Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Strain Rate and Temperature on Physical Mechanical Properties and Energy Dissipation Features of Granite

Dynamic compression tests of granite after thermal shock were performed using the split Hopkinson pressure bar system, to determine the effects of strain rate and temperature on the dynamic mechanical parameters, energy dissipation features and failure modes of granite. The results indicate that the dynamic compressive strength increased exponentially with strain rate and decreased with increasing temperature. Temperature and incident energy can equivalently transform for the same dynamic compressive strength. Dynamic elastic modulus of granite decreased obviously with increasing temperature but did not have a clear correlation with strain rate. As the impact gas pressure increased, the stress-strain curves changed from Class II to Class I behavior, and the failure modes of specimens transformed from slightly split to completely pulverized. The critical temperature at which the stress-strain curves changed from Class II to Class I was determined to be 300 °C, when the impact gas pressure is 0.6 MPa. As the applied temperature increased, density, wave velocity and wave impedance all decreased, meanwhile, the degree of granite specimen crushing was aggravated. Under the same incident energy, as the temperature increased, the reflected energy increased notably and the absorbed energy increased slightly, but the transmitted energy decreased. For the same temperature, the reflected and absorbed energies increased linearly as the incident energy increased, whereas the transmitted energy increased logarithmically. The SEM images of the thermal crack distribution on the granite specimen surface at different temperatures can well explain the essence of mechanical parameters deterioration of granite after thermal shock. This work can provide guidance for impact crushing design of high temperature rocks during excavations.
Syntactic, Semantic and Discourse Effects on the Processing of Scrambled Japanese Sentences

In Japanese sentences, the default word order is ‘subject-object-verb’ (SOV). However, Japanese allows scrambling of noun phrases (NPs), for example ‘object-subject-verb’ (OSV) as opposed to the unscrambled default order. Two self-paced reading experiments in the moving window paradigm were conducted to test the effects of syntax, semantics and discourse in native Japanese and native English speakers’ processing of scrambled Japanese sentences. The first experiment examined how the syntactic factor (NP order) and semantic factor (NP animacy) affect processing of Japanese sentences. Results revealed that animacy difference between the subject-NP and object-NP contributes more to native English speakers’ processing than default SOV word order, whereas no such difference was found for native Japanese speakers. The second experiment examined the discourse effect in processing of scrambled OSV sentences. The experiment revealed that the processing of Japanese scrambled sentences is facilitated by the preceding context for both native Japanese and English speakers.
Water use efficiency in Western Australian cropping systems

Abstract. Rotations and associated management practices in rainfed farming systems of southwest Australia have shifted towards intensified cropping. Survey data from 184 fields spanning 14 Mha of southwest Australia were used to document water use efficiency (WUE) and water-limited yield potential (WLYP) of commercial crops and crop sequences and identify biophysical variables influencing WUE. WUE achieved in commercial wheat crops was 10.7 kg grain/ha.mm. Using a boundary function Ywl = 25 × (WU − 45), farmers achieved 54% of WLYP. Climate variables affected WUE more than management and biotic variates, the highest latitude region having WUE of 9.0 kg grain/ha.mm, compared to 11.8 kg grain/ha.mm for regions further south. Increased soil nitrogen and nitrogen fertiliser increased WUE, as did sowing earlier; in keeping with farmers in southern Australia sowing crops earlier and trebling fertiliser nitrogen usage since 1990. Wheat yield and WUE increased a small amount after break crop or pasture (12.5 kg grain/ha.mm) compared to wheat grown after wheat (11.2 kg grain/ha.mm), due to good weed and root pathogen control, and high fertiliser nitrogen application. However, WUE of wheat declined to 8.4 kg grain/ha.mm when more than three wheat crops were grown in succession. Farmers continue to improve WUE with increased inputs and new technologies replacing some traditional functions of break crops and pasture. However, break crops and pastures are still required within the rotation to maintain WUE and break effects need to be measured over several years.
Preparation and Quality Evaluation of Biscuits from Mango Seed Kernel-Acha Flour Blends

