Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ion Beam Induced Luminescene and Damage Study on Single-and Polycrystalline Al 2 0 3 :

Abstract Luminescence and Damage induced by Ar and He ion bombardment for a luminescent oxide of AloO^tCr has been studied. Both, singleand poly-crystalline AhO^iCr gave an intense luminescence at 695 nm due to Cr excited states. But the light intensity decreased rapidly with dose. The rate of decrease depends on the sample and the incident tons. In addition, enhancement of the luminescence yield was observed. RBS-Channeling results show that the extent of disorder in the crystals increases in the dose range of 1 x 10 to 1 x 10 ions/cm. It is concluded that the luminescence efficiency is closely associated to damage produced in the crystals.
Improved modeling and optimal control of an electric arc furnace

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee members, Professor Punam Saha and Professor Anton Kruger for their time and volunteering some of their summer to help. I would like to thank Professor Er-Wei Bai for all the direction, and always making me examine things more closely. I don't think I've ever met someone more excited about teaching. I'd like to thank Zhijun Cai for all the help on everything graduate school related and support as a research assistant. I'd like to thank Billy Bryant for all the help, interviews, and for sharing his knowledge of electric arc furnaces.
Long-term vocal parameters in semi-anechoic and reverberant rooms

The acoustic design of a workspace helps enriching speech and preventing talkers from forcing their voice. Voice disorders may cause absenteeism from work to recover, and many voice professionals such as teachers underestimate risks depending on the improper use of voice. Talkers tend to adjust their vocal output on the base of the vocal task, the distance to the listener and the sound environment. Given the same room acoustics, distance to the listener and type of speech, face-to-face communication implies interspeaker differences in the sound pressure level (SPL) of the voice signal at a short distance from the mouth, fundamental frequency (F0) and phonation time percentage (Dt%). The measurement chain and the characteristic of the sample are other causes of variability. This study investigates on changings in SPL, F0 and Dt% over 19 Italian mother-tongue subjects aging between 22 to 34 yrs, 11 female and 8 male, neither hearing nor visual impaired, producing continuous 5 minute-long speeches in the semi-anechoic and reverberant rooms of INRiM, in Turin (Italy). Talkers spoke freely aiming to transmit information on something they knew well to a listener seated 6 m far. The speech production was monitored through the contemporary use of a calibrated class 1 sound level meter (SLM) and two portable voice monitoring devices (VMD). The SLM, used as a reference measurement device, was placed at a fixed distance from the speaker's mouth. The VMDs, based on two different contact microphones placed at the jugular notch of the speaker, were used to sense the skin vibrations induced by the vocal folds activity. A comparison between the use of different instrumental chains was assessed. Subjective surveys on vocal comfort completed the data acquisition with the aim of finding out correspondences between objective and subjective impressions
Measuring the Effects of Driver Distraction: Direct Driving Performance Methods and Measures

This chapter reviews a range of assessment methods and metrics that have been used to assess the impact of distraction on driving performance. The available evidence regarding the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and generalizability of these is discussed. The focus of the chapter is on "direct" driving performance methods and metrics; that is, methods and metrics that directly assess objective measures of driving performance. Surrogate measurement methods, which simulate and assess particular aspects of the driving task, are discussed in subsequent chapters.
481 Prototypical commercial buildings for 20 urban market areas

