of effective pedagogical strategies, effective teaching-learning tools, and external support. The importance of teacher training and a holistic support system were emphasized.
The Use of Augmented Reality in People with ASD: A Review

ABSTRACT In current societies, the use of technology has revealed a wide range of applications due to the diverse needs that exist. One of the technologies that is most notable for its versatility is augmented reality. Being the ASD one of the specific educational needs where this type of technology has application possibilities. For this reason, the objective of the research is to review the scientific production in Web of Science (WOS) and SCOPUS of 1990-2020 on the application of augmented reality in people with ASD based on bibliometric indicators. The final sample was 77 documents. The results show that 2018 and 2019 are the most productive years in both databases. Furthermore, USA and Taiwan have the most productive centres. The results would be used by therapists to know what parameters to take into account for the application of augmented reality in people with ASD. For example the research centres to contact, the most important countries. As future lines of work, the possibility of carrying out a qualitative study of the contents of the documents is considered, which will allow for the detailed analysis of the knowledge areas worked on as well as the applications used.
Measuring Urban Resilience to Climate Change in Three Chinese Cities

Building an urban resilience index results in developing an increasingly popular tool for monitoring progress towards climate-proof cities. This paper develops an urban resilience index in the context of urban China, which helps planners and policy-makers at city level to identify whether urban development is leading to more resilience. The urban resilience index (URI) suggested in this research uses data on 24 indicators distributed over six URI component indices. While no measure of such a complex phenomenon can be perfect, the URI proved to be effective, useful and robust. Our findings show that the URI ensures access to integrated information on urban resilience to climate change. It allows comparisons of cities in a systematic and quantitative way, and enables identification of strong and weak points related to urban resilience. The URI provides tangible measures of not only overall measures of urban resilience to climate change, but also urban resilience components and related indicators. Therefore, it could meet a wide range of policy and research needs. URI is a helpful tool for urban decision-makers and urban planners to quantify goals, measure progress, benchmark performance, and identify priorities for achieving high urban resilience to climate change.
Intrinsic Stress in Evaporated Metal Films

Recently the author proposed a model for the origin of the observed intrinsic tensile stresses in thin metal films. The model predicts a large stress S relatively independent of thickness, in films when the ratio of the melting to the substrate (absolute) temperatures, Tm/Ts, exceeds 4. Conversely, S will be small when Tm/Ts, is smaller than 4 and should decrease with increasing film thickness. The stress has been measured in Al, Cu, and Ni films as a function of Tm/Ts and the data obtained verifys the above predictions. For Tm/Ts much larger than 4, S in Al films is 2×109 dyn/cm2; in Cu, 7×109 dyn/cm2; and in Ni, 9×109 dyn/cm2. As Tm/Ts becomes less than 4 the stress in each case is small, and decreases with increasing film thickness.
Design for Dematerialisation: examining an approach for reducing the life cycle energy requirements of residential buildings

Responsible for significant energy demand and emissions, the building sector has an opportunity to contribute to global sustainability efforts. In creating resilient and sustainable human settlements, alternative design approaches that address life cycle energy requirements are needed. Design for Dematerialisation is one such approach that aims to lower life cycle energy requirements by reducing material and resource inputs. Yet, despite its conceptual simplicity, the application of the approach within the building sector and its effect on life cycle energy demand is poorly understood. This study seeks to briefly outline the approach from the perspective of the building sector and examine the effect of dematerialisation actions on the life cycle energy requirements of a multi-residential building in Melbourne, Australia. This study demonstrates that while an effect is observed – most notably in recurrent embodied energy – a partial rebound effect exists. Savings from the reduction of key materials and components are partially negated by the energy intensity of alternative materials introduced, and/or additional elements required to maintain the building’s fitness-for-purpose. The assessment highlights the need for designers to address energy performance holistically, by taking into account the effect of actions on multiple life cycle stages concurrently. By employing this considered approach, dematerialisation has the potential to be an accessible strategy for designers tasked with creating sustainable, resilient urban settlements.
Hindered Diffusion of Residue Narrow Cuts Through Polycarbonate Membranes

