Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liquid crystal display defects in multiple backgrounds with visual real‐time detection

There are kinds of defects that may appear in the process of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) manufacturing, which cannot be effectively detected, owing to the uneven illumination, low contrast, and miscellaneous patterns of defects. To improve the efficiency of defect detection and ensure the quality of LCD, three visual real‐time detection methods are adopted for detecting six different defects in multiple backgrounds, where image preprocessing methods are used to highlight the defects and facilitate the segmentation and detection. Specifically, the interclass variance (OTSU) method is used to segment and mark Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Mura and scratch defects in six kinds of solid color backgrounds; the method and the connectivity‐4 judgment criteria are adopted to label edge defects in grid display background; the gray mean and standard deviation of the segmented subregions are calculated to recognize the color gradation defect in the 32‐level gradation display background. Experimental results show that LCD Mura defects and scratches can be segmented more completely by the proposed method compared with the benchmark methods, and the edge defects can be identified accurately by the OTSU‐based method and particle‐based morphological processing with grids as the detection background, and the color gradation can also be recognized with the 32‐level gray gradation as the background.
Continuous Cycle of Water Desalination Utilizing
 Hydrogel as Draw Agent.

This document discusses operation of desalination system permanently extracting water from hydrogel draw agent by specially selected wicks. Due to its peculiarity the system combines advantages of both forward and reverse osmosis approaches such as, low power consumption, passive process of a freshwater extraction, continuous duty cycle and scaling possibility. While in modern systems an energy consumption of seawater desalination reaches of about 3 kWh/m 3, including pre-filtering and ancillaries [1], the same parameter for the specific system expected to be as low as for local fresh water supplyi.e. , 0.2 kWh/m 3
A Loan risk assessment model with consumption features for online finance

While online finance is rapidly growing, it is a big challenge to evaluate the loan risk of users based on the data on the Internet. In this study, we used basic user information and added the user’s consumption features to construct a loan risk assessment model that integrates features. We extract consumption features from two aspects: firstly, construct consumption portrait features through statistical analysis and clustering; secondly, combine convolutional neural networks (CNN) and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) networks to extract sequence features in consumption, and add attention mechanisms to improve the evaluation effect. Finally, the features are combined and fed into the fully connected layer, and the probability of default loan is calculated through the activation function. Our data set comes from an online finance company. The experimental results show that the loan assessment model combined with consumption features does improve the accuracy of default loans under the AUC and KS indicators.
Potato Chip-Like 0D Interconnected ZnCo2O4 Nanoparticles for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) is an emerging electrode material for supercapacitors due to its rich redox reactions involving multiple oxidation states and different ions. In the present work, potato chip-like 0D interconnected ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles (PIZCON) were prepared using a solvothermal approach. The prepared material was characterized using various analytical methods, including X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The possible formation mechanism of PIZCON was proposed. The PIZCON electrode material was systematically characterized for supercapacitor application. The areal capacitance of PIZCON was 14.52 mF cm−2 at 10 µA cm−2 of current density, and retention of initial capacitance was 95% at 250 µA cm−2 following 3000 continuous charge/discharge cycles. The attained measures of electrochemical performance indicate that PIZCON is an excellent supercapacitor electrode material.
The Incidence of Economic Freedom and Foreign Direct Investment in Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Tunisia

Economic freedom is one of the most important factors in increasing economic growth. Thus, it affects the spillover effects of FDI through the improvement of the absorption capacity in the host countries. In this context, this thesis aims to study the macroeconomic impact of economic freedom on foreign direct investment inflows by basing empirical evidence for data from Tunisia over a period from 1980 to 2017. Using the famous economic method of generalized moments (GMM), the results of the estimates show that FDI positively affects economic growth and requires a high level of economic freedom, and makes it possible to increase the absorption capacity in host countries and '' attract more investors. Economic freedom increases FDI inflows to 0.098 units. More precisely, Tunisia also refers to the positive impact of economic freedom on FDI.
Quasi-Passive Resistive Exosuit for Space Activities: Proof of Concept

The limits of space travel are continuously evolving, and this creates increasingly extreme challenges for the crew’s health that must be addressed by the scientific community. Long-term exposure to micro-gravity, during orbital flights, contributes to muscle strength degradation and increases bone density loss. In recent years, several exercise devices have been developed to counteract the negative health effects of zero-gravity on astronauts. However, the relatively large size of these devices, the need for a dedicated space and the exercise time-frame for each astronaut, does not make these devices the best choice for future long range exploration missions. This paper presents a quasi-passive exosuit to provide muscle training using a small, portable, proprioceptive device. The exosuit promotes continuous exercise, by resisting the user’s motion, during routine all-day activity. This study assesses the effectiveness of the resistive exosuit by evaluating its effects on muscular endurance during a terrestrial walking task. The experimental assessment on biceps femoris and vastus lateralis, shows a mean increase in muscular activation of about 97.8% during five repetitions of 3 min walking task at 3 km/h. The power frequency analysis shows an increase in muscular fatigue with a reduction of EMG median frequency of about 15.4% for the studied muscles.
The Reaction of Cellulolytic and Potentially Cellulolytic Spore-Forming Bacteria to Various Types of Crop Management and Farmyard Manure Fertilization in Bulk Soil

