Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linking Models with Brain Measures

Linking models and brain measures offers a number of advantages over standard analyses. Models that have been evaluated on previous datasets can provide theoretical constraints and assist in integrating findings across studies. Model-based analyses can be more sensitive and allow for evaluation of hypotheses that would not otherwise be addressable. For example, a cognitive model that is informed from several behavioural studies could be used to examine how multiple cognitive processes unfold across time in the brain. Models can be linked to brain measures in a number of ways. The information flow and constraints can be from model to brain, brain to model, or reciprocal. Likewise, the linkage from model and brain can be univariate or multivariate, as in studies that relate patterns of brain activity with model states. Models have multiple aspects that can be related to different facets of brain activity. This is well illustrated by deep learning models that have multiple layers or representations that can be aligned with different brain regions. Model-based approaches offer a lens on brain data that is complementary to popular multivariate decoding and representational similarity analysis approaches. Indeed, these approaches can realise greater theoretical significance when situated within a model-based approach.
Fault-tolerant wormhole routing algorithm for mesh networks

A multicomputer system can hardly avoid having faulty components in the real world. A good fault-tolerant routing scheme should tolerate as many fault patterns as possible and, hence, reduce the number of disabled functional nodes. The authors consider disconnected unsurrounded faults, i.e. all disconnected faults discussed in the literature. In disconnected unsurrounded fault models, there is no restriction on the shapes of faults. In the proposed routing scheme, a message always leaves each f-ring encountered at an appropriate node such that no message will encounter the same f-ring again and therefore never get trapped in faults.
Investigation of manufacturing processes by numerical sensitivity analysis

During the manufacturing of optical coatings, errors in refractive index values or in thickness values of each layer of the coating can induce dramatic consequences on the desired optical properties. Global numerical sensitivity analyses using space filling designs and metamodels were applied in the case of the influence study of different errors on optical filter characteristics to determine the most critical interactions of layers. We propose to use space filling designs to assess, by computer experiments, the sensitivity of optical filters to the simultaneous errors in the refractive index values and thickness values. In this study, the principal characteristics of space filling designs are presented and are compared to random designs. This comparison allows us to identify the best types of space filling designs to conduct sensitivity analysis with few computer runs. We will present the first results concerning the global sensitivity analysis of different coatings in the case of simultaneous errors in refractive index values and in thickness values. We consider for this study two monitoring techniques: a quartz monitoring and an optical monitoring. By this way, we will highlight the influence of correlated errors on the most critical interactions classification and give a different perspective to these monitoring techniques. In conclusion, this computational study gives clues to the understanding of error propagation in manufacturing processes and points out the most critical interactions in coatings to improve the robustness of optical coatings and to reduce the production costs.
Spatial and temporal aggregation of Oryzaephilus surinamensis from Peninsular Malaysia

The saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus) is a secondary pest of rice grains and other stored products. Lack of information on the population abundance, spatial, and temporal distribution of O. surinamensis rendered the management control strategy of this pest species less effective. The objective of this study was to investigate the abundance, spatial and temporal pattern of O. surinamensis populations from nine rice warehouses in three zones of Peninsular Malaysia (i.e., the northern, central and southern zones) for three continuous months. The results showed that the abundance of O. surinamensis populations varied significantly (p<0.05, p= 0.00) between zones, with the highest abundance for this species (69%) recorded from the Klang District, in the central zone, followed by Pasir Gudang (27%) in the southern zone, and Seberang Prai (4%) in the northern zone. The patterns of population abundance also showed significant differences between months, p<0.05 (p-value= 0.00-0.011) between all the warehouses. The factors that could be associated with the highest abundance of the pest were attributed to poor sanitation at the warehouses and inconsistency in the fumigation regime. For the spatial distribution analysis, SADIEShell_122 and Surfer8 software were applied. The distribution patterns of O. surinamensis populations varied significantly in all the warehouses, being significantly aggregated at p<0.05 (p=0.0385-0.0513) and Ia>1.0 (1.212-1.579), whilst being non-significantly and randomly distributed at p>0.05 (p=0.1154-0.91032) and Ia>1.0 (0.852- 0.929). The significance of the aggregation might be due to the rapidly changing volume of the rice stock caused by the active and rapid turnover of the storage inventory. The results obtained were very valuable and informative in managing O. surinamensis infestation of stored rice by incorporating the spatial and temporal information of the pest populations in the management strategy for improving the rice and other stored products.
Application of vibration-based damage detection to an integral abutment bridge

