Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Quality Cost Framework (QCF) Based on the Hybrid Fuzzy MCDM Approach

Quality cost framework (QCF), as a measurement tool and research method, has played a significant role on quality improvement procedure (QIP) and recognition on economics of quality. The four general QCFs are usually conceptually employed assist quality managers to measure the quality cost (QC/COQ) including PAF, intangible loss, process cost, and ABC framework. The question of how to select an appropriate quality cost framework for individual organization is of great significance for implementing quality improvement activities. Considering the effectiveness and feasibility of the alternative solution, a novel hybrid fuzzy MCDM approach integrating fuzzy DMEATEL, an antientropy weighting technique and FVIKOR method are employed to study the quality cost models and assist managers to select a best QCF for an auto factory. The combined weight from subjectivity and objectivity is embedded into fuzzy VIKOR procedure to obtain alternatives' ranking order. The case study in a Chinese automaker enterprise shows high robustness of the hybrid MCDM approach, and it assists quality mangers to perform quality cost practice. Different from the previous study, the preferred solution is the ABC quality cost framework when feasibility dimension dominates, while the intangible loss framework shows first priority when the organization focuses on effectiveness principle.
Ediacaran survivors in the Cambrian: suspicions, denials and a smoking gun

Abstract The relative timing of extinctions and originations is a foundation for reconstructing evolutionary causes. However, there has been a tendency to dismiss reported Ediacaran holdovers in favour of effective extinction around the Cambrian boundary. Here, focusing on the classically Ediacaran frondose biota (Petalonamae), I suggest four main reasons why proposed Ediacaran survivors have previously been denied the acceptance they deserve: denials based on mistaken identity, doppelgängers, a last gasp or dead clades walking. I then point to the lower Cambrian species Stromatoveris psygmoglena as a key example which simultaneously meets these objections. Collectively, Cambrian survivors are a ‘smoking gun’ showing that extinction of the classically Ediacaran frondose biota did not occur until at least 30 Ma after the end of the Ediacaran period, registered by phylogenetic petalonamid Thaumaptilon from the Burgess Shale. Therefore, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of their earlier demise have been greatly exaggerated. Causes of their ultimate extinction should instead be sought in their total range and diversity dynamics. Overall, the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition shows extremely low numbers of recorded survivors, but diversity dynamics are dominated by the Cambrian explosion. In this context, recorded occurrences for the classically Ediacaran frondose biota are compatible with at least two extinction events, one within a possible mass extinction near the Cambrian boundary, and later, their ultimate extinction in, or after, the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage). There is, however, no correlative basis for a causal link between the Cambrian transition and the effective or final demise of the classically Ediacaran soft-bodied biota.
A Study on the Effect of Emotional Solidarity on Memorable Tourism Experience and Destination Loyalty in Volunteer Tourism

Memorable tourism experience is regarded as an important concept in understanding tourists’ travel experiences; however, emotional solidarity toward local residents and its influence on volunteer tourists has not been studied in the field of volunteer tourism. To fill this research gap, this study proposes a theoretical model that integrates emotional solidarity (which consists of three dimensions: feeling welcomed, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding), with memorable tourism experience and destination loyalty. The results show that volunteer tourists’ perceptions of emotional closeness and sympathetic understanding with residents directly affect tourists’ loyalty to the destination. In particular, the relationships involving volunteer tourists’ feeling welcomed by residents, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding with residents, and destination loyalty were all mediated by memorable tourism experience. This study contributes to the revitalization of volunteer tourism by examining the impact of emotional factors developed with local residents on the tourism experience of volunteer tourists while visiting the area.
The Effect of Faculty Research on Student Learning in College

Whether faculty research affects college student learning has long been the subject of debate. Previous studies use subjective measures of student learning; focus on correlation rather than causation; and typically focus on one college, thus lacking generalizability. Using unique, large-scale survey and assessment data that we collected from nationally representative samples of STEM undergraduates in China, India, and Russia, as well as a causal identification strategy that accounts for differential sorting of students to faculty, we present generalizable estimates of the effect of faculty research on objective, standardized measures of student learning. Results show that faculty research has a negative effect on student learning, suggesting direct trade-offs between the university’s dual mission of producing research and learning.
The Use of Payment Technology Through Financial Literacy

