Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bivariate Multilevel Modeling of Modern Contraceptive Use and Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Prevention of Women in Ethiopia

Background: Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in Africa and has the highest number of new HIV infections. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to demonstrate the joint predictors and association between modern contraceptive use and knowledge of HIV prevention in women aged 15-49 across clusters in Ethiopia.Methods: This study considered a weighted sample of 10,223 married women aged 15-49 years, extracted from the 2016 EDHS data. The bivariate multilevel logistics regression model was used in this study.Results: In Ethiopia, 64.75%, 54.58% of the women didn’t use the modern contraceptive method and didn’t know about HIV prevention, respectively. A positive relationship between the use of modern contraceptives and knowledge of HIV prevention of women across the clusters was found, which implies that modern contraceptive use has positive implications on women's knowledge of HIV prevention techniques across the clusters.Conclusions: Predictor visiting a health facility, wealth index, media exposure, religion, place of residence, and the contextual region are statistically related with the use of modern contraceptive use and knowledge of HIV prevention of women across the clusters. Those women who use the modern contraceptive method have more likelihood of knowing about HIV prevention. The study result confirmed that modern contraceptive use has a spillover effect on women's knowledge of HIV prevention across the clusters. Therefore, the integration of the two programs with taking into account their joint predictors was an advantage in terms of clinical benefit, cost, and for seeking care individuals in the communities. The integration of two programs with due consideration of community-specific was recommended.
Establishing centers of excellence: a primer for child welfare

ABSTRACT There is a dearth of literature related to the formation and sustainability of centers of excellence, particularly in social and child welfare. This study was conducted to explore the concept of a “center of excellence” to answer key questions about how they were launched and funded, the products and services offered, their structure and function, and organizational challenges and successes experienced. Two methods of inquiry were employed – a content analysis of 48 centers of excellence websites, and individual interviews with representatives from 13 centers. Results demonstrated a wide variety in terminology used to identify the work of centers of excellence, despite commonality in organizational structures and functions. Core considerations for success and sustainability are identified and include clearly articulating the center’s mission, key functions, and services provided, fostering commitment and collaboration, identifying the most appropriate organizational structure, being flexible and responsive to diverse and changing contexts, developing an infrastructure and plan for growth, and ensuring diversity in funding streams. Finally, applications of findings in context of the Family First Prevention Services Act are described. This study serves as a tool to help strategize around the feasibility and development of an effective and sustainable center of excellence.
Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical Modeling of a Covered Waste Rock Pile in a Permafrost Region

In order to reduce contaminant mass loadings, thermal cover systems may be incorporated in the design of waste rock piles located in regions of continuous permafrost. In this study, reactive transport modeling was used to improve the understanding of coupled thermo-hydrological and chemical processes controlling the evolution of a covered waste rock pile located in Northern Canada. Material properties from previous field and laboratory tests were incorporated into the model to constrain the simulations. Good agreement between simulated and observational temperature data indicates that the model is capable of capturing the coupled thermo-hydrological processes occurring within the pile. Simulations were also useful for forecasting the pile’s long-term evolution with an emphasis on water flow and heat transport mechanisms, but also including geochemical weathering processes and sulfate mass loadings as an indicator for the release of contaminated drainage. An uncertainty analysis was carried out to address different scenarios of the cover’s performance as a function of the applied infiltration rate, accounting for the impacts of evaporation, runoff, and snow ablation. The model results indicate that the cover performance is insensitive to the magnitude of recharge rates, except for limited changes of the flow regime in the shallow active layer. The model was expanded by performing an additional sensitivity analysis to assess the role of cover thicknesses. The simulated results reveal that a cover design with an appropriate thickness can effectively minimize mass loadings in drainage by maintaining the active layer completely within the cover.
Online parameter estimation and adaptive control with limited information in structures

An online parameter estimation is important along with the adaptive control, that is, a time-dependent plant. This study uses both online identification and the simple adaptive control algorithm with velocity feedback. The recursive least squares method was used to identify the stiffness and damping parameters of the structure’s stories. Identification was carried out online without initial estimation and only by measuring the structural responses. The limited information regarding sensor measurements, parameter convergence, and the effects of the covariance matrix is examined. The integration of the applied online identification, the appropriate reference model selection in simple adaptive control, and adopting the proportional integral filter was used to limit the structural control response error. Some numerical examples are simulated to verify the ability of the proposed approach. Despite the limited information, the results show that the simultaneous use of online identification with the recursive least squares method and simple adaptive control algorithm improved the overall structural performance.
Face hallucination based on cluster consistent dictionary learning

