Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applying Continuous Improvement in Order to Reach Operational Excellence

Research’s primary goal is to find out what are the success factors of continuous improvement as a change management discipline, and second goal is to clear out what role organizational culture and leadership have in this change in order to reach operational excellence. Personal and professional aim of this research is to produce operational manual type of guideline collection from continuous improvement targeted for small and middle sized companies, which are developing their change management disciplines and planning operational transformation using continuous improvement philosophy or methodology in order to help their overall change process e.g. improve the business, add more value to the business, reduce costs or improve the production and projects. Above mentioned activity means attempts to reach operational excellence, the success. This study concentrates on topics of continuous improvement and how business can adapt it to achieve the success? Thesis research scope concentrates for analyzing continuous improvement strategies, processes, methods and studies relationships between the success and organizational culture with leadership. Case study delves into the change management issues of the ongoing global project. Organizational change management disciplines are on the edge, such as continuous improvement, which affects into whole organization when applied. It is known that the organization culture has a direct impact on how employees react to change. When there is a need for a change, leaders have to think what kind of change management strategy will be most convenient and also most effective before planning the change. An organization’s value system is an important source of information when defining how big effort is needed for change management. Organizational values are in connection with human behavior aspects, it means organizational culture is in direct contact with the leadership. Leadership, described as a process of social influence, has a very important part to drive that overall change. In this study, the effects of the above-mentioned issues are examined through a case study. Case study partner represents the manufacturing industry. This thesis reveals some examples of successful implementations of continuous improvement and it might give valuable and beneficial information for some organizations on their way into the operational excellence.
Uniform Stability for First-Order Empirical Risk Minimization

We consider the problem of designing uniformly stable first-order optimization algorithms for empirical risk minimization. Uniform stability is often used to obtain generalization error bounds for optimization algorithms, and we are interested in a general approach to achieve it. For Euclidean geometry, we suggest a black-box conversion which given a smooth optimization algorithm, produces a uniformly stable version of the algorithm while maintaining its convergence rate up to logarithmic factors. Using this reduction we obtain a (nearly) optimal algorithm for smooth optimization with convergence rate $\widetilde{O}(1/T^2)$ and uniform stability $O(T^2/n)$, resolving an open problem of Chen et al. (2018); Attia and Koren (2021). For more general geometries, we develop a variant of Mirror Descent for smooth optimization with convergence rate $\widetilde{O}(1/T)$ and uniform stability $O(T/n)$, leaving open the question of devising a general conversion method as in the Euclidean case.
Community Recovery in the Degree-Heterogeneous Stochastic Block Model

We consider the problem of recovering communities in a random directed graph with planted communities. To model real-world directed graphs such as the Twitter or Instagram graphs that exhibit very heterogeneous degree sequences, we introduce the Degree-Heterogeneous Stochastic Block Model ( DHSBM ), a generalization of the classic Stochastic Block Model ( SBM ), where the vertex set is partitioned into communities and each vertex u has two (unknown) associated probabilities, p u and q u , p u > q u . An arc from u to v is generated with probability p u if u and v are in the same community and with probability q u otherwise. Given a graph generated from this model, the goal is to retrieve the communities. The DHSBM allows to generate graphs with planted communities while allowing heterogeneous degree distributions, a quite important feature of real-world networks. In the case where there are two communities, we present an iterative greedy linear-time algo-rithm that recovers them whenever min u p u − q u √ p u ≥ C (cid:112) log( n ) /n ) , for some absolute constant C . We also show that, up to a constant, this condition is necessary. Our results also extend to the standard (undirected) SBM , where p u = p and q u = q for all nodes u . Our algorithm presents the ﬁrst linear-time algorithm that recovers exactly the communities at the asymptotic information-theoretic threshold, improving over previous near-linear time spectral approaches.
Modelling and performance analysis of an earth-to-air heat exchanger in a pilot installation

