Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial Learning From Exit: How Entrepreneurs Learn and Re-emerge Stronger

The entrepreneur’s life is a path of learning. This learning to a large extend results from critical events. The exit from an entrepreneurial endeavor as a particularly critical event thus represents an opportunity for rich learning. Entrepreneurs who subsequently re-engage in entrepreneurial activity (“serial entrepreneurs”) may therefore achieve improved venture performance. Whereas research already dealt with this learning-caused performance increase of successive business ventures, it still lacks a holistic understanding of the learning process between exit and re-engagement. Existing studies (1) are limited to certain stages within this process, (2) only deal with single influencing factors (e.g. grief) or (3) discuss certain learning outcomes (e.g. exit-related learning). Combatting this fragmentation of research, we aim to draw a holistic, dynamic picture of the learning process spanning from exit to entrepreneurial re-emergence. We apply a s ystematic literature review methodology and provide a conceptual framework of the learning process between exit and entrepreneurial re-emergence. Our findings reveal that the exit indeed triggers a stage of deep reflection that is influenced by attributional and emotional effects and leads to an updated stock of knowledge. Furthermore, there does exist a large variety of learning contents (learning about one’s personality, one’s environment, one’s business capabilities). Many empirical studies confirm that this stock of knowledge gained through learning influences entrepreneurial re-emergence, particularly future venture performance. With these results, our study contributes to research on three dimensions: First, it takes stock of existing knowledge in the field, comprising studies on positive (“successes”) and negative (“failures”) forms of exit. Second, it provides a conceptual framework that improves our understanding of the learning process between entrepreneurial exit and re-emergence. Third, it reveals promising avenues for further research. We therefore are able to present findings with relevance for various interest groups, including but not limited to science, practitioners and the public.
Novel Optimization of HMTD Traces Detection by HS-SPME-GC/MS and HS-SPME-GC/μECD

HMTD is known for its decomposition at low temperatures. The use of common techniques such as GC/MS and GC/μECD for its detection in liquid solutions or solid traces requires the control of analytical conditions. The present work proposes two sensitive methods using GC/MS and GC/μECD where the injector temperature is set at 150°C to analyse successfully the concentrations of 0.1 ng (10-4 mg/mL) and 0.05 ng (0.5-10.4 mg/mL) of HMTD in acetone solutions. The analysis of solid traces of HMTD was performed with the same methods by adopting the headspace mode using the SPME fibre. The exposure the fibre in the headspace during 10 min at ambient temperature (22°C) and the desorption in the injector at 150°C, allow the detection of HMTD without degradation. In addition, to simulate crater sample, 3 mg of HMTD are mixed to 150 g of soil (0.002%). In this case, HMTD was also successfully detected by HS-SPME-GC/MS and HS-SPMEGC/μECD after 1 h exposure of the fibre at 22°C. These results demonstrate the performance of these optimized methods for trace analysis of HMTD.
Factors That Might Lead to Corruption: A Case Study on Malaysian Government Agency

Corruption has hindered the effectiveness of customs administrations in many developing countries. In the 21st century, a new problem has arisen which is the rise of international terrorism. Usually, these criminal corruption activities will happen at the border points of a country. This is where the criminal operators offer bribes to the customs officials to allow them to smuggle illegal items into the country. This has posed a huge risk to both the internal and international securities of many countries. This paper seeks to investigate the factors that may influence corruption in organizational procedures that occur in Malaysia. Given the importance of government agency and its accountability, internal control and discretionary power, this paper focuses on these factors in the effort to combat corruption, increase moral awareness and narrow the opportunities for corrupt practices. Specifically, this study found that there are significant relationships between the level of accountability, internal control, discretionary power and the perception on corruption. The result also indicated that corruption flourishes in a situation where the accountability of agents to the principal is weak, when agents have low internal control and when the agents have great discretion.
Long Slot Array Fed by a Nonuniform Corporate Feed Network in PPW Technology

We present here a novel architecture of high-gain continuous transverse stub (CTS) antenna array operating at E-band (71–86 GHz) with reduced sidelobe level (SLL). The antenna consists of an array of 16 long slots excited by a nonuniform parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) corporate feed network. The nonuniform excitation is achieved by the design of asymmetrical power dividers in PPW technology, for which simple analytical models are provided. Full-wave simulations are validated by measurements of a prototype fabricated in aluminum. The SLL is lower than −28 dB in the E-plane. Such an SLL is 15 dB lower than classical parallel-fed CTS arrays. The overall antenna SLL remains below −18 dB over the 75–86 GHz band. Its mean radiation efficiency is 60%, and the maximum efficiency of 85% is reached at 86 GHz.
Markov model based time series similarity measuring

