Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fracture behavior of plain concrete beams -- experimental verification of one parameter model

Summary Several different models have been proposed to characterize mode-I crack propagation in concrete. The fictitious crack model proposed by Hillerborg et al. and the blunt crack band theory developed by Bazant & Oh are particularly well suited for a finite element analysis. The two-parameter fracture model proposed by Jenq & Shah is found to be applicable only for beams with s/w=4, where s=span & w=depth of the beam. The general applicability of the model for other testing configurations is not published. In the present study an experimental verification of a one-parameter model based on fundamental equation of equilibrium developed by Ananthan, Raghu Prasad, and Sundara Raja Iyengar to explain the mode - I fracture behavior of notched and un-notched plain concrete beams subjected to three or four-point bending, also called Softening Beam Model are reported and discussed in this paper. The influence of structural size in altering the fracture mode from perfect brittle fracture to plastic collapse is explained through the stress distribution obtained across the un-cracked ligament. The key factor affecting the stress distribution is found to be the strain softening modulus and is considered to dependent on structural size. Based on large number of experimental results available in the literature pertaining to the testing of plain concrete beams in either three-point or four-point bending, an empirical relationship for the determination of process zone length (Lp) has been developed. With the knowledge of Lp; the maximum load Pmax can be obtained. It is demonstrated that the model can predict Pmax quite accurately. Here the objective is to experimentally verify the predicted Pmax. The comparison is valid within a range of errors, reasonable in the cementetious materials like concrete. In this model only an inelastic fracture mechanics parameter ‘Lp’ has been used. The parameter Lp has been obtained as a function of the size of the beam and also softening modulus in order to consider the effect of softening on the tensile stress-strain behavior of concrete. Further, the Pmax predicted by the one parameter model as obtained for mode-I failure has been experimentally verified to see how far it is valid for mixed mode type of failure. Since a very few experimental investigations have been so far carried out to study the fracture behavior of concrete under mixed mode condition, the present experimental program is carried out, so as to obtain a wide range of test results pertaining the mixed mode fracture of concrete.
DOES THE METHOD OF MEASURING CENTRE OF MASS DISPLACEMENT AFFECT VERTICAL STIFFNESS CALCULATION IN SINGLE-LEG HOPPING?

The purpose of this study was to compare vertical stiffness values calculated from two kinetic and two kinematic estimations of the vertical displacement of the centre of mass. Twenty recreationally active male and female participants completed one 15 s single-leg hopping trial at 2.2 Hz with vertical stiffness calculated for the first 10 complete hop cycles. Vertical displacement was estimated using double integration (DI), first principle (FP), sacral marker cluster (SMC) and segmental analysis (SA) methods. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated the SA and DI methods to have a small bias (0.92 kN/m) and tight 95% limits of agreement (-1.16 to 3.08 kN/m). In contrast, the SMC and FP methods underestimated and overestimated vertical stiffness, respectively. These findings suggest the SA and DI methods can be used interchangeably to calculate vertical stiffness.
Values? How Social Entrepreneurs' Portrait Values Differ from Commercial Entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship walk through hand-in-hand in many cases. The market mechanisms that facilitate the sustainability issues are still playing a role in the value creation - no longer with a lead role rather as a supporting actor- in social entrepreneurship. This is why need for a distinctive definition of social entrepreneurship emerged and led to many academic researches. On the other hand, in practical applications social entrepreneurs find themselves stuck explaining the position of monetary issues in their vision to create a social transformation and want to be placed different than NGOs. In this paper, portrait values of Schwartz are used to assess how social entrepreneurs differ from commercial ones. A sample of 355 with 207 entrepreneurs and 148 social entrepreneurs were selected who are in the route from stand up to start up phase of entrepreneurial life-cycle and analysis show significant results of social entrepreneurs different than commercial ones.
Single- Phase Single -Stage Transformer Less Grid Connected PV System

Single- Phase, Single- stage current source inverter based photovoltaic system for grid connection without using transformer is proposed. This system is used for tracking the maximum power point and interfacing the photovoltaic array into the grid. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is maintained with the software controller. A proportional resonant controller to control the current injected into the grid. A double tuned parallel resonant circuit is used to attenuate the harmonics at the inverter dc side . CSI has been used to meet the grid requirements without using a high dc voltage or bulky transformer. CSI has become a preferred topology for interfacing PV system to the ac power grid, because of CSI provides a continuous dc side current. The energy stored element of CSI has a longer life time than VSI.MPPT is used to improve the system performance during normal and varying weather conditions.
Motor neurological soft signs among patients with schizophrenia: a clinical significance

