Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A system architecture and simulation environment for building information modeling in virtual worlds

This paper describes building information modeling (BIM) research by students and faculty of the University of Nebraska’s Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI). The paper also describes work in conjunction with the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), located at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. The objective of this on-going research is to create a virtual modeling environment where architects and planners can present building concepts and design options to customers in a way that is more easily envisioned by the client. The proposed environment would integrate BIM and virtual environments by allowing a free exchange of data between applications. The specific research mentioned in this paper focuses on visualization and editing of interior room configurations for use by USSTRATCOM. The software used for this research project was Autodesk® Revit, Autodesk® 3DS Max, and a proprietary gaming engine called Unity, developed by Unity Technologies and based in San Francisco, California, USA. This paper covers the development of a system architecture in which BIM will be integrated with a virtual simulation environment built in Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC’s) On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment (OLIVE) and discusses research results to date.
Inside the BBC and CNN: Managing Media Organisations

Inside the BBC and CNN provides a unique insight into two of the world's best-known media organisations, during a period of great change and new challenges. The BBC and CNN have very different histories, remits and identities, but both must now compete to provide news in a media environment being reshaped by increasing competition, globalisation, digitisation and convergence. In addition they face increasing pressures of criticism focussed on the struggle for ratings and the perceived "dumbing down" of programming. Drawing on intensive research carried out among senior managers in both organisations, Lucy Kung-Shankleman's study explores the beliefs and attitudes that shape management priorities and broadcasting policy. More controversially, it examines how each organisation's distinct cultural beliefs - about broadcasting's fundamental purpose, about the nature of competition, and about the relationship between competition and quality - have laid the foundations for their current and past success, but could now threaten to limit their ability to respond to the unprecedented changes underway in the world's media landscape.
A Plot Scale Experiment to Analysis the NPS Reduction by Silt Fence and Vegetated Ridge for Non-Irrigated Cropland

The objective of this study was to test the pollutant reduction effect by the silt fence and vegetated ridge through field monitoring. The experiment plots were established with two replication and three treatments. Each plot was designed with 5 m width, 22 m length, and 3 % slope. Flumes with the floating type stage gages were installed at the outlet of each plot to monitor the runoff. For a rainfall monitoring, tipping bucket rain gage was installed within the experiment site. Cultivated crops were spring daikon and autumn chinese cabbage. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the water quality concentration from three experiment plots were not significantly different in 5 % of significant level. The monitoring results showed that the average pollution loads reduced by silt fence compared to control were SS 75.33 %, TN 40.87 %, TP 56.58 %, BOD 52.12 %, COD 36.07 %, TOC 34.99 %; by vegetated ridge compard to control were SS 65.27 %, TN 81.80 %, TP 54.26 %, BOD 67.09 %, COD 46.55 %, TOC 43.30 %. Analysis of Spearman`s rank correlation coefficient showed that BOD-SS and SS-Turbidity were highly related at the silt fence and vegetated ridge plots. In all plots, SS-Turbidity and TP-TN relations were relatively high. The monitoring results showed that the silt fence and vegetated ridge were effect method to reduce the pollutant loads from the field runoff. Long-term monitoring is required to obtain more quantitative reduction effect for diverse crops and to increase the reliability of results.
Extended Park's vector approach-based differential protection of three-phase power transformers

This study presents a new scheme for power transformers protection, which is based on the analysis of the harmonic content of the differential current Park's vector modulus. The proposed method is able to detect turn-to-turn winding insulation failures, and to distinguish them from magnetising inrush current transients. Experimental and simulation results are presented and discussed.
Long‐Term Monitoring and Identification of Bridge Structural Parameters

Abstract: Vibration of a new concrete bridge was monitored and change in the bridge structural stiffness was identified accordingly over a 5‐year period. This three‐span 111‐m long bridge is instrumented with 13 acceleration sensors at both the superstructure and the columns. The sensor data are transmitted to a server computer wirelessly. Modal parameters of the bridge, that is, the frequencies and the modal shapes were identified by processing 1,707 vibration data sets collected under traffic excitations, based on which the bridge structural parameters, stiffness and mass, and the soil spring values were identified by employing the neural network technique. The identified superstructure stiffness at the beginning of the monitoring was 97% of the stiffness value based on the design drawings. In the identified modal frequencies, a variation from −10% to +10% was observed over the monitoring period. In the identified stiffness values of the bridge superstructure, a variation from −3% to +3% was observed over the monitoring period. Based on the statistical analysis of the collected data for each year, 5% decrease in the first modal frequency and 2% decrease in the superstructure stiffness were observed over the 5‐year monitoring period. Probability density functions were obtained for stiffness values each year. Stiffness threshold values for the collapse of the bridge under the operational loading can be determined. Then the number of years can be assessed for which the area under the proposed probability density functions is greater than the threshold value. So the information obtained in this study is valuable for studying aging and long‐term performance assessment of similar bridges.
Effects of Interdigital Spacing, Wrist Position, Forearm Position, Grip Span, and Gender on Static Grip Strength

