Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blind modal identification of non‐classically damped structures under non‐stationary excitations

In the present paper, we extend a previously developed blind modal identification method to systems with non‐classical damping, which have complex‐valued mode shapes. Unlike conventional output‐only identification methods, blind modal identification method can provide modal property estimates when the input excitations are unknown and non‐stationary (e.g., for systems equipped with added dampers or soil–structure problems). In earlier work, we have developed a technique that can be used for non‐classically damped systems, but it is only applicable to stationary (i.e., ambient) excitations. Herein, we present an extension to non‐classically damped systems under non‐stationary (e.g., seismic) excitations. The proposed method yields mode shapes, natural frequencies and damping ratios, sequentially. A critical ingredient in this new method is a combination of generalized eigen‐decomposition and rough–fuzzy c‐means clustering techniques, which are employed to identify the complex‐valued mode shapes. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified through a simulated but realistic example. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of workplace safety on employee retention using sequential mediation: evidence from the health-care sector

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of workplace safety (WPS) on employee retention (ER) in the health-care sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), Pakistan. At the same time, a mediation relationship through job satisfaction (JS) and employee loyalty (EL) was also tested. Design/methodology/approach Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data from 300 doctors, using purposive sampling technique analysed using partial least squares (Smart-PLS 3). Findings This study’s findings supported all hypotheses, such as WPS has a significant positive relationship with ER. In addition, a mediation relationship between JS and EL was also confirmed. Furthermore, a serial mediation effect of JS and EL between WPS and ER was also confirmed in this study. Research limitations/implications This study might not fit organisations from other regions due to regional norms. In the future, this study’s model may be tested on other regions and segments of the health-care sector, such as nurses, management staff and support staff. Practical implications The present study is unique because it is based on a newly formulated framework, WPS → JS → EL → ER, under the social exchange theory, which has not been tested before. Social implications In a safe environment, doctors will feel relaxed, stay longer and provide better services; resultantly, patients will get better treatment. Originality/value This study tested the sequential mediation effect through JS and EL for the first time in ER, which was missing previously, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. This will add more insights to the safety-retention literature in health-care settings. Furthermore, this study is also the first attempt to explore the relationship between WPS and ER in the health-care sector in AJ&K.
The effect of zirconium oxide nanoparticle on the surface roughness of maxillofacial silicone

E-mail: israaizzidin@uomosul.edu. iq Abstract Aims: The study intended to inspect the consequence of the addition of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticle at two concentrations (1% and 1.5% by weight) on the surface roughness of the maxillofacial silicone material (room temperature vulcanized). Materials and methods: Thirty samples were prepared according to the manufacture instructions and divided into three groups (n=10). A digital surface roughness profilometer tested the surface roughness samples for the control group (A) free from nanoparticle, group (B) 1% ZrO2, group (C) 1.5 % ZrO2 . Results: The mean values of the surface roughness measured groups a highly significant difference among groups. Group A (.2137 μm) exhibited a highly significant difference compared to group B (.2698 μm) and group C (.2801 μm). Besides, a highly significant difference between group B and group C . Conclusions: Incorporation of 1% and 1.5% by weight of ZrO2 nanoparticle into maxillofacial silicone material increases surface roughness.
Analysis of Cointegration and VECM of FDI, Labor Force, Government Expenditure and GDP in Indonesia (2005-2019)

This paper studied the effect of labor force, government expenditure and FDI on GDP of Indonesia (2005-2019) by cointegration analysis and VECM. In the short-term, GDP, labor force and government expenditure significantly affect GDP of Indonesia, while FDI does not significantly affect Indonesia’s GDP. However, in the long term, GDP, labor force, government expenditure and FDI have a significant affect GDP of Indonesia. The government must ensure that there are no shocks in GDP, labor force, government expenditure and FDI of Indonesia. Because any shocks that occur in these variables will also have an impact on the GDP of Indonesia. Keywords: GDP, Labor Force, FDI, Government Expenditure
Are collective agreements losing their bite? Collective bargaining and pay premia in Europe, 2002-2018

4 Introduction . 5 1. Data and methods . 8 2. Collective bargaining in Europe at a glance . 11 3. Trends in coverage and pay premia from micro-level data . 16 3.1 Centralisation and coverage in the public and private sectors . 16 3.2 Variation in pay premia in the private sector . 20 3.3 Patterns in coverage and pay premia by type of collective bargaining regime . 22 3.4 Country differences . 24 4. What explains the differences in pay premia? Analysis of country-sector-years . 28 Conclusion . 33 References . 34 Appendix . 36 Appendix A: Country profiles . 37 Appendix B: Methodological extension . 48 Appendix C: Coverage between ESES and ICTWSS . 50 Appendix D: Comparison of SES micro-level and aggregate data . 52
Establishment of Normative Data for Autonomic Function Tests in Indian Population