Earth-to-air heat exchanger is an efficient complement to the space heating and cooling systems. An earth-to-air heat exchanger system consists of a set of subterranean pipes leading outdoor air to a ventilation room and by collecting geothermal energy saves some energy. This article presents testing of an earth-to-air heat exchanger installation in a residential building in Coimbra (Portugal) during 1 year. An analytical model is developed and verified with data from the system monitoring. Many variables affect the outcome of the model and they are included in the parametric study, namely, pipe length and diameter, air velocity, pipe wall material and type of soil. While the difference between outlet and inlet air temperatures is proportional to the pipe length and ground thermal conductivity and inversely proportional to pipe diameter and air velocity, the evaluation is made in terms of a coefficient of performance. For that, the most important factor is the air velocity while material of the pipe does not have a significant effect.
Multimodal Assessment and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) represents one of the most common reasons why children are referred to mental health clinicians in the United States. The disorder is characterized by difficulty in sustained attention, impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. AD/HD is a neurobiological disorder that affects more than 4 million school-aged children. As many as 30-70% of children diagnosed with AD/HD will continue to show symptoms into adolescence and adulthood.
Factors Influencing Bicycle Use in a Medium-Sized City: the Case of Iloilo

: 14 15 This study aims to explore the factors that influence an individual’s propensity to use bicycles. 16 Using the results of a cross-sectional survey administered to 400 residents of Iloilo City, 17 Philippines, the likelihood of using bicycles during pleasant weather, when travelling at night, 18 during peak hours of traffic, and for recreation, were fitted with 28 explanatory variables 19 comprising the socio-economic factors, psychological factors, environmental factors, and trip 20 purposes. Models were generated using binomial logistic regression for each of the four 21 outcome conditions. Socio-economic variables such as gender, and psychological factors 22 consistently appeared as significant predictors, particularly the perception of self-efficacy and 23 inherent preference to bicycle as a mode of transport. Environmental factors such as 24 connectivity, bikeable destinations, and security are also significant predictors of propensity 25 use bicycles. Practical ways to increase bicycling rates and recommendations to improve the 26 predictive capacity of the models are also discussed. 27
Closer to and further away – emergency-remote teacher education, orientations and student-bodies

This paper contributes knowledge on the effects of materiality and space on teaching and equal access to teacher education. Through an intersectional analysis, with a specific focus on orientations, bodies and materiality, we show how student-bodies orientate closer to or further from various parts of teacher education as an effect of the materiality of emergency-remote vs. on-campus education. We elaborate on three different student-body orientating processes that take place during teacher education. These are all related to the emergency-remote education implemented as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. We call these processes ‘remote education as relief ', ‘the embodiedness of raising the hand on Zoom' and ‘energy-draining pre-recorded lectures'. We show how the materiality of emergency-remote education orientates the participants situated within the bodily horizons of intersectional positions of being deaf, female, racialized as non-white and not having Swedish as a first language, both closer to and further away from various parts of their teacher education. The analysis is based on both individual and group interviews with twelve teacher students. The paper contributes insights to emergency-remote education, remote education and on-campus educating. © 2022 Emilia Åkesson, Edyta Just & Katarina Eriksson Barajas.
Annals of Orthopedics & Rheumatology Can bedside knee joint washout help treat septic arthritis?

Drainage of joint purulence is a critical component in the management of septic arthritis. Methods from arthrocentesis to open arthrotomy and arthroscopy are mainstays, with different efficacies and morbidities. Percutaneous tube instillation techniques have been employed since World War I. Methods to effect joint distension and irrigation to mimic what is accomplished at arthroscopy employed over the past 50 years have been honed to a simple bedside technique since the 80s and applied successfully in management of septic arthritis. Wider employment of this technique has the potential to improve efficacy of septic arthritis treatment, particularly when access to O.R. based procedures is limited.
MEDIATING EFFECTS OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERVICE QUALITY AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN E-BANKING SERVICES

: The advancement in web technology and the consumer’s preference for online usage for purchase and transactions has led to the emergence of e-service businesses. In the highly competitive online environment, service providers find it challenging to provide quality services and convert their customers into satisfied and loyal ones. Hence, it is essential to understand the relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in e-services. The role of service quality and customer satisfaction in loyalty formation have found ample attention and been widely researched over the past decade. However, when it comes to e-services, very few researchers have explored the relationship between these three variables. The present research aims to explore the role of customer satisfaction in the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in the context of e-banking services which is one of the most widely used e-service in recent times.
Using business critical design rules to frame new architecture introduction in multi-architecture portfolios

