Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenomenological investigation on crash characteristics of thin layered CFRP-steel laminates

Abstract Most energy absorbing structures in automotive applications consist of metals. Those are characterised by high absolute energy absorption (EA) values yet low mass-specific energy absorption (SEA m ). In contrast carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) reach higher SEA m values. The difference however is not a direct consequence of the density, weight specific stiffness or strength. Instead, the failure progression and hence the energy dissipation characteristics of metallic and CFRP structures are different. Whether a combination of the two material types leads to an increase or decrease of the SEA depends on the crash characteristics of the laminate which supposedly depends on the lay-up. The present paper reports on an experimental investigation on the crash behaviour of omega-shaped fibre-metal laminates (FML) composed of unidirectional CFRP prepreg layers and steel-foils under compressive axial loads. A potential of the tested hybrid laminates is proven by an increase of the mass-specific energy absorption value (SEA m ) of 58%, compared to CFRP.
The role of built environment education programs in environmental education

Environmental education and urban environmental education programs seldom link or incorporate natural ecosystems with the built environment in a unified educational approach. The claim developed is that there are a number of design practitioners who have created and implemented practices and programs with a focus on multidisciplinary education in urban planning, urban design and architecture education intended to equip students with the tools and knowledge to affect real change in urban places. As a collective case study, this thesis focuses on the comparative analysis of five programs of built environment education in Canada, USA, Denmark and the Netherlands that utilize urban and rural planning, participatory planning, participatory design, cooperative design (co-design), architecture education, sustainability education, environmental education, and urban environmental education through various methods. The intent of this research is to show how these examples of comprehensive multidisciplinary education techniques incorporate environmental education and urban environmental education with built environment education so that students can better understand how the urban environment operates and how they can affect positive change upon it.
Novel Techniques for the Measurement of Atmospheric Organic Aerosol Physiochemical Properties

Atmospheric aerosols significantly impact both human health, as they increase the frequency of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and climate change, as they affect the Earth’s energy balance. Organic aerosol (OA) comprises a substantial fraction of atmospheric aerosol, but there is limited knowledge about its sources, chemical evolution, and physical properties, leading to considerable uncertainty in atmospheric chemical transport model predictions. The magnitude of the impact of OA on human health and climate change is strongly dependent on an improved understanding of the evolution of organic compounds in the atmosphere. Hygroscopicity, oxidation level, and volatility are three of the most crucial properties of OA because they control its atmospheric fate and climate relevance. Hygroscopicity is a measure of a compound’s ability to interact with and absorb water. The oxidation level is a useful surrogate for changes in chemical composition since the atmosphere is an oxidizing environment. Volatility determines, to a large extent, the partitioning of compounds between the particulate and vapor-phases. This work develops and tests novel techniques that can be used to measure these critical properties of OA and provide a foundation to update these properties in atmospheric models.The first part of this work describes the development and testing of a technique that quantitatively relates the hygroscopicity and oxidation level of OA components to their volatility. The technique utilizes a thermodenuder (TD) along with aerosol mass spectrometry and size-resolved cloud condensation nuclei measurements to separate the OA by volatility and characterize its hygroscopicity and oxidation level. The technique was tested with secondary OA (SOA) from the ozonolysis of α-pinene and the results indicated that the least volatile components in this SOA system were the least hygroscopic and least oxidized. The second part of this work improves the characterization of the volatility distribution of OA by combining TD and isothermal dilution measurements. The technique was tested with SOA from the ozonolysis of α-pinene and cyclohexene. The results from this work demonstrated the challenges that arise in estimating the volatility distributions of OA using thermal evaporation techniques and the benefits of combining techniques to measure properties of OA.The third part of this work combines the techniques from the first and second parts of this thesis and applies them to SOA from the ozonolysis of α-pinene, limonene, and cyclohexene. The results suggested that some OA systems have a more complex relationship between these properties than originally thought. Use of the techniques developed in this thesis to different OA, both laboratory and ambient, can supply needed parameters that can be incorporated in atmospheric models.
A journey through the digestive system: analysis of a practical activity's use as a didactic resource for undergraduate students

