Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Characterization of the Perceptron Laser Rangefinder

Abstract : In this report, we characterize experimentally a scanning laser rangefinder that employs active sensing to acquire three-dimensional images. We present experimental techniques applicable to a wide variety of laser scanners, and document the results of applying them to a device manufactured by Perceptron. Nominally, the sensor acquires data over a 60 deg x 60 deg field of view in 256 x 256 pixel images at 2Hz. It digitizes both range and reflectance pixels to 12 bits, providing a maximum range of 40m and a depth resolution of 1 cm. We present methods and results from experiments to measure geometric parameters including the field of view, angular scanning increments, and minimum sensing distance. We characterize qualitatively problems caused by implementation flaws, including internal reflections and range drift over time, and problems caused by inherent limitations of the rangefinding technology, including sensitivity to ambient light and surface material. We characterize statistically the precision and accuracy of the range measurements. We conclude that the performance of the Perceptron scanner does not compare favorably with the nominal performance, that scanner modifications are required, and that further experimentation must be conducted.
Exposing and improving the metacognition of designing through practical structured workshops

This paper is a result of two one week workshops, delivered at the Departement van ProductOntwikkeling (Product Development) de Hogeschool, Antwerp, Belgium. The workshops were delivered to first year undergraduates, on the 5 year degree Product Development course. They consisted of 4 one day design projects around the context of 'children and food' in the first week and 'children and play' in the second. Each project was different in focus and complexity, and the students' means of operating was deliberately constrained in different ways by each of the projects. The pattern of each day was designed so as to both 'fast forward' the students' working and to focus their attention onto different aspects of their designing. Details of the students' reactions at the start and end of the week were collected as a record of the change in their understanding of their designing. The work confirms that it was possible to increase a group of design students' awareness of their own way of working first in terms of their means of expression using words, pictures and 3 dimensional modelling, and second of the process of their designing, using a structured project work approach.
The aerodynamic interference between two boats sailing close-hauled

When two boats are sailing close-hauled they are subjected to a certain number of reciprocal disturbances. A hydrodynamic disturbance, affecting the resistance of the boats, is caused by the wave making produced by the hulls and from the vorticity shed in the wakes by their keels and rudders. In addition, the sails and their wakes reciprocally interfere with each other, modifying the surrounding aerodynamic pressure field and consequently the amount of driving force produced. This latter phenomenon is well known by racing sailors, at least from an empirical point of view. It is common practice to cover the wind of other competitors, gaining advantage from their loss of aerodynamic driving force. When competing in a match race, such as the America's Cup, this tactic is fundamental and the leading boat only manoeuvres to keep its competitor in its wake, while the following boat tries to sail in the cleanest wind possible to minimise damage. This paper tries to explain in greater detail how aerodynamic interference between two boats sailing close-hauled modifies the driving force produced from their sails. A program based on the Vortex Lattice Method (VLM) suitable for considering the interference of multiple lifting surfaces has been developed. Special attention has also been devoted to modelling wake stream lines, as their path greatly affects the surrounding pressure field. A sample case has been studied on two America's Cup Challengers systematically analysing a wide range of reciprocal positions.
Basements of vernacular earth dwellings in Iran: prominent passive cooling systems or only storage spaces?

Basements or underground living spaces are repeatedly cited in the academic literature to have been indispensable elements of vernacular dwellings in the hot and dry regions of central Iran. Empirical investigations show that these spaces can provide substantially cooler indoor temperatures in summer, accounting for the fact that dwellers traditionally used these spaces as afternoon living spaces. Nevertheless, a paradoxical situation now exists where basements in traditional houses are merely used for storage or found unoccupied and unused. This paradox is examined through research on how basements are perceived by their users. The study has used a range of different methods including a sociocultural questionnaire survey, interviews and personal observations. The findings show that there are a range of positive and negative factors attributed to basements. The positive factors have been completely outweighed by the negative ones at the time of this study, having led to the abandonment of basements as living spaces.
Emerging economies

Chapter 22 notes the growing attraction of emerging economies as host locations for foreign direct investment (FDI). While acquisitions are generally the favored mode of FDI into developed-economy markets, cooperative forms allowing for local participation, such as joint ventures, have been more prevalent in emerging economies, often due to the mandatory requirements of host governments. Emerging economies are distinctive environments for MNEs partnering with local firms, and this can give rise to certain challenges. One is a conflict of objectives held by MNEs and their emerging economy alliance partner(s), with the latter prioritizing defensive and developmental needs. Additionally, the number of multinationals from emerging economy firms (EMNEs) has grown substantially, often internationalizing through alliances with developed economy MNEs as well as with firms in other emerging economies.
Scrumban: Essays on Kanban Systems for Lean Software Development