Vibration-based damage detection (VBDD) methods use changes to the dynamic characteristics of a structure (i.e. its natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping properties) to detect the presence of damage and determine its location. The application of these methods to constructed civil engineering facilities is complicated by a number of factors unique to these structures. Despite the challenges, the development of reliable VBDD methods for constructed facilities has the potential for great benefit and cost savings to infrastructure owners. This paper focuses on the application of VBDD techniques based on changes to mode shapes to a two-span, slab-on-girder, integral abutment bridge in Saskatoon, Canada. The dynamic response of the bridge under ambient traffic loading has been measured periodically using temporarily installed accelerometers over a range of ambient temperatures. A detailed finite element (FE) model has been developed and calibrated to match the first three measured natural frequencies and mode shapes. This model was then used to simulate the dynamic response of the bridge as various states of small-scale damage were induced, and several VBDD techniques were applied to detect and locate the damage. Preliminary results show that the ambient temperature significantly influences measured natural frequencies. In addition, the presence and location of damage may be found using any of VBDD techniques. The performance of the techniques is influenced by the number of sensors used to characterize mode shapes, as well as by the procedures used to normalize the mode shapes.
Progress in ultrafast Cr:ZnSe lasers

We have operated, for the first time to our knowledge, a directly diode-pumped Cr:ZnSe femtosecond oscillator. In addition, we have constructed a CPA Cr:ZnSe-based ultrafast laser system that generates 2475-nm, 1-kHz-rate, 1 GW -peak-power pulses.
Research of self-pumped phase conjugator for speedily modulated beams in photorefractive crystal

The theory of a self-pumped phase conjugator (SPPC) for speedily amplitude-modulated beams is presented by combining DFWM theory of speedily amplitude-modulated beams in photorefractive (PR) crystal with the model of two interacting regions for SPPC. The field expression of phase conjugate beam is given. For the special case of code modulation the phase conjugate reflectivity is calculated. The experimental result using code modulation shows that SPPC is endowed with the ability of processing speedily modulated information in the temporal domain.
A horn-reflector antenna for space communication

This paper describes the mechanical features of the horn-reflector antenna used for receiving signals reflected from the Project Echo balloon satellite and presents in some detail the electrical characteristics (radiation patterns and gain) measured at a frequency of 2390 mc. Theoretically derived characteristics which agree very well with the measurements are also presented; details of the calculations are given in the appendices.
Seismic Evaluation of Low-Rise Reinforced Masonry Buildings with Flexible Diaphragms: III. Synthesis and Application

This paper outlines the last two phases of a joint research study performed by the University of Texas at Austin and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center (CERL). The study coordinates and synthesizes experimental testing, analytical modeling, practical implementation, and real-world application to enhance FEMA-310, the predominant seismic evaluation methodology for low-rise reinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms. In earlier phases of study, conclusions from shaking-table testing, quasi-static testing, and analytical modeling were used to develop a simple tool for the seismic analysis of these types of buildings. In this paper, the tool is developed in the context of performance-based earthquake engineering into a supplementary evaluation methodology intended to fill a gap in FEMA-310. The tool is applied to four existing buildings and ultimately shown to be simple, useful, and necessary.
Water absorbent polymer in sugarcane crop

The water absorbent polymer effect on vegetative growth and production of Theoretical Recovery Sugar (TRS) of sugarcane cv. RB 86 7515 was evaluated on two field tests installed in randomized blocks, with four treatments and five repetitions. The polymer doses were 0; 4; 8 and 12 g m-1 of furrow (test 1) and 0; 1.4; 2.8 and 4.2 g m-1 of furrow (test 2). Test 1 (dec/2007 to may/2009) was implanted in a Distroferric Red Argisol soil in Presidente Prudente - State of Sao Paulo (SP), Brazil; and the test 2 (Aug/2008 to Aug/2009) was implanted in a Red Yellow Argisol soil in Lucelia - State of Sao Paulo (SP), Brazil. In test 2, there were no significant differences for any evaluated parameters. In both tests the polymer doses equal to or less than 4 g m-1 of furrow showed no significant effect on the evaluated parameters. In test 1, the polymer doses of 8 and 12 g m-1 of the conditioning polymer increased the number of tillers in stage II of development and led to the largest amount of straw. The gross income per hectare has positive relation with the polymer doses. The polymer had no significant effect on the sugarcane stems productivity and technological parameters.
Overview and feasibility of advanced grey water treatment systems for single households

