Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Die belangrikheid van die verskillende dimensies van verpakking vir generasie X en Y : 'n toepassing in die kosmetiese bedryf

SCHOLTZ, U.H. , M.COMM. (BUSINESS MANAGEMENT), UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOCH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PACKAGING FOR GENERATION X AND Y: AN APPLICATION IN THE COSMETIC INDUSTRY STUDY LEADER: DR. R. DU PREEZ The usage of product packaging and generation specific marketing in order to influence and persuade consumers to buy specific products are being used more often resulting packaging in being more consumer-orientated and playing an increasingly important role in enterprises' marketing communication strategies than before. In this study the dimensions of packaging are identified and the importance that the various dimensions of cosmetic packaging hold for Generation X and Yare investigated. Form, colour, graphics, brand name, words, material and size have been identified as dimensions of packaging. The Engel-Blackwell-Miniard Model for Decision-making Behaviour and the Generation Model were used as theoretical starting points for a discussion about packaging and the characteristics of Generation X and Y consumers. For the purposes of this explorative study, information has been gathered by use of a mall intercept survey. Trained fieldworkers questioned approximately five hundred respondents. The statistical processing of the data included frequency-analyses, cross tabulation as well as significance statistics. It was found that Generation X and Y consumers see the packaging, with all its different dimensions, as a single entity and that the importance of the graphic, material, brand name (as indication of quality and price), size and word dimensions of packaging are reasonably similar for men and women. Men and women, however, attach different perceptions concerning colour/s, form and brand names. There also exist statistically significant differences between the different genders, concerning the usage of most of the range of cosmetic products. Women make up the majority of IV Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
How high throughput technology can facilitate better hydrocarbon processing

High throughput experimentation (HTE) is not as well known in hydrocarbon refining as it should be. A highly developed and very versatile tool, it uses automation and robotic systems to carry out hundreds of experiments under laboratory and pilot plant conditions at the same time. Thus it greatly speeds up identification of better materials and conditions for processes involving hydrocarbons, promising enhanced performance and greater profitability. This article outlines the technology and how it can be used. Then, through four process examples in the field of heterogeneous catalysts, it shows how HTE in experienced hands can be applied to improve processes and catalysts or to find better ones.
Investigation and Assessment of Colored Concrete Pavement

The incorporation of full-depth colored concrete into street and roadway projects has been rapidly increasing in Minnesota. Some of these projects have exhibited significant early distresses, particularly near contraction joints. The first objective of this project was to identify any materials, design, or construction methods unique to colored concrete that may contribute to the early deterioration observed in colored concrete pavements, sidewalks and medians in Minnesota. The second objective included developing recommendations for improved specifications for materials, mix designs, and construction practices for colored concrete in cold climates. Finally, recommendations were made for suitable repair and rehabilitation techniques or alternative construction systems that might provide more durable, longer-lasting colored concrete features in Minnesota. Many projects exhibited panel cracking, either a result of possible thermal expansion restraint or potentially some expansive materials related issues. A number of the projects demonstrated significant joint distress. Smooth surface textures were also reported for many colored concrete crosswalks and sidewalks. Based on this investigation, it was determined that typical placement and finishing practices during construction were not a principal cause for the observed deterioration. Recommendations included producing mixes with a lower water-to-cementitious ratio (≤0.43), and increasing consolidation of the mix during placement. Designers were instructed to consider the differences in thermal expansion rates of various colored concretes placed side by side. The report concludes with discussions on suitable repair options, as well as alternative streetscaping techniques.
Bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients with ocular infections at the University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A 10-years retrospective study

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to identify potential bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients who visited eye clinic of Gondar university hospital. Results: From year of January 2009 to January 2019 a total of 319 eye discharge specimens were submitted for microbiological analysis, of which 133(41.7%) were culture positive. A total of 42(31.6%) Gram negatives and 91(68.4%) Gram-positive bacteria were isolated. Among isolated Gram-negative bacterial species, Klebsiella spp was the most predominant, 42.9% followed by E. coli 26.2%. Among isolated Gram-positive pathogenic bacterial species, S. aureus was the most prevalent, 59.5% followed by S. pyogenes , 8% and S. pneumoniae , 5.5%. Most of the bacterial isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole, 81.6%, amoxicillin, 78.7%, tetracycline,76.2%, and ampicillin 75.9%. About 47.4 % of bacterial isolates showed multi drug resistance to three or more classes of antimicrobials. Antimicrobials like: ampicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin exhibited year to year increment of resistance (p<0.0001).
Rapid and Sensitive Point of Care Detection of MRSA Genomic DNA by Nanoelectrokinetic Sensors