Similarity or distance measures between two time series play an important role in analysis and retrieval of time series database, which is a fundamental problem in time series data mining. Mathematical model is widely used as a representation of time series, but few papers discuss it in similarity measure of time series. In this paper, we propose a Markov model based technique for similarity/distance measures of variable-length time sequences. State space of Markov model is partitioned by hierarchical clustering method, and the information of state-transition is used to represent a time series. The similarity/distance measures of time sequences can be defined as various functions of the difference between their state-transition information, and some widely used distance measures can be considered as our specific cases. In addition, in modeling procedure, the vector sequence in reconstructed phase space is used instead of the original time sequence, which more effectively reflects the dynamical property of time series. Experimental results show that it works well under the strong noise environment, and it is versatile for various applications by its flexible definition.
Determination of deoxynivalenol by ELISA and immunochromatographic strip assay based on monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Deoxynivalenol (DON) has numerous toxicological effects. In this study, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against DON with IC50 7.12 ng/mL was prepared, which was highly specific to trichothecene, except for 3-AC-DON. A quantitative indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) and qualitative nanogold probe-based immunochromatographic strip (ICS) assay were established to detect DON. The analytical range of ic-ELISA was 0.90–83.07 ng/mL, and the limit of detection (LOD) were 0.20 ng/mL, 12.5 ng/mL for ic-ELISA and ICS, respectively. The results showed that the ic-ELISA and ICS based on the anti-DON mAb could be efficaciously applied to analyze agricultural products with DON.
A Feature-to-wafer-scale Model of Etch-rate Non-uniformity in Deep Reactive Ion Etching

Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) is an inherently complex dry etching process commonly used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. This work presents a new modeling approach to capture global etch rate variation in DRIE by integrating waferand feature-scale nonuniformity models that are grounded on an ion-neutral synergy model for etch rate. Our method focuses on diffusive transport and local depletion of Fluorine radicals above the wafer surface to facilitate integration of waferand feature-scale models. Our results show that the wafer-level model achieves a success comparable to that of other wafer-level models previously developed with an etch rate RMS error percentage between 2.1% and 8.2%. The coupled waferand feature-level model shows that the feature-level etch evolution substantially impacts the waferlevel Fluorine concentration and thereby modifies the wafer etch rate uniformity. Similarly, the wafer-level etch rate directly impacts the rate of feature-level etch evolution. The coupled model is observed to over-predict the feature etch depth by an amount that increases with time and decreases for larger features, thus suggesting that the over-prediction arises from our assumption of negligible Fluorine consumption at the feature sidewall. Within-wafer etch depth variation of high aspect ratio features is also over-predicted, likely due in part to the negligible sidewall Fluorine consumption assumed. Suggestions to improve all levels of the model are examined. Thesis supervisor: Duane S. Boning Title: Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
A study to assess the performance of an “X-ray powder diffraction with Rietveld” approach for measuring the crystalline and amorphous components of inhalable dust collected on aerosol sampling filters

This work was undertaken in preparation for a survey to assess the exposure of carpenters to hazardous dust working in construction. Inhalable dust, in this industry, was expected to contain both crystalline mineral and amorphous phases (wood dust). The Rietveld method was applied to provide a simultaneous multicomponent analysis. To assess its performance, mixtures of aerosolised calcite, gypsum, quartz, kaolinite, and wood dust were collected onto quartz fibre filters (n = 41) using the Button inhalable sampler. Results obtained using Rietveld were compared with loaded mass and those from external standard calibrations. The measured content of a component in 14 samples was used as an internal standard by Rietveld to determine amorphous content (wood). The performance of the Rietveld and external standard methods was similar. The 95% confidence interval for the absolute differences between the two methods was 15%. Only one relative difference of more than 15% had a mass loading >0.5 mg. An approach for assessing the limits of detection with relative intensity ratios was applied and gave comparable values with the usual method using calibration coefficients from the external standard method. Rietveld is therefore a potentially useful multicomponent method for the measurement of dust aerosol to help better understand workers' exposures.
Improvement in Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Graphite Flake/Cu Composites by Introducing TiC Coating on Graphite Flake Surface

