Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chaotic sequences for multiple access

The use of chaotic signals as generators of binary and multilevel sequences suitable for code division multiple access (CDMA) is proposed. The number of obtained sequences is found to be greater than the number of m-sequences of the same length. These new chaotic sequences are used as spreading codes in a CDMA system. Simulation results are presented and compared with those obtained for m-sequences in terms of BER performance.
Impact of Economic Factors on Life and Non- Life Insurance Development in Albania – A VECM Analysis

This paper intends to explore the economic factors which stimulate the demand for insurance products in Albania due to the fact that insurance industry has a significant effect on the economic development of a country. Albania is a developing country and insurance market has progressed moderately. Considering density insurance as a proxy of life and non-life insurance market development, the authors have examined the economic determinants of the Albanian insurance market during the period of 2009-2020 based on quarterly data. The analysis is performed using Vector Error Correction Model designing separate models for each of the insurance segments: life and non-life ones. Among several economic variables, this paper examines the effect of GDP, inflation, real interest rate and unemployment. According to the empirical results, GDP per capita has the most significant impact while unemployment is found to be insignificant in respect to life and non-life insurance density. The results are mostly in accordance with the empirical research work, and they are valuable to both academics and experts in insurance industry. The paper contributes to the existing international literature, especially to the literature related to developing countries, being the first one investigating the influence of a set of economic factors on life and non-life insurance industry in Albania. On the other hand, the results of the paper suggest that insurance companies monitor should evaluate these factors in order to increase should improve insurance service available to the public.
A review of the occurrence of and potential for jade in the New Guinea Mobile Belt

Abstract Gemmologists distinguish two rock types in the jade group: nephrite and jadeite jade (or jadeitite). Both are extremely tough monomineralic rocks. New Guinea is favourable for jade occurrence. Giant faults of the New Guinea Mobile Belt (NGMB) extend the 2200 km length of the island and are associated with extensive linear belts of tectonised and serpentinised ultramafic rocks and metabasites, blueschist rocks, intrusive masses of serpentinite containing tectonic inclusions, tremolitised rocks and talc. Geological conditions are favourable for serpentinite-related metasomatic and carbonate replacement nephrite deposits and serpentinite-related vein and pod jadeite jade deposits. Jade is found in eastern New Guinea in the Suckling–Dayman massif, where widespread nineteenth-century use of nephrite tools, including adze blades, axe blades and lime spatulas, occurred in surrounding coastal and inland villages in the Cloudy Bay, Collingwood Bay, Holincote Bay and Musa River region. Several quarries are located along the Mai’iu Fault. Nephrite is also recorded in the Kumusi River area, east of Kokoda. In the Central Fold Belt, jadeite jade, omphacitic pyroxene, rodingite veins and dykes and tremolitised metabasite occur in the headwaters of the April River, Salumei River, Karawari River and Korosameri River regions, and jadeite jade and locally abundant chloromelanite occur in the headwaters of the Leonard Schultze River in the eastern and western sections, respectively, of the April–Lagaip megashear. Numerous quarries are located in the Wario River area. At the Ya’li’me quarries in the Irian Jaya Ophiolite Belt, chloromelanite was quarried for stone-tool manufacture. Jade is also found in the Cyclops Mountains–Lake Sentani ultramafic belt where blocks of chloromelanite for tool manufacture were quarried in the upper Torare River area. This paper describes the history of discoveries, presents an overview of jade petrogenesis and describes the geological settings of NGMB jade occurrences. KEY POINTS The geology of New Guinea is favourable for jade occurrence. Jade is found in extensive linear belts of tectonised and serpentinised ultramafic rocks and metabasites, blueschist rocks, intrusive masses of serpentinite, tremolitised rocks and talc. The use of jade was widespread in parts of eastern New Guinea in the nineteenth century. Nephrite tools (adze blades, axe blades and lime spatulas) were common in coastal and inland villages in an area including Cloudy Bay, Collingwood Bay, Holincote Bay and the Musa River. Jade is known from three localities in the Central Fold Belt of New Guinea. Jadeite jade, locally abundant chloromelanite and omphacitic pyroxene are found in the April–Lagaip megashear. Chloromelanite is found in the Ya’li’me quarries, located in the Irian Jaya Ophiolite Belt. Chloromelanite was quarried in the Cyclops Mountains–Lake Sentani region. Blocks used in the manufacture of adze blades and other implements were sourced from upper Torare River. Some tools were traded widely, including across the Bismarck Archipelago to Emirau Island.
Review essay: fake news, and online misinformation and disinformation