Biosensors have shown great potential in realizing rapid, low cost, and portable on-site detection for diseases. This work reports the development of a new bioelectronic sensor called AC electrokinetics-based capacitive (ABC) biosensor, for the detection of genomic DNA (gDNA) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The ABC sensor is based on interdigitated microelectrodes biofunctionalized with oligonucleotide probes. It uses a special AC signal for direct capacitive monitoring of topological change on nanostructured sensor surface, which simultaneously induces dielectrophoretic enrichment of target gDNAs. As a result, rapid and specific detection of gDNA/probe hybridization can be realized with high sensitivity. It requires no signal amplification such as labeling, hybridization chain reaction, or nucleic acid sequence-based amplification. This method involves only simple sample preparation. After optimization of nanostructured sensor surface and signal processing, the ABC sensor demonstrated fast turnaround of results (~10 s detection), excellent sensitivity (a detection limit of 4.7 DNA copies/µL MRSA gDNA), and high specificity, suitable for point of care diagnosis. As a bioelectronic sensor, the developed ABC sensors can be easily adapted for detections of other infectious agents.
Sensitivity Analysis of Load Frequency Control Problem considering impact of Wind Penetration using improved Harris Hawks Optimizer

This paper suggest a new technique known as Harris’s Hawk Optimizer which is used to solve multi objective constraints. This optimizer is predicated on gray wolf multi objective optimisation approach and intended by symbiotic trapping behavior of Harris’s Hawk. These hawks are called as wolf bundle of azure. Here in this paper the sensitivity analysis to judge robustness with Harris hawk optimization technique for load frequency control is effectually and consistently presented. The result indicates unimodel and multimodel for various benchmarking functions examining sensitivity analysis and the valve point loading effect. The concluding results gained using improved HHO are compared with other algorithms and found to be encouraging.
Deep Learning zur Schätzung absorbierter Strahlungsdosis für die nuklearmedizinische Diagnostik

Im vergangenen Jahrzehnt gab es große Fortschritte im maschinellen Lernen. Diese Beiträge haben auch andere Wissenschaften und die Industrie in hohem Maß beeinflusst, sodass oft interdisziplinäre Gruppen an Verfahren der künstlichen Intelligenz geforscht haben. Diese Verfahren werden zur Klassifikation, Mustererkennung oder Annäherung von Funktionen verwendet. Letzteres ist besonders in der nuklearmedizinischen Diagnostik für die Dosimetrie von Interesse. Krebspatienten sind durch die Therapie mit Radiopharmaka einer großen Strahlenbelastung ausgesetzt. Umso bedeutsamer sind Verfahren zur genauen Berechnung der Dosis. Doch gängige Verfahren benötigen lange Berechnungszeiten zur Simulation der durch das injizierte Isotop deponierten Energie. In der nachfolgenden Arbeit wird ein neues Verfahren vorgestellt, welches mit Hilfe von Bildgebungen eine möglichst präzise Näherung für die absorbierte Strahlungs- dosis im Körper schätzt. Für diesen Zweck kommen Bildgebungen aus dem CT und PET oder SPECT zum Einsatz. Aus der CT-Bildgebung wird die Massendichte für das Gewebe des Patienten gewonnen.
REPEATED-LOAD INDIRECT TENSILE FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS OF ASPHALT MIXTURES

The determination of the fatigue characteristics of pavement materials is necessary for the design and evaluation of highway and airport pavements. This paper summarizes the findings of a study in which the controlled-stress, repeated-load indirect tensile test was used to investigate the fatigue characteristics of asphalt mixtures. The logarithmic relationships between fatigue life and both applied stress and initial mixture strain were evaluated and found to be linear. In addition, linear relationships were found between n sub 1 and the logarithm of K sub 1 for the strain-fatigue life relationships and between n sub 2 and the logarithm of K sub 2 for the stress-fatigue life relationships. The effects on fatigue life produced by load, asphalt content, aggregate type, and testing temperature are discussed. Fatigue life could not be estimated from only applied stress or stress difference; however, equations relating life to both the initial mixture strain and the stress-strength ratio were developed. From this study it was concluded that the repeated-load indirect tensile test is suitable for evaluating the fatigue characteristics of asphalt mixtures.
Towards a swarm robotic approach for cooperative object recognition

