Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mediator Effect of Factors Affecting Credit Card Preference on The Effect of Consumers Personality Traits on Monthly Credit Card Usage Frequency

Purpose – The point of the study is to examine the relationship between the personal characteristics of bank retail customers and the factors that may affect their credit card alternatives via the frequency of usage of such credit cards. Design/methodology/approach – This study falls within the scope of correlational research model in this respect. The correlational research approach provides for the clarification of the relationship between variables as well as the prediction of the findings. This study's sampling is based on 610 bank retail customers who had access to credit lines defined using easily available sampling methodologies. The research findings are produced using the following criteria: (1) personality inventory as the primary factor, (2) frequency of credit card usage each month, and (3) factors that influence credit card preference. The total score for each criterion is established by the criteria applicable to subsequent factor analysis that were developed in line with the data that fell within the scope of this study. Findings – As a result, the total scores were computed first. The skewness and kurtosis coefficients were calculated to determine whether or not such derived scores were distributed smoothly. The structural equation model was used to establish how the variables were clarified through the criteria used in credit card preference and customer behaviour based on the frequency of credit card use. According to the findings, when the factors impacting credit card preference that are based on the personal characteristics of retail customers are applied, the structural equation model used to establish for the instances that may have an influence on the frequency of credit card usage is substantiated. Discussion – In principle, when the studies are analyzed, the relevance of a complex but holistic research setting that incorporates not only an overall scanning of the customers' psychologies but also future scenarios comes to the forefront in conformity with the results of this study.
Prognostic Role of MELD-Lactate in Cirrhotic Patients' Short- and Long-Term Prognosis, Stratified by Causes of Cirrhosis

Objectives Recently, model for end-stage liver disease-lactate (MELD-LA) proved to be a superior predicting factor of inpatient mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. The study's objective was to evaluate the ability of MELD-LA to predict both short- and long-term mortality in critically ill cirrhotic patients stratified by causes of cirrhosis. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective observational research of 469 cirrhotic patients entering intensive care unit. Clinical parameters and prognostic scores were measured and collected in the first 24 hours after entering intensive care unit. Follow-up duration was at least 5 years. Independent relationship between MELD-LA and mortality was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Discrimination of scoring system was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Calibration of the score was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test for significance. Results The MELD-LA score (odds ratio: 1.179, 95% confidence interval: 1.112–1.250, P < 0.001) was an independent risk factor for 15-day mortality. The area under the curve of MELD-LA was the highest (0.808, 95% confidence interval: 0.765–0.852) in predicting 15-day mortality and it had superior calibration. We found MELD-LA showed the best discrimination ability in cirrhotic patients caused by both alcohol and hepatitis (0.783, 95% confidence interval: 0.651–0.915) or alcohol alone (0.805, 95% confidence interval: 0.743–0.867). Conclusions MELD-LA performs better for predicting short-term prognosis in critically ill cirrhotic patients, especially caused by both alcohol and hepatitis or alcohol alone.
Tactical Decisions for Lane Changes or Lane Following: Assessment of Automated Driving Styles Under Real-World Conditions

Automated vehicles offer various benefits for private transport. Besides an increase in road safety and driving comfort, higher levels of automated driving provide the opportunity to perform non-driving related tasks and to save time. Fundamental requirements for the success of automated driving are an appropriate tactical decision-making of the automation system and accepted automated driving styles. For this reason, this article focuses on the assessment of automated driving styles with different lane change frequencies and the potential influence of non-driving related tasks. A driving study (N = 60) was conducted on a German highway under real-world conditions using a vehicle with a prototype automation system. The evaluation of automated driving styles and driving experience of participants was based on well-being, driving comfort, trust in automation, and acceptance of the automation system. The study did not reveal any statistically significant interactions between three non-driving related tasks and two automated driving styles with a low and a high lane change frequency. However, the driving style with a low lane change frequency resulted in significantly more discomfort than the driving style with a high lane change frequency. Furthermore, the authors confirmed the assumption that intentions of an automated drive and external circumstances, such as time pressure or specific driving scenarios, affect the preferred lane change frequency.
The Error Analysis of the Complex Modulation for Flattop Focusing Beam Shaping

