Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Étude théorique et expérimentale de la lubrification entre surfaces texturées. Application aux garnitures mécaniques

L'objectif principal de cette these est de conduire, a travers une etude theorique et experimentale, vers une meilleure comprehension des differents effets induits par la texturation de surface dans un contact lubrifie. Le but ultime est de proposer un motif de texture qui permette de reduire le frottement et le niveau de fuite d'une garniture mecanique. L'etude bibliographique a permis d'identifier les differents travaux theoriques et experimentaux realises sur la lubrification en presence de textures, les phenomenes physiques interagissant avec les textures et les differentes methodes utilisees pour leur mise en forme. Une etude theorique utilisant un modele conservatif base sur l'equation de Reynolds est ensuite presentee. Dans la premiere partie de cette etude, les faces de frottement sont supposees parfaitement paralleles et les effets thermoelastiques sont negliges. Dans la seconde partie, les echanges de chaleur avec les anneaux et les deformations thermoelastiques sont pris en compte. Une etude parametrique a permis de mieux comprendre l'influence des parametres geometriques des textures, des defauts de formes et des deformations thermoelastiques des faces sur le fonctionnement de la garniture. En outre, cette etude a permis de definir une texture capable d'ameliorer significativement les performances d'une garniture mecanique. Des essais experimentaux ont ensuite ete realises avec une garniture mecanique texturee et une garniture mecanique non texturee. Des mesures de couple de frottement et des releves de temperature effectues par thermographie infrarouge ont montre que l'utilisation des textures permet de reduire de maniere significative la temperature et le couple de frottement par rapport a une garniture a surfaces lisses. Enfin, une comparaison theorie/experimentation a permis de valider le modele developpe qui predit de facon correcte le comportement de la garniture texturee.
EDUCATING ON CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND DIY MATERIALS: HOW TO INTRODUCE THESE CONCEPTS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS?

This article presents an educational experience in primary school students in Chile to create awareness of Circular Economy importance and the use of resources present in the immediate environment. The Circular Economy concept of the product is aimed at reducing 100% of waste. Therefore, it must be focused on keeping products and materials in the economic system as long as possible, then it emphasizes on extending the useful life of products. On the other hand, Do It Yourself (DIY) materials generate new experience, promoting sustainability and self-production, motivating the development of knowledge through the action. They represent local identity and advantages involve basic techniques of manufacture. Resources are available in production territory, reducing collection and waste transport costs, encouraging recycling and relationship with the community of origin. At the same time, it encourages curiosity, engagement, creativity and innovative thinking. The methodology is composed of seven phases 1. Designers collect information about existing waste in the immediate environment; 2. Design and manufacture DIY materials in the laboratory; 3. Presentation of materials designed for students; 4. Development of data collection instrument through semantic differential tables, based on Kansei methodology; 5. Data collection of tactile experience with materials. 6. Data tabulation. 7. Elaboration of conclusions. Results indicate a high emotional assessment of students towards innovative materials possible to manufacture with waste generated in their community. Visual and tactile evaluations are also perceived by students, highlighting positive aspects especially for translucent and flexible materials, as well as morbid and huggable. Students show a 100% interest in manufacturing materials and products applying the concepts presented. Educational results are positive because they integrate perspective addressed at the environmental dimension and social benefit for immediate context. In conclusion, it is important to implement practical experiences, so primary education students carry out a complete cycle of waste collection and material manufacturing, besides of looking for favorable applications to the development of their environment. Integrating this systemic view of the process could increase motivation towards the implementation of waste collection and use systems generated in their community. Encouraging the participation of other actors to build experiences of wider educational and practical benefit is part of this experience project.
Understanding e-WOM Evolution in Social Media With Network Analysis

Today's consumer is in constant interaction with the environment thanks to social media and technology. Consumers who communicate more with each other have pushed businesses to take action on this issue. In this study, network analysis will be processed by marketing approach. Previous studies focus on different aspects of network analysis while examining methodological details. There are a few integrated studies regarding to network analysis from marketing perspective. This study aims to fill this research gap with integrated approach combining marketing scenarios with network analysis methods and social media data. Study consists of two main parts: theoretical background and methodology sections. Theoretical background includes electronic word of mouth, social media and customer networks, network analysis parts. Methodology section includes four different cases regarding to network analysis, social media, and web. Businesses corporating network analysis to their marketing decision-making process can improve their marketing knowledge regarding to changing marketing environment.
Nearshore morphology and lithology: Links to framework geology and shoreline change

