Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microparticipation with Social Media for Community Engagement in Transportation Planning

Transportation planning processes may be enhanced and plans improved by engaging the community through social media technologies. “Microparticipation” means the engagement of the public with social media methods for the purpose of maximizing the information going into a planning process while minimizing the plan's development time and the cost to the public. Twitter, Facebook, and other microparticipation media have been used for planning but have not been extensively evaluated for that purpose. This study examined more than 49,000 posts on Twitter and other social networking sites tracked by the Social Networking and Planning Project to determine public engagement in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. With the use of a mixed methods approach, relevant posts were examined to determine sentiment, extent of engagement, and impact on the decision-making process. The study found methods that could be used to analyze microparticipation. The report concluded that microparticipation could be effective in generating participation but faced substantial technical, analytical, and communication barriers to influencing decision making.
Choice of epitaxial structure to promote performance and uniformity of GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors grown by MOVPE

Numerical simulations with a one-dimensional physical device model are used to investigate the importance of the design of the emitter and base regions of n-p-n GaAs/AlGaAs HBT structures. A structure of optimum gain and speed is determined together with limits for the variations of the aluminum gradings and doping placement. The simulations show that the edge of the base doping on the emitter side has to be controlled within a few nanometers to avoid serious degradations of the current gain and the cutoff frequency. Variation in the position of the base doping relative to the aluminum gradings is a plausible source of the spread in current gain observed in measurements of devices made by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE). It is predicted that longer emitter aluminum gradings will reduce the sensitivity to these variations together with the peak values of gain and speed. It is suggested that the grading length be chosen as a compromise between performance and uniformity depending on the accuracy of the manufacturing method and the demands of the application. >
SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Efficient energy use during construction and operation of buildings and sustainable building design are important issues in both modern society and the engineering community. Innovative methods are needed to address the environmental impact, energy use and other sustainability issues faced during planning and design of buildings. This study investigates sustainable design methodologies, the relationships between structural system and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, the impact that project size and type can have on project sustainability, sustainable properties associated with construction materials (such as steel, cast-in-place concrete and prestressed /precast concrete) and computer programs aimed at determining the properties of sustainable structural design alternatives. This study investigates some sustainable structural design methodologies including minimizing material use, minimizing material production energy, minimizing embodied energy, life-cycle analysis/inventory/assessment and maximizing building reuse and presents their positive and negative sustainable qualities. This study discusses and reviews the categories of theLEED rating system in which points could be awarded to a project for sustainability of its structural frame. This study presents the role that project size and structural system type play on aspects of sustainable design including the design and analysis phase, landuse, investments in sustainable technologies, use of timber as a primary load bearing material and other sustainable issues. This study reviews the structurally applicable sustainable properties associated with structural steel, cast-in-place and prestessed/precast concrete. Finally, this study provides a review of life-cycle analysis computer programs focusing on three (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) v4.0,SimaPROv7.1 and Athena Impact Estimator v4.0) aimed at assessing the sustainability of design alternatives. This study determined that no single current sustainable design methodology can address all project sustainability issues at this time. Also, the LEED rating system does not reward projects for sustainable design of their
Influence of Immunocastration and Diet on Meat and Fat Quality of Heavy Female and Male Pigs

Simple Summary Sufficient fat cover is necessary for an optimum dry-curing process of Teruel dry-cured hams. However, in recent years, gilts intended for this type of hams are characterized by lack of fat deposition, since male pigs are surgically castrated, to miss boar taint, and castration increases fatness. Thus, immunocastration or the increase of energy in the diet or the decrease of dietary crude protein and amino acids could solve this problem. On the other hand, the surgical castration of male pigs could be banned in the near future in the European Union. Hence, immunocastration could be a solution, as well. However, immunocastrated males seems to present lower fatness than surgically castrated males. Thus, it would be interesting to study feeding plans that increase fatness. Therefore, two experiments were conducted, one with females and another with males, to evaluate the effect of immunocastration and diet on meat and fat quality. In conclusion, immunocastration is a good practice in gilts, as it improves meat quality and technological fat quality. However, in the case of males, this strategy deteriorates meat quality when compared with surgical castration, and it should be accompanied with a high-energy diet or a low-crude-protein diet to guarantee an adequate fat consistency. Abstract Two experiments were carried out; one with female pigs and the other with male pigs destined for Teruel dry-cured ham production, to evaluate the effect of immunocastration (entire gilts-EG vs. immunocastrated gilts-IG and surgically castrated males vs. immunocastrated males-IM) and diet (control vs. high energy vs. low crude protein and amino acids) on meat quality and fat composition. Fifteen meat samples and eight fat samples of each treatment were analyzed in both experiments. In the case of males, six fat samples per treatment were analyzed to determine boar taint. Immunocastration is a good strategy in gilts intended for dry-cured ham production because improves meat composition; however, in males, immunocastration impairs the results of pork chemical composition compared with surgical castration. The IG presented a lower polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio than EG, improving fat technological quality. Diets had little effect on pork or fat quality in gilts, but a high-energy level using oilseeds and a low-crude-protein and -amino-acids diet from 80 to 137 kg of body weight could be interesting in IM to maintain or increase fat consistency, respectively. Moreover, in general, immunocastration is effective in avoiding boar taint in males.
Implementation of E-Planning at The Padang Panjang Government

