Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between food insecurity and emotional eating in Latinos and the mediating role of perceived stress

Abstract Objective: To examine the association between food insecurity and emotional eating (EE) in US Latinxs and explore the mediating role of perceived stress. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Food insecurity was measured with the six-item US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Scale; EE with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R18-V2; and perceived stress with Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale-10. Covariates included age, sex, education, marital status, household size and country of birth. Mediation was tested using the Baron and Kenny method and the mediated proportion was calculated. Analyses included multivariable linear regression and multinomial logistic regression. Setting: A largely Latinx city in Massachusetts, USA. Participants were recruited from a community health centre serving a large portion of this Latinx community. Participants: Latinx individuals (n 580), aged 21–84 years. Results: Overall, 34·4 % were food insecure and 33·8 % experienced High EE. Food insecurity was associated (adjusted OR; 95 % CI) with higher odds of High EE (1·96; 1·28, 3·02) but not Low EE (1·27; 0·82, 1·99). Food insecurity was associated (β; 95 % CI) with higher perceived stress (5·69; 4·20, 7·19). Perceived stress was associated (adjusted OR; 95 % CI) with High EE (1·09; 1·06, 1·12) but not Low EE (1·00; CI 0·97, 1·02). When perceived stress was added in the main effects model, food insecurity was no longer associated (OR; 95 % CI) with High EE (1·31; 0·83, 2·07) and explained 69·9 % of the association between food insecurity and High EE. Conclusions: The association between food insecurity and high EE among Latinxs may be largely mediated by perceived stress. Longitudinal studies are needed.
Treatment of ovarian endometriomas using plasma energy in endometriosis surgery: effect on pelvic pain, return to work, pregnancy and cyst recurrence

Background The best surgical technique for managing ovarian endometriomas is still widely debated, though the current standard is stripping cystectomy. The use of plasma energy as a treatment option is a relatively new concept and little data is currently available on this method. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of the use of plasma energy in our daily clinical practice by looking at various postoperative outcomes. Methods Twenty-one women previously diagnosed with uni- or bilateral ovarian endometriomas by transvaginal ultrasound, associated with pelvic pain and/or infertility, were included in this retrospective cohort study performed in a tertiary endometriosis referral centre. All women underwent endometriotic cyst ablation using plasma energy. At follow up postoperative pain, number of days until return to work following surgery, postoperative pregnancy rate and recurrence rate were determined. Results This study demonstrates a significant decrease in the proportion of patients reporting pain postoperatively when comparing the number of patients with dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain pre- and postoperatively. In addition, the median number of days until women returned to work postoperatively was 9 days (interquartile range (IQR) 8-11 days). The postoperative pregnancy rate was 46.2% (6 of 13 women wishing to conceive) and the recurrence rate was 9.5%. Conclusions In conclusion, plasma energy is a promising alternative to stripping cystectomy, as comparable results for postoperative pregnancy and recurrence rates can be observed. However, further research is necessary to draw firm conclusions when comparing these two techniques.
Agonistic Interactions in Pigs–Comparison of Dominance Indices with Parameters Derived from Social Network Analysis in Three Age Groups

Simple Summary The importance of animals within a social group can be ranked with the aid of centrality parameters, e.g., measures derived from social network analysis. In the present study, it was investigated whether these centrality parameters capture a similar rank order compared to dominance indices which are calculated based on the number of won and lost fights. Social networks for animals in three repeated mixing events were built (weaned piglets, fattening pigs, gilts) based on different types of interactions (in the present study, initiating and receiving agonistic interactions, and winning or losing a fight). Centrality parameters based on active behavior, especially winning an agonistic interaction, showed a similar rank order compared to the dominance indices. Also, the results of partial least squares structural equation modelling showed that the networks built on information about winning or losing a fight could best illustrate the dominance structure with an explained variance of about 60% for all three age groups. Thus, network analysis can provide information about the dominance structure within the group and also has the advantage of including indirect relationships between the animals which cannot be supported by the dyadic approach. Abstract Dominance indices are often calculated using the number of won and lost fights of each animal focusing on dyadic interactions. Social network analysis provides new insights into the establishment of stable group structures going beyond the dyadic approach. Thus, it was investigated whether centrality parameters describing the importance of each animal for the network are able to capture the rank order calculated by dominance indices. Therefore, two dominance indices and five centrality parameters based on two network types (initiator-receiver and winner-loser networks) were calculated regarding agonistic interactions observed in three mixing events (weaned piglets, fattening pigs, gilts). Comparing the two network types, the winner-loser networks demonstrated highly positive correlation coefficients between out-degree and outgoing closeness and the dominance indices. These results were confirmed by partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), i.e., about 60% of the variance of the dominance could be explained by the centrality parameters, whereby the winner-loser networks could better illustrate the dominance hierarchy with path coefficients of about 1.1 for all age groups. Thus, centrality parameters can portray the dominance hierarchy providing more detailed insights into group structure which goes beyond the dyadic approach.
Economic Analysis of Sub-Surface Drainage under Indira Gandhi Nahar Priyojna Command Area - A Case Study

