Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rural and non-rural digital divide persists in older adults: Internet access, usage, and attitudes toward technology

Background: The digital age divide remains persistent despite the recent increase in internet use among older adults. Additionally, older rural residents are at greater risk of being digitally disconnected. Objective : Guided by the social determinants of health framework, our study aims to examine how one’s residential area relates to (1) internet use, (2) subtypes of usage patterns, and (3) attitudes toward technology use in later life. Method : Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study. The analytic sample consisted of 1,566 older adults aged 50 and above. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results : Internet access rates were significantly lower in rural residents (54%) compared to the urban (66%) or the suburban group (61%). Compared to urban residents, those residing in suburban areas were less likely to use health technology while those living in rural areas had lower odds of communication, financial, and media technology use. Furthermore, the association between urban-rural residence and attitudes toward technology was compared among non-users (N = 633). Older adults in rural areas showed more unfavorable perceptions of technology than urban residents. They were less likely to conceive technology as “easily available,” but more likely to perceive it as “too complicated” and “too hard to learn. ” No significant differences were found between rural and suburban residents. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that older adults in rural areas, notably lag in using and adopting digital technology. Comprehensive intervention efforts are needed to narrow the digital divide for rural communities.
Physical and physiological demands according to gender, playing positions, and match outcomes in youth basketball players.

This study aimed to compare physical and physiological demands in youth basketball players according to gender, playing positions, and match outcomes. 64 players (32 female and 32 male) from eight youth sub-elite basketball teams were monitored using an Ultra-Wide Band system and inertial measurement unit in three consecutive matches. The results showed some significant differences, although with magnitudes qualified as small. When the teams won, the guards covered a greater distance at 0-6 km/h than when they lost. When teams lost, the centers covered more distance at 12-18 km/h and 18-21 km/h. The winning female teams presented a lower maximal heart rate (HRmax) compared to the losing teams. The forwards of the winning teams performed greater efforts at 70-80% HRmax, while the forwards of losing teams performed more efforts at 90-95% HRmax. The greatest number of accelerations and decelerations were performed by the female guards and the male forwards. The number of jumps was higher in the male guards and forwards than in the female ones. HRmax was higher in the forwards of the female teams. Efforts at 80%-90% HRmax were higher in male centers. When the female teams won, they had a lower HRmax than when they lost. When efforts exceed 90% of HRmax the teams lost. In conclusion, despite the differences found, the effect of these contextual variables on physical and physiological demands is unclear. Nevertheless, knowing the game's requirements can help the design of training that enhances the performance of youth basketball players
Radiographic measurement of canine stifle joint angles using four different landmark methods

This study was conducted to compare angles physically set on the stifle joints of cadaveric limbs of dogs with the results by four different radiographic methods for stifle angle measurement. Thirteen pelvic limbs from various large breeds and skeletally-mature dogs were used. The stifles were fixed at four angles: 125°, 130°, 135° and 140°. Altogether 52 radiographs were done. Each stifle angle set on the cadaver limbs was radiographically measured using four sets of landmarks (the goniometric, long axis, eminence and kinematic methods). We found similarity between angles physically set on cadaver limbs and radiographically measured using the long axis method (P > 0.05). The goniometric method showed similarity in group of limbs with the stifle fixed at 140° (P > 0.05), and other measurements differed significantly (P < 0.05). Eminence and kinematic method measurements were different compared to the angle of fixation of the stifle on the cadaver (P < 0.05) but similar compared to each other (P > 0.05). The method of stifle joint angle measurement should be considered when comparing similar studies, and also in pre-operative measurements for some tibial osteotomies aimed at stabilizing the joint after cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
Quest for continuous quality improvement for public housing construction in Hong Kong

With mandatory implementation of the ISO 9000 quality system by the Housing Authority in Hong Kong, most construction firms there now claim to have initiated quality systems in their processes as defined in their quality manuals. In addition, an objective quality measuring yardstick, the Performance Assessment Scoring Scheme (PASS), has been administered by the Housing Authority of Hong Kong to monitor the performance quality of contractors. These two measures, coupled with the two other contractual requirements stipulating the use of mechanized formwork and precast facade units, are directed towards achievement of a desired quality standard. However, the PASS analysis has revealed that the general level of quality has not improved significantly and the expected continuous improvement in construction quality has not been realized over a specific time period. Quality appears far better on paper than does the actual work on site. This suggests that quality management in the construction setting is far more difficult to achieve than it is in other industries. This paper explores possible reasons for failure in the quest for quality in public housing construction, and proposes changes needed before the vision of continuous quality improvement can be realized.
Analysis of voltage collapse mechanisms in state space