Corey Ladas' groundbreaking paper "ScrumBan" has captured the imagination of the software development world. Scrum and agile methodologies have helped software development teams organize and become more efficient. Lean methods like kanban can extend these benefits. Kanban also provides a powerful mechanism to identify process improvement opportunities. This book covers some of the metrics and day-to-day management techniques that make continuous improvement an achievable outcome in the real world. ScrumBan the book provides a series of essays that give practitioners the background needed to create more robust practices combining the best of agile and lean.
Exclusive Peripheral Overexpression of 5-HT5A Receptors is Involved in 5‑HT‑Induced Cardiac Sympatho-Inhibition in Type 1 Diabetic Rats

Background: In normoglycaemic pithed rats, cardiac sympathetic control is modulated by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5‑HT), which inhibits the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow via the activation of 5-HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 5A receptors. Notwithstanding, type 1 diabetes impairs the functionality of the cardiac sympathetic innervation and leads to cardiovascular complications including cardiac autonomic neuropathy. On this basis, the present study investigated whether the influence of 5-HT on cardiac noradrenergic neurotransmission is altered in type 1 diabetic rats, by analysing the profile of the 5-HT receptors involved and their peripheral expression. Methods: Type 1 diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with a single injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Four weeks later, the rats were anaesthetized, pithed and prepared for producing tachycardic responses by either electrical preganglionic stimulation (C 7 ‑T 1 ) of the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow or i.v. bolus injections of exogenous noradrenaline. Immunohistochemistry analyses were performed to study the expression of 5‑HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 5A receptors in the stellate (sympathetic) ganglion obtained from normoglycaemic and diabetic rats. Results: The increases in heart rate evoked by both cardiac sympathetic stimulation and exogenous noradrenaline were not modified after saline in diabetic rats. Moreover, i.v. continuous infusions of 5‑HT induced a cardiac sympatho-inhibition that was mimicked by the 5‑HT 1/5A receptor agonist 5‑carboxamidotryptamine, but not by the agonists indorenate (5-HT 1A ), CP 93,129 (5‑HT 1B ), PNU 142633 (5-HT 1D ), or LY344864 (5‑HT 1F ) in the diabetic group. In contrast, the above agonists at 5-HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 1/5A receptors mimicked 5-HT-induced sympatho-inhibition in normoglycaemic rats. In diabetic animals, i.v. administration of SB 699551 (1 mg/kg; 5‑HT 5A receptor antagonist) abolished 5‑CT-induced cardiac sympatho-inhibition. Finally, the immunohistochemistry analysis in the stellate ganglion showed that, as compared to normoglycaemic rats, in diabetic rats (P<0.05): (i) the expression of 5-HT 1B receptors was slightly higher, whereas that of 5-HT 1D receptors was slightly lower; and (ii) there was a clear overexpression of 5-HT 5A receptors. Conclusions: Taken together, these results show the prominent role of the peripheral overexpression of prejunctional 5-HT 5A receptors in the inhibition of the cardiac sympathetic drive in type 1 diabetic rats. These findings may represent a new pharmacological strategy for the treatment of diabetes-related cardiac abnormalities.
GEOGRIDS CUT BALLAST SETTLEMENT RATE ON SOFT SUBSTRUCTURES

British Rail Research has found that geogrids are an effective way of reducing the rate of ballast settlement over soft substructures. The main test facility for this work was the rolling load rig at Derby which was used to simulate soft sub-structure conditions and assess the performance of geogrids. The program consisted of three tests in which the track was relaid with or without a geogrid in the ballast layer. Each test involved relaying the track, providing some initial compaction, tamping the track and then monitoring its performance under traffic. The test results indicate that the soft substructure has a detrimental effect on track durability and that installing the geogrid produced a substantial improvement.
The BeAMS project: Using inquiry and modeling to introduce students to the research process in an introductory geology laboratory

Abstract Students who enter introductory geology classes often have misconceptions about geoscience research, and they seldom have opportunities to gain authentic research experience in these classes. To improve student engagement in the class and understanding of geoscience research methods, a semester-long authentic inquiry research project was incorporated into an introductory geology laboratory class. This project requires students to create scientific models to test the hypotheses they generate, analyze data they collect and reflect on challenges they encounter. The utility of models in conducting geoscience research was emphasized, and student groups chose either visual models, computer models, or physical models for hypothesis testing. The impact of the project was assessed using pre-post surveys to determine changes in student understanding of research methods and student self-efficacy. Student reflections reveal qualitative improvements in both understanding and self-efficacy after project completion. Multiple-choice questions on research methods also support an improved understanding of research methods compared to a control semester. Statistically significant improvements in confidence to perform research-related tasks also demonstrate the value of the project. Completing this project helped students understand the scientific research process and how modeling is used in Earth science research. Implementing the project required significant instructor preparation and buy-in from graduate student teaching assistants (TAs), who acted as mentors to student research groups. Future iterations of this project will include additional conceptual scaffolding for students and increased support for TAs. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2021. 1951080 .
Does Education Reform Make Recruiting More Difficult

