Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pattern cutting skills in small scale garment industries and teacher education universities in Ghana

The purpose of the study was to compare pattern cutting skills taught in Teacher Education Universities in Ghana with what were used in local small scale garment industries. Fifty small scale entrepreneurs in six regions of Ghana were purposively selected to demonstrate how to take body measurements and cut patterns for a lady’s fitting dress. Measurement and pattern cutting procedures used by the garment producers were found to be different from what were taught at the Universities. All the demonstrators marked the measurements on their fabrics and cut the garments direct without paper patterns (freehand cutting). Their allowances for seams, hems and openings were larger than those in instructions for teaching at the Universities. Reasons for the demonstrators’ use of freehand cutting method were that: cutting instructions were fewer and easier to commit into memory, making the process fast and the best option for the Ghanaian market’s increasing demand for new and fashionable custom-made garments; the pattern drafting method entailed a lot of work which attracted high charges their clients could not pay; drafted patterns did not produce fitting garments for many of their clients; freehand cutting was the most cost effective option; deep turnings for hems and seams were allowed in freehand cutting for future changes in design, figure and use. To the garment producers, making and keeping patterns of their clients for future use was not necessary, because girth measurement changes of Ghanaian women were very frequent. To bridge the gap between skill training in pattern cutting in the University and industrial practice, it is recommended that the University should involve entrepreneurs in the Garment Industry in their curriculum development and skill training. Key words: Drafting, freehand cutting, small scale garment producers, pattern cutting.
MODEL FOR HEAT AND MOISTURE TRANSFER IN ARBITRARILY SHAPED TWO-DIMENSIONAL POROUS MEDIA

A model was developed to predict heat and moisture transfer due to natural convection and diffusion in arbitrarily shaped two-dimensional porous media. Boundary conditions were diurnally varying ambient temperature on the outside of walls with moderate Biot number. Other important boundary conditions were developed for typical storage and transportation situations, A two-energy equation model was used to allow for the difference between the fluid and solid temperatures and its effect on mass transfer in the porous medium. The governing equations were solved with a finite-difference method in a generalized coordinate system using a stream function formulation. It was found that the energy and moisture transport equations were best solved using a modified Crank-Nicolson method that was developed to control the tendency for instability caused by the source terms in these equations. All of the boundary conditions that were developed worked satisfactorily The two-energy equation model predicted small differences between the fiuid and solid particle temperatures and natural convection only impacted the temperature solution significantly in the upper comers of the porous media.
Pseudo-dynamic test of full-scale rcs frame: Part I - Design, construction, testing

A full-scale three-story, three-bay composite steel-concrete frame was pseudodynamically tested under ground motions representing four earthquakes of varying hazard levels, with imposed story drift ratios up to about 5.5%. The frame was then subjected to a quasi-static pushover, which imposed story drifts up to 10%. Overall, the test demonstrates that the composite frame performs as implied by building provisions, exhibiting very little damage under frequent earthquakes, controlled and repairable damage under the design earthquake, and collapse prevention under the maximum considered earthquake. This paper summarizes the planning, design, construction, and execution of the frame test, including a summary of the test results. Comparisons with analytical simulations and design implications are discussed in a second companion paper.
3D interconnect through aligned wafer level bonding

Wafer level packaging and 3D interconnect technologies are driven by increasing device density and functionality as well as reduction of total packaging cost. Key enabling technologies for 3D interconnect are high precision alignment and bonding systems and thick resist processing. A unique processing equipment has been developed to meet high volume production requirements. This paper reviews advances in equipment processing capabilities and provides a guideline for new processing techniques available. Wafer to wafer alignment can be carried out in various ways. Traditionally aligned wafer bonding is a well-established technology in the MEMS industry. Special requirements for 3D interconnects are high accuracy, the use of single side processed wafers and 8 inch capability. A comparison of wafer alignment technologies is presented. Also, a novel face-to-face alignment method is described and analyzed in terms of alignment accuracy before and after bonding. Wafer bonding is carried out subsequent to the alignment step in a separate process module. A summary of different bonding methods is given. Intermediate layers that act as bonding agent can be spun on to the wafer. Such coating processes for wafer level packaging applications vary greatly from the requirements for VLSI processing. VLSI photoresist processes use thin layers to transfer small features with sub-micron tolerances. Wafer level bumping typically is performed with 5-150 /spl mu/m films, to transfer large (20-250 /spl mu/m) features, with tolerances approaching micron scale. HDI applications require thicker adhesive layers. The paper concludes with application examples with different intermediate layers such as BCB.
Study of Link Gain and Locking Range in Hybrid Mode‐Locked Laser‐Based MillimeteR‐Wave Radio‐Over‐Fiber System

