Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Do People Continue Using Fitness Wearables? The Effect of Interactivity and Gamification

Technology use for personal health management should not only be assessed in terms of the rate of adoption but also examined in the form of sustained use to ensure the long-term benefit. This study addressed the issue of the continued use of wearable devices by ensuring value co-creation among a user, the wearable device, and other users within a service system. This study was a scenario-based experiment to examine interaction design, including interactivity level and game dynamics, which act as a combination of value co-creation mechanisms to elicit a user’s intentions to continuously use wearables. The study also examined user perception factors, such as self and social perceptions, as moderators. This study contributes to existing literature by using the value co-creation and service system perspective to examine continued use behavior. The findings of the research also offer practical insights into designing the features of wearable fitness trackers to promote long-term value for their users.
Current Status of Japanese Passive Control Technology Using Various Damping Materials

Due to the recent earthquakes in the U.S. and Japan, many modern buildings ceased functioning and required costly structural and nonstructural repairs, although they successfully protected the lives of the occupants. Because of these, most major buildings constructed after the earthquakes utilize either passive-control scheme or base-isolation scheme in order to better protect the building and its contents. This paper addresses current status of passive control technology being implemented in Japan. Four major groups of dampers and their basic mechanisms are discussed. Three groups of frames are explained, referring to different connection schemes and deformation lags between the frame and damper. A unified approach to assess effectiveness of various dampers and frames will be presented.
Overview of Threats and Failure Models for Safety-Relevant Computer-Based Systems

This document presents a high-level overview of the threats to safety-relevant computer-based systems, including (1) a description of the introduction and activation of physical and logical faults; (2) the propagation of their effects; and (3) function-level and component-level error and failure mode models. These models can be used in the definition of fault hypotheses (i.e., assumptions) for threat-risk mitigation strategies. This document is a contribution to a guide currently under development that is intended to provide a general technical foundation for designers and evaluators of safety-relevant systems.
Shadow Economy and Environmental Pollution in West African Countries: The Role of Institutions

This study deviates from extant studies by examining the effect of shadow economy (SE) on environmental pollution, and the role institutional indicators play in moderating the effect in West Africa between 1992 and 2015. Specifically, the study employed three institutional indicators (corruption control [COR], law and order [LAW], and bureaucratic quality [BUQ]) to mediate the effect and also determine its threshold values. SE is measured using Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) while environmental pollution is proxy by carbon dioxide (CO2) per capita. Two step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is used to drive out the conclusions of the study. The findings reveal that SE, COR and LAW contribute significantly to environmental pollution, while BUQ though not significant, reduces environmental pollution in the region. Further, the interactive effect of SE with all the institutional indicators shows that strong institutional indicators abate environmental pollution through reduction in the presence of SE. The threshold value of institutional indicators, which reduces SE and abates environmental pollution, are 3.8 and 3.7 for COR, and LAW, respectively, on an ordinary scale of 0–6, while 2.8 for BUQ on an ordinary scale of 0–4. Nevertheless, most of the countries in the region operate below the threshold level of institutional indicators in the region. The results are robust to different proxies of environmental pollution. The implications of the study are discussed.
MODELLING MICRO ENTERPRISES’ BEHAVIORAL INTENTION TO ADOPT INTEGRATED ISLAMIC CROWDFUNDING-MICRO ENTERPRISE (IICME) MODEL AS A SOURCE OF FINANCING IN EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

The present study has proposed Integrated Islamic Crowdfunding-Micro Enterprise (IICME) model to assist micro enterprises in meeting their need to access external financial services in East Java, Indonesia. Upon the proposed model, this study examines the behavioural intention of micro enterprises to use IICME model. The primary data are collected from the survey administered to micro enterprises in the East Java (Pasuruan, Malang, Kediri, Ponorogo, and Gresik) and the analysis is conducted using Partial Least Squares (SmartPLS). Furthermore, the model has been validated its acceptance in the field by adopting the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This study has revealed that the perceived usefulness, perceived easy to use and perceived benefit are found to have a positive impact on the intention of micro enterprises to use IICME model, which later assist them to access to financial services in Indonesia. Furthermore, perceived easy to use has a positive relationship and direct effect with perceived usefulness of micro enterprises to use the IICME model. The findings of this study can be used to develop a specific framework in which to examine other components of using the IICME model’s behavior and to plan appropriate intervention strategies to increase financial accessibility by micro enterprises. JEL: G23; M10
Integrated F‐shaped monopole antenna for 2.4/5.2 GHz dual‐band operation

