Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Greenhouse effect of chlorofluorocarbons and other trace gases

A comparison is made of the radiative (greenhouse) forcing of the climate system due to changes of atmospheric chlorofluorocarbons and other trace gases. It is found that CFCs, defined to include chlorofluorocarbons, chlorocarbons, and fluorocarbons, now provide about one-quater of current annual increases in anthropogenic greenhouse climate forcing. If the growth rates of CFC production in the early 1970s had continued to the present, current annual growth of climate forcing due to CFCs would exceed that due to CO2.
Co-creating product-service-system with and for the ageing society in different socio cultural contexts

This paper reports on an empirical study about how designers and design researchers applied a co-creation method to generate product-service-system (PSS) concepts in multi-stakeholder teams, to promote physical activities for elderly people in an EU project. This method is developed based on the Value Design method. The value design method consists of a workshop process and a set of generative research tools to support the value creation process. By analysing the workshop process, results from the end user value creating process, the stakeholder value creating process and the encounter process, this paper demonstrates how designers can use such a co-creation process together with the created generative research tools to enable the value creation for the purpose of adopting the PSS approach by the stakeholders and the end users. The results also showed that different social cultural contexts related to the field of interest determined the stakeholder network construction.
CMOS-MEMS prestress vertical cantilever resonator with electrostatic driving and piezoresistive sensing

This paper presents a CMOS-MEMS prestress vertical comb-drive resonator with a piezoresistive sensor to detect its static and dynamic response. The proposed resonator consists of a set of comb fingers fabricated along with a composite beam. One end of the composite beam is clamped to the anchor, while the other is elevated by residual stress. Actuation occurs when the electrostatic force, induced by the fringe effect, pulls the composite beam downwards to the substrate. The initial tip height at the free end of the resonator due to residual stress is approximately 60 µm. A piezoresistor is designed to sense the vertical deflection and vibration of the resonator. The relative change in the resistance of the piezoresistor (ΔR/R) is about 0.52% when a voltage of 100 V is applied in static mode. The first resonant frequency of the device is 14.5 kHz, and the quality factor is around 36 in air. The device is fabricated through TSMC 0.35 µm 2p4m CMOS process and post-CMOS process.
Prediction of melting points of a diverse chemical set using fuzzy regression tree

The classification and regression trees (CART) possess the advantage of being able to handle large data sets and yield readily interpretable models. In spite to these advantages, they are also recognized as highly unstable classifiers with respect to minor perturbations in the training data. In the other words methods present high variance. Fuzzy logic brings in an improvement in these aspects due to the elasticity of fuzzy sets formalism. ACS, which is a meta-heuristic algorithm and derived from the observation of real ants, was used to optimize fuzzy parameters. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of fuzzy regression tree (RT) for modeling of melting points of a large variety of chemical compounds. To test the ability of the resulted tree, a set of approximately 4173 structures and their melting points were used (3000 compounds as training set and 1173 as validation set). Further, an external test set contains of 277 drugs were used to validate the prediction ability of the tree. Comparison the results obtained from both trees showed that the fuzzy RT performs better than that produced by recursive partitioning procedure.
School-based Assessment in Public Examinations: Identifying the Concerns of Teachers

Although the Hong Kong Government has planned to expand school-based assessment in public examinations, we know little about teacher concerns regarding the adoption or implementation of such an educational innovation. This article presents the findings from a cross-validation study of a 5-stage model of teacher concerns. A 24-item questionnaire was constructed to measure teacher concerns on five sequential stages: (1) Indifference, (2) Informational-Personal, (3) Management, (4) Consequence-Collaboration, and (5) Refocusing. Using the questionnaire, a survey to study 290 Hong Kong teachers’ concerns about school-based assessment as a component of the public examination was conducted. The survey results supported the 5stage model, but information collected from another sample of 53 teachers through an open-ended survey indicated that the 5-stage model needed to be extended to include a stage of evaluation concerns. The nature of the six stages of concern is discussed.
Integrating multiple criteria decision analysis into participatory forest planning