Payment technology has dominated the fintech sector in Indonesia. Optimizing the use of payment technology requires encouragement in the development of financial literacy. Indonesia still has a low level of financial literacy compared to financial inclusion in Indonesia. The low level of financial literacy will lead to abuse of the use of fintech products and services. This study aims to see the effects of financial literacy on payment technology adoption using the TAM approach in urban cities in Indonesia, Jakarta Raya, Bandung, D.I. Yogyakarta, Semarang and Surabaya. The result demonstrates that financial literacy not an essential factor in adopting payment technology in Indonesia.
The association between meal regularity and weight loss among women in commercial weight loss programs

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES While many obesity studies have pointed out the importance of meal regularity, few have conducted empirical analyses using data from food diaries. We examined the association between meal regularity (i.e., meal time regularity [MTR] and calorie intake regularity [CIR]) and weight loss. SUBJECTS/METHODS We collected food diary data from 637 women who had participated in commercial weight loss programs for 28–168 days (4–24 weeks). This study defined “meal regularity” in terms of two concepts: MTR and CIR. MTR refers to how regularly people eat their meals (i.e., at certain times each day), whereas CIR refers to how regularly people consume a certain amount of calories at each meal. We conducted multiple regression analyses. RESULTS MTR (model 1: β = −2,576.526, P < 0.001; model 2: β = −1511.447, P < 0.05; model 3: β = −1,721.428, P < 0.05) and CIR (model 1: β = −1,231.551, P < 0.01; model 2: β = −2,082.353, P < 0.001; model 3: β = −1,343.490, P < 0.01) turned out to be significant determinants of the amount of weight loss in breakfast, lunch, and dinner contexts. While meal regularity (i.e., MTR and CIR) was significantly associated with weight loss, daily calorie intake from meals was not significantly associated with the amount of weight loss (model 1: β = 0.13, P > 0.05; model 2: β = 0.11, P > 0.05; model 3: β = 0.14, P > 0.05). Subjects who consumed an equal amount of calories per meal throughout the day lost more weight than those who did not (model 4: β = −3,675.51, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Eating each meal (i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at a certain time every day may increase weight loss success. Also, consuming the same amount of calories at each meal may help weight loss success.
A new window for a new instrument: Can and will green investment schemes unlock the high effi ciency potentials in Eastern Europe?

According to the latest projections, “hot air”, i.e. surplus of greenhouse gas emission (GHG) allowances compared to the Kyoto commitments, will total signifi cantly higher amounts than projected even a few years ago. Since the compliance gaps of Annex I Parties of the Kyoto Protocol are unlikely to be fully fi lled by credits from the Joint Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism, this hot air will be in high demand. In order to make these allowances palatable for public opinion, “green investment schemes” (GISs) have been proposed. GISs bring reductions in emissions, using the revenues from allowance sales. Th e major hypothetical advantage of GISs over fl exible mechanisms (FM) is that its potentially diverse architectures could overcome the liabilities of the FMs, and could focus on the highest priorities in emission reduction in the selling countries. Several countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are considering the establishment of GISs in the European Union. Due to the large amount of hot air, GISs could provide a unique window of opportunity in these countries to fi nance energyeffi ciency (EE). Th e paper fi rst demonstrates why GISs should focus on EE, especially on investment in buildings. Next, the paper warns that the majority of potential GIS architectures will not accommodate EE investments, and therefore it is essential that such a scheme is optimised to leverage EE opportunities already on the drawing board. Th e paper reviews briefl y the potential components of GISs, evaluates them from the perspective on their potential leverage on EE investments, and suggests alternative architectures that can optimise the benefi ts of GISs for the selling country, as well as the planet.
Pre-1919 suspended timber ground floors in the UK: estimating in-situ U-values and heat loss reduction potential of interventions

Space heating demand in dwellings accounts for around 13% of the UK's CO2 emissions. In support of the UK's carbon emission reduction targets, the UK's existing housing stock would benefit from its thermal performance being characterised. This would facilitate decision-making in the reduction of space-heating energy demand through retrofit. Approximately 25% of the UK's 26 million dwellings pre-date 1919 and are predominantly of suspended timber ground floor construction, the performance of which has not been extensively investigated at present. While under-floor insulation uptake may increase under future government policies, the actual thermal performance of suspended timber ground floors and the implications of insulating them are poorly characterised at present. This PhD research used in-situ heat-flow measuring techniques and the research improved and added knowledge and understanding to the methodological approaches of in-situ estimation of floor U-values, the in-situ estimated U-value of a small number of suspended timber ground floors and the effect of some insulation interventions. Findings highlighted a significant variation in 'point' U-values across the floor with increased thermal transmittance observed along the exposed perimeter and near airbrick locations. This additionally highlighted that obtaining 'whole' floor U-values from a limited number of measured point locations on a floor with large heat-flow variations is challenging. Furthermore, insulation interventions significantly reduced floor U-values and generally a significant disparity was found between modelled and measured U-values. Current models appeared to underestimate the 'whole' floor measured U-value for the floors monitored and this disparity reduced the better insulated the floor. Using current floor U-value models might result in misguided retrofit strategies due to the observed disparity between in-situ estimated and modelled floor U-values as found in a small sample in this study. If these observations are more broadly confirmed in the pre-1919 housing stock, it could have significant implications for policy and retrofit decision-making.
Feature Reduction for Molecular Similarity Searching Based on Autoencoder Deep Learning