ABSTRACT The digestive system is a fundamental topic in biological science teaching. Despite its importance, the level of students’ knowledge on the topic appears to differ from recommended levels at several educational grades. Their knowledge also seems to be resistant to change; therefore, this discrepancy may be viewed as an epistemological obstacle to teaching scientifically updated concepts related to the digestive system. Didactic-pedagogical resources are important tools for overcoming such difficulties. The present study was intended to analyse the use of a practical activity as a possible didactic resource to help (re)construct concepts regarding human digestive physiology and to amplify the conceptual profile of undergraduate students. Data collection was performed using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to assess students’ knowledge of the digestive system before and after participating in the practical activity. Qualitative data analysis revealed that previous knowledge was partially aligned with that described in the literature, suggesting a possible epistemological obstacle to teaching and learning scientific concepts. Participation in the activity not only contributed to better understanding of general aspects of the digestive system but also appeared to help overcome possible epistemological obstacles, including the role of the intestine.
Risk Assessment Methods in Mining Industry—A Systematic Review

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the mining industry in issues related to risk assessment and management, which is confirmed by a significant number of publications and reports devoted to these problems. However, theoretical and application studies have indicated that risk in mining should be analyzed not only in the human factor aspect, but also in strategic (environmental impact) and operational ones. However, there is a lack of research on systematic literature reviews and surveys of studies that would focus on these identified risk aspects simultaneously. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to develop a literature review in the area of analysis, assessment and risk management in the mining sector, published in the last decade and based on the concept of a human engineering system. Following this, a systematic search was performed with the use of Primo multi-search tool following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The main inclusion criteria were: (a) not older than 10 years, (b) article written in English, (c) publication type (scientific article, book, book chapter), (d) published in chosen electronic collections (Springer, Taylor and Francis, Elsevier, Science Direct, JSTOR). This resulted in the selection of the 94 most relevant papers in the area. First, the general bibliometric analysis was conducted. Later, the selected papers in this review were categorized into four groups and the critical review was developed. One of the main advantages of this study is that the results are obtained from different scientific sources/databases thanks to using a multi-search tool. Moreover, the authors identified the main research gaps in the area of the implementation of risk management in the mining industry.
Disentangling the mechanisms underlying the species–area relationship: A mesocosm experiment with annual plants

The increase in species richness with increased island area is one of the most widely documented patterns in ecology and biogeography but its mechanisms are still under debate. Disentangling these mechanisms in natural systems is challenging due to various kinds of confounding effects. Here we use a novel mesocosm experiment focusing on annual plants to disentangle the effects of two mechanisms that may lead to higher richness on large islands: increasing population sizes and increasing opportunities for within‐island dispersal. Theoretical studies show that both mechanisms may contribute to higher richness on large islands, but no previous study has attempted to separate their effects. We also test an alternative, ‘null’ hypothesis, according to which the only mechanism underlying the increase in richness with increased area is a pure sampling effect (the ‘passive sampling hypothesis’). As expected, increasing area had a strong positive effect on species richness. However, the main mechanism underlying the difference in richness between small and large islands was passive sampling. Moreover, our results indicate that dispersal had a negative rather than positive effect on island richness. Synthesis. Our results corroborate previous observational studies that failed to reject the passive sampling hypothesis. However, in contrast to previous studies, our findings are based on experimental manipulations of island area, under controlled uniform conditions, at small spatial scales that facilitate within‐island dispersal and in three independent systems that differed in resource availability and disturbance. These findings emphasize the need for a careful examination of sampling effects in future research of the species–area relationship.
Portfolio Optimization in a Multinational Enterprise with a Multidimensional Organizational Design

Customers of multinational enterprises (MNE’s) exist almost everywhere. Cross border B2C e-commerce is expected to double by 2022 according to Forrester Research. How do MNE’s efficiently leverage their product portfolios across geographic markets? How can these portfolios exploit both relatedness and diversification to exploit synergies? Synergies exist in terms of resources needed in these products due to relatedness between them. Economies of scale can be exploited to reduce costs of needed resources. In this case study an MNE utilized a multidimensional organization design to reach customers in many parts of the world. The author presents findings from this case and ultimately extracts twenty-six propositions to guide portfolio theory. Absent these measures, risk of revenue loss is enhanced significantly.
Triggered by Defeat or Victory? Assessing the Impact of Presidential Election Results on Extreme Right-Wing Mobilization Online

ABSTRACT The theoretical literature from criminology, social movements, and political sociology, among others, includes diverging views about how political outcomes could affect movements. Many theories argue that political defeats motivate the losing side to increase their mobilization while other established models claim the winning side may feel encouraged and thus increase their mobilization. We examine these diverging perspectives in the context of the extreme right online and recent presidential elections by measuring the effect of the 2008 and 2016 election victories of Obama and Trump on the volume of postings on the largest white supremacy web-forum. ARIMA time series using intervention modeling showed a significant and sizable increase in the total number of posts and right-wing extremist posts but no significant change for firearm posts in either election year. However, the volume of postings for all impact measures was highest for the 2008 election.
Predicting Sustainable Farm Performance—Using Hybrid Structural Equation Modelling with an Artificial Neural Network Approach

