Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelización numérica del comportamiento constitutivo del daño local y global y su correlación con la evolución de las frecuencias naturales en estructuras de hormigón reforzado

Esta tesis surge de la necesidad de establecer un método racional y práctico para identificar, a través del cambio de las frecuencias naturales , el daño en estructuras de hormigón armado. Por lo que se desarrolla un nuevo modelo constitutivo de daño diferenciado con dos variables internas de daño utilizando una única superficie de discontinuidad para tracción, compresión y cortante; asimismo, se plantea un procedimiento numérico para el cálculo de las frecuencias naturales con sus formas modales de vibración para diferentes estados de daño de estructuras de hormigón armado; se presenta una metodología para correlacionar daño global y frecuencias naturales . Esta tesis se desarrollará en el marco del análisis de estructuras y la mecánica computacional, particularmente, del análisis de materiales compuestos utilizando la teoría de mezclas serie/paralelo. Los resultados numéricos obtenidos se han comparado con resultados experimentales y numéricos obtenidos de la literatura, se ha observado buenos ajustes de los resultados This thesis emerges from the need to establish a rational and smart method to estimate the global damage through changes on eigenfrequency of concrete structures. Therefore, a new constitutive damage model is developed with two scalar inner variables and using only one surface of discontinuity to traction, compression and shear. Additionally, a numerical process has been proposed to calculate eigenfrequencies and eigenvectors of concrete structure with different levels of damage. A methodology to correlation ship between global damage and changes on e1genfrequencies has been proposed. This thesis is based on structural analysis and computational mechanics and, particularly, on analysis of composite materials using serial/parallel mix theory. The numerical results obtained in this thesis is have been compared with experimental and numerical results obtained of literature, and can be seen a good fit.
Dyslexia and corpus callosum morphology.

OBJECTIVE There is evolving evidence that developmental dyslexia is associated with anomalous cerebral morphology in the bilateral frontal and left temporoparietal regions. This study examined the morphology of the corpus callosum, as possible deviations in other important structures are poorly understood in this behaviorally diagnosed syndrome. DESIGN Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from children with developmental dyslexia and from matched control children. Morphometric measurements were examined to determine if regional differences existed in the corpus callosum between these two groups of children. SETTING Magnetic resonance imaging studies were completed at Athens (Ga) Magnetic Imaging. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS Sixteen developmental dyslexic children (mean age, 9.7 years) and a matched sample of children who were diagnosed as being normal were examined by using a reliable comprehensive diagnostic process. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Using a midsagittal magnetic resonance imaging scan, corpus callosum morphology was evaluated by segmenting the corpus callosum into five regions of interest. RESULTS Analysis of the corpus callosum revealed that the anterior region of interest (the genu) was significantly smaller in the dyslexic children. Significant correlations existed between reading achievement and the region-of-interest measurements for the genu and splenium. Measured intelligence, chronologic age, and gender were not related to region-of-interest measurements of the corpus callosum. Consistent with previous studies, the dyslexic individuals were characterized by significant psychiatric comorbidity, particularly attention-deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity. Reported familial left-handedness also distinguished the dyslexic children. CONCLUSIONS Subtle neurodevelopmental variation in the morphology of the corpus callosum may be associated with the difficulty that dyslexic children experience in reading and on tasks involving interhemispheric transfer.
Deer antlers: a zoological curiosity or the key to understanding organ regeneration in mammals?

Many organisms are able to regenerate lost or damaged body parts that are structural and functional replicates of the original. Eventually these become fully integrated into pre‐existing tissues. However, with the exception of deer, mammals have lost this ability. Each spring deer shed antlers that were used for fighting and display during the previous mating season. Their loss is triggered by a fall in circulating testosterone levels, a hormonal change that is linked to an increase in day length. A complex ‘blastema‐like’ structure or ‘antler‐bud’ then forms; however, unlike the regenerative process in the newt, most evidence (albeit indirect) suggests that this does not involve reversal of the differentiated state but is stem cell based. The subsequent re‐growth of antlers during the spring and summer months is spectacular and represents one of the fastest rates of organogenesis in the animal kingdom. Longitudinal growth involves endochondral ossification in the tip of each antler branch and bone growth around the antler shaft is by intramembranous ossification. As androgen concentrations rise in late summer, longitudinal growth stops, the skin (velvet) covering the antler is lost and antlers are ‘polished’ in preparation for the mating season. Although the timing of the antler growth cycle is clearly closely linked to circulating testosterone, oestrogen may be a key cellular regulator, as it is in the skeleton of other male mammals. We still know very little about the molecular machinery required for antler regeneration, although there is evidence that developmental signalling pathways with pleiotropic functions are important and that novel ‘antler‐specific’ molecules may not exist. Identifying these pathways and factors, deciphering their interactions and how they are regulated by environmental cues could have an important impact on human health if this knowledge is applied to the engineering of new human tissues and organs.
Is 'Arming the Future' with Geoengineering Really the Lesser Evil? Some Doubts About the Ethics of Intentionally Manipulating the Climate System

