Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexural and Dynamic Characteristics of FRP Composite Sandwich Beam

This study presents the flexural and impact testing results of composite sandwich beams. The sandwich beams are constructed from balsa wood in the core and high strength steel wire and E-glass fiber reinforced polymer composite in the facings. The testing of these beams is performed using a monotonic static three-point loading to failure in accordance with ASTM standard C393-00. Local strain distribution in the midspan of the beams is obtained using strain gauges. Mid-span deflections of the beams are real-time measured using linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT). From the experimental results, flexural properties of the beams are calculated, including bending stiffness, bending strength, shear strength etc. The experimental results have shown that the beams have all failed in the compression zone local buckling of the top face and shear of the core. The bottom skin does not exhibit any type of premature failure or distress. No bond failure of the composite in the tension zone is observed in any of the tested beams. After the bending tests, the overhanging portion of the sandwich beams are machined into various scaled-down specimens for tension testing, low velocity impact testing, and residual bending strength testing. Uniaxial tensile tests per ASTM D3039 are conducted on the laminated facing to determine its tensile modulus of elasticity along the longitudinal direction. Low velocity impact tests using the DynaTup impact machine are conducted on the machined beam specimens per ASTM D2444 with varying hammer weights. After impact testing, the residual load carrying capacity of the sandwich beam specimens are determined using a four-point bending test. In this test, the ASTM C393 test method is followed. Mid-span deflections of the beams were again real-time measured using the
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Tropical Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) using Single Nucleotide Polymorphic Markers

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is among the most important crops worldwide due to its numerous uses in feed, food, biofuel, and significant atmospheric nitrogen fixation capability. To understand the genetic diversity and population structure of tropical soybean germplasm, 89 genotypes from diverse sources were analyzed using 7,962 SNP markers. The AMOVA results showed low diversity among and high within the populations, while the polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.27. Both phylogenetic and principal component analysis grouped the 89 soybean genotypes into three major clusters, while population structure grouped the soybean genotypes into two subpopulations. On the other, the average Roger genetic distances within the study population was 0.34. The low diversity reported in the studied soybean germplasm pool is particularly worrying, considering the new trends of climate change and the emergence of new pests and diseases of soybean. Therefore, in order to address these challenges and develop soybean varieties with desirable traits, there is a need to broaden the genetic base of tropical soybean through the importation of germplasm from other countries.
Measuring Upper-Extremity Use with One IMU

Discharge home from hospital can be a critical stage in the rehabilitation of patients with central neurological disorders such as stroke. The new skills and early recovery achieved in the hospital may be difficult to transfer to the home environment. This work addresses the monitoring of arm usage and proposed a new metric called Weighted Activity Counts (WAC) based on a sensing system that consists of only one inertial measurement unit (IMU). The proposed metric combines activity counts and the smoothness of the movement. This work defines Normalized Gross Energy Expenditure (NGEC) as the reference metric. WAC shows good performance under the validation protocol we designed (correlation coefficient r > 0.90). The optimal placement for the single sensor which can sufficiently and reliably describe arm usage is also explored in this work.
Comparison of three classification systems of Prepregnancy Body Mass Index with Perinatal Outcomes in Japanese Obese Pregnant Women: A retrospective study at a single center

In Japan, pregnant women are diagnosed as obese if the prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is ≥25 kg/m2. However, this is different from other countries. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) classifies prepregnancy BMI as underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). In addition to these four categories, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) classifies prepregnancy BMI as obesity class I (BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m2), obesity class II (BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2), and obesity class III (BMI ≥40 kg/m2). We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare obstetric outcomes by the three different categorizations in 6,066 pregnant women who gave birth between 2010 and 2019. According to Japanese classification, 668 (11%) pregnant women were classified as obese, and significant odds ratios (OR) were observed for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP; 3.32), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM; 3.39), large for gestational age (LGA; 2.91), and macrosomia (4.01). According to the classification of IOM, 474 (7.8%) and 194 (3.1%) were classified as overweight and obese pregnant women, respectively. Specifically, a high OR was observed in obese pregnant women for HDP (5.85) and GDM (5.0). ACOG classification categorized 474 (7.8%) pregnant women as overweight, 141 (2.3%) as obesity class I, 41 (0.6%) as obesity class II, and 12 (0.2%) as obesity class III. In obesity class III, a significantly high OR was observed for HDP (12.89), GDM (8.37), and LGA (5.74). The Japanese classification may be useful for low-risk pregnancies, whereas IOM classification may be applicable to identify high-risk pregnancies. ACOG criteria may be useful for step-wise assessments of HDP and GDM risks in Japanese pregnant women; however, the number of class II and III obese pregnant women was small.
Rumor, denial messages and consumer behavioral intention: An experimental study of Ajinomoto Umami seasoning use in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire

IJMSSSR 2020 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4 JULY – AUGUST ISSN: 2582 0265 Abstract: This experimental study was carried out by semi-structured interviews, based on a case of the rumors about Ajinomoto seasoning in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa. It reports that guiding messages are the most effective strategy to influence consumer behavioral intention. The study found that the no-response strategy of ignoring rumors initially pursued by Ajinomoto exacerbated the decline in company sales performance. This study thus recommends that managers, in combating rumors, should be active and adopt strategies that involve consumers and the public passing on rebuttals of such rumors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 7th INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE "New Management for the New Economy", November 7th-8th, 2013, BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Three entrepreneurial case studies in Romania show that changes in the environment—such as changes in customers needs changes in competitive products—are the major sources of opportunities. To recognize and exploit these opportunities, the firm needs entrepreneurial capabilities. At the same time, to gain long-run competitive advantage, the firm needs dynamic capabilities. The case findings show that entrepreneurial capabilities have circular and iterative relationship with dynamic capabilities—each reinforces other's. More often the iteration takes place, the stronger entrepreneurial capabilities and dynamic capabilities are. Further, the study builds on the extant literature and develops a new method to capture dynamic capabilities through capturing changes in ordinary capabilities
No-reference Automatic Quality Assessment for Colorfulness-Adjusted, Contrast-Adjusted, and Sharpness-Adjusted Images Using High-Dynamic-Range-Derived Features

Image adjustment methods are one of the most widely used post-processing techniques for enhancing image quality and improving the visual preference of the human visual system (HVS). However, the assessment of the adjusted images has been mainly dependent on subjective evaluations. Also, most recently developed automatic assessment methods have mainly focused on evaluating distorted images degraded by compression or noise. The effects of the colorfulness, contrast, and sharpness adjustments on images have been overlooked. In this study, we propose a fully automatic assessment method that evaluates colorfulness-adjusted, contrast-adjusted, and sharpness-adjusted images while considering HVS preferences. The proposed method does not require a reference image and automatically calculates quantitative scores, visual preference, and quality assessment with respect to the level of colorfulness, contrast, and sharpness adjustment. The proposed method evaluates adjusted images based on the features extracted from high dynamic range images, which have higher colorfulness, contrast, and sharpness than that of low dynamic range images. Through experimentation, we demonstrate that our proposed method achieves a higher correlation with subjective evaluations than that of conventional assessment methods.
A Multi-Sectorial Analysis of a Waste to Energy Plant

Currently waste management is a critical issue for several countries. Separate collection and recycling activities are growing; Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Austria and Denmark have drastically reduced the use of the landfill while Italy, United Kingdom and Spain give half of their waste to landfill. Real case studies and scientific papers have demonstrated the benefits of the waste to energy (WTE) facilities compared to the traditional incinerators. Typologies of waste suitable for the energy recovery are: unsorted waste, dry fraction from mechanical biological treatment, refuse-derived fuels (RDF) and also some special waste (e.g. medical). To focus on waste management in Italy, this study uses a multi-sectorial analysis for a region, Abruzzo, reporting a high rate of landfilling. Plant dimensioning, comparison between WTE strategies, centralized or decentralized solution, location of plant are proposed and economic, environmental, financial and social analysis verify the sustainability of the suggested solution. The outcomes deriving from the present research could be extended in developing countries where ever-increasing amounts of solid waste accompany rapid economic and population growth. Relevant is the municipalities ability to sustainably manage it all and solutions to these problems may be found in the results of the present research.
A QUANTITATIVE PREDICTIVE MODELLING FOR INHIBITION OF TRANSGLUTAMINASE-2 USING PENALIZED REGRESSION APPROACH