Hindered diffusion plays an important role in catalytic processing of residue and heavy oil because of large size molecules in these feedstocks. Vacuum residue of Athabasca oil sand bitumen was fractionated into 13 narrow fractions and an end-cut by supercritical fluid extraction and fractionation (SFEF). Diffusion transport of five SFEF cuts through four polycarbonate membranes was investigated using a diaphragm cell at 308 K. The results showed that diffusion coefficients of the five SFEF cuts decreased as the experiment proceeded, which illustrates that these cuts are polydisperse in size. The effective diffusion coefficients varied with molecular size and pore size. Hindered diffusion of the five SFEF cuts is significant in the membranes with nominal pore diameter of 15 nm, which is around the average pore size of typical hydrotreating catalyst. Comparisons between experimental data and theoretical prediction revealed that the actual hindered degree for diffusion of the five SFEF cuts is higher than that calculated by the Renkin equation. There were slight differences in diffusivity among saturate, aromatic, and resin constituents. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010
Uniform Colloidal Spheres for (Y1−xGdx)2O3 (x = 0–1): Formation Mechanism, Compositional Impacts, and Physicochemical Properties of the Oxides

Uniform spheres of (Y1−xGdx)2O3 (x = 0–1) are valuable for applications in phosphors, in optical ceramics fabrication, and in combinatorial synthesis. We made in this work such particles by thermal decomposition of precursors synthesized via homogeneous precipitation. Growth kinetics and composition evolution of the precursor spheres were investigated in detail, and it was identified for the first time that (1) differential nucleation occurs with regard to Y and Gd, and as a result concentration gradients exist within each precursor particle of the mixed Y/Gd system (more Gd and less Y from particle surface to the core), (2) average particle size of the colloidal sphere is inversely proportional to nucleation density and is significantly affected by the Gd content, (3) growth of the colloidal spheres is diffusion controlled and follows the cubic-root law, and (4) the dried precursor spheres directly convert to cubic-structured (Y1−xGdx)2O3 (x = 0–1) oxides at 1000 °C while largely retaining their morpholo.
Drought, Local Public Goods, and Inter-communal Conflicts: Testing the Mediating Effects of Public Service Provisions

ABSTRACT Water charities and the UN development goals consider access to clean water and sanitation as transformative: improving personal dignity, quality of life and economic opportunities for individuals and the economic resilience of communities to climate stress. Can the provision of services also mitigate the conflict potential arising from climate change? If so, how broad must access be to become effective? We test how household access to improved water, sanitation, and electricity affects the probability of local conflict in nine drought-prone African countries. We use annual PRIO-GRID cells as the unit of analysis and model the probability of a grid-cell experiencing fatal armed conflict during local or proximate drought conditions. DHS data are used to calculate the percentage of households with access to specific services. We show that even relatively modest investments in reliable sanitation and water infrastructures enhance communities’ ability to avoid getting drawn into violent conflict in response to rainfall shocks.
An Empirical Study on Travelers’ Acceptance Intention of Travel Information on Social Networks

Social networks are new channels for travelers to obtain or share travel information, which has important impacts on their travel decision-making behavior. Therefore, the psychological feelings of travelers and their acceptance intention (AI) of this type of travel information should be explored. In this study, certain psychological latent variables were incorporated into a technology acceptance model to construct an extended model that explores the factors influencing the travelers’ AI of travel information on social networks. This model was validated using survey data collected in Chongqing, China. The influence of each factor on the AI and the interaction between factors were quantitatively described using the structural equation modeling method. The results showed that the perceived risk, perceived trust, and perceived usefulness are the most important factors affecting travelers’ AI; the subjective norm, hedonic motivation, and perceived ease of use also exert a certain degree of influence; the proposed research model has a good interpretation ability for AI, and the explanatory power has reached 52%. This study confirmed the applicability of the constructed model in this research field on the basis of survey data and provided a theoretical reference for ascertaining the attitude of travelers toward travel information available on social networks.
Examining the Appreciative Instruction Methods Used by Instructors within an Adult Degree Completion Associate’s Program