In order to obtain a focusing flattop beam with high uniformity, complex modulation is used to modulate the optical pupil function, and the beam shaping algorithm is designed with a single phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). Actually, the wavefront aberrations introduced by each element reduce the uniformity of the shaped beam. In particular, the wavefront aberrations in different positions have different effects on this complex modulation algorithm. However, there is a lack of the corresponding error data and robustness analysis. Here, the error and robustness of the complex modulation algorithm are analyzed when different types of aberrations (defocus, astigmatism, and coma) exist in different positions of the shaping optical system, and the mixed area magnification-free (MRAF) algorithm is used as a reference for comparison. The results show that coma has the greatest effect on the beam shaping quality. It is also proved that the impact on the beam quality when there are aberrations in the laser and beam expansion system is greater than those in the SLM and the focusing lens for the complex modulation algorithm, which is different from the MRAF case.
The Effect of Ganoderma Lucidum Powder on some Immune Parameters in Rat

Ali A. Dawood aad@uomosul.edu. iq ABSTRACT The impact of Ganoderma lucidum powder on both chemokines, IgG and C3 complement concentrations, as well as WBC types, was investigated in 60 ester citrine rats split between two groups, one of which was injected with Carbon tetrachloride CcL4 and the other with Ganoderma lucidum powder. They were not given this drug; instead, two concentrations of mushroom powder, 40 mg/ per kilo-gram of body weight and 80 mg/ per kilo gram of body weight, were utilized, along with a control group. The results revealed a clear increase in all immune factors measured, with a clear difference between males and females when compared to control samples, as well as an increase in the numbers of both neutrophils and lymphocytes in males for both concentrations, with a higher increase for the second concentration than the first, while the increase in females for both concentrations was similar. In the groups exposed to CcL4, an increase in the values of chemokines, IgG, and C3 as well as the number of neutrophils appeared in males in varying numbers for both concentrations, whereas the increase in females appeared in the second concentration higher than the first concentration of immune values, and the opposite was true for the number of white cells. The number of monocytes showed slight changes in both males and females under study with clear significant differences between C3, chemokine, white blood cell count, lymphocytes and monocytes.
An analysis of the impact of economic context of selected determinants of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in the EU

Abstract Cross-border mergers and acquisitions represent a significant global phenomenon that allows businesses to generate business synergies, procure assets, generate tax optimisations, gain access to new technologies and markets, increase competitiveness and market value and differentiate and diversify business activities. In this study, we analyse the impact of economic determinants which influence the year to year increase in the average volume of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) directed from the source country to the target country. We run binary logistic regression on the data which contains observation of selected indicators in EU countries (including the UK) within 1998–2015. Our data have nature of panel data. We study impact of selected indicators on the year to year increase of merges and acquisitions in the European Union. We document that market capitalisation growth has a positive influence on the year-on-year increase in the volume of M&A. We also provide proof that changes in relative distance between source and target country affects the volume of M&A and that existence of a common border between the source and target country induce an increase in M&A. Our study contributes to better understanding of the cross-border mergers and acquisitions phenomena and is complementary to already conducted research.
Low radon permeable gloves and laserball simulations for SNO

The SNO+ experiment is a multipurpose liquid scintillator detector whose first goal is to measure neutrinoless double beta decay. This thesis describes two important components: simulations to optimize the time window for the prompt peak of an optical calibration source, the “laserball” and the search for gloves to handle calibration sources while maintaining stringent background conditions. Non-direct light found in laserball runs creates challenges for optical calibration. By changing the time profile from the standard ±4ns to an asymmetric profile of +2 −4 ns this contribution of non-direct light can be reduced up to 45%. Gloves provide an access point to manipulate calibration sources during deployment inside the detector and as barrier to 222Rn, a known background to the experiment. However, typical glove materials are found to permeate large amounts radon. Through a careful selection process the material Silver Shield was chosen for use in SNO+ with a permeation rate of 1.1× 10−6 radon atoms/hour.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis as an Initial Presentation of Ulcerative Colitis

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis (UC) that is potentially fatal once it occurs. This report describes a case of CVT that led to a diagnosis of UC. A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with CVT due to paresthesia and weakness and was hospitalized for treatment. She developed bloody diarrhea on admission and was further diagnosed with UC based on endoscopic and pathologic findings. Treatment of UC with steroids and sulfasalazine was administered immediately. Her condition improved significantly within several days following treatment. After discharge, the patient experienced no recurrence of either CVT or UC flare-up over the last five years. This report describes CVT as an initial presentation of UC. This is also the first report of a long-term follow-up following successful treatment of CVT with concomitant UC.
Non-Destructive Measurement of Acetic Acid and Its Distribution in a Photovoltaic Module during Damp Heat Testing Using pH-Sensitive Fluorescent Dye Sensors