A novel dual‐band F‐shaped monopole antenna is proposed. The antenna comprises a vertical metal line and two (one upper and one lower) horizontal metal lines of different lengths, which are used for tuning the antenna's first two resonant frequencies to achieve desired dual‐band operation. The proposed antenna is very suitable to be printed on a microwave substrate and can be easily integrated with the associated circuitry on the same substrate. A constructed prototype suitable for wireless LAN applications in the 2.4‐ and 5.2‐GHz bands is demonstrated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 24–26, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10362
A survey on state estimation of complex dynamical networks

The analysis and synthesis issues have gained widespread attention for complex dynamical networks (CDNs) over the past few years. Accordingly, some challenges including protocol-based scheduling, security vulnerability, limited communication resources as well as network-induced phenomena have to be handled by developing effective analysis and design approaches. In this paper, we make an attempt to review the latest state estimation schemes for CDNs especially those over the networked environment. Firstly, the engineering background and the current attractive topics in regard to CDNs are presented. Subsequently, we provide a review of several types of state estimation methods under different performance indices, for example, state estimation, set-membership state estimation, optimal state estimation and fault estimation. Next, particular effort is devoted to show the up-to-date progresses on the protocol-based state estimation and compensation-based state estimation approaches for CDNs. Finally, some challenging problems are outlined regarding the future research to promote the theoretical developments in related fields.
Belt Number Factor in Multiple V-Belt Drives

Tolerances on belts and pulleys lead to a nonuniform tension distribution among the belts in a multiple belt drive. Material imperfections lead to a service life distribution. Both phenomena contributes to the life of the drive i.e. the shortest life of any of the belts. To compensate for life reduction a belt number factor is introduced. The combined effect of tension and life distributions is simulated and compared with analyses. It appears that life distribution is the major contributor. Practical values of the belt number factor are presented.
COMBINING WORK WITH CARING FOR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBER IN POLAND (CHOSEN ISSUES)

The problem of combining work with caring for elderly family members is becoming an increasingly important matter due to demographic (population ageing) and social (increasing economic activity of women) changes that are currently in progress. The aim of the article is to present selected issues related to the professional situation of people taking care for their elderly family members. The primary focus of the study is reasons for not working of nonworking caregivers, and professional problems of working caregivers.
A multimodal electrochemical approach to measure the effect of zinc on vesicular content and exocytosis in a single cell model of ischemia

Abstract Zinc ion is essential for normal brain function that modulates synaptic activity and neuronal plasticity and it is associated with memory formation. Zinc is considered to be a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of ischemia, but the association between zinc and ischemia on vesicular exocytosis is unclear. In this study, we used a combination of chemical analysis methods and a cell model of ischemia/reperfusion to investigate exocytotic release and vesicular content, as well as the effect of zinc alteration on vesicular exocytosis. Oxygen–glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGDR) was used as an in vitro model of ischemia in a model cell line. Exocytotic release and vesicular storage of catecholamine content were increased following OGDR, resulting in a higher fraction of release during exocytosis. However, zinc eliminated these increases following OGDR and the fraction of release remained unchanged. Understanding the consequences of zinc accumulation on vesicular exocytosis at the early stage of OGDR should aid in the development of therapeutic strategies to reduce ischemic brain injury. As the fraction released has been suggested to be related to presynaptic plasticity, insights are gained towards deciphering ischemia related memory impairment.
Computer aided analysis of qualitative data in construction management research

Historically, most published research in construction management topics has been based on quantitative methods. Recent debate within the construction management research community has focused concerns on the appropriateness of quantitative methods for investigation into social aspects of the subject. In this paper, two contributory factors behind the historical reliance on quantitative or positivist methods are addressed: the practical difficulties in analysing large amounts of unstructured data within sensible time-scales; and wider issues concerning the perceived rigour, depth of understanding, consistency and methodological transparency of qualitative analytical techniques. An interesting new dimension to qualitative research methodologies is the use of computer software to aid the textual analysis of ethnographic data. This paper is a reflexive example of the use of a computer-aided method in the analysis of a ‘Grounded Theory’ study, within industrial organizations with commercial objectives. It is concluded that, whilst computer aided analysis does not provide a definitive solution to the wider acceptance of qualitative research methods in the field, it offers considerable potential for construction management research projects which are undertaken within defined time and resource constraints. Dans le passé, la plupart des travaux de recherche publiés et consacrés à des sujets portant sur la gestion de la construction étaient basés sur des méthodes quantitatives. Récemment, on s'est penché sur le bien fondé de telles méthodes lorsqu'il s'agit d'étudier les aspect sociaux. Dans la présente communication, les auteurs s'intéressent à deux facteurs sur lesquels s'appuyaient les méthodes quantitatives ou positivistes: les difficultés pratiques à analyser des quantités importantes de données non structurées dans des délais critiques; et, les problèmes plus larges portant sur la rigueur perçue, la profondeur des connaissances, la cohérence et la transparence méthodologique des techniques d'analyse quantitative. L'utilisation de logiciels d'aide à l'analyse textuelle de données ethnographiques est une nouvelle dimension intéressante des méthodologies de recherche qualitative. Cette communication est un exemple autoréférentiel de l'utilisation d'une méthode assistée par ordinateur pour l'analyse d'une étude empirique dans des organisations industrielles ayant des objectifs commerciaux. Les auteurs concluent que, certes, l'analyse assistée par ordinateur ne débouche pas sur une solution définitive vers une plus grande acceptation des méthodes de recherche qualitative dans ce domaine, mais qu'elle offre des possibilités considérables pour les projets de recherche dans le domaine de la gestion de la construction qui sont assortis de contraintes de temps et de ressources déterminées.
Point-to-point microwave power transmission experiment