The attempted over-turning of the result of the 2020 US presidential election involved the proliferation of multiple online conspiracy theories and fake stories, and culminated in the assault on the US Congress while it was in the process of validating the electoral college count on 6 January 2021. This represented the apotheosis of the growth of misinformation and disinformation in the USA from around the middle of the previous decade. Social media is commonly assumed to be culpable for this growth, with ‘the news’ and current affairs deemed the epicentre of the battle for information credibility. This review begins by explaining the key definitions and discussions of the subject of fake news, and online misinformation and disinformation with the aid of each book in turn. It then moves on to focus on the following themes common to all three books as a means of attempting to provide a comprehensive analysis of the subject at hand: the use of memes and ironic content; the globalisation of misinformation, disinformation and fake news, and the impact on democratic societies; the limitations of media literacy approaches.
Comparison of foot posture and foot muscle morphology between lifesaver athletes and healthy adults

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the foot muscle morphology and foot posture between healthy adults and lifesavers in sandy beach sports. The participants included 15 lifesaver athletes and 15 healthy adults. Using a non-contact three-dimensional foot measurement device, the foot length, width, and arch height of the right foot were measured while standing and sitting without back support, and the transverse arch length ratio and arch height index were subsequently calculated. Muscle cross-sectional area was measured using an ultrasound imaging device. Muscle cross-sectional areas, arch height, foot width, arch height index, and transverse arch length ratio were larger in the lifesaver than in the healthy adult group. Lifesavers had higher arches and more developed intrinsic and extrinsic muscles than healthy adults. Performing physical activity while barefoot on sandy beaches may effectively develop the foot intrinsic and extrinsic muscles and raise the arch.
Exploring the role of chemo-mechanical technique on the properties of nanocellulose isolated from different varieties of rice bran

Nanocellulose (NC) was isolated from an underutilized agricultural residue, defatted rice bran (DRB), obtained from three major paddy varieties in Malaysia, MARDI Rice (MR): MR 220, MR 219, and MR 297. The DRB was subjected to alkali (NaOH) and bleaching treatments prior to the isolation of NC. The NC from DRB was produced through the acid hydrolysis technique using 55%wt sulphuric acid (H2SO4) with the assistance of ultrasonication. The morphological structure of NC was analyzed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on the observation, a needle-like structure was observed for NC 219 while NC 220 and NC 297 showed nano-web structures. All obtained NC dimensions ranged from 183 to 263 nm long and 4.70 to 4.97 nm wide. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of all important compositions for the cellulose of each variety, indicating that the chemical structure of DRB cellulose has not been altered by acid hydrolysis. Particle size distributions portrayed a unimodal graph for NC 220 and NC 219. This comparative study provides an insight into the possibility of using DRB as a potential source of NC. The promising characteristics of NC from MR 219 allowed its application as an emulsifier for stabilizing a solid particle-based emulsion.
Intersector correlations: a quantitative approach to switched beams' diversity performance in wireless communications

We show that intersector correlations may be used as a convenient way to analyze diversity in switched beam antennas, with particular emphasis on the elevation dependence of the received power spectrum. In addition to their experimental characterization, such correlations can be computed from first principles according to the radio environment. The expected diversity performance can then be used as an input to antenna design and optimization.
Character Education in Physical Education Learning Model: A Bibliometric Study on 2011-2020 Scopus Database

Literature shows that character and physical educations, to enhance students' fitness and growth through physical activity, have a vital role in the learning process. A character-based physical education learning model is required to integrate the two educational ideas. A study on the development of research on this topic is required for the model's application and development. Therefore, this study aims to find and analyze articles in Scopus indexed journals of the last decade (2011-2020) related to character-based physical education learning models. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was employed to explore the roadmap for character-based physical education learning. This bibliometric study has four steps: (1) finding related articles, (2) filtering, (3) validating and completing the article information, and (4) carrying out a bibliometric analysis. This study discovered eight findings, including: (1) publication trend of the physical education learning model in 2011-2020; (2) citation number of the article; (3) author collaboration; (4) the most used keywords by the authors; (5) abstract analysis; (6) institutional collaboration; (7) country analysis; and (8) analysis of character values promoted in the bibliography. Based on these eight findings, this study concludes that academics and researchers pay insufficient attention to character-based physical education learning models. This also suggests that in the context of physical education learning, their attention is more concentrated on the cognitive and psychomotor domains. On the other hand, academics have not paid much attention to character as an effective area. This finding needs to be highlighted because, in education, besides knowledge, an educator has a duty to transfer values. Therefore, more publications on the integration of character education into physical education are required. This study can assist in mapping future research directions that will encourage further research on physical education.
Three-Tier Inherent Safety Quantification (3-TISQ) for Toxic Release at Preliminary Design Stage