e-Planning is a system that supports the preparation of regional development planning to make it more accurate, efficient, transparent, and accountable. So, the regional development planning that has been prepared can be carried out well. This study be carried out an analysis of the strategy for implementing an e-Planning-based regional development planning system at the Padang Panjang City Government. The method used is mixed methods, which combines two forms of qualitative and quantitative research. The research informants were the Head of BAPPEDA and his staff. Data collection was carried out by interview, questionnaire, and observation. Research methodology uses SWOT analysis and data validity test using a triangulation technique. The results showed that the strategies that have been implemented at BAPPEDA include: budget provision, increased stakeholder human resources, and clustering strategies. Related to the sequence of alternative strategies based on the results of QSPM calculations are: strengthening the commitment of local governments in budgeting, improving the quality of stakeholder HR, increasing readiness and commitment to implementing e-Planning, creating innovation, and developing systems that are easy to understand and the results of planning documents can be integrated with e-Planning.
Non-Probabilistic Approach to e-Banking Adoption: The Moderating Impact of Trialability

The purpose of this study is to assess the factors influencing the adoption of e-banking in a developing country and to explore the moderating effects of trialability on the relationship between behavioural intention and the actual use of e-banking services. The study has employed the convenience and cross-sectional data collection approach in three of the 16 regions in Ghana. Data was collected from 568 respondents through an online survey. The Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the data. The findings indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions positively and significantly influence the intention to adopt e-banking. The structural path analysis also showed that trialability positively and significantly moderates the relationship between behavioural intention and actual use of e-banking platforms. This research fills the existing gap in the e-banking literature by integrating trialability into the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to assess its moderating impact on the relationship between behavioural intention and actual e-banking adoption in a developing country.
Information Frictions in Credit Markets

Motivated by empirical evidence I document on local credit markets in France using data on more than 3.5 million bank-firm relationships, I propose a theory of bank-firm matching, subject to search frictions. Firms undergo a costly search process to locate and match with the right banking partner. Upon matching, agency frictions hinder bank’s ability to optimally screen and monitor projects. I estimate structurally my model on French data using the staggered roll-out of Broadband Internet, from 1997 to 2007, as a shock to search frictions. I confirm the model predictions that a reduction in search frictions affects the allocation of credit and the dynamics of firm-bank matching. Finally, I use the structure of my model to quantify the impact of this technology-induced reduction in search frictions on loan prices. I find that broadband internet access reduced the cost of debt for small businesses by 4.9%. JEL classification: L22, L23, D83
Monte Carlo analysis of the behavior and spatial origin of electronic noise in GaAs MESFET's

We present a Monte Carlo (MC) analysis of electronic noise associated with velocity and field fluctuations in GaAs MESFET's. To this end, an accurate estimator of the instantaneous currents at the terminals is used, which improves the precision of the method. Both the current and voltage fluctuations at the different terminals of the device are investigated, thus allowing for the spatial localization of the noise sources. Three different MESFET geometries are analyzed. The results so found compare well with experimental results and confirm the general trend provided by existing phenomenological noise modeling. As a general result, the noise in the drain current is found to increase with the level of the current and remain constant with frequency at least up to 100 GHz. In the case of the gate current, the noise is null at low frequency and then increases quadratically. Under saturation conditions, the source of the drain-voltage fluctuations is localized at the drain end of the n channel, and even penetrates the drain n/sup +/ region due to the presence of hot carriers in the upper valleys. >
High precision control technique for constant current regulation in primary-side regulation systems