This report documents the methodology used to determine the load patterns and estimate the building populations for various commercial and multi-family buildings in 20 representative markets of the US. The task involved describing nearly 500 prototypical buildings by building type, vintage, and city, defining their internal conditions and operating schedules, and then simulating their hourly energy profiles using the DOE-2.1D building energy simulation program. The simulated energy usages were than calibrated against statistical data and the building descriptions modified to better correlate to measured energy and end-use intensities and fuel/electric ratios. A secondary task involved using statistical data on construction activity and surveys to estimate the numbers and total floor areas represented by each of the prototypical buildings. The primary objective of this project is to supply input information on building loads and market sizes for a microcomputer program. The purpose of this program, here referred to as the Commercial Cogeneration Assessment Model (CCAM), is to assess the potential of cogeneration in commercial and multi-family buildings from the present to the year 2000. A secondary objective for this project is to provide a large data base of hourly load profiles for prototypical commercial buildings that can be used for othermore » technical studies. Detailed descriptions of the data output are given. 50 refs., 5 figs., 126 tabs. « less
Simplified internet-based diarrhoea and fever epidemiology in Balkh, Afghanistan
  (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The low-income country Afghanistan requires disease frequency information for infectious diseases as essential tool for prevention and management. We propose the use of internet searches for the collection of diarrhoea and fever frequency data to support doctors when treating diarrhoea and fever outbreaks. OBJECTIVE The low-income country Afghanistan requires disease frequency information for infectious diseases as essential tool for prevention and management. We propose the use of internet searches for the collection of diarrhoea and fever frequency data to support doctors when treating diarrhoea and fever outbreaks. METHODS A computer with internet connection was used to search Google Trends for frequency data for Balkh, Afghanistan, in 2019. We used search terms in English and the two languages of Afghanistan, Pashto and Dari. RESULTS Diarrhoea searches were conducted in Afghanistan throughout 2019 and especially between March and November. Diarrhoea searches were submitted in Balkh throughout the year. Searches for fever and تب were submitted throughout the year and especially during the last 2 thirds of 2019. CONCLUSIONS Internet search engines are a low-cost tool to provide search frequency data for diarrhoea and fever and can support healthcare in remote parts of the world such as Balkh.
Family SES and Self-Regulated Learning in Chinese Preschoolers: A Mediation Analysis of Parental Educational Expectation and Home-based Involvement

ABSTRACT Research Findings: As China scrapped its decades-old one-child policy, the present study examined how family socioeconomic status was linked to preschoolers’ self-regulated learning through parental educational expectation and home-based involvement in one- and multi-child families in mainland China. Based on a sample of 1,363 preschoolers involved in the 2018 wave of the China Family Panel Studies, the results showed that Chinese parents of only children exhibited higher levels of home-based involvement in their children’s education than did parents with two or more children. Structural equation modeling analyses suggested that parental educational expectation and home-based involvement fully mediated the connections between parental education and self-regulated learning of young children. Moreover, the exact nature of these links differed across one- and multi-child families, which were more complex for children who had at least one sibling. The effect of home-based parental involvement was stronger in multi-child families than in one-child families. Practice or Policy: Findings from this study support the importance of parental involvement in supporting children’s learning in the home environment. Further, the findings suggest family support programs should be tailored to the characteristics and needs of the target families in the Chinese sociocultural context.
Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of a Microelectromechanical Directional Microphone

A series of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) based devices for acoustic direction finding have been designed and fabricated which mimic the aural system of the Ormia ochracea fly and its extraordinary directional sensitivity. To overcome the minimal spatial separation between its ears, a flexible hinge mechanically couples the fly’s two tympanic membranes. Because of this coupling, the phase differences due to the time difference of arrival (TDOA) are greatly amplified and sound source direction is determined with unparalleled speed and accuracy. This unique system allows the fly to acoustically locate crickets, which chirp with wavelengths two orders of magnitude greater than the dimensions of the hearing system. In this thesis, MEMS sensor design using finite element modeling and experimentation to characterize the physical phenomena that affect the performance will be described. Specific investigations reported include damping effects, device linearity to sound pressure, and the effects of various packaging schemes on device performance. Results include successful demonstrations of several directional sensors responsive to both sinusoidal and impulsive sources, an electronic readout scheme using capacitive comb fingers, an asymmetric design for dual frequency use, and devices effective into the ultrasonic range, all of which could ultimately contribute to a millimeter-scale device for sniper-location or a number of other defense applications.
Simplified Design Model for Uni-Axially Loaded Double-Skinned Concrete-Filled-Steel-Tubular Columns with External Confinement