The Kansai Electric Power Company has succeeded in aerial microwave power transmission in cooperation with Kyoto and Kobe universities. We used a parabola antenna with a diameter of 3 m for the transmission antenna, and a square-shaped rectenna (an abbreviation of rectifying antenna) array measuring 3.2 m × 3.6 m for the receiving antenna. The distance between the transmitter and the receiver was 42 m. A received power of 0.75 kW was obtained at a transmitted power of 5 kW. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 120(1): 33–39, 1997
Parameters for Modeling a High-Rise Steel Building Frame Subject to Fire

This paper examines the level of detail and complexity that one needs to incorporate in a computational finite element (FE) model to predict the thermal and structural response of steel high-rise building frames to fire. Comparisons are made between these models in terms of accuracy and efficiency. Performance related to three parameters was examined: (1) the representation of the structural system as a 3-D full frame model versus a 2-D plane-frame model, both of which include the steel frame and the floor slab; (2) the representation of the slab in the 2-D plane frame model; and (3) the effects of modeling the temperature profile of each steel member cross-section as non-uniform (i.e. allowing a thermal gradient to develop) versus uniform. Results indicate that the 2-D plane frame model can be reasonably used in some cases to predict the performance of the perimeter column and floor beams framing into them in a fire-exposed high-rise moment-resisting frame (MRF) with a significant savings in analysis run.
Power management of an isolated hybrid AC/DC micro-grid with fuzzy control of battery banks

This study focuses on the development of a supervisory control scheme for power management and operation of an isolated hybrid AC/DC micro-grid, which consists of an AC micro-grid and a DC micro-grid. In the proposed hybrid micro-grid, wind and diesel generators and AC loads are connected to the AC micro-grid, whereas photovoltaic array and DC loads are tied to the DC micro-grid. Moreover, the authors consider two independent battery banks in the AC and DC micro-grids. Furthermore, the AC and the DC micro-grids are coupled through a bidirectional converter, which can act as an inverter or rectifier. The objectives of the proposed supervisory controller are listed as follows: (i) maximum utilisation of renewable energy sources along with satisfying the load power demand in both AC and DC micro-grids, (ii) maintaining state of charge (SOC) of battery banks in both AC and DC micro-grids and (iii) managing the power exchange between the AC and the DC micro-grids while the reliability of the whole system is taken into account. The supervisory controller is formalised using a state machine approach. For these purposes, 15 distinct operation modes are considered. Furthermore, in order to extend the battery life cycle, a fuzzy controller manages the desired SOC controlling the charge and discharge currents. The effectiveness of the proposed supervisory controller is evaluated through extensive numerical simulations.
Calibration of the 10HS Soil Moisture Sensor for Southwest Florida Agricultural Soils

