Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Formation of Atolls: New Insights From Numerical Simulations

Several theories have been proposed to explain atoll formation. While karst dissolution during glacial periods and preferential coral reef accretion along raised bank margins during deglaciations and interglacials have been invoked to explain atoll formation, the respective roles of karst dissolution and reef margin construction in atoll formation have not been adequately evaluated by simulations. In this study, we conducted three‐dimensional numerical simulations of the Quaternary development of Meiji Atoll in the southern South China Sea based on interpreted data from a 2020‐m‐deep borehole drilled on its northeast rim in 2018. Our results suggest that the origin of atolls is more likely due to spatially differential dissolution across margin and interior areas (i.e., minimal along margins and maximal in bank centers) rather than preferential reef accretion along margins of flat‐topped banks. Preferential reef accretion along margins of flat‐topped banks that can result in central lagoons and atoll morphology can hardly result in the formation of lagoonal patch reefs that reach mean sea level. Preferential reef accretion along margins is mainly predicated on the karst‐induced morphology that has a central depression surrounded by raised rims, that is, using antecedent karst morphologies. If topographic highs in the lagoon are similar in elevation to the margins, reef accretion on these topographic highs can be similar to that observed on the margins, resulting in lagoonal patch reefs that reach mean sea level. Our simulation shows that spatially differential dissolution across margin and interior areas is a critical driver of worldwide central lagoons and atoll formation.
Punching Shear Resistance of High Strength GFRP Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs

This study program has been arranged to test the behavior of punching shear for concrete slabs reinforced by an embedded glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcements. However, the shear resistance of concrete members in general and especially punching shear of two-way RC slabs, reinforced by GFRP bars has not yet been fully investigated. Seven decades ago, many researches have been carried out on punching shear resistance of slabs reinforced by conventional steel and several design methods were created. However, these methods can be not easily applied to FRP-reinforced concrete slabs due to the difference in mechanical properties between (FRP) and steel reinforcement. sixteen specimens are to be cast in lab within two categories of reinforcements such as GFRP and equivalent steel reinforcements. In addition, based on experimental data obtained from the author’s study and ACI model, the paper performed an evaluation of accuracy of proposed model. The results from the evaluation show that the ACI-formula gave inaccurate results with a large scatter in comparison with the test results of this study. A new design formula can be proposed for more accurate estimation of punching shear resistance of (GFRP) specimens.
The Challenges of Nation-Building in Nigeria and the State-Building Alternative

ABSTRACT Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation is plagued by a rise in ethnic nationalism, agitations for self-determination and secession, claims of marginalisation, and ethnic, regional and religious tensions. These issues continually dominate state politics. For some analysts, these problems are symptoms of a lack of oneness among the multiple ethno-linguistic and religious groups that make up the country. They are of the view that the solution to the intractable problems lies in nation-building, suggesting the enthronement of a sense of common nationality. On the contrary, this article argues that the lack of national consciousness for a nation may not be the main problem but the lack of viable institutions that can promote deep inter-ethnic relations. State-(re)building in the form of institution-strengthening is rather important for unity in the plural society. Therefore, the creation of new institutions and the strengthening of existing ones, including the federal system, to produce a viable Nigerian state capable of delivering on public goods and good governance is more important to address the many challenges confronting the state.
Paleointensity Estimates From the Pleistocene of Northern Israel: Implications for Hemispheric Asymmetry in the Time‐Averaged Field

Twenty‐two sites, subjected to an IZZI‐modified Thellier‐Thellier experiment and strict selection criteria, recover a paleomagnetic axial dipole moment (PADM) of 62.2 ± 30.6 ZAm2 in Northern Israel over the Pleistocene (0.012–2.58 Ma). Pleistocene data from comparable studies from Antarctica, Iceland, and Hawaii, re‐analyzed using the same criteria and age range, show that the Northern Israeli data are on average slightly higher than those from Iceland (PADM = 53.8 ± 23 ZAm2, n = 51 sites) and even higher than the Antarctica average (PADM = 40.3 ± 17.3 ZAm2, n = 42 sites). Also, the data from the Hawaiian drill core, HSDP2, spanning the last half million years (PADM = 76.7 ± 21.3 ZAm2, n = 59 sites) are higher than those from Northern Israel. These results, when compared to Pleistocene results filtered from the PINT database (www.pintdb.org) suggest that data from the Northern hemisphere mid‐latitudes are on average higher than those from the southern hemisphere and than those from latitudes higher than 60°N. The weaker intensities found at high (northern and southern) latitudes therefore, cannot be attributed to inadequate spatiotemporal sampling of a time‐varying dipole moment or low quality data. The high fields in mid‐latitude northern hemisphere could result from long‐lived non‐axial dipole terms in the geomagnetic field with episodes of high field intensities occurring at different times in different longitudes. This hypothesis is supported by an asymmetry predicted from the Holocene, 100 kyr, and 5 million year time‐averaged geomagnetic field models.
Adopting IFRS as a Moderating Variable on the Relationship Between Accounting Information and Market Responses