One of the significant contributions of using double-skinned concrete-filled-steel-tubular (CFST) columns is that it can extend the maximum limit of concrete strength that can be practically used in the construction industry, by improving the ductility of columns through providing more uniform and continuous confining pressure to the in-filled concrete. However, because of the imperfect interface bonding occurs at early stage, the elastic strength and stiffness will decrease so that the confinement effect provided by the steel tube is not fully utilized. To improve the situation, the authors have proposed to use external confinement in the form of steel rings on the outer steel tube to restrict the dilation of CFST columns and thus restore an intact interface bonding condition. It has been verified by uni-axial compression test that the elastic strength, stiffness and interface bonding were improved. Based on the test results, the authors have developed a theoretical model for predicting the uni-axial load-carrying capacity of doubled-skinned CFST columns. As a continued study, the authors will investigate the most critical parameters affecting the uni-axial strength, and to develop a simplified formula for practical design of doubled-skinned CFST columns through an extensive parametric study.
Computational Modeling and Inference of Alternative Splicing Regulation.

of a dissertation at the University of Miami. Dissertation supervised by Professor Xiaodong Cai. No. of pages in text. (146) Alternative splicing of precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) provides an important means of regulating gene expression and generating transcriptomic and proteomic diversity in most eukaryotes. A number of special proteins, named splicing factors, can regulate the alternative splicing process by binding to certain short subsequences on pre-mRNA, named splicing regulatory elements (SREs). Therefore, identification of these SREs and prediction of their combinatorial effects are very important to the understanding of the mechanisms that regulate splicing. In this dissertation, we develop two methods for identifying SREs and their interactions. In the first method, we use the traditional enrichment-based approach, which identifies SREs by comparing frequencies of all hexamers in two discriminative data sets generated from mouse RNA-Seq data. The SREs are identified as hexamers that are enriched in the positive data set but under-represented in the negative data set. We also analyze the position preference of the identified SREs and compare their frequencies in constitutive exons and alternatively spliced exons. In the second method, we first derive a mathematical model for splicing regulation based on the principles of thermodynamics. We include the effects of both SREs and interactions between two SREs in the model. We then apply the model to identify SREs and SRE interactions with linear regression. Since the linear regression model contains a very large number of variables, the traditional inference method does not perform well. To overcome this problem, we develop a novel framework for inferring the high-dimensional linear model. Finally, we systematically study the alternative regions, arising from alternative splicing, alternative first exon or alternative last exon events in 105 breast cancer patients using RNA-Seq data. The identified aberrant alternative regions show very interesting associations with cancer development and provide important candidates for cancer diagnosis and cancer therapies.
Essays on Product Acquisition for Value Recovery

This dissertation studies decision problems facing the manufacturer that offers cash incentive to encourage a fraction of its install base to return end-of-use devices. Marketing managers often use such tactics as a promotion tool to motivate sales of new products. Supply chain managers often use such tactics to obtain used products for profitable recovery operations. The first essay, “Product Acquisition for Remanufacturing: A Dynamic Analysis,” analyzes the performance of buyback and trade-in policies for acquiring products to be remanufactured. A key distinguishing feature of this analysis is the consideration of time dynamics. In particular, both the quantity-condition profile of used products and the market interest in remanufactured products evolve over time, and the manner of evolution is influenced by new product sales. Essay 1 introduces and analyzes a series of models that reflect the dynamics of customer willingness-to-return and willingness-to-pay attitudes, the size and condition of the OEM product install base, the demand for remanufactured product, and the demand for new product. Conventional approaches set trade-in and buyback prices to maximize profits in a single period; however, our analysis show that companies can earn higher profits by adopting a proactive approach. The second essay “Final Purchase and End-of-Use Acquisition Decisions in Response to a Component Phase-Out Announcement” is motivated by informal talks with supply chain executives from the computer industry. Essay 2 investigates a problem faced by a durable-goods manufacturer of a product that is no longer manufactured but still under warranty. A supplier announces that a component of the product will be phased out and specifies a deadline for the final order. In addition to determining the final order quantity from the supplier, the manufacturer may introduce a trade-in program to generate an alternative supply of the component for the purpose of satisfying warranty claims. We analyze how industry and market characteristics influence the manufactures optimal decisions and profits. The analysis in the second essay lends insight into the determinants of the initial order quantity, the characteristics of a well-designed trade-in program to support component harvesting, and the cost of ignoring a trade-in program for component harvesting. We find that launching a trade-in program and harvesting spare-parts from the returned device is not only a viable response to a supplier’s component phase out announcement, under certain conditions, launching a trade-in program is actually profitable. ESSAYS ON PRODUCT ACQUISTION FOR VALUE RECOVERY
Agile properties of service oriented architectures for network enabled capability.

