Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Establishing a Rural Groundwater Monitoring Network Using Existing Wells: West Nose Creek Pilot Study, Alberta

Sustainable groundwater management requires long-term monitoring of aquifer water level, water quality, and water use with adequate spatial and temporal resolution in order to evaluate the response of the aquifer to changes in pumping rates and meteorological conditions. Since existing federal and provincial monitoring programs do not have sufficient spatial resolution, an alternative is to establish locally-based monitoring programs coordinated by municipalities or watershed groups. A network of more than 20 monitoring wells was implemented in the West Nose Creek watershed near Calgary, Alberta using existing water supply wells. The network effectively captured the pattern of seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations of aquifer water level. Understanding of the natural fluctuation will help the community detect any undesirable effects of increasing water extraction in the future. Biannual newsletters were distributed to the well owners and a wider community within the watershed to communicate the results and background knowledge. The methodology established in this pilot study may provide a cost-effective tool for rural groundwater monitoring in the Canadian prairies and elsewhere.
The use of environmental management as a facilities management tool in the Macao hotel sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which environmental management (EM) has been used as a facilities management (FM) tool amongst hotels in Macao, China. It also seeks to assess the relative priorities of hotel facilities managers in relation to the environment.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data was collected via structured questionnaires distributed to facilities/general managers of hotels in Macao.Findings – The research findings reveal that although low customer demand, poor environmental knowledge and the lack of governmental regulations enforcing environmental practices are the reasons hindering hoteliers in Macao from practicing green, the major barrier is that hotel managers do not recognize the importance of environmental management to hotel effectiveness and competitiveness. Consequently, hotels are only interested in improving areas where there are direct financial gains and where there is a fiscal/legislative requirement. A fragmented approach to manag.
A General Architecture for Monitoring Data Storage with OpenStack Cloud Storage and RDBMS

The process monitoring and fault diagnosis is one of the important problems in the process industry. Archived monitoring data is valuable for long-term analysis and decision making. In this paper, we propose a general architecture to manage and storage archived monitoring data. It has been implemented within an archiving terabytes of monitoring data in metallurgy industry. It is an effective way to solve the problems of the efficiency and expandability via practical applications.
Eine neue sonografische Methode zur Untersuchung der Brust. A New Sonographic Method of Examining the Breast

: In the present paper, a new sonographic method of examining the breast is described. In the form of a laboratory model, it has been used to investigate 245 preoperative patients and 146 women referred for conventional sonography of the breast. All the patients had also undergone mammography. With the new procedure the examination situation is identical to that used for mammography, with a stainless steel plate (reference reflector) placed beneath the breast, and which appears on the B scan behind healthy tissue as a straight white line. Disordered reflectivity and elevation of this line indicate the presence of a lesion. Measurement of the lesion and the elevation of the reference line permit differentiation between benign and malignant disease. The use of both X-ray and sonographic findings improved the detection of cancers and reduced false-positive benign findings. Further technical improvements to this sonographic procedure could make it as rapid and reliable as mammography.
Sustainable supplier management – a review of models supporting sustainable supplier selection, monitoring and development

In the last two decades, pressure from various stakeholders has forced many companies to establish environmental and social improvements both in their company and their supply chains. The growing number of journal publications and conference proceedings confirms this change also in academia. The aim of this paper is to analyse and review scientific literature on sustainable supplier management (SSM) with a focus on formal models supporting decision-making in sustainable supplier selection, monitoring and development. For this purpose, a framework on SSM is proposed and a comprehensive content analysis including a criteria analysis is carried out. Beyond this, in total 143 peer-reviewed publications between 1997 and 2014 have been analysed to identify both established and overlooked research fields. Major findings are the rapidly growing interest of this topic in academia in recent years, the predominance of Analytic Hierarchy Process, Analytic Network Process and fuzzy-based approaches, the focus on the final evaluation and selection process step and the rare investigation of social and quantitative metrics. This review may be useful for practitioners and scientists as it outlines major characteristics in this field, which can serve as a basis for further research.
High selectivity UWB bandpass filter using dual-mode resonators

A novel ultra-wideband bandpass filter using multilayer technology is reported. A dual-mode resonator is designed on the middle layer to generate a transmission zero at the upper stopband, and a short-circuited coupling line is designed on the top layer for generating a transmission zero at the lower stopband. These incorporated transmission zeros result in high selectivity for the proposed filter. The broadside coupling technique is adopted for the strong coupling to realise an ultra-wide passband. The proposed filter has been investigated using full-wave simulation and fabricated using multilayer liquid crystal polymer technology. Good agreement between simulated and measured results is observed. The measured UWB filter has a 3 dB bandwidth from 3 to 9 GHz with a small in-band insertion loss, a flat group delay, high selectivity and a compact size of 4.8 by 11 mm.
Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Seeds Phytochemicals, Bioactive Compounds, and Applications: A Review

