Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MODELING AND DESIGN OF CONTACTS IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS

The presented paper focuses on modeling and simulation of electrical connector contacts’ behavior and associated design. New solutions are developed, based on the Contact & Channel Approach validated by simulation and experiment. Primary parameters such as contact resistance, tribological and thermal behavior, contact force, material and connector size strongly influence electrical connector’s properties. Therefore, a great deal of experience or effort is needed to design application specific solutions mastering preceding interrelated parameters. However, many state of the art electrical connectors are, especially for high currents, designed by trial and error processes. In order to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the design process, appropriate models are needed. To generate new design solutions, models of a certain level of abstraction are needed. In addition to this, holistic computer-aided models enable the prediction of connector’s electrical and mechanical performance. Here, design solutions are created based on the Contact & Channel Approach. At the same time a Finite Element Model is built in order to investigate the behavior of designed connector’s prototypes.
Institutions and Economic Growth in the MENA Countries: An Empirical Investigation by Using Panel data model

This paper will investigate the impact of institution on economic growth rates in MENA nations, Using panel data model over the period 1995-2012. Within the framework of the neoclassical growth model, this study integrates a broad set of institutional variables such. Security of property rights, governance, political freedom and size of government are the indicators used in the study, facilitating identification of the most important institutions that account for the observed variations in economic growth rates among nations. We find that, The sign and significance of all of the variables are qualitatively similar to the results obtained by MRW (1992). We also find The human capital is highly significant at 99% with initial income and Investment Share in MENA countries. The Results indicate that the dummy variable for oil exporters is positive and significant, indicating that other things being equal, oil exporters would be expected to have higher economic growth rates in MENA Countries. Basic OLS results, as well as a variety of additional evidence, suggest that (a) security of property rights, is the most significant institutions that explain the variations in economic growth rates, (b) The significant and negative sign on the government consumption, indicating that smaller governments are "better" in MENA countries.
Mobile Vision Based Augmented Reality Navigation System

Augmented reality applications become more and more popular due to increasing computation speed of the mobile handsets and need of easy and intuitive navigation. Existing systems are implemented on the basis of GPS and compass where relative position and orientation of the handset is considered. Such hardware requirements decrease amount of compatible devices and limits system usage to outdoors where GPS signal is available. The paper presents a vision-based augmented reality navigation system implemented on the Android mobile phone. Image data of interest object and handset position are acquired by the users, however GPS position is not required for the system operation.
Product Diversification In Health Insurance With Comprehensive Coverage Benefits U.S. Health Insurers

This paper studies the relationship between product diversification and financial performance in U.S. health insurers during 2005 – 2014. We focus on diversification among different types of comprehensive coverage – termed related diversification. We use a modified Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) as a proxy for product diversification and measure financial performance by both return on assets and return on capital. We find a robust positive relationship between product diversification and performance. Moreover, the positive relationship still holds when the performance measures are adjusted for volatility. These findings support the theoretical foundation of economies of scope and risk-reduction, as adapted to the U.S. health insurance industry. We also develop two empirical proxies for the underwriting and asset investment risk taking of health insurers. For health insurers, the relationship between performance and risk-taking in product and asset management is similar to other types of insurers. A noteworthy finding is that the positive relationship between product diversification and performance is stronger during the financial crisis years than in the recent healthcare reform era. This suggests that diversification as a risk reduction strategy may be less effective when reform changes the healthcare environment.
ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT BY SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR DIPHENHYDRAMINE QUANTIFICATION IN SYRUPS

Objective: To develop a method for the determination of diphenhydramine hydrochloride in syrups. Methods: The developed method is based on the active ingredient recovery from the pharmaceutical formulation using a cartridge for selective solid phase extraction. This procedure is simple and fast as compared to the methods that require liquid/liquid extraction. Once the sample is eluted from the cartridge, it is injected directly into a reversed-phase chromatographic system containing a mixture of acetonitrile: 10 mmol ammonium acetate: triethylamine 60:39.5:0.5. Results: The proposed method fulfilled the validation parameters (linearity R 2 >0.99, precision CV<2% and accuracy 98-102%). Conclusion: The proposed method proved to be reliable when it was applied in the quantification of diphenhydramine hydrochloride of two commercial syrup products.
Liberation in OpenLIVES Critical Pedagogy: “empowerability” and critical action

