Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH FOR FATIGUE LIFE ESTIMATION OF COPPER TRACES FOR DESIGN OPTIMIZATION IN ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLIES

This dissertation investigates the durability of the copper traces using experimental results from a fully reversed four point bend test and finite element analysis. The durability data collected from the experiment was used in conjunction with the finite element based critical trace strain, to develop a set of compatible fatigue model constants that best fit the failure behavior observed in the tests. Experimental studies were also conducted in order to determine the impact of assembly variations on the trace fatigue failures including the presence of a surface finish, solder mask as well as the presence of assembled components. In order to validate the established fatigue life model constants further testing was conducted at a different load level. The model was able to predict the test out come with an error of less than 5 % Parametric studies using finite element analysis were also conducted in order to determine the relationship between the various geometric and loading conditions and the critical trace strain in the copper traces. Based on these relationships as well as the experiments to determine the impact of assembly variations of failure of the traces, an analytical model was developed in order to approximate the copper trace strain which is used as the input to the trace fatigue model. To understand the crack initiation and crack propagation process in copper traces, experiments were conducted where the crack growth was periodically monitored. Based on these experiments, the constants for the fatigue crack propagation in copper traces based on Paris's Law were also determined in this study. Finally the analytical model for trace strain developed was also validated by comparing the copper trace strain evaluated using finite element modeling for the test vehicle used in the experiments. The strains estimated based on the analytical model match well with the strains based on the finite element modeling. ii Dedication To my family for their unconditional love and support throughout my life iii Acknowledgements
FDTD simulation and measurement of a 90 GHz quasi-optical annular slot receiver

The authors describe the full design, modelling and measurement of a quasi-optical annular slot lens receiver at 90 GHz. The annular slot antenna mounted on an elliptical lens with a planar Schottky diode acts simultaneously as an antenna and a mixer. Measurement of input impedance, radiation pattern and conversion loss of the annular slot lens receiver is performed and compared with in-house finite-difference time-domain simulations at 90 GHz. A thru-reflect-line (TRL) manufactured on the same wafer is used as the calibration standard for de-embedding in the impedance measurements. In mixer designs, an important feature is to match the antenna with the diode for the mixer to have optimum performance. Two configurations are considered whereby an extra matching stub is added to one of the designs to conjugate match the diode. The optimum conversion loss for the design without matching stub is 17.4 dB with bias at 0.65 mA and LO power of -7.3 dBm, while the optimum conversion loss for the design with the matching stub is 16.7 dB with bias at 0.36 mA and available LO power of -7.5 dBm. This antenna is well suited for use in millimetre-wave imaging arrays.
A high-temperature superconductor - Magnet energy storage and attitude control system for space MEMS

This paper proposes an energy storage and attitude control system for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) in spacecraft using a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) - magnet bearing system. This system consists of an HTS-magnet flywheel energy storage system and a brushless motor/generator. The HTS flywheel, which permits high angular momentum storage since its drag torque is nearly velocity-independent and extremely small, facilitates high-speed rotation. It can also perform the dual function of a power/attitude control system using flywheel elements for both power storage and attitude control. This dual function capability further reduces the mass of the spacecraft. The HTS flywheel has an angular momentum capacity of 0.083 J sec and stores 2.32 kJ at 530 krpm. Its energy storage capacity is approximately 45 Whr/kg With an energy density around 370 kJ/L. The system is ideally suited for low earth orbit (LEO) energy storage, power generation and attitude control of spacecraft such as nano satellites.
Effectiveness of ProTaper Universal® and D-RaCe® retreatment files in the removal of root canal filling material: an in vitro study using digital subtraction radiography

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of the ProTaper Universal ® Retreatment system, the D-Race ® NiTi system and Hedstroem fi les for removal of fi lling material from curved root canals. Methodology: A total of 39 fi rst mandibular molars were selected and their mesiobuccal (MB) canals were used for the study. Teeth were assigned to one of three identical groups (n = 13 per group) according to removal technique: G1 – ProTaper Universal ® Retreatment (D1, D2, D3); G2 – D-RaCe ® (DR1, DR2); or G3 – Hedstroem fi les (35, 30, 25, 20). In all groups, supplementary fi les were used for re-preparation. Digital subtraction radiography images were produced by superimposing the fi rst radiograph, taken after fi lling the canal, over the second, taking after removal of the fi lling, in buccolingual (BL) and mesiodistal (MD) projections. Quantitative data were analyzed using intraclass correlation coef fi cients and the Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman non-parametric tests (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Comparison of groups detected no differences in fi lling removal between teeth in the ProTaper Universal ® Retreatment, D-RaCe ® or Hedstroem fi le groups for the cervical or mid thirds (for either MD or BL projections). In the apical third (MD projection), ProTaper Universal ® Retreatment produced the best results; and Hedstroem fi les exhibited the worst results (MD projection). Intra-group comparisons showed that the cervical third was the cleanest and the apical third was the least well-cleaned, for the ProTaper Universal ® Retreatment and D-RaCe ® groups (MD projection), while less filling material was removed using Hedstroem when the canals approached the apical third (MD and BL projections). Conclusions: Our fi ndings indicate that the ProTaper Universal ® Retreatment system is the best choice for endodontic fi lling material removal, combined with supplementary instrumentation to achieve better results in the apical third.
Bearing Capacity of Surface Footing On Soft Clay Underlying Stiff Nonhomogeneous Desiccated Crust