With the increased global public health awareness, there is an increase in ultimatum calls for functional foodstuff with various health impacts. The utilisation of therapeutic foodstuff to avert illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease is obtaining motion among people. Chia seeds are dietary and medicinal species used as a herb in the ancient period by Aztec and Mayan communities. Chia is receiving scientific attention in the present time and is a non-conventional seed that has been recognised as a novel food. It is a customary food in Southern and Central America. It contains large amounts of phytochemicals and proteins, making it more consumed worldwide for its numerous health benefits to sustain healthy serum fat levels. These seeds contain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids with anti-inflammatory effects, promote cognitive performance, and lower cholesterol levels. Caffeic acid found in the seeds has antioxidant compounds that protect the body from free radicals, cancer and contains anti-ageing properties. Fibres are present in high concentrations, are connected with lowering inflammation, controls bowel movement, and reduce cholesterol levels. Chia seeds contain the nutritional value that aid in disease control, such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, obesity, and heart disease. The presence of omega-6 and omega-3 present in chia seed and active compounds makes the chia seed contain crucial health benefits. Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of natural food require validation by numerous scientific research and studies. Nowadays, most species are utilised worldwide for their nutritional characteristics and beneficial impacts on human health. The review summarises the recent information on chia seed, emphasising the phytochemicals, bioactivities, and applications.
Impact of internal thermal bypasses in high temperature TE-modules

High temperature thermoelectric generators (TEG) enable elevated conversion efficiencies, but require suitable materials and smart packaging. However, internal thermal bypasses given by the setup of the modules may reduce the efficiency when compared to the theoretical prediction. In a classical TE-module two ceramic plates are separated by the length of the p-and n-doped semiconductor legs. A bypass heat current can flow through the gaps between the semiconductor legs, carried by convection as well as thermal radiation. The significance of both contributions scales with the temperature difference. We present experimental results to evaluate the impact of either bypass. The influence of convection losses is determined by changing the atmospheric pressure while recording the TE-module conversion efficiency. Thermal radiation losses are extracted from measured emissivity values for a given module geometry. Based on our results we propose optimized module geometries, encapsulation and altered material surfac.
Labour productivity model for reinforced concrete construction projects

Purpose – This study aims to identify systematically the factors that can often influence labour productivity directly and indirectly, to build a model that can evaluate the significance of these factors. The model can be used as a tool for assisting field construction mangers responsible for productivity.Design/methodology/approach – The factors were first identified by undertaking a literature review. The scope and method for measuring labour productivity were then determined. The final analysis model was built through a statistical analysis conducted with the chosen factors.Findings – The results of the analysis indicate that the work management component (e.g. the manager's abilities) and the work technique component (e.g. work continuity) have greater impact than the worker component (e.g. the workers' capability) and the work characteristic component (e.g. work difficulty). Research limitations/implications – This research focuses on the qualitative perspective of site managers on labour productivity.
Cohesion in male singing behavior predicts group reproductive output in a social songbird

All social groups require organization to function optimally. Group organization is often shaped by social ‘rules’, which function to manage conflict, discourage cheating, or promote cooperation1–5. If social rules promote effective social living, then the ability to learn and follow these rules may be expected to influence individual and group-level fitness. However, such links can rarely be tested, due to the complexity of the factors mediating social systems and the difficulty of gathering data across multiple groups. Songbirds offer an opportunity to investigate the link between social rules and reproductive output because most of their social interactions are mediated by song, a well-studied and readily quantifiable behavior6,7. Using observations from 19 groups of brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) studied across 15 years, we find evidence for a previously undocumented social rule: cohesive group transitions between dominance- and courtship-related singing. Comparing across groups, the degree of cohesion in male singing behavior predicts the reproductive output of their group. Experimental manipulation of group structure via the introduction of juvenile males to captive flocks reduced group cohesion and adult male reproductive success. Taken together, these results demonstrate that cohesion in group behavioral states can affect both individual and group-level reproductive success, suggesting that selection can act not only on individual-level traits, but also on an individual’s ability and opportunity to participate effectively in organized social interactions. Social cohesion could therefore be an unappreciated force affecting social evolution in many diverse systems.
Trends in PD diagnostics. When new options proliferate, so do old and new problems

