Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring Phases of Knowledge through Group Work and Online Engagement

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, educators worldwide have shifted to online instruction. Open and distance learning (ODL) enables lecturers and students to continue learning sessions from the comfort of their own homes with minimal risk of infection. Online collaborative learning (OCL) is gaining popularity in higher education institutions in this regard. However, lecturers must understand how students collaborate with their peers, communicate with their instructors, and engage in collaborative learning projects for online learning to be successful. As a result, it is necessary to better understand student knowledge construction through discourse in group work by examining online group participation. This quantitative study analysed responses to a 36-item questionnaire from 246 respondents enrolled in Malaysian higher education institutions. The findings revealed how idea generating, idea organising, and intellectual convergence in OCL were portrayed in online group engagement. Implications of the study include evidence and information on knowledge construction in the practice of OCL in ODL during Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO). Future research in the practice of OCL is also discussed in this study.
Experimental evaluation of rectangular reinforced concrete column behaviour under biaxial cyclic loading

The cyclic behaviour of reinforced concrete columns has been the subject of many experimental studies in recent years. However, most of these studies have focused on the unidirectional loading of columns with square cross‐sections under constant axial loading conditions. In the present study, four types of full‐scale quadrangular building columns were tested under different types of loading, including uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions. The first two specimens of each column type were independently cyclically tested in the strong and weak directions. Bidirectional tests using different loading paths were performed on the other column specimens. All columns were tested under constant axial loading conditions. In this paper, the experimental results are presented, and the global behaviour of tested columns is discussed, particularly focusing on the stiffness and strength degradation because of the increasing cyclic demand. Finally, the deformation‐based performance limits proposed in Part 3 of Eurocode 8 were calculated and compared with the experimental results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cyber Security Risk Management in the SCADA Critical Infrastructure Environment

Abstract: Engineering managers are responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective operation of process control systems which monitor and control the nations critical infrastructures. These systems are subject to increasing risks based on technology vulnerabilities, cyber-threats, and system consequences. Critical infrastructure cyber-threats are expanding at a rapid rate and pose new challenges to the engineering manager's role. This paper presents a short historical view of the risks, types of systems which are involved, and additional information from which the engineering manager may use to make informed decisions on how to develop and maintain a robust process control system in regards to the cyber-threat envelope.
Assessment of Stovers of Dual-Purpose Pearl Millet Varieties as Feed for Goat in the West African Sahel

The purpose of this study was to assess the chemical composition of dual-purpose pearl millet stover and to evaluate its effects on the productive performance of goats. Thirty-six goats aged 18 – 24 months, with an average initial live weight of 23.8 kg, were randomly assigned to six treatments, defined by the type of variety of pearl millet stover fed as basal diet. In each treatment, goats were fed ad libitum for 90 days with the pearl millet stover complemented with cowpea hay (600 g/day/individual). There were significant variations in the crude protein and neutral detergent fiber contents of stover of the pearl millet varieties. The animals fed Chakti and ICMV167005 had the highest average daily live weight gains, compared with the other treatments (p = 0.07). Daily fecal output (wet basis) ranged from 666 – 751 g/day/goat. These results indicate that Chakti and ICMV167005 stover varieties may be suitable goat feeds.
Image-Enhanced Capsule Endoscopy Improves the Identification of Small Intestinal Lesions

Image-enhanced endoscopy is useful for diagnosing and identifying lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, image-enhanced endoscopy has become a breakthrough technology that has attracted significant attention. This image enhancing technology is available for capsule endoscopy, which is an effective tool for small intestinal lesions and has been applied in flexible spectral color enhancement technology and in contrast capsule like narrow-band imaging. In this field, most researchers focus on improving the visibility and detection of small intestinal lesions. This review summarizes previous studies on image-enhanced capsule endoscopy and aims to evaluate the efficacy of this technology.
Shut Down the University! - The ultimatum for quality undergraduates

