Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety behaviour and safety management: its influence on the attitudes of workers in the UK construction industry

This paper identifies the critical factors that influence the attitudes of construction workers towards safe behaviour on construction sites. It studies these attitudes by using a research model that links three themes: safety management implementation strategies, attitudes of workers about safety and behavioural factors displayed by construction workers. This model is used to frame the responses of 126 directly employed construction workers in 10 companies. Some 56 variables were identified as having a potential influence upon attitudes to safety. The initial data analysis found that 12 technical factors significantly correlated to the development of strong positive attitudes towards safety management. Second‐order analysis, using factor analysis, isolated five variables that had a major influence on safety attitudes. The five factors were: organizing for safety supervision and equipment management, industry norms and culture, attitudes to risk taking and management behaviour.
Analysis of Electric Machinery and Drive Systems

Preface.Basic Principles for Electric Machine Analysis.Direct--Current Machines.Reference--Frame Theory.Symmetrical Induction Machines.Synchronous Machines.Theory of Brushless dc Machines.Machine Equations in Operational Impedances and Time Constants.Linearized Machine Equations.Reduced--Order Machine Equations.Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical 2--Phase Induction Machines.Semicontrolled Bridge Converters.dc Machine Drives.Fully Controlled 3--Phase Bridge Converters.Induction Motor Drives.Brushless dc Motor Drives.Appendix: Trigonometric Relations, Constants and Conversion Factors, and Abbreviations.Index.
BIOMODIFICATION OF GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF SAND

Title of Thesis: Bioimprovement of geotechnical properties of sandy soils Degree candidate: Chiung-Wen Chou Degree and year: Master of Science, 2007 Thesis directed by: Dr. Eric A. Seagren (Chair) and Dr. Ahmet H. Aydilek (Co-Chair) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Biological processes may provide great and previously unexplored opportunities for in situ, cost effective soil improvement. A laboratory research study was conducted to evaluate the changes in geomechanical properties of sand due to microbial precipitation of calcium with Bacillus pasteurii. Direct shear tests and California bearing ratio (CBR) were conducted on the soils subjected to microbial calcite precipitation in the completely stirred tank reactors and completely mixed biofilm reactors, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were conducted to evaluate the performance of microbial precipitation. Results of the study show that: (1) the bioinduced calcites effectively improve geomechanical properties of sand, (2) live cells significantly improve the properties due to biotic conditions and related pore volume changes, while both dead and resting cells act like organic fibers and cause lower but notable increases in friction angle and bearing strength, and (3) bio-plugging of the column is mostly due to calcite formation, and not biomass accumulation, as evidenced in SEM analyses. BIOMODIFICATION OF GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF SAND
Biocrust‐induced extracellular polymeric substances are responsible for dune stabilization in the Negev

There is no consensus over the factors responsible for dune stabilization in arid regions, with some scholars maintaining that dust (i.e., silt and clay) plays a major role in dune stabilization. Aiming to explore the principal driving factor responsible for dune stabilization in the Negev, we compared various biocrusts having different biomass and compressive strength, and performed surface degradation and illuviation experiments with dust in the presence or absence of biocrusts in order to assess the crust role in impeding wind erosion and dust illuviation. We show that dust cannot be regarded as the primary driving factor for crust strength and subsequently for dune stabilization in the Negev, as suggested in some publications. This function is however fulfilled by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS, mostly polysaccharides), which are excreted by the biocrust (mainly cyanobacteria), and serve as a cementing agent for the establishing crust and therefore for the dust. Exhibiting high water absorption and strong adhering properties, EPS is responsible for granting strength to the crust, impeding wind erosion and dust illuviation, thus providing the necessary cementing agent, which facilitates dune stabilization in the Negev. Global warming which may result in frequent droughts and high input of dust may not contribute to dune stabilization as suggested by some scholars, but rather will negatively affect dune stabilization, as it may result in EPS degradation and subsequently in dune mobilization.
Improving the coefficient of performance of thermoelectric cooling systems: a review

This paper reviews research carried out to improve the coefficient of performance of thermoelectric cooling systems during the past decade. This includes development of new materials for thermoelectric modules, optimisation of module design and fabrication, system analysis and heat exchange efficiency. Several conclusions are drawn. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of housing and calcium-deficient diet on health and egg production in Bovans Brown hens