Abstract : In recent years, the number of people age 19 or younger who earn General Education Development (GED) certificates rather than high school diplomas has increased appreciably. At the same time, states have substantially increased requirements for high school graduation. The two primary paths for tightening graduation requirements are implementing exit exams and increasing the Carnegie-unit requirements. Exit exams are standardized tests that students must pass (in addition to completing course work) to receive diplomas; Carnegie-unit requirements specify the number and type of courses that students must pass to graduate. Both of these changes have the potential to make recruiting more difficult for DoD. Those who graduate with GEDs rather than traditional high school diplomas enter the Services with a Tier 2 credential. The total proportion of accessions with Tier 2 or 3 credentials is limited by DoD and the Services. In addition, those who lack Tier 1 credentials are not eligible for some fields/bonuses and must score higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) than traditional high school graduates. For these reasons, an increase in the proportion of young people with GEDs essentially reduces the pool of potential recruits with preferred credentials. In this research, we use data from the 2000 Census to examine how changes in GED recipiency, the use of high school exit exams, and increasing Carnegie requirements affect the size and quality of the pool of potential enlisted applicants of the Navy and the Marine Corps. We next examine how these changes in education requirements affect the proportion who enter the Services with alternate credentials (no high school diploma). Finally, we look at how education policies affect the quality and performance of those who are accepted for enlistment.
Measurement and Ray-Tracing Simulation of the 60 GHz Indoor Broadband Channel: Model Accuracy and Parameterization

In this paper, we examine millimeter wave propagation in an application-oriented indoor environment by means of broadband channel measurements and ray-tracing simulations. Fundamental issues concerning the choice of simulation parameters are discussed. We investigate the accuracy of ray- tracing predictions in the millimeter wave band with regard to wideband analyses. The results indicate that ray-tracing simulations are useful to predict channel measures like the path loss and the RMS delay spread. However, fundamental differences can be observed by examining the temporal structure of the channel impulse responses and of the spatial fading characteristics which give rise to further analyses. (8 pages)
Pneumatic Flap Performance for a 2D Circulation Control Airfoil, Steady and Pulsed

Circulation Control technologies have been around for 65 years, and have been successfully demonstrated in laboratories and flight vehicles alike, yet there are few production aircraft flying today that implement these advances. Circulation Control techniques may have been overlooked due to perceived unfavorable trade offs of mass flow, pitching moment, cruise drag, noise, etc. Improvements in certain aspects of Circulation Control technology are the focus of this paper. This report will describe airfoil and blown high lift concepts that also address cruise drag reduction and reductions in mass flow through the use of pulsed pneumatic blowing on a Coanda surface. Pulsed concepts demonstrate significant reductions in mass flow requirements cor Circulation Control, as well as cruise drag concepts that equal or exceed conventional airfoil systems.
The Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of the Healthcare Workers Infected with SARS Cov-2 in Baqubah Teaching Hospital, Diyala-Iraq

Background: In 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified. It first appeared in Wuhan, China and caused a cluster of pneumonia cases. The virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The World Health Organization designated the disease COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Objective: To find the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among symptomatic frontline and non-frontline healthcare workers, their main complaint and clinical outcomes. Patients and Methods: This is a cross sectional study done on retrospective data in which all symptomatic healthcare workers in Baqubah teaching hospital were involved in the study and full questionnaire forms were filled. Nasal and throat swabs were taken for polymerase chain reaction test and high-resolution computed tomography were done. Results: From (1413) symptomatic healthcare workers tested for COVID-19 (185) were positive yielding a (13%) prevalence from the total employed healthcare workers in Baqubah teaching hospital, with (63%) were male. Most of the affected were nurses (63.2%) ,(59.5%) of the affected healthcare workers were non-frontline staff. Fever was the most common symptom and was seen in(79.5%) followed by shortness of breath in(63.8%). The disease course was mild in (83.8%) of the affected healthcare workers and only (2.7%) need admission to the hospital and the mortality rate was (0.5%). Conclusion: Most infections among healthcare workers occurred during the last two months of the disease outbreak. The prevalence of the COVID-19 infection among our healthcare workers was high and mostly in non–frontlie staff. Rapid identification of staff with potential infection and routine screening among asymptomatic staff could help protect other healthcare workers.
ARTICLE: Alteration to the Skin Barrier Integrity Following Broad-Spectrum UV Exposure in an Ex Vivo Tissue Model.

