Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Learner’s learning evironment: three drivers that impact on its construction and use

With universities adopting a learner-centered, constructivist approach to learning and greater use of technology, combined with the pressures of 21st century living and the increasing number of people taking up tertiary study, there is a greater need than ever to determine how a learner constructs and uses his/her learning environment, and what drives that process of construction and use. This thesis investigates the learner’s learning environment from the learner’s perspective. Through the analysis of semi-structured interviews, and personality type as determined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, it identified three drivers that impact upon the construction and use of the learner’s learning environment. These three drivers are: 1) the learner’s impetus to learn; 2) the self-perceived technology ability of the learner; and 3) the personality type of the learner. This thesis looks at the construction of the learner’s learning environment as part of constructivist theory, recognizing that, as in the construction of new, individual representations of knowledge, each learner forms new, individual representations of his/her own learning environment, determined by the drivers that impact on this construction and use. The thesis also examines the learner’s learning environment in light of the provided environment for the unit of study they are enrolled in. It shows that pedagogical approaches, learning environment design and choice of elements included in the provided environment, may be at odds with the learner’s drivers and the way in which they construct their learning environment. As a consequence, the educator cannot guarantee the learner will use the provided environment as intended or envisaged, which may impact on the learning outcomes for the learner. These findings therefore, provide insights into the ways in which a learner incorporates the provided environment into his/her own unique learning environment, offering practical information for the design and development of the provided environment.
Robustness assessment of metro network: a case study of Beijing, China

Metro network provides mobility to residents and relieves traffic congestion, playing a vital role in the city’s operation. However, due to human faults and equipment failures, the metro network’s functionality and performance will be degraded to a lower level. Therefore, it is necessary to make a robustness assessment for making a safe and reliable metro system. In this paper, we choose Beijing’s metro network as an example to make a robustness assessment based on complex network theory and network science. A random attack and a variety of malicious attacks are imposed on the metro network. The numerical results show that Beijing metro network performs high robustness under random attacks but relatively low robustness under malicious attacks. The proposed method can be easily modified and applied in other metro systems for robustness assessment and enhancement.
THz MEMS Switch Design

In this work, an mm-wave/THz MEMS switch design process is presented. The challenges and solutions associated with the switch electrical design, modeling, fabrication, and test are explored and discussed. To investigate the feasibility of this design process, the switches are designed on both silicon and fused quartz substrate and then tested in the 140–750 GHz frequency range. The measurement fits design expectations and simulation well. At 750 GHz the measurement results from switches on both substrates have an ON state insertion loss of less than 3 dB and an OFF state isolation larger than 12 dB.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Municipal Food Markets: Resilience or Innovative Attitude?

The pandemic has accelerated the search for innovative product/process/service solutions in city markets as well as the search for “open innovation challenges” more in line with current needs. The aim of the research is to understand the adaptation mechanisms of the local food system and, in particular, of the public space of the market system. The article analyses the change produced by the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipal markets of Sant Feliu de Guixols, Costa Brava, Spain. The data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to food sellers and contextually to a group of consumers. Factor analysis and the AGIL model were applied to the data collected and were confirmed with cluster analysis. The analysis highlights that the resilience of sellers is no longer sufficient and in many cases, they have equipped themselves with innovative solutions to meet the new customer demands arising from the pandemic (food delivery, e-commerce, take-away food, digital media, etc.). The document concludes with a discussion of food markets and innovations introduced in this period. Further studies can focus on the relationships between food practices and the transformation of urban spaces so that the food market can support new social practices that promote the food transition. The change would represent a switch which would provide traditionally less powerful actors, such as producers, the opportunity to reformulate the food supply chain in a way more linked to the territory. It would also create a resilient dimension for managing other possible food crises and present a challenge to achieving the ultimate goals of the businesses.
Hybrid Precoding for Mixture Use of Phase Shifters and Switches in mmWave Massive MIMO

A variable-phase-shifter (VPS) architecture with hybrid precoding for mixture use of phase shifters and switches, is proposed for millimeter wave massive multiple-input multiple-output communications. For the VPS architecture, a hybrid precoding design (HPD) scheme, called VPS-HPD, is proposed to optimize the phases according to the channel state information by alternately optimizing the analog precoder and digital precoder. To reduce the computational complexity of the VPS-HPD scheme, a low-complexity HPD scheme for the VPS architecture (VPS-LC-HPD) including alternating optimization in three stages is then proposed, where each stage has a closed-form solution and can be efficiently implemented. To reduce the hardware complexity introduced by the large number of switches, we consider a group-connected VPS architecture and propose a HPD scheme, where the HPD problem is divided into multiple independent subproblems with each subproblem flexibly solved by the VPS-HPD or VPS-LC-HPD scheme. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the propose schemes and show that the proposed schemes can achieve satisfactory spectral efficiency performance with reduced computational complexity or hardware complexity.
Impact of Monetary Policy on Economic Growth in Pakistan Economy