The effects of the generator excitation current limit, the on-load tap changer (OLTC) and load dynamics on voltage stability are analysed in state space. The variation of the number and coordinates of the equilibrium points with parameters of the system are discussed. In addition, a small-disturbance voltage stability region of a simple system is constructed. When the dynamic aspect of voltage collapse is considered, it is more convenient to analyse it in the state space rather than in the input/output parameter space. The voltage stability of a system is determined by the dynamic characteristics of both the OLTC and the load. The generator excitation current limit affects the voltage stability by changing the small-disturbance voltage stability region and the equilibrium points of the system. After a small disturbance, the mode of voltage instability, fast instability or longer-term instability, depends on the composition of the load as well as the value of the system reactance.
Realistic realtime illumination of complex environment for immersive systems. A case study: the Parthenon

Offine rendering techniques have nowadays reached an astonishing level of realism but paying the cost of a long computational time. The new generation of programmable graphic hardware, on the other hand, gives the possibility to implement in realtime some of the visual effects previously available only for cinematographic production. In a collaboration between the Visual Computing Lab (ISTI-CNR) with the Institute for Creative Technologies of the University of Southern California, has been developed a realtime demo that replicate a sequence from the short movie "The Parthenon" presented at Siggraph 2004. The application is designed to run on an immersive reality system, making possible for a user to perceive the virtual environment with a cinematographic visual quality. In this paper we present the principal ideas of the project, discussing design issues and technical solution used for the realtime demo.
Preventing failure in IT-enabled systems for supply chain management

Supply chain management (SCM) emphasises the overall and long-term benefit of all parties on the chain through cooperation and information sharing. This signifies the importance of communication and the application of IT-enabled systems in SCM. A supply chain management information system (SCMIS) is usually user-interfaced and designed to provide information and information processing capability to support the strategy, operations, management analysis, and decision-making functions in an organisation's supply network. SCMIS provides high quality, relevant and timely information flow that effectively supports decision-making for inventory replenishment, capacity activation, and for synchronising material flows at all tiers within the supply chain. In recent years, there have been some efforts on designing efficient information systems for supply chain management; but many of them have led to failure. Using a critical failure factor (CFF) approach and based on a perfect study, we investigate this crucial issue in-depth and put forward feasible solutions regarding failure prevention in such systems throughout this article. Three main purposes of this paper are to: (1) identify SCMIS and its characteristics, (2) introduce and categorise the critical failure factors of SCM and SCMIS, and (3) investigate the explanatory power of these CFFs on the performance of supply channel processes performed through SCMIS.
Mediators for Effect of Mindfulness in Promoting Marital Satisfaction: Modeling Structural Equations in an Experimental Study

Objective: The present study evaluated the model of mediating variables concerning effectiveness of mindfulness in improving women's marital satisfaction. Method: This study was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and control groups. The statistical population included every married woman in Tehran in the year 1396 (2017). The research sample was composed of 60 married women with moderate marital satisfaction. They were chosen using the convenient sampling technique and were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group attended 8 sessions of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the control group was on a waiting list. Both groups answered the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Interpersonal Reactivity Inventory (IRI), Needs for Intimacy Questionnaire of Bagarozi, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI) before and at end of intervention. The data were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using PLS-22 and SPSS-23. Results: In the initial hypothetical model, which included the direct effect of mindfulness on marital satisfaction and its indirect effects through psychological distress, emotion regulation, empathy, marital intimacy and positive emotion on marital satisfaction, coefficients of all model paths were significant at 95% level except direct path of mindfulness to marital satisfaction (t = 1.14), marital intimacy to marital satisfaction (t = 0.48) and positive affection to marital satisfaction (t = 1.75). After removing the non-significant paths, the model was tested again and the model fit index (GOF = 0.47) was a very good fit for the modified overall model. Conclusion: The results identified mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention was effective in enhancing marital satisfaction through reducing psychological distress and improving emotion regulation and empathy.
Blowing the whistle on corporate fraud: the role of regulators and journalists in the financial vs non-financial sectors