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the relationship between accounting information and market responses. We investigate the impact of the IFRS adoption on financial statements quality and whether this impact, if any, has a positive implication of the capital market (especially, market liquidity and equity value). Data were collected from 147 non- financial firms listed on the Saudi exchange for the period 2015-2019. The findings show that disclosure quality has increased because of IFRS adoption. Moreover, the results find that the adoption of IFRS improves market liquidity and increases the share price of firms listed on the Saudi exchange. Our findings show that adopting IFRS have positive economic implications on the Saudi business environment.
Impact of Short Sleep Duration on the Incidence of Obesity and Overweight among Children and Adolescents

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of obesity among children is increasing and is highlighting many problems. Lack of sleep is common among children and adolescents. Although several studies have investigated sleep duration and overweight and obesity from a sex perspective, data regarding age and sex effects remain limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the risk(s) for overweight or obesity according to sleep duration among children and adolescents; to evaluate the effect of short sleep duration on the incidence of overweight/obesity among children and adolescents; and to evaluate sex differences in the risk of overweight or obesity with shorter sleep durations. Materials and Methods: The PubMed database was searched for relevant studies published up to June 30, 2021. Odds ratios for obesity/overweight were estimated for short compared with long sleep duration. Subgroup analysis based on sleep duration, sex, and study location was also performed. Results: The estimated odds ratio for combined obesity and overweight was 1.171 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.092–1.256) according to short sleep duration. Obesity/overweight with short sleep duration was significantly prevalent in the <6 and 6–10 years’ subgroups (odds ratio 1.226 (95% CI 1.083–1.387) and 1.341 (95% CI 1.175–1.530), respectively). Among boys, short sleep duration was significantly correlated with a high occurrence of obesity/overweight (odds ratio 1.294 (95% CI 1.153–1.452)); no such correlation was found among girls. Conclusions: Short sleep duration may increase risk of obesity among children and adolescents, especially those <6 and 6–10 years of age. In the subgroup analysis, the incidence of obesity/overweight for short sleep time revealed significant results among Asians and boys.
Pengaruh Etos Kerja Islam Terhadap Kepuasan Kerja Karyawan Pada Waroeng Steak and Shake Surabaya

This research was aimed to investigate the effect of Islamic work ethics to the employee Satisfaction on Waroeng Steak & Shake in Surabaya. This study used questionnaires in primary data collection and quantitative approaches. Experiments were done using simple linear regression, where the dependent variable (Y) is the employee work satisfaction and the independent variable (X) is Islamic work ethics. The research sample were taken by census. The research sample was 33 employees working in Waroeng Steak & Shake Surabaya. Based on the findings, it obtained simple linear regression equation : Y = 0,929 + 0,684X. The magnitude of the influence of Islamic work ethics to the employees work satisfaction on Waroeng Steak & Shake in Surabaya is the R2 value of 0,423 (42,3%). The result show that employee work satisfaction on Waroeng Steak & Shake in Surabaya significantly affect by Islamic work ethics.
Beliefs, perceptions, and tendencies of patients with diabetes towards folk-healing alternatives: A qualitative analysis

Abstract The term “folk medicine” refers to the entire process of diagnosing and treating ailments. It is relied on by around 80% of patients in developing countries, including Ethiopia. The study looked into the experiences of type 2 diabetes patients in North-East Ethiopia regarding folk healing alternatives. A qualitative approach, informed by Kleinman’s explanatory model, was used. From July 2019 to January 2020, data were collected from twenty-four type 2 diabetes patients who were purposefully chosen to include varied socio-demographic characteristics, using face-to-face in-depth interviews until theoretical saturation was reached. QDA Miner Lite v2.0. 8 was used to analyze the data, which was then discussed thematically. Twenty-four participants were interviewed (11 men and 13 women). Their average life-span with diabetes was 12 years. Allopathic alternatives to folk healing were viewed positively by the patients. They believed that the folk healers are deceivers. Rather of treating diabetes itself, folk medicines were used to address its consequences. Spiritual and herbal healing were the most common folk healing approaches. While the former was highly-practiced for both diagnosis (through “Woliy”) and therapy (“Dua” and “Tsebel”), the latter was not well-practiced and was only preferred for treatment. In contradiction to Kleinman’s explanatory approach, allopathic treatments were preferred over spiritual healing, while spiritual healing was preferred over herbal alternatives, implying that combining spiritual alternatives with diabetes care appears to improve intervention outcomes.
Balancing Standardisation and Individualisation: How Counties Develop Two-year Apprenticeships for Low-achieving Students in Upper Secondary VET in Norway