The ecology of cellulolytic bacteria in bulk soil is still relatively unknown. There is still only a handful of papers on the abundance and diversity of this group of bacteria. Our study aimed to determine the impact of various crop management systems and farmyard manure (FYM) fertilization on the abundance of cellulolytic and potentially cellulolytic spore-forming bacteria (SCB). The study site was a nearly 100-year-old fertilization experiment, one of the oldest still active field trials in Europe. The highest contents of total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) were recorded in both five-year rotations. The abundances of SCB and potential SCB were evaluated using classical microbiological methods, the most probable number (MPN), and 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The highest MPN of SCB was recorded in soil with arbitrary rotation without legumes (ARP) fertilized with FYM (382 colony-forming units (CFU) mL−1). As a result of the bioinformatic analysis, the highest values of the Shannon–Wiener index and the largest number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in ARP-FYM, while the lowest in ARP treatment without FYM fertilization. In all treatments, those dominant at the order level were: Brevibacillales (13.1–43.4%), Paenibacillales (5.3–36.9%), Bacillales (4.0–0.9%). Brevibacillaceae (13.1–43.4%), Paenibacillaceae (8.2–36.9%), and Clostridiaceae (5.4–11.9%) dominated at the family level in all tested samples. Aneurinibacillaceae and Hungateiclostridiaceae families increased their overall share in FYM fertilization treatments. The results of our research show that the impact of crop management types on SCB was negligible while the actual factor shaping SCB community was the use of FYM fertilization.
cis-trans Isomerization of Azobenzene Confined inside an Armchair(8,8) Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube

Molecular structures,electronic spectra,and the thermal trans-cis isomerization of azobezene(AB) confined inside an armchair(8,8) single-walled carbon nanotube(CNT(8,8)) were calculated at the ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31+G*:UFF) level.We found that the entrance of azobenzene into CNT(8,8) was exothermic.The geometric parameters of azobenzene were not evidently affected by its confinement in CNT(8,8). Rotation of the phenyl rings was found to occur around the CN bond to some extent for both trans-and cis-azobenzene,which resulted in a twist configuration for the confined trans-azobenzene.The relative energy between the cis-and trans-azobenzene confined inside the CNT(8,8) increased by ca 8.1 kJ.mol-1 with respect to the case of the isolated azobenzene,suggesting that the relative thermal stability of the isomers of azobenzene is affected by their confinement in CNT(8,8). Electronic spectrum calculations showed that the lowest three singlet excitation energies of the confined azobenzene were blue-shifted by 1-5 nm in comparison to those of isolated azobenzene.By analyzing the potential energy surfaces,we found that the confinement in CNT(8,8) resulted in the increase in the activation barrier of the trans-to-cis isomerization of azobenzene but had little influence on the barrier of cis-to-trans backward reaction,which means that the confinement in CNT(8,8) restrained the trans-to-cis isomerization of azobenzene.The trans-cis isomerization process of the confined azobenzene mainly involved the bending of the CNN bond angle.
Olive paste oil content on a dry weight basis (OPDW): an indicator for optimal harvesting time in modern olive orchards

In modern oil olive orchards, mechanical harvesting technologies have significantly accelerated harvesting outputs, thereby allowing for careful planning of harvest timing. While optimizing harvest time may have profound effects on oil yield and quality, the necessary tools to precisely determine the best date are rather scarce. For instance, the commonly used indicator, the fruit ripening index, does not necessarily correlate with oil accumulation. Oil content per fruit fresh weight is strongly affected by fruit water content, making the ripening index an unreliable indicator. However, oil in the paste, calculated on a dry weight basis (OPDW), provides a reliable indication of oil accumulation in the fruit. In most cultivars tested here, OPDW never exceeded ca. 0.5 g.g –1 dry weight, making this threshold the best indicator for the completion of oil accumulation and its consequent reduction in quality thereafter. The rates of OPDW and changes in quality parameters strongly depend on local conditions, such as climate, tree water status and fruit load. We therefore propose a fast and easy method to determine and monitor the OPDW in a given orchard. The proposed method is a useful tool for the determination of optimal harvest timing, particularly in large plots under intensive cultivation practices, with the aim of increasing orchard revenues. The results of this research can be directly applied in olive orchards, especially in large-scale operations. By following the proposed method, individual plots can be harvested according to sharp thresholds of oil accumulation status and pre-determined oil quality parameters, thus effectively exploiting the potentials of oil yield and quality. The method can become a powerful tool for scheduling the harvest throughout the season, and at the same time forecasting the flow of olives to the olive mill.
Photogrammetric stereo image rectification

