Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aeroelastic Tailoring of Metallic Wing Structures

Innovative metallic wing structural designs are introduced that can be used to influence the bending / torsion coupling behaviour of aircraft wings, leading to the possibility of metallic aeroelastic tailoring. It is intended that the aeroelastic behaviour, such as the flutter / divergence speed or gust loads response, can be influenced in a beneficial way without any increase in weight. Two different approaches are demonstrated: using ribs with varying orientations, and making use of crenellations in the wing skins. The concepts are demonstrated using simple Finite Element models: a rectangular wing box and a more realistic wing model. In both cases it is shown that bending-torsion coupling can be achieved in metallic structures using both and that this has an encouraging influence on the wing aeroelastic behaviour.
Energy Saving for OpenFlow Switch on the NetFPGA platform Using Multi-Frequency

Improving energy efficiency in switch is becoming an increasingly important research topic. In this paper, we present the lesson gained by experimenting with a power management mechanism aimed at reducing the power consumption. One solution for this problem is to control intelligently the power consumption of switches used in data centers. This paper proposes an extension to OpenFlow switches to support different power saving modes. The extension includes defining new messages in Openflow standard and designing a Clock Controller (CC) on the hardware of switch based on NetFPGA platform to implement a frequency driver of the switch under various ranges of traffic loads. Experimental results demonstrate an excellent energy saving according to different working modes. Our results show that all the functions of the Clock Controller of the designed system are valid, and the designed system is feasible for the switch to save energy.
Interrelationships in Rheology for Asphalt Binder Specifications

The formation of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) test parameters implemented in Superpave were based upon linear visco-elastic measurements, for example G*/sind, G*. sind, S(t), and m(t). In addition, the SHRP research defined parameters associated with the Christensen-Anderson model, defining R-value and cross-over frequency. More recently, other test parameters have been proposed for use such as the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) test (Jnr), Glover-Rowe parameter (G*.cosd2/sind), the difference between Tcrit from S(t) and m(t), ( Tc), visco-elastic transition temperature (Tvet) and others. Some of the proposed test parameters relate directly to a linear visco-elastic understanding of the binder whereas other parameters can best be described as non-linear parameters. Both non-linear and linear parameters are important for pavement performance and in many cases these are interrelated through an understanding of time and temperature susceptibility of the asphalt binders. This paper demonstrates how the model parameters can be interrelated through an understanding of the visco-elastic properties and how a simple understanding of a few key asphalt binder parameters can be used to estimate other parameters. Limitations of this approach, especially in the non-linear region will also be discussed.
Evolución del proceso escritor desde la Educación Primaria a la Secundaria

The aim of the study is to analyze the differences that occur in the writing process, through the use of an on-line technique of direct retrospection, functioning at the educational level. 1,231 students participated, with a normal scholastic average, within compulsory education. The results show that although the students in their last year of secondary education obtain the best results, the evolution from primary education is not gradual what it would expect, showing a decrease in the involvement in the writing process, at the beginning of the secondary education, including more interruptions during the first part of the process, and less participation in planning and editing. Data of writing modulation variables supports the belief that inexperienced writers have more positive attitudes and greater motivation toward writing, overestimating their effectiveness, indicative of a lower knowledge, practice and expertise with the process, product and writing quality. These results raise the possibility that the orchestration of writing process that younger students perform is not the most appropriate during the textual production, resulting in a lower quality. Implications, limitations and future perspectives are discussed.
Effect of myofascial trigger points release with shockwave therapy on shoulder hand syndrome in stroke patients

Introduction. To investigate the influence of Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) release combined with shockwave therapy on pain and functions of the upper extremity with shoulder hand syndrome (SHS) in stroke patients with diabetic neuropathy. Methods. Two groups of thirty stroke patients, divided equally into, the study group: which received MTrPs release with shockwave therapy and conventional physical therapy program, while the control group: received the conventional physical therapy program. All the patients were evaluated pre-and post-intervention by the severity score of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Motor Evaluation Scale Upper Extremity Stroke Patients (MESUPES), the figure of eight test for hand swelling, and the Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS-P). Results. highly significant improvement of affected upper extremity functions, with a significant reduction of SHS symptoms, swelling, and pain of the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), also there was a negative significant correlation between MESUPES- all-out score and VAS-P. Conclusions. The combination of both MTrPs release with shockwave therapy had a significant improvement effect on upper extremity function and a significant reduction of both SHS symptoms and pain in stroke patients with diabetic neuropathy, which leads to improvement in stroke patients' functional rehabilitation.
A theory-based video intervention to enhance communication and engagement in online health communities: two experiments