Face hallucination is a super-resolution technique specially designed to reconstruct high-resolution faces from low-resolution faces. Most state-of-the-art algorithms leverage position-patch prior knowledge of human faces to better super-resolve face images. How-ever, most of them assume the training face dataset is sufﬁciently large, well cropped or aligned. This paper, proposes a novel example-based face hallucination method, based on cluster consistent dictionary learning with the assumption that human faces have similar facial structures. In this method, the paired face image patches are ﬁrstly labelled as face areas including eyes, nose, mouth and other parts, as well as non-face areas without requiring the training face images cropped and aligned. Then, the training patches are clustered according their labels and textures. The cluster consistent dictionary is learned to represent the low-resolution patches and the high-resolution patches. Finally, the high-resolution patches of the input low-resolution face image can be efﬁciently generated by using the adjusted anchored neighbourhood regression. As utilizing the labelled facial parts prior knowledge, the proposed method represents more details in the reconstruction. Experimental results demonstrate that the authors’ algorithm outperforms many state-of-the-art techniques for face hallucination under different datasets.
Effect of Trust on e-Shopping Adoption – An Emerging Market Context

Abstract This study investigates the applicability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for understanding consumer adoption of e-shopping within a developing country. Online surveys with Pakistani college students were conducted. Multiple linear regression revealed that perceived ease of use, trust, perceived usefulness, and shopping experience influence consumers’ attitudes toward e-shopping, emphasizing the applicability of TAM. This study further expands the TAM by incorporating trust in terms of country image, showing that trust has the most significant impact on the intention to purchase from a particular country. Moreover, the levels of trust vary most significantly between these countries, whereby Pakistani consumers are most likely to trust websites originating in developed countries, compared to those from developing countries, and trust websites belonging to their own country the least.
Reconstructing Human-Centered Interaction Networks of the Swifterbant Culture in the Dutch Wetlands: An Example from the ArchaeoEcology Project

In archaeology, palaeo-ecological studies are frequently used to support archaeological investigations, but linking and synthesizing datasets and concepts from ecology, ethnography, earth sciences, and archaeology has historically been rare. While advances in computational approaches and standards of data collection have enabled more collaborative approaches to understanding the past, these endeavors are only now beginning to pick up pace. Here, we propose a method to collect data of these assorted types, synthesize ecological and archaeological understanding, and move beyond subsistence-focused studies to those that incorporate multifaceted economies. We advocate for the use of ‘human-centered interaction networks’ as a tool to synthesize and better understand the role of culture, ecology, and environment in the long-term evolution of socio-ecological systems. We advance the study of human-centered interaction networks by presenting an archaeoecological (archaeological-ecological) perspective on the Neolithic transition of the Swifterbant culture in the northwestern Netherlands (approximately 4700–4000 BCE). We employed network science to better understand the relationships of animal and plant species to the uses that people made of them. The analysis of the Swifterbant system reveals a highly connected set of interactions among people, plants, and animals, as could be expected on the basis of the hypothesis of an ‘extended broad-spectrum economy’. Importantly, this broad spectrum extends beyond the subsistence sphere.
Effect of Solution Spraying during Hot Air Drying on Surface Hardening and Browning of Freshly Cut Apple Pulp

The drying characteristics of fresh-cut apple pulp were investigated at drying temperatures ranging from 40 to 75℃. The hardening and browning effects of spraying with various solutions during hot air drying were evaluated between sprayed and non-sprayed sample surfaces. From the drying characteristic curves, it was determined that drying in both sprayed and non-sprayed samples was in the first falling rate period and the drying rate of the sprayed samples was greater than that of the non-sprayed samples. The results showed that spraying the sample surfaces during drying inhibited hardening and color change, and the total color difference (⊿E) during the drying process could be analyzed using an equation to describe the reaction kinetics. In addition, samples sprayed with a salt or ascorbic acid solution lost the least amount of polyphenol content. Therefore, periodically and appropriately spraying freshly cut apple pulp surfaces with solutions that act as antioxidants during the hot air drying process inhibits hardening and discoloration.
Geographic and subsequent biotic isolations led to a diversity anomaly of section Heterotropa (genus Asarum: Aristolochiaceae) in insular versus continental regions of the Sino‐Japanese Floristic Region

The Sino‐Japanese Floristic Region has extremely high species diversity with respect to temperate plants; however, the reasons for this diversity are poorly understood because most studies have only considered geographic isolation caused by climatic oscillations. In some plant groups, high floral trait diversity and uneven species diversity between insular systems and the continental area suggest other factors may have important roles too. The primary purpose of this study is to reveal how abiotic and biotic factors have shaped the species diversity anomaly of Heterotropa between the insular systems and the continental area.
Methane Cracking for Hydrogen Production: A Review of Catalytic and Molten Media Pyrolysis