Forest planning in a participatory context often involves multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests. A promising approach for handling these complex situations is to integrate participatory planning and multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The objective of this paper is to analyze strengths and weaknesses of such an integrated approach, focusing on how the use of MCDA has influenced the participatory process. The paper outlines a model for a participatory MCDA process with five steps: stakeholder analysis, structuring of the decision problem, generation of alternatives, elicitation of preferences, and ranking of alternatives. This model was applied in a case study of a planning process for the urban forest in Lycksele, Sweden. In interviews with stakeholders, criteria for four different social groups were identified. Stakeholders also identified specific areas important to them and explained what activities the areas were used for and the forest management they wished for there. Existing forest data were combined with information from interviews to create a map in which the urban forest was divided into zones of different management classes. Three alternative strategic forest plans were produced based on the zonal map. The stakeholders stated their preferences individually by the Analytic Hierarchy Process in inquiry forms and a ranking of alternatives and consistency ratios were determined for each stakeholder. Rankings of alternatives were aggregated; first, for each social group using the arithmetic mean, and then an overall aggregated ranking was calculated from the group rankings using the weighted arithmetic mean. The participatory MCDA process in Lycksele is assessed against five social goals: incorporating public values into decisions, improving the substantive quality of decisions, resolving conflict among competing interests, building trust in institutions, and educating and informing the public. The results and assessment of the case study support the integration of participatory planning and MCDA as a viable option for handling complex forest-management situations. Key issues related to the MCDA methodology that need to be explored further were identified: 1) The handling of place-specific criteria, 2) development of alternatives, 3) the aggregation of individual preferences into a common preference, and 4) application and evaluation of the integrated approach in real case studies.
Differential niche occupation and the biotechnological potential of Methylobacterium species associated with sugarcane plants

This work highlighted a putative link between the physiological activity and genetic diversity of Methylobacterium species and the association with sugarcane roots and rhizoplane. In total, 40 isolates previously described as pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria (PPFMs), were evaluated for their ability to fix nitrogen and solubilize inorganic phosphate, amylase and pectinase activity. This in vitro potential was positively correlated with the community isolated from the root tissues than those from the rhizoplane. Regarding the genomic fingerprinting, the (BOX-PCR) approach revealed a low similarity among the isolates, occurring sole 7 haplotypes harboring more than 70% of similarity among band patterns. These results revealed that the genomic fingerprinting of the isolates recovery from roots is different from the rhizoplane. Besides that, these haplotypes occurred on both sugarcane varieties. Using a phylogenetic sequencing approach based on the 16S rRNA gene, we observed a high abundance of sequences similar to Methylobacterium radiotolerans colonizing both plant tissue and sugarcane varieties were observed. Hence, it was suggested that the plant should select those Methylobacterium spp. with a high biotechnological potential to promote plant growth. Therefore, the bioprospection of specific endophytic bacterial groups comprise an important source of biotechnological potential to improve sugarcane growth and production. Key words: Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria, plant growth promotion, BOX-PCR, 16S rDNA, Methylobacterium radiotolerans.
Evolution of the Conditions for Successful Innovation in Remote Networked Schools

This paper investigates the presence (or absence) of Ely’s (1999) conditions for implementing innovation in a rural context in the province of Quebec (Canada). The innovation, namely the Remote Networked School (RNS) initiative, is designed to bring new technology tools to enrich the learning environment of students and diminish teachers’ isolation in the smallest and most remote schools of the province. The study presents a discourse analysis of four major stakeholder groups of the RNS initiative over three years. The qualitative analysis was designed to identify: 1) the conditions for innovation that were most present in stakeholder discourse over the years; 2) the indicators that strengthened the conditions for innovation presence or absence; and finally, 3) certain variations occurring during the adoption/implementation years of the RNS initiative. This paper reconfirms the adequacy of Ely’s model as an effective framework for understanding and monitoring ICT-based systemic teaching and learning innovations such as the province-wide RNS initiative in Quebec.
Uniform pricing and social welfare

We re-examine the case for uniform pricing in a monopolistic third-degree price-discrimination setting by introducing differentiated costs. A profit-maximizing monopolist could then use price differentiation to reduce the production of the more costly goods, thereby decreasing average cost and increasing welfare. Indeed, monopolistic price differentiation can improve welfare and also aggregate consumer surplus even if, as in the benchmark linear case, total output does not increase. Accordingly, the welfare criterion based on total output fails and should be replaced by the computation of well-defined price indexes. These results possibly pave the way for a more optimistic assessment of monopolistic pricing.
Gas Chromatographic Assessment for Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons pollutants Using Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens

The bioremediation of n-Octane and Ethyl benzene singly and in combination as representative solutes for aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was studied. The studied B. amyloliquefaciens was selected from one hundred and sixteen bacterial isolates collected from five different sites along River Nile, Egypt. The determination of the minor amounts of the residual selected solutes was obtained via capillary gas chromatography (CGC) using normal hexane as internal standard. The effects of different pH values, incubation temperatures and the exposure of the bacterial cells to 7.3mW He-Ne laser radiation on the bioremediation were investigated. PH 6 and incubation temperature 37 oC are the optimum conditions giving maximum degradation of both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Complete degradation through incubation time 12 hours was obtained by irradiating the bacterial cells to a laser dose for one minuet. The irradiation for three minuets exhibits complete degradation through incubation time 8 hours only. Irradiation of the bacterial suspension for more than three minuets accompanied with bad effect on the bioremediation process.
Adjustment of recall errors in duration data using SIMEX

