Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self Efficacy and Quality of Life in Chronic Renal Failure Persons on Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is performed on patients with end-stage renal failure routinely every 2-3 times a week for the patient's survival. However, many physical, psychological, and socio-economic problems impact patients due to routine hemodialysis. It certainly has an impact on the patient's quality of life. Self-efficacy is believed to affect the patient's quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of self-efficacy with the quality of life of chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis. This research was conducted in the Hemodialysis Room at Raden Mattaher Hospital with a total sample of 62 people. The side technique uses consecutive sampling. The measuring instrument used is SEMCD-6 which assesses self-efficacy and WHOQoL-Bref to assess the patient's quality of life. Data analysis using Spearman correlation. The results of the univariate analysis showed the mean self-efficacy score was (42.47±5.11). The highest mean score was found in the environmental domain (63.77±10.85), and the lowest average was in the physical domain (51.98±7.71). The bivariate analysis found that there was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and quality of life in the four domains (physical, psychological, social relations, and environmental domains) with a p-value <0.05 (R = 0.366-0.631). It shows that the better the self-efficacy, the higher the patient's quality of life. It is hoped that nurses can provide motivation and health education to patients and families to increase patient self-efficacy so that the patient's quality of life increases.
Assessment of hotel marketing strategies and management regarding the post pandemic covid-19.Case study: the cities of Luxor and Aswan

Introduction : The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing tourism and hospitality firms to innovate and adapt to unprecedented changes of business environment. Successful service innovation is, of course, critical for hospitality and tourism businesses to maintain competitiveness during and after the pandemic. Literature Review: study the related to the impacts and recovery strategies that were implemented in previous crisis situations acting the hotel industry. In order to focus the study on region Luxor and Aswan chain-managed five-star hotels performance. The aim of the study is to assess hotel marketing strategies and management regarding the post pandemic covid-19. Methodology : Qualitative method was inducted Luxor and Aswan chain -managed five-star hotels by using interviews method In order to assess the impact of COVID-19 on marketing and management. Conclusion : Social media have considerably changed service industries, such as the hospitality hygiene and cleanliness are important to delve into guests‟ perceptions of the cleanliness of specific hotel surfaces. Furthermore, a more in-depth analysis is warranted about the evolving relationship between hotels and the healthcare sector.
Broadband circularly polarized tapered dipole antenna for GNSS applications

A broadband circularly polarized (CP) dipole antenna for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is proposed. The antenna consists of a compact feed structure and four dipoles rotating in sequence. The series‐fed power splitter network is adopted in the feed structure to achieve a 90° phase shift and four equal power outputs. Tapered dipoles are applied to the radiator to increase the impedance bandwidth, while blade‐shaped parasitic patches are added next to each dipole to increase the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. In order to increase the front‐to‐back ratio (FBR) of the antenna, a suitable circular hole is cut in the center of the reflector. Compared with the traditional reflector, the FBR is increased by about 5 dB on average in the whole band. The measurement results show that the impedance bandwidth with |S11| < −10 dB is about 51% (0.98–1.64 GHz), and the 3‐dB AR bandwidth is about 35% (1.16–1.65 GHz). Detailed simulation and experimental results of radiation characteristics are presented and discussed.
The impact of green supply chain management practices on firm’s competitive advantages

--- Green supply chain management (GSCM) practices are cross-organizational and closed-loop. They aim to reduce the ecological impact of the firm’s activity without sacrificing quality, cost, reliability, performance, or energy utilisation efficiency. This study presents empirical evidence to encourage firms to implement GSCM practices, which may enhance their competitive advantages. This study attempts to contribute to the growing research on GSCM practices — namely internal environmental management, green purchasing, eco-design and packaging, investment recovery, and cooperation with customers — and their effects on competitive advantages using a sample of 258 ISO 14001-certified manufacturing firms in Malaysia. A partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis showed the direct effects of green purchasing, eco-design and packaging, investment recovery, and cooperation with customers directly on competitive advantages. competitive advantages of firms in the Malaysian manufacturing industry.
The use of RPAS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems in the topographic mapping for mining