Although in recent years new developments for smaller applications have been made, investment costs have decreased and fresh water and sewage fees have increased, it has not been published so far if there are feasible grey water systems for single households with high quality effluent on the market. This paper gives a general overview of grey water treatment systems, a detailed comparison of available advanced grey water treatment for single households and a cost evaluation in view of on-site membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems for single households. The data and information were collected from demo units, publications, manufacturers and suppliers of these systems and were compared with experiences found in research literature. Results show that on-site MBR systems with daily grey water reclamation of more than 500 litres (10 persons) could be cost-effective. For single households the investment is still too high for a payback time of less than 15 years.
Oil and gas well drilling: A vibrations perspective

The process of oil well rotary drilling is discussed from a vibrations perspective. Furthermore, a synopsis of the equipment used and of the procedures followed is included. Performance modeling and monitoring are discussed, along with data acquisition and utilization. Axial, torsional, and lateral vibrations are reviewed. Typical operational difficulties such as sticking, buckling, and fatiguing of strings are also reviewed. Finally, emerging techniques of analysis such as stochastic treatment, and optimization are discussed. To enhance the utility of the paper, references readily available in the form of books or archival journal publications are primarily cited. Furthermore, mathematical rigor and phenomenological completeness are sporadically moderated to conform with paper length limitations.
Proofreading under Different Levels of Illumination

The subjects' task in this experiment involved proofreading of paragraphs for misspelled words. Four young and four older subjects served in the experiment. It is concluded that age, print quality and illumination level significantly affect performance. Results indicate that performance improves with illumination but by varying degrees for different conditions. Further, increased illumination and good print quality are more important for older subjects than for young subjects.
Small extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stromal cells mitigate intestinal toxicity in a mouse model of acute radiation syndrome.

Background: Human exposure to high doses of radiation resulting in acute radiation syndrome and death could rapidly escalate to a mass casualty catastrophe in the event of nuclear accidents or terrorism. The primary reason is that there is presently no effective treatment option, especially for radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. This syndrome results from disruption of mucosal barrier integrity leading to severe dehydration, blood loss and sepsis. In this study, we tested whether small extracellular vesicles/exosomes derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) could reduce radiation-related mucosal barrier damage and reduce radiation-induced animal mortality. Methods: Human MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes were intravenously administered to NUDE mice, 3, 24 and 48 hours after lethal whole-body irradiation (10 Gy). Integrity of the small intestine epithelial barrier was assessed by morphologic analysis, immunostaining for tight junction protein (claudin-3) and in vivo permeability to 4 kDa FITC-labeled dextran. Renewal of small intestinal epithelium was determined by the quantification of epithelial cell apoptosis (TUNEL staining) and proliferation (Ki67 immunostaining). Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey test. Statistical analyses of mouse survival were performed using the methods of Kaplan-Meier and Cox. Results: We demonstrated that MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes treatment reduced by 85% the instantaneous mortality risk in mice subjected to 10 Gy whole-body irradiation and thus increased their survival time. This effect could be attributed to the efficacy of MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes in reducing mucosal barrier disruption. We showed that MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes improved renewal of the small intestinal epithelium by stimulating proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis of the epithelial crypt cells. MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes also reduced radiation-induced mucosal permeability as evidenced by the preservation of claudin-3 immunostaining at the tight junctions of the epithelium. Conclusions: MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes promote epithelial repair and regeneration and preserve structural integrity of the intestinal epithelium in mice exposed to radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity. Our results suggest that the administration of MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles/exosomes could be a treatment modality to limit acute radiation syndrome.
Optimal power flow sensitivity analysis

The authors present a method and the mathematical formulation for large-scale optimal power flow sensitivity analysis. The method has been implemented in a computer program (OPSENS) presently in use in the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The results of using the OPSENS program for calculating the sensitivity of system losses for a 34 bus and a 1700 bus transmission network to bus load changes are reported and compared to the results of multiple OPF (optimal power flow) studies. The effectiveness of OPSENS in this application was demonstrated. >
Ocular movements under taskload manipulations: Influence of geometry on saccades in air traffic control simulated tasks

Traffic geometry is a factor that contributes to cognitive complexity in air traffic control. In conflict‐detection tasks, geometry can affect the attentional effort necessary to correctly perceive and interpret the situation; online measures of situational workload are therefore highly desirable. In this study, we explored whether saccadic movements vary with changes in geometry. We created simple scenarios with two aircraft and simulated a conflict detection task. Independent variables were the conflict angle and the distance to convergence point. We hypothesized lower saccadic peak velocity (and longer duration) for increasing complexity, that is, for increasing conflict angles and for different distances to convergence point. Response times varied accordingly with task complexity. Concerning saccades, there was a decrease of peak velocity (and a related increase of duration) for increased geometry complexity for large saccades (>15°). The data therefore suggest that geometry is able to influence “reaching” saccades and not “fixation” saccades. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of Submarine Pipeline Scour Using Large-Eddy Simulation of Dense Particle-Liquid Flows

