Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SiGe heterojunction bipolar phototransistor for optics–microwaves interfacing

A new SiGe heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (HPT) based on a commercially available process was designed, realized, and experimentally characterized. Its internal characteristics, mainly the collector-to-base capacitance, vary significantly with the received light power, making it suitable as an active element of a light-controlled photo-oscillator. It can also be a key component of optical network-on-chip (ONoC). Its responsivity was improved and its transition frequency remains in the range of 30 GHz.
Psychometric Properties Of Persian Version Of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) In An Iranian HIV-Infected Patients

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in People Who Live with HIV (PWLH). The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among Iranian infected with HIV. In total, 150 PWLH were selected using the convenient sampling method among patients who visited Shemiranat, Dokmehchi, and Bouali health centers during the October 22 to December 16, 2020. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to collect data. Reliability, validity and Rock curve were assessed. The exploratory analysis revealed one factor. The CFA results confirmed the one-factor model of the PHQ. The results (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.879, CR = 0.901, AVE = 0.504, rho_A = 0.899) indicated a high stability. The convergence validity of all questions (β = 000) was significant. For all questions β> 0.5 and PHQ-9, the AVE index was more than 0.5, but for HADS and BDI-II the AVE was less than 0.5. For PHQ-9, HADS had a CR higher than 0.7. PHQ-9 of divergence validity for all three questionnaires was AVE> MSV and AVE> ASV. The Cross Loadings, Farnell-Larcker and HTMT was confirmed. Therefore, convergence validity was acceptable. Finally, it can be reported that constructive validity was also acceptable. Cut off score was higher than 9, and sensitivity and specificity were equal to 957 and 937. According to the results, the validity and reliability of the PHQ-9 in assessing depression among PWLH are high.
Establishment of the network and the surveillance for wildlife health in Albania

Wildlife health surveillance is important in conservation of the wild species but also to identify the wild animal reservoirs of pathogens affecting human and domestic animals. The Wildlife Health Surveillance plays an important role in ensuring veterinary public health and human health and contributes to safe animal-human-ecosystems interfaces. The Albanian network for wildlife health surveillance was established in 2009. The building of a surveillance network and system for wildlife health began with the support of World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission (EU TAIEX Programme, Ministry of Education of Albania and World Bank. Training and staff preparation for wildlife health surveillance was provided. In addition, a research laboratory for surveillance of some important wildlife disease was built. The surveillance for rabies in wild carnivores, HPAI in wild birds, the hantaviruses in rodents and tularaemia in wild rabbits, which are also zoonoses, are some results of these endeavours in Albania. Albanian public veterinary health and public human health envisage improving the strategy for wildlife health surveillance under One Health approach in order to ensure veterinary health, public health and environmental health and to contribute to the OIE wildlife health information system as well.
Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Operational Performance of Islamic Banking Sector

Merger and acquisition (hereafter MA) are the business expansion strategy. Islamic bank is the niche banking sector compared to its peers while it is categorized as too small to succeed. The paper aims to analyze the impact of MA on the operational performance of the Islamic banking sector. This study employs empirical research methods, namely cross-sectional pooled regression and panel data regression to analyze a set of samples consisting of 10 Islamic banks involved in MA from 6 countries, drawn from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World bank, Ficth Connect, and Bloomberg over the years of 2009Q1to 2018Q4. The operational performance is estimated using accounting-based measures while the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and the concentration ratio (CR) are applied to signify market structure. Total assets, total deposits, and operating income variables are used to represent bank size. The findings indicate that bank size shows a negative impact on operational performance. While the segregated level of bank size which is larger banks and concentrated market structure has a greater impact on the operational performance of Islamic banks in the post-MA period. The paper concludes by discussing policy implications for policymakers and academicians for having the strategic decision on the MA deal and further research.
Simple Approach for Tremor Suppression in Electrocardiograms

Electrocardiogram recordings are very often contaminated by high-frequency noise usually power-line interference and EMG disturbances (tremor). Filtering out the tremor remains a priori partially successful since it has a relatively wide spectrum, which overlaps the useful ECG frequency band by aperiodic noise. The proposed simple approach for tremor suppression uses heuristic relations between the ECG signal parts and parameters of the applied moving averaging. The results obtained are assessed and compared to tremor suppression obtained by moving averaging with constant sample numbers throughout the signal.
New analytical expressions for dark current calculations of highly doped regions in semiconductor devices