An optical pH sensor that enables the non-destructive measurement of acetic acid and its distribution in a photovoltaic module during damp heat (DH) testing is reported. The sensor was fabricated by impregnating a solution of a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye into a fluororesin membrane filter, which was then dried. While conducting the DH test, fluorescence spectra from 20 pH sensors were periodically recorded and converted into pH values using a predetermined calibration curve. As a result, we succeeded in measuring changes in pH with a DH test time of up to 2000 h, and it was possible to obtain information on the pH distribution in the module. We also confirmed no change in pH in a module with a silicone encapsulant free from acetic acid, and revealed that the sensor that we developed does not respond to moisture and heat, but only to acetic acid.
Evaluation of personal cooling systems and simulation of their effects on human subjects using basic and advanced virtual environments

The research presents the investigation of personal cooling systems (PCS) and their effects on humans from a thermodynamic perspective. The original focus of this study was to determine the most appropriate PCS for dismounted U.S. Army soldiers in a desert environment. Soldiers were experiencing heat stress due to a combination of interrelated factors including: environmental variables, activity levels, and clothing/personal protective equipment (PPE), which contributed to the buildup of thermal energy in the body, resulting in heat stress. This is also a common problem in industry, recreation, and sports. A PCS can serve as a technological solution to mitigate the effects of heat stress when other solutions are not possible. Viable PCS were selected from the KSU PCS database, expanded to over 300 PCS in the course of this study. A cooling effectiveness score was developed incorporating the logistical burdens of a PCS. Fourteen different PCS configurations were tested according to ASTM F2370 on a sweating thermal manikin. Four top systems were chosen for ASTM F2300 human subject testing on 22 male and 2 female soldiers in simulated desert conditions: dry air temperature = 42.2 oC, mean radiant temperature = 54.4 oC, air velocity = 2.0 m/s, relative humidity = 20%. Subjects wore military body armor, helmets and battle dress uniforms walking on treadmills at a metabolic rate of approximately 375-400W. All the PCS conditions showed significant reductions in core temperature rise, heart rate, and total sweat produced compared to the baseline
Synchrophasor Data Based Q-V Droop Control of Wind Farm Integrated Power Systems

With increasing scalability of grid-integrated wind farms (WFs), reactive power ancillary service through Q-V droop control of doubly-fed inducton generators (DFIGs) is one of the prime interests of power system operators. However, variable and uncertain availability of wind-resource at the wind turbines creates challenge against allocating reactive power reserve at the WFs for maintaining voltage stability of the grid. This issue can be resolved through online coordination among the WFs. This paper proposes a synchrophasor data based Q-V droop (SQVD) control technique for the WFs integrated to the grid through different point of common couplings (PCCs) in the power system transmission network. The data from the phasor measurement units (PMUs) at the WF-connected PCCs are used to obtain synchronized Q-V droop gain for each WF. Further, distributed coordination among DFIGs within each WF is performed to allocate optimum reactive power share at the converters. The total reserve of each WF is employed by their synchronized droop, in improving voltage stability at both the local PCC and neighboring PCCs. Performance of SQVD is verified at 418-bus practical Indian power system, in different dynamic situations of the grid, and found to be more effective as compared to the constant Q-V droop and variable Q-V droop control methods.
A PHASOR ESTIMATION OF A SUM OF COMPLEX EXPONENTIALS USING PRONY AND MATRIX PENCIL METHOD WITH PREFILTERING

as the increase in demand of electric power supply, the necessity to transmit more power has become the need of the hour. The excess power can be transferred by building new infrastructure (costly and time taking) or by using series compensation (relatively cheaper and faster alternative). Series compensation is a technique in which line inductance is compensated by placing a capacitor in series with the line. This helps in increasing the transmission capacity of the existing line. Series compensated lines face several challenges when it comes to protection and fault location. Current and voltage signals used by the protection and fault location algorithms, contain considerable sub-synchronous frequency components (SSFCs) which do not damp sufficiently within a typical fault clearing time of the line protection system. Presence of such SSFCs affects the accuracy of the available phasor estimation techniques which in turn impacts the accuracy of phasor-based fault location algorithms. In the presented research work a new offline Prony method and Matrix Pencil Method based phasor estimation techniques is introduced, which almost eliminates these SSFCs in addition to removal of noise, harmonics and decaying DC and results in more accurate phasor estimation for fault location in series compensated transmission lines. The idea is to estimate signal and the Current/voltage signal is then used to perform phasor estimation. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated using an assumed theoretical signal inMatlab simulation and results are compared with the available accepted techniques. Keywords—Phasor Estimation, Series Compensation, Sub-synchronous Frequency Components, Prony, Matrix Pencil method.
Analysis of Natural Aging Behavior of Asphalt Binder in Cold and Arid Region

