Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water Contamination by Heavy Metals and their Toxic Effect on Aquaculture and Human Health through Food Chain

Heavy metals are metals with relatively high density and toxic at very low concentrations. The common heavy metal pollutants can be traced everywhere in minimal quantities. Heavy metals contaminate aquatic environments through various sources like industrial waste, domestic effluents, atmospheric sources, and other metal-based industries, E-Waste. Aquaculture is the rearing of aquatic animals and other organisms. Heavy metal toxicity is responsible for the degradation of the population of aquaculture, causing physical deformities in organisms and polluting the aquatic environment. These toxic heavy metals cause various diseases in fishes. As fishes are part of human consumption, it is indirectly affecting humans also. The food chain is greatly impacted by the introduction of heavy metals in water bodies & aquatic ecosystems. These heavy metals have greater significance on the environment as they persist for longer durations and have bioaccumulative capacities causing degradation of water health.
Análisis de Armónicos en un Compensador Estático de VAR's (SVC) Usando Modelado en Dominio Armónico (Harmonic Domain).

Usually electronic devices, the same as non linear elements of power systems, generate harmonic signals. These harmonics might generate resonance and stability problems in power systems, making necessary the installation of filters, compensator or additional generators. The time domain analysis of systems with harmonics implies long simulation times since the stability has to be reached. On the contrary, techniques using the frequency domain offer an efficient alternative in determining the periodic steady state of power systems with non linear components. The right knowledge of harmonic generation and interactions helps in the system’s improvement and optimizes de harmonic filter design process. The Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) use electronic devices based on diodes, thyristors and GTOs to modify the network parameters providing the power flow in the transmission lines and the voltage at the bars. In the present work the Harmonic Domain is using to obtain a stable state representation of a Static Compensator of VAR’s. The goodness of this method is that it provides and effective, easy and fast manner of obtaining the harmonic contents of the variables.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND PORT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

This paper presents a methodology for selecting performance indicators for evaluating a port's performance with respect to its economic (rather than its engineering) optimum throughput. Performance indicators are choice variables for optimizing the port's economic objective(s) and include the port's prices and operating options (for differentiating service.) If changes in these indicators have opposite effects on port performance, a single (or overall performance indicator is recommended for evaluating a port's performance.
An Analysis on Failure Reasons of Quit Smoking Among Smokers in Beijing Communities----based on a cross sectional study

Objective To understand the reasons for failure of smoking cessation among community smokers in Beijing, and analyze the influencing factors of the reasons for failure to quit, in order to provide a reference for providing smoking cessation guidance services. Method Based on a cross-sectional study, a one-to-one questionnaire was used. The survey included basic demographic information, tobacco use, and past attempts to quit. And descriptive analysis was used to analyze the distribution of the reasons for the failure of smoking cessation. c2 test or Fisher's exact probability method were used to analyze the causes of smoking cessation failure, demographic indicators, tobacco use and other factors. Correspondence analysis was used to further explore the relationship between each factor and the reasons for smoking cessation failure. Result A total of 442 smokers who had tried to quit smoking were investigated. The top three reasons for failure to quit were difficulty in controlling addiction, insufficient self-willingness (54.3%), the effects of other smokers(35.3%), and lack of smoke-free support environment(26.0%). There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of the reasons for failure of smoking cessation among different ages, occupations, and discomforts during smoking cessation(All P<0.05). Correspondence analysis results show that the reasons for failure of smoking cessation among smokers aged 19-30 are mainly work or study stress. There are differences in the reasons why smokers in different occupations fail to quit smoking; The influence of other smokers and the lack of a smoke-free support environment are closely related to the desire to quit during the process of quitting. Conclusion Work or study pressure, the influence of other smokers and the lack of smoke-free support environment are the main reasons for the failure of smoking cessation attempts. Therefore, it is suggested to strengthen education in different occupational places and implement personalized smoking cessation education. It is recommended to provide tips on coping with smoking cessation and alleviating peer pressure in social situations, as well as help for stress coping and negative emotion relief in smoking cessation guidance. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen the shaping of a smoke-free support environment.
Vätskepreferenser hos unga kalvar