We studied highly doped quasi-neutral regions of semiconductor devices with position dependent doping concentration in the absence of illumination. An important parameter of a highly doped region is its dark current. To clarify how the doping profile influences the dark current, simple analytical expressions are useful. To this end, we first transformed the transport equations to a simple dimensionless form. This enables us to write already existing analytical expressions in an elegant way. It is demonstrated how, from any analytical dark current expression, a direct counterpart can be derived. Next, we derived a dimensionless form for a nonlinear first-order differential equation for the effective recombination velocity. Starting from the analytical solution of this differential equation for uniformly doped regions and using linearization techniques, we obtained two new simple and accurate expressions for the dark current. The expressions are valid for general doping profiles with different minority carrier transparencies. The exact solution is included between both new approximate solutions. The new expressions are compared with previous approximate solutions.
Enhancing Total Quality Management by Partnering in Construction

Total quality management (TQM) has increasingly been introduced into the construction industry across many countries as an improvement strategy, but there are many barriers impeding its effectiveness in implementation. Many researchers pointed out that partnering can facilitate TQM application, yet the quintessential nature on the linkage between the two techniques is still not clear due to a lack of rigorous verifiable empirical evidence. With support of the data collected from a survey of the Chinese construction industry, together with a case study of the Three Gorges Dam Project, this study reveals the mechanism of how partnering, associated with incentives, can enhance the implementation of TQM into the construction industry. It is concluded that partnering can enhance TQM largely due to enhancing the links across the boundaries of organizations within a trust environment; and the impacts of incentives on TQM are through both aligning strong motivations to encourage participants using the established.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Horizontal Axis Marine Current Turbine With a Boundary Element Method

A low order potential based panel code is used to analyse the flow around the blades of a horizontal axis marine current turbine. An empirical vortex model is assumed for the turbine wake which includes the variation of pitch of the helicoidal vortices trailing behind the blades. The analysis is carried out for uniform inflow conditions in steady flow for a turbine with controllable pitch for two different pitch settings in a wide range of tip-speed-ratios. Grid convergence studies carried out to verify the accuracy of predicted pressure distributions and integrated forces show a fast convergence with grid refinement for this geometry. The effect of the helicoidal wake model parameters used in the analysis is found to have a strong influence in the performance curves. The results are compared with experimental data from the literature and with the lifting line theory. A discussion of viscous effects is also provided to help explaining the main discrepancies with the data. © 2008 ASME
The business model: Theoretical roots, recent developments, and future research

The paper provides a broad and multifaceted review of the received literature on business models, in which we attempt to explore the origin of the construct and to examine the business model concept through multiple disciplinary and subject-matter lenses. The review reveals that scholars do not agree on what a business model is, and that the literature is developing largely in silos, according to the phenomena of interest to the respective researchers. However, we also found some emerging common ground among students of business models. Specifically, i) the business model is emerging as a new unit of analysis; ii) business models emphasize a system-level, holistic approach towards explaining how firms do business; iii) organizational activities play an important role in the various conceptualizations of business models that have been proposed, and iv) business models seek not only to explain the ways in which value is captured but also how it is created. These emerging themes could serve as important catalysts towards a more unified study of business models.
An investigation of supersonic oscillatory cavity flows driven by thick shear layers

Abstract Flows around two-dimensional rectangular cavities driven by thick shear layers are investigated experimentally at two supersonic Mach numbers (Me = 1.5 and 2.5) to show the effects of variations in Mach number and length to depth ratio of the cavity. Flow oscillation is observed in the cavity. The characteristics of the oscillatory behaviour are determined by Mach number and the length of depth ratio of the cavity, as well as the shear layer spanning the cavity. Two oscillatory mechanisms can be identified: one in which a strong trailing-edge vortex and vortices which are shed from the leading-edge interact, the other in which a transverse oscillation of a single vortex occurs within the cavity. Changes in the time-dependent and the time-mean flow characteristics at different flow conditions are discussed. The time-dependent experimental results are compared with existing theoretical analyses of the frequencies. For one of these characteristic types of oscillation, the longitudinal oscillation, an existing theoretical description is improved with a modified phase relation.
Effect of Adherence with Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life Primary Hypertension Patients in Pharmacy