An investigation of hybrid mode‐locked lasers is performed to better understand their link gain and locking range behavior under external RF injection for their use in millimeter wave radio‐over‐fiber systems. The dependence of 40‐GHz link gain on different parameters is initially identified and then the three main parameters of gain and saturable absorber section biases and external RF injection signal power are studied in detail. It is found that higher injection power leads to lower link gain ranging from −19dB to −22dB, whereas lower injection power gives higher link gain ranging from −10dB to −19.9dB. This article also reports a hybrid mode‐locking range of 90.97 MHz which is the widest reported so far for the technique used here. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:2450–2454, 2013
Modeling double-layer capacitor behavior using ladder circuits

The double-layer capacitor (DLC) is a very complex device that is best represented by a distributed parameter system. Many different lumped-parameter equivalent circuits have been proposed for the DLC. An examination into utilizing a ladder circuit to model a DLC is presented. Parameters for different ladder circuits are determined from AC impedance data. Variations in circuit parameters with DC bias and manufacturing have been investigated. The performance of the ladder circuit has been evaluated in slow discharge and pulse load applications.
Paying Gratitude Forward at Work

Abstract. Since workers are increasingly suffering from burnout, there is a need for insights into how burnout can be decreased to improve subjective well-being. The broaden-and-build theory proposes that gratitude increases well-being through an upward spiral. Few studies have examined whether gratitude decreases burnout and what mediating behaviors explain this relationship. Using an international sample of employees ( N = 353), this study examines whether work-specific gratitude negatively relates to exhaustion and disengagement. Additionally, since gratitude stimulates helping through upstream reciprocity, this study investigates whether interpersonal helping behavior (IHB) mediates these relationships. Our study showed a negative effect of work-specific gratitude on disengagement and exhaustion and a negative relationship between work-specific gratitude and disengagement, mediated by IHB, suggesting that gratitude stimulates IHB, thereby alleviating disengagement.
On the Digital Forensic Investigation of Hit-And-Run Accidents

In this dissertation, we introduce a digital forensic approach to investigate hit-and-run accidents. The result of this investigation is a priority ranking of suspects that can be used to optimize subsequent investigation steps. In the proposed approach, we first investigate which of the suspects could have taken a route that leads through the accident location. For this, we introduce an algorithm that reconstructs the likely traveled routes of a driver by mapping the distances and turns caused by traveling the actual route onto the street network of the area in which the trip took place. The distances and turns are calculated from the wheel speeds of the suspect's vehicle recorded by a forensic data logger while driving. The presence of the accident location on any of the reconstructed routes is an indication of a possible involvement of the suspect in the accident. We show that the algorithm is suitable for the reconstruction of likely traveled routes in urban areas by means of a simulation based on real driving data. Furthermore, we demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm in the investigation of hit-and-run accidents with real driving experiments. Next, we investigate the aggressiveness of the suspects' driving behavior, since aggressive driving behavior increases the risk of accidents. In addition, we analyze the driving behavior of the suspects near the accident location to determine which of the suspects performed risky driving maneuvers there. To this end, we introduce an algorithm for assessing driving behavior using wheel speeds. Based on this algorithm, we categorize the driving maneuvers performed by a suspect while driving according to their severity. This enables to discover risky driving maneuvers near the accident location. By means of real driving experiments, we show that the algorithm can identify aggressive driving behavior and can be used to discover risky driving maneuvers at any point of a trip. These driving experiments also include common accident maneuvers, which shows the applicability of the methodology in the investigation of hit-and-run accidents.
A wide band CMOS differential voltage-controlled ring oscillator

This paper presents the design of a wide band two-stage CMOS voltage-controlled ring oscillator based on the Maneatis cell. The VCO is designed for a frequency synthesizer module that generates local oscillation (LO) frequencies over a large bandwidth, targeting a multi-band acquisition system. The goal is a wide operating frequency tuning range of 400 MHz - 1.4 GHz in the VCO with low power consumption, -80 dBc/Hz@600 KHz phase-noise performance and a good linearity for the frequency and control voltage characteristics. Simulation results verify the theoretical development and measurement results validate the design. The symmetric load transistor operation region controls the frequency behavior achieved by the VCO, which shows a monotonic relation with the control voltage when the loads are operated in saturation. The prototype chip was fabricated using a 0.18mum IBM CMOS technology.
A Blockchain Framework in Post-Quantum Decentralization