ABSTRACT Background Online communities and social networking sites have great potential for supporting health behavior change. However, interventions vary greatly in participants’ engagement rates and, consequently, their effectiveness. Theory-based interventions in real-world contexts are needed to further increase engagement and effectiveness. Methods We experimentally tested whether a video intervention teaching Self-Determination-Theory-based communication strategies increases need-supportive communication strategy use over one week (Study 1, N = 76) and perceived need support, engagement, and goal attainment in a behavior change intervention supported by a forum-based online community (Study 2, N = 537). In Study 2, participants chose a goal (increasing either fruit or vegetable consumption or increasing moderate or vigorous physical activity) and joined an online community for 2 weeks. Data from both experiments were analyzed with mixed models and follow-up tests. Results In Study 1, participants in the intervention but not in the control group showed an increase in the number of need-supportive communication strategies used both immediately and one week after the intervention (condition × time interaction, partial η 2 = 0.31). In Study 2, participants who watched the intervention video had a higher number of postings and reported a higher subjective forum use frequency (but not a higher number of logins) compared to participants who watched the control video. However, the effect on the subjective forum visit frequency was not robust. There were no intervention effects on perceived need support, goal attainment, or secondary outcomes. The results might be explained by low application of need-supportive communication strategies. Conclusion A brief video intervention may be a suitable, low-cost intervention to promote need-supportive communication strategy use, benefitting both engagement and behavior change. Future studies should incorporate additional means to further improve communication strategy uptake and engagement in online communities.
Impact of Mathematics Anxiety on the Academic Performance of Junior High School Pupils in the Bongo District of Ghana Stanley Appiah Essuman, Josephine Nyarko, Kwarteng Frimpong

This study aimed to explore the impact of mathematics anxiety on the academic performance of junior high school pupils in the Bongo district of Ghana. In this study, 492 pupils in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana were sampled. Using a questionnaire to gather data for the study, Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as the independent samples t-test, one-way between-groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson Moment Correlation were used for analysis. Findings from the study identified that mathematics anxiety negatively affects the mathematics performance of pupils and the study also revealed that, gender plays a very key role in influence the mathematics anxiety of pupils. Based on the findings, it was recommended that mathematics teachers should teach Mathematics with the psychology of teaching and learning the subject to prepare pupils’ for the subject.
Fault tolerant design of a high speed permanent magnet machine

This paper details the design considerations of a permanent magnet (PM), three phase synchronous machine for fault tolerant operation. A multidisciplinary approach to the optimal design of the machine is adopted targeted at minimising the additional losses resulting from faulty operating conditions and accounting for the remedial control strategy implemented. The design of a closed slot, 6slots, 4pole machine is presented. (6 pages)
Quo Vadis? Evidence on New Firm-Bank Matching and Firm Performance Following "Sin" Bank Closures

In this paper, we analyze how firms search for new lenders after a financial regulator forcibly closes their prior banks, and what happens to the firms’ performance during this transition period. In 2013, the Central Bank of Russia launched a large-scale bank closure policy and started detecting fraudulent (sin) banks and revoking their licenses. By 2020, two-thirds of all operating banks had been shuttered. We analyze this unique period in history using credit register data. First, we establish that before sin bank closures, there was no informational leakage and the borrowing firms remain unaffected. After the closures, there is a clear sorting pattern: poorly-performing firms rush to other (not-yetdetected) sin banks, while profitable firms transfer to financially solid banks. We find that the coupling of poorly-performing firms and not-yet-detected sin banks occurs more frequently when the two sin banks (the prior and the next lender) are commonly owned or when the local banking market is unconcentrated. Finally, we show that during the transition period (i.e., after the sin bank closures and before matching to new banks), poorly-performing firms shrink in size and experience a sharp decline in borrowings and market sales, whereas profitable firms strengthen in terms of employment, investment, and market sales. A potential mechanism involves credit risk underpricing by sin banks: we find that poorly-performing firms (especially commonly owned) received loans at lower interest rates than profitable firms prior to sin bank closures. (JEL: G21, G28)
Strict Lyapunov Functions for Dynamic Consensus in Linear Systems Interconnected Over Directed Graphs

