Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Representing settlement for soft ground tunneling

The basic purpose of Decision Aids for Tunneling (DAT) is to deal with uncertain conditions in planning a tunnel project and to give effective information on construction cost and duration. Since the DAT have been developed for tunneling in hard rock, the program can not consider ground movement in soft ground tunneling. In this thesis, a program which allows one to predict ground movements in soft ground tunneling by using the DAT, was developed. The factors influencing ground movement are associated with the geological conditions, tunnel dimensions, and construction methods. Among the many ground movements, this thesis focuses on the settlement profile. The empirical equation proposed by O'Reilly and New (1982) is used as a predictive model to relate the settlement profile to factors of ground movement. This settlement model is developed by associating the parameters of the equation, the volume of lost ground and the width of the settlement trough, with the ground conditions and construction procedures. The settlement model has been coded in the C programming language and incorporated in the existing DAT program which was developed at MIT. It is possible to illustrate a settlement profile in a transverse section and in a longitudinal section on the graphic interface. Such predicted settlement profiles provide significant information in the selection of the construction methods and procedures affecting the cost and duration of tunnel projects. Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Herbert H. Einstein Title: Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The role of user adaptation and trust in understanding continuance intention towards mobile shopping: An extended expectation-confirmation model

Abstract With the rapid growth and intense competition of the mobile commerce market, mobile vendors consider retaining current users and facilitating them to continue shopping as vital to sustain profitability and development. This study investigates the influence of trust and perceived usefulness on continuance intention to use mobile shopping, mediated by user adaptation. This study was based on an extended expectation-confirmation model (ECM) by incorporating trust and user adaptation. A questionnaire-based survey was designed to gather data from 445 mobile shoppers in Vietnam using face-to-face interview. Structural equation modelling analysis was applied to validate the hypothesised model. Our results revealed that all relationships, except for the direct relationship between trust and continuance intention significantly affect continuance intention. In addition, user adaptation is verified to mediate fully the relationship between trust and continuance intention. Our work is the first study to extend ECM by integrating trust and user adaptation in an integral way to advance our understanding of how mobile shoppers continue to use mobile shopping services. Finally, our study offers insightful theoretical and practical implications for academicians and firm managers to retain users effectively by promoting the factors that motivate the continuance intention.
Monitoring and Implementing Early and Cost-Effective Software Fault Detection

Avoidable rework constitutes a large part of development projects, i.e. 20-80 percent depending on the maturity of the organization and the complexity of the products. High amounts of avoidable rework commonly occur when having many faults left to correct in late stages of a project. In fact, research studies indicate that the cost of rework could be decreased by up to 30-50 percent by finding more faults earlier. However, since larger software systems have an almost infinite number of usage scenarios, trying to find most faults early through for example formal specifications and extensive inspections is very time-consuming. Therefore, such an approach is not cost-effective in products that do not have extremely high quality requirements. For example, in market-driven development, time-to-market is at least as important as quality. Further, some areas such as hardware dependent aspects of a product might not be possible to verify early through for example code reviews or unit tests. Therefore, in such environments, rework reduction is primarily about finding faults earlier to the extent it is cost-effective, i.e. find the right faults in the right phase. Through a set of case studies at a department at Ericsson AB, this thesis investigates how to achieve early and cost-effective fault detection through improvements in the test process. The case studies include investigations on how to identify which improvements that are most beneficial to implement, possible solutions to the identified improvement areas, and approaches for how to follow-up implemented improvements. The contributions of the thesis include a framework for component-level test automation and test-driven development. Additionally, the thesis provides methods for how to use fault statistics for identifying and monitoring test process improvements. In particular, we present results from applying methods that can quantify unnecessary fault costs and pinpointing which phases and activities to focus improvements on in order to achieve earlier and more cost-effective fault detection. The goal of the methods is to make organizations strive towards finding the right fault in the right test phase, which commonly is in early test phases. The developed methods were also used for evaluating the results of implementing the above-mentioned test framework at Ericsson AB. Finally, the thesis demonstrates how the implementation of such improvements can be continuously monitored to obtain rapid feedback on the status of defined goals. This was achieved through enhancements of previously applied fault analysis methods.
Growth and yield response of early and medium maturity soybean (glycine max (l) merrill) varieties to row spacing