The aim of this paper is to provide a reasonable approach for the evaluation of the bearing capacity of a shallow footing on a very soft clay overlaid by a stiff nonhomogeneous crust layer, based on both numerical analyses and a reappraisal of field load tests reported in the literature. Finite element analyses were carried out for the above problems with varying shape and magnitude of a nonhomogeneous shear strength distribution in the crust and crust thickness to a footing width (or diameter) ratio H/B (or H/2R). In addition, recently reported in-situ plate load tests conducted in a reclaimed area of dredged marine clay were reappraised so as to characterize the bearing behavior of the deposit, and to assess the shear strength mobilization in the crust related to the bearing capacity estimation.
Outbreak of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST15 strains in a Chinese tertiary hospital: resistance and virulence analyses.

Introduction. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a major cause of clinical infection. However, K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae ST15 strains are occasionally identified and have seldom been reported to cause hospital outbreaks in PR China.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. In this study, we describe nosocomial outbreaks caused by KPC-producing K. pneumoniae ST15 strains in a Chinese tertiary hospital.Aim. To characterize the molecular relationship, resistance and virulence factors of the 32 KPC-producing K. pneumoniae ST15 strains isolated in a Chinese hospital.Methodology. A total of 102 non-repetitive carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) strains were collected from a Chinese tertiary hospital in 2018. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed to characterize the clonal relationship of the K. pneumoniae isolates, and the ST15 strains were selected for further study. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the broth microdilution method and interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Fifteen carbapenem resistance genes, bla KPC genetic structures and 12 virulence factors were detected by PCR. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using next-generation sequencing combined with single-molecule real-time sequencing.Results. Thirty-two K. pneumoniae ST15 strains were characterized, and 31 of them presented a PFGE similarity of >92 %, indicating clonal spread. In 81.3 % (26/32) of strains, the imipenem (IPM) and meropenem (MEM) MICs were ≤8 and≤16 µg ml-1, while only 1 isolate (KP18069) exhibited ≥64 µg ml-1 for both agents. The bla KPC-2 gene embedded in the Tn3-Tn4401 chimaera and synonymous mutations of the ompK35 gene were detected in all the strains. However, a nonsense mutation at amino acid position 248 (K248X) of OmpK36 was found in the highly carbapenem-resistant strain KP18069. No virulence gene was detected in any of the ST15 strains. WGS analyses further confirmed the genetic characteristics of the K. pneumoniae KP18069 strain.Conclusion. Nosocomial outbreaks caused by the clonal spread of K. pneumoniae ST15 strains were characterized in a Chinese tertiary hospital, and strict monitoring of highly resistant CRKP is required.
Factors Affecting Final Functional Outcomes in Open-Globe Injuries and Use of Ocular Trauma Score in Nepalese population

Background: Open globe injury (OGI) is one of the most devastating form of ocular trauma. The aim of the study is to identify the epidemiology and predict visual outcomes in traumatic open globe injuries using ocular trauma score (OTS) and correlate with final visual acuity (VA) at 3 months. Methods: Patients older than 5 years, presenting to B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies (BPKLCOS) from March 2016- March 2017 with OGI that met inclusion criteria were evaluated. Patient profile, nature and cause of injury, and time to presentation were recorded. Patients were managed accordingly and followed up to 3 months. An OTS score for each patient was calculated and raw scores were categorized accordingly. The VA after 3 months were compared to the predicted OTS values. Results: Seventy-three eyes of 72 patients were examined. 76% were male, and the mean age was 26.17 years (median, 23.5 years). The mean time from injury to presentation was <6 hours (30 patients, 41%). Thirty-seven eyes (51%) had zone I trauma, followed by twenty eyes (27%) with zone II, and sixteen eyes (22%) with zone III trauma. Sixty-five patients (90%) were managed surgically, and fifty (68%) received intravitreal antibiotics with steroid. When compared, the projected VA as per OTS were able to predict actual final visual outcomes in 60% of the eyes with OGI of various zones (p<0.05). Conclusion: OTS can be an accurate predictive tool for final visual acuity even with a short follow up period of 3 months; with poor presenting visual acuity, delayed presentation, posterior zones of injury, need for intravitreal injections, endophthalmitis, and globe rupture associated with poorer prognosis.
A computer-based cost prediction model for institutional building projects in Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this study was develop a computer-based cost prediction model for institutional building projects in Nigeria through the use of artificial neural network (ANN) technique. The back-propagation network learns by example and provides good prediction to novel cases. Design/methodology/approach – The input variables were derived from related works with modification and advices from professionals through a field survey. Two hundred and sixty completed project data were used for training and development of the ANN model. Back-propagation algorithm using the gradient descent delta learning rule with a learning coefficient of 0.4 was used. The input layer of the model comprised of nine variables; building height, compactness of building, construction duration, external wall area, gross floor area, number of floors, proportion of opening on external walls, location index and time index. Findings – Several multi-layer perceptron networks were developed with varying architecture from which th.
Integrated navigation and guidance systems

