Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Voyage to Excellence : a quantitative study from regional and sectoral benchmarking investigations

The published work in this thesis is based on a number of studies that utilise a suite of (related) “best practice” benchmarking tools, providing an evaluation of the North East England’s manufacturing and service sectors and the UK Further Education sector. Within this submission, a supporting commentary in the form of a critical literature review is provided. The complementary review initially provides an introduction and background to the studies that as a whole comprise this PhD by publication. Consideration is then given to the literature specific to benchmarking, particularly in terms of its role in facilitating organisational improvement and learning, as well as its take-up and applications. The studies described above relate to the implementation of related “best practice” frameworks, yielding data from the self-assessing participating organisations. This leads to the third part of the literature review where the association between practice and performance is assessed relating to certain connected themes. The final part of the commentary assesses the contribution to knowledge that is made by this PhD submission in terms of the literature that existed at the time the constituent papers and reports were developed, along with my specific contribution to these outputs and the potential future research that could lead from this contribution. A key contribution of this work to the benchmarking literature rests in the deployment of a framework in two new sectoral contexts, the regional application being underpinned by a novel approach to supported self-assessment. This complemented the case-based literature dominant at the time, the review providing a critical comparison of “best practice” frameworks and the adoption of generic benchmarking metrics. The empirical assessment of practice against performance suggests that the former does impact on the latter, but with greater influence internally. The association between excellence achievement and stakeholder satisfaction is holistically positive, although the findings are perhaps both less than clear-cut and unexpected. The contribution to knowledge provided here relates to the assessment of the broader service sector, including dual consideration with stakeholder perception and examination of additional performance areas, such as corporate social responsibility, thus moving this evaluation into areas under reported at that time.
Examination of preterm babies for ROP referred to an eye department from an urban and semi-urban neonatal intensive care unit: implications for practice.

Background: To study and analyse the factors affecting the proportion of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) distribution between the urban and semi-urban regions in North India. Methods: Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. All babies referred for ROP examination by paediatricians or other general ophthalmologists between 2013 – 2016 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical and treatment related findings were recorded. Results: Five hundred and fifty-eight (467: urban & 91: semi urban) babies were examined for ROP. The mean birth weight in the urban and semi-urban setting was 1348.6 ± 395.21 gm and 1703.77 ± 401.76 gm respectively. The mean gestational age was 30.99 ± 2.93 weeks and 30.73 ± 2.08 weeks in the urban and semi-urban cohorts respectively. The average time for first ophthalmic examination following birth was 23.82 ± 13.69 (range: 3-77) days in the urban and 101.16 ± 238.26 (range: 13- 330) days in the semi-urban setting. 94% of the babies completed all screening examination visits. Any ROP was identified in 11.6% and 33.0% of the urban and semi-urban cohorts respectively; Type 1 was detected in 7.5% of urban babies and 23.1% of semi-urban babies Conclusion: Differences in the proportion of babies developing any ROP and Type 1 ROP between the semi-urban and urban groups is likely due to selection bias, as a high proportion of semi-urban babies did not attend for examination or failed to complete all the examinations necessary. This was particularly true for females. More needs to be done to increase access to regular, systematic screening of preterm babies within neonatal units.
Stochastic plans for robotic manipulation

Geometric uncertainty is unavoidable when programming robots for physical applications. We propose a stochastic framework for manipulation planning where plans are ranked on the basis of expected cost. That is, we express the desirability of states and actions with a cost function and describe uncertainty with probability distributions. We illustrate the approach with a new design for a programmable parts feeder: a mechanism that orients two-dimensional parts using a sequence of open-loop mechanical motions. We present a planning algorithm that accepts an n-sided polygonal part as input and, in time $O(n\sp2)$, generates a stochastically optimal plan for orienting the part.
Vehicular Networks: Techniques, Standards, and Applications