Social insects have inspired the behaviours of swarm robotic systems for the last 20 years. Interactions of the simple individuals in these swarms form solutions to relatively complex problems. A novel swarm robotic method is investigated for future robotic cooperative object recognition tasks. Previous multi-agent systems involve cameras and image analyses to identify objects. They cooperate only to improve their hypotheses of the shape's identity. The system proposed uses agents whose interactions with each other around the physical boundaries of the object's shape allow the distinguishing features found. The agents are a physical embodiment of the vision system, making them suitable for environments where it would not be possible to use a camera. A Simplified Hexagonal Model was developed to simulate and examine the strategies. The hexagonal cells of which can be empty, contain an agent (hBot) or part of an object shape. Initially the hBots are required to identify the valid object shapes from a set of two types of known shapes. To do this the hBots change state when in contact with an object and when touching other hBots of the same state level, where some states are only achieved when neighbouring certain object shapes. The agents are oblivious, anonymous and homogeneous. They also do not know their position or orientation and cannot distinguish between object shapes alone due to their limited sensor range. Further work increased the number of object shapes to provide a range of scenarios.
Construction de l'environnement dynamique autour d'un véhicule automobile dans un milieu autoroutier pour le projet CASSICE.

In this paper, we present an algorithm for dynamic environment mapping around the experimental vehicle STRADA. It is based on two methods quantifying inaccuracy and uncertainty on data (here, the presence and position of a vehicle) : Kalman filtering for estimation and prediction and belief theory for object matching and tracking. We are able to estimate inaccuracy and uncertainty of data at each stage of processing. This is very important for the future integration in assistance driving system.
Practices of the Random Variable Proposed in the Chilean Mathematics Curriculum of Secondary Education

Working with statistical data from real contexts has become fundamental in school-level statistics, because it enables the development of statistical reasoning. In this regard, the notion of the random variable is fundamental to statistical data analysis. Thus, the aim of this research was to characterise the meanings of the concept of the random variable that are promoted in the Chilean mathematics curriculum for secondary education. To achieve this, we examined the representativeness of the meanings of the random variable intended by the curriculum in relation to the meanings of reference for this concept, using theoretical and methodological notions from the onto-semiotic approach. The findings show that the meanings of reference were not fully represented in the textbooks and the national curriculum, and that the most promoted meaning was that of the random variable as a variable of interest. Regarding the types of representation, it was observed that the graphical and tabular representations were neglected. Lastly, it was noticed that definitions of the concept of variable, its classifications, and differences were omitted almost entirely from the textbooks.
SIM Forensics: Extraction and Preparation of Digital Evidence using Sim Xtractor

In each and every mobile phone the SIM card plays a major role in communicating the information. In a crime if a mobile phone is been taken as the evidence, the first and the foremost thing is to investigate the SIM card. Though the evolution of smart phone is very rapid without the SIM card the smart phone is uncertain in communication. The SIM card stores some valuable information like call logs, messages, contacts etc…. For extracting those information we need a tool. In this experiment we are using a tool known as SIMXtractor from CDAC. It is not a open source tool. By using this tool we are able extract those information from the SIM card.
Urban Micro-Consolidation and Last Mile Goods Delivery by Freight-Tricycle in Manhattan: Opportunities and Challenges

New York City (NYC) must identify new strategies to address severe urban delivery challenges resulting from congested roads and inadequate loading space. One solution with the potential to achieve benefits for the city, for carriers, and for shippers while making use of the city's rapidly growing bicycle infrastructure is freight distribution from an urban micro-consolidation center (UMC) via human-powered or electrically-aided freight-tricycle. UMCs have been successfully implemented in Paris and London; this study details the results of a comparative analysis evaluating economic, infrastructure, and regulatory conditions in the three cities for the purpose of identifying opportunities and challenges for future implementation in Manhattan.
Environmental Policy and Industrial Innovation: Strategies in Europe, the USA and Japan

Industrial innovation plays a critical role in achieving governments's environmental objectives. Through studies of the relationships between industry and regulators in the USA, Japan, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and France, key examples of success and failure in harnessing innovation are identified. Case studies of acid rain controls on power stations and of automobile emission controls shed further light on critical processes on consultation during policy formulation, standard-setting and enforcement, and illustrate failures of attempts to link environmental objectives to industrial competitiveness. A strategic model of industry-regulator relationships, presented in the final chapters, is designed to assist senior industrialists and policy-makers in predicting how industry is likely to respond to national, international and environmental policy initiatives.
ELECTROMAGNETIC MODELING OF HIGH-SPEED INTERCONNECTS WITH FREQUENCY DEPENDENT CONDUCTOR LOSSES, COMPATIBLE WITH PASSIVE MODEL ORDER REDUCTION TECHNIQUES