Principles of Navigation and the Concept of an Integrated Navigation System Newton's Laws Applied to Navigation (Geodesics, Basic Reference Frames, Simplified Aerospace Vehicle Equation) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) Uncertainty in Navigation, INS Error Propagation, Probabilities, Autocorrelation and the Method of Least Squares Kalman Filters and Their Key Role in the Integration of Aircraft Avionics Systems GPS Theory and its Application to Navigation (Including System Accuracy) GPS Application to Precision Approach and Landing, Attitude Control and Air Traffic Control Flight Testing of Navigation Systems Computer Exercises.
Security and privacy in RFID systems

While RFID systems are one of the key enablers helping the prototype of pervasive computer applications, the deployment of RFID technologies also comes with new privacy and security concerns ranging from people tracking and industrial espionage to produ ct cloning and denial of service. Cryptographic solutions to tackle these issues were in general challenged by the limited resources of RFID tags, and by the formalizations of RFID privacy that are believed to be too strong for such constrained devices. It follows that most of the existing RFID-based cryptographic schemes failed at ensuring tag privacy without sacrificing RFID scalability or RFID cost effectiveness. In this thesis, we therefore relax the existing definitions of tag privacy to bridge the gap between RFID privacy in theory and RFID privacy in practice, by assuming that an adversary cannot continuously monitor tags. Under this assumption, we are able to design sec ure and privacy preserving multi-party protocols for RFID-enabled supply chains. Namely, we propose a protocol for tag ownership transfer that features constant-time authentication while tags are only required to compute hash functions. Then, we tackle the problem of product genuineness verification by introducing two protocols for product tracking in the supply chain that rely on storage only tags. Finally, we present a solution for item matching that uses storage only tags and aims at the automation of safety inspections in the supply chain.The protocols presented in this manuscript rely on operations performed in subgroups of elliptic curves that allow for the construction of short encryptions and signatures, resulting in minimal storage requirements for RFID tags. Moreover, the privacy and the security of these protocols are proven under well defined formal models that take into account the computational limitations of RFID technology and the stringent privacy and security requirements of each targeted supply chain application.
Carplus annual survey of car clubs 2009/10

Car clubs – a form of neighbourhood car hire – offer an alternative to private car ownership. This report analyses the results of the 2009/10 annual survey conducted by Carplus – a national charity supporting the development of a national network of car clubs. The survey results show that car clubs have a significant effect on household car ownership. From a sample of 5,382 respondents, a quarter reported that they had reduced the number of cars in their household as a result of becoming a car club member, and 30% said that they would otherwise have purchased a vehicle. Compared to the general public, car club members make relatively frequent trips by public transport, cycling and walking, and drive relatively low annual mileages, (including car travel in all vehicles). Meanwhile, operator data, covering 97% members, indicates that, on average, car club members only drive 300-400 miles a year in car club vehicles. (A)
The Silver Lining Of Rust Belt Manufacturing Decline: Killing Off Pollution Externalities

This paper expoloits a unique merger of air quality and county manufacturing data to quantify manufacturing's pollution externality by industry. By linking pollution to local production, I estimate cross-sectional pollution production regressions. Rust Belt cities that were endowed with the largest concentrations of the dirtiest industries experience reduced pollution externalities. I estimate that Gary, Indiana adn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania experienced substantial pollution declines as local primary metals activity declined in the 1970s and 1980s.
Circ_0007841 promotes the progression of multiple myeloma via miR-338-3p/BRD4 axis