Critical, Cutting-Edge Insight to Speed Deployment of Vehicular NetworksAs Vehicular Networks technology enters a critical phase in its evolution, academic institutions, industry, and governments worldwide are investing significant resources into large-scale deployment of such networks in order to leverage its benefits to communication, road safety, and improved traffic flow. Despite the current proliferation of conferences to address the technical, policy, and economic challenges associated with this exciting new technology, notably absent is a self-contained book that integrates and covers these topics in sufficient detail.Vehicular Networks: Techniques, Standards and Applications examines the latest advances in the evolution of vehicular networks, presenting invaluable state-of-the-art ideas and solutions for professionals and academics at work on numerous international development and deployment projects. A versatile text, it cross-references all key aspects, including medium access, scheduling, mobility, services, market introduction, and standard specifications. This informative guide:Describes the roles of networks operators, car manufacturers, service providers, and governmental authorities in development of vehicular technologyIllustrates the benefits and real-life applications of vehicular networksAnalyzes possible business models for network deploymentExamines potential services and possible deployment architecturesExplores the technical challenges of deployment, including use of MAC protocols, routing, data dissemination, dynamic IP autoconfiguration, mobility management, security, and driver/passenger privacy Illustrative Figures to Clarify Both Basic and Advanced ConceptsUsing simplified language, this book elucidates the distinct behavior and characteristics that distinguish vehicular networks from other types of mobile networks. It is an invaluable resource for those working with or studying vehicular networks and other wireless or mobile communications systems.
Effects of the Locations of Curved Areas in the Main Living Rooms of Apartment Housing on User Perceptions

Normal 0 21 false false false TR X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The objective of this study was to determine the effect of curved areas located in the main rooms of apartment housing on functional and perception-behavioral quality. For this purpose, some apartment houses in Cukurambar and Cigdem districts in Ankara were studied. They were believed to be occupied by upper middle socio-economic status and each of the houses studied had differently located curvilinear forms in the main living room. The use of the space, the users’ perception of the curved area, and the way it has been decorated and used have been examined with the help of a detailed questionnaire. According to the results, the use of space, its perceived quality and the user satisfaction varied depending on the location of the curved area. It was observed that in cases where curvilinear formation occurred in the main corner of the main living room, the furniture could not be positioned in accordance with the space and therefore some users either placed flowers-vases in the curvilinear volume or left it empty. If curvilinearity was in the center of main living room, then the settlement in the space was more appropriate and attractive. Keywords: Apartment housing, Living room, Curved area, Perception, Interior design.
Association between demographics, socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome in American adults: a cross-sectional study

Background Evidence regarding the association between demographics, socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome is limited. We aim to investigate whether demographics and socioeconomic status are correlated with metabolic syndrome using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey through 2013/2014 to 2015/2016.Methods A total of 4313 selected participants were included in this cross-sectional study. The independent variables were demographics (age, gender,and race/ethnicity) and socioeconomic status (the ratio of family income to poverty). The dependent variable was metabolic syndrome. The covariates included data release cycle, education level, marital status, dietary data, health insurance, average alcoholic drinks, current smoking, sedentary activity hours, physical activity minutes, and body mass index. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between demographics, socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome.Results In fully-adjusted models, we found that age was positively associated with metabolic syndrome (OR:1.05, 95%CI:1.04-1.05); compared with the male group, female was positively associated with metabolic syndrome in participants with body mass index under 25 kg/m 2 (OR:1.84, 95%CI:1.07-3.18) whereas it was negatively associated with metabolic syndrome in those with body mass index equal to or greater than 30 kg/m 2 (OR:0.62, 95%CI:0.48-0.81); compared with Mexican American, non-Hispanic Asian and other race/ethnicity were positively associated with metabolic syndrome in participants with body mass index under 25 kg/m 2 (OR: 7.30, 95%CI: 1.50-35.62 and OR: 6.09, 95%CI: 1.25-29.74, respectively) while non-Hispanic Black was negatively associated with metabolic syndrome in participants with body mass index equal to or greater than 25 kg/m 2 and less than 30 kg/m 2 (OR:0.58, 95%CI:0.36-0.92); there was no significant association between the ratio of family income to poverty and metabolic syndrome.Conclusions Among the population of nationally representative non-pregnant American adults, there is a correlation between demographics and metabolic syndrome whereas no correlation between socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome after multivariates adjustment. Healthcare interventions targeting those with metabolic syndrome including older individuals, obese males, along with females, non-Hispanic Asian and other race/ethnicity with BMI under 25 kg/m 2 are required to address these disparities.
Assessment of Seismic Analysis Methodologies for Deeply Embedded NPP Structures

Several of the new generation nuclear power plant designs have structural configurations which are proposed to be deeply embedded. Since current seismic analysis methodologies have been applied to shallow embedded structures (e.g., ASCE 4 suggest that simple formulations may be used to model embedment effect when the depth of embedment is less than 30% of its foundation radius), the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sponsoring a program at the Brookhaven National Laboratory with the objective of investigating the extent to which procedures acceptable for shallow embedment depths are adequate for larger embedment depths. This paper presents the results of a study comparing the response spectra obtained from two of the more popular analysis methods for structural configurations varying from shallow embedment to complete embedment. A typical safety related structure embedded in a soil profile representative of a typical nuclear power plant site was utilized in the study and the depths of burial (DOB) considered range from 25-100% the height of the structure. Included in the paper are: (1) the description of a simplified analysis and a detailed approach for the SSI analyses of a structure with various DOB, (2) the comparison of the analysis results for the different DOBs betweenmore » the two methods, and (3) the performance assessment of the analysis methodologies for SSI analyses of deeply embedded structures. The resulting assessment from this study has indicated that simplified methods may be capable of capturing the seismic response for much deeper embedded structures than would be normally allowed by the standard practice. « less
Opportunities for Reducing Far-Side Casualties