When introducing new architectures to an industrial portfolio, counting multiple existing product and manufacturing solutions, time-to-market and investments in manufacturing equipment can be significantly reduced if new concepts are aligned with the existing portfolio. This can be done through component sharing, or sharing critical design principles. This alignment is not trivial, as extensive design knowledge is needed to overview a portfolio with many, often highly different products and manufacturing lines. In this paper, we suggest establishing a frame of reference for new-product introduction based on several ‘game rules’, or Business Critical Design Rules (BCDRs), which denote the most critical features of the product and manufacturing architectures, and should be considered an obligatory reference for design when introducing new architectures. BCDRs are derived from the portfolio, architecture and module levels, including modelling of the most critical links between the product and manufacturing domains. The suggested modelling principle has been tested as a frame for new-architecture introduction, capturing critical modularisation principles in a large and global OEM. Application of the suggested method revealed a potential for reducing time-to-market and potentially cutting 35% off investments in new manufacturing equipment when introducing new products in the portfolio.
Learning Challenges Faced by Transitioning Military Service Members Voices of Military Transition Counselors

Because military lifestyle, standards, and culture are developed and fortified throughout soldiers’ service, the decision to exit the military is often difficult, and challenges related to posttransition adjustment and employment are substantial. The U.S. Army’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) attempts to alleviate these challenges by teaching soldiers about the obstacles they will face as well as the corre-sponding strategies that can enhance the likelihood of a successful career transition. This article presents findings from a nonexperi-mental survey design with the administration of a survey for qualitative thematic analysis. The surveys examined 69 counselors’ perspectives on the major knowledge and learning challenges soldiers face upon transitioning into the nonmilitary workforce. Analyses of the counselors’ survey responses revealed three themes: (a) developing increased cultural awareness, (b) developing career awareness and job search strategies, and (c) developing new financial and personal integration strategies. Thus, the findings highlight transition counselors’ perspectives that soldiers going through TAP have unique learning needs and challenges that may impact their transition experience. efore members from any branch of service depart from the military, they are required to complete a Department of Defense (DOD)-sponsored transition program. The U.S. Army’s transition program is called the Soldier for Life— study used to explore transition counselors’ perceptions of transitioning service members’ learning needs, (c) a presentation of the findings from our analyses, and (d) a discussion of implications for Army educators and transitioning service members as well as directions for future research.
The Impact of Self-Expanding Metallic Stent Insertion on Survival and Oncological Outcomes in Oesophageal Cancer

Introduction: Oesophageal cancer (OC) is an aggressive malignancy which can be temporarily managed with self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) to improve patient’s dysphagia and “bridge the gap” preceding surgical resection. This study aimed to determine whether SEMS has an adverse effect on patient’s oncological outcome and mean survival time through a retrospective data analysis. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analysed 121 patients with OC who underwent curative resec tion between 2010 to 2015 and who underwent SEMS insertion (stent group, n=61) or not (no stent group, n=66) prior to surgical resection. Patients were then followed up in a prospective data analysis to determine survival time (months) post resection. Survival data was analysed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and statistical analysis included the Chi-Squared test (categorical data) and cox regression for hazard ratios. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Mean survival time was considerably higher for patients in the non-stent group compared to the stent group (1380 days vs 737 days; p =0.05). This represented a 2-fold negative predictor factor on prognosis (hazard ratio = 2.28; p =0.042). These results were comparable to those receiving incomplete resections (hazard ratio= 2.32; p =0.12) (95% CI 1.208-4.68). Conclusions: Oesophageal SEMS insertion is associated with significantly reduced mean survival time and oncological outcomes when utilised as a pre-operative ‘bridge to resection’.
Analytical Pursuit of C.W.K. Mereku's ‘Asomdwee Hen’ Operetta

This article aims to introduce and analyse C.W. K. Mereku’s Asomdwee Hen, an operetta, which has been the most performed African oriented musical drama in Ghana. The work which combines drama with music tells the story of the faith of Christians on the birth of Christ. The article does not only examine the African musical compositional features but pulls out the aesthetics of this traditional musical drama through musical analysis and delves to unearth the relevance of the work in the field of practical African musical drama composition. It concludes that the potential vivifying catalyst of the work is seen in the several artistic multicultural vicissitudes of thought, such as drum patterns, tonality, vocal style and language, submitted to the musical treatment by the composer. Asomdwee Hen is indeed a fundamental platform for the creation of African musical drama and pursuit of its aesthetics. Analytical pursuit ‘Asomdwee
Full Coverage Prediction with UTD and GO model