Production and quality evaluation of biscuits from mango seed kernel-Acha flour blend were studied. The biscuits were formulated with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 50% of mango seed kernel (magnifera indica) flour with acha flour. The biscuits were prepared from the flour blends with other ingredient (fat, salt, baking powder and sugar) and evaluated for chemical composition, physical and sensory properties. The moisture, ash, protein and carbohydrate content decreased from 14.79-9.03, 2.37-2.17, 16.85-15.5 and 58.08-56.70, while the fat and fibre content increased from 5.67-8.99 and 0.40-0.90 respectively with increased in the level of mango seed kernel flour addition. Minerals and vitamins content result indicated increasing level of potassium, magnesium, vitamin A and vitamin K (256.31-486.43, 11.26-12.35, 0.01-0.07 and 0.02-0.51mg/g) respectively with increased in mango seed kernel flour. While decreased level of calcium and vitamin C were 1.10-0.66 and 1.65-1.27 with increased mango seed kernel flour addition. Physical properties result indicated a decreased in the weight, height diameters, thickness and break strength 24.95-21.90, 3.15 - 2.85, 5.25 - 4.85, 1.15 - 0.75 and 1.45-0.30 respectively, spread ratio and volume 5.25-6.25 and 21.66-22.91 of the biscuit sample increased with increased in mango seed kernel flour addition. In sensory evaluation, biscuits containing 10% mango kernel flour had the highest sensory score for all sensory attribute. The biscuit blends were generally accepted up to 15% but most preferred and accepted blend biscuits is that of the 100% acha and 100% wheat flour. The mango seed kernel incorporation had significant effect and could contribute to the improvement of the flour blend biscuits.
A Framework for the Development of Scalable Heterogeneous Robot Teams with Dynamically Distributed Processing

As the applications of mobile robotics evolve it has become increasingly less practical for researchers to design custom hardware and control systems for each problem. This research presents a new approach to control system design that looks beyond end-of-lifecycle performance and considers control system structure, flexibility, and extensibility. Toward these ends the Control ad libitum philosophy is proposed, stating that to make significant progress in the realworld application of mobile robot teams the control system must be structured such that teams can be formed in real-time from diverse components. The Control ad libitum philosophy was applied to the design of the HAA (Host, Avatar, Agent) architecture: a modular hierarchical framework built with provably correct distributed algorithms. A control system for exploration and mapping, search and deploy, and foraging was developed to evaluate the architecture in three sets of hardware-in-the-loop experiments. First, the basic functionality of the HAA architecture was studied, specifically the ability to: a) dynamically form the control system, b) dynamically form the robot team, c) dynamically form the processing network, and d) handle heterogeneous teams. Secondly, the real-time performance of the distributed algorithms was tested, and proved effective for the moderate sized systems tested.
Stuarts Draft High School: Quantitative Study Evaluating the Ninth-Grade Transition Program

The purpose of this study was to determine if a transition program had an effect on the academic and social issues that at-risk ninth graders face as they transition to high school. A case study approach based on archival data was used to explore differences in the treatment and control groups. These groups were measured by grade point average (GPA), absences, tardies to school, course failures, discipline referrals, verified credits, and dropouts. Freshman retention, poor attendance, high failure rates, Standards of Learning (SOL) failures, and discipline problems are some of the issues facing at-risk ninth graders as they transition to high school. These issues can contribute to higher dropout rates, therefore making it more difficult to compete in today’s workforce. As we prepare our students to compete in today’s global economy, it is necessary to examine the current practices that high schools are utilizing to improve student outcomes, and to prepare more effectively for the higher expectations of today’s workforce and educational institutions. This quantitative study examined the success of the Academic Careers and Technology (A.C.T.) class at Stuarts Draft High School, a yearlong ninth-grade transition program designed for at-risk students that was first implemented in 2003. The A.C. T. program was designed to provide ninth-grade at-risk students with the skills necessary for making a successful transition from middle school to high school and for continued success in their remaining high school career. The curriculum included extended time on reading comprehension, writing, and organizational and study skills. Additionally, technology integration, conflict resolution, and an adult mentor program were included in the curriculum.
Dark current quantization in CCD image sensors

We have investigated the effects of deliberate heavy metal contamination on dark current and image defects in charge-coupled device (CCD) imagers. Analysis of dark current in these imager wafers has revealed at least four deep-level traps and their distinctive quantized dark current peaks. We have identified three of the traps as due to gold, nickel, and cobalt. By analyzing the dark current "spectrum" obtained for extended integration times, these contaminants can be identified and detected with a sensitivity of 1.0E+9 traps/cm/sup 3/ or better using standard image-testing equipment. <<ETX>>
Performance of Type III stilling basins for stepped spillways

