Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF KINEMATIC AND KINETIC COORDINATION OF THE LOWER LIMB JOINTS DURING STAIR ASCENT AND DESCENT

Being a common daily activity, stair locomotion places much higher loads on the lower limb than level walking does so a better understanding of the biomechanics of this activity is important for evaluation and treatment for patients with lower limb problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the three-dimensional dynamics and coordination of the joints of the lower limb during the stance phase of stair ascent and descent. Ten normal young adult subjects were recruited to ascend and descend stairs in a gait laboratory where the three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data as well as muscle electromyography (EMG) were collected. The sagittal ranges of motion during stance phase of stair ascent were from 1.85° extension to 53.5° flexion for the hip, 13.1° to 60.1° flexion for the knee and 13.8° dorsiflexion to 14.0° plantarflexion for the ankle. Corresponding data for stair descent were 4.78( to 13.16( flexion for the hip, 8.3° to 77.6° flexion for the knee and 18.3° dorsiflexion to 27.4° plantarflexion for the ankle. Maximum extensor moments of 8.5% and 15.6% (Nm/BW/LL) were required at the hip and knee respectively during loading response while 19.4% (Nm/BW/LL) at the ankle shortly before toe-off. During stair descent, maximum extensor moments of about 4.4% were required at the hip during loading response and before toe-off while 13.3% and 15.2% (Nm/BW/LL) at the knee and ankle respectively before toe-off The joint angles, moments, and powers in the frontal and transverse planes were relatively small, except for hip abduction. The hip abductor moments and powers were significantly bigger than those of the knee and ankle in both stair activities. Joint powers and the corresponding muscle activation patterns in stair ascent were significantly different from those in descent, with concentric powers generated mostly during stair ascent and with eccentric powers stair descent. The differences of the movements of the lower limb during stair ascent and descent were due to different safety requirements and kinematic and kinetic constraints from the stairs. The complete description of the biomechanics of the lower extremity while performing stair locomotion will be helpful for the planning and evaluation of treatment programs for patients with lower limb problems.
Digital Commons@Becker Digital

Background: Docetaxelhasimmunostimulatoryeffectsthatmaypromoteanimmunor-esponsive prostate tumour microenvironment, providing a rationale for combination with nivolu-mab (programmed death-1 inhibitor) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Methods: In the non-randomised, multicohort, global phase II CheckMate 9KD trial, 84 patients with chemotherapy-naive mCRPC, ongoing androgen deprivation therapy and (cid:1) 2 prior novel hormonal therapies (NHTs) received nivolumab 360 mg and docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks with prednisone 5 mg twice daily ( (cid:1) 10 cycles) and then nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks ( (cid:1) 2 years). The co-primary end-points were objective response rate (ORR) and prostate-speciﬁc antigen response rate (PSA 50 -RR; (cid:3) 50% decrease from baseline). Results: The conﬁrmed ORR (95% conﬁdence interval [CI]) was 40.0% (25.7 e 55.7), and the conﬁrmed PSA 50 -RR (95% CI) was 46.9% (35.7 e 58.3). The median (95% CI) radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.0 (8.0 e 11.6) and 18.2 (14.6 e 20.7) months, respectively. In subpopulations with versus without prior NHT, the ORR was 38.7% versus 42.9%, the PSA 50 -RR was 39.6% versus 60.7%, the median rPFS was 8.5 versus 12.0 months and the median OS was 16.2months versus not reached. Homologous recombination deﬁciency status or tumour mutational burden did not appear to impact efﬁcacy. The most common any-grade and grade 3 e 4 treatment-related adverse events were fatigue (39.3%) and neutropenia (16.7%), respectively. Three treatment-related deaths occurred (1 pneumonitis related to nivolumab; 2 pneumonias related to docetaxel). Conclusions: Nivolumab plus docetaxel has clinical activity in patients with chemotherapy-naı¨ve mCRPC. Safety was consistent with the individual components. These results support further investigation in the ongoing phase III CheckMate 7DX trial. ClinicalTrials.
Determination of optimal probabilistic seismic demand models for pile-supported wharves

