Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of manipulated precipitation on aboveground net primary productivity of grassland fields: Controlled rainfall experiments in Inner Mongolia, China

Recovery from grassland degradation caused by climate change and human disturbance is critical to the sustainable development of drylands. Grassland in China accounts for 13% of the global grassland area, and more than half of it is still recovering from degradation. How climate change will contribute to the recovery of degraded grassland has not been clarified through field experiments. Here, we report the effects of manipulated precipitation regimes on above ground net primary productivity (ANPP) in five grassland fields along a degradation gradient using a 3‐year controlled rainfall manipulation experiment in Inner Mongolia, China. We found that differences of approximately 20–30% in growing season precipitation have limited impacts on the ANPP of grasslands, and the responses can depend crucially on the degradation status indicated by vegetation and soil features. ANPP sensitivity to spring drought increased with increasing degradation level, which was mainly determined by vegetation composition. ANPP was generally insensitive to summer drought except for mature grassland, in which drought led to severe soil water deficit, mainly mediated by soil water holding capacity. Our results suggest that the recovery of degraded grassland is expected to be delayed by increasing drought early in the growing season, and mature grassland would be more vulnerable to extreme summer drought. These findings highlight the negative impacts of seasonal drought on degraded grassland and emphasize the importance of accounting for climate change and degradation status in future grassland ecosystem restoration and management policies.
Individuality in Clothing Selection and Personal Appearance

I. INFLUENCES ON CONSUMER CLOTHING SELECTION. 1. Socio-Psychological Influences. 2. Cultural Influences. 3. Physical Influences. 4. Fashion Industry Influences. 5. Target Market Influences. II. DESIGN ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES APPLIED TO CLOTHING SELECTION. 6. Design Elements: Space, Shape, Form, and Line. 7. Design Elements: Color. 8. Design Elements: Texture. 9. Design Principles. 10. Fabric Design. III. CONSUMER CLOTHING SELECTION ISSUES. 11. Clothing Fit. 12. Clothing Quality. 13. Clothing Care. 14. Wardrobe Strategies. 15. Clothing Purchasing Strategies.
Introduction of TPACK-XL A Transformative View of ICT-TPCK for Building Pre-Service Teacher Knowledge Base

What is the nature of preservice teachers’ knowledge base that enables them teach with technology? How preservice teacher education programs should be structured to build this knowledge base? In an effort to respond to these questions, this study examines the mostly recognized relevant theoretical grounding of the nature of the teacher knowledge base. As a result, it introduces TPACK-XL as a transformative view of a strand of Mishra and Koehler (2005) TPACK (Technological Pedagogical And Content Knowledge) theoretical framework, named ICT-TPCK as proposed by Angeli and Valanides (2009). ICT-TPCK integrates the context (X) and the learner’s (L) knowledge to contribute to TPACK with more specificity on ICTs in the field of educational technology. Mishra and Koehler proposed the TPACK model that describes teachers’ integration of ICTs in their classroom practices. TPACK has become known as a useful overarching conceptual framework that builds on Shulman (1986) formulation of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). In this paper, the authors’ analysis of ICT-TPCK model aims to contribute to the discussions on how to educate preservice teachers within the ICT-TPCK framework principles. The detailed examination and refinement of the interrelated contributing knowledge bases of ICT-TPCK: ICTs (T), pedagogy (P), content (C), learners (L), and context (X) has led to pointing thirty-one constituent knowledge constructs. TPACK-XL is identified as the elaborated form of ICT-TPCK that highlights the interdisciplinary knowledge constructs that synthesize to lead to its core knowledge and, consequently, serve as an advanced lens of ICT-TPCK for preservice teachers’ educators.
An ARIMA‐ANN Hybrid Model for Time Series Forecasting

Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model has been successfully applied as a popular linear model for economic time series forecasting. In addition, during the recent years, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been used to capture the complex economic relationships with a variety of patterns as they serve as a powerful and flexible computational tool. However, most of these studies have been characterized by mixed results in terms of the effectiveness of the ANNs model compared with the ARIMA model. In this paper, we propose a hybrid model, which is distinctive in integrating the advantages of ARIMA and ANNs in modeling the linear and nonlinear behaviors in the data set. The hybrid model was tested on three sets of actual data, namely, the Wolf's sunspot data, the Canadian lynx data and the IBM stock price data. Our computational experience indicates the effectiveness of the new combinatorial model in obtaining more accurate forecasting as compared to existing models. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydraulic Fluids