Energy dissipation within hydraulic structures continues to be one of the major issues facing the designer of new or rehabilitated facilities, such as for overtopping protection of embankment dams. The energy dissipation characteristics of stepped spillways have been well documented, both for lowand high-head dams. Interestingly, much of the generalized research on stepped channels and spillways over the past few decades, while concerned with the amount of energy dissipated on the steps themselves, has contributed very little to generalized design criteria for terminal dissipation structures/stilling basins. Many site specific studies have included work on modifications to stilling basins to account for the increased energy dissipation on the steps, typically resulting in a shortening of the basin length. Others have included some stilling basin parameters within their studies. A few studies have attempted to provide generalized design guidance for the use of specific types of stilling basins with stepped chutes and spillways. This paper will focus on recent studies at the Reclamation laboratory that evaluated the application of smooth channel design criteria for Type III stilling basins to a variety of stepped spillway slopes. While there is a lack of specific generalized studies for stilling basin performance over the range of all types of stepped spillways that exist, there appears to be adequate data available to allow the designer to select and size an appropriate stilling basin for most types of stepped spillways currently in use, including RCC overtopping protection systems.
Pining for home: Studying crew homesickness aboard a cruise liner

Most people can experience homesickness at some time, when they move away from their home base. The experience of working onboard a cruise liner can intensify these feelings, because of the enclosed and controlled nature of work and living space. This study reports on the incidence of homesickness where the crewmembers originate from very different cultural contexts than the one in which they work. Findings in this research suggest that whereas a large number of crew experienced homesickness sometimes, a substantial minority feel homesick very often, frequently or always. Crew homesickness should be seen as important by both shipboard and liner company management because it can ultimately impact on customer service experiences, and can be ameliorated by sensitive management policies and practices.
Essays in search theory

This thesis consists of three papers on search theory. Chapter 2 studies stationary cutoff-strategy equilibria of a dynamic market model where buyers sample sellers sequentially from an unknown distribution. Buyers learn about the distribution from the sampled sellers and a private "trade signal". The trade signal reveals whether a randomly chosen seller traded yesterday. The signal's precision and the market distribution of options are determined in equilibrium. Observing a trade (as opposed to no trade) is good news about the distribution. Buyers who observe a trade use a higher cutoff than buyers who observe no trade, despite buyers' learning from sampled sellers that puts a countervailing pressure on the cutoffs. The trade signal may reduce market effciency, while an appropriate exogenous signal increases effciency. Chapter 3 extends the standard sequential search model by allowing the agent who inspects items sequentially (the "searcher") to differ from the agent who chooses from the set of inspected items (the "chooser"). I show for a general joint distribution of the agents' preferences that the searcher's optimal policy is a cutoff rule. The cutoff is weakly decreasing in time, i.e., exhibits the "discouragement effect". I characterise the cutoff and discuss some testable implications of the discouragement effect. Chapter 4 relaxes the standard sequential search model's assumption that the searching agent makes no choice mistakes. In my model, once the agent stops the search process, she chooses the best inspected item with probability 1-e and uniformly among the remaining inspected items with probability e. I show that her optimal policy is a stochastic cutoff rule and that she may both experience regret and search longer than an agent who makes no mistakes.
Examination of Harmonics in Power Systems with Embedded Power Electronic Converters during Transients and Steady State

Examination of Harmonics in Power Systems with Embedded Power Electronic Converters during Transients and Steady State Farhad Yahyaie Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto 2016 Rapid growth in the renewable energy sector and the upcoming growth of the electrical energy storage sector are resulting in an ever-growing number of grid-connected power converters. These converters inject harmonic currents into the grid that can lead to unacceptable levels of harmonic pollution during both transients and steady state. To study transient harmonics of power converters, the concept of generalized averaging has recently attracted considerable interest. Two distinct approaches have been employed in the literature to obtain dynamic harmonics. However, embedded in these approaches are restricting assumptions that have been overlooked by some researchers. This has resulted in several misconceptions and misapplications of models. This thesis determines implicit underlying assumptions and identi es appropriate and inappropriate areas of applications for these two approaches. A simple circuit is employed to clearly communicate ideas. To study steady state harmonics of power converters, few pragmatic tools presently exist for utilities to predict the impact of grid-connecting a new power converter or to assess the potential grid impact of one converter versus another. Converter data sheets contain insu cient information to make such determinations. It is generally known that the amount of harmonic injection depends not only on the background voltage harmonics, but also on the interactions that occur between the grid harmonic impedance and the converter. The thesis proposes new pragmatic techniques based on the frequency coupling matrix concept that permit accurate modeling and analysis of power converters, without requiring detailed information about the internal parameters of the converters. An online technique for identi cation of the frequency coupling matrix model of grid-connected converters is also proposed. Proposed techniques are veri ed through experimental measurements on a commercial, three phase, photovoltaic inverter.
Application of ANN and MLR Models on Groundwater Quality Using CWQI at Lawspet, Puducherry in India