This paper has attempted to ascertain whether the sub-surface drainage (SSD) in waterlogged and saline lands of Indira Gandhi Nahar Priyojna Command area is a cost-effective technique. The study has shown that waterlogging adversely affects crop yields. The cost on SSD installation in the command area comes out to be Rs 23767 per hectare. The returns on crop yields before and after the drainage system have been compared. Land utilization has been intensified after the installation of drainage, as a sizeable area of formerly fallow land has been brought under cultivation. The B-C ratio and the NPV have been found as 2.44 and Rs 34275/ha, respectively. The IRR has been found to be 25.88 per cent. These indicators have well established the financial feasibility of the project in the IGNP area.
Recent developments in surface acoustic waves : proceedings of European Mechanics Colloquium 226, University of Nottingham, U.K., September 2-5, 1987

The topic of surface waves lies at the interface between a number of disci plines - physics, theoretical and applied mechanics, electroacoustics, ap plied mathematics, surface science and seismology. This volume, based on papers delivered at European Mechanics Colloquium 226, reflects this diversity in approach and background, while showing strong links between phenomena arising from different fields. The emphasis is on recent de velopments such as nonlinear and other nonclassical effects, which have great importance for both pure science and for applications such as signal processing, nondestructive evaluation and seismic studies. In recent years there has been considerable progress in the mathe matical treatment of nonlinear effects, of viscoelastic and of more novel constitutive effects which modify the predictions of linear elastic and piezo electric theory for surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation. A number of these themes serve to group the contents of this volume. Part I contains recent advances in the rigorous mathematical treatment of nonlinearity, together with a paper giving experimental results showing the need for further theoretical development. Part II deals with anisotropic elasticity, showing that even the linear theory presents many possible behaviours, which are still not fully categorized. "
Moment method analysis for capacitance and charge distribution of dielectric coated metallic disk and closed truncated cone isolated in free space

This paper presents a method for the evaluation of capacitance and charge distribution of a dielectric coated metallic disk and a dielectric coated metallic hollow truncated cone with top and bottom cover plates using the method of moments (MoM) based on pulse basis function and point matching. Boundary conditions for the potential on the conductor surfaces and continuity of the normal component of the displacement density at the dielectric‐free space interface is used to generate two integral equations. Two sets of simultaneous equations are formed from the two integral equations by using MoM. The total free charge on the conductor surface is found from the solution for the set of simultaneous equations. The validity of the analysis has been justified by comparing the data on capacitance available in the literature for metallic disk and hollow truncated cone with top and bottom cover plates, with the data on the capacitance, computed by the presented method for similar structures considering very low dielectric constant as well as very thin dielectric coating. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Management and Impact of Abnormal Loads

Congestion on Britain’s roads is an increasing problem. The movement of large and heavy abnormal indivisible loads (AILs) through the road network can cause additional delays to other traffic. Delays caused by AILs could potentially be reduced by management measures based on a better understanding of how they are related to the types of load and the conditions under which the loads are moved. This Insight Report covers several projects that have investigated the prevalence and congestion impact of AILs and the effect of mitigation measures such as movement by water or by night. It concludes, however, that the overall impact of AILs on network delay is small and mitigation measures will be most effective if selectively targeted. (A)
Method Usage in Design : How methods function as mental tools for designers

Methods are means to help designers achieve desired change as efficiently and effectively as possible. Methods can be used to do so in the context of learning - to help teach students how to design on a professional level. Methods can also be used in the context of performance - to help designers perform better at what they already do (well). Methods should be seen as mental tools that influence the thinking patterns and mental models of designers. If we accept that methods function via a designer’s mind, we can see that method usage is a human activity in which the designer is the user. This seems to be an obvious fact to be aware of for a discipline that is characterized by its focus on the user of the products and services they design; yet, quite remarkably, many design researchers have paid little attention to the users of their methods. Instead, most design research is aimed at ‘directly’ improving the design process through methods, often ignoring differences between designers, design contexts and design objects. In this thesis, I argue that an important reason for the current state of design methodology is our marginal understanding of the phenomenon of method usage. The thesis aims to contribute to a more detailed understanding of method usage in design, from the perspective of its central actor: the designer. With that, the thesis hopes to lay a foundation for a more designer-centered methodology that inspires researchers to deliver more valuable and useful methods to the design community and that inspires designers, design educators, design managers and design policy makers to re-think the way they employ and promote design methods in their practices.
The impact of mask-wearing in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 during the early phases of the pandemic