Monetary policy aims to contribute to economic growth and stability in the economy. This policy also makes a balanced demand and supply by maintaining the domestic prices and exchange rate to decrease inflation, shapes the pattern of investment and production, and increases the financial institutions to manage the debt services very efficiently. The study analyzes how monetary policy affects inflation in a country. The Data sources are WDI and the State Bank of Pakistan from 1981 to 2014. The current study used Inflation rate as a dependent variable while independent variables of liquidity ratio, broad money supply and reserve ratio were used as independent variables. The study used ADF test to check the stationary of the variables used in the model. Data analysis was done by using the ARDL model. The findings highlight that monetary policy indicated by money supply shows a positive effect on the rate of inflation. Result also shows that the reserve ratio increases inflation in the economy. The study results suggest that monetary policy must provide a favorable atmosphere for investment by providing reasonable interest rates and liquidity management mechanisms.
Assessing the Effects of Innovative Management Accounting Tools on Performance and Sustainability

To cope with an increasingly competitive and turbulent environment caused by economic, health, and political crises, companies need to adopt innovative management accounting tools to meet challenges, increase economic performance and ensure organizational sustainability. This paper aims to study the impact of using innovative management accounting tools on companies’ performance and sustainable approaches. We investigate the influences among the variables involved in quantitative research based on a survey of 567 senior accountants of Romanian companies. The hypotheses formulated based on the literature were tested using structural equation modeling and artificial neural network analysis. The research results show that those companies that used more intensively innovative management accounting tools performed better and had more tools at their disposal to measure and manage a sustainable approach. Innovative management accounting tools provide more and better information and ways to improve organizational performance and the vector of sustainability to cope with the uncertainty produced by the economic crisis.
A Pulsed-Coherent Lidar With Sub-10 μm Precision

This article presents a pulsed-coherent lidar that uses a 19-GHz pulse-modulated optical carrier and segmented time-of-flight (ToF) detection. The receiver analog frontend (AFE) employs a down-conversion chain that consists of a phase-invariant programmable-gain low-noise amplifier (PI-PGLNA), a sub-harmonic mixer (SHM), and an inverter-based phase-invariant programmable-gain amplifier (PI-PGA). The local oscillator (LO) is generated from a phase-locked loop (PLL) with a ring-type voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) subsamples the down-converted signal, and a digital signal processor (DSP) calculates the coarse, intermediate, and fine ToF. At the receiver input, a narrowband matching is implemented between the p-i-n photodiode and the PI-PGLNA with direct wire bonding. The system achieves 6- $\mu \text{m}$ precision with a 5-MSa/s sampling rate at a 2.5-m distance. The 2-D scanning is achieved with this lidar with the use of an MEMS mirror.
Total Quality Management & Business Excellence

An empirical study of the Taiwan National Quality Award causal model Chao-Ton Su a , Shao-Chang Li b & Chin-Ho Su c a Department of Industrial Engineering & Management , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu, Taiwan b Department of Business Administration , Kao Yuan Institute of Technology , Kaohsiung, Taiwan c Corporate Synergy Development Center , Taipei, Taiwan Published online: 25 Aug 2010.
Growth performance, carcass yield and characteristics, meat quality, serum biochemistry, jejunal histomorphometry, oxidative stability of liver and breast muscle, and immune response of broiler chickens fed natural antioxidant alone or in combination with Bacillus licheniformis

Abstract In this study, oxidative stability of liver and breast meat, and immune response were evaluated in broiler chickens fed supplemental phytogenic feed additive (PFA) alone or in combination with Bacillus licheniformis. Three experimental groups – control, PFA (60 mg kg -1 ), and PFA (60 mg kg -1 ) + 0.5 mg kg -1 B. licheniformis (1.6 × 10 12 cfu g -1 ), each consisting of 5 replicates – were established with 20 one-day-old chickens per replicate (300 birds in total). Growth performance, carcass yield and characteristics, and meat quality remained unaffected. However, supplemental PFA and PFA + B. licheniformis improved the serum biochemistry and jejunal histomorphometry of broiler chickens ( P<0.05 ). PFA and PFA + B. licheniformis groups had lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) in liver, and freeze–thaw breast meat after 30, 60, and 90 d of storage ( P<0.05 ). PFA and PFA + B. licheniformis supplementation lowered the carbonyl group in fresh and stored breast meat ( P<0.05 ). Antibody titer against infectious bursal disease virus was higher in the PFA + B. licheniformis group than the control group ( P<0.05 ). It can be concluded that PFA or PFA + B. licheniformis in broiler diets improves the health, oxidative stability of liver and breast meat, and immune response of broiler chickens.
Evaluation of Children’s Physical Fitness Index and Prediction of Health Risk Trend Based on BP Neural Network Algorithm