With respect to groundwater deterioration from human activities a unique situation of co-disposal of non-engineered Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumping and Secondary Wastewater (SWW) disposal on land prevails simultaneously within the same campus at Puducherry in India. Broadly the objective of the study is to apply and compare Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Multi Linear Regression (MLR) models on groundwater quality applying Canadian Water Quality Index (CWQI). Totally, 1065 water samples from 68 bore wells were collected for two years on monthly basis and tested for 17 physio-chemical and bacteriological parameters. However the study was restricted to the pollution aspects of 10 physio-chemical parameters such as EC, TDS, TH, , Cl-, , Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+. As there is wide spatial variation (2 to 3 km radius) with ground elevation (more than 45 m) among the bore wells it is appropriate to study the groundwater quality using Multivariate Statistical Analysis and ANN. The selected ten parameters were subjected to Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and the clustering procedure generated three well defined clusters. Cluster wise important physio-chemical attributes which were altered by MSW and SWW operations, are statistically assessed. The CWQI was evolved with the objective to deliver a mechanism for interpreting the water quality data for all three clusters. The ANOVA test results viz., F-statistic (F = 134.55) and p-value (p = 0.000 2, low RMSE and MAE values but in Cluster 3 only ANN model fared well. Thus this study will be very useful to decision makers in solving water quality problems.
Developing Creativity and Learning Design by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Developing Contexts

This chapter has two aims: 1) to bridge the link between creativity, learning, information ecology, and community of practice that underpins the theoretical necessity of contextual user-centered approach to learning design by ICT in developing contexts; and 2) to specifically discuss how a human-computer interaction for development (HCI4D) based on learning design can be applied to provide the practical instrument for building creative learning environment in developing contexts. Theoretically, the chapter will build a new framework by using three prominent theories: creativity theories, information ecology, and theory of communities of practice. This chapter also has practical contributions to offer developmental scholars and project managers a vocabulary to address the process and learning issues in both formal and informal learning environments and opening up new ways for understanding creativity, learning, and usages of ICT in a developmental context.
Fitness for Purpose Assessment of Girth Weld Defect Based on In-Line Inspection

The girth weld defect is one of the most common types of defects on oil and gas pipelines, which can have a strong impact on the operation safety. Several girth weld failure accidents have occurred on PetroChina’s pipelines in recent years. In this paper, PetroChina’s current work on inspection and fitness for purpose assessment of girth weld defects is summarized. The in-line inspection has been proved to be the best practice for oil and gas pipeline defect inspection, but there are still some technical issues such as defect characterization and parameter selection. Fitness for purpose assessment methods for girth weld defects include strength assessment method based on plastic collapse, FAD method based on both plastic collapse and fracture, simplified factor method and numerical analysis method based on finite element. It is critical to identify the actual type of defects detected in in-line inspection to select an appropriate assessment method. The identification of various loads and the selection of appropriate material parameters are also important issues in assessment procedure. The key techniques to be developed include defect characterization, load identification, assessment of defects on high grade steel pipes, reliability-based assessment, etc.
Engineering Students´ Academic Performance Prediction using ICFES Test Scores and Demo-graphic Data

Introduction: This paper is part of a research project that aims to construct a predictive model for students’ academic performance, as result of an iterative process of experimentation and evaluation of the pertinence of some data mining techniques. Methodology: This paper was written in 2016 in the Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia, and presents a comparative analysis of the performance and relevance of the J48 and Random Forest algorithms, in order to identify the most influential demographic and icfes score variables, as well as the classification rules, to predict the first year academic performance of the Engineering Faculty students, in Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia. Results: The analysis process was carried out on 7,644 students’ records, and it was developed in two phases. Firstly, the data needed to feed the mining process was extracted and prepared. Secondly, the data mining process itself was implemented through preprocessing data and executing the classification algorithms available in Weka. Some significant variables and rules to predict academic performance are found, according to the studied population characteristics. Conclusions: The academic risk seen as the cause of the desertion phenomenon must be studied as a phenomenon itself. Establishing its causes facilitates the creation of preventive strategies for the accompaniment of students through their process, aimed to mitigate the risk of both phenomena.