To analyze the effects of factors which may decrement static grip strength, a study was performed using 20 subjects (10 males and 10 females). Three levels of interdigital spacing were examined: 0, 4, and 8 mm to correspond to bare hand, a thermal/spectra knit layered glove, and a chemical glove. Three wrist positions (neutral, 45 degree extension, and 45 degree flexion) and three forearm positions (neutral, full supination, and full pronation), as well as two levels of grip spacing (6.1 and 7.4 cm on the hand dynamometer) were varied in the study. Thus, each subject performed 54 trials, which were presented in random order. The results indicate that the following were significant main effects: gender, grip span, forearm position, wrist position, and interdigital spacing. As expected, males exerted 63.7% more strength, on average, than females. Also, full pronation had a significantly lower mean grasp strength than either neutral or full supination. The 8 mm spacing differed significantly from both 0 and 4 mm spacing and both 4 and 8 mm spacing had a lower mean grasp strength than 0 mm. Also, the 7.4 cm position on the hand dynamometer had significantly lower mean grasp strength as compared with the 6.1 cm position. Wrist position affected mean grasp strength as well; with a neutral wrist position, the strength was significantly higher than either flexed or extended, with a greater decrement from flexion than extension.
New Airfoil‐Design Concept with Improved Aerodynamic Characteristics

The research in this paper is the result of an experimental study regarding a new airfoil‐design concept, which is developed to produce greater lift coefficients over a much broader range of operational angles of attack, to improve or eliminate stall at virtually all operational airspeeds, to increase functional lift‐to‐drag ratios over a greater range of operational angles of attack, and to be adaptable for aircraft of both the fixed‐wing and the rotary‐wing types. The writer has combined his effort with L. L. Smith, and a U.S. Patent, entitled “Airfoil,” Patent No. 4,606,519, was obtained on August 19, 1986. Patents were also obtained or are pending in other countries. The experimental results, obtained by using the new airfoil‐design concept, have been compared with experimental results obtained from a conventional NACA 23012 airfoil. Flight performance tests by using a 2.134‐m (7.0 ft) model and remote‐control devices, as well as flow‐separation studies, were also performed. The results were compared .
Do Calculated Conflicts in Microsimulation Model Predict Number of Crashes?

A microsimulation model and its calculations are described, and the results that are subsequently used to determine indicators for traffic safety are presented. The method demonstrates which changes occur at the level of traffic flow (number of vehicles per section of road) and at the vehicle level (vehicles choosing different routes). The best-known safety indicator in this type of model is the conflict situation, in which two vehicles approach each other and, if no action is taken, a crash will occur. These conflict situations are detected in the simulation model. This method does not necessarily relate directly to any actual observed conflicts or recorded crashes. The quantitative relationship is examined between detected conflicts at junctions in the model and recorded crashes at the same locations in the real world. The methods chosen for detecting conflicts and for selecting crashes are explained. A microsimulation model was constructed for a regional road network. The conflicts in this network were detected, and the recorded crashes were selected. The results show a quantitative relationship between the number of conflicts at priority junctions and the number of passing motor vehicles on one hand and the number of observed crashes on the other hand. When crashes and conflicts are divided into crash categories, junctions with signals clearly show substantial differences between the relative numbers of frontal crashes and frontal conflicts.
Noise Source Localization Using a Compact Phased Array: Studies on a Full Scale Wind Turbine in a Wind Farm

Locating the dominant noise sources on a wind turbine is an important problem in designing and developing low noise wind turbines. Previously very large microphone arrays were used to locate these sources. The primary focus of this paper is to show that using a compact and mobile microphone array with advanced beamforming algorithms, the noise sources can be successfully located and quantified. The results from the qualification experiments on the microphone array conducted in laboratory using synthetic noise sources show the differences between the various beamforming algorithms used in this study (both frequency and time domain algorithms). The initial experimental results on a full scale wind turbine reveal that it is indeed possible to locate the noise sources using a compact microphone array by successfully locating the two dominant noise sources on the wind turbine namely, aerodynamic noise near the blade tip and mechanical noise from nacelle.
Repetitive waveform correction technique for CVCF-SPWM inverters