The concept of molecular similarity has been commonly used in rational drug design, where structurally similar molecules are examined in molecular databases to retrieve functionally similar molecules. The most used conventional similarity methods used two-dimensional (2D) fingerprints to evaluate the similarity of molecules towards a target query. However, these descriptors include redundant and irrelevant features that might impact the performance of similarity searching methods. Thus, this study proposed a new approach for identifying the important features of molecules in chemical datasets based on the representation of the molecular features using Autoencoder (AE), with the aim of removing irrelevant and redundant features. The proposed approach experimented using the MDL Data Drug Report standard dataset (MDDR). Based on experimental findings, the proposed approach performed better than several existing benchmark similarity methods such as Tanimoto Similarity Method (TAN), Adapted Similarity Measure of Text Processing (ASMTP), and Quantum-Based Similarity Method (SQB). The results demonstrated that the performance achieved by the proposed approach has proven to be superior, particularly with the use of structurally heterogeneous datasets, where it yielded improved results compared to other previously used methods with the similar goal of improving molecular similarity searching.
Using Aim Assistance to Balance First Person Shooters

work has used targeting assistance as a game balancing mechanic in a 2D environment successfully, but little information is available about how well game balancing with targeting assistance would work in 3D games, such as first person shooter (FPS) games. We tested the effectiveness of five aim assistance techniques in three studies and found that the Bullet Magnetism and Area Cursor showed the most promise for 3D FPS game balancing. Based on these results, we propose an environment and method to show that games that have aiming assistance will result in closer scores and better performance than those without, and that these closer scores will translate into a better player experience. This project will be the first to investigate the use of targeting assistance to balance competitive gameplay in an FPS. Keywordsassistance, first person shooter games, game balancing
Reducing challenging behaviours among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in community settings: a systematic review of interventions

Background: Challenging behaviours are common among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Such behaviours often result in poor quality of life outcomes such as physical injury, difficulties with relationships and community integration. Aim: This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence from studies that assessed the effect of interventions used to reduce/manage challenging behaviour among children with intellectual disabilities in community settings. Methods: Studies published between January 2015 and January 2021 were sought from five electronic databases. The quality of studies was assessed, and a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: A total of 11 studies were included which utilised various non-pharmacological interventions including multi-model interventions, microswitch technology, cognitive behavioural therapy, art, music and illustrated stories. Microswitch cluster technology was the most used intervention. Studies using pharmacological interventions were not retrieved. Results indicated that a person-centred planning approach was key to offering individualised treatment. Conclusions: The superiority of one intervention or a combination of interventions could not be determined from this review given the heterogeneity of studies. Future research is required to explore the use and effects of pharmacological interventions to compare outcomes and improve quality of care of children with intellectual disabilities.
Rigorous study of low-complexity adaptive space-time block-coded MIMO receivers in high-speed mode multiplexed fiber-optic transmission links using few-mode fibers

Spatial-division multiplexing (SDM) techniques have been purposed to increase the capacity of optical fiber transmission links by utilizing multicore fibers or few-mode fibers (FMF). The most challenging impairments of SDMbased long-haul optical links mainly include modal dispersion and mode-dependent loss (MDL), whereas MDL arises from inline component imperfections, and breaks modal orthogonality thus degrading the capacity of multiple-inputmultiple- output (MIMO) receivers. To reduce MDL, optical approaches include mode scramblers and specialty fiber designs, yet these methods were burdened with high cost, yet cannot completely remove the accumulated MDL in the link. Besides, space-time trellis codes (STTC) were purposed to lessen MDL, but suffered from high complexity. In this work, we investigated the performance of space-time block-coding (STBC) scheme to mitigate MDL in SDM-based optical communication by exploiting space and delay diversity, whereas weight matrices of frequency-domain equalization (FDE) were updated heuristically using decision-directed recursive-least-squares (RLS) algorithm for convergence and channel estimation. The STBC was evaluated in a six-mode multiplexed system over 30-km FMF via 6×6 MIMO FDE, with modal gain offset 3 dB, core refractive index 1.49, numerical aperture 0.5. Results show that optical-signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) tolerance can be improved via STBC by approximately 3.1, 4.9, 7.8 dB for QPSK, 16- and 64-QAM with respective bit-error-rates (BER) and minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE). Besides, we also evaluate the complexity optimization of STBC decoding scheme with zero-forcing decision feedback (ZFDF) equalizer by shortening the coding slot length, which is robust to frequency-selective fading channels, and can be scaled up for SDM systems with more dynamic channels.
CFD Analysis of Downcomer of Nuclear Reactor VVER 440