In the light of the technological transformations that have been occurring in the field of Remote Sensing, the objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the quality of the results that could be achieved in the topographic modeling of the terrain with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) survey in open-pit mines. The mining activity imposes the recurring topographic survey of mined and service areas that require volume evaluation in an interval of at least one month. In this context, the expectation of adopting traditional remote sensing methods for surveying, instead of land surveys, has always been great. The restrictions on the adoption of the conventional photogrammetric or airborne laser scanning (ALS) methods were related to the need for recurring surveys, which are never simple with the use of manned aerial platforms. In this context, the RPAS opens a window of opportunity that should not be ignored, being the main reason for the case study reported here. The essential data set of the research results from the direct confrontation between two digital terrain models: the first obtained with the RPAS survey executed in 2016 and another one of the same area obtained by a laser aerial survey performed in 2012, which was considered as a quality benchmark. The results recommended that the implementation of mapping solutions with RPAS consider the quality constraints of the photogrammetry in order to improve final results with the theoretical and operational knowledge that underpin the photogrammetric process.
Advancement of Nectarine Fruit Ripening with Daminozide and Fenoprop1

Spraying trees of nectarine (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) with succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide (daminozide) or 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (fenoprop; 2,4,5-TP) at initiation of pit hardening induced earlier fruit ripening by enhancing the rates of growth and color development. The climacteric peak occurred earlier in fruit from either treatment than in the controls. Whereas fenoprop enhanced CO2 evolution more than daminozide, daminozide stimulated postharvest ethylene production more than fenoprop. Treatment with both regulators did not have an additive effect in advancing the harvest date, in spite of a significant increase in color development and a somewhat increased rate of fruit softening. There was, however, an additive effect in stimulation of ethylene evolution.
Exploring Music Video Experiences and Their Influence on Music Perception

Streaming music videos on the internet is an increasingly popular music listening activity that has remained virtually unexplored within music psychology. Studies of the role of music in film, as well as empirical research investigating the influence of audio-visual media and memory, have shown that visual information can have a profound effect on how music is perceived and remembered. The current study aimed to create a framework for understanding music video (MV) experiences by finding out when and why individuals choose to engage with this form of media, how these experiences contribute to the perception of musical meaning and influence affective outcomes, and whether these effects carry over to subsequent listening experiences. An online questionnaire study was designed, and data were collected from 34 participants with a mean age of 22.4 years (SD = 2.79). Abductive analysis of the qualitative data was conducted based on theories derived from topical areas of music psychology research. A framework was devised which illustrates MV listening experiences over four temporal stages: Intention, Attention, Reaction, and Retention (IARR). The IARR framework provides novel insights into MV listening experiences and outcomes by shedding light on how extra-musical information can have a long-term influence on the perception of music's meaning and affective quality.
Trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo: relación del índice proteína/creatinina en orina esporádica y proteinuria en 24 horas

Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre la proteinuria en 24 horas y la tasa proteinuria/creatinina tomada de una alícuota de la misma muestra y analizar las variables críticas que pueden afectar su correlación. Métodos: Investigación clínica, observacional, cuasiexperimental y prospectiva. En 25 gestantes hipertensas, se tomaron muestras de orina aleatoria y de 24 horas y se enviaron al laboratorio para calcular el cociente proteína/creatinina. La concentración de proteína en orina se determinó mediante el método turbidimétrico y la concentración de creatinina en orina se determinó mediante el método colorimétrico de creatinina. Se evaluaron las curvas de eficacia diagnóstica y área bajo la curva. La relación entre el índice proteína/creatinina y la proteinuria en 24 horas fue evaluada mediante la prueba de correlación de Pearson. Se consideró estadísticamente significativo todo valor de p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: En orina aleatoria la creatinina promedio fue 34,58 ± 5,06 mg/dL, la proteína de 30,41 ± 8,96 mg/dL. El índice proteína/creatinina en orina esporádica resultó 0,20 mg/dL en 21/24 pacientes (intervalo de confianza de 95 % de 0,00-1);con una sensibilidad 87 % y especificidad 100 %, valor predictivo positivo de 100 % y negativo de 21 %, área bajo la curva de 0,887. Conclusiones: El índice proteína/creatinina tuvo un elevado rendimiento diagnóstico con un punto de corte de 0,2 mg/mg y un área bajo la curva de 0,887. Es equivalente a la proteinuria de 24 horas, con ventajas de ahorro de tiempo y fácil interpretación. Palabras clave: Preeclampsia, proteinuria, índice proteína/creatinina, orina aleatoria.
Innovative Low-Cost Sub-Fractional HP BLDC Claw-Pole Machine Design for Fan Applications