The term geoengineering lacks a precise definition, but is widely held to imply the intentional manipulation of the environment on a global scale. Proposals to geoengineer our way out of the climate crisis have not achieved much traction in the last twenty years. But in 2006 the climate scientist Paul Crutzen, a Nobel Laureate, reignited the debate by arguing that so far our response to climate change has been so dismal that we should start preparing for the nightmare scenario where we are forced to choose between attempting geoengineering and allowing a catastrophe to occur. In such a scenario, Crutzen claims, geoengineering should be chosen as “the lesser evil. ” Given this, he argues, we should start doing serious research now on how best to geoengineer, so that we can “arm the future” with the right technology. My main aim in this paper is to outline some of the ethical issues which complicate this argument for geoengineering. As a secondary matter, I argue for three more specific conclusions. First, the Arm the Future Argument assumes much that is contentious, and is overly narrow in its conclusions. Second, the Argument obscures much of what is at stake in the ethics of geoengineering, including what it means to call something an “evil,” and whether doing evil has further moral implications. Third, the Argument arises in a troubling context: climate change is a perfect moral storm. This implies that its role in the current debate should be viewed with suspicion.
Online Tool Condition Monitoring Based on Parsimonious Ensemble+

Existing methodologies for tool condition monitoring (TCM) still rely on batch approaches which cannot cope with a fast sampling rate of a metal cutting process. Furthermore, they require a retraining process to be completed from scratch when dealing with a new set of machining parameters. This paper presents an online TCM approach based on Parsimonious Ensemble+ (pENsemble+). The unique feature of pENsemble+ lies in its highly flexible principle where both the ensemble structure and base-classifier structure can automatically grow and shrink on the fly based on the characteristics of data streams. Moreover, the online feature selection scenario is integrated to actively sample relevant input attributes. This paper presents advancement of a newly developed ensemble learning algorithm, pENsemble, where the online active learning scenario is incorporated to reduce the operator’s labeling effort. The ensemble merging scenario is proposed which allows reduction of ensemble complexity while retaining its diversity. Experimental studies utilizing two real-world manufacturing data streams: 1) metal turning and 2) 3-D-printing processes and comparisons with well-known algorithms were carried out. Furthermore, the efficacy of pENsemble+ was examined using benchmark concept drift data streams. It has been found that pENsemble+ incurs low structural complexity and results in a significant reduction of the operator’s labeling effort.
Strategies to Reduce Employee Turnover in a National Grocery Chain

Strategies to Reduce Employee Turnover in a National Grocery Chain by Tracy A. Haney MS, Keller Graduate School of Management, 2013 BS, Calvary Bible College & Theological Seminary, 1992 Final Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University June 2018
Multifrontal Computation with the Orthogonal Factors of Sparse Matrices

This paper studies the solution of the linear least squares problem for a large and sparse $m$ by $n$ matrix $A$ with $m \ge n$ by $QR$ factorization of $A$ and transformation of the right-hand side vector $b$ to $Q^Tb$. A multifrontal-based method for computing $Q^Tb$ using Householder factorization is presented. A theoretical operation count for the $K$ by $K$ unbordered grid model problem and problems defined on graphs with $\sqrt{n}$-separators shows that the proposed method requires $O(N_R)$ storage and multiplications to compute $Q^Tb$, where $N_R=O(n \log n)$ is the number of nonzeros of the upper triangular factor $R$ of $A$. In order to introduce BLAS-2 operations, Schreiber and Van Loan's storage-efficient WY representation [SIAM J. Sci. Stat. Comput. , 10 (1989), pp. 53--57] is applied for the orthogonal factor $Q_i$ of each frontal matrix $F_i$. If this technique is used, the bound on storage increases to $O(n(\log n)^2)$. Some numerical results for the grid model problems as well as Harwell--Boeing problems are provided.
Incidence and predictors of secondary fibromyalgia in an early arthritis cohort