This paper uses National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) 2004-2013 to estimate the population of belted front seat occupants exposed to far-side crashes and those with serious injuries. The use of the most recent ten years of NASS data permitted an update of the characteristics of far-side crashes that are associated with serious injuries among belted front seat occupants. When compared with earlier studies, it was found that the vehicle category that includes sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pickups and vans, has increased as the collision partner in far-side crashes. There has likewise been an increase in the median crash severity for maximum abbreviated injury scale (MAI)S 3+ injured. For the 2004-2013 NASS CDS data, the median crash severity for MAIS 3+ injured was a lateral delta V of 36 kph. Chest/abdominal injuries accounted for 43% and head injuries accounted for 23% of the abbreviated injury scale (AIS)) 3+ injuries. Drivers accounted for 79% of the MAIS 3+ injured belted front outboard occupants that were involved in far-side crashes. About 53% of front outboard occupant’s chest injuries were caused by contacts with the vehicle center stack or seat back and 21% were associated with contacts with the far-side structure. In regards to head injuries, the far side structure accounts for more than 60% of the AIS 3+ injuries. Of the far side crash involved occupants analyzed, they sustained AIS3+ head or chest injuries from the far side of the vehicle more than 4.4 times more often than were attributed to occupant to occupant contact. Another striking trend is the disproportionate number of AIS3+ injured occupants in light passenger cars where belted front outboard occupants sustained severe injuries at a rate 2.7 times higher than exposed. Finally, this study identified that only 3.1% of belted AIS3+ injured occupants involved in far-side collisions sustained their injuries due to head to head contact with another front seat occupant.
Dancing on the Ceiling: A Study of Women Managers in Education

Prologue Dancing on the Ceiling Methodology Watching from the Wings In Search of a Lifestyle Choices and Dilemmas The Man in the Moon is a Miss Taking over a Headship The Symbolic Behaviour of Women Heads Walking Their Talk Women and Human Resource Management Follow My Lead Women and Power Governors and Senior Colleagues Working with or Dancing round? Summary and Conclusions Women Leading the Dance
Genetic polymorphisms in one-carbon metabolism increased the risk of persistence of pre-neoplastic cervical lesions

Background: Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection associated with cofactors that has been analyzed as predictors of cytological abnormalities remission or persistence. These cofactors may be classified as environmental, epigenetic or genetic. Polymorphism in genes of enzymes that act on one-carbon metabolism alter their activity and may be associated with cervical carcinogenesis because they affect DNA synthesis and repair, and gene expression. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the risk of persistence of pre-neoplastic cervical lesions according to genetic polymorphisms involved in one-carbon metabolism. Sample group was divided in Remission (n=60) - presence of pre-neoplastic lesion at first meeting (T1), and normal cytology after six months of follow-up (T2), and Persistence (n=46) - presence of pre-neoplastic lesion at T1 and T2. Cervical samples were obtained for cytological analysis (T1 and T2), HPV detection (T1), and evaluation of polymorphism C667T of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR C677T), A2756G of Methionine Synthase (MS A2756G), A66G of Methionine Synthase Reductase (MTRR A66G), double or triple 28 bp tandem repeat in 5'-untranslated enhanced region of Thymidylate Synthase (TSER), and 6 bp deletion at nucleotide1494 in TS 3'-untranslated region (TS3'UTR). Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was calculated for analyze all genetic polymorphism simultaneously. Results: No differences were observed between Remission and Persistence groups of GRS, or genotypic and allelic distribution of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphisms. However, higher risk of persistence was observed among women presenting heterozygote genotype - ins/del [OR (IC95%): 3.22 (1.19 – 8.69), p=0.021], or polymorphic genotype – del/del [OR (IC95%): 6.50 (1.71 – 24.70), p=0.006] of TS3’UTR. Conclusions: Presence of TS3’UTR polymorphism increased risk of persistence of cervical abnormalities. This genetic variant could be considered as potential marker of cervical carcinogenesis, assisting follow-up of women with persistent pre-neoplastic cervical lesions.
Methods and means for analysis of crew communication in the maritime domain

