Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Destination Sustainability and Memorable Tourism Experiences

The objective of this paper is to study the relationship between memorable tourism experiences and destination sustainability. Three hypotheses that relate dimensions of sustainability (economic, socio-cultural, and environmental) to memorable tourism experience are considered, based on a review of the literature. A questionnaire designed for that purpose was administered to 1034 tourists who stayed at five rural and sun and beach destinations in Spain. A multigroup analysis with a structural equation model was conducted to establish the differences between both destination types. The results show that destination environmental sustainability influences the memorable tourism experience, though significant differences between rural and sun and beach destinations have been detected. Age plays a moderating role: the younger the tourist the greater the influence of sustainability on memorable tourism experiences.
Evaluation of Light-Emitting Diode Beacon Light Fixtures

Rotating beacons containing filament light sources have long been used on highway maintenance trucks to indicate the presence of the truck to other drivers. Because of advances in light-emitting diode (LED) technologies, flashing lights containing LEDs are beginning to be used in place of conventional rotating beacons. These devices use considerably less power, an important consideration for an equipment-laden maintenance truck. To ensure that LED beacon lights will provide a comparable warning signal to drivers approaching vehicles outfitted with them, their photometric and temporal characteristics were measured and compared to human response time data. In addition, several LED beacon light fixtures were compared to conventional rotating beacons in terms of the distance at which observers could detect that a vehicle had moved closer to the observer (the longer this distance, the better performance is). LED beacon lights provided equivalent closure detection distances as conventional rotating beacons, as long as they were used in pairs as per common practice. Closure detection distances when only one beacon light was present were statistically significantly shorter. Overall, the results suggest that using LED beacon light fixtures provides comparable visual information to other drivers, while using substantially less power.
Low-PAR Precoding for Very-Large Multi-User MIMO Systems

Very-large multi-user MIMO systems, with hundreds of base station antennae, are increasingly attracting attention from both academia and industry. One reason is that such systems can use multi-user precoding to simultaneously serve multiple single-antenna users over the same time-frequency resource. This implies increased data rates and improved spectral efficiency. Another reason is that the energy consumed by the base station is expected to decrease linearly with the number of antennae because of the increasing array gain. To enable the massive increase in the number of antennae, each antenna, together with its tranceiver chain, has to be cheap. If one could manufacture base station antennae using low-cost, mass-produced handset technology, including power amplifiers without advanced linearisation techniques, then very-large multi-user MIMO could become reality.Handset power amplifiers generally aim to be power-efficient, and in doing so often have highly non-linear transfer characteristics. It is of benefit to transmit signals with low peak-to-average ratio (PAR) through such power amplifiers, to avoid excessive distortion and to maximise the power efficiency by only having small operating back-offs. Conventionally precoded signals unfortunately have high PAR (approx. 10 dB). This work has investigated the low-PAR precoding scheme for very-large MIMO proposed by Mohammed et al. (2013a). It is shown that, the transmit signals of this precoding scheme have 4 dB PAR, and that by further limiting the phase variation, the PAR can be made arbitrarily small. However, the more the phase is constrained, the smaller the array gain will be. For example, if the phase variation is limited to π/2, the PAR is lowered to 2.6 dB, but 2-3 dB more transmit power is needed to maintain the same performance or, equivalently, 1.6-2.0 times more antennae are needed at the base station. Continuous phase modulation has briefly been studied as a means of producing constant-envelope transmit signals. Low-PAR precoding, where the transmit signals lie inside a circle, is suggested as a way to decrease the required transmit power without increasing PAR noticeably (<4.5 dB) relative to scheme of Mohammed et al. The algorithm that was developed for this purpose, however got stuck in local minima, which degraded its performance. The transmit power could therefore only be slightly (<1 dB) lowered in the regime of high data rates.A preliminary link budget analysis based on a simplistic model of the power amplifier has shown that, assuming perfect channel state information and frequency-flat fading, low-PAR precoding can reduce energy consumption by 33 % compared to conventional linear precoding in a base station with 100 antennae. The analysis suggests that using unlinearised class AB handset power amplifiers might be a viable option for very-large multi-user MIMO base stations.
Improved Production of Recombinant Myrosinase in Pichia pastoris