Background: Normative data for autonomic function tests (AFT) is not available for Indian population. Objective: The aim of the study was to establish normative data in AFT and its correlation with age, gender, and body mass index. Material and Methods: The study was done on 254 healthy subjects of age ≥18 years. All AFTs were done in autonomic laboratory at the Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Cardiovascular tests (heart rate response to deep breathing, HR changes in Valsalva maneuver and head-up tilt test (HUT)) and quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART) were performed in all the subjects. Fifty subjects underwent thermoregulatory sweat test (TST). Results: The mean age (SD) of study participants was 43 (16.0) years (range 20–84), and 129 (50.8%) were men. The normative value range (2.5–97.5 percentile) for HR difference, E: I ratio, and Valsalva ratio (VR) was 3.5–47.0, 1.05–1.93, and 1.11–2.64, respectively, for all the subjects. HR difference and E: I ratio showed an significant inverse relation with age (r = -0.623 and r = -0.584, respectively). VR also showed an inverse relation with age (r = -0.575, P =< 0.001), and female had a lower value than male (1.63 vs 1.78, P =< 0.001). In QSART, mean (SD) sweat volume was higher in males 0.630 (0.230) compared to females 0.513 (0.132) for all sites, P < 0.001, and similar trend was noticed for sweat area in TST. Discussion and Conclusion: Normative AFT data has been established for Indian population for the first time. The values are comparable to previously published studies.
Effects of Sterilization Methods on Different 3D Printable Materials for Templates of Physician-Modified Aortic Stent Grafts Used in Vascular Surgery—A Preliminary Study

Three-dimensionally-printed aortic templates are increasingly being used to aid in the modification of stent grafts in the treatment of urgent, complex aortic disorders, often of an emergency nature. The direct contact between the aortic template and the stent graft implies the necessity of complete sterility. Currently, the efficacy of sterilizing aortic templates and the effect of sterilization on the geometry of tubular aortic models are unknown. A complex case of aortic arch dissection was selected to prepare a 3D-printed aortic arch template, which was then manufactured in six popular printing materials: polylactic acid (PLA), nylon, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and a rigid and flexible photopolymer resin using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA). The 3D models were contaminated with Geobacillus stearothermophilus broth and Bacillus atrophaeus. The sterilization was performed using three different methods: heat (105 °C and 121 °C), hydrogen peroxide plasma, and ethylene oxide gas. Before and after sterilization, the aortic templates were scanned using computed tomography to detect any changes in their morphology by comparing the dimensions. All sterilization methods were effective in the elimination of microorganisms. Steam sterilization in an autoclave at 121 °C caused significant deformation of the aortic templates made of PLA, PETG, and PP. The other materials had stable geometries, and changes during mesh comparisons were found to be submillimeter. Similarly, plasma, gas, and heat at 105 °C did not change the shapes of aortic templates observed macroscopically and using mesh analysis. All mean geometry differences were smaller than 0.5 mm. All sterilization protocols tested in our study were equally effective in destroying microorganisms; however, differences occurred in the ability to induce 3D object deformation. Sterilization at high temperatures deformed aortic templates composed of PLA, PETG, and PP. This method was suitable for nylon, flexible, and rigid resin-based models. Importantly, plasma and gas sterilization were appropriate for all tested printing materials, including PLA, PETG, PP, nylon, flexible and rigid resins. Moreover, sterilization of all the printed models using our novel protocol for steam autoclaving at 105 °C was also 100% effective, which could represent a significant advantage for health centers, which can therefore use one of the most popular and cheap methods of medical equipment disinfection for the sterilization of 3D models as well.
Drug Shortages and Its Effects on Service Delivery among Key Informants (KIs) in Fiji

BACKGROUND: Drug shortage is a global problem that adds extra burden to health systems with additional costs and posing risks to patients who fail to receive the medicines they need. Aim This study aimed to describe drug shortage and its effects on service delivery among Key Informants (KIs) in Fiji. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quantitative cross-sectional study, the information on drug shortage per month was collected through the stock status report and pharmacy records of the main referral hospital in Fiji, the Colonial War Memorial hospital (CWMH) from 1st June to 30th November 2015. Purposive sampling was applied to reach 50 KIs who met the study crietria. A pilot tested structured questionniare was used to collect data and descriptive statistic was used to analyze data. RESULTS: The results showed the most frequent out of stock items were antibiotics (49) followed by vitamins (18) and antihypertensive (17). The frequency of total drugs on shortage ranged from 29 to 50 items per month with an average rate 10% (n=40) drug shortages per month. Additinally, 98% (n=49) of the KIs indicated that drug shortage increased workload of staff and 90% (n=45) indicated that the standard treatment was deviated or alternatives were sought due to shortage of drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study revealed that drug shortage was experienced in CWMH during the study period and had an impact on the clinical service delivery. There is a needed to focus on the use, selection, procurement and storage and distribution of medicines at CWMH.
RF Extraction of Thermal Resistance for GaN HEMTs on Silicon