A Thesis submitted to the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. This is in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Masters of Science Degree in Agronomy, 2011
Evaluasi Tingkat Kepuasan Pengguna Sistem Informasi Cyber Campus (SICYCA) Dengan Model Delone dan Mclean (Studi Kasus: STIKOM Surabaya)

Development of Information Technology ( IT ) has provided the tools for universities to improve the service quality to the academic community. Information system that supported by IT can add value to each college if it is designed to be an effective and efficient information system. STIKOM Surabaya had been using Cyber Campus Information System that designed to help the academic community to obtain academic information more easily. Students can easily access the web-based SICYCA anywhere and anytime in sicyca.stikom. edu. SICYCA had been facing several obstacles in its using, such as the difficulty in accessing SICYCA from outside the campus area, very long loading data until it shows " request time out", the server often down when accessed by multiple users, inappropriate user interface if accessed by browsers other than Internet Explorer and yet support for mobile site. Although there are several obstacles, using SICYCA for academics are perceived important in academic activities. Therefore, we need to evaluate it by using the model of information system success DeLone and McLean. By using DeLone and McLean Model, is expected to determine the relationship between the variables represented by information quality, system quality, service quality, intention to use, user satisfaction and net benefits. Retrieval data is acquired by using questionnaires with STIKOM students Surabaya as the respondents. Then the data is processed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis tool. Based on the results of the tests on the hypotheses that have been put forward, the conclusion is that the information quality, system quality, and service quality have a positive effect on intention to use and user satisfaction that both of them give a positive effect on the net benefit. Thus SICYCA in its use has given satisfaction to its users, although there are still some shortcomings and weaknesses.
Non-Proteinaceous Complexes III and IV Mimicking Electron Transfer in the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain

Synthetic biology pursues the understanding of biological processes and their possible mimicry with artificial bioinspired materials. We explore the redox properties of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to mimic the redox activity of complexes III and IV towards cytochrome c. We demonstrate that these nanoparticles, incorporated as non-proteinaceous complexes III and IV in a mitochondrial cell membrane model, catalyze electron transfer similarly to natural complexes. The associated molecular mechanism was experimentally proven in solution and in a Langmuir- Blodgett film; the protein-nanoparticle interactions are governed mainly by electrostatic forces, followed by electron transfer between the iron sites of the nanoparticles and the heme group. This work presents the first experimental demonstration that inorganic nanostructured systems may behave as proteins in the cell membrane.
Environmental Scanning in Globally Oriented Small Businesses: Practices Suggested by Managers 1

This paper identifies information sources and practices of environmental scanning preferred by managers of globally oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (GOSMEs). Data were collected using a Delphi technique and were analysed by NUD*IST software and the Homogeneity Analysis technique. Major findings indicate that although managers of GOSMEs generally prefer external and personal sources in their environment scanning process, contingent conditions related to the industry, the organization and the owner-manager guide the choice of appropriate information source and the need to scan systematically each sector of the environment. Statistical relationships were identified, and these relationships allowed the formulation of general propositions that could be helpful for practice and research in GOSMEs. The paper concludes that the manager's need to scan systematically a specific sector of the environment and the information source the firm might use are dependent on the level of uncertainty aroused by this sector, the amount of pertinent information the source has, and its accessibility by the firm.
Do Concealed Gun Permits Deter Crime? New Results from a Dynamic Model