Objectives Secondary fibromyalgia (FM) is common among patients with inflammatory arthritis, but little is known about its incidence and the factors leading to its development. The authors examined the incidence of secondary FM in an early inflammatory arthritis cohort, and assessed the association between pain, inflammation, psychosocial variables and the clinical diagnosis of FM. Methods Data from 1487 patients in the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort, a prospective, observational Canadian cohort of early inflammatory arthritis patients were analysed. Diagnoses of FM were determined by rheumatologists. Incidence rates were calculated, and Cox regression models were used to determine HRs for FM risk. Results The cumulative incidence rate was 6.77 (95% CI 5.19 to 8.64) per 100 person-years during the first 12 months after inflammatory arthritis diagnosis, and decreased to 3.58 (95% CI 1.86 to 6.17) per 100 person-years 12–24 months after arthritis diagnosis. Pain severity (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.46) and poor mental health (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.62) predicted FM risk. Citrullinated peptide positivity (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.88) was associated with decreased FM risk. Serum inflammatory markers and swollen joint count were not significantly associated with FM risk. Conclusions The incidence of FM was from 3.58 to 6.77 cases per 100 person-years, and was highest during the first 12 months after diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. Although inflammation was not associated with the clinical diagnosis of FM, pain severity and poor mental health were associated with the clinical diagnosis of FM. Seropositivity was inversely associated with the clinical diagnosis of FM.
Distributed binary hypothesis testing with feedback

The problem of binary hypothesis testing is revisited in the context of distributed detection with feedback. Two basic distributed structures with decision feedback are considered. The first structure is the fusion center network, with decision feedback connections from the fusion center element to each one of the subordinate decisionmakers. The second structure consists of a set of detectors that are fully interconnected via decision feedback. Both structures are optimized in the Neyman-Pearson sense by optimizing each decision-maker individually. Then, the time evolution of the power of the tests is derived. Definite conclusions regarding the gain induced by the feedback process and direct comparisons between the two structures and the optimal centralized scheme are obtained through asymptotic studies (that is, assuming the presence of asymptotically many local detectors). The behavior of these structures is also examined in the presence of variations in the statistical description of the hypotheses. Specific robust designs are proposed and the benefits from robust operations are established. Numerical results provide additional support to the theoretical arguments. >
The Three Levels of the Digital Divide: Barriers in Access, Use and Utility of Internet among Young People in Spain

This paper explores the three levels of digital divide among young people living in the region of Madrid (Spain). We use a qualitative approach, based on 20 in-depth interviews, in order to describe the personal process of Internet appropriation among this collective, taking into account the differences associated to gender, age, education, geographical habitat and type of technology use. Taking into account the three levels of the digital divide, we explore 5 important barriers (access, skills, motivation, emotions and utility) that influence the type of use of digital technologies by young people. We conclude that, even among youngsters who frequently use digital technologies, there are important asymmetries and barriers that limit the utility they can get from them, related to their sociocultural background and their personal processes of technological socialization.
Influencing perception of justice to leverage behavioral outcome: A perspective from restaurant service failure setting

Abstract This study evaluates a theoretical framework exploring the factors that influence restaurant customers’ positive-word-of-mouth behavior after a service failure and recovery experience. Anchored in the theoretical framework of justice theory and expectation disconfirmation theory (Oliver 1977), the authors’ research examines the complex interrelationships among different factors related to restaurant customers’ post-complaint behavioral process. To assess the proposed framework, they used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on survey data. This research adds to the quality management body of knowledge by: a) examining the roles of recovery disconfirmation and recovery satisfaction in influencing restaurant customers’ involvement in positive-word-of-mouth (PWOM) behavior; b) equipping quality management practitioners with insights into how to tailor their strategy to particular customer segments through the use of multi-group analysis and importance-performance map analysis; c) providing strategic tactics to improve the current relationship between the customer and the service-provider and to foster an improved market position. Findings suggest that quality professionals should aim to maximize the influence of restaurant customers’ perception of justice on their post-complaint behavior through the development of dual mediators: recovery satisfaction and recovery disconfirmation. Thus, the authors’ research provides insights that can help quality professionals influence restaurant customers’ post-complaint behavior in a positive way.
End Node Security and Trust vulnerabilities in the Smart City Infrastructure

As cities gradually introduce intelligence in their core services and infrastructure thus becoming “ smart cities ” , they are deploying new Information Technology devices in the urban grid that are interconnected to a broad network. The main focus of widely implemented smart cities ’ services was the operation of sensors and smart devices across city areas that need low energy consumption and high connectivity. However, as 5G technologies are gradually been adopted in the smart city infrastructure thus solving that problem, the fundamental issue of addressing security becomes dominant. While latest network topologies and standards include security functions thus giving an illusion of security, there is little focus on the fact that many smart city end nodes cannot realize all security specifications without additional help. In this paper, we discuss briefly smart city security issues and focus on problem and security requirement that need to be address in the smart city end nodes, the sensors and actuators deployed within the city ’ s grid. In this paper, attacks that cannot be thwarted by traditional cybersecurity solutions are discussed and countermeasures based on hardware are suggested in order to achieve a high level of trust. Also, the danger of microarchitectural and side channel attacks on these devices is highlighted and protection approaches are discussed.
A comparison of cranial base growth in Class I and Class II skeletal patterns.