espanolEste articulo examinara la experiencia educativa de OpenLIVES en la Universidad de Leeds. Se concentrara en la metodologia de aprendizaje y contenidos, las influencias y coincidencias ideologicas constadas y en su potencial transformador para los estudiantes, la Educacion Superior y la sociedad. Se presta especial atencion a la publicacion en linea del trabajo de los estudiantes como Recursos Educativos Abiertos (OER), un elemento clave de la praxis del estudiante, asi como a la libertad de los estudiantes a la hora de explorar diferentes generos de produccion audio basada en la investigacion y de conectar con audiencias en linea. Se argumentara que estos dos rasgos de la pedagogia OpenLIVES nos permiten realizar algunos de los ideales de liberacion defendidos por la Pedagogia Critica asi como actualizar y traducir al contexto de la Educacion Superior del Siglo XXI el ideal gramsciano de �pensamiento critico�. EnglishThis article will examine the educational experience of OpenLIVES at the University of Leeds by looking at its learning methods and contents, its ideological influences and coincidences and its transformational potential for students, Higher Education and society. Particular attention will be paid to the publication of student coursework online, in the form of Open Educational Resources (OER), as a key component of student praxis, as well as to the students� freedom to explore different genres of audio research-based production in order to engage with audiences online. It will be argued that these two features of the OpenLIVES pedagogy enable us to fulfil some of the ideals of liberation defended by Critical Pedagogy and update and translate, in a 21st Century Higher Education context, the Gramscian ideal of �critical thinking�.
Effects of two different AMF species on growth and nutrient content of pepper seedlings grown under moderate salt stress

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) species on the growth and nutrient contents of pepper seedlings (cv. Demre) grown under moderate salt stress. Two different mychorrhizas (Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora margarita) were tested on a growing media containing moderate salt stress (75 ppm NaCl). The study was replicated four times with 8 plants in each replicate. At the end of the study, some nutrients such as P, K, Ca, and Na and plant growth parameters such as shoot height, stem diameter, root length, and dry and fresh weights of shoots and roots were investigated. Saline condition had negative effects on the seedlings. Both AMF species had positive effects on salt tolerance based on the plant growth parameters and nutrient contents. G. intraradices caused better response in seedling development compared to G. margarita, though insignificantly.
Damage distribution and seismological model of the November 24, 2004, Salo' (Northern Italy) earthquake

The West side of lake of Garda, in Northern Italy, was struck by a ML=5.2 earthquake on November 24, 2004. The felt area is rather large (from Venice to Milan) and the damaged area consists of 66 municipalities, with a number of homeless of about 2200 and estimated direct damages of 215 millions of euros. Most of the damaged structures are old masonry buildings and churches, while there were almost no damage to reinforced concrete structures. The observed distribution of macroseismic intensity shows a strong azimuthal dependence, with high intensity level in a 10x10 km area located SW to the epicentre and rather large dispersion of values (ranging from V to VII-VIII) in the first 10 km epicentral distance. Taking into account the vulnerability level of the damaged structures and the features of the geological formations, we tried to explain the observed damage distribution in terms of finite fault properties of the source, despite the moderate magnitude of the event. Thus we hypothesised a fault geometry from seismotectonic considerations and we simulated the event by a high frequency simulation technique (Deterministic Stochastic Method, DSM). The synthetic ground motion parameters were converted into intensity values by empirical relationships and local geological conditions were considered to explain some discrepancies between simulated and observed intensities. It was possible to adequately reproduce both the observed distribution of macroseismic intensity and the ground motion recorded by an accelerometric station located at about 13 km epicentral distance.
The Social Implications of Wearable Information Technologies: Extending IT Identity Theory

Existing theories of information technology (IT) use focus on utilitarian benefits to a user but seldom capture the complex socio-emotional relationships people have with IT. Understanding how, why, and when technology users create particular identification with technology use has been critical as technology has gradually become a part of people's identity. This research examines the complex way people relate to IT by exploring how IT can be incorporated into an individual's identity. We extend a conceptual framework from IT identity (ITID) theory to explore the complex relationships people have with IT in a dynamic, social environment. This study also explores how ITID changes over time. The research questions are: What are the social implications of ITID? How do these social implications influence ITID change over time? To answer these research questions, we conducted two studies. The first is a cross-sectional survey to develops, tests, and validates a contextualized model of ITID for investigating how users' self-identification with a specific IT category-wearable fitness IT-influences their social behaviors. The second study is a longitudinal field study to test how ITID changes over time. The second study draws on the identity change literature to understand how ITID changes as a result of IT use and a feedback effect of social behaviors on user experience. This research provides theoretical contributions to the ITID literature by exploring the social implication of ITID. This study also has significant implications for user identity change, as well as long-term relationships between IT and users. In practice, the findings are expected to help bring more compelling wearable fitness IT products to market and ultimately enhance users' well-being.
Extend Classical Decision Tree Building Algorithms to Handle Data with Uncertain Numerical Attributes using the Distribution-Based Approach