Screening potential protein targets and designing novel inhibitors is a major hurdle in drug development pipeline consuming enormous time and cost. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a vital target expressed in malignant cells, especially during lung cancer. The biochemical pathway of TG2 is crucial for apoptosis in humans. In this view of its impact, identification and prediction of novel drug candidates against TG2 may provide valuable insights for combating tumor growth. This study focuses on screening novel drug molecules engrossed in three classes of TG2 inhibitors. Molecular descriptors are generated for each inhibitor based on their physicochemical characteristics. After feature reduction, seven molecular descriptors are selected for designing Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship(QSAR) models. Four different regression models are developed for the dataset, with elastic net regularization model yielding better performance by demonstrating Mean Square Error value(MSE) of 0.36656, followed by ridge model with MSE of 2.4014. The performance of QSAR models is further evaluated by cross-validation and statistical parameters like RSS and error analysis. The results reflect that regression models can predict the relationship between drug descriptors and their activity for TG2 ligands. This model so developed can be implemented into a data driven system for identifying novel anti-TG2 molecules.
“It’s Not Just Technology, It’s People”: Constructing a Conceptual Model of Shared Health Informatics for Tracking in Chronic Illness Management

Background For many people, tracking health indicators is central to managing a chronic illness. However, previous informatics research has largely viewed tracking as a solitary process that lacks the characteristics essential to tracking in support of chronic illness management. Objective To inform development of effective technologies that aid tracking of health indicators to support chronic illness management, this study aimed to construct a health informatics model that accurately describes the work and social context of that tracking work. Methods As part of a larger project, we conducted semistructured interviews with 40 adults concerning their chronic illness management practices, including tracking and communication. We also assembled transcripts of 30 publicly available videos of 24 adults discussing tracking processes for managing their own chronic illness. We used qualitative methods to analyze interviews and video transcripts through the lens of ongoing personal and health informatics research. Results We have described the people and work involved in tracking in support of chronic illness management and contributed a Conceptual Model of Shared Health Informatics (CoMSHI). Specifically, we identified the need for a health informatics model that (1) incorporates the ongoing nature of tracking work and (2) represents the social dimension of tracking for illness management. Our model depicts communication, information, collection, integration, reflection, and action work in the social context of the person with chronic illness, informal carers, health care providers, and community members. Conclusions The resulting CoMSHI yields a more detailed and nuanced viewpoint of tracking in support of chronic illness management and can inform technology design to improve tracking tools to support people in more confident and capable chronic illness management.
Is it Still Worth the Cost to Teach Compiling in 2020 ? a Pedagogical Experience Through Hortensias Compiler and Virtual Machine

With the disruption produced by extensive automation of automation due to advanced research in machine learning, and auto machine learning, even in programming language translation, the main goal of this paper is to discuss the following question "Is it still worth the cost to teach compiling in 2020 ? ". Our paper defends the "Yes answer" within software engineering majors. The paper also shares the experience of teaching compiling techniques course best practices since more than 15 years, presents and evaluates this experience through Hortensias, a pedagogical compiling laboratory platform providing a language compiler and a virtual machine. Hortensias is a multilingual pedagogical platform for learning end teaching how to build compilers front and back-end. Hortensias language offers the possibility to the programmer to customise the compiler associativity management, visualise the intermediary representations of compiled code, or customise the optimisation management, and the error management language for international students communities. Hortensias offers the possibility to the beginner programmer to use a graphical user interface to program by clicking. Hortensias compiling pedagogy evaluation has been conducted through two surveys involving in a voluntarily basis engineering students and alumni during one week. It targeted two null hypothesis : the first null hypothesis supposes that compiling teaching is becoming outdated with regards to current curricula evolution, and the second null hypothesis supposes Hortensias compiling based pedagogy has no impact neither on understanding nor on implementing compilers and interpreters. During fifteen years of teaching compiler engineering, Hortensias was a wonderful pedagogic experiment either for teaching and for learning, since vulgarising abstract concepts becomes very easier for teachers, lectures follow a gamification-like approach, and students become efficient in delivering versions of their compiler software product in a fast pace.
High Bandwidth Brain-Machine Implants To Recover From A Paralytical Stroke

The objective is to inculcate an artificial intelligence which drives the mechanical implantable brain computer interface which can rehabilate after a stroke as the paralysis is a uncurable and it takes lot of time till today and the recovery is based on their brain triggering this process includes special for rehabilitation where the neural chips inculcate the learning process by cognitive science. This system includes neural chip which its layer is implanted into the brain and monitored through the EEG signals. The system mainly built to induce the inactive nerves and after a stroke this process of inducing brain is studied in many phisiotherapical practices. This method involves the neural chips which are maintained by the AI data sets which induces the inactive cerebral nerve that will make the physically disabled person to rehabiliate.
Financial Reporting Quality in Nordic Countries