The effect of the deletion of a 57 bp native signal sequence, which transports the nascent protein through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in plants, on improved AtTGG1 plant myrosinase production in Pichia pastoris was studied. Myrosinase was extracellularly produced in a 3-liter laboratory fermenter using α-mating factor as the secretion signal. After the deletion of the native signal sequence, both the specific productivity (164.8 U/L/h) and volumetric activity (27 U/mL) increased more than 40-fold compared to the expression of myrosinase containing its native signal sequence in combination with α-mating factor. The deletion of the native signal sequence resulted in slight changes in myrosinase properties: the optimum pH shifted from 6.5 to 7.0 and the maximal activating concentration of ascorbic acid increased from 1 mM to 1.5 mM. Kinetic parameters toward sinigrin were determined: 0.249 mM (Km) and 435.7 U/mg (Vmax). These results could be applied to the expression of other plant enzymes.
Recognizing Children as Agents: Taylor’s Hermeneutical Ontology and the Philosophy of Childhood

ABSTRACT Within his earliest contributions to the human sciences, Charles Taylor challenged dominant behavioral views by advancing a hermeneutical conception of human agency. For Taylor, persons continually navigate their meaningful worlds and make sense of things and act in light of background horizons of significance and social imaginaries. Yet, conceptions of children have lagged as dominant outlooks construe young people as immature and incapable – perpetuating behavioral approaches to controlling their actions rather than hermeneutic ones that recognize them as agents. Working with Taylor’s ideas, I discuss a Childhood Ethics ontological approach to understanding children and childhood. Specifically, I: (a) draw on Taylor’s critique of naturalistic approaches to the human sciences to highlight problems that underlie universalist claims about all childhoods; (b) relate Taylor’s articulation of human agency, centered on strong evaluation and human linguistic capacity, to the Philosophy of Childhood and Childhood Studies to address current questions regarding our understanding of agency within childhood; and (c) describe a hermeneutic ontology that can inform the development of empirical research, policy-making and practices that relate to children. I close with an outline of priority questions that can orient future investigations within this area of inquiry.
Multicultural Engagement Activities to Support Internationalization of Bilingual Higher Education Programs

In this paper, we aim to offer multicultural engagement activities to support the internationalization of higher education. This research applies the interpretive qualitative case study with twelve key participants from three different bilingual higher education programs. The study used semi-structured interviews to investigate multicultural engagement activities. The findings of the study show that two important patterns emerged from the data: national multicultural engagement activities and international multicultural engagement activities. The national multicultural engagement can be held in the contexts of formal multicultural engagement activities, semi-formal multicultural engagement activities, and project-based multicultural engagement activities. In addition, the international multicultural engagement activities can be short-term, mid-term, and long-term international overseas multicultural engagement activities. The implication of this study is that multicultural engagement activities can be a model for other bilingual programs in higher education contexts.
Suitability of the USN MK 15 (VVAL 18) Decompression Algorithm for Air Diving.

Abstract : A computer algorithm was developed and approved for use breathing a fixed 0.7 ata partial pressure of oxygen in nitrogen gas in 1980 (The MK15 (VVAL18) RTA). The intent was to incorporate this algorithm into a diver carried underwater decompression computer (UDO). This same algorithm was also tested breathing air but approval for Fleet us on air was never sought because at the time b there was no decompression computer suitable for its incorporation. The Navy has recently contracted to have a UDO built raising again the need to have the MK15 (VVALl8) RTA approved for use on air. This report provides an in depth analysis of the risk of decompression sickness (DOS) using the XKl5 (VVALl8) RTA on air and compares that to the risk using the standard air tables. The DOS risk was computed from various dive profiles using a probabilistic decompression algorithm developed at the Naval Medical Research Institute (the NMRI Lal PDA). The NMRI LEl PDA had been calibrated on several thousand air and 0.7 ata constant P02 in N2 dive profiles where the actual outcome (DOS or no DOS) was known and has been shown to give reasonable risk predictions and dives switching between air and constant 0.7 ata Po2 breathing gases were analyzed. Analysis showed that the MK15 (WUALlS) ETA) produced risks not significantly higher and in most cases lower than current USN air procedures. It was recommended that the algorithm be submitted for approval for diving breathing air, constant 0.7 ata PO2 in N2 or switching between the two gases.
The impact of Science Foundation Programmes on the success rate of first-year students in a blended teaching and learning environment

This article highlights some successes as achieved with an extended Science Foundation Provision Programme for first-year engineering students at the University of South Africa’s Science and Engineering School in Johannesburg. The learners were mainly from disadvantaged environments. Strategies ranged from upgradation of study material, intensive monitoring of online study activities; the appointment of online tutors to assist students; as well as the introduction of face-to-face tutor classes held regularly throughout the course. Owing to these strategies, the online activity of students active in modules in Civil and Chemical Engineering grew on average from about 50% to about 80%; that of students active in Electrical and Mining Engineering improved from 40% to 60%; and that of students active in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering went up from 20% to about 60%. Correspondingly, students’ success rate increased up to 40% in Chemical Engineering, up to 45% in Electrical Engineering and up to 40% in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Even in challenging cognitive subjects such as Chemical Processing, and Digital and Analogue Electronics, students coped well. It is believed that several lessons can be learned by other environments from this exercise.
Content Validation of a Semi-Structured Interview to Analyze the Management of Suffering