A way to synthesize a repetitive controller directly with SPWM inverters is presented. It combines the advantages of repetitive control (low THD with nonlinear loads) and SPWM technique (easy implementation, low cost, reliable operation, etc). To cancel out the high resonant peak of the SPWM inverter, the repetitive controller incorporates a notch filter. Design of the controller is discussed in detail, and a case design is presented. Low THD (1.4%) is achieved with nonlinear load, this proves the method to be a cost-effective upgrading technique for SPWM inverter products.
Rate of breast biopsy referrals in BRCA mutation carriers: a retrospective comparative study and matched analysis

Purpose To evaluate the total biopsy and positive biopsy rates in women at high risk of breast cancer compared to the general population. Methods The study group consisted of 330 BRCA mutation carriers attending the dedicated multidisciplinary breast cancer clinic of a tertiary medical center in Israel. Clinical, genetic, and biopsy data were retrieved from the central healthcare database and the medical files. Patients who were at age 50 years or older during follow-up were matched 1:10 to women in the general population referred for routine breast cancer screening at the same age, as recommended in the international guidelines. The groups were compared for rate of biopsy studies performed and percentage of positive biopsy results. Matched analysis was performed to correct for confounders. Results The matched analysis revealed that the total biopsy rate per 1000 follow-up-years was 61.7 in the study group and 22.7 in the control group (p < 0.001). The positive biopsy rates per 1000 follow-up-years were 26.4 and 2.0, correspondingly (p < 0.001), and the positive biopsy percentages were 42.9% and 8.7% correspondingly (p < 0.0001). Conclusions BRCA mutation carriers who attend a dedicated clinic, have a 2.7 times higher biopsy rate per 1000 follow-up-years, a 13.2 times higher positive biopsy rate per 1000 follow-up-years, and a 4.9 times higher positive biopsy percentage compared with women in the general population.
The Influence of Training and Development on Employee Retention: Empirical Evidence from Banking Industry in Tanzania

Recently, employee retention has become a serious concern in many organizations (Mehrez and Bakri, 2019). Thirupathy and Dhayalan (2016) argued that today’s business environment is very competitive thus making skilled employees the major differentiating factor.The study admitted that organizations in these days rely on the expertise of their employees in order to compete and gain competitive advantage in the market. Samuel and Chipunza (2009) emphasized that retention of skilled employees is vital for sustaining competition as well as in increasing effective and efficient service delivery in the organizations. In the same perspective, Ibidunni, et al. (2016) argued that employee retention helps in improving organizational performance. Conclusively, employee retention is now regarded as vital for organizational performance as well as competitiveness.
Assessing the Capabilities of a New Linear Inversion Method for Quantitative Microwave Imaging

We investigate the imaging capabilities of a new linear microwave imaging approach, which allows to quantitative retrieve the complex permittivity distribution of unknown nonweak targets. To this end, we carry out a parametric numerical analysis for a canonical scatterer (a homogeneous dielectric cylinder with circular cross section) and derive a quantitative criterion to foresee the method’s applicability. The reliability of the criterion is then tested against noncanonical scatterers to show the effectiveness of the method in imaging nonweak targets and in outperforming the linearized inversion method based on the standard Born approximation.
Traveling Gun Application Uniformity in high Winds