A constant current control technique for a primary-side control system is proposed to realise high precision output current regulation. With the novel ring detect and demagnetisation portion control technique, the ending time of demagnetisation can be accurately determined and the portion of demagnetisation in a switching period remains precisely the same. The simulation results show that with this control technique, the variation of output current is less than ±1.5% of the target value.
Moderating effect of audit quality: The case of dividend and firm value in Malaysian firms

Abstract This paper aimed to examine the effect of dividend on firm value, as well as the impact of audit quality on the relationship between dividend and firm value in Malaysian firms, which was measured via financial statements audited by four large-sized audit firms (henceforth the Big Four). The model projected was assessed by using Pooled Ordinary Least Square (OLS), panel random, and fixed effect regression. To ensure robust results, firm fixed effect were also employed. The results revealed that dividends negatively affected firm value, whereas audit quality moderated the relationship between the variables. The outcomes were robust even in further consideration of endogeneity concerns, specifically the omitted variable bias and reverse causality (i.e. firm fixed effect and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM)). The study findings provide novel information applicable for managers to devise investment strategies in the Malaysian market. The implication from this finding can be very useful for a manager to devise their strategy, especially by looking into the moderating effect of audit quality in mitigating information asymmetry that surrounds within dividend and firm value relationship. To the author’s knowledge, this paper contributes significantly towards dividend and firm value literature by being the pioneering introduction into the moderating effect of audit quality, especially in the context of emerging markets.
Providing Context to the Engagement-Behavior Linkage: A Facet-Level Examination

ABSTRACT This two-study investigation utilized two popular engagement measures, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Shirom-Melamed Vigor Measure (SMVM), to explore how facets of state-affective experience related to discrete behavioral outcomes by distinguishing proactive from contextual and in-role behavior. Two independent samples of working adults were used to test various structural models across Study 1 and Study 2, with Study 2 examining behaviors at different time lags (i.e., one-week and one-month). The findings indicated that aspects of engagement signifying a cognitive immersion in work may have unique associations with proactive behaviors such as taking charge. We concluded that these findings provide a deeper understanding of how facets of engagement relate to distinct performance outcomes, as well as how these relationships hold across time.
The Effect of Learning Goal Orientation on Academic Satisfaction based on the Perspective of Social Cognitive Theory

Based on the perspective of social cognitive theory, this study conducted a questionnaire survey on academic satisfaction of 302 college students, and investigated the mechanism of learning goal orientation on academic satisfaction by using correlation analysis and regression analysis. It was found that: both learning goal orientation and academic Self-efficacy had a significant positive effect on academic satisfaction; academic Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between learning goal orientation and academic satisfaction; teachers' academic support partially moderated the positive relationship between learning goal orientation and academic satisfaction. The empirical results of this study provide a reference for universities and college students to improve learning goal orientation and academic satisfaction by themselves.
Site response analysis with two‐dimensional numerical discontinuous deformation analysis method

The capability of the numerical discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method to perform site response analysis is tested. We begin with modeling one‐dimensional shear wave propagation through a stack of horizontal layers and compare the obtained resonance frequency and amplification with results obtained with SHAKE. We use the algorithmic damping in DDA to condition the damping ratio in DDA by changing the time step size and use the same damping ratio in SHAKE to enable meaningful comparisons. We obtain a good agreement between DDA and SHAKE, even though DDA is used with first order approximation and with simply deformable blocks, proving that the original DDA formulation is suitable for modeling one‐dimensional wave propagation problems. The ability of DDA to simulate wave propagation through structures is tested by comparing the resonance frequency obtained for a multidrum column when modeling it with DDA and testing it in the field using geophysical site response survey. When the numerical control parameters are properly selected, we obtain a reasonable agreement between DDA and the site response experiment in the field. We find that the choice of the contact spring stiffness, or the numerical penalty parameter, is directly related to the obtained resonance frequency in DDA. The best agreement with the field experiment is obtained with a relatively soft contact spring stiffness of k = (1/25)(E × L) where E and L are the Young's modulus and mean diameter of the drums in the tested column. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boosting Mustard Production through Front Line Demonstrations