It is widely accepted that due to memory failures retrospective survey questions tend to be prone to measurement error. However, the proportion of studies using such data that attempt to adjust for the measurement problem is shockingly low. Arguably, to a great extent this is due to both the complexity of the methods available and the need to access a subsample containing either a gold standard or replicated values. Here I suggest the implementation of a version of SIMEX capable of adjusting for the types of multiplicative measurement errors associated with memory failures in the retrospective report of durations of life-course events. SIMEX is a method relatively simple to implement and it does not require the use of replicated or validation data so long as the error process can be adequately specified. To assess the effectiveness of the method I use simulated data. I create twelve scenarios based on the combinations of three outcome models (linear, logit and Poisson) and four types of multiplicative errors (non-systematic, systematic negative, systematic positive and heteroscedastic) affecting one of the explanatory variables. I show that SIMEX can be satisfactorily implemented in each of these scenarios. Furthermore, the method can also achieve partial adjustments even in scenarios where the actual distribution and prevalence of the measurement error differs substantially from what is assumed in the adjustment, which makes it an interesting sensitivity tool in those cases where all that is known about the error process is reduced to an educated guess.
Signatures factory: a dynamic alternative for teaching - learning layout concepts and waste disposal

The use of games and simulation has now spread as a teaching support tool of engineering. This article aims to discuss this reality and this need, presenting as proposed a didactic game in a signature’s factory. From this, it was suggested that the participants involved modify the simulated factory environment through the knowledge acquired during the factory design discipline and layout. Various topics related to Production Engineering were addressed, such as layout, Takt time (TT), standardization of processes, elimination of waste and activities that add / do not add value. As a result, it was possible to see, among many things, the significant improvement in the understanding and assimilation of theoretical concepts by the participants. With the practice of simulation one can demonstrate and experience possible cases and difficulties they face on a daily basis within the factory environment.
Meta-Knowledge Based Approach for an Interactive Visualization of Large Amounts of Association Rules

Providing efficient and easy-to-use graphical tools to users is a promising challenge of data mining, especially in the case of association rules. These tools must be able to generate explicit knowledge and, then, to present it in an elegant way. Visualization techniques have shown to be an efficient solution to achieve such a goal. Even though considered as a key step in the mining process, the visualization step of association rules received much less attention than that paid to the extraction step. Nevertheless, some graphical tools have been developed to extract and visualize association rules. In those tools, various approaches are proposed to filter the huge number of association rules before the visualization step. However both data mining steps (association rule extraction and visualization) are treated separately in a one way process. Recently different approaches have been proposed that use meta-knowledge to guide the user during the mining process. Standing at the crossroads of Data Mining and Human-Computer
Using Mobile Facebook As An LMS: Exploring Impeding Factors

The present article describes exploratory research conducted in two French language courses to identify the impeding factors of using a social networking site (SNS) on smartphones. Following the replacement of the faculty‟s learning management system (LMS) by a unified platform, there were difficulties in conducting the same class activities that the researchers and students had grown accustomed to. Students were no longer able to initiate discussions in the target language in online forums nor were they able to use their mobile devices to access and share resources directly from the classroom. Current literature emphasises (1) the benefits of learning on SNS and (2) the advantages of mobile learning, which suggests these technologies as possible solutions to the issue discussed in the present study. The opportunities afforded by these technologies were first explored with a survey and deeper knowledge was gained with group interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the survey data while computer aided qualitative analysis software was used to categorise the themes which emerged from the interviews. Smartphone ownership and SNS membership were not identified as impeding factors to adopt these tools for learning. However, several impeding factors were identified with each technology. Inhibiting issues with SNS were: the lack of privacy, the dichotomy in the notion of friendship, and paradoxically the lack of stimulus to communicate. The constraints from the mobile phones stemmed from their intrusive nature and their inability to perform the same tasks as laptops. These findings are assessed and discussed in light of other research before an SNS and smartphone system is implemented to supersede or replace the LMS.
Estimation of the particle size distribution of a dilute latex from combined elastic and dynamic light scattering measurements: A method based on neural networks