In this article, an ac conductance method has been successfully employed to extract the thermal resistance of GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) on silicon. The resulting thermal resistances, when varying the channel length and gate width, are comparable to those obtained with pulsed measurements, by making use of positive drain-to-source pulsed voltages from a zero power dissipation quiescent bias point and 3-D thermal simulations. Furthermore, the gate geometry dependence of the thermal resistance of GaN-based HEMTs has been successfully modeled for circuit-design purposes.
Characterization of Choline Nutriture among Adults and Children with Phenylketonuria

Choline is an essential nutrient for brain development and function that is attained through high-protein foods, which are limited in the phenylalanine-restricted diet of people with phenylketonuria (PKU). This study compared choline consumption among individuals with PKU to a reference sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and identified treatment and diet-related factors that may modulate choline needs. Participants were individuals with PKU (n = 120, 4–61 years) managed with dietary therapy alone (n = 49), sapropterin dihydrochloride for ≥1 year (n = 38), or pegvaliase for ≥1 year with no medical food (n = 33). NHANES participants were not pregnant or nursing and came from the 2015–2018 cycles (n = 10,681, 4–70 years). Dietary intake data were used to estimate total usual intake distributions for choline, and mean probability of adequacy (MPA) was calculated as a summary index of nutrient adequacy for four methyl-donor/co-factor nutrients that impact choline utilization (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and methionine). Only 10.8% (SE: 2.98) of the total PKU sample (14.7% [SE: 4.03] of children; 6.8% [SE: 2.89] of adults) achieved the adequate intake (AI) for choline, while 12.2% (SE:0.79) of the NHANES sample met the recommended level. Adults receiving pegvaliase were the most likely to exceed the AI for choline (14.82% [SE: 4.48]), while adults who were on diet therapy alone were the least likely (5.59% [SE: 2.95]). Without fortified medical foods, individuals on diet therapy and sapropterin would not be able to achieve the AI, and MPA for other methyl donor/co-factor nutrients would be reduced. More frequent monitoring of choline intake and increased choline fortification of medical foods could benefit this population.
Food Security Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Evidence from a Cohort of Adults in Vermont during the First Year

This study assessed changes in household food insecurity throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort of adults in the state of Vermont, USA, and examined the socio-demographic characteristics associated with increased odds of experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic. We conducted three online surveys between March 2020 and March 2021 to collect longitudinal data on food security, use of food assistance programs, and job disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food security was measured using the USDA six-item module. Among the 441 respondents, food insecurity rates increased significantly during the pandemic and remained above pre-pandemic levels a year after the start of the pandemic. Nearly a third (31.6%) of respondents experienced food insecurity at some point during the first year of the pandemic, with 53.1% of food-insecure households being classified as newly food-insecure. The odds of experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic varied based on socio-demographic factors. Households with children (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.782–16.936, p < 0.01), women (OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.777–36.647, p < 0.05), BIPOC/Hispanic respondents (OR 11.8, 95% CI 1.615–85.805, p < 0.05), and households experiencing a job disruption (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.583–16.005, p <0.01) had significantly higher odds of experiencing food insecurity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, while respondents with a college degree (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.025–0.246; p < 0.001) and household income of ≥USD 50,000 (OR 0.01; 95% CI 0.003–0.038; p < 0.001) had lower odds of experiencing food insecurity. These findings indicate that food insecurity continued to be a significant challenge one year after the start of the pandemic, which is important, given the adverse health impacts associated with food insecurity and health disparities among certain socio-demographic groups.
Improvement of Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of the Sports Performance of Young Players Through High Intensity Interval Training