Masks have been widely recommended as a precaution against COVID-19 transmission. Several studies have shown the efficacy of masks at reducing droplet dispersion in lab settings. However, during the early phases of the pandemic, the usage of masks varied widely across countries. Using individual response data from the Imperial College London—YouGov personal measures survey, this study investigates the effect of mask use within a country on the spread of COVID-19. The survey shows that mask-wearing exhibits substantial variations across countries and over time during the pandemic’s early phase. We use a reduced form econometric model to relate population-wide variation in mask-wearing to the growth rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The results indicate that mask-wearing plays an important role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Widespread mask-wearing associates with an expected 7% (95% CI: 3.94%—9.99%) decline in the growth rate of daily active cases of COVID-19 in the country. This daily decline equates to an expected 88.5% drop in daily active cases over 30 days compared to zero percent mask-wearing, all else held equal. The decline in daily growth rate due to the combined effect of mask-wearing, reduced outdoor mobility, and non-pharmaceutical interventions averages 28.1% (95% CI: 24.2%-32%).
AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERLOCK IN PREVENTING RECIDIVISM IN A POPULATION OF MULTIPLE DWI OFFENDERS

Approximately 45,000 deaths and 5.5 million injuries each year are the result of motor vehicle crashes, making traffic crashes the leading cause of injury death in the United States. Crashes are the greatest single cause of death for every age group between five and 32. Because motor vehicle crash victims are disproportionately young, crash related injuries are the third leading cause of lost years of life. Alcohol, a major contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes, is estimated to be involved in approximately 46% of all fatal traffic crashes and in 18 to 25% of all injury producing crashes. The staggering human and economic costs of alcohol related motor vehicle crashes make alcohol impaired driving a serious public health problem in North Carolina. There is an indication that an increasing proportion of those arrested for DWI and of those involved in alcohol related crashes are repeat DWI offenders. The objective of this project was to evaluate the interlock in preventing subsequent DWI recidivism in a population of second time DWI offenders. Preliminary results suggest that the interlock may be an effective deterrent while placed on the steering wheel, but that it may not alter future drinking and driving behavior of the study participant, after termination of the study.
Operational Performance of Kansas Roundabouts: Phase II

Modern roundabouts are being implemented throughout the United States (US) in a variety of locations. Single-lane roundabouts may perform better than two-way stop-controlled intersections in the US under some conditions. The safety record of well designed modern roundabouts is excellent. The primary objective of this study was to compare the operational performance of 11 modern roundabouts in Kansas with other intersection traffic control devices in five locations in Kansas. This study found that there were statistically significant reductions in delay, queuing, and proportion of vehicles stopped at all the study sites after the installation of a modern roundabout. It is reasonable to suggest that the movement of traffic through these intersections should be significantly improved and a modern roundabout should be the best intersection alternative for several other locations in Kansas with similar traffic volumes and similar geometrics. Further studies should be conducted in other locations in Kansas with different traffic conditions and geometrics, particularly those where volumes are high enough that a multi-lane roundabout is required, in order to get a clearer picture.
Understanding and Estimating Travelers’ Choices Toward International Multimodal Journey Planning

This paper reports the outcomes of empirical research into international multimodal travel choices, executed within the Enhanced WISETRIP project (EU Funded FP7 Framework Research Program). The project aims at developing new possibilities for planning, booking and travelling multimodal international journeys adapted to user needs, multiple trip criteria, and environmental impact. Crucial for achieving the project’s ambitious goal, is to be able to capture a wide-range of user needs and diverse journeys, for which a so-called a ‘trip strategy’ is defined. A “Techno-Experiential Design Assessment” (TEDA), comprising of user interviews and a stated preference survey, was designed and implemented. The analysis of the TEDA outcomes has resulted in rules and constraints for the trip strategy. The trip strategy modeling considers personalized choice criteria and representative travel situations based on forecasts or user defined possibilities of events. Five group interviews, including trials on user experience with potential scenarios and alternative presentations of travel information, were conducted. After that two online stated preference surveys were carried out for four distance classes for international travelers. The outcomes of the interviews and survey include some interesting findings: (1) majority of travelers indicate the need for a multimodal tip planner; (2) use of real-time information and disruption messaging is doubled when roaming cost is not an issue; (3) travelers are willing to switch to more CO2 friendly route if all other items are comparable; (4) safety, comfort and cost are the most important factors that determine the modal and itinerary choice. These practical results help in a better understanding and are considered critical in achieving an enhanced international multimodal journey planner that should be affordable and encouraging for a wide variety of users.
Thin Film Technology Handbook