In this work, TiC coating was successfully deposited on a graphite flake surface via molten salt technique, for the purpose of promoting the interfacial connection between Cu and graphite flake. Vacuum hot pressing was then employed to prepare TiC-coated graphite flake/Cu composite. The results indicate that introducing TiC coating on graphite flake surface can evidently reduce the pores and gaps at the interface, resulting in a significant improvement on the bending strength. When the TiC-coated graphite flake content is 60 vol%, the bending strength is increased by 58% compared with the uncoated one. The coefficient of thermal expansion dropped from 6.0 ppm·K−1 to 4.4 ppm·K−1, with the corresponding thermal conductivity as high as 571 W·m−1·K−1. The outstanding thermal conductivity, apposite coefficient of thermal expansion, as well as superior processability, make TiC-coated graphite flake/Cu composite a satisfactory electronic packaging material with vast prospect utilized in microelectronic industry.
United States Heat Wave Frequency and Arctic Ocean Marginal Sea Ice Variability

Recent studies point to a significant rise in the number of summer extreme weather events that correspond with the presence of amplified, quasistationary midtropospheric planetary waves, weakened atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere, and coincide with reduced summer Arctic sea ice cover. This study explores potential connections between 1979 and 2016 summer heat wave frequency across the USA and regional Arctic sea ice extent (SIE) in various Arctic basins. Most notable SIE interannual relationships exist across the southern Plains and southeastern US during low Hudson Bay summer SIE. Locally increased frequencies of summer heat waves coincide with unseasonably warm conditions developed and sustained by the presence of an omega blocking pattern situated over the southern US throughout summer. The block appears following anomalous atmospheric warming and reduced mean zonal winds observed throughout spring (March–May) over northeastern Canada, the northwestern Atlantic basin, and Greenland. Spring preconditioning of summer ice melt is favored by the presence of strong negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation and positive Greenland Blocking Index. Summer synoptic flow related to Hudson Bay ice melt over North America appears to be influenced by the background state of atmospheric variability, namely, the positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. Antecedent local humidity, soil moisture, and precipitation conditions are shown to influence the “flavor” of the heat waves, which are more likely to be oppressive in the southeastern US and extreme across the southern Plains during summers experiencing low Hudson SIE.
Concrete filled steel tube column

The present invention, H-beam flange is connected, each at a right angle at both ends of the web and; T-beams that are respectively attached to both side surfaces of the H-beam web, the flange is connected at right angles to the web and; And finishing materials to the H-beam and the junction with the flanges of the T-beams form a cavity to be filled with concrete is poured; Consists of filling the concrete to be poured in the cavity, Perforations are through-apart regular intervals in the H-beams and the longitudinal web of the T-beam and; Relates to a concrete filled steel tube column characterized in that the configuration including the bent portions on both ends of the finish that is bent to the inner cavity. According to the invention the concrete filled steel tube column, to a construction for joining the web side of the H-beams and T-beams to the H section steel, and to bond the finishing material to the flanges of the H-beams and T-beams to form a common bending a thin steel plate excellent, yet light-weight can be formed structural performance, by bending both end portions of the finishing material to the one-stage or two-stage that is multi-stage, it is possible to increase the bonding, and bonding strength of the filling with concrete is poured in the cavity, the buckling resistance of the steel tube column to the compressive force by the comparison with other steel tube column of the same size and cross-sectional area it can be maintained to further improve the durability and high rigidity strength. Concrete, steel tube column, T-beams, finishing material, the bent part,
Failed Securitisation Moves during the 2015 ‘Migration Crisis’

The EU has tried to distinguish itself as respecting human rights in its migration policies. In 2015, mass drownings at sea of refugees from war-torn and despotic countries like Syria and Eritrea started to rise with the end of Mare Nostrum, the Italian navy ’ s search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean. One EU response was to declare a war on “ criminal gangs ” of smugglers and traf ﬁ ckers, reportedly responsible for the surge in refugee deaths. Equating smugglers ’ activities with a “ new slave trade ” , this “ securitization move ” failed to gain legitimacy from EU publics and media. Military solutions to refugee ﬂ ight continued to be proposed, and a second securitization move continued to target smugglers and traf ﬁ ckers, but this time the “ referent object ” became the West itself, and the EU.
Hydric and Edaphic Influence on Floristic Composition in an Altered Riparian Area

Alteration of a natural ecosystem can physically, chemically and biologically affect a determined area. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relation between the hydrology, soils and vegetation existing in an area changed by the implantation of a Hydroeletric Power Plant (HPP) in the municipality of Roque Gonzales, Rio Grande do Sul state. The study area was composed of three samples located downstream of the dam. This analysis was performed by the points method to verify the existence of similarity patterns between the vegetation, inundation levels and edaphic soil characteristics of each sample. As a result, greater floristic similarity was observed between the species as a relation of the spatial location with inundation levels. Thus, we can conclude that the vegetal establishment in the study area is under the direct influence of waterflow variation levels from the HPP, which contributes to defining species adaptability to these specific conditions, among others.
Marine microalgae Microchloropsis gaditana and Pseudochloris wilhelmii cultivated in oil refinery wastewater – a perspective on remediation and biodiesel production