48 Introduction . 49 Nearshore Morphology and Shoreline Behavior. 50 Study Area . 53 Geology and Morphology . 53 Physical Characteristics and Meteorological Observations . 54 Methods . 56 Geophysical Observations . 56 Beach Topography Mapping . 56 Short-tenn Shoreline Change Data . 57 Data Processing . 58 Mapping Error Mitigation and Analysis . 58 Statistical Analysis of Bathymetric Change . 60 Results . 61 General Observations . 61 Nearshore Morphology and Lithology . 61 Nearshore Sediment Volume and Connections to Shoreline Change . 62 Event-specific Observations . 63 Nearshore Morphology and Lithology . 64 Nearshore Sediment Volume and Connections to Shoreline Change . 66 Discussion . 67 Event-related changes . 67 Short-term Changes: Morphologic control on shoreline variability . 69 Implications for the concept of uniform alongshore transport . 71 Conclusions . 72
The Feeling Economy: Managing in the Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The capability of AI is currently expanding beyond mechanical and repetitive to analytical and thinking. A “Feeling Economy” is emerging, in which AI performs many of the analytical and thinking tasks, and human workers gravitate more toward interpersonal and empathetic tasks. Although these people-focused tasks have always been important to jobs, they are now becoming more important to an unprecedented degree. To manage more effectively in the Feeling Economy, managers must adapt the nature of jobs to compensate for the fact that many of the analytical and thinking tasks are increasingly being performed by AI, and, thus, human workers must place increased emphasis on the empathetic and emotional dimensions of their work.
Evaluation of hedging strategies effectiveness for coffee price risk in Brazil with the use of BM&FBOVESPA contracts

Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter. However the new prices and volatility scenario since the 2008 crisis and the increasing competition of new players entry have expressed the need for use of market mechanisms for managing price risk. Among the alternatives illustrated are the futures markets, in particular the coffee futures contracts at BM&FBOVESPA, Brazil. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of no hedge, simple (naive) hedge, static and dynamic hedge calculated by GARCH-BEKK strategies in managing price risk in the leading Brazilian coffee producing regions. The efficiencies of static and dynamic hedging strategies were superior to the other, although the latter allows the calibration of intertemporal hedging rates, reducing operational costs. Also, the use of BM&FBOVESPA coffee futures contracts for hedging might increase market liquidity, enabling various operational alternatives design.
Optimal ordering policy under two stage trade credits financing for deteriorating items using discounted cash flow approach

This paper develops an inventory model under two levels of trade credit policy by assuming the demand is a function of credit period offered by the retailer to the customers for deteriorating items using discounted cash flow (DCF) approach. Mathematical model is then developed to determine the optimal replenishment policy for the retailer. Next, we show that the total annual cost per unit time is a convex function of cycle time. We then provide an algorithm to find the optimal solution. We use numerical example to illustrate the algorithm. Finally, sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution with respect to the parameters of the system and some managerial implications are provided.
ESSAYS ON URBAN ECONOMICS, SOCIAL NETWORKS AND INNOVATION

My dissertation comprises two papers on urban economics, social networks, and innovation. The main question that connects these two papers is what the trade-off between inventor teams and social networks in patent development is. Two papers provide empirical evidence and answer the question from different perspectives. Chapter 1 examines the joint effect of inventor social networks and team size on patent impact. Using data from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from 1975 to 2010, results confirm that the marginal effect of network size on patent impact decreases as team size expands, indicating that inventor networks and team size are substitutes. The substitution effect is stronger for teams and networks within a shared technology field. The marginal effect of inventor networks on the amount of knowledge and the speed with which new knowledge in a field is adopted also diminishes as team size increases. Chapter 2 identifies the causal effect of non-compete clause enforceability on patent inventor team size, external network size and accessibility using a quasi-natural experiment of the Michigan Antitrust Reform Act (MARA) in 1985. Compared with states with similar enforceability from 1980 to 1990, patents in Michigan are 4% less likely developed by single inventors and 1.3% more likely produced by large teams with at least four inventors. Old firms, especially those relying heavily on hiring inventors from other firms for patent development, experience a fast expansion in inventor team size in the short run. Meanwhile, patent development in Michigan is 2.6% less likely to access external knowledge and information through inventors recently hired from other firms within the same state. However, there is no clear relationship between MARA and the external network sizes. Most of these findings are in support of the results of Chapter 1. ESSAYS ON URBAN ECONOMICS, SOCIAL NETWORKS AND INNOVATION
Spatialized audio in a vision rehabilitation game for training orientation and mobility skills