ABSTRACT We investigate the role of the regulatory environment and the press freedom in detecting corporate fraud. We study 1,242 internal frauds from 79 countries during the period of 2011–2019. The importance of regulation is assessed by splitting the sample into the highly regulated and monitored financial sector and the non-financial sector subject to less strict internal standards and industry-specific regulation. To examine the importance of journalists in fraud detection, we use the Word Press Freedom index and postulate that in countries with free media more internal frauds are detected. We find empirical evidence on a global sample that in the financial sector designated authorities (professional bank supervisors) play an important role in fraud detection. For the non-financial sector, we show that the media is crucial in detecting corporate fraud: the more freely journalists can write, the more events are detected. Highlights Fraud detection mechanisms differ in the financial and the non-financial sectors. In the non-financial sector, journalists are crucial in detecting corporate fraud. In the non-financial sector, the higher the press freedom, the more events are detected. In the financial sector, press freedom is less relevant in detecting fraud. In the financial sector, designated authorities play an important role in fraud detection.
Asymmetric hollow POF coupler design for portable optical access card system

An optical code generating device using plastic optical fiber (POF) coupler for portable optical access card system is presented. The code generating device constructed using asymmetric hollow POF coupler design provides a unique series of output light intensities which are successively used as an optical code. Each coupler will be assigned with a unique optical code based on the asymmetrical waveguide design. Non-sequential ray tracing simulation of various coupler designs showed a linear relationship between the tap-off ratio (TOFR) and the waveguide tap width. The results for the simulated and fabricated 1x2 asymmetric couplers show the same linear characteristics between the TOFR and the tap width. The simulated devices show a TOFR variation from 18.6% to 49.9% whereas the TOFR for the fabricated metal-based devices varies from 10.7% up to 47.7%, for a tap width of 500 μm to 1 mm. The insertion loss for the 1x2 asymmetric coupler at the tap line varies from 12.7 dB to 21.2 dB whereas for the bus line, the average insertion loss is about 12 dB.
A comparative study on the national counterpart aid model for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction: 2008 Wenchuan earthquake as a case

Purpose – External assistance is often urgently required when an area is struck by a catastrophe. Central government-oriented aid (CGA), national non-governmental organizations aid (NNA), and international humanitarian aid (IHA) are three typical aid models, and national counterpart aid (NCA) is an innovative model for post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery and reconstruction (PWERR). The purpose of this paper is to make a comparative study of the aid models in order to develop recommendations on external assistance for better post-disaster recovery and reconstruction (PDRR). Design/methodology/approach – This study was performed in three steps: a case study on the NCA model during the PWERR; a documentary research on the CGA, NNA and IHA models; and a comparative analysis of the four models. Findings – The results of the comparative study show that the NCA model is more efficient and effective than the other three typical aid models. However it must be based on the premise of a centralized government. Practic.
Evaluation of Potential Successful Innovative Freight Transport Options

Abstract The central question is: Which innovative freight transport options might be implemented successfully? A first conclusion is that most innovations do posses a strong technical component and are indeed technology driven, which is a key success factor. A second conclusion is that, besides the product characteristics (technical part), the user-requirements (customer part) are also important in order to realize successful market introduction. A third conclusion is that innovations that aim for gradual improvements of current modes (incremental development) seem most promising.
Close but not too close: opposition network strategy and democratization in Zambia

ABSTRACT Current literature finds that democratization is most likely when opposition social movements have initiated a political transition. Yet little work has disaggregated bottom-up transitions to suggest when this effect obtains. This article examines a case not widely known in the social movements’ literature: the 1991 political transition in Zambia. It proposes a novel theoretical avenue to help explain this case’s incomplete democratic transition. The piece re-conceptualizes the opposition movement as a multi-organizational actor network. I argue that opposition movements face strong incentives to unify through either centralizing around a single organization or creating a dense network of multiple, overlapping connections. The strategy they pursue affects the transitional political landscape. Highly centralized opposition networks are likely to lead to less democratic outcomes while dense decentralized networks will have more democratic outcomes. I find that high centralization by the opposition in Zambia undermined political accountability during the transition and limited Zambia’s democratic progress.
Environmental Protection Expenditure for Companies: A Spanish Regional Analysis