One of the basic components of the Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) framework of Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center is the probabilistic seismic demand model (PSDM). PSDM is based upon a representative relation between ground motion intensity measures (IMs) and engineering demand parameters (EDPs). This research aims to develop an optimal PSDM for typical pile-supported wharf structures in western US ports by using probabilistic seismic demand analysis (PSDA). In this study, 4 bins with 20 non-near-field ground motions and 7 typical pile-supported wharf structures are used to determine an optimal PSDM by PSDA. The model geometry used in this study has a hybrid configuration incorporating many common field conditions. The optimal PSDM should be practical, sufficient, effective and efficient – all tested through several IM–EDP pairs derived by PSDA. The ground motion IMs used in this study include characteristics such as spectral quantities, duration, energy-related quantities and frequency content. Different EDPs are considered for local, intermediate and global response quantities. The considered optimal PSDM comprises a spectral IM, such as spectral acceleration and one of several EDPs. The EDPs of moment curvature ductility factor, displacement ductility factor and horizontal displacement of embankment and differential settlement between deck and behind land are considered for local, intermediate and global response quantities, respectively. Optimal PSDMs are used within PEER–PBEE framework, where they are coupled with both ground motion intensity and structural element fragility models to yield probabilities of exceeding structural performance levels under certain seismic hazard.
HYDRODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR FLNG CONCEPTS

The current demand in liquefied natural gas (LNG) encouraged the design of various concepts for floating LNG (FLNG) liquefaction or regasification facilities. With increasing transport distance, e.g. from remote marine locations to the onshore gas supply net, gas pipelines become uneconomic compared to shuttle carriers for LNG (LNGC). Due to its high energy density, offshore transfer from processing terminals to carriers and from carriers back to receiving terminals has to be analyzed in detail. During the transfer period, free fluid surfaces occurring in the cargo tanks of the LNGC are leading to a significant decrease of the initial intact stability and altered motion behavior. This paper focusses on the influence of resonant tank sloshing on the LNGC’s roll and surge motions. Analyses of transverse and longitudinal sloshing yield a surprising phenomenon: the frequency shift Dw between the theoretical natural frequency of the tank alone and the respective motion peak for a vessel with four tanks mounted to the hull. Force measurements between tank and hull reveal a peak at the tank’s natural frequency that causes strong liquid motions with related forces and moments on the hull but no increased vessel motions. Additional investigations comprise the offloading situation with a multi-body arrangement of LNGC
Sorption and capillary condensation in wood and the moisture content of red pine

The major purpose of this study is to improve hygrothermal simulation of wood responses to environmental vapor and moisture conditions under high relative humidity conditions. The article first reviews moisture property–related wood microstructures, sorption behavior, the concept of fiber saturation point, the potential for vapor to condense in wood under high relative humidity conditions, the measurement of equilibrium moisture content using traditional sorption methods, and the use of pressure plate test method at relative humidities above 95%. It then summarizes the results of equilibrium moisture content measurements for red pine sapwood at high relative humidity conditions using both sorption and pressure plate methods, with capillary saturation as maximum moisture content. It also discusses a number of wood microstructure and end-use-related factors that could influence the moisture content in service and the measurement of equilibrium moisture content in laboratory. Inconsistencies were found with other equilibrium moisture content data using the pressure plate test method.
Selection on Finite Sites under COmplex Demographic Events (SFS CODE)

This is the user’s guide to SFS CODE. It outlines how to compile and use the program, but does not delve into many of the details regarding specific algorithms used or the underlying data structures implemented in the C source code. A subsequent verbose version (more of an owner’s manual) of this document will be made available in the near future, and will delve into the gory details of how SFS CODE works and is implemented. The verbose version will also include many examples and several unpublished simulation results that have been used to guide my intuition in population genetics, and will hopefully help you understand how to effectively use SFS CODE. Table 5 on page 29 outlines every option implemented in SFS CODE, in includes a page reference indicating where each option was described in the text.
A Novel Wavelet-Based Gait Segmentation Method for a Portable Hip Exoskeleton

For a lower limb exoskeleton, accurate and continuous estimation of the gait phase in real time is a fundamental requirement to provide a well-tailored assistive action at the proper time in the gait cycle (GC). This article presents a new gait phase estimator for a portable hip exoskeleton based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and adaptive oscillators. The algorithm is capable of continuously tracking the gait phase and identifying the relevant biomechanical gait events online, i.e., heel strike (HS) and toe-off (TO). The proposed method exploits only the hip joint angle signals measured by hip encoders, avoiding the need to use additional sensors to those already built in the exoskeleton. The novel phase estimator has been benchmarked against a state-of-the-art method, based on the maximum flexion angle (MFA), with pressure-sensitive insoles used as the reference ground truth for the event detection. To validate the method, two experimental activities were carried out. Experiments conducted with eight healthy subjects walking on a treadmill at different speeds, with and without hip assistance, demonstrated that the DWT-based method outperformed the MFA method in all operative conditions, reducing the rms of the phase reset error by 64.0% in assistive mode, and identifying the HS and TO events with low delay (0.4% and 1.1% GC, respectively, for HS and TO). Experiments carried out with three transfemoral amputees showed similar performance, paving the way for clinical applications of the method.
The centre of percussion of tennis rackets: a concept of limited applicability