Today, off-the-shelf digital cameras are hand on tools for conducting visual inspections in surveying and mapping related activities or in structural inspection of industrial objects. Dense point clouds of the inspected object surface are of typical data required and their accuracies are also become more demanding. Deriving these data are off particular interest of this paper instead we work on overlapping images for generating those ones. An imaging geometry of stereo images is exploited further to reveal some drawbacks of the normalized stereo imaging configurations. We utilize a photogrammetric collinearity condition to model physical reality of the imaging process. A sequence of coordinate axes rotations on both images is rearranged as well as preserving normalized images resolutions to be equal to the source ones. Also based upon the prescribed resolutions, an efficient indirect resample is performed to interpolate grey values of the warped images. To ascertain reliability of the mathematically developed method, C++ programming codes were written and implemented in the solution. It reveals that a nuisance such as y-parallax is completely eliminated. Therefore, by using our method, the normalized images can be used in the dense point clouds production in a high quality and efficiency.
Biomechanical models: key considerations in study design

Abstract This manuscript summarizes presentations of a symposium on key considerations in design of biomechanical models at the 2019 Basic Science Focus Forum of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. The first section outlines the most important characteristics of a high-quality biomechanical study. The second section considers choices associated with designing experiments using finite element modeling versus synthetic bones versus human specimens. The third section discusses appropriate selection of experimental protocols and finite element analyses. The fourth section considers the pros and cons of use of biomechanical research for implant design. Finally, the fifth section examines how results from biomechanical studies can be used when clinical evidence is lacking or contradictory. When taken together, these presentations emphasize the critical importance of biomechanical research and the need to carefully consider and optimize models when designing a biomechanical study.
Identification of isomers and control of ionization and dissociation processes using dual-mass-spectrometer scheme and genetic algorithm optimization

Identification of acetone and its two isomers, and the control of their ionization and dissociation processes are performed using a dual-mass-spectrometer scheme. The scheme employs two sets of time of flight mass spectrometers to simultaneously acquire the mass spectra of two different molecules under the irradiation of identically shaped femtosecond laser pulses. The optimal laser pulses are found using closed-loop learning method based on a genetic algorithm. Compared with the mass spectra of the two isomers that are obtained with the transform limited pulse, those obtained under the irradiation of the optimal laser pulse show large differences and the various reaction pathways of the two molecules are selectively controlled. The experimental results demonstrate that the scheme is quite effective and useful in studies of two molecules having common mass peaks, which makes a traditional single mass spectrometer unfeasible.
Identification of interventions to improve employee morale in physically demanding, repetitive motion work tasks: A pilot case study

Abstract Employee morale is a determinant of productivity and retention. This study explores relationships and morale levels between employees and supervisors in a large service industry. An open-ended questionnaire developed based on literature was created to assess morale and motivation, support, incentive, workplace environment, way of motivation, and job satisfaction. This survey was then piloted to managers of hourly product handlers working in a large North American distribution company. Data on existing status of employee morale and the factors influencing morale were collected from managers of three different departments responsible for supervising product handlers. The survey was administered using an online survey tool and answered by a sample of 44 respondents. Poor employee morale and negative attitudes toward their jobs were reported. Influencing factors included minimal pay and hours, lack of motivation, understaffed and unskilled labor, high physical workload, and poor supervision. Manager feedback indicated employees had a lack of understand of company mission and vision but also demonstrated a potential disconnect at the worker and manager levels. Potential interventions such as increasing employee-supervisor interaction, promoting good behavior, offering non-monetary benefits, training, wage rate and employee selection consistency, job redesign, etc. were recommended to management for implementation to improve existing conditions.
La comunicación de la sostenibilidad como herramienta de ventas y de cambio social: fast fashion vs slow fashion