Environmental protection has become one of the main concerns in developed economies, which is why an increasing degree of commitment in the field is required from all public and private bodies. Environ- mental protection in firms must cease to be a secondary, barely profitable objective, involving the performance of sporadic remedial actions, and become just one more element of their organization which, though it may require investment, may also provide a firm with major opportunities and cost reductions. This paper looks at the latest trends in expenditure on environmental protection by industrial firms. The information available is from the Spanish National Statistical Institute (INE), provided for the Spanish regions. Then, using shift- share analysis, we will seek to ascertain whether there are competitive advantages and each region's degree of specialization in the main lines of expenditure.
An unconventionally secreted effector from the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, Mi‐ISC‐1, promotes parasitism by disrupting salicylic acid biosynthesis in host plants

Abstract Plant‐parasitic nematodes need to deliver effectors that suppress host immunity for successful parasitism. We have characterized a novel isochorismatase effector from the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, named Mi‐ISC‐1. The Mi‐isc‐1 gene is expressed in the subventral oesophageal glands and is up‐regulated in parasitic‐stage juveniles. Tobacco rattle virus‐induced gene silencing targeting Mi‐isc‐1 attenuated M. incognita parasitism. Enzyme activity assays confirmed that Mi‐ISC‐1 can catalyse hydrolysis of isochorismate into 2,3‐dihydro‐2,3‐dihydroxybenzoate in vitro. Although Mi‐ISC‐1 lacks a classical signal peptide for secretion at its N‐terminus, a yeast invertase secretion assay showed that this protein can be secreted from eukaryotic cells. However, the subcellular localization and plasmolysis assay revealed that the unconventional secretory signal present on the Mi‐ISC‐1 is not recognized by the plant secretory pathway and that the effector was localized within the cytoplasm of plant cells, but not apoplast, when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by agroinfiltration. Ectopic expression of Mi‐ISC‐1 in N. benthamiana reduced expression of the PR1 gene and levels of salicylic acid (SA), and promoted infection by Phytophthora capsici. The cytoplasmic localization of Mi‐ISC‐1 is required for its function. Moreover, Mi‐ISC‐1 suppresses the production of SA following the reconstitution of the de novo SA biosynthesis via the isochorismate pathway in the cytoplasm of N. benthamiana leaves. These results demonstrate that M. incognita deploys a functional isochorismatase that suppresses SA‐mediated plant defences by disrupting the isochorismate synthase pathway for SA biosynthesis to promote parasitism.
Fluorine induced formation of intermetal dielectric defects

Defects were first observed on engineering test wafers during Contact Photolithography ADI (After Develop Inspection). The defects had the appearance of large white spots, which were several microns in diameter. SEM and TEM studies revealed that the defects were delaminations at the interface between the thermal oxide and the TEOS at the contact module of the wafer process. The results from defect partitioning showed the defects first appeared after high temperature BPSG anneal. It was also observed that only the first one or two wafers in a lot had defects. Chemical contamination analysis using SIMS identified high fluorine concentrations. The results showed that the fluorine concentration of the first wafer through the TEOS process was >30% higher than the rest of the wafers in the lot. Several experimental matrices were designed and conducted to quickly contain the problem, to investigate the defect mechanisms, and to eliminate the defects. It has been concluded that the fluorine outgassing from the P/sup +/ implanted area (BF/sub 2/ implant) during high temperature BPSG anneal is the major mechanism of the defect phenomena. TEOS chamber precoating has been shown to reduce the fluorine integrated concentration of the TEOS film and has eliminated the defects.
CONTEXT AND OLDER ADULT STEROTYPES 1 The Effect of Context on Older Adult Stereotypes

This study investigated whether context and interactive affected younger adults’ perceptions of older adult stereotypes. Younger adult participants (N = 180), aged 18-32 years old, rated six video recordings of two confederates, one male and one female, who were filmed in three contexts. Results revealed a significant difference in younger adults’ perceptions of attitudes associated with older adults. Older adults in an interactive context were rated more positively than older adults in noninteractive and neutral contexts; also, older adults in noninteractive contexts were rated more positively than older adults in a neutral context. Further, a significant difference was found between younger adults’ perceptions of attitudes associated with female older adults and male older adults; females were rated more positively than males. Finally, a significant difference was discovered in how younger adults perceive older adult language abilities across contexts; older adults in an interactive context were evaluated as having better language abilities than older adults in a neutral context.