The adoption of innovative technology has always been a complex issue. The agriculture sectors of developing countries are following unsustainable farming policies. The currently adopted intensive farming practices need to replace with conservative agriculture practices (CAPs). However, the adoption of CAPs has remained low since its emergence and reports have suggested that the use of CAPs is scant for sustainable farm performance. This article aims to study three scenarios: Firstly, the influence of personal and CAPs level factors on the intention to adopt CAPs; secondly, the influence intention to adopt CAPs, facilitating conditions and voluntariness of use on the actual use of CAPs; and thirdly, the impact of the actual use of CAPs on sustainable farm performance. This study is based on survey data collected by structured interviews of rice farmers in rural Pakistan, which consists of 336 samples. The final analysis is performed using two methods: (1) a well-established and conventional way of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3.0, and (2) a frontier technology of computing using an artificial neural network (ANN), which is generated through a deep learning algorithm to achieve maximum possible accuracy. The results reveal that profit orientation and environment attitude as behavioural inclination significantly predicts the intention to adopt CAPs. The perception of effort expectancy can significantly predict the intention to adopt CAPs. Low intention to adopt CAPs caused by the low-level trust on extension, low-performance expectancy, and low social influence for the CAPs. The adoption of CAPs is affected by facilitating conditions, voluntary use of CAPs, and the intention to adopt CAPs. Lastly, the use of CAPs can positively and significantly forecast the perception of sustainable farm performance. Thus, it is concluded that right policies are required to enhance the farmers’ trust on extension and promote social and performance expectation for CAPs. Besides, policy recommendations can be made for sustainable agriculture development in developing and developed countries.
Protein Intake of Vegetarians and Non-vegetarians in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the protein intake of vegetarians and nonvegetarians in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Methodology: Four objectives and four research questions guided the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of 400 respondents was selected using Taro Yamene formula and purposive sampling techniques. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire tagged: Protein Intake of Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians in Port Harcourt Questionnaire (CPIBVNVQ). The instrument was validated by three experts with a reliability coefficient of 0.56. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage) and findings were presented on tables. Results: Prevalence of vegetarianism was high in females (53%) than in males (47%). Protein intake by the vegetarians was high (97%) when compared with vegetarians who do not eat proteinous foods (3%). Among the non-vegetarians, 94% eat proteinous foods while 6% do not eat. The study also showed that protein intake is better in non-vegetarians than vegetarians. Higher percentages of non-vegetarians (84.3%) fell sick and got diagnosed of ailments as compared with 17.4% for vegetarians suggesting that the vegetarians experience enhanced immune function. Original Research Article Orisa and Usoroh; EJNFS, 12(8): 33-44, 2020; Article no.EJNFS. 59091 34 Reduced saturated fat and blood cholesterol was a tool that influenced the respondents in choosing the vegetarian lifestyle with 82.5% for vegetarian and 13.8% for non-vegetarian. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it was recommended that vegetarians should be encouraged to consume more plant proteins especially soy based foods since they are high biological value protein food comparable to animal products.
Perceived institutional support and small venture performance: The mediating role of entrepreneurial persistence

This article examines the entrepreneurial persistence of opportunity-motivated entrepreneurs in Ghana. Specifically, it develops a theoretical model focusing on the relationships among perceived institutional support, entrepreneurial persistence and small venture performance, including how entrepreneurial networks condition the relationship between institutional support and entrepreneurial persistence. Using time-lagged data from 373 opportunity-motivated entrepreneurs leading small ventures in Ghana, we find broad support for our hypotheses. The insights from our study provide an integrative understanding of the relationships among perceived institutional support, entrepreneurial persistence and venture performance in an adverse environment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Combining Ability Analysis for Seed Yield per Plant and Its Components in Castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Combining ability for seed yield and its component traits in castor was studied using line x tester mating design involving four diverse pistillate testers (Females) and eighteen inbred lines (males). Analysis of variance revealed that the estimates of σGCA were higher than the corresponding σSCA for days to flowering of primary raceme, plant height up to primary raceme, oil content, indicated that the preponderance of additive component of genetic variance for these traits, while for the remaining traits, non-additive component of genetic variance was predominant. Three females JP 96, JP 106 and SKP 84 and six males JI 244, SKI 215, SKI 327, SKI 392, SKI 405 and 500-2 exhibited good general combining ability effect for seed yield. The best three hybrids on the basis of significant positive SCA effect for seed yield per plant were JP 106 x JI 390 (good x average combiners), JP 96 x SKI 392 (good x good combiners) and SKP 84 x JI 244 (good x good combiners). The top high yielding hybrids JP 96 × SKI 392 (good x good combiners), JP 96 × SKI 215 (good x good combiners) and SKP 84 × JI 244 (good x good combiners), with significant heterobltiosis as well as standard heterosis, also depicted significant sca effect for seed yield per plant.
Comparison of the Glycolytic and Alcoholic Fermentation Pathways of Hanseniaspora vineae with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Wine Yeasts