Currently, hydrogen is mainly generated by steam methane reforming, with significant CO2 emissions, thus exacerbating the greenhouse effect. This environmental concern promotes methane cracking, which represents one of the most promising alternatives for hydrogen production with theoretical zero CO/CO2 emissions. Methane cracking has been intensively investigated using metallic and carbonaceous catalysts. Recently, research has focused on methane pyrolysis in molten metals/salts to prevent both reactor coking and rapid catalyst deactivation frequently encountered in conventional pyrolysis. Another expected advantage is the heat transfer improvement due to the high heat capacity of molten media. Apart from the reaction itself that produces hydrogen and solid carbon, the energy source used in this endothermic process can also contribute to reducing environmental impacts. While most researchers used nonrenewable sources based on fossil fuel combustion or electrical heating, concentrated solar energy has not been thoroughly investigated, to date, for pyrolysis in molten media. However, it could be a promising innovative pathway to further improve hydrogen production sustainability from methane cracking. After recalling the basics of conventional catalytic methane cracking and the developed solar cracking reactors, this review delves into the most significant results of the state-of-the-art methane pyrolysis in melts (molten metals and salts) to show the advantages and the perspectives of this new path, as well as the carbon products’ characteristics and the main factors governing methane conversion.
Investigation of the Photon to Charge Conversion and Its Implication on Photovoltaic Cell Efficient Operation

Efficient photon to charge (PTC) transfer is considered to be the cornerstone of technological improvements in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, while it constitutes the most common process in nature. This study aims to investigate the parameters that impact efficient PV-cell photon to charge conversion in two ways: (a) providing a brief research analysis to extract the key features which affect the electrical and optical performance of PV cells’ operation, and (b) investigating the dependance of these characteristics on the photon to charge mechanisms. The former direction focuses on the latest advances regarding the impacts of the microenvironment climate conditions on the PV module and its operational performance, while the latter examines the fundamental determinants of the cell’s efficient operation. The electrical and optical parameters of the bulk PV cells are influenced by both the external microenvironment and the intrinsic photon to charge conversion principles. Light and energy harvesting issues need to be overcome, while nature-inspired interpretation and mimicking of photon to charge and excitation energy transfer are in an infant stage, furthering a better understanding of artificial photosynthesis. A future research orientation is proposed which focuses on scaling up development and making use of the before mentioned challenges.
Convective Hot-air Drying of Green Mango: Influence of Hot Water Blanching and Chemical Pretreatments on Drying Kinetics and Physicochemical Properties of Dried Product

ABSTRACT Currently, there is a growing market demand for dehydrated green mango powder for the development of value-added products. Preservation of green mangoes through drying is a good option. In this study, the influence of pretreatments and drying temperatures on drying kinetics and physicochemical properties of dried product was investigated. The sliced (4 mm thickness) green mango samples were pretreated with hot water blanching at 98°C for 3 min, 3% (w/v) ascorbic acid, and 3% (w/v) calcium chloride solutions for 1 h at room temperature (30°C). The pretreated and untreated samples were dried at 50, 60, and 70°C with an air velocity of 2.25 m/s. The dried products were ground to powder and evaluated physicochemical quality in terms of bulk and tapped density, flowability, water solubility index, rehydration capacity, total soluble solids, pH and ascorbic acid. It was observed that the moisture removal rate increased while increasing the drying temperature, and pretreated (blanching) samples dried faster than untreated samples. The experimental data were fitted to four models and evaluated for their ability to describe the drying behavior and predict the drying kinetics, of which the Logarithmic model was found to be the best. Effective moisture diffusivity and activation energy were estimated using Fick’s second law of moisture diffusion and the Arrhenius-type equation, respectively, and corresponding values were 1.209 × 10−7 to 1.566 × 10−7 m2/s and 43.873 to 44.403 kJ/mol. The samples treated with blanching and ascorbic acid showed higher physical properties and ascorbic acid content, respectively.
Assessing the Value of Demand Response in Microgrids