This work involves the content validation of a semi-structured interview, whose objective is to learn about the management of suffering in people. The interview items have been classified into several categories that define the suffering construct. For the content validation of the instrument, in addition to initially conducting a scientific review on the subject, the procedure known as expert judgement has been used. The results obtained in terms of the content validity achieved in the dimensions and areas assessed are, in general, satisfactory. However, some of these dimensions and certain areas have not exceeded the required minimum values for content validity. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the items comprising these dimensions in the areas evaluated with the additional incorporation of the qualitative suggestions for improvement indicated by the experts. As for agreement among experts, the results point to moderate agreement, which, moreover, is not due to chance.
Perpetual Pavements in Texas: The Fort Worth SH 114 Project in Wise County

The work contained in this interim report provides a case study describing the design, construction, initial structural evaluation, and performance predictions of the full-depth perpetual pavement constructed on SH 114 in the Fort Worth District. Based on the research findings, recommended improvements to design and construction practices are proposed. The research methodology and scope of work included data collection, laboratory and field testing, computational simulations, and performance predictions. Laboratory testing for characterizing the asphalt mixture properties included the Hamburg, the Overlay Tester, Dynamic Modulus, and Repeated Load Permanent Deformation tests. Asphalt-binder testing was accomplished with the Troxler Ignition Oven and the Dynamic Shear Rheometer, respectively. Field testing involved visual surveys, coring, infrared quality control tests, forensic investigations, and nondestructive performance evaluations using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) measurements. Computational analyses included the FPS, PerRoad, VESYS, and MEPDG software. The SH 114 design utilized the perpetual pavement concepts, with a thick 1-inch stone-filled layer as the main structural component. This layer was found to be considerably stiffer than the traditional Texas Department of Transportation mixes. However, this material was also found to be highly permeable and subject to vertical segregation. During construction, the Fort Worth District found it necessary to retrofit edge drains to minimize problems with water trapped in the asphalt layers. For comparison purposes, the Fort Worth District also included a similar section constructed with traditional dense graded mixes. Laboratory and field results from both sections are included in this report. Recommendations are also provided for the structural design of future perpetual pavements in Texas. From the results presented in this project, the current designs are very conservative. The results generated support the transition to higher design moduli for these full-depth pavements.
Development of bioassays for the characterization of pulp fiber surfaces

Release of reducing sugars from mechanical pulp fiber suspensions incubated with specific endoand exo-1 ,4-0-glucanases (cellulases) has been investigated. Industrially prepared RMP (refiner mechanical pulp), TMP (thermomechanical pulp) and CTMP (chemithermomechanical pulp) from Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) were fractionated using Bauer McNett fractionation. The kinetics of reducing sugar production catalysed by the specific cellulose degrading enzymes was examined for fractions obtained from 16-30, 30-50 and 50-100 meshes. Experiments were carried out with both individual endoand exoglucanase preparations as well as using a mixture of the two enzymes. Both individual and mixed enzyme preparations released sugars from the different pulps in the order RMP > CTMP > TMP indicating that cellulose is exposed on the fiber surfaces according to the same sequence.
Reconfiguration Strategy for DC Distribution Network Fault Recovery Based on Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization

DC distribution network faults seriously affect the reliability of system power supply. Therefore, this paper proposes a fault recovery reconfiguration strategy for DC distribution networks, based on hybrid particle swarm optimization. The original particle swarm algorithm is improved by simplifying the distribution network structure, introducing Lévy Flight, and designing an adaptive coding strategy. First, the distribution network structure is equivalently simplified to reduce the problem dimensionality. Further, the generated branch groups are ensured to satisfy the radial constraints based on the adaptive solution strategy. Subsequently, Lévy flight is introduced to achieve intra-group optimality search for each branch group. The method is simulated in several distribution systems and analyzed in comparison with the particle swarm algorithm, genetic algorithm, and cuckoo algorithm. Finally, the results validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Epiphytic PGPB Bacillus megaterium AFI1 and Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2 Improve Wheat Growth and Antioxidant Status under Ni Stress