This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about hydraulic fluids. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.
High-Load Bearing Deformation Block Made of UHPC

Statistics indicates that one quarter of deadly traffic accidents are caused by the collision of vehicle with non-deformable objects. To address this issue and to decrease the transportation hazards, we developed novel Energy Absorbing System (EAS). It is comprised of blocks with cellular structures made of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). These blocks are able to absorb impact energy because of the gradual brittle fracture process which occurs in the cellular structures and at the same time they are able to carry the weight of the structure above or to withstand the load generated by crossing vehicles. The UHPC used makes EAS suitable for use in harsh environmental conditions while still having reasonable production costs and the ability to be mass produced. All components of UHPC are commonly available in large volumes for a reasonable price and the resulting material can be shaped into various forms, and gradual deceleration of the car was recorded. The ability of the EAS made of UHPC to gradually decelerate impacting cart was demonstrated using experimental and numerical methods. The main objective of our recent project is to further improve the EAS in cooperation with the private sector and to begin its mass production.
The Combination of an Inflammatory Peripheral Blood Transcriptome and Imaging Biomarkers Enhance Prediction of Radiographic Progression in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective Predictive biomarkers of progression in knee osteoarthritis are sought to enable clinical trials of structure modifying drugs. A peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) inflammatory gene signature, MRI-based bone marrow lesions (BML) and meniscus extrusion scores), meniscal lesions, and osteophytes on x-ray each have been shown separately to predict radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) in subjects with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (SKOA). In these studies, we determined whether the combination of the PBL transcriptome and these imaging findings at baseline enhanced the prognostic value of either alone. Methods An inflammatory PBL transcriptome (increased mRNA for IL-1β, TNFα, and COX-2), routine radiographs, and 3T knee MRI were assessed in two independent populations with SKOA: an NYU cohort, and the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). At baseline and 24 months, subjects underwent standardized fixed-flexion knee radiographs and knee MRI. Medial JSN (mJSN) was determined as the change in medial JSW. Progressors were defined by a mJSN cut-point (≥0.5 mm/24 months). Models were evaluated by odds ratios (OR) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results We validated our prior finding in these two independent (NYU and OAI) cohorts, individually and combined, that an inflammatory PBL transcriptome predicted radiographic progression of SKOA after adjustment for age, gender, and BMI. Similarly, the presence of baseline BML and meniscal lesions by MRI or semi-quantitative osteophyte score on x-ray each predicted radiographic medial JSN at 24 months. The combination of the PBL transcriptome and medial BML increased the AUC from 0.66 (p=0.004) to 0.75 (p<0.0001) and the odds ratio from 6.31 to 19.10 (p<0.0001) in the combined cohort of 473 subjects. The addition of osteophyte score to BML and PBL transcriptome further increased the predictive value of any single biomarker. A causal analysis demonstrated that the PBL transcriptome and BML independently influenced mJSN. Conclusion The use of the PBL transcriptome together with imaging biomarkers as combinatorial predictive biomarkers, markedly enhances the identification of radiographic progressors. The identification of the SKOA population at risk for progression will help in the future design of disease-modifying OA drug trials and personalized medicine strategies.
Students’ Perception of the Teaching and Learning of Plant and Machinery Valuation in a Nigerian University

Plant and machinery valuation is an important aspect of valuation which is taught within the Estate Management and Valuation curriculum in Nigerian universities. This study examined the perception of students towards the teaching and learning of plant and machinery valuation in a typical Nigerian university. Data for the study were obtained through structured questionnaires administered to 500-level Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) Degree students in the Department of Estate Management and Valuation, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, selected through purposive sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used in the analysis of data. It was found that the students’ overall level of understanding was highest in the classification of plant and machinery assets and lowest in computer applications in plant and machinery valuation. Also, majority of the respondents strongly agreed that practical exercises in the field will facilitate understanding of plant and machinery valuation and that more time should be devoted to practical plant and machinery exercises in the field than lectures in the classroom. The study advocates for the inculcation of more practical and field exercises into the curriculum of plant and machinery valuation course and concludes that this will facilitate students’ understanding of the basic topics in plant and machinery valuation at the university level. Key words: Teaching; Learning; Plant and Machinery Valuation; University; Nigeria
ANALYSIS AND EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SAFE OPERATING AREA OF SIGE HETEROJUNCTION BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR

In Chapter 1, a brief introduction to state-of-the-art SiGe heterostructure bipolar transistors and its evolution is described. The main junction breakdown phenomena are presented. Finally, an overview on trade-offs in the design of this kind of devices is provided. In Chapter 2, a new 2D theoretical model for the bipolar transistor operation under reversal base current conditions is presented. In this operating condition the focusing of the current in the central area of the intrinsic base region limits the Safe Operating Area. A detailed study on the behavior of the bipolar transistor above the open-base breakdown voltage has defined a partial differential equation numerically solved by a finite element software package. The analysis has been extended to include the emitter resistance contribution and high injection effects. By means of this model, the cause of instabilities occurring in the common base output characteristics has been clarified. In Chapter 3, the description of a complete characterization of state-of-the-art SiGe HBT devices is reported. The measurements have been totally realized in department laboratories. In Chapter 4, a new technique for the base resistance extraction of bipolar transistor is presented. This method is the first in literature to capture the bias dependence of the base resistance of modern devices. The new extraction strategy has been applied to STM and Infineon SiGe HBT. The good accuracy of the extraction is demonstrated. In Chapter 5, the design, realization and characterization of an in-house pulse generator required for isothermal characterization is described. Main features and specifications of the proposed system are highlighted. The pulser has been successfully adopted for the characterization of packaged power BJTs and MOS transistors, as well as of on-wafer SiGe:C HBTs.
Disentangling fine-scale effects of environment on malaria detection and infection to design risk-based disease surveillance systems in changing landscapes

Landscape changes have complex effects on malaria transmission, disrupting social and ecological systems determining the spatial distribution of risk. Within Southeast Asia, forested landscapes are associated with both increased malaria transmission and reduced healthcare access. Here, we adapt an ecological modelling framework to identify how local environmental factors influence the spatial distributions of malaria infections, diagnostic sensitivity and detection probabilities in the Philippines. Using convenience sampling of health facility attendees and Bayesian latent process models, we demonstrate how risk-based surveillance incorporating forest data increases the probability of detecting malaria foci over three-fold and enables estimation of underlying distributions of malaria infections. We show the sensitivity of routine diagnostics varies spatially, with the decreased sensitivity in closed canopy forest areas limiting the utility of passive reporting to identify spatial patterns of transmission. By adjusting for diagnostic sensitivity and targeting spatial coverage of health systems, we develop a model approach for how to use landscape data within disease surveillance systems. Together, this illustrates the essential role of environmental data in designing risk-based surveillance to provide an operationally feasible and cost-effective method to characterise malaria transmission while accounting for imperfect detection.
Managing Diversity: A Complete Desk Reference and Planning Guide

Aiming to create professional environments where differences are valued and people from divergent backgrounds can work productively together, this examination is designed to help create humane, prosperous, and productive organizations. Ideal for CEOs in the executive suite as well as supervisors on the shop floor, this guide combines systemic, strategic-level possibilities with a continuous array of both practical and tactical charts, tools, grids, assessments, models, and checklists, guaranteed to provide managers of all types with the tools they need to create a positive atmosphere. Suggestions, questions, and considerations regarding the steps an organization can take regarding culture change are featured throughout, making this the quintessential resource for those charged with the task of diversity implementation from start to finish.
Inherent correlation between multilevel carrier-based PWM and space vector PWM: principle and application

The inherent correlation between the carrier-based PWM method and SVPWM method in three-level inverters is established based on theoretical analysis, which is analogous with that of two-level ones. According to the correlation, the two-level switching loss minimized PWM (SLMPWM) method is extended to the three-level. The neural point voltage unbalance problem is an inherent problem in three-level inverters, which is solved successfully in three-level SLMPWM method by adding a simple and effective hysteresis feedback control method. The simulation and experimental results show the proposed method is feasible and efficient for three-level inverters, and the method can also be extended to more levels inverters.
Extension of the peridynamic theory of solids for the simulation of materials under extreme loadings