This paper studies two-year apprenticeships for young people who struggle to complete upper secondary vocational education and training (VET), and the scheme’s regional implementation in the counties. Using a multi-case study approach, two contrasting strategies are presented. Both strategies are intended to meet the local need for skills, however, in different ways. While one county has chosen a standardised approach, based on an analysis of the labour market for low-skilled persons, the other county has favoured individualised procedures and developed apprenticeship curricula together with individual training companies, tailored to the prerequisites of individual learners. Based on these two cases, the paper discusses both strategies in view of the inclusion of low-achieving students in VET and their employability after apprenticeship training.
Preoperative Free Ferrous Protoporphyrin and Reactive Oxygen Species Status of Voided Urine Predicts Potential Recurrence Risk in NMIBC

Purpose This study aimed to assess the relationship between the preoperative reactive oxygen species and free ferrous protoporphyrin (ROS and FH) combined test and the risk of recurrence in a pathologically confirmed non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients. Patients and Methods The retrospective study included 218 patients, newly diagnosed with NMIBC between January 2019 and February 2022. According to the results of FH and ROS combined test of voided urine, all patients were classified as FH(-)/ROS(-), FH(+)/ROS(-), or FH(+) /ROS(+). We reviewed demographic information, pathological results, and the FH and ROS combined test status. The clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated, and the survival rates of each group were compared. Finally, we also analyzed the association between preoperative free ferrous protoporphyrin and reactive oxygen species status and the tumor stage and grade. Results This study included 218 NMIBC patients with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range [IQR] 60–76 years). The number and proportion of patients in FH(-)/ROS(-), FH(+)/ROS(-) and FH(+) /ROS(+) were 95(43.6%), 79(36.2%) and 44(20.2%), respectively. And the pathological stages for those with FH(+) and ROS(+), FH(+) and ROS(-), FH(-) and ROS(-) at diagnosis were 0.5% Tis, 6.4% Ta, 13.3% T1; 2.3% Tis, 20.6% Ta, 13.3% T1; 5.5% Tis, 28.9% Ta, 9.2% T1, respectively. After adjusting for clinical factors, including tumor grade, tumor stage and FH/ROS status were independent risk factors for RFS In the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Through logistics regression analysis, FH(+)/ROS(+) were found to be corelated with high grade and more high stage (T1). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that 1-year RFS of FH(+)/ROS(+), FH(+)/ROS(-) and FH(-)/ROS(-) were 46.0%, 87.8% and 93.4%, respectively (P=0.000). Conclusion In newly diagnosed NMIBC patients, the status of FH(+)/ROS(+) has an association with a higher risk in recurrence. Furthermore, FH(+)/ROS(+) at diagnosis was correlated with high grade and higher stage (T1). Hence, the FH/ROS combined test can help specify treatment options for patients diagnosed with NMIBC.
Cognitive Learning and Robotics: Innovative Teaching for Inclusivity

We present the interdisciplinary CoWriting Kazakh project in which a social robot acts as a peer in learning the new Kazakh Latin alphabet, to which Kazakhstan is going to shift from the current Kazakh Cyrillic by 2030. We discuss the past literature on cognitive learning and script acquisition in-depth and present a theoretical framing for this study. The results of word and letter analyses from two user studies conducted between 2019 and 2020 are presented. Learning the new alphabet through Kazakh words with two or more syllables and special native letters resulted in significant learning gains. These results suggest that reciprocal Cyrillic-to-Latin script learning results in considerable cognitive benefits due to mental conversion, word choice, and handwriting practices. Overall, this system enables school-age children to practice the new Kazakh Latin script in an engaging learning scenario. The proposed theoretical framework illuminates the understanding of teaching and learning within the multimodal robot-assisted script learning scenario and beyond its scope.
Investigation of the physicochemical, antioxidant, rheological, and sensory properties of ricotta cheese enriched with free and nano‐encapsulated broccoli sprout extract