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are subtle indicators of brain dysfunction which are present in excess among patients with schizophrenia. Its clinical significance remains unclear despite extensive researches in this area. The objective of this work was to determine the proportion of Schizophrenia patients who have motor NSS and then to compare the clinical features between these two groups; with and without motor NSS. This cross-sectional study which utilized the brief motor scale (BMS) was used to investigate the presence of motor NSS in 80 schizophrenia patients who attended Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMCC) Psychiatric clinic. The diagnosis of Schizophrenia was confirmed by mini international neuropsychiatic interview (MINI). Symptomatology and abnormal motor movement were assessed using the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS), respectively. A brief battery of cognitive tests covering aspects of attention, working memory and executive function was administered. The bivariate analyses were applied to look for any relationship between the study factors. Majority of schizophrenia patients (68.8%) in this study have motor NSS. The motor NSS were associated with ethnic group, level of education, age of onset, duration of illness and performance in cognitive assessment; verbal fluency, digit span forward, digit span backward and trail making B (p<0.05) but not with trail making A. The assessment of motor NSS represents a brief, inexpensive and meaningful tool in assessing the cognitive functions in schizophrenia. It has the potential as an illness marker and a link between neurobiological research and clinical practice.
2 Fundamental concepts 2 . 1 Hypergraphs and subhypergraphs

In this paper we study various fundamental connectivity properties of hypergraphs from a graph-theoretic perspective, with the emphasis on cut edges, cut vertices, and blocks. We prove a number of new results involving these concepts. In particular, we describe the exact relationship between the block decomposition of a hypergraph and the block decomposition of its incidence graph.
Video-imaging of transient rip currents on the Gold Coast open beaches

ABSTRACT Murray, T. , Cartwright, N. , Tomlinson, R. , 2013. Video-imaging of transient rip currents on the Gold coast open beaches. Transient rips vary in location and occurrence making them hard to predict, and unlike topographically controlled, fixed or semi-permanent rips, they are believed to be controlled by surf zone hydrodynamics rather than beach and surf zone morphology. This paper reports on the first video analysis of transient rip behaviour in the Southern Hemisphere. Transient rips were identified from a high camera located approximately 100 m above mean sea level at Narrowneck, Gold Coast, Australia. Transient rip occurrence, duration and flow behaviour were identified from the video and occurrence was correlated with environmental factors including beach state, wave, tide and wind characteristics. Transient rips were found to display a mushroom cloud rip head and a narrow trailing rip neck consistent with characteristics often displayed by topographically controlled rips. Transient rip events were characterised by short life-spans (30 – 236 s) and low temporal frequency, but high temporal variance, occurring for only 0.52% of the time in the video. Around 66% of transient rip events identified occurred when the beach was generally alongshore uniform in a shore-attached terrace state. Transient rip occurrence was also found to be significantly greater on the ebb tide as opposed to the flood tide and when wave breaking was absent on the outer bar. There was a lack of a clear correlation between averaged wave and wind conditions and transient rip formation. Current and future study is focussing on the effects of wave groupiness and sea state on transient rip occurrence, spacing, duration and intensity.
Assessment in Vitro of Antibacterial Activity of Manipulated Product, on Solution Form, Obtained from Dry Extract of Leaves of Psidium guajava L.

The Psidium guajava L. specie is a perennial shrub, belonging to the Myrtaceae family and it is popularly known as guava, its leaves are used in therapy for treating various diseases. The study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity in vitro of manipulated product obtained from dried extract of the leaves of P. guajava L. front standard bacteria ATCC and clinical isolates. The tests were conducted on bacterial samples: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27883), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella spp, Acinetobacter baumannii, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus mutans. Among the tests can be mentioned phytochemical of the ethanol extract (EE), microbiological control and physical-chemical analysis of the product and microbiological tests such as agar diffusion method (wells), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), an evaluation test of hemolytic capacity of the solution and in vitro assay cytotoxic activity were performed, . The best result of the product in the agar diffusion method was front Staphylococcus epidermidis, while the lower MIC and MBC were front Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). The product showed no hemolytic activity and no cytotoxic activity at the tested concentrations. According to the test results, it is believed on the possibility of the production of a pharmaceutical formulation derived from the dry extract of Psidium guajava, since it showed great antibacterial activity.
Physically-based model of heat and water transfer in frozen soil and its parameterization by basic soil data