The simulation of materials exposed to extreme loads, as is relevant in many areas of engineering, including protection materials, impact damage in turbine engines and high velocity impact in space, remains one of the key challenges in the field of computational mechanics. Despite significant advances, a fully robust and generally applicable computational framework for simulating the response of materials under a wide range of dynamic loading conditions is still lacking and the search for improved approaches continues. Existing methods suffer from a litany of limitations and drawbacks, including difficulty representing fracture, robustness issues, difficulty scaling to a large number of processors, excessive computational expense, and fundamental convergence issues for problems involving material damage. In this thesis, we conduct a thorough investigation into the theory of peridynamics and its numerical implementation as a promising alternative approach for simulating extreme material response. Peridynamics is a relatively new nonlocal formulation of continuum mechanics based on integral equations. It includes a physical length scale and naturally supports the presence of discontinuities in the solution field. As part of the work for this thesis, we uncover fundamental limitations in existing constitutive formulations of the peridynamic theory, and propose solutions to these limitations which furnish an extended constitutive theory of peridynamic for large deformations of continua. It is shown that these issues are responsible for numerical instabilities commonly observed in peridynamic particle discretizations. Specifically, unphysical deformation modes which allow for matter interpenetration, without contributing to the strain energy, are shown to exist in the original formulation. In order to address this issue, we introduce an extension of the constitutive correspondence framework based on bond-level nonlinear strain measures. It is found that numerical instabilities are suppressed by the extended theory. In addition, we address the issue of incorporating damage and fracture, as is required for modeling materials subjected to intense loads. In particular, two novel approaches for modeling damage and fracture within peridynamics are proposed. One 3 is based on classical continuum damage models, while the other is specifically suited for brittle fracture response. A robust, scalable computational framework based on these extensions to the peridynamic theory is developed, and numerical examples are provided which demonstrate the ability to capture experimentally observed ballistic limit curves for ductile materials, as well as realistic fracture patterns in brittle materials subjected to projectile impact loadings. Thesis Supervisor: Radll Radovitzky Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Committee Member: Jaime Peraire Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Committee Member: Rohan Abeyaratne Professor of Mechanical Engineering Committee Member: Tomasz Wierzbicki Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The effect of the contract-relax-agonist-contract (CRAC) stretch of hamstrings on range of motion, sprint and agility performance in moderately active males: A randomised control trial

Background Although stretching is done routinely to prevent injury during explosive sport activities, there is some concern that effective stretching might negatively impact on performance. Objective This study’s main objective was to investigate the impact of a specific stretch, the contract-relax-agonist-contract (CRAC) stretch, in which the muscle to be stretched, namely, the hamstrings, is actively contracted and then relaxed. This is followed by the antagonist muscle (the quadriceps) contracting. Secondly, the impact of the stretch on performance was examined. Methods A randomised control trial was used. Forty healthy active males between 21 and 35 years old were assigned to either receive three repetitions of CRAC or rest. Hamstring flexibility and the Illinois Agility Test were the primary outcome measures. Results The intervention was effective in improving hamstring flexibility by 37% immediately post-application and was maintained for eight minutes thereafter. It had no significant effect on agility or sprint times. Conclusion CRAC, when applied to stretch the hamstring muscles of active males, resulted in a large increase of active knee extension range of motion, without decreasing performance. Therefore, CRAC appears to be a safe and effective method of increasing the length of the hamstrings pre-sport activity and should be utilised by sports physiotherapists if deemed necessary. It was also shown to be beneficial following the initial assessment.
Work related low back pain and associated factors among hairdressers in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia; cross-sectional study.

Background Low back pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions and the most common cause of disability. Hairdressers are one of the high-risk professionals for work-related musculoskeletal disorders like low back pain. However, studies on the prevalence and associated factors of low back pain among hairdressers are scarce. The objective of the current study is to assess the magnitude and associated factors of work related low back pain among hairdressers working in female beauty salons.Method An institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed from January 05 up to February 28, 2018. The sample (n=344) hairdressers were selected randomly from all-female beauty salons of Mekelle city. A structured questionnaire adapted from a standardized Nordic questionnaire and other similar studies was used. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with low back pain. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was estimated to show the strength of association. A p-value of < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.Result A total of 314 hairdressers participated, with a 91.3% response rate. The study found that the self-reported 12 months prevalence of work related low back pain was (47.5%) with 95%CI (41.8- 53.1). Awkward way working posture [AOR: 2.6, 95%CI (1.41- 4.62)], working greater than 4 days in a week [AOR: 7.98, 95%CI (2.54-25.09], hair washing job category [AOR: 4.35, 95%CI (1.87-10.12)], having adjustable washing basin [AOR: 0.30, 95%CI (0.151-0.587)] and job stress [AOR: 2.75, 95%CI (1.61-4.72)] were factors that shows a statically significant association with low back pain.Conclusion This study found that work-related low back pain is a major health problem among hairdressers.Working in awkward postures, more working days per week, hair washing job category and job stress show strong association with work related low back pain, whereas using adjustable height washing basin has a protective effect for low back pain. Responsible bodies need to give attention to prevent low back pain among hairdressers by giving on job training related to comfortable working posture and utilization of ergonomically designed tools.