Contributors. Preface. Film Deposition Techniques and Processes. Pattern Generation Techniques. Properties of Thin film Materials. Principles and Properties of Semiconductor Thin Films. Design Guidelines for Thin film Components and Construction of Thin Film Modules. Characterization of Semiconductor Thin Films: A Compendium of Techniques. Diamond Films. Thin Film Optical Materials. Thin Film Packaging and Interconnect. Thin Film for Microwave Hybrids. Yield, Testing, and Reliability.
INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING WITH CONDITION DATA GENERATED BY REMOTE SENSORS: A TIME-SERIES FRAMEWORK

Recent developments in remote sensing and communications technologies allow agencies to install sensors within infrastructure facilities, such as pavement segments and bridges in order to collect condition-related data in real time. In theory, such data can be processed, analyzed and displayed on-line as a key component for maintenance and repair decision making. The reality facing public works agencies that have adopted these technologies is that vast amounts of data related to the structural and functional condition of infrastructure are accumulated, but not used to address management needs. The research presented in this report, therefore, is to develop methodological tools to support the management of transportation infrastructure systems given recent developments in facility-condition data collection technologies. In particular, the objectives of this research study are to develop tools that will allow agencies to process and exploit the data to support infrastructure maintenance and repair decision making, and to provide a framework to evaluate different strategies for deploying sensing technologies.
Modeling rain effects on microwave backscatter from the ocean

During the Kwajalein Experiment (KWAJEX) in 1999 the effect of rain on Ku band normalized radar cross sections of the sea, /spl sigma//sub 0/, was measured for a wide range rainfall rates and incidence angles. The primary result was that rain significantly increases the cross section at moderate to high incidence angles, obscuring, if not eliminating backscatter from wind-generated waves. To verify our understanding of the effect of rain on sea surface roughness and to extend it to smaller incidence angles and other microwave frequencies we modeled microwave backscatter from a rain-disturbed ocean surface. To do this, we developed a realistic representation of the ocean surface perturbed by wind and rain which accounts for the damping of surface waves by rain-induced subsurface turbulence and for the enhancement of gravity-capillary and short gravity waves by rain-generated ring-waves. The spectral representation of the ocean surface is used as input to a scattering model. The multiscale scattering model used here separates surface waves into three distinct scales (short, intermediate, and long) and evaluates /spl sigma//sub 0/ for each scale. Since rain significantly alters short gravity waves (i.e. the intermediate scale), the explicit calculation in the model of backscatter from these waves makes it ideal for diagnosing the effects of rain. We will show that values of /spl sigma//sub 0/ computed by the model are in quantitative agreement with KWAJEX data. We will also show modeled rain effects on the cross section at low incidence angles for a variety of microwave frequencies.
EVALUATING DRIVERS LICENSED WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN UTAH, 1992-1996

The Utah Driver License Division has implemented a program since 1979 that restricts drivers with medical conditions by functional ability category (medical condition) according to their functional ability level. This study compares the citation, all crash, and at-fault crash rates per eligible licensed days of restricted and unrestricted drivers with medical conditions by category to the rates of comparison drivers matched on age group, gender and county of residence over a five year period. Analyses were performed separately for drivers reporting single medical conditions and those reporting multiple medical conditions. Probabilistic linkage was used to link data from different databases in order to determine the crash, at fault crash and citation rates by functional ability restriction classification at the time of occurrence. Corresponding relative risks and confidence intervals were calculated. Overall, for most functional ability categories, unrestricted drivers with medical conditions as identified through the existing program had higher crash and at-fault crash rates compared to their corresponding comparison groups. For unrestricted drivers, the highest risk of at-fault crash was found in the learning, memory and communications category where the risk of at-fault crash was 3.63 times higher than their respective comparison group (95% CI 2.00, 6.60). The greatest differences in at-fault crash rates were found in several restricted license categories. Restricted drivers in the musculoskeletal abnormality or chronic medical disability group had a rate 11.29 times higher than their comparison drivers (95% CI 2.39, 53.25). Restricted drivers in the alcohol and other drugs category had an at-fault crash rate that was 5.75 times higher than their respective comparison group (95% CI 2.26, 14.61). Further evaluation of the crash and citation rates at specific functional ability levels, and crash environments by category, may provide indications for changing the levels at which restrictions are applied, or provide indications for new or additional types of restrictions to reduce crashes and citations in these populations.