ABSTRACT FIELD tests of a traveling gun sprinkler irrigation system showed that increases in wind velocity must be accompanied by decreases in travel lane spacing if an acceptable water application uniformity is to be maintained. Travel lane spacing must be decreased further as the wind direction and travel direction become more nearly parallel. An empirical equation is presented to estimate lane spacing as a function of wind velocity and direction, and sprinkler water pressure, for the sprinkler tested. If travel lane spacings recom-mended for no-wind conditions are used, the water distribution pattern during winds will become uneven. If recommended lane spacing reductions for windy conditions are followed, the application pattern during winds may be acceptable under some wind directons; however, if winds are nearly parallel to the travel direction the application pattern will be poor. Also, if the narrower spacings recom-mended for winds are used, the application pattern may be poor if the wind velocity decreases. Spacings from 30 to 75 percent of the wetted diameter gave acceptable uniformity with no wind. Uneven water distribution results in too little water applied in some field areas, which reduces crop yield; and too much water applied in other areas, which will cause deep percolation, resultant loss of nutrients, higher energy costs, and reduced crop yield. The importance of uniform irri-gation water application increases as the costs of land, irrigation equip-ment, water pumping, and fertilizer increase. Nonuniform application results in water and nutrient loss from deep percolation, with resulting ground water pollution, as well as under-irrigation and yield reduction in some field areas. In West-central Minnesota, where irrigation is increasing on shallow, drought hazard soils and where winds are prevalent during the cropping season, the amount of acreage irri-gated by traveling large volume, single nozzle gun irrigation systems is increasing. This report describes a study to investigate the performance of a traveling gun sprinkler and to develop operating procedures that would provide an acceptable water application uniformity when operating in windy conditions. A coefficient of uniformity (CU) of 0.85 or better, was considered acceptable. Coefficient of uniformity was calculated from Christiansen's formula: Values of CU were calculated for various travel lane spacings, using calculated overlapped application depths. The maximum lane spacings to obtain a CU value of 0.85 was determined for each test. Also, maxi-mum travel lane spacings were calculated from an equation devel-oped previously from stationary tests (Shull et al.)(No date) and were compared with the spacings obtained from the traveling gun data, to determine the equation's utility as a general guide for predicting travel lane spacing for various wind veloci-ties and directions
Social Identity Group and Human (In)Security: The Case of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

The article uses social identity group theory and human insecurity to examine the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). After first defining social group identity and its characteristics, the article reviews the Al Qaeda ideology that serves as the foundation of ISIL, before turning attention to the message and legacy of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and their profound influence on ISIL. The article concludes by arguing that only by ending the marketplace of identities can stability be restored to Iraq and Syria.
Optimal process design for the polygeneration of SNG, power and heat by hydrothermal gasification of waste biomass: Thermo-economic process modelling and integration

This paper presents a process model for the polygeneration of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), power and heat by catalytic hydrothermal gasification of biomass and biomass wastes in supercritical water. Following a systematic process design methodology, thermodynamic property models and thermo-economic process models for hydrolysis, salt separation, gasification and the separation of CH4, CO2, H2 and H2O at high pressure are developed and validated with experimental data. Different strategies for an integrated separation of the crude product, heat supply and energy recovery are elaborated and assembled in a general superstructure. The influence of the process design on the performance is discussed for some representative scenarios that highlight the key aspects of the design. Based on this work, a thermo-economic optimisation will allow for determining the most promising options for the polygeneration of fuel and power depending on the available technology, catalyst lifetime, substrate type and plant scale.
Dynamic Modelling of Nonresponse in Business Surveys

It is well-known that nonresponse affects the results of surveys and can even cause bias due to selectivities if it cannot be regarded as missing at random. In contrast to household surveys, response behaviour in business surveys has been examined rarely in the literature. This paper is one of the first which analyses a large business survey on micro data level for unit nonresponse. The data base is the Ifo Business Tendency Survey, which was established in 1949 and has more than 5,000 responding firms each month. The panel structure allows to use statistical modelling including time-varying effects to check for the existence of a panel fatigue. The results show that there are huge differences in business characteristics such as size or sub-sector and that nonresponse is more frequent in economically good times.
A CASE FOR FREEWAY MAINLINE METERING

In this work, the merits of freeway mainline metering as a means of better managing freeway traffic congestion are explored. Freeway mainline metering involves controlling the amount of traffic entering a freeway segment to provide improved travel downstream of the control area. To date, mainline metering has not been applied to a typical urban freeway system, although the concept has been applied successfully to bridges and tunnels. Experiences at these bridges and tunnels indicate that in the presence of a bottleneck, regulating the number of vehicles through the bottleneck will result in improved freeway operations. This study investigates whether regulating mainline vehicle movements can also improve freeway operations without the presence of a bottleneck. Also addressed in this work is whether mainline metering can provide additional benefits over and above typical ramp metering. To evaluate the above hypotheses, the INTRAS simulation model was used to replicate freeway traffic operations. The mainline, metering evaluation was based on a variety of mainline volume and on-ramp control conditions. The results indicate that mainline metering can improve freeway operations downstream of the mainline meter. Most importantly, this can be accomplished without increasing the overall delay for vehicles originating upstream of the metering location. In addition, vehicles accessing the freeway from metered on-ramps downstream of the mainline meter are no longer entering a congested freeway mainline, thus reducing overall travel time. These findings appear to indicate that mainline metering is an appropriate freeway management tool.