As for mass-produced sub-fractional horsepower drives, non-optimal motor behavior (e.g., high cogging torque, output torque ripple, and noise) is often accepted when cost can be reduced, provided reliability is not compromised. This paper proposes an innovative claw-pole motor design for a low-cost single-phase brushless direct current fan drive, improving motor behavior with no increase to the manufacturing cost: 1) reducing cogging torque by proposing unconventional claw-pole skewing and 2) ensuring self-starting capability by implementing air-gap asymmetry. Both measures help reduce the total output torque ripple. The goal is to reduce fan drive noise, especially at low-speed operation, where cogging torque is often the dominating noise source. The design of stator claw skewing and air-gap asymmetry is presented; their effects on motor quantities are studied via simulations and experiments. With the exception of a small reduction of about 1.8% in the back electromotive force fundamental, skewing the stator claws by 30$^{\circ }$ can reduce the cogging torque by 23% in the simulations and by 28% in the experiments.
Seasonal Variations in the Lipid Profile of the Ovarian Follicle in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes

Simple Summary Reproductive seasonality is a major factor affecting buffalo breeding. The rationale of this work derives from the hypothesis that the reduced cleavage and blastocyst rates observed during the non-breeding season could be due to a suboptimal follicular environment. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of season on the lipid profile of the ovarian follicle in the Italian Mediterranean buffalo. For this purpose, abattoir-derived ovaries were collected during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, and the apolar phase of follicular components was analyzed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of seasonal variations in lipid content of the buffalo ovarian follicle, including follicular fluid, follicular and cumulus cells, and oocytes. The results undoubtedly demonstrated significant seasonal variations in the lipid profile, including triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids, in the different biological matrices analyzed. Interestingly, an increased amount in the total level of non-esterified fatty acids in the follicular fluid was also observed during the non-breeding season. The results allow a better understanding of the physiology of the ovarian follicle in buffalo and unveil some causes of reduced oocyte competence during the non-reproductive season, laying the groundwork for further studies and corrective strategies. Abstract The reduced oocyte competence recorded during the non-breading season (NBS) is one of the key factors affecting the profitability of buffalo farming and limits the IVEP efficiency. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether season influences the lipid content within the ovarian follicle in the Italian Mediterranean buffalo. Abattoir-derived ovaries were collected during the breeding season (BS) and the NBS, and different matrices (follicular fluid, oocytes, cumulus and follicular cells) were recovered. After the extraction of the apolar fraction, all samples were analyzed by H1 nuclear magnetic resonance and FF samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Seasonal differences in lipid composition were observed in all matrices. In particular, during the NBS, the triglyceride content was higher in the follicular fluid and in the oocytes but reduced in the follicular cells. Both cholesterol and phospholipids were reduced in the follicular fluid and follicular cells during the NBS. Furthermore, the total amount of non-esterified fatty acids was significantly increased in the follicular fluid. The seasonal variation in lipid profile of the follicle may, in part, account for the reduced buffalo oocyte competence during the NBS, due to the critical role played by lipids in regulating ovarian functions.
UAV Path Planning and Multi-Modal Localization for Mapping in a Subterranean Environment

UAV Path Planning and Multi-Modal Localization for Mapping in a Subterranean Environment by Kieren Samarakoon The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), especially quadcopters, have become popular in academia and industry due to their small size and maneuverability. These UAVs can be programmed to autonomously execute missions that are usually difficult and risky for humans, such as subterranean exploration, infrastructure surveying, and even disaster response. However, inaccessible and remote environments pose a challenge in terms of navigation as they often lack access to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) connections and lack features. To address these challenges, UAVs are equipped with multiple sensors to acquire different types of data. These include range, acceleration, and even images, which are fused to estimate a localization solution. The Autonomous Robotic Early Warning System for Underground Stone Mining Safety project, sponsored by Alpha Foundation, is conducted within the Statler College at West Virginia University (WVU). The project aims to map walls and pillars within a mine to analyze its structural integrity and safety. This thesis investigates the implementation of a path planning strategy to optimize the coverage of a wall and also the use of an error state Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for sensor fusion to perform Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). The experiments were carried out both in simulated and real world environments. In these experiments, the UAV was equipped with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), laser altimeter, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) module (for ranging data), LiDAR for mapping, and an RGB-D camera to provide a Visual Odometry (VO) solution. In the simulation, the 3D reconstruction and odometry was compared to the ground truth, whereas the real experiment provided further insight into the strategy’s feasibility. I dedicate this thesis to my family back home in Australia, who have supported my academic journey for the past several years.
MULTICHANNEL BLIND DECONVOLUTION USING A GENERALIZED EXPONENTIAL SOURCE MODEL