This study aimed to examine the effect of adherence to clinical outcomes and the quality of life of primary hypertension patients in pharmacy. The studywas conducted cross sectionally involved 60 patients at one of the pharmacies in Medan, Indonesia. Adherence was obtained in the form of adherence levels measured using the MMAS-8 questionnaire, clinical outcomes assessed by measuring a patient's blood pressure, and quality of life assessed using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Then the data were analyzed using the Spearmen rho test. Patients who participated in the study consisted of 24 men and 36 women. Almost patient has low adherence with blood pressure mean of 156/ 90 mmHg. The patient's quality of life was 77.7%. Adherence has a significant relationship to clinical outcomes (p<0.05) with a strong correlation of r= -0.745. Adherence has a relationship to quality of life (p<0.05) with moderate correlation r= 0.554. This study concluded that adherence has a correlation with clinical outcomes and the quality of life of primary hypertension patients.
Partial-Power Converter Topology of Type II for Efficient Electric Vehicle Fast Charging

The increasing power levels handled by electric vehicle (EV) dc fast chargers will impose additional challenges to the switching devices in order to cope with the efficiency requirements. A cost-effective alternative to achieve highly efficient power conversion is through the partial-power conversion concept. This article validates the advantages of a step-down Type II partial-power converter (PPC), based on the phase-shifted full-bridge converter, for EV fast chargers. By exploiting the reduced voltage range of an EV battery pack along with the reduced power ratio for a Type II PPC, an extremely efficient charging process can be achieved. The concept is validated with the development of a 7-kW demonstrator, and hence, realistic efficiency measurements are obtained. Results indicate the effectiveness of charging a battery by merely handling 13.32% of the power provided to it, with a peak efficiency of 99.11%.
Women’s economic autonomy during the COVID-19 pandemic

This article is a contribution to the debate on the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on gender inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on women’s economic autonomy. Through a review of the contributions of feminist economics and an analysis of the empirical evidence, it identifies a deterioration in the indicators associated with women’s incomes and their participation in the labour market. The sexual division of labour is deepening in the region, endangering the scant progress made regarding women’s economic autonomy in the pre-crisis years. It warns about gender biases in crisis mitigation policies and reflects on the importance of redistributing time, resources and power to move towards a new style of development based on gender equality and sustainability.
Impact Factors of Simply Supported Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges due to Vehicle Braking

AbstractMuch research has been conducted to study the dynamic impact of simply supported bridges due to vehicles moving at constant speeds, whereas only a few studies have focused on the impact due to vehicles changing speed on bridges. Previous numerical studies have shown that the impact factors due to vehicle braking may exceed those prescribed in the bridge design codes. However, most researchers adopted simple vehicle and bridge models that were not able to consider the spatial effect of real bridges and may have overestimated the actual impact factors due to vehicle braking. In this study, a three-dimensional vehicle–bridge coupled model was developed to study the dynamic impact factors of simply supported prestressed concrete girder bridges due to vehicle braking. Impact factors for different bridge responses were studied, including deflection, bending moment, and shear. The results showed that the impact factors due to vehicle braking could be notably larger than those due to the vehicles moving a.
Benefits and challenges of standard ceiling-mounted surface guided radiotherapy systems for breast treatments on Halcyon™

The present work investigates the benefits and challenges of applying surface guided radiation therapy (SGRT) to breast cancer treatments on the Halcyon™ (Varian, USA). Inter-fraction setup accuracy and treatment time were assessed by comparing CBCT shifts registered following SGRT-based vs. standard tattoo-based patient setup in two randomly selected groups of ten breast patients. Next, using a torso phantom and a volunteer, intra-fraction motion tracking accuracy and surface coverage were assessed for 3 adjusted central ceiling camera positions. SGRT was shown to significantly reduce setup errors (mostly within ± 2 mm) compared to tattoos (up to 2.1 cm) in all translational directions (p-value < 0.001). Treatment throughput and efficiency were also significantly improved with SGRT (p = 0.038). Meanwhile, intra-bore surface coverage with an adjusted central SGRT camera proved insufficient, suffering from patient self-occlusions (invisible body parts occluded by patients’ own morphology such as breasts, bellies, arms, etc.) and bore-induced camera obstructions. Tracking accuracy remained satisfactory (sub-0.5 mm) but 6 degrees-of-freedom motion monitoring, critical in stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy and deep inspiration breath hold techniques and clinical applications, was not possible. Standard ceiling-mounted SGRT systems reduce inter-fraction breast setup errors and treatment duration while intra-fraction motion tracking is insufficient for O-ring linear accelerators.
Effectiveness of Telecentre using a Model of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT): Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Telecentr es’ have been set up in some unserved and underserved areas an avenue for communal access to reduce the effect of digital divide. Even though, Governments, NGOs’ and International Organizations are promoting th ese initiatives’, its acceptance and effectiveness are minimal. Therefore, this paper investigates the main determinants of user acceptance through a survey by gathering empirical evidence based on the revised Unified Theory of Acceptance and the Use of Te collected from 182 respondents in Nigeria were tested against the research model using the structural equation modeling approach. The proposed model fits the data well. Results show that, U ser acceptance of Telecentre was demonstrate performance expectancy; social influence, management effectiveness, program effectiveness and facilitating conditions. The findings of this research provide implications for the research and practice of Telecentre development and
Seismic Behavior of Wood-framed Structures with Viscous Fluid Dampers