Den vanligast forekommande sjukdomen hos unga kalvar med infektios orsak i Sverige ar diarre. Enterit kan leda till uttorkning, acidos, rubbningar i elektrolytbalansen och i varsta fall dodsfall. Snabbt insatt behandling ar avgorande. Till kalvar med fungerande digestionssystem rekommenderas i forsta hand behandling med oral vatsketerapi. Endast lite forskning har utforts om hur kalvar helst dricker sitt vatten. Syftet med den har studien var att jamfora olika satt att tillfora vatten for att utvardera vilket av satten kalvarna foredrog. Hypoteserna som testades var att unga kalvar hellre dricker ur napphink an oppen hink (delstudie 1) och att de hellre dricker ur napphink med mjolkrester i vattnet an napphink med rent vatten om bada alternativen erbjuds samtidigt (delstudie 2). I vardera delstudien samlades material fran 30 kalvar in. For varje kalv gjordes matningar i 5 dagar. Bada alternativen per delstudie erbjods samtidigt och mangden vatska de drack beraknades genom att mata vikten av det erbjudna vattnet och sedan dra bort vikten av kvarvarande vatten. Statistisk analys utfordes med Wilcoxon one sample signed rank test. Kalvarna drack signifikant mer vatten fran napphink an fran oppen hink [T 4,68; p < 0,00006] och signifikant mer vatten fran napphink med mjolkrester an napphink med rent vatten [T 4,52; p < 0,00006]. Medianvarde for genomsnittligt dagligt vattenintag (median over 5 dagar) hos 30 kalvar i vardera delstudien gav for delstudie 1: 3557gram/dag fran napphink och 638 gram/dag fran oppen hink. Motsvarande varden for delstudie 2 var 5690 gram/dag for vatten med mjolkrester och 1779 gram/dag for rent vatten. Resultaten visar att det gar att fa unga kalvar att dricka vatten. For att oka vatskeintag hos unga kalvar ar det bast att erbjuda dem vatten ur napphink och allra helst med mjolkrester kvar i vattnet.
A Cumulative Risk and Resilience Model of Dyslexia

BackgroundMultiple deficit causal models have begun to replace single deficit models in accounting for developmental dyslexia. These models argued that multiple factors combine and/or interact to cause the severe reading difficulties that characterize this disorder. In this paper, we introduce a cumulative risk and protection model that highlights various factors that influence reading achievement in children at risk for dyslexia. MethodsCurrent literature is reviewed that examines risk and resilience factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of severe reading difficulties in children with dyslexia. These factors are organized within a cumulative risk and protection model.ResultsEvidence indicates that deficits in phonological processing, oral language, visual processing, attention, as well as exogenous factors such as trauma increase the probability of dyslexia. Whereas research concerning protective factors is more limited, evidence does suggest that cognitive and socio-emotional resilience and family/peer support can limit the impact of risk factors. ConclusionsA cumulative risk and protection model provides a useful framework for understanding the causal basis of dyslexia. It also has implications for the early identification and intervention of the disorder.
A KIT OF APPS TO IMPROVE AND ASSESS EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND WORKING MEMORY CAPACITY IN PRESCHOOLERS

Several methods for the assessment and training of executive functions and working memory capacity in preschoolers have been developed over previous decades, but despite our digital era, new technologies are seldom addressed. To fill this gap, in the context of the "shareFUN" project, a set of digital games was designed, including measures and training activities for inhibition, shifting, updating and working memory capacity. The games were designed as a kit of apps since preschoolers show a deep interest and a high level of confidence in approaching digital games, mainly on tablets or smartphones. The current paper has the main aim to present this kit and outline further research activities, scheduled within the "shareFUN" project, for the validation of the apps used for assessment and their efficacy for training.
Single photon avalanche diodes in CMOS technology