In this paper, we present an algorithm for the problem of multi-channel blind deconvolution which can adapt to unknown sources with both sub-Gaussian and super-Gaussian probability density distributions using a generalized exponential source model. We use a state space representation to model the mixer and demixer respectively, and show how the parameters of the demixer can be adapted using a gradient descent algorithm incorporating the natural gradient extension. We also present a learning method for the unknown parameters of the generalized exponential source model. The performance of the proposed generalized exponential source model on a typical example is compared with those of two other algorithms, viz., the learning algorithm with a fixed nonlinearity, without any regard to the underlying probability distribution of sources, and the switching nonlinearity algorithm proposed by Lee et al. [7].
IMPROVEMENT OF THE INPUT CURRENT WAVEFORMS OF A MATRIX CONVERTER IN THE CASE OF BALANCED SINUSOIDAL POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGES AND UNBALANCED LOAD

The matrix converter (MC) control method based on the general algorithm of input reactive power regulation is aimed to improve the quality of the input currents in conditions of unbalanced load when powered by undistorted balanced voltage system has been proposed and studied. For this purpose, the formation of the input current space vector as the sum of its active and reactive symmetrical components has been considered. The scope of the dynamic modulation of reactive component of the input current as converter control parameter depending on constant and variable components of the instantaneous power or on the degree of unbalance of the load and the output phase shift has been analytically determined. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is approved by the MC input currents simulation taking into account the actual conditions of switching and discrete formation of these currents. References 10, table 1, figures 6.
Understanding the biogeography of Western European bats: the latest Pleistocene to Middle Holocene assemblage of El Mirador site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

ABSTRACT The Lateglacial to Holocene transition is a key moment for understanding the extant configuration of bat populations in Western Europe, where several species are currently under threat. The Chiroptera fossil record for this period and region is poorly known. Here, we present the bat fossil record along the stratigraphical sequence of El Mirador (Burgos, North Spain), which ranges from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene. Level MIR49 (11,396 to 8430 cal BP) has provided the richest bat assemblage from this chronology in the Iberian Peninsula. The 14 taxa identified conform a bat association with no extant equivalent, although all of them belong to the current Iberian fauna, evidencing a high biodiversity among the Iberian Early Holocene bat communities that had not been detected until now. The sibling species Myotis myotis and Myotis blythii appear together, showing the earliest clear evidence of the arrival of the eastern-coming M. blythii into Europe far West, probably related to the expansion of open environments during the Younger Dryas event. Conversely, the overlaying Middle Holocene section has provided low numbers of bats’ remains. At El Mirador site, this impoverishment is more probably related to human presence than to climate fluctuations.
Design of substrate integrated waveguide based bandpass filters and power dividers

DESIGN OF SUBSTRATE INTEGRATED WAVEGUIDE BASED BANDPASS FILTERS AND POWER DIVIDERS Sinan Kurudere M.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Vakur B. Ertürk July, 2013 A microwave system is, in general, designed by using fundamental components such as filters, couplers, dividers, etc. Due to the fact that wavelength becomes comparable with lumped element dimensions, at microwave frequencies distributed elements are used for building these components. Microstrip based devices can be used up to certain frequencies. However, when radiation loss increases, waveguide based devices are used which are bulky and costly. Recently, substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) based devices have attracted the attention of many researchers due to low cost, lightweight and efficient high frequency characteristics. SIW is the printed circuit realization of a waveguide. SIW is fabricated on a dielectric material with top and bottom sides are conductors, and two linear arrays of metallic vias form the side walls. In this thesis, by using SIW structure, iris type bandpass filters are designed, analyzed and fabricated for verification. After that, complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) and dumbbell type defected ground structure (DGS) etched filters that are available in the literature are investigated and verified with simulations. Having investigated different filter topologies in the literature, a novel SIW based bandpass filter is proposed, where its second harmonic is suppressed using a dumbbell type DGS underneath the microstrip feed line. The filter is demonstrated with a fabricated prototype, where the simulated and measured results agree well. Furthermore, SIW based power dividers available in the literature and the corrugated SIW (CSIW) architecture which uses open-circuit ended quarter-wavelength stubs instead of vias as the sidewalls, are investigated. CSIW architecture is implemented to a power divider structure available in the literature and a novel CSIW based high isolation power divider is designed and demonstrated with a fabricated prototype. Good agreement between simulated and fabricated results are observed.