This empirical study examines the fundamental requirements to achieve an effective information literacy (IL) programme in a developing country such as Nigeria, where university lecturers embarked on an industrial action for six months (in 2013) to press home their demands, among others, of preparing undergraduates to be fit for the twentieth century workplace. This study is concerned with investigating if the situation in colleges is also in dire states, specifically focussing on the issue of information literacy practices of teaching staff at the Colleges of Education. An information literacy at the workplace model was formulated through a systematic critical review of the literature. The model was then verified through grounded data from participants who are lecturers at the College of Education. The study used an inductive approach using rich data from interviews, focus group discussions and observations between July, 2013 and January, 2014. Data analysis of the interview transcripts was done manually and results were mapped to the proposed model. Results show that: (1) academics hold divergent perceptions of IL based on their field of study and (2) the information infrastructure on campus does not encouraged IL practices. Some of the recommendations of the study include: (1) improved capital development of lecturers in colleges of education and (2) high investment in education to improve the information infrastructure that would contribute to the effective development of information literacy (IL) skills programmes for the undergraduates. Apart from the contribution towards the theoretical model, this study has also created a platform to further scientific growth in IL practice and research.
Skeletal maturity indicators

Growth biologically and histologically is a composite of morphogenetic and histogenetic changes occurring continuously over a period in response to genetic coding and environmental influence. It is one of the most myriad variations and plays an important role in the etiology of malocclusion and also in the evaluation of diagnosis, treatment planning retention and stability of any case. In this review, various methods currently used as skeletal maturity indicators have been discussed.
Gene Expression Profiling of Mycosis Fungoides in Early and Tumor Stage—A Proof-of-Concept Study Using Laser Capture/Single Cell Microdissection and NanoString Analysis

A subset of patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) progress to the tumor stage, which correlates with a worse clinical outcome. The molecular events driving this progression are not well-understood. To identify the key molecular drivers, we performed gene expression profiling (GEP) using NanoString. Ten formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded skin biopsies from six patients (six non-tumor and four tumor MF) were included; non-tumor and tumor samples were available in three patients. Laser capture/single cell microdissection of epidermotropic MF cells was used for non-tumor cases. We found that the RNA extracted from 700–800 single cells was consistently sufficient for GEP, provided that multiplexed target enrichment amplification was used. An un-supervised/hierarchical analysis revealed clustering of non-tumor and tumor cases. Many of the most upregulated or downregulated genes are implicated in the PI3K, RAS, cell cycle/apoptosis and MAPK pathways. Two of the targets, HMGA1 and PTPN11 (encodes SHP2), were validated using immunohistochemistry. HMGA1 was positive in six out of six non-tumor MF samples and negative in five out of five tumor MF samples. An opposite pattern was seen with SHP2. Our study has provided a proof-of-concept that single-cell microdissection/GEP can be applied to archival tissues. Some of our identified gene targets might be key drivers of the disease progression of MF.
The Impact of Socialisation on Children’s Prosocial Behaviour. A Study on Primary School Students

Background: Studying prosociality in children is a complex but relevant issue related to the qualitative development of human interactions. The main objective of the present study is to identify the psychosocial factors that most promote or inhibit the adoption of prosocial behaviours among children. Method: In Spring 2021, a survey was conducted amongst primary school children through a structured paper questionnaire. The data analysis has been carried out through bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Path analysis has been used. Results: The results highlight the role played by the parental education level, the perception of positive and negative emotions, the adherence to gender roles and the involvement in cyberbullying actions in predicting prosocial tendencies among children. On the other hand, adopting prosocial behaviours affects the screen-time as well as the devices’ interference in face-to-face interactions and the attitude towards school. Conclusions: The results are relevant and useful for the study of trends in prosocial behaviours among children. Family education level, individual status, peer interactions and social conditionings are variables that highly influence this multidimensional phenomenon. Further research is needed, including the definition of new measures and indicators concerning the context where children live and interact with others, with the aim of designing interventions aimed at facilitating relational well-being of children.
A novel wide-angle beam propagation method based on the spectral collocation scheme for computing titled waveguides

A multidomain spectral collocation beam propagation method that uses an oblique coordinate transformation is proposed for analyzing a beam propagating in dielectric optical waveguides. Relying on the high accuracy of spectral collocation scheme in transverse discretization, the proposed method achieves extremely small power loss (<10/sup -4/, for the tilt angle of a tilted waveguide up to 20/spl deg/) but considerably save the computational resources. Furthermore, by means of introducing the oblique coordinate system, not only is a significant difficulty arising from staircased approximation of refractive index completely avoided, but the implementation of the present scheme becomes easier. To validate the effectiveness, numerical results for propagating beam in a tilted step-index optical waveguide are compared with other beam propagation algorithms.
Interconnection challenges and the National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors

For the past 40 years, the semiconductor industry has made extraordinary productivity improvements through the incremental development of the basic technology invented several decades ago. However, we now approach a decade of nonincremental technology changes, many of which are affecting the area of interconnection technology. The industry's ability to ramp copper/low-k technologies and develop cost-effective flip-chip packaging, will be crucial to the continued productivity improvements and revenue growth for the industry. Following the introduction of copper/low-k, the industry also needs to be prepared to work on design and architecture solutions, since material improvements are less likely to be cost effective, at least in the near term.
Analysis of terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexers subject to picosecond control and signal optical pulses

A numerical treatment is undertaken to investigate the operating characteristics of TOAD devices subject to frequency detuned signal and control pulses. In comparison with positive detuning, it is shown that negative detuning can greatly enhance the output power in the switched region causing a lower threshold energy and can decrease the width of the switching window. The results suggests that negative frequency detuning should be adopted for separating pulses by wavelength. This is consistent with available experimental results.
The Waiting Stage, Prolonged Residency in Nursery Habitats by Juveniles of the Predatory Sea Star Marthasterias glacialis

Growth and recruitment of the sea star Marthasterias glacialis was followed over six years in Lough Hyne, southwest Ireland. Juveniles from a 2-mm radius were found on algae at <1–2-m depth following what appeared to be gregarious larval settlement. Data from Lough Hyne and Mulroy Bay (northwest Ireland) indicated that algal habitat serves as a nursery area for juveniles of M. glacialis. Successive size frequency modes of the juveniles at Lough Hyne indicated slow growth over 6 years, to a mean radius of 20 mm. The absence of additional recruitment allowed monitoring of a discrete population. Recruits in the nursery habitat over the six years remained as waiting stage juveniles, a Peter Pan group with delayed maturity subsisting on a diet of epibionts. An initial sharp decline in numbers indicated post-settlement mortality, with subsequent decline likely due to migration to the adjacent shelly habitat, where subadult M. glacialis (30–70-mm radius) lives. In this habitat, M. glacialis preys on small bivalves and eventually joins the adult (maximum radius = 280 mm) population on open sediment, where it feeds on large bivalves. Size frequency distributions of the juveniles and adults showed growth over the six years, with the waiting stage sea stars slowly merging in size with the adult population. It appears that the supply of new individuals into the adult population may take place six or more years following settlement. Strong connectivity between life stage habitats and prolonged recruitment into the adult population may contribute to balanced exploitation of infaunal prey.
Purchasing practices of environmentally preferable transport services, Guidance to increased shipper considerations

The logistical activity of transport is one of the largest contributors to several environmental problems. One efficient and effective way to decrease the environmental impact from transports is to implement changes in the logistically related strategies and activities applied, such as the selection of transport suppliers. Consideration of the environmental aspect when purchasing transport services is still quite an unexplored area, and the need for guidance is large and desired by many firms. The objective of this study is to provide guidance about how shippers can increase their environmental concern when purchasing transport services. Theory regarding purchasing of environmentally preferable transport services is very limited. As a result, an elaborated frame of reference has been built on the basis of related areas, such as transport, purchasing and environmental practices. A survey study of 50 shippers operating within either the food or forestry sectors in Sweden showed that most respondents take the environmental aspects into consideration to a greater extent than required by law when purchasing transport services. Furthermore, most respondents had increased their environmental consideration when purchasing transport services during the last five years. There exist many practices that can be applied when purchasing environmentally preferable transport services. One common denominator of these practices is that they can be seen as parts of an environmentally preferable purchasing process developed in the present study. An analysis based on the survey study findings and the theoretical frame of reference shows that all survey study respondents can increase the environmental ambition of the practices applied. A further analysis of these potentials to improve the environmental ambition resulted in eight guiding principles. A tool was also developed which can provide guidance as to how shippers in a structural, efficient and effective way can address the first four of these principles. The eight guiding principles that my study suggests are important for shippers to look into are: -To see the environmentally preferable purchasing process for transport services as a whole. -To strive to apply a more uniform level of environmental ambition in the practices. To know the strengths and weaknesses of the environmentally preferable purchasing practices applied. To strive to apply similar practices within the company. -To initiate change, if needed and possible, in the internal conditions. -To continuously improve the practices applied. -To be as clear as possible in all communication. -To increase the information exchange with internal and external actors.
Radius Requirements for Trucks on Three-Dimensional Reverse Horizontal Curves with Intermediate Tangents