This research investigation aims to bring the reader closer to sustainability and the evolution of the textile industry, placing greater emphasis on knowing how fast fashion differs from slow fashion and its use of sustainability as a marketing tool aimed at generating sales rather than social change. The 4 fashion companies on which the research is carried out are Zara, HM, Patagonia, and Ecoalf. This research studies Instagram posts of the fashion brands mentioned before, during November 2019, the same month in which Black Friday is celebrated and, up until now the month when the largest movement that fought against climate change around the world was held. This analysis aims to understand the sustainable actions that these companies take and how they communicate and educate their consumers. In addition to two personal interviews with professionals from Patagonia and Ecoalf, both slow fashion companies. As a result, this study confirms Zara and HM use sustainability as a sales tool and out of interest. However, if you observe this situation from a global perspective, it can still be considered positive as it helps to give visibility to the problem and educate consumers around the globe.
New Bismaleimide-Silica Hybrid Materials: A Critical Assessment of Properties in Correlation with the Method of Synthesis

ABSTRACT New hybrid materials have been prepared by sol–gel technique. They have been obtained from bismaleimide monomers either in reaction with N-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)furan-2-carboxamide monomer, by a Diels–Alder reaction, or in reaction with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane following a Michael addition reaction. The sol–gel process was conducted with or without adding different amounts of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The structures of the obtained compounds have been confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A comparative study between Diels–Alder- and Michael addition-type products regarding their thermal and mechanical properties was also conducted for samples as obtained from synthesis. The thermoreversible character of the Diels–Alder hybrid materials has been demonstrated with the aids of differential scanning calorimetry and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the results from both methods being in good agreement with each other, and with literature data. The morphology of hybrid materials was studied by the atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy for three different stages: initial (24°C), at heating (150°C), and after cooling at 24°C, and scanning electron microscopy. All data confirmed the driving force for the dispersion of the Si-containing aggregates in the Michael addition series is the dynamic evolution of the sol–gel process, whereas the Diels–Alder series behavior is ruled by the thermoreversible character of the Diels–Alder cycloaddition. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
In Situ versus ex Situ Assembly of Aqueous-Based Thioacid Capped CdSe Nanocrystals within Mesoporous TiO2 Films for Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

We report a straightforward in situ deposition method to directly assemble aqueous thioglycolic acid capped CdSe colloidal quantum dots within mesoporous TiO2 thin films by a low-temperature hydrothermal route. This approach integrates linker assisted adsorption and colloidal quantum dot synthesis in a single step due to the use of thioglycolic acid as the capping agent for the quantum dots and tethering agent for the TiO2. It permits high loading and uniform distribution of colloidal quantum dots within mesoporous TiO2 electrodes with a greatly improved photovoltaic performance as quantum dot sensitized solar cells, reaching efficiencies as high as 2.2% under one sun illumination conditions after ZnS treatment, compared to the ex situ assembly technique of adsorption of presynthesized semiconductor nanocrystals.
Modeling and Analysis of N-Branch Hybrid Switched Inductor and Capacitor Converter

This paper proposes a family of N-Branch hybrid switched inductor and capacitor (SLC) converters. With the single circuit, the multi-level output voltage or current could be generated. The proposed converter is suitable both for the voltage source and the current source. The same LC network is reused for different LC branches. The proposed converter is controlled by the phase shift control method with a time domain multiplexing concept. The N level circuit is operated with the same frequency. One cycle period is divided into N small time cycles for each branch. The phase shift for each branch is 360°/N. The load voltage could be changed by modifying the duty cycle of the transistor. When the SLCs work in the resonant condition, the soft switching will be acquired. The power loss of transistors could be sharply reduced. In this paper, a 300 W SLC converter is constructed to verify the theoretical analysis and operation mechanism in the resonant condition and hard switching condition. With the experimental and simulated verification, the soft switching and the stable multi-level output voltage or current are achieved. The proposed SLC converter could be used for the multi-level voltage power supply system, such as the electric vehicle, the electric aircraft, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and a new energy generation system.
Modelling for removal of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) using sago bark (Metroxylon sagu) by fixed-bed column method

Industries commonly produced a large scale of wastewater that consisted of hazardous materials such heavy metals. Recently, one of popular methods for wastewater treatment was adsorption system using biosorbent. Sago bark (Metroxylon sagu) was a solid waste remained from sago starch industry. It contained various functional group such as carbonyl and hydroxyl groups that could be utilized to resolve wastewater containing metal ions. Removal of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) using sago bark (Metroxylon sagu) have been investigated by a fixed bed column reactor. The effect of flow rate (2, 4, 6 mL/min) and bed depth (3, 6, 9 cm) was examined in order to observe column performance (15x1 cm id). The result revealed that the lower flow rate and the higher bed depth delayed the breakthrough time and exhaustion time. Thus, the optimum conditions were achieved at 2 mL/min of flow rate and 9 cm of bed depth for both metal ions. The equation of Thomas, BDST and Yoon-Nelson models was carried out to evaluate the breakthrough curve. The repeatability and regeneration of sago bark were analyzed by HNO3 0.01 M within 3 cycles. It means that sago bark has a promising ability to remove Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions in solution.