In order to improve the quality of service in UHF broadcasting systems, extracting of coverage map is so important. Coverage map is drawn after electric field is predicted by means of Uniform Theory of diffraction (UTD) and Geometrical optic (GO) models. In urban areas, direct, reflected and diffracted fields are used to generate the coverage map. In this study, coverage maps are extracted for two different scenarios.
OPINION of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety endorses the analysis and conclusions of the CES on "Animal feed" regarding the inventory of alternatives to antibiotics aimed at reducing their use in animal husbandry and the development of a method for assessing scientific publications and their findings. The Agency notes that a large number of products and substances (compounds, plants, plant extracts and micro-organisms) are used as alternatives to antibiotics. It underlines the heterogeneity and variability of the bibliographic database observed in the expert appraisal, which are limitations for assessing the safety and efficacy of many of these alternatives and their ability to cause resistance to emerge or develop. ANSES stresses the need to initiate a debate to define, for the main animal sectors affected, the classes of alternatives that should be given priority for in-depth research to remove uncertainties as to their efficacy and safety. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety draws attention to the importance of determining the legal status of these products, before studies and experiments are undertaken, since this will enable the necessary studies and their terms of implementation to be defined, prior to a product's marketing and use. In the framework of the antimicrobial resistance control plan, ANSES recommends raising the issue of the legal status of these products at European level, so studies may be conducted on the relevance and feasibility of creating a specific status for products inducing a reduction in the use of antibiotics without them being considered as veterinary medicinal products. Lastly, the Agency underlines various methodological research needs to ensure that demonstrations regarding the efficacy and safety of these products are established on solid scientific bases.
Eportfolio post tagging for student-teacher development

ABSTRACT This paper introduces an innovative practice: post tagging as a way to enhance the use of ePortfolios in foreign language teacher education programs. The ePortfolio system is a WordPress multi-author blog, and a student-teacher’s ePortfolio is a page comprised of the posts they have written. Tags are keywords for a post. In this innovation, ePortfolio post tags are matched with content learning areas in the teacher education program. When student-teachers tag a post, they first choose a relevant content area from the teacher education curriculum, e.g. Methods, and then select an appropriate tag or keyword from that area, e.g. Focus on form. Tagging has the following benefits. First, it can encourage student-teachers to reconcile pedagogical concepts from their teacher education program with their professional goals, teaching practice, and teaching beliefs. Second, tags can be used as a means to understand the types of pedagogical concepts that student-teachers deem important. Lastly, tagging can inform the teacher educators about how to improve their programs. On the other hand, using tags to match one’s reflective writing with pedagogical concepts does not come naturally to student-teachers and needs to be carefully introduced. The paper concludes by presenting some guidelines for using ePortfolios with tagging.
ASPIRE: An Agent-Oriented Smart Parking Recommendation System for Smart Cities

An Agent-oriented Smart Parking Recommendation System for Smart Cities (ASPIRE) using Internet of Things (IoT) is proposed in which significant consideration is given to the driver's parking preferences such as type of parking sought, the maximum price that the parker is willing to pay, and the maximum time to walk from parking space to the destination that the parker can tolerate. ASPIRE is a lightweight, scalable, and adaptable system that automates the workflow of reserving the best parking spots. It employs a novel parking broker—a software agent that leverages valuable route planning information from other traffic information services, and promotes road-safety by minimizing the need for parkers to interact with their smartphones or onboard units, thus lowering distracted driving. The main contribution of this paper is the novel adoption of lightweight Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in order to determine the best parking space. In addition, the parking record collected by ASPIRE can provide local governments with statistics for building future parking lots. ASPIRE's parking network and architecture, system workflow, strategy model, and simulation highlight the importance of the desirable feature such as satellite navigation, indoor navigation, event data recording, parking reference, traffic and weather information, and parking reservations.
Locally exact discretization method for nonlinear oscillation systems

Nonlinear oscillations are ubiquitous in various fields of engineering and applied sciences. In engineering, vibration isolators such as absorbers and dampers have been used to reduce damages of most undesired vibrations to a structure or a system. One important class of dampers is the pendulum tuned mass damper. Since it is difficult to solve nonlinear oscillation equations analytically, it is highly demanded to design numerical methods that preserve as much as possible intrinsic properties of the original system. To this end, we propose a locally exact modified midpoint rule with a parameter ω by combining ideas of locally exact discretization and symplecticness. We prove that it is convergent of order two for any ω as its classical partner; however, its local error accuracy can be remarkably improved with a proper choice of ω. A numerical example is provided to highlight the accuracy and effectiveness of the new method. Finally, effective implementation of the new method is also discussed based on approximate analytical solution.