Industries are seen as centers of pollution, thus finding sustainable solutions for recycling their waste products such as chemicals, heat and CO2 is of a high priority. Along these lines, marine microalgae Microchloropsis gaditana and Pseudochloris wilhelmii were selected and cultivated in 50% diluted oil refinery wastewater at 18°C and 80 μmol photon m-2 s-1 at the salinity of 19 psu with a CO2 supply to study biomass quality for biofuel production. Between the two species, faster growth was observed for P. wilhelmii during the exponential phase, but after 10 days of growth its total lipid content (35.5%) was lower in comparison to M. gaditana (40.6%). Fatty acid methyl esters of a higher quality suitable for biodiesel production were produced in lag phase (within 48 h) for both species. Maximum lipid concentrations between the species were comparable, 115.3 mg l-1 for M. gaditana and 114.0 mg l-1 for P. wilhelmii. Both species have successfully removed ammonia/ammonium (~0.9 mM) from the wastewater within 8 days. M. gaditana had a considerably lower requirement for phosphorus. This indicates that M. gaditana could be more suitable for bioremediation of phosphorous-poor industrial wastewater due to lower production costs of its biomass with the high lipid content of good quality for biodiesel production.
Bioinformatic analysis of the apple genome and epigenome

Apple is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. Using the latest sequencing (PacBio) and optical mapping (BioNano) technologies, we have generated a high-quality de novo assembly of the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) genome. We performed a gene annotation as well as a transposable element annotation to allow this assembly to be used as a reference genome. The highcontiguity of the assembly allowed to exhaustively detect the transposable elements, which represented over half the assembly, thus providing an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the uncharacterized regions of a tree genome. We also found that the apple genome is entirely duplicated as showed by the synteny links between chromosomes. Using Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) and the previously generated assembly, we produced genome-wide DNA methylation maps and showed a general correlation between DNA methylation next to genes and gene expression. Moreover, we identified several Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs) between apple fruits and leaf methylomes associated to candidate genes that could be involved in agronomically relevant traits such as apple fruit development. Finally, we developped a complete and easyto- use pipeline which aim is to handle the complete treatment of WGBS data, from the reads mapping to the DMRs computing. It can handle datasets having a low number of biological replicates.
Full IoT Lora School Building Management System

In this research paper we describe the development phase of a low-cost LoRa IoT solution applied to a kindergarten school with three years results. A set of sensors solution was developed in a LoRa communication board, battery powered, providing a simplified setup process. These sensors were used in order to measure temperature, humidity, luminosity, air quality and presence. Also, energy monitor solutions were integrated. The acquired data is transmitted and analysed for knowledge extraction, identifying savings and other related KPIs. From data, automatic saving actions were performed towards heating and cooling systems, lighting and a set of if-then actions were developed for automatic cost-saving actions, based on infrared signals to heating/cooling systems using some procedure of external command devices. This approach avoids the usage of proprietary vendor solutions in a flexible approach that can easily be deployed to any building facility. This is an important achievement since most of the building consumption is based on heating and cooling systems. In a three years test of the solution, the total energy consumption savings surpassed 20%
Intoxicating and Devastating the United States: The Influence of Alcoholism on Self-esteem

Alcoholism is a prevalent and growing problem within the United States. Past studies have researched different effects of alcoholism, such as on one’s family, career, and society overall. Another important concern is its association with self-esteem, specifically in women who were raised by someone who may be an alcoholic. A group of three hundred and twenty-one adult women, recruited online, were surveyed to determine whether growing up in a family with an alcoholic parent affected self-esteem. Firstly, it was hypothesized that daughters raised by an alcoholic would report lower self-esteem. Also, it was hypothesized that the current relationship between women and the alcoholic parent or guardian they were raised by would be strained. Findings suggest that daughters of an alcoholic did have lower self-esteem, and that the relationship that they had with the person who was an alcoholic was strained in comparison to women who were not raised by an alcoholic.
To flip or not to flip: What the evidence suggests

Abstract A growing body of literature points to the need to rethink the traditional lecture-based teaching methodology. The flipped classroom is a pedagogical model in which students are exposed to new material outside of the classroom via lecture videos, assigned readings, or other online videos or resources while the traditional face-to-face classroom sessions are repurposed for assimilating and applying knowledge gained through discussions, hands-on activities and problem solving. The authors investigate the effectiveness of a flipped class by examining student academic performance, course content coverage, retention of students in courses, and student perception of flipped classes. The results demonstrate improved student performance, improved course retention, and positive student perception, with minimal loss of content.