Abstract The paper is focused on CFD analyses of the coolant flow in the nuclear reactor VVER 440. The goal of the analyses is to investigate the influence of the orifice diameter on the mass flow through individual fuel assemblies in the reactor core. The diameter of orifice can be changed during the operation of a nuclear power plant. Considered boundary conditions in the investigated region of the coolant are based on nominal coolant flow conditions in the nuclear reactor VVER 440.
Adoption of ICT in the Greek Livestock Sector: Results of a Survey in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki

Our research team has carried out a series of studies over the last years to identify the use and impact of Internet as well as adoption of ICT in the Greek agricultural sector. A survey that we conducted two years ago examined a number of agricultural organisations and enterprises developed an Inter net presence through a web site. Results of the survey indicated that the Internet is utilised and applied in non-professional way and has not yet satisfied many key expectations. These results clearly illustrated that the impact of the Internet is quite small and further initiatives and financial support from governmental organisations are required. Also the results revealed that the Greek farmers must adopt ICT in a larger capacity in order to provide the right environment and the critical mass allowing larger investments. Since we have identified that larger adoption of ICT by Greek farmers is a prerequisite for further development of IT in agriculture, we decided to conduct a study that examines the socioeconomic and other reasons confronting Greek farmers to adopt ICT in larger capacity. This paper presents and critically discusses the results of that survey which was focused in the Greek livestock sector.
Optimization-Based Operation of Distribution Grids With Residential Battery Storage: Assessing Utility and Customer Benefits

Increasing levels of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has created significant technical challenges in distribution networks, particularly regarding voltage regulation. Small-scale behind-the-meter battery storage is a key element in effectively overcoming such challenges, while offering financial benefits for customers. In this paper, we propose an optimization-based approach for dispatching power from residential-scale battery storage for grid support and customer savings, considering only local (behind-the-meter) measurements. The proposed approach takes into account the physics of the grid and both real and reactive power (coupled) for voltage regulation and grid loss reduction. The optimization-based approach, termed Local-Quadratic Program (L-QP), is formulated based on the linear power flow equations (LinDistFlow). The proposed L-QP is benchmarked against an approach in which real power is used to maximize the customer benefit, while reactive power is dedicated for voltage regulation. Numerical simulations with the IEEE 13 and IEEE 123 Node Test Feeders, which include realistic time-varying data for residential load and PV generation, demonstrate the technical advantages of the proposed approach.
Multiphase layered transition metal oxide positive electrodes for sodium ion batteries

Multiphase layered transition metal oxides (LTMOs) for sodium ion battery (SIB) positive electrodes with phase interfaces across multiple length scales are a promising avenue toward practical, high‐performance SIBs. Combinations of phases can complement each other's strengths and mitigate their weaknesses if their interfaces are carefully controlled. Intra‐ and interparticle phase interactions from nanoscale to macroscale must be carefully tuned to generate distinct effects on properties and performance. An informed design strategy must be paired with relevant synthesis techniques and complemented by spatially resolved characterization tools to manipulate different length scales and interfaces. This review examines the design, synthesis, and characterization strategies that have been demonstrated for the preparation of heterogeneous, multiphasic LTMOs with phase interfaces across varied length scales.
State of art of cooling method for dry machining

The usage of cutting fluid in the machining operations will not only poses health risk to the workers but also creates environmental challenges associated with fluid treatment and disposal. The objective of this review paper is to identify present cooling method in dry machining and novel feature than can be included in the cooling system for a better heat removal which tend to increase machining performance. From the review study, it shows that cooling method by internal manner is most widely been researched because researcher believes that it has a promising future in adaptive machining to produce a contamination free products which supports the green manufacturing concept. The suggested novel feature is ecologically desirable and it will become as a necessity for improving the performance of dry machining in the near future.