These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 2814 (2003)Section de microtechniqueFaculte des sciences et techniques de l'ingenieurInstitut de microelectronique et microsystemesJury: Hannes Bleuler, Marc Ilegems, Rudolf Rigler, Rene Salathe, Peter Seitz Public defense: 2003-9-4 Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-2814Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2005-03-16, modified on 2016-08-08
Design, simulation, and stability of a hexapedal running robot

The ability of animals to navigate rough terrain is currently unmatched by their man-made counterparts. Recent studies by biologists have begun to demonstrate some of the principles behind their remarkable capabilities. In particular, studies of cockroaches have shown that they use a feed-forward motor actuation pattern and considerable structural compliance to run quickly over very rough terrain. Their sprawled posture and tuned impedance in their musculoskeletal system enable an instantaneous or ‘preflex’ response to disturbances. This allows for rapid response to the large perturbations experienced when interacting with irregular terrain. Consideration of these principles has led to the design of the Sprawl family of robots, which features one active thruster and one entirely passive rotary joint on each leg. Without these spring elements the robots would not be able to run. With them, they can easily overcome hip-height obstacles without any alteration of their open-loop controller. This thesis describes the development, calibration, and analysis of a three-dimensional dynamic simulation of the Sprawl robots. This simulation was developed as a design tool to investigate the effects of parameter variation, and to gain understanding about how to tune the leg configuration and hip impedance which constitute the self-stabilizing posture of the robot. The simulation is used to characterize the sensitivity of the system's performance to changes in the robots' physical parameters. The key parameters that influence speed and stability are identified, and their effects and the nature of their coupling are investigated. While speed is easy to measure, no universal metric for running stability exists. This thesis discusses four distinct steady-state measures of stability that are applicable to a simulated running robot. The effect of modifying the posture of the robot on stability is investigated for each of these measures. As a demonstration of its utility as a design tool, the simulation is used to tune the performance of one of the Sprawl robots. Changing the leg design according to the model's predictions resulted in a two-fold increase of the robot's speed.
Detección de grietas en placas con técnicas multifrecuencia

Safety is one of the most important feature in the aviation industry, and this involves too many factors. One of these is the aircraft maintenance. Over time, the procedures have been changing, and improving themselves. Non Destructive Testing (NDT) appeared in the late 19th century as a great option, because it enabled to inspect any structure without damaging it. Nowadays, there are several kinds of NDT, but ultrasound is one of the most widely used. This Master Thesis is devoted to an innovative ultrasound technique for crack detection. A technique, whose main aim lies in getting a good location of defects from a few measures, breaking with the currently widespread methods, as phased array. It is not necessary to use trains of waves, only discrete excitations, which means a great saving of time and energy. This work is divided into two steps: the first is to develop a multiphysics simulator, which is able to solve linear elasticity 3D problems (via Finite Element Method, FEM). This simulator allows to obtain in a computationally efficient way the displacement field for different frequencies and excitations. The solution of this elastic problem is needed to be used in the second step, which consists of generating a code that implements a mathematical tool named topological derivative, allowing to locate defects in the studied domain. In this work, the domain is a plate, and the defect is a hidden spherical void. The simulator has been developed using open source software (Elmer, Gmsh, .), achieving a highly versatile simulator, which allows to change the configuration easily: domain size and shape, number and position of transducers, etc. Just one comercial software is used, Matlab. It is used to implement the topological derivative. In this work, the performance of the method is tested in several examples comparing the results when one or more frequencies are considered for different configurations of emisors/receptors.
One- and Two-Dimensional Benchmark Results from Pacific Engineering and Analysis