The suitability of viscous fluid dampers for seismic protection of light-framed wood buildings is investigated in this paper. Nonlinear finite-element models of wood building components (shear wall) and systems (three-dimensional buildings) are developed and numerical analyses are performed to evaluate their response to seismic loading. For both the single wall and the building system, seismic protection is provided by installing viscous fluid dampers within the wall cavities. The results of the numerical analyses demonstrate the ability of fluid dampers to dissipate a significant portion of seismic input energy, reducing the inelastic strain energy demand on the wood framing system. In addition, the study revealed some important practical issues associated with implementation of fluid dampers within light wood-framed buildings.
Catalytic Converters in a 1d Cycle Simulation Code Considering 3d Behavior

The objective of this study to introduce the newly developed Discrete Channel Method (DCM) as a fast and efficient method for the prediction of the 3d and transient behavior of honeycomb-type catalytic converters in automotive applications. The approach is based on the assumption that the regions between the channels are treated as a reactor with a homogeneously distributed heat source due to chemical conversion. Therefore, each radial direction can be described by a center, a boundary and only a few intermediate channels between them. The discrete channels are described by transient, 1d conservation equations that characterize the behavior of channels at different radial positions. The heat entering and leaving each discrete channel is evaluated by the gradients of the temperature field in conjunction with the heat conductivity of the substrate. The approach is validated by experimental data and serves as a module in the thermodynamic and engine analysis design tool BOOST.
A curvilinear tongue articulatory model

The construction of articulatory models from medical images of the vocal tract, especially X-ray images, relies on the application of an articulatory grid before deriving deformation modes via some factor analysis method. One difficulty faced with the classical semi-polar grid is that some tongue contours do not intersect the grid giving rise to incomplete input vectors, and consequently poor tongue modeling in the front part of the mouth cavity which plays an important role in the articulation of many consonants. First, this paper describes preparation of data, i.e. drawing or tracking articulator contours, compensation for head movements. Then it presents two coordinate systems used to represent and model tongue contours. The first is an adaptive polar grid whose center is a landmark attached to the mandible and the second consists of using curvilinear coordinates. Both offer the advantage of capturing the forward movement of the tongue apex better than other models. Furthermore, the curvilinear model enables any tongue shape, particularly those presenting a sublingual cavity, to be modeled correctly.
Stumbling towards Sustainability: Why organizational learning and radical innovation are necessary to build a more sustainable world—but not sufficient

Our civilization is unsustainable and it is getting worse fast. The human ecological footprint has already overshot the sustainable carrying capacity of the Earth, while population and economic growth are rapidly expanding our impact. Meeting the legitimate aspirations of billions to rise out of poverty while reducing our global footprint to sustainable levels is the defining issue of the age. Change and transformation are urgently needed throughout society. But how can such change be achieved? Here I offer a dynamic systems perspective to raise questions about the processes of change required, at multiple scales. Within organizations, process improvement initiatives directed at cost, quality and productivity commonly fail. Sustainability initiatives share many of the same attributes. Why do so many such programs fail and what can be done to improve them? At the industry level, many attempts to introduce radical new technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles exhibit “sizzle and fizzle” behavior. Why, and what can be done to create markets for radical new technologies that are sustainable ecologically and economically? At the level of the economy, does it all add up? If firms are successful in “greening” their operations and products, does it actually move our economy towards sustainability, or simply lead to direct and indirect rebound effects? Technological solutions promoting ecoefficiency and new, sustainable industries, while necessary, are not sufficient: as long as everyone wants more, there is no technical solution to the problem. Where, then, are the high leverage points to implement successful change programs in existing organizations, create new industries, address overconsumption and transform personal values? I draw on modern research to outline answers these questions, exploring the ways in which some managers have been able to improve the sustainability of their products and operations, often profitably, provide examples, and suggest how organizations can move forward, individually and collectively, to help build a more sustainable world.