A computationally efficient, discrete model is presented for transmission line analysis and passive model order reduction of high-speed interconnect systems. The development of this model was motivated by the on-going efforts in chip/package codesign to route a major portion of the on-chip clock and high-speed data buses through the package in order to overcome the bandwidth reduction and delay caused by the high ohmic loss of on-chip wiring. The geometric complexity of the resulting interconnections is such that model order reduction is essential for rapid and accurate signal integrity assessment to support pre-layout design iteration and optimization. The modal network theory of the skin effect in conjunction with the theory of compact differences is used for the development of discrete models for dispersive, multi-conductor interconnects compatible with passive model order reduction algorithms. The passive reduced-order interconnect modeling algorithm, PRIMA, is then used on the resulting discrete model to generate a low-order, multi-port macromodel for interconnect networks. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the proposed model.
Arizona's Multi-agency Resistance Management Program for Bt Cotton: Sustaining the Susceptibility of Pink Bollworm

Bt cotton has been used in Arizona since 1996 with exceptionally positive results in terms of economic returns to growers and reductions in insecticide use in cotton. Yet, the isolation of pink bollworm highly resistant to Bt cotton from collections made in Arizona in 1997 demonstrated the seriousness of the threat that resistance poses to transgenic Bt technology. For this reason unparalleled measures have been taken to detect and manage resistance of pink bollworm to Bt cotton in Arizona. This paper presents results of statewide monitoring of pink bollworm susceptibility to the Bt toxin, Cry1Ac, conducted from 1997 to 1999. Mean susceptibility of Arizona pink bollworm to Cry1Ac increased from 1997 to 1999. Mean corrected mortality in 1μg/ml Cry1Ac assays was 52.3% in 1997, 90.6% in 1998, and 97.9% in 1999. Mean corrected mortality in bioassays of 10 μg/ml was 94.5% in 1997, 99.8% in 1998, and 100% in 1999. Selection with Cry1Ac in the laboratory has produced from 1997 field collections a strain possessing 200 to 900-fold resistance to Cry1Ac. This resistant strain is capable of surviving on Bt cotton. We provide an overview of other components of the multi-agency collaboration to sustain efficacy of Bt cotton in Arizona. These include: 1) evaluation of the field performance of Bt cotton; 2) mapping and analysis of use of Bt and non-Bt cotton and compliance with refuge requirements; 3) effectiveness of internal versus external refuges and movement of pink bollworm moths from refuges; and 4) activities of the Arizona Bt Cotton Working Group to formulate and implement effective resistance management strategies.
Stochastic Modeling and Analysis of Public Electric Vehicle Fleet Charging Station Operations

The electric vehicle (EV) fleet is gradually growing into a major part of public transportation. Proper planning and operation of EV supply equipment (EVSE) is essential to ensure the efficient and economic operations of the EV fleets. Charging stations (CS) have gained market attention due to their lower cost and versatility. Battery swapping stations (BSS) have also received considerable attention because of their promise to provide fast and sustainable battery replacements. However, their commercial viability is unclear due to their requirement for large capital and infrastructure deployment. In this paper, we develop a stochastic model for interactions between CS/BSS and taxi/bus fleets. The model is based on a realistic abstraction of users’ behavior defined by various stochastic processes. It also considers the dynamic impacts of the road congestion. Analytical revenue boundaries are derived and verified by simulations. These simulation results may prove valuable for future studies of public transit.
Towards bio-inspired photonic vapour sensors

Many highly-evolved bio-photonic structures, which tailor the propagation of light by coherent optical scattering, have been investigated. These natural designs, which have many diverse ecological functions, are becoming increasingly studied as sources of innovation and inspiration for a range of scientific, technological, and commercial applications. The brilliant blue colour reflected from the scales of the Morpho butterfly is just one example of nature’s ability to manipulate light and colour strongly. In this thesis, the photonic structure present in the scales of the Morpho butterfly is investigated as a source of bio-inspiration in the pursuit of highperformance photonic vapour sensors. The intention of this is to outperform classical sensor approaches which traditionally suffer from poor selectivity between chemical species. By measuring the change in reflectance from the iridescent scales of the Morpho butterfly, both a sensitive and, critically, a selective response to chemical vapours can be obtained. Here, the origin of this unique multivariable vapour-induced optical response is investigated, and this biological template is further explored as a source of innovation for the mature field of chemical sensing. By using synergy between experimental and theoretical techniques, a mechanism for the sensitive and selective response of the Morpho butterfly’s scales to different chemical vapour environments is elucidated. This mechanism arises from combined chemical and physical effects within the photonic nanostructure. Following this, demonstrations of this biological template’s vapour response attributes, which have large and desirable diversity in the optical responses, are made. These response attributes are visualised in the spectral changes associated with optical excitation conditions, such as from different angles and polarisation states, and also in the temporal response profiles. Finally, theoretical sensor designs that outperform the Morpho scales are described. Simple principles that might improve the currently unacceptable levels of selectivity in contemporary sensor implementations are outlined and the vapour response of a Morpho-inspired photonic structure is presented.