The concept of the centre of percussion of rigid bodies, and that of its conjugate point, the locus of restraint, is considered to be an important feature in the design and construction of tennis rackets. Using theoretical analysis, computer simulations, and experimental observations, the present investigation provides convincing evidence that a stationary locus of restraint does not exist in tennis rackets because of the torque and forces imparted on the racket handle by the player's hand during impact. It is suggested that, instead of being restricted to a stationary locus of restraint, the concept be extended to a migratory locus of restraint. This may enable racket designers to optimize design parameters in such a way as to minimize hand reaction forces during impact.
Investigating the Moderating Effects of Age and Gender on Customers’ Use of Tablet Menu in Casual Dining Restaurants

ABSTRACT This paper examines the effects of the moderating variables age and gender on the acceptance and use of tablet menus in casual dining restaurants. Following an extended version of the UTAUT model, this study employs five determinants of intentions to use: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and hedonic motivation. Personal distinctions like age and gender are significant in understanding how and why consumers make distinctive choices for technology embracement. A survey instrument collected customer data (n = 437) visiting casual dining restaurants in the Klang Valley in Malaysia. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the validity of the moderating hypotheses. The moderating effects of age and gender were tested utilizing a multi-group analysis. The findings confirm that age is the primary dependable demographic indicator of self-service technology utilization by customers. The study found that young consumers, compared to elderly consumers, tend to have a more positive approach toward embracing technology. Similarly, gender is also a discrete individuality that influences people’s objectives to embrace novel technology. Findings suggest that men are more likely to have progressed computer abilities in contrast to women.
Design flexibility of an open-loop resonator filter using similarity transformation of coupling matrix

In this letter, the design flexibility of an elliptic-response open-loop resonator filter is achieved through similarity transformation of the coupling matrix. To verify the proposed method, a compact four-pole elliptic-response bandpass filter is designed using the conventional structure with open-loop resonators. Designed filter has the resonators with very narrow spacing for the required coupling coefficient and it is impossible to implement a filter with wider fractional bandwidth. Two possible configurations to overcome this problem are presented through similarity transformation of the coupling matrix. From this design flexibility, a filter with wider fractional bandwidth is designed with realizable design parameters.
Simulation-driven experimental hypotheses and design: a study of price impact and bubbles

A crucial aspect of every experiment is the formulation of hypotheses prior to data collection. In this paper, we use a simulation-based approach to generate synthetic data and formulate the hypotheses for our market experiment and calibrate its laboratory design. In this experiment, we extend well-established laboratory market models to the two-asset case, accounting at the same time for heterogeneous artificial traders with multi-asset strategies. Our main objective is to identify the role played in the price-bubble formation by both self-impact (i.e., how trading orders affect the price dynamics) and cross-impact (i.e., the price changes in one asset caused by the trading activity on other assets). To this end, we vary across treatments the possibility of traders of diverting their capital from one asset to the other, thereby artificially changing the amount of liquidity in the market. To simulate different scenarios for the synthetic data generation, we vary along with the liquidity the type of trading strategies of our artificial traders. Our results suggest that an increase in liquidity increases the cross-impact, especially when agents are market-neutral. Self-impact, however, remains significant and constant for all model specifications.
Enhanced Sparrow Search Algorithm with Mutation Strategy for Global Optimization

In order to improve the performance of sparrow search algorithm (SSA), in this paper, a novel series of SSA variants is proposed by combining SSA with improved Tent chaos mutation (IT), Lévy flights mutation (LF), elite opposition-based learning mutation (EOBL), variable radius mutation (VR) and the combination of IT, LF, EOBL and VR, namely, ITSSA, LFSSA, EOBLSSA, VRSSA and CMSSA, respectively. Initially, the performance of these variants is evaluated on a comprehensive set of 31 benchmark test functions. Moreover, the performance of the best algorithm among these variants is compared with 19 state-of-the-art optimization algorithms to validate its performance on 31 benchmark test functions. The convergence and computational complexity of the best variant is also analyzed to test exploration, exploitation and local optima avoidance. It is then employed on eight real-world constrained engineering problems to further verify its robustness. The experimental results reveal that the best algorithm of SSA variants outperforms other competitors and is highly effective in solving real-life cases.
Complementing Classroom Teaching with an Internet Course Website: Does Gender and Race Matter