On the basis of literature review and expert interview, this study constructs the indexes of health fitness evaluation, obtains the difference of the indexes before and after the 15-week health fitness intervention, and establishes the health risk trend predictive equation based on BP neural network algorithm. The results of the study are as follows: after 15 weeks of health fitness intervention, there were significant differences in body fat rate, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio ( P < 0.01 ). There were significant differences in maximal oxygen uptake, 12-minute running distance, one-minute sit-ups, push-ups, standing long jump, pull-ups, and sitting forward flexion ( P < 0.05 ). Body fat percentage, maximal oxygen uptake, forward bending in sitting position, and standing long jump can be used to evaluate the level of children’s physical fitness. In conclusion, after 15 weeks of health and fitness intervention course, the children’s health and fitness were improved. Health and Physical Fitness Intervention Curriculum can be promoted in schools so that more children can benefit from it. And the health risk trend prediction model based on BP neural network algorithm has a certain validity.
Madrid food banck: 20 years working on volunteering project in favor of needed people

The debate around Food Banks has reactivated at international level, especially in moments of economic crisis. Nevertheless, few scientific papers have focused on analysing the success factors of their management as institutions that work through projects, neither on estimating their social impacts. This paper aims to analyse the Madrid Food Bank which has more than 20 years of learning process based on the ? Working With People ? (WWP) model, which integrates experienced and expert knowledge of the project stakeholders as well as analysing various projects that have been carried out: Great Food Collection, Kilo Operations, Awareness journeys, etc. Results show success in their project management and therefore in the effects generated on the population since its foundation in 1994. During the last years, the creation of new University-Company bonds such as the Food Bank Chair has allowed the expansion of the scope of its actions and projects. The generation of trust in society, its organizational structure and its human capital are the key elements of the achievements of the Food Banks, managing to reach up to 172.400 people and 546 institutions over the past year.
Design Change Dynamics in Building Project: From Literature Review to A Conceptual Framework Formulation

Building construction projects worldwide routinely fail to meet their schedule and cost objectives. This paper focuses on design changes as the principal contributing factor to delay and cost overruns. Substandard project coordination and futile communication management are sustained problems with the construction industry, particularly as to the management of design changes. To rectify the captioned issues, this study is aimed at exploring the underlying causes of design changes, the resulting rework that is damaging to project performance, communication management process and collaboration in a project-based setting through the review of the literature. Qualitative analysis technique using content analysis method was employed to synthesise the literature and establishing relationships based on the key themes identified. A conceptual model for design change management was then formulated to be the notable outcome of this study. The framework describes the importance of applying effective communication process and informed management decision in dealing with design changes. It provides a coherent and holistic view to understand the dynamics of design changes in a building construction project. It aims to address the current methodological gap in construction management research that lacks demonstrable causality. The findings contribute useful starting point for future overrun causation and mitigation studies.
Understanding intuitive use of screen-based user interfaces in a skilled worker environment

In this paper, I discuss some aspects of the possible relationship between participatory design and its implications for the actual end state of the graphical user interface and its capacity for intuitive use. This paper discuss the relation between users' skills and an employed tool, and how we might support the notion of intuitive action through the user interface in a human-computer interaction context. This paper briefly investigate the possible connection between mutual learning in user/designer relationship, which is a central concept in participatory design and the extent to which the final version of a computer system supports intuitive flow in the interaction between user and tool. This paper suggests that a participatory design approach may have a positive impact on the perceived intuitive use of user interfaces, and that co-location may be a prerequisite for the sufficient exchange of information needed for mutual learning to occur.
Structural shape reconstruction of fiber Bragg grating flexible plate based on strain modes using finite element method