A finite-source stochastic one-dimensional ground motion model, coupled to vertically propagating equivalent-linear shear-wave site response models was used to estimate the ground motions for the one- and two-dimensional benchmarks. This model has been validated for nineteen well-recorded earthquakes, M 5.6 to 7.6 at over 600 sites. Median peak accelerations ranging from 0.115 g (at station R01) to 0.218 g (at station R09) are estimated at the nine surface sites for the two-dimensional benchmark (S1 M6) from a non-linear analysis incorporating EPRI modulus-reduction and damping curves and parametric uncertainty. Median values of peak acceleration, velocity and displacement along with the16 th to 84 th percentile ranges in parenthesis at R05 are 0.14 g (0.109 to 0.184 g), 20.3. cm/sec (14.7 to 28.0 cm/sec) and 8.9 cm (5.3 to 15.2 cm). Corresponding values from the linear analysis are 0.22 g (0.165 to 0.293 g), 21.1 cm/sec (15.5 to 28.7 cm/sec) and 8.7 cm (5.1 to 14.8 cm). Median values of peak acceleration, velocity and displacement along with the 16 th to 84 th percentile ranges in parenthesis at R10 (at depth) are 0.072 g (0.057 to 0.090 g), 6.4. cm/sec (5.1 to 8.0 cm/sec) and 3.4 cm (2.5 to 4.7 cm). Median values of peak acceleration along with the 16 th to 84 th percentile ranges in parenthesis at R05 and R10 for the M 2.9 (W1) are 0.0124 g (0.0098 to 0.0156 g) and 0.0046 g (0.0041 to 0.0052 g), respectively.
Growth breeding value redistributes weight to the saddle region of lamb carcasses

Increased growth rate and carcass lean meat yield % are key profit drivers for the lamb industry, however redistributing lean tissue to more highly priced parts of the carcase will also increase its value. Faster growing lambs are known to be leaner and less mature at slaughter. Therefore we hypothesised that selection for growth using the Australian Sheep Breeding Value (ASBV) for greater post weaning weight (PWWT) would increase whole carcase lean weight, when animals are compared at the same carcase weight. Lamb carcases (n=1,218) from the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus were scanned in sections (fore, saddle, and hind) using Computed Tomography (CT) to determine fat lean and bone weights. Data was analysed using the log-linearised allometric equation logy = log a + b.logx. Fixed effects were site-year, sex sire type, birth-type rear-type and kill group within site-year, with random terms sire and dam by year. For the same carcass weight PWWT caused no composition differences, except in female lambs which had 3.3% more carcase lean (P<0.01) across the 25 unis PWWT range. Alternatively for the same fat, lean or bone weight these tissues were all proportionately heavier in the saddle region of the high PWWT lambs by 3%, 7%, and 16% across the PWWT range. Aligning with our hypothesis, PWWT was associated with increased total carcase lean, although only in females. Unexpectedly, PWWT caused a redistribution of carcass tissues to the saddle region, particularly for bone and lean, implying an altered conformation in these high growth lambs. Conflicting with the premise of our hypothesis, these effects appear to be independent of maturity as there was no whole body increase in bone weight. Furthermore loin muscle myoglobin concentration in the high PWWT lambs was increased (by 0.03±0.018 mg/g tissue) rather than decreased as would be expected in a less mature animal, In conclusion, PWWT redistributes carcase weight to the saddle region of lambs.
Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation

Getting under your skin, or, How design thinking is about more than style -- Converting need into demand, or, Putting people first -- A mental matrix, or, "These people have no process! " -- Building to think, or, The power of prototyping -- Returning to the surface, or, The design of experiences -- Spreading the message, or, The importance of storytelling -- Design thinking meets the corporation, or, Teaching to fish -- The new social contract, or, We're all in this together -- Design activism, or, Inspiring solutions with global potential -- Designing tomorrow--today.
Affirmation-Tapping to Reduce Pain Perception and Glutamate Serum Levels of Post-cesarean Patients