Hanseniaspora species can be isolated from grapes and grape musts, but after the initiation of spontaneous fermentation, they are displaced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hanseniaspora vineae is particularly valuable since this species improves the flavour of wines and has an increased capacity to ferment relative to other apiculate yeasts. Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic studies in H. vineae have enhanced our understanding of its potential utility within the wine industry. Here, we compared gene sequences of 12 glycolytic and fermentation pathway enzymes from five sequenced Hanseniaspora species and S. cerevisiae with the corresponding enzymes encoded within the two sequenced H. vineae genomes. Increased levels of protein similarity were observed for enzymes of H. vineae and S. cerevisiae, relative to the remaining Hanseniaspora species. Key differences between H. vineae and H. uvarum pyruvate kinase enzymes might explain observed differences in fermentative capacity. Further, the presence of eight putative alcohol dehydrogenases, invertase activity, and sulfite tolerance are distinctive characteristics of H. vineae, compared to other Hanseniaspora species. The definition of two clear technological groups within the Hanseniaspora genus is discussed within the slow and fast evolution concept framework previously discovered in these apiculate yeasts.
Trends in Global Flood and Streamflow Timing Based on Local Water Year

Analysis of flood and streamflow timing has recently gained prominence as a tool for attribution of climatic changes to flooding. Such studies generally apply circular statistics to the day of maximum flow in a calendar year and use nonparametric linear trend tests to investigate changes in flooding on a local or regional scale. Here we investigate both the center timing of streamflow and the day of maximum flow using a local water year. For each station, the start of the water year is defined as the month of lowest average monthly streamflow. This definition of water year prevents ambiguity in the direction of computed trends and enables flood and streamflow timing to be described by a normal distribution. Using the assumption of normality, we calculate the historical trend in both flood and streamflow timing using linear regression. While shifts in flood and streamflow timing are consistent with climate change and are shifting in a similar direction, shifts in the timing of the annual maxima flood are approximately three times that of streamflow timing. The results here have implications for water resources and environmental management where streamflow and flood timing are critical to planning. The applicability of the normal approximation to flood and streamflow timing will enable future analyses to use parametric statistics.
Sensorless Vector Control of Induction Machines via Sliding Mode Control based Model Reference Adaptive System

This paper is assigned to a sensorless indirect vector control scheme for Induction Machines (IMs). This control system adapts the X Model Reference Adaptive System (X-MRAS) for speed estimation. Despite the classical MRAS, the proposed X-MRAS estimator, which is based on Sliding Mode Control (SMC), does not involve pure integration and flux estimation. Moreover, adapting the proposed estimator enables accurate speed estimation in very low and zero speed regions. Thus, it is very convenient for implementing in IM drive systems. It should be noted that the stability of the proposed control system is confirmed based on the lyapunov stability criteria both in the motoring and the generating operation conditions. In addition, utilizing SMC decreases the sensitivity of the estimated speed to the parameter variations, especially the stator resistance. The comparison between the proposed X-MRAS and the conventional X-MRAS methods verifies the superiority of the proposed method in various speed regions especially in very low speed regions.
Racial differences in developmental patterns of social consequences of drug use

ABSTRACT This study sought to examine differences in developmental patterns of social consequences of drug use among youth offenders and investigate the relevance of race for predicting trajectory-group assignment. The Pathways to Desistance data were used in analyses, comprising the responses of 1,354 juvenile offenders followed across 84 months after an adjudication for a serious offense. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify developmental patterns of social consequences of drug use. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relevance of covariates for predicting assignment to trajectory-groups. A five-group model of development best fits the data. Race was found to be a predictor of group assignment. White juvenile offenders were much more likely to belong to the High Chronic social consequences group. White juvenile offenders are at-risk for demonstrating high and chronic levels of social consequences stemming from drug use. Implications are discussed.