Traditional decision tree classifiers work with data whose values are known and precise. We extend such classifiers to handle data with uncertain information. Value uncertainty arises in many applications during the data collection process. Example sources of uncertainty include measurement/quantization errors, data staleness, and multiple repeated measurements. With uncertainty, the value of a data item is often represented not by one single value, but by multiple values forming a probability distribution. Rather than abstracting uncertain data by statistical derivatives (such as mean and median), we discover that the accuracy of a decision tree classifier can be much improved if the “complete information” of a data item (taking into account the probability density function (pdf)) is utilized. We extend classical decision tree building algorithms to handle data tuples with uncertain values. Extensive experiments have been conducted that show that the resulting classifiers are more accurate than those using value averages. Since processing pdf’s is computationally more costly than processing single values (e.g., averages), decision tree construction on uncertain data is more CPU demanding than that for certain data. To tackle this problem, we propose a series of pruning techniques that can greatly improve construction efficiency. Keywords – Uncertain Data; Decision Tree; Classification; Data Mining
A multi axis space phasor based current hysteresis controller for PWM inverters

In conventional three-phase current hysteresis controllers, the current error along the three phase axes are independently controlled. This will result in random selection of switching vectors causing high inverter switching losses. In this paper, a space phasor based multi axis current hysteresis controller is proposed, in which the current error along the orthogonal axes (jA, jB, jC) are monitored. The current error boundary is a hexagon. The proposed control scheme can be implemented using simple look up tables. The advantages of the proposed current hysteresis controlled PWM scheme, when compared to other multi level current hysteresis controllers, is that only the adjacent vectors close to the motor back EMF space phasor voltage, is only used for the inverter switching, for the entire speed range (optimum PWM switching). In the present scheme, the selection of the inverter voltage vectors for optimum PWM switching is achieved without any computation of the machine voltage space phasor, for the full speed range of the drive system. The proposed scheme is self-adapting, as far as the motor space phasor voltage is concerned, and also maintains the controller simplicity and quick response features of a hysteresis current controller. The scheme is simulated and also experimentally verified.
Planck Mean Absorption Coefficients of H2O, CO2, CO and NO for radiation numerical modeling in combusting flows

TheWeighted-Sum-of-Gray-Gases Model (WSGGM), based on temperature dependent weighting factors, is an ecient method of determining the absorption coecients in numerical modeling of combusting flows. Weighting factors are obtained by polynomial fitting of experimental data for only two reagents (H2O and CO2) to the analytical equation for emissivity. In this article the use of Planck Mean Absorption Coecients (PMAC) for H2O, CO2, CO and NO in combustion numerical modeling is proposed. The aim of the PMAC approach is to improve the initial solution of temperature and species mass fraction profiles in numerical modeling of non-premixed methane combustion. The proposed model is verified against the results of turbulent, non-premixed methane combustion experimental data. The implemented PMAC model represents the flue gas composition and temperature more accurately than the WSGGM.
The savings-­growth nexus for Indonesia (1981-­2012)

This paper investigates the relationship between economic growth and savings in Indonesia from 1981 2012. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is added as an extra variable to identify possible spuriousness in the causation. The Johansen test on cointegration is used to search for a long run relationship, a Vector Error Correction (VEC) model is constructed to examine a short run relationship and the Granger test on causality is used to find the direction of the relationship. After performing robustness checks, it can be concluded that there is significant evidence that Gross Domestic Savings (GDS) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are cointegrated and therefore hold a long run relationship. Via the Wald test, also a short run relationship is identified. The Granger test indicates that savings are Granger-­caused by economic growth. FDI does not play a significant role.
Uncertainty in aerosol hygroscopicity resulting from semi-volatile organic compounds