Background: The pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM) is not completely known. Finding novel targets are urgently needed for MM treatment. Herein, we explored the function and the working mechanism of circular RNA circ_0007841 in MM progression.Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to detect the expression of circ_0007841, microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) and bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4). The proliferation and metastasis of MM cells were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and transwell assays. Flow cytometry was conducted to assess the cell cycle and the apoptosis of MM cells. The targets of circ_0007841 and miR-338-3p were predicted by circinteractome and targetscan softwares, and these predictions were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA-pull down assay.Results: Circ_0007841 was highly expressed in bone marrow (BM)-derived plasma cells of MM patients and MM cells than that in healthy volunteers and normal plasma cells nPCs. Circ_0007841 promoted the proliferation, cell cycle and metastasis and impeded the apoptosis of MM cells. miR-338-3p was a direct target of circ_0007841 in MM cells. Circ_0007841 accelerated the progression of MM through targeting miR-338-3p. BRD4 could directly bind to miR-338-3p in MM cells. miR-338-3p exerted an anti-tumor role through targeting BRD4. Circ_0007841 promoted the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling via miR-338-3p/BRD4 axis. Exosomes generated from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) elevated the malignant behaviors of MM cells via circ_0007841. Conclusion: Circ_0007841 acted as an oncogene to promote the proliferation, cell cycle and motility and restrain the apoptosis of MM cells through sequestering miR-338-3p to up-regulate the expression of BRD4.
Potential of a Solar Organic Rankine Cycle with Evacuated-Tube Solar Collectors as Heat Source for Power Generation in Thailand

This paper presents a potential of a solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with evacuated-tube solar collectors with F R ( τα ) of 0.81, F R U L of 2.551 W/m 2 K as heat source for generating electricity under the climate of Thailand. The power output of the ORC power plant was 280 kW and the ORC working fluid was R245fa. The weather conditions of Chiang Mai (18.783 o N, 98.983 o E ) , Ubon Ratchathani (15.233 o N, 104.783 o E), Hat Yai (6.91 o N, 100.43 o E ) and Bangkok ( 13.66 o N, 100.56 o E ) represented the northern, northeastern, southern and central part of Thailand, respectively were taken as the input data of the calculations. It could be found that at Chiang Mai, the levelized electricity cost was lowest which was 0.37 USD/kWh and the annual solar-to-electricity efficiency was 4.44%. At Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani, the levelized electricity costs were slightly higher than that of Chiang Mai. At Hat Yai, the levelized electricity cost was found to be highest which was 0.43 USD/kWh. Key words : Solar organic rankine cycle; Solar collector; Electrical power generation; Performance analysis; Levelized electricity cost
EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH IMPROVED BREEDING IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

In Pakistan, the productivity of the livestock sector is lower than its capacity due to lack of breeds with high productive potential, nutrition deficiency and poor disease control facilities. This study explores the potential of the livestock sector to move towards more productive breeds of cattle. Primary data were collected from 340 livestock farmers of Punjab Province through stratified random sampling technique. Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) is employed to identify factors influencing the farmer’s decision to adopt superior/exotic breeds of buffaloes and cows and impact of adoption on the gross margins. The results of adoption equation reveal that farmer’s decision to adopt exotic breed depends positively on the proximity of his house to livestock market, years of schooling, operational land, access to hired labour and contact with extension agents. Results also show that different socio-economic factors have differential impact on the gross margins of both adopters and non-adopters. There is need of policy reforms to eliminate the constraints of shifting towards high productive breeds.
A Method for Displaying Incremental Validity with Expectancy Charts

ABSTRACT Providing assessment validity information to decision makers in a clear and useful format is an ongoing challenge for the educational and psychological measurement community. We identify issues with a previous approach to a graphical presentation, noting that it is mislabeled as presenting incremental validity, when in fact it displays the effects of using predictors in a multiple hurdle fashion. We offer a straightforward technique for displaying incremental validity among predictors in reference to a criterion measure.
Walking and Bicycling in the United States: The Who, What, Where, and Why

The percentage of daily trips in the United States made by walking or bicycling is far lower than in Western European countries. The authors explore what makes the United States so different, examining the demographics and the frequency, distance, and purpose of pedestrian and bicycle travel; the influences of the natural and built environments; safety concerns; and research needs, including data and planning tools.
Military Officer Quality in the All-Volunteer Force

We show a statistically significant and quantitatively meaningful decline in the intelligence of Marine Officers from 1980 to 2014 as measured by their scores on the General Classification Test (GCT) which has been shown to be a good predictor of success in the military. This contrasts with the increasing quality of enlisted personnel since 1973 when conscription ended. We argue that the source of this decline is the greater number of young Americans in college since Marine officers must have a four-year degree. The increasing diversity of the pool of incoming officers has not contributed to the decline in GCT scores.