Mustard is an important Rabi oilseed crop of India. It occupies about 24.70 per cent of area and 48.28 per cent of production of the total oilseed production in India. Front line demonstrations on mustard variety Bio-902 (Pusa Jai Kisan) were conducted at farmers’ fields in district Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan) during Rabi seasons of the year 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 & 2009-10. On four years overall average basis about 15.9 per cent higher grain yield was recorded under demonstrations than the farmers’ traditional practices. The extension gap, technology gap and technology index were 217.5 kg/ ha, 375 Kg/ha and 18.8 %, respectively. An additional investments of Rs.1136. 5 per ha coupled with scientific monitoring of demonstrations and non-monetary factors resulted in additional return of Rs. 3848 per ha. Fluctuating MSP sale price of mustard during different years influenced the economic returns per unit area. On four years overall average basis Incremental benefit: Cost ratio was found as 3.4.
Microbial fuel cell performance for aromatic hydrocarbon bioremediation and common effluent treatment plant wastewater treatment with bioelectricity generation through series‐parallel connection

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an emerging technology which has been immensely investigated for wastewater treatment along with electricity generation. In the present study, the treatment efficiency of MFC was investigated for hydrocarbon containing wastewater by optimizing various parameters of MFC. Mediator‐less MFC (1·2 l) was constructed, and its performance was compared with mediated MFC with Escherichia coli as a biocatalyst. MFC with electrode having biofilm proved to be better compared with MFC inoculated with suspended cells. Analysis of increasing surface area of electrode by increasing their numbers indicated increase in COD reduction from 55 to 75%. Catholyte volume was optimized to be 750 ml. Sodium benzoate (0·721 g l–1) and actual common effluent treatment plant (CETP) wastewater as anolyte produced 0·8 and 0·6 V voltage and 89 and 50% COD reduction, respectively, when a novel consortium of four bacterial strains were used. Twenty MFC systems with the developed consortium when electrically connected in series‐parallel connection were able to generate 2·3 V and 0·5 mA current. This is the first report demonstrating the application of CETP wastewater in the MFC system, which shows potential of the system towards degradation of complex organic components present in industrial wastewater.
The Increase in Addiction during COVID-19

The increase in addiction during COVID-19 is a condition that emerged as an aftermath of COVID-19-related events, for instance, fear of the spread of COVID-19, self-abstention from many activities, and restrictions established by the lockdown measures. This condition includes substance addictions such as drugs and alcohol but also behavioral addictions such as gambling, gaming, pornography, and smartphone and internet misuse.
The Association between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Suicidality in College Students

Background: To address the high suicide rate in Korea, determining the suicidality risk factors is a key concern in policymaking and prevention. This study aimed to describe the effects of traumatic childhood experiences on suicidality among young adults. Methods: This study included 1,379 subjects from two universities in Jeju, Korea. All participants completed self-administered questionnaires that included demographic variables, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale to evaluate traumatic childhood experiences, and a Korean version of the Suicide Module of the Mini International Neu ropsychiatric Interview to evaluate suicidality. Results: Of the subjects, 33.2% reported experiencing traumatic childhood experiences, and the prevalence of positive suicidality was 21.8%. Regression analyses indicated a significant association between traumatic childhood experiences and positive suicidality after controlling for multiple variables. Furthermore, subjects with positive suicidality were likely to report experiencing more traumatic childhood experiences (p<0.001). After categorizing the subjects into two groups according to ACE score, the positive ACE group showed a higher risk of suicidal ideation (p<0.001, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.09) and suicidal attempt (p<0.001, AOR=4.15) than those negative ACE. Conclusion: Intervention and practical strategies for college students with a history of traumatic childhood experiences must be considered for suicide prevention.
A Survey on the Optimization of Neural Network Accelerators for Micro-AI On-Device Inference

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are being prototyped for a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) tasks including computer vision, data analytics, robotics, etc. The efficacy of DNNs coincides with the fact that they can provide state-of-the-art inference accuracy for these applications. However, this advantage comes from the high computational complexity of the DNNs in use. Hence, it is becoming increasingly important to scale these DNNs so that they can fit on resource-constrained hardware and edge devices. The main goal is to allow efficient processing of the DNNs on low-power micro-AI platforms without compromising hardware resources and accuracy. In this work, we aim to provide a comprehensive survey about the recent developments in the domain of energy-efficient deployment of DNNs on micro-AI platforms. To this extent, we look at different neural architecture search strategies as part of micro-AI model design, provide extensive details about model compression and quantization strategies in practice, and finally elaborate on the current hardware approaches towards efficient deployment of the micro-AI models on hardware. The main takeaways for a reader from this article will be understanding of different search spaces to pinpoint the best micro-AI model configuration, ability to interpret different quantization and sparsification techniques, and the realization of the micro-AI models on resource-constrained hardware and different design considerations associated with it.