Hu, Jiaying. M.S., Purdue University, December 2013. Effects of housing and calciumdeficient diet on health and egg production in Bovans Brown hens. Major Professor: Heng-wei Cheng. Public concern about the welfare of hens kept in conventional cages has become an important issue worldwide. The conventional cage system has been banned by the European Union since 2012. Several housing systems, including free range, have been developed as welfare friendly alternatives to the conventional cage system. Experiment 1, the study examined the effects of housing environment, conventional cages vs. floor pens, on hens’ health and egg production. A total of 84 19-wk-old Bovans Brown hens were randomly assigned into 2-bird cage with 12 replications (n=12), providing 968 cm floor space per hen or 10-bird floor pen with 6 replications (n=6), providing 3711 cm floor space per hen for 8 wks. The floor pens were furnished with perches, nest boxes, and wood shavings litter. Egg production was recorded up to 26 wk of age. Egg weight, egg quality, and shell quality were measured in two consecutive days at wk 22, 24, and 26, respectively. Body weight, liver weight, abdominal fat pad weight, plumage condition and foot health were measured at wk 26. Mineralization of the tibia, femur and humerus, liver fat, and heterophil to lymphocyte (H: L) ratio were also analyzed. Results showed there were no environmental effects on daily egg production, plumage condition, and feet
Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome

Purpose: A swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) analysis of vasculature in vitreomacular traction (VMT) before and after surgery as well as 15 months’ “watchful waiting” follow-up data. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 38 eyes. Patients were divided into group 1: untreated (20 eyes); group 2: untreated, spontaneous release of traction (4 eyes); and group 3: vitrectomy (14 eyes). Results: In all cases, SS-OCTA of the choriocapillaris revealed a hyporeflective area, which disappeared after traction release. In group 1, none of the analyzed factors significantly changed. In group 2, visual acuity (VA) improved from 0.3 logMAR to 0.1 logMAR. None of the following parameters significantly changed: central choroidal thickness, superficial fovea avascular zone (sFAZ), deep fovea avascular zone (dFAZ), and vessel densities. In 1 eye a lamellar macular hole formed. Factors increasing the chances of spontaneous release of traction were width of traction and central retinal thickness (P < .05). In group 3, VA improved from 0.27 Snellen (0.6 logMAR) to 0.44 Snellen (0.4 logMAR) (P < .05). Postoperative OCTA revealed significant decreases in central retinal thickness (P < .001), the parameters sFAZ, and dFAZ (P < .05). Conclusions: sFAZ and dFAZ decreased after vitrectomy but not after spontaneous release of traction. VA was better in eyes with spontaneous release of traction. The degree of improvement in VA was greater in the vitrectomy group. In all cases a hyporeflective area is visible in the choriocapillaris layer in SS-OCTA. It disappears when traction is released. Early treatment, at least in patients with lower VA, might be beneficial.
Physical modeling of cavitation using an enthalpy based model

Cavitation is defined as the process of formation and disappearance of a vapor phase in a liquid when this liquid is subjected to reduced pressures, followed by an increase of pressure. One of the main challenges in the design and application of centrifugal pumps is the ability to control and limit the development of cavitation. It is generally unlikely that a pump will operate across its entire operating range without any cavitation. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used extensively to model cavitation in pump impellers. These models are almost always governed by empirical relations, which is no problem for cold water that has ample test data to be validated with, but makes the prediction of cavitation for hydrocarbons or amine solutions impossible. In the present work the cavitation development of water, butane and propane is described using a barotropic model assuming an isenthalpic expansion in the two-phase region. This barotropic relation should only be governed by the fluid properties, no empiricism should be involved. In order to validate the model, it is implemented in both 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional situations. In the 1-dimensional situation the Euler equations are solved for a single dimension in combination with source terms that model the varying area distribution of a Venturi-like nozzle. By forcing all three liquids through the nozzle at different velocities and pressures, insight is gained into the general qualitative performance of the model, both physical and numerical. In order to validate the model quantitatively with test data, the model is implemented into a 2-dimensional situation. A circular rod with a hemispherical head is pointed into the flow to obtain the pressure distribution over the head and part of the rod. This pressure distribution is then compared with data from experiments performed by Rouse \& McNown, in order to perform a simple quantitative validation of the model. Based on the work done in this thesis it is concluded that an isenthalpic barotropic model is a suitable approach to describe cavitation. Due to the independence from empirical relations, the development of cavitation for three different fluids can be modeled, based solely on fluid properties taken from a thermodynamic library. The general results from the 2D implementation are encouraging, but require more work to remedy the numerical instabilities and extremely slow convergence of the solution. The general recommendation for future work is to further develop and improve the numerics to make the solver more efficient and stable, thus viable for bigger simulations.
Outcomes and Resource Utilization in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Patients Who Underwent Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Background: To evaluate the predictors, outcomes and resource utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) patients. Methods: We used the US National Inpatient Sample database to identify CPPD and non-CPPD who underwent TKA from 2006 to 2014. Data collection included patient demographics and comorbidities. Outcomes following TKA included in-hospital mortality, complications, length of hospitalization, hospital charges, and disposition.Results: Among the 5,564,005 patients who have undergone TKA, 11529 (0.20%) had CPPD, with a median age of 72 years and 53.7% were females. Compared with non-CPPD, patients with CPPD were more likely to be older (mean: 72 vs 66 years; p<0.001), male, white, and have Medicare insurance. CPPD patients were more likely to have ≥ 2 comorbidities calculated by the Charlson comorbidity index and discharge to an inpatient/rehabilitation facility. Regarding inpatient complications, myocardial infarction and knee reoperation were significantly more common in CPPD patients. TKA in CPPD patients was associated with significantly higher odds of increased length of stay (>3 days) than those without CPPD (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.37-1.49). There was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality.Conclusions: CPPD patients who underwent TKA were more likely to have a longer hospital stay and discharge to a non-home setting than non-CPPD. Also, CPPD patients had a higher comorbidity burden, and greater risk for myocardial infarction and need for reoperation.
Rotating stall in wide vaneless diffusers