This paper presents a computer application to assist in decisions about sustainability enhancement due to the effect of shifting demand from less favorable periods to periods that are more convenient for the operation of a microgrid. Specifically, assessing how the decisions affect the economic participation of the aggregating agent of the microgrid bidding in an electricity day-ahead market. The aggregating agent must manage microturbines, wind systems, photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems, and loads, facing load uncertainty and further uncertainties due to the use of renewable sources of energy and participation in the day-ahead market. These uncertainties cannot be removed from the decision making, and, therefore, require proper formulation, and the proposed approach customizes a stochastic programming problem for this operation. Case studies show that under these uncertainties and the shifting of demand to convenient periods, there are opportunities to make decisions that lead to significant enhancements of the expected profit. These enhancements are due to better bidding in the day-ahead market and shifting energy consumption in periods of favorable market prices for exporting energy. Through the case studies it is concluded that the proposed approach is useful for the operation of a microgrid.
Emerging trends in graphene carbon based polymer nanocomposites and applications

Abstract Recent sustainable advancement in carbon nanotechnology has further broadened the scope of application of carbon based materials, especially graphene based polymer nanocomposites, in emerging applications. This paper mainly focuses on recently emerging trends in synthesis and properties of graphene based polymer nanocomposites, in addition to brief discussion of some selected carbon based nanocomposites for application in electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency, terahertz shielding efficiency, electrostatic dissipation, thermal interface materials, sensors, and energy storage. Finally, an overview of recently emerging trends in sustainability, economies of scale, and emerging commercial market share of these materials is also presented.
Fertilizer and Plant Growth Regulator Strategies for Improving Consumer Performance of Container-grown Petunia

The overall goal was to evaluate fertilizer options for greenhouse producers, with or without a plant growth regulator (PGR) application, to improve subsequent performance of container-grown annuals. Petunia (Petunia × hybrida) was the model container-grown crop in simulated production and consumer environments. The first experiment at two locations (New Hampshire and Florida) compared strategies using water-soluble fertilizer [WSF (17N–1.8P–14.1K)], controlled-release fertilizers (CRF), and slow-release fertilizers (SRF) that were either applied throughout or at the end of the 8-week production phase [point of shipping (POS)] for petunia rooted cuttings grown in 8-inch azalea containers. In the subsequent simulated “consumer” phase, container plants were irrigated with clear water (no fertilizer) for 6 weeks. Plant performance [number of flowers, SPAD chlorophyll index, dry weight, and tissue nitrogen (N)] at the end of the consumer phase was improved by top-dressing at POS with either CRF or granular organic fertilizer (both at 2.74 g/container N), or preplant incorporation of either a typical CRF at 4.12 g/container N or a CRF with an additional prill coating to delay initial release (DCT) at 2.74 g/container. There was no carry-over benefit from applying a liquid urea-chain product (1.37 or 2.74 g/container N) or top dressing with granular methylene di-urea (2.74 g/container N), or 400 mg·L–1 N (0.2 g/container N) from a liquid organic fertilizer at POS. The consumer benefit of applying 400 mg·L–1 N (0.2 g/container N) from a WSF at POS was increased by supplementing with 235 mg·L–1 magnesium (Mg) and 10 mg·L–1 iron (Fe). A second experiment in 10-inch-diameter pots evaluated the effect on consumer performance from providing 200 or 400 mg·L–1 N of WSF with the PGR paclobutrazol, at the final 1 L/pot irrigation at POS. Application of 3 mg·L–1 paclobutrazol delayed leaf yellowing and reduced plant height, width, and shoot dry weight during the consumer phase, resulting in a more compact growth habit and higher plant quality compared with plants that received no PGR, regardless of WSF treatment. Addition of supplemental 235 mg·L–1 Mg and 10 mg·L–1 Fe to the high rate of WSF and PGR did not improve consumer performance compared with other treatments that included a PGR. Overall, the first experiment demonstrated that the most effective fertilizer strategies require a CRF or SRF that will release nutrients throughout the consumer phase, and that impact of liquid fertilizer options is limited because of lower N supply per container. A single application at POS of a high rate of WSF with supplemental Mg and Fe may have short-term benefits, for example while plants are in a retail environment. Growers should consider combining a residual fertilizer with a PGR application for premium, value-added container annuals.
The influence of corporate social responsibility on corporate brand equity: a study with structural equation modeling

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays an important role in corporate marketing and is understood as a strategic variable, because if managed properly, it can increase the corporation's market share. This study investigates the various causal relationships between corporate social responsibility, corporate brand credibility (CBC), corporate reputation (CR) and corporate brand equity (CBE). Data were collected through a survey with a self-administered structured questionnaire, with five response options scored on a Likert scale. The sample included 310 consumers who expressed their opinions on a large Brazilian oil and gas company. The data were treated through structural equation modeling with partial least squares. The results showed that CSR has direct and indirect effects on CBE. Mixed methods are worthwhile to those who are working on a doctorate research work. Moreover, it will be helpful to develop knowledge through this method that can be beneficial to academia and Practitioners.