In 1997, Lott and Mustard (1977) set off an ongoing controversy by famously contending that so-called shall-issue laws (SILs) -- state laws providing for the liberal issue of concealed gun permits -- deterred violent crime. They argued that these laws increase the probability that a would-be perpetrator's crime will fail because he is more likely to be threatened with a gun or shot by his intended victim. In this controversy the weapon of choice has been the diff-in-diff estimator applied to state and county panel data spanning various intervals of time and different investigators have come to different conclusions spanning from "more guns less crime" to "more guns more crime. " This study brings to bear more general methods, a cohort panel data model (CPDM). Treating violent crime as a career, we interpret their deterrence hypothesis in the context of forward looking choices to enter and exit this career and estimate the corresponding cohort panel data model (CPDM). Our model distinguishes among three key parameters or effects of SILs, (i) a direct effect on entry decisions, (ii) a surprise effect on exit decisions by individuals who entered criminal careers prior to the passage of SILs, and (iiI) a selection effect on exit decisions on those how entered after the passage of SILs. Entry into a criminal career is confined to youth's "entry window. " Thus, the evolution of crime rates depend on the evolution of the shares of the population in entry and exit windows and when these shares are covered by SILs. Applying generalized least squares with autocorrelated errors to state-panel data on changes in violent crime rates, our preliminary results strongly reject the deterrence hypotheses. Moreover, as the CPDM nests the diff-in-diff model, we reject the restrictions that reduce the CPDM to the diff-in-diff. Thirdly, we expect that future draft of this paper will shed light on the way the reliance on diff-in-diff estimator estimates has fueled the controversy. We can show that the diff-in-diff estimator is a weighted sum of the three key CPDM parameters and the weights depend on the span of years covered by the sample. Thus, for example, early investigators used samples that ended shortly after the initial wave of the adoption of SILs. Correspondingly, it seems likely that their estimated diff-in-diff parameters put heavy weight on (ii), the surprise effect. In contrast later investigators used longer sample periods covering more years since SILs were adopted and, we expect to show that their estimated diff-in-diff parameters were more a mix of the three effects and averaged out to no effect.
The role of non-connective discourse cues and their interaction with connectives

The disambiguation and processing of coherence relations is often investigated with a focus on explicit connectives, such as but or so. Other, non-connective cues from the context also facilitate discourse inferences, although their precise disambiguating role and interaction with connectives have been largely overlooked in the psycholinguistic literature so far. This study reports on two crowdsourcing experiments that test the role of contextual cues (parallelism, antonyms, resultative verbs) in the disambiguation of contrast and consequence relations. We compare the effect of contextual cues in conceptually different relations, and with connectives that differ in their semantic precision. Using offline tasks, our results show that contextual cues significantly help disambiguating contrast and consequence relations in the absence of connectives. However, when connectives are present in the context, the effect of cues only holds if the connective is acceptable in the target relation. Overall, our study suggests that cues are decisive on their own, but only secondary in the presence of connectives. These results call for further investigation of the complex interplay between connective types, contextual cues, relation types and other linguistic and cognitive factors.
Connection between Concrete Layers with Different Strengths

As part of a research intending to develop steel-concrete hybrid girder using ultra high performance concrete with compressive strength of 80 MPa, this study conducts loading test on this girder to investigate the methods for its composition with a slab using 30 MPa-concrete and the corresponding interfacial behavior. Prior to the loading test, the design formula of the Eurocode for the shear resistance developed in concrete-to-concrete interface is examined for the interface between concrete layers of different strengths. The effect of the surface roughness on the shear resistance is examined using this formula and finite element analysis to verify the applicability of the formula. Based upon the results, loading test is conducted on girder specimens to evaluate the actual behavior with respect to the interfacial surface condition. The test results reveal that the specimen with rough interface could not develop perfectly composite behavior and experienced adhesive failure. In case of simultaneous action of flexure and shear, it appears that conservative design should be applied without consideration of the interfacial condition when determining the arrangement of shear reinforcement.
The impact of starter cultures on functional and technological properties of model minced meat

Abstract: The work presents the results of a research of the impact of low-frequency electromagnetic field on starter cultures. The research results certify the possibility of usage of electromagnetic back away in the technology of hard-smoked sausages. Keywords: electromagnetic impact, starter cultures, model minced meat, hard-smoked sausagesThe analysis of literature sources [1, 217] certifies the application of starter cultures in the technology of production of hard-smoked sausages in order to accelerate the process of sausage aging. The activity of starter cultures is based on biotechnological principle of modification of fresh sausage meat in the process of which there is directed regulation of biotechnological, microbiological and physical-chemical processes [1, 216; 2, 66]. As a result of the given processes there is formation of structure, color and taste and aroma characteristics of hard-smoked sausages.Guided by the experimental data about the impact of electromagnetic field of low frequency (EMF LF) on microflora [3, 790], it was established that EMF LF can intensify the growth of microflora. Currently, there isn’t clear data about the study of impact of EMF LF on starter cultures and dynamics of physical and chemical, biological and microbiological processes typical for the technology of hard-smoked sausage production.The goal of the given work is to study a required dose of added starter cultures processed by EMF LF on the property of model minced meat of the hard-smoked sausage type.To determine the degree of effect of added starter cultures processed by EMF LF on the model system, we used model minced meat consisting of 60% of cooled beef and 40% of cooled pork. We used starter cultures Almi 2 by Almi as experimental microflora. As for the control group, starter cultures were activated in accordance with the recommendations of a producer.As for the experimental sample, starter cultures were activated as follows: they were dissolved in warm water in the amount of 100cm
Spectrum sharing in cognitive radio networks