With extremely bad climate and poor geographical environment in cold and arid region, the deterioration and failure of road materials are serious. In order to analyze the characteristics of natural aging behavior of asphalt binder in cold and arid region, the experiments were carried out based on the exposure field test base. The multiscale characterization of virgin asphalt under different natural aging conditions was carried out by means of macromechanical analysis and microchemical composition analysis. The results showed that the effects of natural aging and laboratory simulated aging on asphalt binder properties were similar. There was little effect on the performance of asphalt binder after natural aging one year. The effect of natural aging on asphalt binder in one year was similar to that of laboratory short-term aging. However, the strong UV radiation was a great challenge for asphalt pavement in Northwest China. Wind, dust, rain, and other factors have little effect on asphalt binder aging. Affected by the natural environment, macromolecular structures such as oxygen-containing polar functional groups will form in asphalt binder. The molecular weight of asphalt binder was increased, and the internal molecules of asphalt binder were subjected to large internal friction resistance in the process of movement. The macroscopic physical properties and road performance of asphalt binder become poor.
A Machine-Learning-Based Risk-Prediction Tool for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Acquisition over the Next 12 Months

Background: More than one million people acquire sexually transmitted infections (STIs) every day globally. It is possible that predicting an individual’s future risk of HIV/STIs could contribute to behaviour change or improve testing. We developed a series of machine learning models and a subsequent risk-prediction tool for predicting the risk of HIV/STIs over the next 12 months. Methods: Our data included individuals who were re-tested at the clinic for HIV (65,043 consultations), syphilis (56,889 consultations), gonorrhoea (60,598 consultations), and chlamydia (63,529 consultations) after initial consultations at the largest public sexual health centre in Melbourne from 2 March 2015 to 31 December 2019. We used the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve to evaluate the model’s performance. The HIV/STI risk-prediction tool was delivered via a web application. Results: Our risk-prediction tool had an acceptable performance on the testing datasets for predicting HIV (AUC = 0.72), syphilis (AUC = 0.75), gonorrhoea (AUC = 0.73), and chlamydia (AUC = 0.67) acquisition. Conclusions: Using machine learning techniques, our risk-prediction tool has acceptable reliability in predicting HIV/STI acquisition over the next 12 months. This tool may be used on clinic websites or digital health platforms to form part of an intervention tool to increase testing or reduce future HIV/STI risk.
An assessment of the World Rugby law application guidelines for the breakdown on sanctioning and player adherence

World Rugby’s law application guideline for the breakdown was developed to make the breakdown safer, fairer, and simpler to understand. The aim of this study was to use video analysis to assess the impact of these guidelines by comparing player adherence from the 2019 Rugby World Cup (pre-guidelines) to the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup (post-guidelines) as well as the rate of sanctioning by match officials. Contested breakdowns (n = 1444) were individually analysed by coding any infringement that occurred as well as the sanctioning outcome. The chi-square and probability (p) values were calculated to compare proportions before (pre) and after (post) the law application guidelines. No change in the rate of infringements was observed (p = 0.207), though the rate of infringements penalised increased (p = 0.001). Reductions in the rate of infringements of two of the five offences targeted by the guidelines were observed; “offside” (p = 0.008) and “remains on feet” (p <0.001). All dangerous play infringements reduced; “charged in” (p <0.001), “contact above shoulder” (p <0.001), “intentional collapse” (p = 0.023). There are early indications that the guidelines have had a marginal influence on overall player adherence to the breakdown rules but a considerable positive influence on adhering to the rules surrounding dangerous play.
Defect detection for end surface of ferrite magnetic tile

A visual automatic detection method is proposed for defect detection on end surface of ferrite magnetic tile to tackle the disadvantages generated by human work which has low efficiency and unstable accuracy. Because the defects on end surface of ferrite magnetic tile with dark colors and low contrasts are negative for defect detection, uniform illumination is provided by LED light source and a dedicated optical system is designed to extract defects conveniently. The approach uses comparison of the fitting and actual edge curves to detect defects mainly with most defects located on the edge. Firstly improved adaptive median filter is used as the image preprocessing. Subsequently the appropriate threshold is calculated by Otsu algorithm based on the extreme points in the gray-level histogram to segment the preprocessing image. Then the Sobel operator can be used to extract the edge of end surface precisely. Finally through comparing the ideal fitting and actual edge curves of end surface, to detect the defects with some relevant features. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme could detect defects on the end surface of ferrite magnetic tile efficiency and accurately with 93.33% accuracy rate, 2.30% false acceptance rate and 8.45% correct rejection rate.