The aim of this research was to identify the influence that corporate governance characteristics of a firm have on the quality of financial information provided to its stakeholders, specifically for Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden and Denmark). Analysis was performed based on firm-level secondary data. The main research objective was to ascertain whether there exist potential causal relationships between the characteristics of a firm’s board of directors and the executive team, and the respective amount of discretionary accruals, which is used as a measure of the quality of financial information – a high discretionary accrual amount representing lower financial information quality. Theoretical and empirical literature was collected from diverse literature including research articles, corporate reports and statements, regulatory reports and papers published by professional organizations. Compiled secondary data, on the other hand, were obtained from the audited annual statements and reports of the chosen 62 publicly listed firms in Finland, Sweden and Denmark for the fiscal year of 2015. SPSS program was used to do both descriptive and inferential analysis using the data in order to identify causal relationships between the variables involved. The result indicated that the ratio of performance pay to fixed pay of an executive team significantly and positively affects the amount of discretionary accruals at the firm level, thus lowering the quality of financial data. Furthermore, the experience of board members serving in a firm affects the quality of financial reporting adversely. Several other control variables also affect the amount of discretionary accruals, such as the number of other directorship positions a firm board member holds in other firms (positive relationship) and the education background of the board members (negative relationship). Keywords/tags (subjects) Quality of financial reporting, Quality of accounting information, Corporate governance, Earnings management, Discretionary accruals, Jones model Miscellaneous Appendices attached (16 pages)
Normative values for evaluation of children physical education level: According to chronological age or biological age?

This research was conducted to determine whether there are differences between the norm values used in the evaluation of children who train in different sports and physical education lessons according to the chronological age and biological age of the children. The research group consists of a total of 239 male students of 13 (n=116) and 14 (n=123) chronological years, who study in grades 7 and 8. In addition, the biological ages of the students who make up the research group are calculated and divided into 13 (N=140) and 14 (n=86) biological age groups. Within the scope of the research, heights, body weights, body mass indexes and body fat percentages of students were determined as anthropometric variables. Hand grip, leg strength, flexibility, horizontal and vertical jump, medicine ball throwing, ball throwing and sprint running skills were measured as motoric performance variables. The differences of variables according to chronological age and biological age were calculated by the Independent-Samples t-test. According to age groups, the arithmetic mean (x) is shown as 10%. While establishing the norm, the ratings accepted as Canadian criteria were used. In our study, significant differences were found between body weights in 13 and 14 age groups according to both chronological age and biological age. While there is a similarity in 13 age group in terms of heights, difference in favor of biological age was calculated in 14 age group. Even if there is no difference in the comparisons made for the biomotor abilities that are the subject of our study, percentage differences were found in comparing norm values in 10% slices according to chronological age and biological age. Thanks to norm values generated according to both chronological and biological age, the physical condition of the children, strengths and weaknesses related to the level of students in physical education classes, according to the separation of the application groups of children directed to the appropriate sport or the athletes and the students about training programs that will be applied to the course content it is envisaged that the results of this research will provide guidance. In this way, it is thought that by dividing the chronological age and biological age in children, a possible loss of motivation will be prevented in both physical education and training and competitions.
Enhancing L2 learning through a mobile assisted spaced-repetition tool: an effective but bitter pill?

Abstract We tested the effectiveness of the spaced-repetition flashcard application, Anki, on improving 62 university-level learners’ second language (L2) learning in a semester-long beginning Spanish course. Using effective study strategies is critical for L2 learning, but college students learning an L2 often study with strategies that are only useful for short-term performance. Prior research has shown that spaced-repetition testing increases long-term memory retention so we hypothesized that regularly studying L2 vocabulary with Anki would improve L2 learning. Participants were students enrolled in a beginning Spanish course who were assigned to study with Anki as a class requirement. The results showed a positive relationship between days studying with Anki and Spanish performance at the end of the semester even while controlling for baseline abilities and for motivation, self-efficacy, and beliefs. However, students were reluctant to use the app and reported low enjoyment. Regardless, participants also reported having higher motivation and more effort-based or incremental beliefs about learning at the end of the semester. The present study answers calls for experimental research on specific strategy interventions that also produce genuine gains in second language acquisition.