Abstract This study aimed to produce the functional ricotta cheese using broccoli sprouts extract (BSE) and to evaluate its physicochemical, antioxidant, rheological, and sensory properties. The BSE nano‐liposome was nano‐encapsulated into basil seed gum (BSG) and was incorporated into the ricotta cheese formulation in two forms of free and nano‐capsules in two levels of 3% and 5% w/w. The measurements were conducted during a 15‐day storage period at 4–6°C. The results showed that the titratable acidity, hardness, and chewiness of cheeses were increased and the pH, moisture, total phenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity were decreased (p < .05). With the addition of BSE concentration, the TPC and antioxidant activity increased significantly (p < .05) and applying the nano‐encapsulation method for BSE led to better preservation of bioactive compounds. Based on the rheological results, viscoelastic solid behavior and a weak gel were observed in all cheese samples. The results of sensory evaluation demonstrated that cheeses containing free extract had lower flavor and overall acceptability scores than other samples, which indicates that the nano‐encapsulation covered the undesirable flavor of the BSE. Generally, during the 15‐day cold storage period, the highest sensory acceptance and functional activity were related to the samples containing nano‐encapsulated BSE, especially at the 5% level.
Risk Factors for Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacterales in Thailand

The dissemination of multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales (MDRE) in community settings is becoming a great concern. This study aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors associated with community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) caused by MDRE. A prospective case–control study was undertaken among patients with UTIs visiting an outpatient department in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Urine samples were collected and screened to include only patients with Enterobacterales infections. Risk factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Of the 284 patients with CA-UTIs, 25.7% (n = 73) and 74.3% (n = 211) were positive for MDRE (case) and non-MDRE (control), respectively. Being a farmer was identified as an independent risk factor for MDRE-associated CA-UTIs (adjusted odds ratio = 3.101; 95% confidence interval = 1.272–7.564; p = 0.013). A total of 309 Enterobacterales isolates were recovered, and Escherichia coli was the most frequently detected (86.4%). The highest resistance rate was observed for ampicillin (67.0%), followed by ciprofloxacin (34.0%) and cotrimoxazole (32.7%), while resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone) and levofloxacin remained <20%. Resistance to ampicillin–gentamicin–cotrimoxazole was the most common pattern among MDRE isolates. Interestingly, we detected a colistin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae harboring mcr-9 (colistin MIC = 16 µg/mL). mcr-9 was transferable at high frequency (4.5 × 10−4) and resided on IncF plasmid. This study demonstrates that being a farmer is a risk factor for MDRE-associated CA-UTIs. Interestingly, this is the first report to identify mcr-9-positive E. cloacae from a Thai patient in the community.
Least sum of squared errors (LSSE) channel estimation

A least sum of squared errors (LSSE) channel estimation algorithm is presented for estimating a channel impulse response from a known training sequence. Optimum training sequences are found and tabulated for different channel responses and training sequence lengths. The effect of channel estimation errors on the performance of some data detectors is also investigated. A simple approximation for the expected degradation in performance with channel estimation errors is derived.
The Relationship between Digital Reading Disposition and Internet-based Reading Motivation: A Study on Pre-service Teachers

This study focuses on the relationship between pre-service teachers' digital reading disposition and internet-based reading motivations, and in this context, it is aimed to examine the predictors of pre-service teachers' internet-based reading motivations on digital reading disposition. A quantitative research approach, using a relational survey design, was performed. The sample of the present study is the 401 pre-service teachers of Turkey. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used in the analysis of data obtained from two different scales. In the study, Digital Reading Disposition Scale and Internet Based Reading Motivation and Engagement Scale were used. Pre-service teachers’ digital reading disposition were examined and it was found that the pre-service teachers' disposition towards digital reading were moderate. Besides, it was found that pre-service teachers considered themselves to be moderately competent and dedication in reading on the internet. The findings showed that digital reading disposition could be explained by pre-service teachers' perceived competence for internet-based reading. Although pre-service teachers' perceptions of difficulty towards internet-based reading were found to be related to digital reading disposition, it was not found to be a significant predictor. In addition, there was no significant relationship between pre-service teachers' digital reading disposition and their dedication and avoidance motivation to internet-based reading. The study concludes with a discussion of the meaning of the findings for educational implications and future research.
Parallel manipulators. Part 2 : Theory. Singular configurations and Grassmann geometry

Parallel manipulators have a specific mechanical architecture where all the links are connected both at the basis and at the gripper of the robot. By changing the lengths of these links we are able to control the positions and orientations of the gripper. In general, for a given set of links lengths there is only one position for the gripper. But in some cases more than one solution may be found for the position of the gripper : this is a singular configuration. To determine these singular configurations the classical method is to find the roots of the determinant of the jacobian matrix. In our case this matrix is complex and it seems to be impossible to find these roots. We propose here a new method based on Grassmann line-geometry. If we consider the set of lines of P3, it constitutes a linear variety of rank 6. We show that a singular configuration is obtained when the variety spanned by the lines associated to the robot links has a rank less than 6. An important feature of the varieties of this geometry is that they can be described by simple geometric rules. Thus to find the singular configurations of parallel manipulators we have to find the configuration where the robot matches these rules. Such an analysis is performed on a special parallel manipulator and we show that we find all the well-known singular configurations but also new ones.