A physically-based model of the hydrothermal regime of frozen soil has been developed. This model describes the process of coupled heat and moisture transfer through homogeneous, unsaturated frozen soil and accounts for the influence of phase changes on water flow. The process is formulated as one-dimensional partial differential equations, which are solved by an implicit, finite difference scheme. The model parameters are formulated through the water retention, hydraulic conductivity and freezing point depression curve of frozen soil, which, in turn, have been determined using the basic soil characteristics available from soil surveys. The model has been tested on the basis of both laboratory and field measurements. The results obtained have demonstrated an ability of the model to predict, without intensive calibration procedure, snowmelt runoff losses for infiltration.
Firm heterogeneity and development: A meta-analysis of FDI productivity spillovers

We analyse the rich literature on FDI spillovers analysing econometric studies published over 1983–2010 and dealing with national studies in 30 developing countries and emerging markets. We find that these studies ignore two sources of heterogeneity: exports and – especially – R&D. Our meta-analysis corrects for differences in research design (including regional effects, sample size and level of aggregation). We observe positive and significant effects for heterogeneity in terms of labour quality, size and export. This robustness contrasts with contradictory findings for foreign ownership where 63% of the coefficients are insignificant or negative.
A Numerical Modeling Study for Determining the Optimal Depth of Grout Curtain in Foundation and Abutments of Karun 4 Dam

Some experimental relations have been developed for determining the grout curtain depth, but these relations cannot be applied to any dam with any geological condition. Therefore, the effect of the grout curtain depth on seepage through foundation and abutments of each dam should be studied separately. To examine this parameter in Karun 4 dam, the numerical modeling method was applied using FLAC in a 2-dimensional modeling process. Permeability coefficient is an important parameter in numerical modeling. In this research, the experimental relationships for Lugeon values and permeability coefficient were used to determine the required permeability. A transverse section was used to model each of the abutments and the foundation of Karun 4 dam. The grout curtain was designed as a wall with a very low permeability at different depths. After modeling the grout curtain with various lengths, the curtain depth was determined based on seepage level, curtain flow efficiency, drilling-injection costs, and value of seepage water. The grout curtain depths were calculated to be 70, 184, and 104 at the foundation, left abutment, and right abutment, respectively. Also analysis of the pore water pressure and flow lines shows when the curtain is sewed to the Pabdeh Formation, we have the high efficiency in the grout curtain.
3rd generation rim drive heliostat with monolithic sandwich panel

The improvements of the mechanical structure of the current rim drive heliostat generation with chain drive system and monolithic sandwich structure is described. The improvements of the mechanical structure result in increased torsional stiffness of the pylon, reduced manufacturing effort, increased life time of the chain gears, and better access to the drives. Dynamic wind loads were determined by loading a transient finite element model with pressure distribution time series gained by wind tunnel tests. Due to the rims, the heliostat shows significantly better dynamic behavior than conventional heliostats without rims.The improvements of the mechanical structure of the current rim drive heliostat generation with chain drive system and monolithic sandwich structure is described. The improvements of the mechanical structure result in increased torsional stiffness of the pylon, reduced manufacturing effort, increased life time of the chain gears, and better access to the drives. Dynamic wind loads were determined by loading a transient finite element model with pressure distribution time series gained by wind tunnel tests. Due to the rims, the heliostat shows significantly better dynamic behavior than conventional heliostats without rims.
Fungi regulate the response of the N2O production process to warming and grazing in a Tibetan grassland

Abstract. Lack of understanding of the effects of warming and winter grazing on soil fungal contribution to the nitrous oxide (N2O) production process has limited our ability to predict N2O fluxes under changes in climate and land use management, because soil fungi play an important role in driving terrestrial N cycling. A controlled warming and winter grazing experiment that included control (C), winter grazing (G), warming (W) and warming with winter grazing (WG) was conducted to investigate the effects of warming and winter grazing on soil N2O production potential in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results showed that soil bacteria and fungi contributed 46 ± 2 % and 54 ± 2 % to nitrification, and 37 ± 3 % and 63 ± 3 % to denitrification in the control treatment, respectively. We conclude that soil fungi could be the main source of N2O production potential for the Tibetan alpine grasslands. In our results, neither warming nor winter grazing affected the activity of enzymes responsible for overall nitrification and denitrification. However, warming significantly increased the enzyme activity of bacterial nitrification and potential of N2O production from denitrification to 53 ± 2 % and 55 ± 3 %, respectively, but decreased them to 47 ± 2 % and 45 ± 3 %, respectively. Winter grazing had no such effects. Warming and winter grazing may not affect the soil N2O production potential, but climate warming can alter biotic pathways responsible for N2O production process. These findings confirm the importance of soil fungi in the soil N2O production process and how they respond to environmental and land use changes in alpine meadow ecosystems. Therefore, our results provide some new insights into ecological controls on the N2O production process and contribute to the development of an ecosystem nitrogen cycle model.
A Suspended Stripline Frequency Tripler Using a Left-Handed Nonlinear Transmission Line