Serious games can be used for training orientation and mobility skills of visually impaired children and youngsters. Here we present a serious game for training sound localization skills and concepts usually covered at orientation and mobility classes, such as front/back and left/right. In addition, the game helps the players to train simple body rotation mobility skills. The game was designed for touch screen mobile devices and has an audio virtual environment created with 3D spatialized audio obtained with head-related transfer functions. The results from a usability test with blind students show that the game can have a positive impact on the players’ skills, namely on their motor coordination and localization skills, as well as on their self-confidence.
A new method utilizing smart meter data for identifying the existence of air conditioning in residential homes

Climate change, urbanization, and economic growth are expected to drive increases in the installation of new air conditioners, as well as increases in utilization of existing air conditioning (AC) units, in the coming decades. This growth will provide challenges for a diversity of stakeholders, from grid operators charged with maintaining a reliable and cost-effective power system, to low-income communities that may struggle to afford increased electricity costs. Despite the importance of building a quantitative understanding of trends in existing and future AC usage, methods to estimate AC penetration with high spatial and temporal resolution are lacking. In this study we develop a new classification method to characterize AC penetration patterns with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution (i.e. at the census tract level), using the Greater Los Angeles Area as a case study. The method utilizes smart meter data records from 180 476 households over two years, along with local ambient temperature records. When spatially aggregated, the overall AC penetration rate of the Greater Los Angeles Area is 69%, which is similar to values reported by previous studies. We believe this method can be applied to other regions of the world where household smart meter data are available.
Flooding experience and assessment of climate change: implication of psychological distance, risk perception and place attachment / Experiencia de inundaciones y evaluación del cambio climático: implicaciones de la distancia psicológica, la percepción de riesgo y el apego al lugar

Abstract Human-induced climate change is associated with more and more frequent emergent risks and natural disasters. This research aims to study how individuals characterize climate change and flooding, by taking into account their experience of flooding (exposure and/or experience) and their place attachment. In order to do so, we consider the model of psychological distance and the risk perception. A questionnaire was submitted to 325 people. The results show that place attachment and psychological distances linked to climate change and flooding can explain the perception of flooding risk. The analyzes confirm that risk assessment is linked to the experience of flooding. Moreover, individuals without any flooding experience perceive climate change as being closer to them. These results are discussed in relation to the importance of taking context and experience into account when implementing field interventions.
What the World Needs Now: An Intervention for Promoting Prosocial Behavior

Abstract Prosocial behavior benefits individuals and society. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop a new, integrative intervention for fostering prosocial behavior. The intervention combines activities such as watching an elevating video, enacting prosocial behaviors, and reflecting on how those behaviors relate to one’s values. An experiment with 116 adolescents and young adults indicated that the intervention was efficacious in enhancing prosocial behavior and related constructs (e.g., empathy) and that these effects were maintained 1 month later. These results have important implications for understanding and promoting prosocial habits.
Emerging Issues in Environment and Sustainable Development: An Overview

Hicks (1946) defined income of an individual as the maximum value that a person can consume during a week and still expect to be as well off at the end of the week. Hicksian income refers to the ‘real’ income of an individual. Real income can be sustained over a period of time only if the value of capital assets owned by the individual is maintained on an intertemporal basis. At the macro level, the disposable income of a nation is its net domestic product (NDP), which is arrived at by deducting depreciation of human-made capital from gross domestic product (GDP). However, NDP does not constitute sustainable income because it still contains the value of depreciation of natural capital consisting of environmental resources such as water, forests, biodiversity and the atmosphere. This implies that at present, the disposable income of a nation is not sustainable and can be kept at a consistent level only if the natural capital stock of the nation is maintained at least at a constant level over a period (see Daly and Cobb 1989). Natural capital, however, is subject to severe depletion and degradation, posing a threat to sustainable development. This is due to various kinds of negative externalities caused by different types of development activities. The results of a few empirical studies that estimated environmental damage costs suggest that the current level of consumption of natural capital in India is significantly higher than the optimum level of consumption and in certain cases the current level of consumption has caused irreversible damage to natural capital (see Mani 2013). Various forms of negative externalities originating from development activities influence depletion and degradation of natural capital. Negative externalities are caused by institutional failure, which consists of market failure, policy or government failure and individual failure. Market prices of goods and services fail to
Mobile app communication aid for Cypriot deaf people