Structural shape reconstruction plays an important role in structural health motoring, for example, in the fields of aerospace and civil engineering. A reconstruction algorithm is indispensable for structural shape reconstruction using discrete physical information. This article shows how to implement structural shape reconstruction using a small number of stain data measured by fiber Bragg grating sensors. First, the basic theory of structural shape reconstruction is introduced based on strain modes. A transformation from the measured discrete strain data to global displacement field is done by modal coordinate, which is the same for strain mode shape superposition and displacement mode shape superposition. Second, sensor layout optimization is carried out. Optimization analyses for the number of sensors and sensor position are implemented, and results show a better reconstruction effect for the optimized sensor layout. Meanwhile, effective parameters of the sensor layout are discussed, such as the excitation frequency, excitation amplitude, and number of mode shapes. Finally, structural shape reconstruction algorithm based on strain modes is applied in experiments. Static deformation and dynamic deformation tests are conducted to verify the proposed approach. Their results show that the reconstructed displacements match well with those measured by a laser displacement sensor.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND MORTALITY

Background: Antibiotic resistance has been a long-debated topic since decades ago. The development of stronger, newer antibiotics, implementation of antibiotic stewardship and revised guidelines remain the main focus of our society to prevent resistancy. But is it really resistancy that cause higher mortality to patients with multidrug resistance (MDR) infections? Methods: We conducted a cohort retrospective study from 2016 to 2019 in our Intensive care unit (ICU). Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results were analyzed for their association with patient mortality outcomes. Results: Over the four-year period, 381 positive bacterial cultures were analyzed and 51% of them grew MDR pathogens upon their first culture. The overall mortality rate was 19% (38/195), and there was no significant association between MDR and mortality; p 0.387. A strong association was however found between patients with medical cases with an OR 1.76; CI 1.76-2.55; p 0.003 and those with APACHE scores ≥20 upon admittance to the ICU, OR 1.32; CI 1.68-8.29; p 0.001. Conclusion: Resistancy is not the true cause of mortality. Infection by resistant microbes does not necessarily mean the worst outcome since virulency is the actual cause of pathogenicity, and thus mortality.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma literature review: past, present, and future

Background and Objective: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is an insidious neoplasm that arises from the mesothelial lining of the abdominal cavity. Historically, outcomes of MPM were dismal, as MPM is relatively resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, with advances in technology and improved understanding of tumor pathophysiology, treatments for MPM have produced encouraging 5-year survival. The standard of care for patients with resectable disease remains cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). Patients with inoperable MPM can be offered several systemic treatments, including chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, or investigational treatments. Our objective is to provide an overview of our current knowledge concerning MPM and latest advances in treatment. Methods: Narrative overview of the literature published in English from database origin until January 31, 2022 relating to MPM was searched in PubMed database, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Key Content and Findings: CRS-HIPEC has offered improved survival for surgical candidates, however outcomes for inoperable MPM remains dismal. With advancements in technology and better understanding of underlying MPM biology, new treatment approaches are arising and imperative. Conclusions: MPM is a rare and lethal disease of the peritoneum. CRS-HIPEC remains the standard of care for resectable disease. In 2022, several clinical trials are available for patients with MPM offering future advances in therapy and further understanding of this rare disease process.
Internet of things and machine learning applied to the thermal comfort of internal environments

The internet of things connects objects to the internet, enabling the dialogue between devices and users, providing new opportunities for applications, such as thermal comfort. In the research, adequate sensors were used to measure the heat index, the thermal discomfort index and the temperature and humidity index based on the temperature and relative humidity of a remote indoor environment. This research evaluated the level of thermal comfort in real-time using tools of storage, processing and analysis of big data information from the collection of IoT devices. With the analysis of the environment, it is possible to intelligently monitor the level of comfort and alert possible hazards to the people present. Machine learning algorithms were also used to analyse the history of stored data and formulate models capable of making predictions of the parameters of the environment. Health researchers, for example, have the necessary knowledge to evaluate clinical data, but they are not used to using data analysis resources and machine learning algorithms. The platform was developed to reduce dependence on data experts and encourage healthcare researchers to develop their own models by automating the steps required for model development, using automated machine learning (AutoML).
Extraction des dynamiques du système nerveux autonome : Une approche basée sur la séparation aveugle de sources.

This paper presents a method to estimate the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Autonomic Nervous System components (SNAS and SNAP respectively) by using an indicator obtained from surface ECGs. The long-term goal of the project is to quantitatively analyze the ratio between SNAS and SNAP in order to better characterize certain pathologies. An approach based on Independent Component Analysis (ICA), which exploits the di erent activation delays of SNAS and SNAP is proposed and applied to a database with normal subjects and diabetic patients. Preliminary results show a good separation, in the frequency domain, of SNAS and SNAP dynamics, including a di erentiation of SNAS and SNAP in the low-frequency band. Results are promising for a better quanti cation of the autonomic state of the patients.