This research looks at the usage of course websites to complement the traditional teaching mode where lectures are delivered in physical classrooms. The data was collected from second year business management student who are required to use the course website for their business research methods class. The total number of students was 330 but only 275 responded as this was a voluntary exercise. The analysis showed that the male students found the course website to be more useful, easy to use and accessed the course website more as compared to the female students. In terms of race there were no significant differences in terms of usefulness, as all the students found it to be useful, but the Indian students found the course website to be easier to use and used more when compared to the Malays, Chinese and other races students. With the above result, we applied a regression analysis with gender and race as the control variables. The results indicate that gender and race explained only 4.3% of the variation in the usage whereas the two constructs (PU and PEU) were able to explain an additional 46.2% of the variation in the usage of the course website. Perceived usefulness ( β = 0.442, p<0.01) was the more influential predictor of usage with perceived ease of use (β = 0.337, p<0.01) also significant. Perceived ease of use was also positively related ( β = 0.550, p<0.01) to perceived usefulness.
Precise indoor localization with 3D facility scan data

Visual indoor localization for smart indoor services is a growing field of interest as cameras are now ubiquitously equipped on smartphones. In this study, a hierarchical indoor localization algorithm is designed and validated based on 3D facility scan data, which are originally collected for facility modeling purposes. The study has shown promising results in indoor localization. The study also demonstrated a scalable approach to generate high‐quality images with reference poses from laser scan data, opening doors to generate labeled images to train end‐to‐end pose regression model (i.e., PoseNet). In this regard, this study is the first attempt to leverage facility scan data, which are commonly collected for Building Information Modeling (BIM) purpose, for indoor localization. As more facilities are documented with laser scanners, our algorithm can unlock additional values of collected data for intelligent applications.
Effect of Knife and Operational Parameters on Energy Requirement in Flail Forage Harvesting

Abstract An investigation was undertaken in the laboratory to determine the impact cutting energy while cutting single stems of forage sorghum by the knife of a flail harvesting machine. The minimum cutting speed required for complete cutting is fairly insensitive to the knife rake angle. The minimum cutting speed increased from 12·9 to 18·0 m/s for a knife rake angle range of 20–60° as the knife bevel angle was increased from 30 to 70°. Such low cutting speeds would not be capable of conveying the chopped forage successfully into the accompanying forage wagon. When the cutting speed was increased from 20–60 m/s, the cutting energy per unit cross-sectional area (specific cutting energy) for direct impact decreased by a factor of about three for bevel angles from 30 to 70°. When cutting was performed against a shear bar, the specific cutting energy drastically reduced to between one-fifth and one-fifteenth of that required for direct impact. Forward speed of the machine did not have any significant effect on specific cutting energy. The specific cutting energy is not greatly sensitive to knife rake angle, but the minimum energy requirement was observed at 40° rake angle for the experimental ranges of cutting speed and bevel angle. The plant inclination angle influenced the specific cutting energy requirement and minimum energy was required at a plant inclination angle of about 20° to the vertical in the direction of machine movement. The contribution of the cutting energy to the total energy consumption (which includes cutting energy and windage energy) was found to be less than 10%. The total specific energy requirement increased by 3–4 times as the cutting speed was increased from 20 to 60 m/s and it reduced by 25–30% when the knife rake angle was increased from 20 to 60°. The knife bevel angle did not appear to have any significant effect on total specific energy requirement.
Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC Industry

Building information modeling (BIM) is one of the most promising recent developments in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. With BIM technology, an accurate virtual model of a building is digitally constructed. This model, known as a building information model, can be used for planning, design, construction, and operation of the facility. It helps architects, engineers, and constructors visualize what is to be built in a simulated environment to identify any potential design, construction, or operational issues. BIM represents a new paradigm within AEC, one that encourages integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a project. In this paper, current trends, benefits, possible risks, and future challenges of BIM for the AEC industry are discussed. The findings of this study provide useful information for AEC industry practitioners considering implementing BIM technology in their projects.
Efficient atmospheric and extra-atmospheric interception through optimally biased proportional navigation

Starting from a definition of the biased proportional navigation (PN) law and expression of the trajectory parameters, especially the lateral acceleration, in terms of a nondimensional bias parameter, an analytical minimization is made of the integrated (total) control effort with respect to the bias parameter. It is shown that optimum biasing may lead to significantly more control-efficient PN guidance in a wide variety of engagement situations, especially those involving higher target maneuvers. The performance of the optimally biased PN is compared with the standard (unbiased) PN law for the general case of a maneuvering target. The optimum bias is expressed through a simple algebraic equation readily solvable in real time even on small onboard processors. For the special case of the effective navigation being equal to three, the equation reduces to a quadratic, lending to an explicit expression for the optimum bias. Specific examples are provided for interception both inside and outside the atmosphere. It is shown that control effort savings up to a factor of three can be achieved through optimum biasing under realistic engagement conditions. <<ETX>>