Dynamic changes to the skin barrier’s molecular structure and ceramide profile are well-documented in skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Pathological and environmental factors have been shown to impair barrier integrity and demonstrate shifts in ceramide composition in the skin. However, the relationship between acute and prolonged sun exposure and its effects on skin barrier homeostasis is insufficiently investigated. This study aims to uncover new scientific evidence to elucidate the relationship of UV irradiation with the skin barrier using an ex vivo tissue model following simulated UVA/UVB exposure. Fresh ex vivo human skin pretreated either with or without a broad-spectrum sunscreen was exposed to either a physiological or elevated UV condition. Following eight days in culture, structural and molecular changes were evaluated. UV irradiated skin displayed epidermal cell death and altered expression of key barrier proteins. TEM analysis demonstrated disruption to adherens junctions and dissociation between tissue layers following both physiological and extensive UV exposures. An effective broad-spectrum sunscreen containing essential skin ceramides completely protected the skin from such changes. This is one of the first works demonstrating a clear correlation of altered skin barrier integrity using a physiologically relevant dose in an ex vivo tissue model. Our findings also further support the additional importance and benefits of sun protection among the consumers. J Drugs Dermatol. 20(4 Suppl):s23-28. doi:10.36849/JDD.S589D.
Appendixes to NCHRP Report 572: Roundabouts in the United States

Based on a comprehensive evaluation of roundabouts in the United States, NCHRP Report 572 presents methods of estimating the safety and operational impacts of roundabouts and updates design criteria for them. This web document contains the appendices to NCHRP Report 572, as follows: (A) Literature Review on Safety Performance; (B) Literature Review of Operational Models; (C) Site Inventory; (D) Pedestrian and bicycle Analysis Details; (E) Summary of Goodness-of-Fit Measures and Statistical Terms; (F) Statistical Testing of Intersection-Level Safety Models; (G) Definitions for Estimating Fastest Vehicle Paths; (H) Statistical Testing of Approach-Level Safety Models; (I) Statistical Testing of Speed-Based Safety Models; (J) Operations Appendix; (K) Pedestrian Analysis Tables; (L) Pedestrian and Bicycle Images; (M) Draft Highway Capacity Manual Chapter 17; and (N) Research Problem Statement.
Statistically Based Decompression Tables 8: Linear-Exponential Kinetics.

Abstract : Probabilistic models applied to diving decompression data have been successful in describing decompression sickness (DCS) occurrence and even time of DCS occurrence. This study explores a class of models using linear as well as exponential gas exchange kinetics to provide slower tissue washout than previous models. The models consist of 3 or 4 kinetic compartments, each of which can employ purely exponential (EE) or mixed linear-exponential (LE) kinetics. The risk of DCS is obtained from the single or double integration of the sum of compartment over-pressures. The resulting four models, EE1, EE2, LE1, and LE2 cover a broad range of gas kinetic possibilities. The data used in fitting these models are compiled from U.S. Navy, Canadian, and British chamber dive trials. There are 799 different dive profiles, representing 2383 man-dives, with a DCS incidence of 5.8% (131 DCS cases, 75 marginal cases). Time of DCS occurrence information is included for all decompression sickness, maximum likelihood, probabilistic modelling, gas exchange kinetics. DCS and many marginal cases. Maximum Likelihood fitting of the four models to these data indicate LE1 to be the best fit. The LE1 Model is able to predict DCS occurrence in the fitted data, as categorized by type of dive profile, risk level, and time of DCS occurrence. LE1 is able to predict DCS occurrence well in most data not used for fitting, with the exception of profiles using high percentage O2 breathing mixtures and some repetitive profiles.
Prediction of Scour Downstream Regulators Using ANNs

Regulators is considered one of the main irrigation structures that is used for many purposes. One of the main purposes of regulators is to measure and control the discharge of rivers; also it is used to control the water levels and to generate power. Scour is an inevitable problem that occurs downstream regulators. Different researchers tried to pred ict scour hole downstream regulators, but their results always gave scour dimensions less than that actually occur. Scour was studied either on solid bed by means of velocity distribution or on movable bed by investigating the topography of the scour hole. In this paper, the scour hole was studied on movable bed by using a new technique rather than the traditional techniques used by other researchers. Due to the complex and unexpected behaviour of water as well as sediment movement downstream regulators, a Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPN) model was developed to predict the dimensions of the scour hole formed downstream regulators, in order to overcome the problem of exclusive and non-linear relationships. A Three layered feed forward neural network using Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was formu lated. The inputs to the (BPN) model were obtained through an extensive experimental program carried out on a trapezoidal channel 0.0001 bed slope. The study covers free and submerged hydraulic ju mp conditions in both symmetrical and asymmetrical under-gated regulations. It was found that the scour hole dimensions in case of submerged hydraulic ju mp is always greater than the free one, also the scour hole dimensions in asymmetrical operation is greater than symmet rical one. Fro m the comparison between the experimental results and the predicted ones by the (BPN) model, we found that the scour hole dimensions can be efficiently p redicted using (BPN).