This paper proposes a new technique to evaluate the level of inherent safety of process plant during the preliminary design stage by using the combined assessment of process routes, streams and inherent risk for toxic release accidents. This technique is known as 3-Tier Inherent Safety Quantification (3-TISQ). The first tier is to screen the process routes and to select the ‘best’ route that is inherently less hazardous. Next, the inherent safety level of the streams within the selected process route can be prioritized using Toxic Release Stream Index (TRSI) as the second tier. Afterwards, the inherent safety level of the selected streams can be determined using toxic release inherent risk assessment (TRIRA) as the third tier. The acceptability level of the inherent risk for the selected streams can be obtained using a two-region risk matrix concept. If the inherent risk level is not acceptable, the improvement of the design can be done using the inherent safety principle until the level of the inherent risk is at the tolerable or acceptable region. 3-TISQ can also be extended to evaluate the inherent safety level of fire and explosion accidents.
Improving the Sensitivity of Chipless RFID Sensors: The Case of a Low-Humidity Sensor

This study is supposed to introduce a valid strategy for increasing the sensitivity of chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) encoders. The idea is to properly select the dielectric substrate in order to enhance the contribution of the sensitive layer and to maximize the frequency shift of the resonance peak. The specific case of a chipless sensor suitable for the detection of humidity in low-humidity regimes will be investigated both with numerical and experimental tests.
Strengthening Hospital Capacity for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implementation of Electronic Patient Discharge

Background: Increasing hospital capacity to cover the service demands is an important priority during an epidemic or a pandemic. The aim of this study was to increase hospital capacity using the Six Sigma method to improve the patient discharge process. Methods: This was a quantitative study. The Pre- and post-intervention study was conducted in a big hospital designated for COVID-19 patients. The patient discharge process was evaluated and improved based on seven sub-processes and following the Six Sigma model, including defining the problem, measuring time in each of the discharge stations, analysis times and process, improvement process, and control. Results: Implementation of the electronic patient discharge led to a 51.9% decrease in discharge time from 7.3 h during the pre-intervention period to 3.8 h post-intervention (P< 0.0001). According to the Sigma level, the yield and defects per million opportunities of the discharge process also improved to 55%. Conclusion: Increasing hospital capacity by improving the discharge time is a quick action to cover the demand created during pandemics. Also, about 32 beds can be obtained by applying the Six Sigma model to improve the discharge process in a short time and at a very low cost.
Effect of Column Spacing on Economy of G+5 R.C Moment Resisting Frame - A Typical Computer Aided Case Study

The economy of a multistory building depends on the spacing of columns which in turn depends on panel size of slab. The objective of this work is to design an economical G+5 building by finding the optimum spacing of columns. This work is limited to plot area of 30 m X 30 m (with Aspect ratio of Panel varied from 1 to 4) for first case and in second case they were 30 m x 30 m, 30 m X 24 m, 30 m X 18 m and 30 m X 12 m (with Aspect ratio of sites varied from 1, 0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 respectively). In case two each plot area is again divided into panels of different aspect ratios. Here, Aspect ratio is ratio of longer dimension to shorter dimension of panel. The structure is modeled, analysed and designed as per IS : 456 – 2000 using Staad.Pro. Failed members are re-designed till all members are safe. This procedure is repeated for all cases and the quantities of steel and concrete are noted. It was observed that for 30 m x 30 m plot area for aspect ratio = 1, in Case 1Case 41 with 25 columns and in Case 2- Case 31 with 12 columns were observed to be the most economical. In these two cases, Case-1 is more economical. In Case 1, Square module 30 m X 30 m with spacing of columns at 5 m and 25 panels in both sides was found to be cost effective. In Case-2 rectangular module 30 m X 24 m for aspect ratio 0.8 with spacing of columns 15 m X 12 m and 4 panels in both sides was found to be cost effective. For rectangular module 30 m X 18 m for aspect ratio 0.6 with spacing of columns 15 m X 6 m and 6 panels in both sides was found to be cost effective. For rectangular module 30 m X 12 m for aspect ratio 0.4 with spacing of columns 15 m X 6 m and 4 panels in both sides was found to be cost effective.
Analysis of Risk Factors for Poor Short-Term Outcomes in Acute Cardioembolic Stroke Patients without Reperfusion Therapy

Purpose Few clinical indicators of a poor outcome have been defined in acute cardioembolic stroke (CES) patients. We would like to explore practical clinical factors that can predict poor outcomes of CES in the early stage. Patients and Methods In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, 251 consecutive patients with acute CES who did not undergo reperfusion therapy were evaluated. On the basis of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months, patients were divided into the good functional outcome group (mRS ≤ 2) and the poor functional outcome group (mRS ≥ 3). Risk factors were analyzed and the independent indicators for a poor outcome were identified using a binary logistic regression model. Results One hundred (39.8%) patients had a poor outcome. Patients in the poor outcome group were significantly older (P = 0.002) and had significantly higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score compared with those with a good outcome (P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the baseline NIHSS score (P < 0.001), moderate to severe leukoaraiosis (P = 0.011), non-symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (P = 0.019), stroke-associated pneumonia (P = 0.001), and fasting glucose (P = 0.040) were independent risk factors for a poor outcome. Conclusion The short-term outcome in acute CES patients without reperfusion therapy can be predicted by using five practical clinical factors. These indicators should attract more attention.
Crash Prediction Models for Rural Motorways