We study dynamic consensus for general networked (homogeneous) linear autonomous systems, that is, it is only assumed that they are stabilizable. Dynamic consensus pertains to a general form of consensus in which, as a result of the systems’ interactions, they exhibit a rich collective dynamic behavior. This generalizes the classical consensus paradigm in which case all systems stabilize to a common equilibrium point. Our main statements apply to systems interconnected over generic directed connected graphs and, most significantly, the proofs are constructive. Indeed, even though our controllers are reminiscent of others previously used in the literature, to the best of our knowledge, we provide for the first time in the literature strict Lyapunov functions for fully distributed consensus over generic directed graphs.
Evaluation Of Onion Production On Sandy Soils By Use Of Reduced Tillage And Controlled Traffic Farming With Wide Span Tractors

Abstract Growing of vegetables is often characterised by intensive field traffic and use of heavy machines. By implementing controlled traffic farming (CTF), compaction of the growth zone can be avoided. An experiment was established in an onion field on a coarse sandy loam. Treatments were applied in the field that for five years had been managed by seasonal CTF (SCTF), where harvest is performed by random traffic due to lack of suitable harvest machines. The main treatment was compaction with a fully loaded potato harvester. The split treatment in the crossed split plot design was mechanical loosening. Bulk density, macroporosity, penetration resistance, water retention characteristics and yield were measured. Mechanical loosening caused improvements in the physical soil measurements and more roots were found in the upper soil layers. The highest yield was however found in the CTF simulation plots (19% higher than in the SCTF simulated plots). Using wide span tractors as a harvest platform will enable CTF in vegetable production. Avoidance of compaction will enable reduced tillage intensity and productivity can be improved both through higher yield of the area that is cropped and by a larger percentage of fields can be cropped area as less area will be needed for tracks.
Effect of Mobile Phone Use on Auditory Function

Mobile phone possession and usage have dramatically increased all over the world. The present study was done to characterize audiological profile of individuals who used mobile phones extensively and to correlate audiological test results with duration of mobile phone use. The study consisted of two groups of subjects: The clinical group comprised of 30 subjects who were using mobile phones for two or more hours per day for two years or more within the age range of 15-55 years (mean age: 28.6 years). It was decided to select very limited mobile phone users as comparison group (less than six months of overall mobile phone use and duration of less than 20 minutes per day). The group consisted of 30 age-matched (mean age: 24.6 years) normal hearing subjects. Audiological assessment consisted of puretone and speech audiometry, immittance audiometry and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE). From the study, it was understood that long term mobile phone exposure adversely affects the auditory function. There were statistically significant mean differences in puretone average, all frequency average, high frequency average, Speech Reception Threshold, Speech Discrimination Score, Acoustic Reflex Threshold-Sensation Level and DPOAE values of clinical group when compared with comparison group (clinical group had poor scores). The dominant mobile phone used ear demonstrated poor scores on audiological tests. Further, auditory function seemed to deteriorate with increasing years and hours of mobile phone use. The present study clearly revealed hazardous effects of mobile phone use on auditory function. The risk and extent of damage would be greater in case of extensive usage. The knowledge on adverse effects of mobile phones on hearing is important to spread awareness among people for judicious use of the device.
A Checking Method for Multiple Seismic Performance Objectives of Bridge Piers Designed According to Code Provisions

Seismic bridge design codes require that bridge piers designed according to prescribed design rules should attain specified multiple seismic performance objectives. However, design codes do not explicitly require checking the attainment of specified performance objectives for designed bridge piers. In this article, seismic performance levels have been correlated with engineering damage parameters. A checking method for multiple seismic performance objectives of bridge piers has been outlined and validated with experimental results. The application of the method has been demonstrated by checking the performance of a bridge pier designed according to a code provision for a wide range earthquake ground motions.
Diversity of Fusarium associated banana wilt in northern Viet Nam