The purpose of this retrospective longitudinal study was to compare 7 cephalometric measurements of the cranial base in subjects with Class I and Class II skeletal patterns at ages 1 month, 2 years, and 14 years. A sample of 22 Class I and 21 Class II subjects was selected; the inclusion criteria were overjet, ANB, and Harvold unit difference. Analyses of head circumference, crown-rump length, and weight revealed no significant (P >.15) differences between the Class I and Class II infant subjects at the initial age (1 month). One angular and 6 linear measurements were first compared with a multivariate analysis of variance, which revealed significant effects for age (P <.0001) and the age by skeletal pattern interaction (P =.0266) but not for skeletal pattern (P =.3705). Analyses of variance showed significant (P <.0001) age effects for each of the cephalometric variables but no significant skeletal pattern effects (P >.10). The anterior cranial base measurement of nasion to sphenoethmoidal suture was the only variable found to have a significant age by skeletal pattern interaction (P <.006), which revealed a difference in the timing of its growth spurt that occurred between 1 month and 2 years in the Class I subjects and between 2 years and 14 years in the Class II subjects. There were no significant differences between the skeletal classes at any of the 3 ages evaluated. Conclusions from this study indicate that cranial base growth patterns are similar for Class I and Class II subjects and that the premise of a more obtuse "saddle angle" or cranial base angle in Class II skeletal patterns was not supported.
Change in Alcohol Effect and Self-Efficacy Expectancies During Addiction Treatment

Alcohol effect expectancies and situational self-efficacy are important factors in addiction relapse. The extent to which these cognitive factors change during alcohol treatment and the relations between change in these two domains may facilitate our understanding of the transition out of addictive lifestyles. To evaluate such change, 101 male and female participants in an abstinence focused inpatient alcohol and drug treatment program completed measures of alcohol effect expectancies (AEQ) and self-efficacy (SCQ) during the first and fourth (final) week of inpatient treatment. Analyses confirmed our predictions that alcohol effect expectancies and self-efficacy were inversely correlated at the beginning of treatment, and that both alcohol expectancies and self-efficacy changed significantly during the four-week treatment program. Larger decreases in alcohol effect expectancies were evident for individuals who entered treatment with less confidence in their ability to resist drinking compared to those with more confidence in potential drinking situations. Results suggest that both expectancies and self-efficacy are useful factors to target in alcohol treatment.
Advanced Features in Protocol Verification: Theory, Properties, and Efficiency in Maude-NPA

The area of formal analysis of cryptographic protocols has been an active one since the mid 80's. The idea is to verify communication protocols that use encryption to guarantee secrecy and that use authentication of data to ensure security. Formal methods are used in protocol analysis to provide formal proofs of security, and to uncover bugs and security flaws that in some cases had remained unknown long after the original protocol publication, such as the case of the well known Needham-Schroeder Public Key (NSPK) protocol. In this thesis we tackle problems regarding the three main pillars of protocol verification: modelling capabilities, verifiable properties, and efficiency. This thesis is devoted to investigate advanced features in the analysis of cryptographic protocols tailored to the Maude-NPA tool. This tool is a model-checker for cryptographic protocol analysis that allows the incorporation of different equational theories and operates in the unbounded session model without the use of data or control abstraction. An important contribution of this thesis is relative to theoretical aspects of protocol verification in Maude-NPA. First, we define a forwards operational semantics, using rewriting logic as the theoretical framework and the Maude programming language as tool support. This is the first time that a forwards rewriting-based semantics is given for Maude-NPA. Second, we also study the problem that arises in cryptographic protocol analysis when it is necessary to guarantee that certain terms generated during a state exploration are in normal form with respect to the protocol equational theory. We also study techniques to extend Maude-NPA capabilities to support the verification of a wider class of protocols and security properties. First, we present a framework to specify and verify sequential protocol compositions in which one or more child protocols make use of information obtained from running a parent protocol. Second, we present a theoretical framework to specify and verify protocol indistinguishability in Maude-NPA. This kind of properties aim to verify that an attacker cannot distinguish between two versions of a protocol: for example, one using one secret and one using another, as it happens in electronic voting protocols. Finally, this thesis contributes to improve the efficiency of protocol verification in Maude-NPA. We define several techniques which drastically reduce the state space, and can often yield a finite state space, so that whether the desired security property holds or not can in fact be decided automatically, in spite of the general undecidability of such problems.