• A submitted manuscript is the author's version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) calibration for steel grid reinforced soil walls

This paper reports the results of load and resistance factor design (LRFD) calibration for pullout and yield limit states for steel grid reinforced soil walls owing to soil self-weight loading plus permanent uniform surcharge. The calibration method uses bias statistics to account for prediction accuracy of the underlying deterministic models for reinforcement load, pullout capacity and yield strength of the steel grids, and random variability in input parameters. A new revised pullout design model is proposed to improve pullout resistance prediction accuracy and to remove hidden dependency with calculated pullout resistance values. Load and resistance factors are proposed that give a uniform probability of failure of 1% for both pullout and yield limit states. The approach adopted in this paper has application to a wide variety of other reinforced soil wall technologies.
Black Carbon and Its Effect on Carbon Sequestration in Soil

The properties of black carbon (BC) are described very differently in the literature, even when determined by the same methodological procedure. To clarify this discrepancy, BC was investigated in the clay Cambisols of southern Bohemia, Czech Republic, in groups of soils with lower and higher deposition of its atmospheric fallout. The BC determination was performed according to a modified method of Kuhlbusch and Crutzen (1995). The amount of the free light fraction, the occluded light fraction of soil organic matter and its ratio, the amount of heavy soil fraction DF, and its soil organic matter DFOM were determined. Other soil characteristics were identified. It was found that there are two very different types of BC in soils. Historical BC from biomass fires, and new, anthropogenic, from the furnace and transport fumes. Historical BC has a significant effect on the organic matter of the heavy soil fraction, on the ratio of the free and occluded soil organic matter fraction, and the number of water-resistant soil aggregates. Anthropogenic BC does not have this effect. Because this form of BC is not significantly stabilized by the colloidal mineral fraction, it is necessary to take general data on BC’s high stability and resistance to mineralization in the soil with circumspection.
MIMO Control of Conveyor-Belt Drying Chambers

ABSTRACT The development of MlMO control systems for individual conveyor-belt drying chambers was studied for the case of industrial units used for the moisture removal from wet raisins. The process was considered to be a 2×2 open-loop system in which material moisture content and temperature at the exit of the drying chamber were to be controlled. Its dynamic behavior was investigated via digital simulation of the corresponding process mathematical model which involves 6 state variables. The effect of several manipulated and load variables on process outputs was explored by examining the corresponding responces obtained when the input variables were step forced into the non-linear dryer model simulator around the operational point studied. Reliable transfer functions for each interaction module were produced, based on simulated data and process basic constants. The best control configuration was selected bv deriving the RGA values of each one that was based on its frequency information. The propsed schem.
Determinants of clinician and patient to prescription of antimicrobials: Case of Mulanje, Southern Malawi