Modern PD measurement resources are tremendously more powerful than were those available 30 to 40 years ago. However, we still have to face some old problems in equipment diagnostics as well as certain new ones. A major reason are misconceptions and fuzzy concepts. The emphasis now is on improved scientific understanding to enable rational and productive conclusions to be derived from today's powerful PD diagnostics. >
THE EFFECT OF ELBOW AXIS DEFINITION ON THE CALCULATION OF FLEXION-EXTENSION AND ABDUCTION-ADDUCTION ANGLES FOR THE BOWLING ARM IN CRICKET

The standard protocols for testing whether a bowler is extending his/her arm illegally (by more than 15°) during the period from upper arm horizontal to ball release leave some flexibility of interpretation as to exactly how the axes should be defined. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of different elbow axis definitions on the flexion-extension and abduction-adduction angles calculated.
Minding the Gaps: Health Care Access for Foreign-born People in the U.S.: An Integrative Review

Abstract:Background. Foreign-born people encounter disproportionate health care access barriers compared with U.S.-born adults. Few studies in the past decade have examined how characteristics of foreign-born people influence access to health care. Methods. An integrative review regarding health care access for foreign-born people was conducted using Whittemore and Knafl's framework. Andersen's behavioral model of health care utilization was used to explain the findings. We searched electronic databases and identified 33 peerreviewed papers for inclusion. Results. The reviewed articles represented a broad spectrum of research evaluating health care access. Barriers to health care access for foreign-born people are multifactorial and driven by insurance status, citizenship, immigration status, and English language proficiency. Conclusion. Future research must comprehensively examine the unmet health needs and predictors of access among foreign-born people.
Discharge Capacity of Labyrinth Side Weir Located on a Straight Channel

Side weirs, also known as lateral weirs, are flow diversion devices widely used in irrigation as a head regulator of distributaries and escapes, land drainage, and urban sewage systems. The studies on the subject have been generally focused on rectangular and triangular side weirs located on a straight channel. However, the same is not true for labyrinth side weirs. The current studies deal with sediment transport and scour problems around side weirs and lateral structures. The investigation of the hydraulic effects of labyrinth side weirs to increase discharge capacity of them has been studied in this particular work. In the study, 2,830 laboratory tests were conducted for determining discharge coefficient of labyrinth side weirs, and results were analyzed to find the influence of the dimensionless weir length L/b , the dimensionless effective length L/l , the dimensionless weir height p/ h1 , triangular labyrinth side weir included angle θ , and upstream Froude number F1 on the discharge coefficient, wa.
CLEANER PRODUCTION: A GROWING MOVEMENT IN BRAZILIAN COMPANIES PRODUÇÃO MAIS LIMPA: UM MOVIMENTO CRESCENTE EM EMPRESAS BRASILEIRAS

Cleaner Production is gaining emphasis in both the world and Brazilian production sectors. Nature’s ending capability of absorbing and regener ating waste, stricter legislation regarding pollution emitters, and the market competitiveness associated with environmental and social responsibility are leading to actions for reducing environmental impacts. This paper reviews the concepts and presents three study cases in whic h two are in a large manufacturing automobile industry, and one in a small manufacturi ng company of medical supplies, with their suppliers promoting the change in the way the y deliver their products, by either eliminating or reusing large volume of cardboard, p lastic and wood packaging. For the environmental evaluation analysis the methodology of Material Intensity Factor was applied. The benefits of Cleaner Production implementation were evaluated by confronting environmental and financial assessment. Results sho wed that the companies reached financial, spatial and productivity gains. The important fact the paper reveals is the existence of a still fuzzy, yet incremental and growing movement within the companies, in order to reduce or eliminate either products or activities’ which do n ot aggregate values to the product, damage the environment or spoil the company’s image towards the market.
A Synoptic Panorama of Psychology Based System Maintainability and Design

The challenges of global market continue to inspire companies to consider all prominent attributes of system/product including maintainability to develop reliable, safe, maintainable and novel systems/products. Moreover, system/product maintainability involves human beings in almost all important maintainability affecting activities like design, maintenance, operation and support. Thus, maintainability of the product/system does depend on the performance and psychological orientations of human beings involved in these activities. The paper reviews the published literature and extends it further in the context of system maintainability. With the purpose of signifying the role of psychology of personnel on system's maintainability, the psychological perspectives on planning, organization and design for maintainability have been presented in this paper. This paper presents a framework to incorporate the prominent aspect of human psychology in the maintainability and design of systems. The paper highlights a new orientation in the total design of systems, in general, and mechanical systems, in particular. Limitation and future scope associated with this paper are mentioned in the last
Precisely rectilinear electro-thermal microactuator using a high-aspect ratio microstructured Si/SU-8 composite