The Human Element, among a group of maritime human factors terms, is used widely within the commercial maritime environment to incorporate many issues being addressed by maritime research institutions and industry bodies. In accident investigation losses are attributed frequently to Human Error, which itself has a variety of identifiable categories e.g. Human Communicative Error. This paper describes an analysis of a number of maritime accident reports in which a failure of effective crew communication played a central role in the causal chain. The analysis is based on an aviation industry accident investigation taxonomy, ADREP 2000 Taxonomy [8] and psychological theories of professional communication [13]. The paper discloses, accentuates and exemplifies the structure of problems related to maritime crew communication and problems related to different cultures and languages. It also explores the value, contribution and limitations of formalised taxonomies and analysis systems to maritime training authorities, when they are applied as tools in the analysis of accident reports. It also looks to highlight the need for further research into the sociolinguistic aspects of shipboard operation within the shipboard society not just during times of restricted manoeuvrability, but during everyday working and social communications in pursuit of recommendations to aid the reduction of occurrences of Human Communicative Error.
Making Progress: Introducing progress testing approaches to a single semester paramedic subject

Abstract Background. Paramedicine is a rapidly evolving profession with continually increasing demands placed upon educating its future workforce. Ensuring graduates are adequately prepared places many expectations on the suitability and effectiveness of university assessment practices, in a discipline where summative credentialing has established traditions of use. Progress tests and programmatic assessment have growingly become common fixtures of medical education, offering longitudinal information about student knowledge, ability and progress, usually across an entire program of study. Methods. Our project explored the development, implementation and evaluation of progress testing in a single semester capstone undergraduate paramedic topic. We examined the changes in student performance between two MCQ tests spaced ten weeks apart, and performance in a final oral assessment based on the same test content. Student perceptions and experiences of these events were also evaluated. Results. 55% of students indicated it was common practice to guess answers in exams. After introducing of negative marking students achieved 40% mean correct answers on previously satisfied curriculum content in our test 1. Scores increased by 65% by test 2, with substantial declines in numbers of incorrect and don’t know responses. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate a substantial increase in correct responses between the two tests, a high mean score in the viva, and broad agreement about the significant impact the approaches have had on learning growth.
Acoustic Echo cancellation inside a Conference Room using Adaptive Algorithms

The whole dimension of communications has been changed by the rapid growth of technology. Today people are more interested in hands-free com-mucation, which makes use of loud speaker and high gain microphone, in place of the old modeled wired telephone. The main advantage of wireless system is that, more than one person can participate in conversation while freely moving in the room. The presence of large acoustic coupling between speaker and microphone would produce a loud acoustic echo making the con-versation difficult. The term Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) refers to a process of removing echo from the received signal that contains one or more delayed signals (copies of the original signal). The primary step while cancelling an echo is to identify the transmitted signal which reappears with some delay. Once the echo is identified it is cancelled by subtracting from transmitted signal. Echo cancellation can be done using either echo suppressors or echo cancellers, or in some case both. But suppressors support only half duplex communication leading to the invention of echo cancellers which allows both the speakers to talk at the same time. The main objective of this research is to model a room and cancel the acoustic echo being generated by a speaker and microphone. This dissertation provides a comparison of LMS, NLMS, LLMS and RLS adaptive algorithms in terms of echo return loss enhancement ( ERLE) value and provides the best suitable algorithm for usage in adaptive filters for AEC. AEC is simulated and results are evaluated by using Matlab
Engineering Design Methods: Strategies for Product Design

About the Author. Acknowledgements. Introduction. Part One: Understanding Design. 1. The Nature of Design. Design Activities. Design Problems. Problem Structures. 2. Design Ability. What Designers Say. How Designers Think. Learning to Design. 3. The Design Process. Descriptive Models. Prescriptive Models. An Integrative Model. Part Two: Doing Design. 4. New Design Procedures. Systematic Procedures. Design Methods. Creative Methods. Rational Methods. 5. Identifying Opportunities. The User Scenarios Method. 6. Clarifying Objectives. The Objectives Tree Method. 7. Establishing Functions. The Function Analysis Method. 8. Setting Requirements. The Performance Specification Method. 9. Determining Characteristics. The Quality Function Deployment Method. 10. Generating Alternatives. The Morphological Chart Method. 11. Evaluating Alternatives. The Weighted Objectives Method. 12. Improving Details. The Value Engineering Method. Part Three: Managing Design. 13. Design Strategies. What is a Design Strategy? Frameworks for Action. Strategy Control. Setting Strategies and Choosing Tactics. 14. Product Development. Product Design. Product Planning. Product Innovation. References. Index.