The present study demonstrates the Ni toxicity-ameliorating and growth-promoting abilities of two different bacterial isolates when applied to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as the host plant. Two bacterial strains tolerant to Ni stress were isolated from wheat seeds and selected based on their ability to improve the germination of wheat plants; they were identified as Bacillus megaterium AFI1 and Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2. The protective effects of these epiphytic bacteria against Ni stress were studied in model experiments with two wheat cultivars: Ni stress-tolerant Leningradskaya 6 and susceptible Chinese spring. When these isolates were used as the inoculants applied to Ni-treated wheat plants, the growth parameters and the levels of photosynthetic pigments of the two wheat cultivars both under normal and Ni-stress conditions were increased, though B. megaterium AFI1 had a more pronounced ameliorative effect on the Ni contents in plant tissues due to its synthesis of siderophores. Over the 10 days of Ni exposure, the plant growth promotion bacteria (PGPB) significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation (LPO), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and proline content in the leaves of both wheat cultivars. The PGPB also increased peroxidase (POX) activity and the levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in the wheat leaves. It was concluded that B. megaterium AFI1 is an ideal candidate for bioremediation and wheat growth promotion against Ni-induced oxidative stress, as it increases photosynthetic pigment contents, induces the antioxidant defense system, and lowers Ni metal uptake.
Implementation and validation of a Ground Source Heat Pump model in MATLAB

The aim of the project is the implementation of a simple Ground-Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system model in MATLAB. The program is able to run multi-year simulations for a given building hourly load profile, with an hourly time step. The GSHP system, including borehole heat exchanger geometry, borehole field configuration, circulating uid properties, heat pump selection, can be set up to simulate typical installations. The system model itself consists of an analytical borehole heat exchanger model and of a water-to-water heat pump model based on catalog data. Both components are coupled though a set of equations solved iteratively within a time step, with a robust and efficient MATLAB built-in solver. A procedure aggregation of hourly building load values is also implemented. The implemented GSHP system model is compared with an equivalent reference model in TRNSYS. It has been developed for validation purposes and a control strategy has been included in order to obtain two models with a similar operation. Both models gives average Coefficient of Performance (COP) and average uid temperature with a difference of less than 2%. The MATLAB environment has been chosen as a universal and widely spread tool among engineers. The code is meant to be simple and easy to use.
Angular Superresolution for a Scanning Antenna with Simulated Complex Scatterer-Type Targets

Abstract : The Scan-MUSIC (MUltiple Signal Classification), or SMUSIC, algorithm was developed by the Millimeter Wave Branch, Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The algorithm improves angular resolution for target detection with the use of a single rotatable sensor scanning in an angular region of interest. This algorithm has been adapted and extended from the MUSIC algorithm that has been used for a linear sensor array. Experimental and computer simulation results have resolved two closely spaced point targets that exhibited constructive interference, but not for the targets that exhibited destructive interference. The interferences occurred due to the relative phases of their returned signals. Therefore, there were some limitations of the algorithm for the point targets. In this paper, I extend the application of the SMUSIC algorithm to a problem of complex scatterer-type targets, which is more useful and of greater practical interest. The SMUSIC simulation results show that the algorithm can resolve centroids of the complex scatterer-type targets in which they are close together within the beamwidth of a Ka radar antenna with frequency diversification. To make it easier to see the results of the simulation and to demonstrate the SMUSIC algorithm for the complex scatterer-type targets, I developed a graphical interface tool to run and analyze the SMUSIC algorithm. The tool, which is written in the MATLAB language, allows an end user to analyze the performance of the SMUSIC algorithm by entering a combination of parameters necessary for the simulation.
Indices Extraction from Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data for Mapping Urban Built-Up

Remote sensing data analysis in the cloudy area is still a challenging process. Fortunately, remote sensing technology is fast growing. As a result, multitemporal data could be used to overcome the problem of the cloudy area. Using multitemporal data is a common approach to address the cloud problem. However, most methods only use two data, one as the main data and the other as complementary of the cloudy area. In this paper, a method to harness multitemporal remote sensing data for automatically extracting some indices is proposed. In this method, the process of extracting the indices is done without having to mask the cloud. Those indices could be further used for many applications such as the classification of urban built-up. Landsat-8 data that is acquired during 2019 are stacked, therefore each pixel at the same position creates a list. From each list, indices are extracted. In this study, NDVI, NDBI, and NDWI are used to mapping built-up areas. Furthermore, extracted indices are divided into four categories by their value (maximum, quantile 75, median, and mean). Those indices are then combined into a simple formula to mapping built-up to see which produces better accuracy. The Pleiades as high-resolution remote sensing data is used to assist supervised classification for assessment. In this study, the combination of mean NDBI, maximum NDVI, and mean NDWI result highest Kappa coefficient of 0.771.