Objective. One of the most widely used training methodologies in football is high intensity interval training (HIIT), which aims to improve performance through training sessions characterised by exercises that involve alternating percentage load intensity. In the literature, although there are studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of HIIT in improving quantitative aspects, i.e. different expressions of strength, there are not as many studies that attest to the same effectiveness in improving qualitative components, i.e. elements related to the precision of specific football gestures. The study purpose was to verify whether the application of a specific HIIT protocol for football over a given period of time can be equally effective in simultaneously improving the quantitative and precision components. Materials and methods. The sample analysed consisted of 16 movement players from the ASD Nuova Antoniana sports club, aged between 14 and 15 years. The sample was subjected to a mesocycle of training lasting 8 weeks characterised by the HIIT methodology. Before and after this period, data were collected by means of a battery of tests aimed at assessing rapid, explosive, fast and resistant strength, and passing and shooting skills: the parameters relating to expressions of strength were assessed by means of quantitative tests specific to each parameter; passing and shooting skills were assessed by means of accuracy score tests (from 0 to 4 according to accuracy). Results. The results showed an improvement in all tested parameters (p ≤ 0.05). Therefore, the effectiveness of the protocol in improving football performance in terms of quantity and accuracy is confirmed. Conclusions. This study has increased knowledge of the effects of the HIIT protocol on the performance of young football players.
Mechanical Design and Analysis of a Novel Three-Legged, Compact, Lightweight, Omnidirectional, Serial-Parallel Robot with Compliant Agile Legs

In this work, the concept and mechanical design of a novel compact, lightweight, omnidirectional three-legged robot, featuring a hybrid serial–parallel topology including leg compliance is proposed. The proposal focusses deeply on the design aspects of the mechanical realisation of the robot based on its 3D-CAD assembly, while also discussing the results of multi-body simulations, exploring the characteristic properties of the mechanical system, regarding the locomotion feasibility of the robot model. Finally, a real-world prototype depicting a single robot leg is presented, which was built by highly leaning into a composite design, combining complex 3D-printed parts with stiff aluminium and polycarbonate parts, allowing for a mechanically dense and slim construction. Eventually, experiments on the prototype leg are demonstrated, showing the mechanical model operating in the real world.
A Modified CREATE Approach for Introducing Primary Literature Into Psychological Sciences Courses

Background Previous research has indicated positive changes in student perceptions of primary literature using the CREATE primary literature approach (a collection of guide tools for reading primary literature). Objective The objective of this research was to examine how a modification of the CREATE approach relates to student perceptions of primary literature and STEM career interest in psychological sciences courses. Method The CREATE approach was modified for use as a one-time project and assessed in (a) two course levels (introductory-level and senior level) and (b) two course deliveries (face-to-face and online). Participants filled out a survey with six factor perceptions of primary literature and STEM careers before and after project administration. Results After project completion, there was a significant increase in perceptions of primary literature (five of the six factors), but not STEM career interest. Conclusion There were significant increases over time (pre- to post-survey) in five of the six factors of perceptions of primary literature, but there was no change in the “thinking like a scientist” factor or STEM career interest. Teaching Implications This one-time project can concurrently be administered with textbook-based curriculum in online or face-to-face psychological sciences courses to introduce students to primary literature.
Production Characteristics and Management Practices of Indigenous Tswana Sheep in Southern Districts of Botswana

Simple Summary Indigenous Tswana sheep are an important agricultural resource that largely contribute to the economic, socio-cultural and spiritual aspects of resource-poor farmers. Therefore, as was the aim of this study, exploring and describing the production system in which they are raised, their management including breeding practices is thus crucial to inform researchers, farmers, and policymakers on the formulation of sustainable improvement strategies, sustainable utilization and conservation of these vital animal genetic resources. In the southern part of Botswana, indigenous Tswana sheep are mostly kept by single males aged 51–60 mostly with primary and secondary levels of education. Most Tswana sheep are kept for cash generation through sales, followed by meat consumption and ceremonial obligations, especially in the southern district. Most farmers across districts castrate their young rams at over 3 months of age and most farmers rely on natural pastures for feeding. Feed supplementation is conducted mostly during the dry season while no supplementation is generally practiced during the wet season as there is plenty of palatable forage. Most farmers prefer Tswana rams over exotic breeds because of their ability to survive and reproduce under the Botswana harsh environment. This information is crucial in the formulation of sustainable improvement strategies. Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the indigenous Tswana sheep production systems, their management and farmers’ preferred selection traits when selecting breeding rams in four southern districts of Botswana. A total of 105 households; Kgatleng (n = 30), Kweneng (n = 27), southern (n = 24) and south–east (n = 24) districts were interviewed using structured questionnaire. An index-based approach was used to rank farmers’ most preferred traits for their production systems. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The Chi-square test was used to assess the statistical significance among categorical variables. The results indicated that indigenous Tswana sheep are mainly kept by males, single people, aged between 51 and 60 years possessing primary and secondary education. Management practices across the districts include castration, health care and supplementation mostly during the dry season. Superior fitness traits of indigenous Tswana rams over exotic rams were considered more important when selecting breeding rams in Kgatleng, Kweneng and south–east while in the southern district, rams were mainly selected based on body size. Most farmers kept breeding rams while those who did not keep rams depended on communal rams for service. This information is important in designing successful breeding programs and strategies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of indigenous Tswana sheep genetic resources.