A method for estimating the particle size distribution (PSD) of a dilute latex from light scattering measurements is presented. The method utilizes a general regression neural network (GRNN), that estimates the PSD from 2 independent sets of measurements carried out at several angles: (i) light intensity measurements, by elastic light scat- tering (ELS); and (ii) average diameters measure- ments, by dynamic light scattering. The GRNN was trained with measurements simulated on the basis of typical asymmetric PSDs (unimodal normal- logarithmic distributions of variable mean diameters and variances). First, the ability of the method was tested on the basis of two synthetic examples. Then, the obtained GRNN was used for estimating the PSD of a narrow polystyrene (PS) latex standard of nominal diameter 111 nm. The standard was also characterized by 2 independent techniques: capillary hydrodynamic fractionation, and transmission elec- tron microscopy (TEM). The PSD predicted by the GRNN resulted close to that obtained by TEM. The estimated PSDs were better than those obtained through standard numerical techniques for 'ill- conditioned' inverse problems.
Grounding telework strategy in a university setting : report on a first-step analysis

Universities can be considered to typify knowledge intensive organizations and hence are an important site to study the phenomenon of telework amongst knowledge workers. This paper reports on the results of findings arising from a first-step analysis – 20 semi-structured interviews – undertaken as Stage 1 of the formal adoption of a telework strategy at a major Australian university (UNIOZ). No attempt is made to precisely quantify the findings but thematic analysis is used to analyse telework in the context of current University work practices, indicate satisfaction or otherwise with telework, and point to a number of key factors relating to the adequacy of technological support for telework. Important future trends for telework at the University, with the potential to impact on planning of technological support, are also highlighted. Key findings include: • Telework is a long-established informal practice at the University but continues to evolve with the additional emphasis on flexible work from multiple locations (various sites on campus, other campuses, from international sites, and from home).
An Adaptive Strategy for Elastic- Plastic Analysis of Structures with Cracks work presents a methodology for self-adaptive finite element analysis of two-

This work presents a methodology for self-adaptive finite element analysis of two-dimensional elastic-plastic structures. The self-adaptive process is based on an h-type refinement, with a posteriori error estimation. Two types of error estimators are available. The first is based on effective stress (Lee and Bathe, 1994) and the second is based on a ratio of plastic work (Peric et al., 1994). In the non-linear adaptive process for incremental plasticity analysis, a technique for interpolating analysis variables across distinct meshes (Lee and Bathe, 1994) is adopted. The von Mises yield criterion, with isotropic hardening, is adopted. Fracture problems are used to evaluate the performance of the adaptive process. Keywords : finite elements, adaptive analysis, plasticity, cracks, error estimator
Serum Paraoxonase-1 Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Comorbidity

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients through progressive atherosclerosis. Inflammation plays a crucial role in atherogenesis. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) has important role in decreasing susceptibility of LDL to lipid peroxidation and prevent or at least limits the oxidation of HDL which play a role in decreasing the susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Aim of the study: To estimate serum paraoxonase-1 (PNO1), in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its correlation if any to disease activity and lipid profile. Methods: Sixty rheumatoid arthritis patients, attending the rheumatology department at Benha teaching hospital and thirty healthy volunteers were included in this study. Both groups were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, laboratory assessment of serum paraoxinase-1 level, lipids profile, CBC, ESR and CRP. Results: The mean serum PNO1 level in RA patients was (41.53±31.79 U/ml) and this was highly significantly lower than its level in control group (177 ± 40.77 U/ml) (p<0.001). Correlations between this level and different laboratory and clinical parameters showed significant negative correlations with ESR, CRP, DAS-28 score, cholesterol and LDL. While serum PON-1 shows significant positive correlation with HDL. ROC curve was obtained to assess for the validity of paraoxinase-1 in prediction of cardiovascular risk in severly active RA patients, it showed that paraoxinase -1 at a cut off value ≤ 26 can significantly predict cardiovascular risk in severly active RA patients, with sensitivity 76.5% and specificity 72.1%. Conclusion: low serum paraoxinase-1 activity is a real risk factor for cardiovascular disease in RA patients, as it is significantly negatively correlated with RA disease activity. [Egypt J Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, 2015; 3(2): 133-140]
Total Factor Productivity Growth and Employment: A Simultaneous Equations Model Estimate

This paper provides a structural estimation of the recent model proposed by Pissarides and Vallanti, a simplified equilibrium model which draws heavily on models with frictions and quasi-rents. The structural model is a system of three equations. The estimation method is a three-stage least squares. My empirical results find that although faster TFP growth temporarily decreases employment, most likely be- cause job destruction reacts faster to schocks than job creation does, after the first year I do not find any statistically significant effect of growth on employment.