Years of growth in wireless communication services and conservative spectrum allocation policies by government regulators have led to spectrum scarcity. On the other hand, spectrum measurement campaigns have indicated that the actual occupancy of most licensed frequency bands is quite low. In recent years, Cognitive radio has emerged as a promising solution to increase spectrum occupancy and tackle spectrum scarcity. Cognitive radio enables the unlicensed (secondary) user to establish a communication link in licensed spectrum on the condition that there is no or minimal interference to the licensee (primary user). In this thesis, the two main facets of spectrum sharing in cognitive radio networks are investigated; interweave access and underlay access. The former is an orthogonal scheme, where the secondary user only transmits in white space (idle primary user spectrum). The latter is a shared scheme in which concurrent primary and secondary transmission is allowed, subject to any co-channel interference at the primary being below an acceptable limit.
The importance of manufacturing in economic development: past, present and future perspectives

The structural transformation of a traditional economy dominated by primary activities into a modern economy where high-productivity activities in manufacturing assume an important role remains a defining feature of economic development. The challenges to attain such structural transformation may be more daunting than in the past. Based on a recent UNU-WIDER/UNU-MERIT project on industrialization this paper discusses the past and present roles of the manufacturing sector in structural change and analyses new challenges facing industrial policy. New challenges discussed in the paper include: (i) integration into global value chains, (ii) the shrinking of policy space in the present international order, (iii) the rise of the Asian driver economies, (iv) new opportunities provided by resource-based industrialization, (v) the accelerating pace of technological change in manufacturing, (vi) how to deal with jobless growth in manufacturing, (vii) creating adequate systems of financial intermediation, and (viii) how to respond to the threats of global warming and climate change. We argue that structural transformation of developing countries requires a type of manufacturing sector development that can deliver high-quality employment, that is aligned with the international division of labour, and that would not lead to autarky, or a reversal of global gains in establishing openness in trade. Industrial policy can make valuable contributions in this regard if the lessons of the past and the challenges of the future are sufficiently taken into consideration.
Place Attachment and the Historic Brewpub: A Case Study in Greensboro, North Carolina

Over the last few decades, brewpubs have emerged as a cultural phenomenon uniquely positioned to tie together downtown revitalization, historic preservation, and community connections to local place. This study seeks to understand how the benefits of historic preservation in a brewpub can extend beyond tax incentives to include positive social outcomes. In particular, the study here explores the types of attachments patrons may form to historic brewpub environments with an emphasis on the role of the physical built environment. This exploratory study used a mixed methods research design for a single case study brewpub site in Greensboro, North Carolina and in an establishment located along the main thoroughfare of the historic downtown. Data were collected through a structured online survey (n = 78) followed by the piloting of a photography activity (n = 7). Survey results revealed that attachment to the physical environment along with customer satisfaction were among the strongest predictors of overall place attachment. In addition, some meaningful differences in place attachment were identified based on sociodemographic factors such as frequency of visits and age. The photography project offered a more in–depth view of patron reactions to the brewpub's built environment. Taken together, the mixture of the methodologies employed in this study indicate that designing a historic physical environment in brewpubs is a promising strategy for engendering attachment to place for visitors.
Introduction to Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs): Representations of HRTFs in Time, Frequency, and Space

In this tutorial, head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are introduced and treated with respect to their role in the synthesis of spatial sound over headphones. HRTFs are formally defined, and are shown to be important in reducing the ambiguity with which the classical duplex theory decodes a free-field sound's spatial location. Typical HRTF measurement strategies are described, and simple applications of HRTFs to headphone-based spatialized sound synthesis are given. By comparing and contrasting representations of HRTFs in the time, frequency, and spatial domains, different analytic and signal processing techniques used to investigate the structure of HRTFs are highlighted.