This paper presents a Si/SU-8 composite electro-thermal microactuator that can generate a precisely rectilinear in-plane stroke. The microactuator consists of a pair of electro-thermally activated composite bimorphs which are joined at their tips through a central Si beam. When activated, the central beam deflects and outputs an in-plane rectilinear stroke at its center. The central stroke is precisely rectilinear along the plane of symmetry due to very high stiffness in the orthogonal directions to the stroke. This composite thermal microactuator produces a much larger rectilinear stroke and blocked force per unit temperature rise compared to an all-silicon one. At a temperature rise below 87 °C (driven below 8.0 V), the stroke increases linearly with the temperature rise up to 8.0 µm. Analytical and finite element models are developed for this range of actuation. Beyond an 87 °C temperature rise, the stroke was further enhanced by Poisson's ratio effect on SU-8 which increases the effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite. The microactuator could produce a maximum rectilinear stroke of 42 µm and a maximum estimated blocked force of 60 mN at a driving voltage of 14.5 V which causes a SU-8 average temperature rise of 266 °C.
Application of STATCOM to improve the LVRT capability of DFIG during VSC fire-through

Due to the convincing revolution in power electronic technology and the growing concern about greenhouse effect that is intensified due to the burning of fossil fuels, wind power generation is significantly increasing globally. Transmission line operators developed various grid codes that require wind turbines to remain connected to support power grids during intermittent disturbance events which motivated researchers to investigate the impact of various grid disturbances on the overall performance of the wind energy conversion system (WECS). No attention, however, has been given to investigate the impact of voltage source converter (VSC) faults on the low voltage ride through (LVRT) of the DFIG-based WECS. In this paper, the impact of a fire-through fault when it takes place within the RSC and the GSC on the LVRT capability of the DFIG are investigated. A STATCOM controller to mitigate the effects of these faults is proposed. The DFIG compliance with recently released LVRT grid codes under the studied faults with and without the STATCOM were examined and compared. Simulation results indicated that fire-through faults have a serious impact on the DFIG voltage profile, especially when they occur in the GSC. The proposed STATCOM controller is effective in improving the dynamic performance of the DFIG during the studied faults and hence the connection of wind turbine to the grid can be maintained.
Improving drawing education for Department of Applied Chemistry students

To acquire creative engineering skills, drawing and introductory manufacturing education have been introduced for first-year students of all departments at Akita National College of Technology. However, students of the Department of Applied Chemistry are uninterested in drawing because they think that drawing is unrelated with their specialization. The author has strived to teach drawing to those students who report no sense of purpose. From this year, the author has sought to teach drawing using the gamification method. This report clarifies changes in attitudes and educational effects of using the gamification method in drawing. Gamification is the process of using game thinking and game mechanics to raise a learner’s motivation and to stimulate the learner’s interest. Examples of gamification in drawing are awarding points to students according to their level of achievement and using leader boards. Survey results reveal that student motivation was increased. Improvement activities using gamification methods and their associated effects and problems are examined.
Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Test of a Flare-type Membrane Aeroshell for Atmospheric Entry Capsules

A flexible aeroshell for atmospheric entry vehicles has attracted attention as an innovative space transportation system. In this study, hypersonic wind tunnel tests were carried out to investigate the behavior, aerodynamic characteristics and aerodynamic heating environment in hypersonic flow for a previously developed capsule-type vehicle with a flare-type membrane aeroshell made of ZYLON textile sustained by a rigid torus frame. Two different models with different flare angles (45o and 60o) were tested to experimentally clarify the effect of flare angle. Results indicate that flare angle of aeroshell has significant and complicate effect on flow field and aerodynamic heating in hypersonic flow at Mach 9.45 and the flare angle is very important parameter for vehicle design with the flare-type membrane aeroshell.
Examining the Impact of Institutional Integration and Cultural Integrity on Sense of Belonging for Native Students at Non-Native Colleges and Universities

Abstract:The purpose of this quantitative multi-institutional study was to examine the contributions of institutional integration and cultural integrity to Native college students’ sense of belonging within Non-Native Colleges and Universities. Both cultural integrity and institutional integration contributed significantly to sense of belonging. This study revealed that social support and peer-group interaction are the most significant factors contributing to sense of belonging for Native college students. In addition, staff support and lack of social isolation were also significant contributors to sense of belonging.