A suspended stripline frequency tripler using a left-handed nonlinear transmission line (LH NLTL) is presented. The proposed tripler using the LH NLTL is composed of a series of varactor diodes, shunt inductances, and a high-pass filter implemented with suspended stripline (SSL). An ultrawideband microstrip-to-suspended stripline transition is also utilized. The fabricated LH NLTL provides the minimum insertion loss of 1.7 dB and the maximum insertion loss of 4.7 dB for a wide frequency band from 2.6 to 18 GHz. As a tripler, the measured minimum third harmonic conversion loss is 15.3 dB at an input frequency of 2.4 GHz and typically 17 dB from 2 to 3.1 GHz.
Client-side Modelica powered by Python or JavaScript

Modelica is primarily supported by simulation environments for the treatment of equation based models and model libraries. As of today Modelica is rarely used for the exchange of engineering data, visualization or interactive computing, even though the Modelica language offers a lot of interesting features for such applications. This paper investigates the potential of lightweight Modelica tools that run directly in scripting or web clients. Two Modelica parsers have been implemented in the popular client-side languages Python and JavaScript. The Modelica parser in Python is extended with a backend translating algorithmic Modelica definitions to Python. This gives access to existing Python packages from scripted Modelica. It also enables the interactive debugging of algorithmic Modelica code. The Modelica parser in JavaScript offers a generic backend interface. The paper demonstrates two applications. First a simple analysis tool for Modelica packages running from the command line is demonstrated. The true potential of JavaScript is the embedding of engineering data as Modelica code with HTML5 documents and their processing on the client side, e.g. in Web browsers. The paper shows a Modelica text editor and parameter GUI generator running in a web browser.
Identification of Learning Barriers Affecting English Reading Comprehension Instruction, as Perceived by ESL Undergraduates in Thailand

Facility in English language reading comprehension is essential for learners of English as a second language, since English is the international language of written (as well as spoken) communication for business, science and technology. In Thailand, as acknowledged in the literature, learners of English as a second language often experience considerable difficulties with reading. There are many reasons for this, but, given the importance of reading to the development of language proficiency, it is of great importance to identify ways in which student learning can be enhanced. This paper reports on a project that sought to obtain specific information from Thai undergraduate students about their experiences when undertaking formal reading classes in a higher education institution. The study was part of a larger project to identify ways in which student learning could be enhanced. It involved the application of focus group techniques to elicit information about students‘ experience of the reading classroom in Thailand. The findings indicated that while students appeared to be motivated to develop their English language reading comprehension, they experienced barriers to learning which included an educational approach which did not foster independence and autonomy; materials that were not always engaging; and a classroom environment which was not optimally conducive to learning.
Sexual Size Dimorphism in Swine Denies Rensch’s Rule

Sexual dimorphism, defined as a phenotypic difference between males and females of a species, is a common phenomenon in animals. Rensch’s rule describes the pattern of sexual size dimorphism, claiming that larger species generally exhibit higher male to female body size ratios. Offering domesticated animals excellent opportunities for testing predictions of functional explanations of Rensch’s theory, we have tested in this paper whether the morphological size of domestic pig breeds follows this rule. We analysed the literature data on adult body size (live weight and withers height) of males and females in 130 contemporary domestic swine breeds and 4 wild Sus species. The analysis confirmed that the pattern of sexual size dimorphism in domestic swine does not conform to Rensch’s rule. It is proposed that this is due to the fact that males and females have been subjected not solely to a sexual selection regimen, but also to environmental factors, interspecific competition with other domestic species, an increase of intersexual food competition, poor feeding resources, and reproductive functional constraints. Considering all of the breeds studied, it is also likely that different counteracting selective pressures exist worldwide.
Activity of phytate dephosphorylation in cereals, legumes and oilseeds determined by colourimetric and isotachophoretic method *

Activity of phytate dephosphorylation was determined in 26 samples of cereals, legumes, oilseeds and complete diets for poultry using the colourimetric and isotachophoretic method. The former method was based on the colour formed upon the reaction of molybdate with phosphate released from phytate. The latter method was based on measurement of decrease of phytate concentration in the reaction mixture. Rye had by far the highest phytate dephosphorylation activity, followed by wheat and wheat-containing diets. However, for most of the other samples, this activity was low. Phytate dephosphorylation activity as measured by capillary isotachophoresis was numerically lower than activity measured using the molybdate method; however, activities assayed by both methods correlated with statistical significance (r=0.86; P<0.001). The isotachophoretic method may be suitable for phytate dephosphorylation activity assay in feeds with a high content of inorganic phosphate and in samples of digesta and faeces.