Introduction: Affirmation, by praying and positive evaluation accompanied by acupoint stimulation, has been shown to reduce pain in postoperative patients. In other studies, affirmations can reduce chronic pain due to the down-regulation performance of Glutamate receptors. Acupuncture can reduce pain complaints by modulating Glutamate at the spinal level. So it is suspected that affirmation-tapping can reduce post-surgical pain due to modulation of Glutamate; however clinical studies have not been conducted. The aim is to compare the pain perception of postoperative patients given affirmation-tapping therapy with other treatment patients as complementary nursing interventions. This is to see if the modulation of the performance of serum Glutamate levels is different from other treatments. Methods: We used a randomized post-test control group design that was performed parallel in post-cesarean patients. A sample of 40 patients was divided into four groups (10 in affirmations, 10 in tapping, 10 in affirmation-tapping and 10 in controls). They were obtained through simple random sampling. The instruments included affirmation-tapping guides, Elisa kits and McGill Melzack Pain’s short questionnaire form (MPQ-sf). The independent variable was the affirmation-tapping intervention and the dependent variable was the perception of pain and Glutamate serum level. Data were analyzed using simple linear regression. Results: The average of Glutamate levels in the Affirmation-tapping treatment group was lower (0. 034±0. 004) pg/mL and significantly different (Sig=0.00) from other groups (0. 056±0. 011) pg/mL. Conclusion: Affirmation-tapping as a complementary nursing intervention decreases pain perception and Glutamate serum levels in patients post-cesarean section that supports conventional treatment. Affirmation-tapping is recommended as an intervention to overcome pain perception in postoperative nursing patients who support conventional treatment.
Foreign Residency Rights and Overseas Investment

ABSTRACT We examine whether firms in the emerging market whose controlling persons have foreign residency rights are more likely to invest overseas inefficiently. Using a sample from China’s private listed companies in 2010–2017, we find a positive association between foreign residency rights and overseas investment. The association is more pronounced in controlling persons without actual overseas experience, and the overseas investment performance is worse. The finding is robust to alternative measures and controlling for endogeneity. Overall, our study contributes to the literature on foreign residency rights in the emerging market by providing empirical evidence that the foreign residency rights of controlling persons in China induce inefficient overseas investment.
Behavioural Response of Anacanthotermes ochraceus towards Some Baits and Volatile Oils

Six types of termites' baits (cartoon, rough tissues, soft toilet tissues, acacia wood, saw dust of building wood and sackcloth) were elicited variable degree of attraction toward Anacanthotermes ochaceus, where the best one was cardboard, followed by soft and rough toilet tissue at mono-choice and multiple-choice tests. Chemical analysis showed that there were variations in the chemical constituents (lignin, cellulose, N, H and C) of the six baits studied. On the other hand, olfactory reactions of harvester termites toward eight volatile oils (four natural medical plants and four commercial terpines) were repellent, but the most repellent one was cineol and the least one was clove oil. The most tested oils were caused inhibition in feeding, except cedar wood. The most toxic oils were cineol followed by thymol.
Standard commercial education robotic platform: intermediate solution to teaching robotics

Teaching robotics to students at the beginning of their studies has become a huge challenge. Simulation environments can be an effective solution to that challenge where students can interact with simulated robots and have the first contact with robotic constraints. From our previous experience with simulation environments it was possible to observe that students with lower background knowledge in robotics where able to deal with a limited number of constraints, implement a simulated robotic platform and study several sensors. The question is: after this first phase what should be the best approach? Should the student start developing their own hardware? Hardware development is a very important part of an engineer's education but it can also be a difficult phase that could lead to discouragement and loss of motivation in some students. Considering the previous constraints and first year engineering students’ high abandonment rate it is important to develop teaching strategies to deal with this problem in a feasible way. The solution that we propose is the integration of a low-cost standard robotic platform WowWee Rovio as an intermediate solution between the simulation phase and the stage where the students can develop their own robots. This approach will allow the students to keep working in robotic areas such as: cooperative behaviour, perception, navigation and data fusion. The propose approach proved to be a motivation step not only for the students but also for the teachers. Students and teachers were able to reach an agreement between the level of demand imposed by the teachers and satisfaction/motivation of the students.