AbstractPrecision irrigation is crucial in decreasing water demands of irrigated agriculture, which account for the largest source of water withdrawal in most regions. One necessity of precision irrigation is the knowledge of soil moisture content in the root zone of irrigated crops. Dielectric soil moisture sensors can provide this information at a relatively low cost ($100) compared with other techniques; however, their accuracy cannot be guaranteed in all soils without site-specific calibration, the need for which has limited the use of these sensors. This study examined the Decagon 10HS soil moisture sensor in order to determine the accuracy of the manufacturer-supplied calibration equation on southwest Florida (SWFL) agricultural soils, and analyze whether it performs consistently in different soils found in SWFL. Laboratory calibration of the 10HS was done on four SWFL soils that represent the majority of agricultural land in the region and regression calibration equations were obtained. It was foun.
Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Block on the Analgesic Requirements in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery Under General Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block was recently described as a regional anesthetic technique to achieve analgesia for lumbar spine surgery by blocking the dorsal rami of spinal nerves. The study aims to test the hypothesis that TLIP block can offer pain control and reduce the perioperative analgesic requirement in patients undergoing spinal surgery. Methods There were 60 patients scheduled for lumbar spine surgery who were randomly assigned into two equal groups, TLIP and control groups. Patients in the TLIP group received general anesthesia and TLIP block while patients in the control group received general anesthesia alone. The primary outcome was the analgesic consumption in the first postoperative 24 hours, while intraoperative additional analgesic needs, time to the first request of postoperative analgesia, and pain scores were the secondary outcomes. Results At 24 hours postoperatively, morphine consumption was lower in the TLIP group (5.13±1.55) versus the control group (14.33±2.58) mg. The intraoperative fentanyl consumption was lower in the TLIP group (15±35.11 mcgs) versus the control group (105±62.08 mcgs). Postoperative first request for analgesia was delayed in the TLIP group (7.30±2.69 h) compared to the control group (0.92±1.23 h). Postoperative Pain scores at rest were 2.53 ± 0.97 and 3.43 ± 0.50 at 24 hours in the TLIP group and the control group, respectively. Postoperative Pain scores at passive flexion of spine were 2.73 ±0.87 and 3.93 ±0.78 at 24 hours in the TLIP group and the control group, respectively. Patients in the TLIP group had lower perioperative hemodynamic responses to surgical stimulation in comparison to the control group. Conclusion Combined TLIP block with general anesthesia in patients undergoing spinal surgery reduced both postoperative and intraoperative analgesic needs, reduced intra-operative hemodynamic response to surgery, and achieved good postoperative pain control.
Evaluation of the green supply chain management practices: a fuzzy ANP approach

Environmentally responsible manufacturing, green supply chain management (GSCM), and related principles have become important strategies for companies to achieve profit and gain market share by lowering their environmental impacts and increasing their efficiency. As environment has become a key strategic consideration in supply chains, this study examines the components and elements of GSCM and suggests a novel GSCM evaluation framework. It also provides a real-case study of Ford Otosan, one of the pioneering companies about environmental subjects in Turkey, to illustrate the industrial application of our theoretical assessment model. The identified components are integrated into a strategic assessment and evaluation tool using analytical network process (ANP). The dynamic characteristics and complexity of the GSCM analysis environment make the ANP technique a suitable tool for this study. Moreover, to cope with ambiguity and vagueness of the decision maker's evaluations, the fuzzy extension of the ANP method is preferred.
An Assessment of U.S. Stream Compensatory Mitigation Policy: Necessary Changes to Protect Ecosystem Functions and Services

Compensatory mitigation of impacted streams and wetlands has increased over the past two decades, with the associated industry spending over US$2.9 billion in aquatic restoration annually. Despite these expenditures, evaluations by the National Research Council and U.S. Government Accountability Office have provided evidence that compensatory mitigation practices are failing to protect aquatic resource functions and services, and vague federal policy and inadequate evaluation of compensatory mitigation projects are to blame. To address these weaknesses, an update to federal regulations on compensatory mitigation was released in 2008. Additionally, the 2012 Reissuance of Nationwide Permits, some of which affects compensatory stream mitigation, was recently published. Current policy, as reflected in these documents, still uses nonspecific language to direct compensatory stream mitigation leaving most implementation decisions to the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district. The majority of federal mitigation policy has focused on wetland compensation, with other aquatic resources receiving less attention (e.g., streams). In this article, weaknesses of current policy are discussed, as are suggested policy changes to minimize the loss of stream ecosystem functions and services. Compensatory mitigation policy should clearly define key terms, incorporate adaptive management procedures, and provide guidelines for determining mitigation costs and compensation ratio requirements.
Seismic Testing of Steel Plate Energy Dissipation Devices

In a research program, co-sponsored by Bechtel Power Corporation and CounterQuake Corporation, the seismic performance of steel plate added damping and stiffness (ADAS) elements was investigated through a series of sub-assemblage experiments and by the earthquake simulator testing of a three story ductile moment resisting space frame (DMRSF) upgraded with ADAS elements. The sub-assemblage testing of the ADAS elements demonstrated their stable hysteresis for a large number of yielding cycles. The addition of the ADAS system (ADAS elements and chevron braces) to the DMRSF limited the frame's response to acceptable levels during severe earthquake simulation. The research program clearly demonstrated that ADAS elements can be used to effectively upgrade moment resisting frames (MRFs) and concentrically braced frames (CBFs) to achieve a moderately stiff building with extremely good energy dissipation characteristics. The implications of the research results for the design and upgrade of buildings using ADAS elements, and potential uses for ADAS elements, are presented in the latter part of the paper.