The decentralization and transparency have provided wide acceptance of blockchain technology in various sectors through numerous applications. The claimed security services by blockchain have been proved using various cryptographic techniques, mainly public key infrastructure and digital signatures. However, the use of generic cryptographic primitives using large prime numbers or elliptic curves with logarithms is going to be an issue with quantum computers as those techniques are vulnerable in post-quantum era. Therefore, the paradigm shift from pre-quantum to the post-quantum era has necessitated new cryptographic developments which are robust against quantum attacks and applicable in blockchain for post-quantum decentralization. Therefore, we have presented a solution for post-quantum decentralization in the blockchain. It uses lattices with polynomials for identity-based encryption (IBE) and aggregate signatures for the consensus to ensure efficiency and suitability in post-quantum blockchain applications. We experiment the proposed approach based on delay, throughput, energy consumption and complexity. The comparative results prove that the presented work is efficient.
New concepts for EMC standards applicable to multimedia products

In het vakgebied van Elektromagnetische Compatibiliteit (EMC) kunnen globaal twee fenomenen beschouwd worden: de emissie en de immuniteit van elektronische producten. Emissiemetingen van elektronische producten worden uitgevoerd voor de bescherming van radio systemen. We spreken van een emissiemeting via geleiding als er een stroom wordt gemeten en van een meting van emissie via straling als een elektromagnetische veldgrootheid gemeten wordt. Immuniteitstesten worden uitgevoerd om elektronische producten te testen op de bestendigheid tegen elektromagnetische stoorsignalen.
Impact of Land Use/Cover Changes on the Flow of the Zarqa River in Jordan

This paper investigated the impact of land use/cover changes on the flow of the Zarqa River in Jordan over a period of twenty-eight years. The land use/cover maps were derived using a set of medium spatial images with full scenes for the years 1989, 2002, 2011 and 2017. These images correspond to the river flow data for the same hydrological rainy seasons. The component of the river flow consists of the base-flow, flood and contribution of effluent from treatment plants. Base-flow was separated from hydrographs and effluent contribution was obtained. Runoff coefficient was determined as the ratio of flood volume to rainfall volume. The land use/cover maps were classified as urban fabrics, bare rocks, open rangelands and bare soils, agricultural areas, agro-forestry, and water bodies. During the study period, urban areas increased from 4.87% to 16.14%, and agricultural areas increased from 21.69% to 31.66%. The areas of rangelands and bare soil decreased from 34.91% to 22.57% and bare rocks from 35.98% to 27.57%, respectively. The increase in urban and agricultural areas resulted in runoff coefficient improvement from 1.89% in 1989/1990 to 2.72% for 2016/2017. The results could be useful for planners and decision makers for future flow management in the Zarqa River Basin. The approach and results of this study confirm the findings of similar studies for land and water management.
Experiences of US- andforeign-owned firms: A new perspective on ISO 9000 implementation

Responses from over 500 companies relating to their experiences with ISO 9000 implementation are presented. Companies were categorized according to ownership: US-owned (Type U) and foreign-owned (Type F) manufacturing firms. The results reveal the importance and the dual role of documentation as a critical factor necessary to obtain ISO 9000 registration: (1) as the critical element requiring the highest level of effort in the registration process;and (2)as one of the key potential barriers to successful implementation. Increasing market share is the highest rated reason for achieving ISO 9000 registration. ISO 9000 registered companies expect a high degree of improvement in product design , process design , product quality , communication , and supplier relations. The findings also reveal that there is no significant difference between the two firm ownership types for all variables tested, indicating that the ISO 9000 standards appear universal in applicability.
A Laser-Induced Traveling-Wave Device for Generating Millimeter Waves

We have investigated a novel device concept for generating CW millimeter waves with output power in the multiwatt range. The concept involves the utilization of modulated laser radiation to induce in a distributed Schottky-diode structure a traveling-wave current which, in turn, synchronously excites the dominant mode of a waveguide structure to generate millimeter power. The induced traveling-wave current is directly proportional to the laser modulation generated by the interference of two overlapping laser beams of millimeter beat frequency. Detailed analysis indicates that the device has both high-output and frequency-tunable characteristics.
A novel surface‐wave antenna design using a thin periodically loaded ground plane

This paper presents a novel surface‐wave antenna that realizes a low‐profile configuration using a thin patch‐loaded grounded slab, which has an in‐phase reflection coefficient for plane waves, but no band gap for surface waves. When a dipole antenna is horizontally positioned near this artificial ground plane, it works like a transducer that converts the energy from the feeding probe into surface waves in the ground plane. The propagation and diffraction of the surface waves generate a monopole‐type radiation pattern. The attractive antenna height, which is less than 10% of a typical monopole antenna, is desirable for wireless‐communication systems. The performance of the surface‐wave antenna is demonstrated through both the FDTD simulations and the measured results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 47: 240–245, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21136
Moderate Hypothermia Has the Potential to Reveal the Dominant/Submissive Relationship in a Co-Culture System Consisting of Osteoblasts and Endothelial Cells