We present a novel method of exploring the effect of uncertainties in aerosol properties on cloud droplet number using existing cloud droplet activation parameterisations. Aerosol properties of a single involatile particle mode are randomly sampled within an uncertainty range and resulting maximum supersaturations and critical diameters calculated using the cloud droplet activation scheme. Hygroscopicity parameters are subsequently derived and the values of the mean and uncertainty are found to be comparable to experimental observations. A recently proposed cloud droplet activation scheme that includes the effects of co-condensation of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) onto a single lognormal mode of involatile particles is also considered. In addition to the uncertainties associated with the involatile particles, concentrations, volatility distributions and chemical composition of the SVOCs are randomly sampled and hygroscopicity parameters are derived using the cloud droplet activation scheme. The inclusion of SVOCs is found to have a significant effect on the hygroscopicity and contributes a large uncertainty. For non-volatile particles that are effective cloud condensation nuclei, the co-condensation of SVOCs reduces their actual hygroscopicity by approximately 25 %. A new concept of an effective hygroscopicity parameter is introduced that can computationally efficiently simulate the effect of SVOCs on cloud droplet number concentration without direct modelling of the organic compounds. These effective hygroscopicities can be as much as a factor of 2 higher than those of the non-volatile particles onto which the volatile organic compounds condense.
Raman scattering and anti-Stokes emission from a single spherical microcavity with a CdTe quantum dot monolayer

We have studied the Raman and luminescence spectra of a microcavity–quantum dot system consisting of a melamine formaldehyde latex microsphere coated by CdTe colloidal quantum dots. The cavity-induced enhancement of the Raman scattering allows the observation of Raman spectra from only a monolayer of CdTe quantum dots. Periodic structure with very narrow peaks in the luminescence spectra of a single microsphere was detected arising from the coupling between the emission from quantum dots and spherical cavity modes. Strong anti-Stokes emission from CdTe quantum dots coupled to the cavity modes was observed using low intensity below band-gap excitation and attributed to the strong field enhancement at the microcavity resonances.
Knowledge Management in the SME and its Relationship to Strategy, Family Orientation and Organization Learning

In this study, we examine the prevalence of different KM practices and the organizational determinants of KM among SMEs by conducting a quantitative study of empirical data from nearly 500 Dutch SMEs. Our empirical results show that knowledge is managed in a people-based approach in SMEs. SMEs are most likely to acquire knowledge by staying in touch with professionals and experts outside the company and they incline to share knowledge and experience by talking to each other. Furthermore, KM is dependent on other organizational resources and processes. Organizational learning and competitive strategy with a formality approach are the positive determinants of KM while family orientation is a negative determinant of it. One of the challenges in the current study was to clearly distinguish, on an empirical basis, the previously defined concepts of knowledge management practices and organizational learning. Although in theory, they are distinct, the results of this study lead us to conclude that they may overlap in practice. In the conclusion, we recommend a learning-oriented knowledge management model for SMEs which combines aspects of the two literatures.
"The Old Illusion of Belonging": Distinctive Style, Bad Faith and John Banville's the Sea

John Banville`s The Sea (2005) is not only a highly stylistic novel but also a novel about style. In The Sea Banville poses his obsessive question of identity and authenticity in relation to style as writing as well as writing as style and complicates the notion of style as traditionally understood in literary criticism. Contrary to most commentators reading of the novel`s style as merely manner of writing, in this essay I argue that Banville explores style as both manner of writing and manner of expression distinctive of its writer. The novel`s rich language is one aspect among others of a distinctive style that the writer, John Banville, has forged during almost four decades of writing and in which he appears, in The Sea, uncannily at home. However, the identity obtained through style, like all other forms of identity previously investigated by Banville, is necessarily inauthentic. Any identity obtained through style, Banville believes, is obtained in what Sartre called bad faith; style betrays the writer`s attempt to make himself what he is by playing at being someone he is not.
Discursive Deflection: Accusation of “Fake News” and the Spread of Mis- and Disinformation in the Tweets of President Trump

Twitter is increasingly being used within the sociopolitical domain as a channel through which to circulate information and opinions. Throughout the 2016 US Presidential primaries and general election campaign, a notable feature was the prolific Twitter use of Republican candidate and then nominee, Donald Trump. This use has continued since his election victory and inauguration as President. Trump’s use of Twitter has drawn criticism due to his rhetoric in relation to various issues, including Hillary Clinton, the size of the crowd in attendance at his inauguration, the policies of the former Obama administration, and immigration and foreign policy. One of the most notable features of Trump’s Twitter use has been his repeated ridicule of the mainstream media through pejorative labels such as “fake news” and “fake media. ” These labels have been deployed in an attempt to deter the public from trusting media reports, many of which are critical of Trump’s presidency, and to position himself as the only reliable source of truth. However, given the contestable nature of objective truth, it can be argued that Trump himself is a serial offender in the propagation of mis- and disinformation in the same vein that he accuses the media. This article adopts a corpus analysis of Trump’s Twitter discourse to highlight his accusations of fake news and how he operates as a serial spreader of mis- and disinformation. Our data show that Trump uses these accusations to demonstrate allegiance and as a cover for his own spreading of mis- and disinformation that is framed as truth.