﻿Abstract Fusarium is one of the most important fungal genera of plant pathogens that affect the cultivation of a wide range of crops. Agricultural losses caused by Fusariumoxysporumf.sp. cubense (Foc) directly affect the income, subsistence, and nourishment of thousands of farmers worldwide. For Viet Nam, predictions on the impact of Foc for the future are dramatic, with an estimated loss in the banana production area of 8% within the next five years and up to 71% within the next 25 years. In the current study, we applied a combined morphological-molecular approach to assess the taxonomic identity and phylogenetic position of the different Foc isolates collected in northern Viet Nam. In addition, we aimed to estimate the proportion of the different Fusarium races infecting bananas in northern Viet Nam. The morphology of the isolates was investigated by growing the collected Fusarium isolates on four distinct nutritious media (PDA, SNA, CLA, and OMA). Molecular phylogenetic relationships were inferred by sequencing partial rpb1, rpb2, and tef1a genes and adding the obtained sequences into a phylogenetic framework. Molecular characterization shows that c. 74% of the Fusarium isolates obtained from infected banana pseudostem tissue belong to F.tardichlamydosporum. Compared to F.tardichlamydosporum, F.odoratissimum accounts for c.10% of the Fusarium wilt in northern Viet Nam, demonstrating that Foc TR4 is not yet a dominant strain in the region. Fusariumcugenangense – considered to cause Race 2 infections among bananas – is only found in c. 10% of the tissue material that was obtained from infected Vietnamese bananas. Additionally, one of the isolates cultured from diseased bananas was phylogenetically not positioned within the F.oxysporum species complex (FOSC), but in contrast, fell within the Fusariumfujikuroi species complex (FFSC). As a result, a possible new pathogen for bananas may have been found. Besides being present on several ABB ‘Tay banana’, F.tardichlamydosporum was also derived from infected tissue of a wild Musalutea, showing the importance of wild bananas as a possible sink for Foc.
Signal Transduction by VIP and PACAP Receptors

Homeostasis of the human immune system is regulated by many cellular components, including two neuropeptides, VIP and PACAP, primary stimuli for three class B G protein-coupled receptors, VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) regulate intestinal motility and secretion and influence the functioning of the endocrine and immune systems. Inhibition of VIP and PACAP receptors is an emerging concept for new pharmacotherapies for chronic inflammation and cancer, while activation of their receptors provides neuroprotection. A small number of known active compounds for these receptors still impose limitations on their use in therapeutics. Recent cryo-EM structures of VPAC1 and PAC1 receptors in their agonist-bound active state have provided insights regarding their mechanism of activation. Here, we describe major molecular switches of VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1 that may act as triggers for receptor activation and compare them with similar non-covalent interactions changing upon activation that were observed for other GPCRs. Interhelical interactions in VIP and PACAP receptors that are important for agonist binding and/or activation provide a molecular basis for the design of novel selective drugs demonstrating anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. The impact of genetic variants of VIP, PACAP, and their receptors on signalling mediated by endogenous agonists is also described. This sequence diversity resulting from gene splicing has a significant impact on agonist selectivity and potency as well as on the signalling properties of VIP and PACAP receptors.
Can We Improve the Realism of Gravity Wave Parameterizations by Imposing Sources at All Altitudes in the Atmosphere?

A multiwave non‐orographic gravity wave (GW) scheme is adapted to represent waves of small intrinsic phase speed, inertial waves, and wave emission from all altitudes. This last change removes the launching altitude parameter, an arbitrary parameter systematically used in GW schemes. In offline calculations using reanalysis fields, these changes impose larger amplitude, saturated waves everywhere in the middle atmosphere, which produces more realistic GW vertical spectra than in previous configurations. The same scheme, tested online in the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Zoom (LMDz) general circulation model, performs at least as well as the operational non‐orographic GW scheme. Some modest benefits are seen, for instance, in the equatorial tilt with altitude of the winter jets in the middle atmosphere. Although the scheme includes the effects of inertial waves, which are detected in the mesosphere by different observational platforms, the configuration that gives a reasonable climatology in LMDz hinders their vertical propagation and limits their presence at mesospheric altitudes.
Heading for Tomorrow: Resilience Strategies for Post-COVID-19 Grocery Supply Chains

Supply chain resilience is a critical capability needed to compete in the current turbulent and unpredictable business environment, but many companies still tend to underestimate its relevance. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding which supply chain impacts influence the policies and actions undertaken when resilience is concerned is important. This study investigated the relationships between the impacts experienced at the different supply chain tiers during the pandemic, and explored which impacts could drive perceptions towards developing resilience strategies in the future. A survey instrument was developed adopting a mid-range approach, targeting manufacturers active in the Italian grocery supply chain. Data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results showed that source-related impacts deeply affect make- and delivery-related impacts, and make-related impacts mainly influence the perceptions about future resilience strategies. In fact, manufacturers appear to be primarily interested in those strategies ensuring the continuity of their intrinsic operations. The study could inform theory and practice about companies’ decisions towards the adoption of certain approaches. Also, it highlights promising research avenues related to deepening understanding of how perceptions could predict future intentions to engage in protective actions to adequately cope with potential future disruptions.