Purpose People with severe or profound hearing loss face daily communication problems mainly due to the language barrier between themselves and the hearing community. Their hearing deficiency, as well as their use of sign language, often makes it difficult for them to use and understand spoken language. Cyprus is amongst the top 5 European countries with a relatively high proportion of registered deaf people (0.12 per cent of the population: GUL, 2010). However, lack of technological and financial support to the Deaf Community of Cyprus leaves the Cypriot deaf people unsupported and marginalised. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This study implemented user-centred design methods to explore the communication needs and requirements of Cypriot deaf people and develop a functional prototype of a mobile app to help them to communicate more effectively with hearing people. A total of 76 deaf adults were involved in various stages of the research. This paper presents the participatory design activities (N=8) and results of usability testing (N=8). Findings The study found that users were completely satisfied with the mobile app and, in particular, they liked the use of Cypriot Sign Language (CSL) videos of a real person interpreting hearing people’s speech in real time and the custom onscreen keyboard to allow faster selection of text input. Originality/value Despite advances in communication aid technologies, there is currently no technology available that supports CSL or real-time speech to sign language conversion for the deaf people of Cyprus.
Aging and the changing urban environment: the relationship between older people and the living environment in post-reform Beijing, China

ABSTRACT The Chinese population is aging rapidly. In Beijing, older people’s immediate environments have seen great changes and are important for their everyday aging experiences. This study explains the changing relationships between older people and their living environments by conducting in-depth interviews with 47 older people living at home in Beijing. Results show that older people’s perceptions of their living environments can be categorized by their relocation experience, residential and neighborhood type. Growing housing inequality in post-reform urban China reflects how older people assess their built environments changes. Social relations have changed tremendously with the formation of new social and residential spaces in the city, especially for those who have relocated to different types of residences. Current urban spaces create a sense of insecurity for the older generation that is familiar with the previous Work-unit system.
Success versus Failure Prediction Model for Small Businesses in Ghana

ABSTRACT This study tests the validity of Lussier model in predicting success or failure of small businesses in Ghana, Africa. The study uses logistic regression to analyze 101 failed and 107 successful small businesses. The results of the study support the model validity in Ghana and three variables (capital, economic timing, and marketing skills) were significant in predicting small businesses success or failure. The model also predicted 86.5% of the businesses accurately with a high R-square value. This study is the first to test the Lussier model in Africa and reinforces the validity of the Lussier model as a global success or failure prediction model that contributes to theory and practice. Implications for future and current entrepreneurs; government agencies that train, advice and assist small business owners; public policy makers; educators; suppliers; lenders; and consultants are presented.
From Broca and Wernicke to the Neuromodulation Era: Insights of Brain Language Networks for Neurorehabilitation

Communication in humans activates almost every part of the brain. Of course, the use of language predominates, but other cognitive functions such as attention, memory, emotion, and executive processes are also involved. However, in order to explain how our brain “understands,” “speaks,” and “writes,” and in order to rehabilitate aphasic disorders, neuroscience has faced the challenge for years to reveal the responsible neural networks. Broca and Wernicke (and Lichtheim and many others), during the 19th century, when brain research was mainly observational and autopsy driven, offered fundamental knowledge about the brain and language, so the Wernicke-Geschwind model appeared and aphasiology during the 20th century was based on it. This model is still useful for a first approach into the classical categorization of aphasic syndromes, but it is outdated, because it does not adequately describe the neural networks relevant for language, and it offers a modular perspective, focusing mainly on cortical structures. During the last three decades, neuroscience conquered new imaging, recording, and manipulation techniques for brain research, and a new model of the functional neuroanatomy of language was developed, the dual stream model, consisting of two interacting networks (“streams”), one ventral, bilaterally organized, for language comprehension, and one dorsal, left hemisphere dominant, for production. This new model also has its limitations but helps us to understand, among others, why patients with different brain lesions can have similar language impairments. Furthermore, interesting aspects arise from studying language functions in aging brains (and also in young, developing brains) and in cognitively impaired patients and neuromodulation effects on reorganization of brain networks subserving language. In this selective review, we discuss methods for coupling new knowledge regarding the functional reorganization of the brain with sophisticated techniques capable of activating the available supportive networks in order to provide improved neurorehabilitation strategies for people suffering from neurogenic communication disorders.