Minimum radius requirements for reverse horizontal curves are currently based on the design of each arc as a separate simple horizontal curve on flat terrain, with the effects of reverse horizontal curvature and vertical alignment being ignored. This paper establishes minimum radius requirements for trucks on three-dimensional (3-D) reverse horizontal curves with intermediate tangents on the basis of vehicle stability. With vehicle simulation software, vehicle dynamics were recorded for the base case of two-dimensional simple curves and for reverse curves superimposed with different vertical alignments (upgrade, downgrade, crest curve, and sag curve). The simulation was run for two maximum superelevation rates, three design vehicles, and different vertical grades. Two mathematical models were developed for flat and 3-D reverse curves. The models provided the minimum radius of the sharper arc of the reverse curve as a function of design speed, maximum superelevation, ratio of flatter to sharper curve radius, design vehicle, and intermediate tangent length. The results showed that an increase in the minimum radius of existing design guides (ranging from 5% to 27%) was required to compensate for the effects of reverse curvature and vertical alignment. The required increase can be reduced by using longer intermediate tangents. Design requirements for the spiral length of reverse curves are also presented.
On the Optimum Groove Geometry for Herringbone Grooved Journal Bearings

Recently, herringbone-grooved journal bearings have had important applications in miniature rotating machines. The scribed grooves, on either the rotating or stationary member of the bearing, can pump the lubricant inward, which generates supporting stiffness and improves the dynamic stability, especially for concentric operation. Most of the previous investigations that dealt with herringbone grooved journal bearings and grooved thrust bearings were theoretical. Few experimental attempts for the investigation of the performance characteristics of herringbone grooved journal bearings (HGJBs) and grooved thrust bearings have been done. All these investigations concentrated on rectangular and circular groove profiles of HGJBs. In order to improve the performance characteristics of HGJBs, a new design of the groove profile, the beveled-step groove profile, is introduced. The introduced groove profile is capable of increasing the pressure recovery at the divergence of the flow over the step. In addition, it increases the amount of oil pumped inward over the circular groove profile. Optimization processes were carried out experimentally, in order to obtain the optimal geometry of the introduced groove profile. The optimum geometrical parameters of the groove (groove angle a, groove width ratio β, and groove depth ratio T) are 29 deg, 0.5, and 2.0, respectively, which give maximum radial force and maximum radial stiffness of the beveled-step HGJB. In order to check the effectiveness of the introduced beveled-step groove profile, the obtained results were compared with that for rectangular groove profile. The comparison shows that the introduced beveled-step HGJBs have higher radial force, higher load carrying capacity, and lower friction torque than the rectangular HGJBs.
Family Members Who Do Not Work in the Family Business: How to Enhance Their 'Unity' and 'Commitment'

This study builds on the results of a recent international study, "Success as a Function of Love, Trust and Freedom in Family Business" (Gallo et al., 2001), which introduced a new conceptual model identifying family unity and commitment as driving forces behind the success of Family Businesses (FBs). Whereas the earlier research dealt with family members who are active in the business, this study aims primarily to reflect what non-active family members, from their position as "outsiders," think about the business of which they, too, are a part. One of our principal hypotheses is that successful FBs are supported by families that place an emphasis on family unity and commitment. Secondly, based on a typology of family members according to their levels of effort, loyalty and idealism, the study identifies a number of rewards or motivators that can help to raise these levels over generations.
Small scale experimental study of the dynamic response of a tension leg platform wind turbine

A floating Tension Leg Platform (TLP) wind turbine was constructed at scale 1/200 and its dynamic response was analysed experimentally in co-directional wind and waves. The wind turbine was Froude scaled and a new rotor was designed to yield maximum power and Froude scaled thrust at the low model Reynolds number. Physical limitations due to the large scaling ratio further meant that some structural adjustments were necessary. Nacelle and floater accelerations were measured by means of two accelerometers. The TLP was moored with four different tendon configurations and exposed to different constant wind speeds and irregular sea states as well as a range of regular waves. It was found that an increase in wind speed reduces the wave-induced floater motion but causes slightly larger nacelle displacements. Further, the orientation of the spokes relative to the direction of wind and waves influences the pitch stiffness and thereby the nacelle displacements. Inclining the tendons towards the wind turbine reduces the nacelle displacements significantly and reduces the occurrence of slack tendons, but increases the inline tilt-motion of the rotor. Application of a very stiff mooring configuration increases the occurrence of slack tendons and the magnitude of the pitch accelerations. In a robust commercial design, however, slack tendons must be avoided. The experiments demonstrate the ability of the wind turbine model and the experimental setup to give insight to the dynamic characteristics of floating TLP wind turbines.