This study examines the appreciative instruction methods used by instructors within an online Adult Degree Completion Associates degree program. The researchers conducted a qualitative study that assesses the appreciative instruction methods used by instructors of the Associate of Science in Professional Studies (ASPS) program. The ASPS program is designed to apply students’ past achievements and peak performance learning moments toward degree attainment. The results of the study revealed key themes of the instructional methods used by instructors within the ASPS program which contributed to the development of a Model for Appreciative Instruction within Adult Degree Completion Programs. The study has implications on the faculty and program development frameworks that are used within Adult Degree Completion Programs.
The combination of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients comorbid with diabetes mellitus

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) and dapagliflozin were two new drugs that were proved to reduce clinical events in patients with HFrEF. However, evidence about the combination use of these two drugs in patients with both HFrEF and DM is lacking. The purpose of present study is to elucidate the clinical benefit of combining ARNI and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in this population. Patients who have HFrEF and received ARNI, or ACEi, or ARB plus any antidiabetic agents (ADA) were identified from original medical records of 8 major branches of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients were divided into four groups: 1. ARNI + SGLT2i; 2. ACEi/ARB + SGLT2i; 3. ARNI + other ADA; 4. ACEi/ARB + other ADA. Primary clinical event is the composite of CV death or readmission for heart failure at 1-year (time to event outcome). Primary renal event is the composite of decrease of eGFR more than 50% or progression to ESRD at 1-year follow up (binary outcome). 2628 patients were identified. Among them, 170, 288, 391, and 1772 patients were divided into group 1 to 4, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, patients in group 1 had significantly lower incidence of primary clinical event (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.89) and primary renal event (adjusted odds ratio 0.32, 95% CI 0.14–0.74) than patients in group 4. Patients in group 1 had borderline lower incidence of primary clinical event (aHR 0.71, 95% CI 0.49–1.02) than patients in group 3. Patients in group 1 and group 2 had no difference in the incidence of primary clinical events (aHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.66–1.46) Surprisingly, patients in group 2 had significantly lower incidence of primary clinical event (aHR 0.72, 95% CI 0.54–0.97) than patients in group 3. In patients with both HFrEF and DM, a combination of ARNI + SGLT2i significantly improved clinical and renal outcomes, comparing to a combination of ACEi/ARB + other ADA. In patients who already received ARNI, SGLT2i marginally improved clinical outcome. In addition, a combination of ACEi/ARB + SGLT2i significantly improved clinical outcome, comparing to a combination of ARNI + other ADA. Type of funding source: None
Iron-Containing Graphite as a Friedel-Crafts Alkylation Catalyst

The activity of iron-containing graphites for the Friedel-Crafts reaction of phenol with tert-butyl halides was studied. Graphites were characterized by XRD and XPS. The reaction of phenol with either various tert-butyl halides or tert-butyl alcohol on iron-containing graphite was performed in a benzene solvent for 4 h at 50°C. The conversion and yield of the reaction on iron-containing graphite decreased in the order, tert-butyl iodide, tert-butyl bromide, and tert-butyl chloride, whereas for AlCl3, tert-butyl chloride was the most reactive while tert-butyl iodide was the least. Activated charcoal was not reactive. The presence of iron accelerated the reaction of phenol with the tert-butyl halide on graphite to yield p-tert-butylphenol as the main product. The presence of both tert-butyl bromide and iron increased the distance between the layers of graphite but not in the presence of either the iron or tert-butyl bromide. tert-Butyl halide was first adsorbed on graphite and then dissociated to form tert-butyl and halogen ions. The peak was observed at d=11.9 A in the XRD pattern of the graphite after the reaction in which the high purity graphite was treated with tert-butyl halide and iron in phenol. This is probably due to the mixture of phenol with tert-butyl ion and iron inserted into the layers of graphite to form a two-stage structure.
IDENTIFICATION OF THRESHOLD LEVELS FOR WARNER-BRATZLER SHEAR FORCE IN BEEF TOP LOIN STEAKS