Microvessels in bone are indispensable for maintaining bone homeostasis based on a dynamic remodeling system. In cell-based tissue engineering, vascularization into the regenerative bone is a key strategy to avoid hypoxia and necrosis around re-implanted tissues. Previous studies have shown that direct contact between osteoblasts and endothelial cells stimulates differentiation of both cell types. However, no studies have revealed the dominant/submissive relationship. In the present study, we examined the effect of hypothermia on monoculture and co-culture to assess which cells tightly coordinated osteogenesis and angiogenesis in the co-culture system. As for osteoblasts, exposure to hypothermia suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Evaluation of the behavior of endothelial cells showed that hypothermia should not affect basic functions such as proliferation and migration. Under co-culture conditions, both osteogenic differentiation and the formation of vessel-like angiogenic structures were suppressed by hypothermia, but the spatial organization of alkaline phosphatase-positive cell clusters, which tend to localize around microvascular lumens, was not altered. These data suggest that hypothermia attenuates heterotypic intercellular crosstalk which robustly depends on osteoblasts to inhibit both osteogenesis and angiogenesis in the co-culture system. Taken together, this approach will provide new insights into the relationship between osteoblasts and endothelial cells in tissue engineering.
Tolerance of tropical marine microphytobenthos exposed to elevated irradiance and temperature

Abstract. The photosynthetic productivity of tropical microphytobenthos (MPB) is largely driven by changes in light intensities and temperature at the surface of sediment flats during emersion. Here, the response of the MPB community to temperature and light was examined. Changes in temperature and irradiance during tidal cycles in the Tanjung Rhu estuary, Langkawi, Malaysia, in 2007 significantly affected the photosynthetic capacities of the MPB. Higher photosynthetic parameters, such as the maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax), photosynthetic efficiency (α), maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and effective quantum yield (ΔF/Fm′), were recorded at high tide when the temperatures were lower. However, when the community was experimentally exposed to irradiances of 1800 µmol photons m−2 s−1, it was only able to photosynthesize at temperatures < 50 ∘C. Above this temperature, no photosynthetic activity was observed. Not only did high temperatures at high irradiance affect the algal communities, but limited photosynthetic activity was also observed in samples when exposed to limited irradiance. Recovery rates were highest at the lowest temperatures and decreased as the temperature increased. The recovery rates for samples exposed to temperatures of 40 ∘C were 4.01×10-3±0.002 s−1 and decreased to 1.01×10-5±0.001 s−1 at 60 ∘C, indicating irreversible damage to Photosystem II (PSII). These characteristics suggest that the MPB communities in this estuary were able to adapt to temperature variation. However, enhanced photoinhibition would result if exposed to elevated temperatures, especially during low tide where in situ temperature was already 43 ∘C. Hence, if in situ temperature were to further increase during tidal emersion, 50 ∘C could be a temperature threshold for photosynthetic performance of tropical estuarine benthic microalgal communities.
NOCH: A framework for biologically plausible models of neural motor control

This thesis examines the neurobiological components of the motor control system and relates it to current control theory in order to develop a novel framework for models of motor control in the brain. The presented framework is called the Neural Optimal Control Hierarchy (NOCH). A method of accounting for low level system dynamics with a Linear Bellman Controller (LBC) on top of a hierarchy is presented, as well as a dynamic scaling technique for LBCs that drastically reduces the computational power and storage requirements of the system. These contributions to LBC theory allow for low cost, high-precision control of movements in large environments without exceeding the biological constraints of the motor control system.
Can the innovative-city-pilot policy promote urban innovation? An empirical analysis from China

ABSTRACT Based on the data of 281 cities from 2005 to 2016, we constructed difference-in-difference (DID) models to study the impact of national innovative-city-pilot policy on urban innovation from the three dimensions of dynamic effect, heterogeneity, and influence path. The research found that: (1) The innovative-city-pilot policy has significantly improved the level of urban innovation. This conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) The policy does not have a lag effect, but it has a certain dynamic and continuous effect. (3) This policy is more conducive to innovation in provincial capitals or sub-provincial cities, and has little effect on innovation in other cities; there is no significant difference in the policy effects on eastern, mid-western cities, but the average policy effect in eastern cities is slightly higher than in the mid-western cities. (4) The impact mechanism test shows that the pilot policy affects urban innovation through government fiscal expenditures, the degree of urban industrial agglomeration, and the level of human capital.