In this paper, crash prediction models for estimating the safety of rural motorways are presented. Separate models were developed for total crashes and severe (fatal plus all injury) crashes. Generalized linear modeling techniques were used to fit the models, and a negative binomial distribution error structure was assumed. The study used a sample of 2,245 crashes (728 severe crashes) that occurred from 2001 to 2005 on Motorway A16 between Naples and Canosa in Italy. Many characteristics of the motorway were substandard. The motorway allowed investigation of a wide spectrum of geometric configurations. The models were developed by the stepwise-forward procedure with explanatory variables related to traffic volume and composition, horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, design consistency, sight distance, roadside context, cross section, speed limits, and interchange ramps. The decision to keep a variable in the model was based on two criteria. The first was whether the t-ratio of the variable's estimated coefficient was significant at the 5% level. The second criterion was related to the improvement of goodness-of-fit measures of the model that includes that variable. Goodness-of-fit measures were the parameter Rα2 and Akaike's information criterion. All the parameters have a logical and expected sign. The most important result was that design consistency measures significantly affected road safety, not only on two-lane rural highways, but also on motorways.
Brokerage functions in a virtual idea generation platform: Possibilities for collective creativity?

Abstract The open innovation approach emphasizes the importance of service and product users as a source of novel ideas. An essential question is how user-driven innovation is conducted. Information and communications technology offers various new opportunities and means of acquiring information about users and engaging them in innovation activity. This study investigates brokerage functions in a virtual environment where people with diverse experience, areas of expertise and perspectives collaborate. The research question is how brokerage functions are able to create possibilities for collective creativity. The study focuses on the front-end stage of an innovation process: the ideation phase in a virtual idea generation environment, in which fruitful and fresh ideas based on users; or potential users’, needs are sought for in order to support the innovation process.
A finite element formulation for spectral problems in optical fibers

This paper is devoted to the presentation of a new finite element formulation for spectral problems arising in the determination of propagating modes in dielectric waveguides and particularly in optical fibers. As an example, we compute the coupling between two parallel optical wave guides. The originality of the paper lies in the fact that we take into account both the vector character of the problem (no weak coupling assumption) and the unboundness of the domain.
Designing and Testing of Concrete Bridge Decks Reinforced with Glass FRP Bars

In addition to their high strength and light weight, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite reinforcing bars offer corrosion resistance, making them a promising alternative to traditional steel reinforcing bars in concrete bridge decks. FRP reinforcement has been used in several bridge decks recently constructed in North America. The Morristown Bridge, which is located in Vermont, United States, is a single span steel girder bridge with integral abutments spanning 43.90 m. The deck is a 230 mm thick concrete continuous slab over girders spaced at 2.36 m. The entire concrete deck slab was reinforced with glass FRP (GFRP) bars in two identical layers at the top and the bottom. The bridge is well instrumented at critical locations for internal temperature and strain data collection with fiber-optic sensors. The bridge was tested for service performance using standard truck loads. The construction procedure and field test results under actual service conditions revealed that GFRP rebar provides very good and promising performance.
The Genetics of Inherited Cholestatic Disorders in Neonates and Infants: Evolving Challenges

Many inherited conditions cause cholestasis in the neonate or infant. Next-generation sequencing methods can facilitate a prompt diagnosis in some of these cases; application of these methods in patients with liver diseases of unknown cause has also uncovered novel gene-disease associations and improved our understanding of physiological bile secretion and flow. By helping to define the molecular basis of certain cholestatic disorders, these methods have also identified new targets for therapy as well patient subgroups more likely to benefit from specific therapies. At the same time, sequencing methods have presented new diagnostic challenges, such as the interpretation of single heterozygous genetic variants. This article discusses those challenges in the context of neonatal and infantile cholestasis, focusing on difficulties in predicting variant pathogenicity, the possibility of other causal variants not identified by the genetic screen used, and phenotypic variability among patients with variants in the same genes. A prospective, observational study performed between 2010–2013, which sequenced six important genes (ATP8B1, ABCB11, ABCB4, NPC1, NPC2 and SLC25A13) in an international cohort of 222 patients with infantile liver disease, is given as an example of potential benefits and challenges that clinicians could face having received a complex genetic result. Further studies including large cohorts of patients with paediatric liver disease are needed to clarify the spectrum of phenotypes associated with, as well as appropriate clinical response to, single heterozygous variants in cholestasis-associated genes.