Using large-eddy simulation technique for dense particle-fluid flows, the current-induced scour is predicted for both the mono- and bidispersed systems below a horizontal submarine pipeline exposed to unidirectional flow. The simulations are four-way coupled, which implies that both solid-liquid and solid-solid interactions are taken into account. Particles are assumed to behave as viscoelastic solids during interactions with their neighboring particles, and their motion are predicted by a Lagrangian method. The interparticle normal and tangential contact forces between particles are calculated using a generalized Hertzian model. The other forces on a particle that are taken into account include gravitational pressure gradient force accounting for the acceleration of the displaced liquid, the drag force resulting from velocity difference with the surrounding liquid, and the Magnus and Saffman lift forces. The predicted scour profiles for monodispersed system are found to compare favorably with the laboratory observations. For the bidispersed system, a seepage flow underneath the pipe (which is a major factor to cause the onset of scour below the pipeline) is found to be weakened using an appropriate size for the sand bed. This fiffnding highlights the importance of the bed particle size distribution on the onset of scour below the pipelines.
Effect of fine mineral additions on granular packing of cement mixtures

This article concerns the influence of the physical characteristics of 18 fine mineral additions on water requirement, agglomeration and packing density of pastes. The main objective is to determine the principal parameters controlling their use in concrete mixtures. A standard Vicat test and, a new and simple test based on agglomeration of fine particles by capillary forces of a water drop, are used to determine the water requirement and the packing density. The influence of high-range water-reducing admixture is also studied. Results show that fine mineral additions unfavourably influence the water requirement and the packing density of cement mixtures in two cases. The first case concerns additions with irregular shaped particles, which lead to loose granular structures and very high water requirement. Both Vicat and ‘single drop’ tests could determine a critical threshold for water requirement. The second case concerns blended mixtures with a low cement content, where the cement–addition particles int.
Improvement in vehicle agility and stability by G-Vectoring control

We extracted a trade-off strategy between longitudinal traction/braking force and cornering force by using jerk information through observing an expert driver's voluntary braking and turning action. Using the expert driver's strategy, we developed a new control concept, called ‘G-Vectoring control’, which is an automatic longitudinal acceleration control (No DYC) in accordance with the vehicle's lateral jerk caused by the driver's steering manoeuvres. With the control, the direction of synthetic acceleration (G) changes seamlessly (i.e. vectoring). The improvements in vehicle agility and stability were evaluated by theoretical analysis and through computer simulation. We then introduced a ‘G-Vectoring’ equipped test vehicle realised by brake-by-wire technology and executed a detailed examination on a test track. We have confirmed that the vehicle motion in view of both handling and ride quality has improved dramatically.
Determination of the Optimal Polypropylene Fiber Addition to the Dense Bituminous Mixtures by the Aid of Mechanical and Optical Means

Polypropylene fibers are completely native modifiers and they do not have any dependence on abroad in case of technology. When viewed from this point, the modification of bituminous binders with polypropylene fibers is a very important step for our country’s “economical” concerns. In this study, first of all, the physical and chemical effects of polypropylene fibers on bitumen were investigated. Next, the amount of “optimum” polypropylene fibers that has to be added into the mixture was determined. In order to determine it, first, static creep tests and Marshall tests were carried out and then, images of the polypropylene fiber added bituminous binders under fluorescence microscopy were researched. With the application of physical and mechanical tests to the Marshall specimens prepared with the optimum polypropylene amount that was obtained, optimum bitumen content was determined and finally economical analyses were carried out. By carrying out extensive analyses it was seen that the utilization of polypropylene fibers improves the physical and mechanical properties of the resultant asphalt mixture mainly by enhancing the permanent deformation resistance. On the other hand, polypropylene modification results in 30% economy from bitumen which is a clear indication of the benefit in the mass production of asphalt concrete.
Analysis of offset pulse position modulation - a novel reduced bandwidth coding scheme

This study describes a novel version of digital pulse position modulation (PPM) called offset PPM, which operates at half the line rate of digital PPM and offers an increase in sensitivity. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique, theoretical results are presented for an offset PPM system coding 3 bits of pulse code modulation (PCM) data, at a rate of 1 Gbit/s. An optical channel with a Gaussian impulse response, such as that obtained from graded-index plastic optical fibre, was considered. The results are compared to those obtained for digital PPM, using a maximum likelihood sequence detector, and it is shown that offset PPM is more tolerant of pulse dispersion giving a 3.1 dB increase in sensitivity when operating with a channel bandwidth equal to half the PCM bit rate.