Threshold Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) values were determined by regression analysis of WBS force values and trained sensory panel overall tenderness ratings of beef top loin steaks from A- and B-maturity carcasses (n = 678). Guidelines for retail and foodservice beef were based on 50 and 68% confidence levels, respectively, for overall tenderness ratings of “slightly tender. ” Due to the extreme variation in tenderness that exists in the current U.S. beef population, more stringent confidence levels were not practical. Threshold WBS values for retail and foodservice beef were 4.6 and 3.9 kg, respectively. When these values were tested against the population of beef in the National Consumer Retail Beef Study, the 4.6 kg value was 88.6% accurate at determining whether or not a steak would be rated less than “slightly tender”by consumers.
Fundamental investigations on the near-infrared spectra of microbial biomass as applicable to bioprocess monitoring

The near-infrared (NIR) spectrum of microbial biomass was studied for a range of microorganisms, with relevance to applicability in bioprocess monitoring and control. Three experiments were carried out to investigate the validity of measuring biomass using NIR spectroscopy (NIRS). (1) A comparative study of the NIR reflectance spectra of five representative microorganisms, of interest in a bioprocessing context, showed that the spectral signature of biomass, with respect to the wavelength regions, is essentially identical for all five microorganisms. The signature wavelengths are listed. (2) The spectral signature correlated well quantitatively with dry cell mass measurements, when the biomass of a filamentous microorganism was isolated from its matrix and analysed. The observation was clearer with reflectance measurements of dried biomass than with transmittance measurements of aqueous suspensions. (3) The biomass reflectance spectral signature remained the same at different culture ages of Penicillium chrysogenum, and showed quantitative correlation with dry cell mass measurements at the relevant wavelengths. This study therefore indicates those spectral regions which are likely to be the basis for quantitative modelling of microbial biomass in bioprocesses using NIRS, regardless of the microbial type and the culture age.
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Applications to Cardiac Muscle: Short Review

Abstract This review describes in brief recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods for assessing cardiac structure in healthy and pathologic state using diffusion-weighted (DW) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) approaches. A background on the theory and MR pulse sequences employed in DW/DT imaging is given, along with the calculation of diffusion tensor (D), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA). Parametric maps derived from DW/DT images can quantify microstructure alterations due to fibrotic collagen deposition, along with associated changes in cardiac muscle anisotropy. Representative examples of ADC and FA parametric maps are shown from ex vivo high-resolution DT images of explanted healthy and scarred hearts obtained from pre-clinical investigations. Furthermore, examples of fiber tractography demonstrating DTI-based 3D (three-dimensional) reconstruction of fiber directions within the heart are illustrated using advanced open-source software. Lastly, future developments and potential translation of DW/DT methods into routine clinical evaluation for cardiac MR imaging protocols are highlighted.
Engineering precision therapies: lessons and motivations from the clinic

Abstract In the past decade, gene- and cell-based therapies have been at the forefront of the biomedical revolution. Synthetic biology, the engineering discipline of building sophisticated ‘genetic software’ to enable precise regulation of gene activities in living cells, has been a decisive success factor of these new therapies. Here, we discuss the core technologies and treatment strategies that have already gained approval for therapeutic applications in humans. We also review promising preclinical work that could either enhance the efficacy of existing treatment strategies or pave the way for new precision medicines to treat currently intractable human conditions.
Interpreting Environmental Impacts Resulting from Fruit Cultivation in a Business Innovation Perspective

Sustainability of food production is a major concern today. This study assessed the environmental impact of fruit production and discussed business implications for sustainability. Data were collected from three agricultural enterprises growing six species of fruit, extending over a total of 34 hectares, and producing roughly one thousand tons of fruit per year. The results of the life-cycle assessment (LCA) showed that several production activities heavily impact the environment: in descending order of absolute terms, fruit refrigeration, agronomic operations, irrigation, and fertilizer use were recognized as the most impacting. Other activities, including agrochemical applications, planting, and plastic use for harvesting and packaging, showed overall lower impacts. The high environmental impact associated with most of the production activities emphasizes the need to make the primary food production cleaner, more resource-efficient, and less energy-intensive. Affordable incremental innovations able to reshape the way business is conducted in the context of primary food production are proposed, mainly relying on process rationalization and digital switchover. The analysis of the business path toward increased sustainability involves strategic issues, ranging from the reshaping of production processes to relationships with consumers, affecting value proposition, creation, and capture.