Background Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging problem in low- and middle-income countries. The problem is exacerbated by inappropriate prescription of antimicrobials. Factors that lead to overuse or inappropriate prescription of antimicrobials by the cadre of medical assistants, clinical technicians and clinical officers have received limited attention. This study investigated factors that influence prescription behaviours of antimicrobials among clinical officers in various health facilities in Mulanje district, Southern Malawi. Methods Qualitative study design exploring determinants of antimicrobial prescription from May to October, 2019, was used. In-depth interviews (n = 18) and focus group discussions (n = 2) were conducted with medical assistant (MA), clinical technicians and clinical officers (CO) from four health facilities in Mulanje district. COs are licensed medical practitioners with an initial three-year training and one-year internship while MAs are licensed medical practitioners with initial two-year training and one year internship. Purposive sampling was done to arrive at a sample size of 30 health cadres. Results Participants pointed out that patient preferences, beliefs and clinicians’ inadequate education on this issue were among the factors that contribute to inappropriate antimicrobial prescription. 75% of clinicians showed lack of knowledge on the definition of antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance. Conclusion Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is facilitated by prescription decisions made by clinicians who are greatly influenced by their patients. Interventions aimed at improving antimicrobial prescription should target both clinicians and patients.
A model of intention to use mobile government services

The aim of this research was to develop and validate a model which was designed to be useful for many countries considering delivery of mobile government (m-Government) services as the literature had not revealed any comprehensive model that is specifically used in the m-Government services context. The existence of this gap encouraged this research to empirically test and validate the combination of the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) model and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as well as external variables including Perceived Security, Perceived Trustworthiness, Perceived Enjoyment and Personal Innovativeness. Therefore, in order to fill the gap, this research developed a validated Model with relevant hypotheses which was tested for its predictive value.
APPLE TREE MODEL OF EMOTION-INVOLVED PROCESSING

The aim of this paper is to summarize the findings of research done in the field of foreign language pedagogy, neuroscience, and psychology with regard to the emotion-cognition relationship. Several studies of qualitative and quantitative nature, which were conducted on teenage and university students, suggest that cognition is strongly affected by emotional experience. Especially positive emotionally competent stimuli experienced when learning a foreign language can contribute to deeper processing and better long-term retention, and at the same time, it is suggested that they have the power to alleviate foreign language anxiety and enhance foreign language enjoyment and the motivation of learners. With regard to these research findings and several cognitive theories, the Apple Tree Model of Emotion-Involved Processing in Foreign Language Learning is proposed and discussed – as well as several ideas on how to emotionally stimulate foreign language learners, which are applicable not only in foreign language classes but also out of the class. Their addictive nature ensures that learners can and do learn the foreign language every day at any time of the day in an authentic language environment – even without realizing it – doing it as a hobby.
DEM Study of a Shallow Foundation under Vertical Loading

Presence of firm soil near the ground surface favors the construction of a shallow foundation. The shallow foundation is also an attractive option when combined with ground improvement techniques (such as geosynthetic reinforcement) even in weaker soil. This study presents the bearing capacity estimation of a shallow foundation on a granular soil underlain by a rigid base using the Discrete Element Method (DEM), which is suitable for granular media. A physical model test of the shallow foundation on sand was conducted using a plate load test in the laboratory. The DEM model of the plate load test simulated the load-settlement behavior of the shallow foundation. The failure model of the foundation under this condition was investigated.
Mechanisms of hepatoprotective effects of white and black garlic extracts against preneoplastic lesions induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine in rats

Introduction: Garlic has many pharmacological properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of the hepatoprotective effect of white garlic extract (WGE) and black garlic extract (BGE) against preneoplastic lesions induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in rats. Methods: Forty-two rats were randomly distributed into six equal groups. Oral administration of WGE and BGE began 3 weeks before injection of NDEA. Group 1 was kept as the negative control, while the other groups were injected by a single intraperitoneal dose of NDEA in the 3rd week, followed by 2 subcutaneous injections/week of CCl4 till six weeks to induce preneoplastic lesions. Group 2 kept positive control and groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 were given WGE and BGE each of them at 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, for six weeks from the beginning. Serum liver enzymes, total protein, albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (TBil), and antioxidant enzymes were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), tumor biomarkers, along with the content of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in liver DNA were estimated and liver histopathology was performed. Results: WGE and BGE significantly decreased the serum liver enzymes, TBil, tumor biomarkers, lipid peroxidation but increased total protein levels. The extracts significantly increased antioxidant enzymes, decreased 8-OHdG content in liver DNA, and alleviated histopathological lesions in the liver. Conclusion: The results affirm the hepatoprotective effect of WGE and BGE against NDEA-induced preneoplastic lesions in rats. This effect may be due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation, reduction of tumor biomarkers, enhancement of antioxidant enzymes, or reduction of 8-OHdG content in liver DNA.