Network Enabled Capability (NEC) is the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s response to the quickly changing conflict environment in which its forces must operate. In NEC, assets need to be integrated in context, to assist in human activity and provide dependable inter-operation. Different from traditional system engineering for the development of hardware equipments or software engineering for the development of software systems, NEC raises new challenges not only for service development on Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), but also for dynamic discovery and integration of services in order to provide dependable and sustainable military capability. In this paper we introduce and discuss our research work in the NECTISE (NEC Through Innovative Systems Engineering) project with a focus on the use of agile methodologies to adapt to changes occurring in the process of service development, service discovery and service integration. We demonstrate through examples how to enable agile SOA for NEC.
Effects of Bonuses on Active Component Reenlistment Versus Prior Service Enlistment in the Selected Reserve

Abstract : The reserve components should be fully manned and ready, but at times during 2004 to 2009 the Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, and the Marine Corps Reserve experienced manning shortfalls. The shortfalls occurred despite constant manpower authorizations and can be attributed to an insufficient supply of personnel. Supply in general depends on recruiting and retention, and retention was stable in the Army National Guard and the Marine Corps Reserve, though it did decrease in the Army Reserve. Thus, in the Army National Guard, the Marine Corps Reserve, and to some extent the Army Reserve the manning shortfall came from an inadequate inflow of recruits. The present study began with a focus on the effectiveness of RC enlistment and affiliation bonuses in increasing the enlistment of service members leaving the AC. In our analysis, we assume that AC service members at a reenlistment point consider remaining in the AC, joining the RC, or leaving the military entirely, and that both AC and RC bonuses influence this decision. Framing the analysis in this way broadened the focus of the study from just the effectiveness of RC bonuses to include how AC and RC bonuses interact to affect both AC reenlistment and prior service enlistment in the RC.
Japanese Management Techniques and British Workers

Japanese management techniques and the paradoxical absence of labour Japanese lean production in South Wales Japanese human resource management in South Wales local and global contexts to the restructuring of work at a British factory lean production control and labour intensification teamwork and kaizen: disempowering shop-floor labour the new industrial relations the disciplinary impact of human resource management. Appendix: research methodology.
Laboratory Testing and Economic Analysis of High RAP Warm Mixed Asphalt

This report contains laboratory testing, economic analysis, literature review, and information obtained from multiple producers throughout the state of Mississippi regarding the use of high RAP (50 % to 100%) mixtures containing warm mix additives. The goal of the research was to determine if such a concept was feasible within Mississippi. The project was broad in context and provides information related to many parameters. The result of the research was the concept was feasible. Economic data was obtained from ten producers in October of 2008 and used in conjunction with Mississippi virgin asphalt price records to perform economic analysis regarding high RAP mixtures, as well as issues pertaining to warm mix additives. The analysis was not comprehensive but provided valuable information. The result was there was no evidence to suggest the concept would be prohibited by economics. Laboratory testing was performed on hundreds of gyratory compacted samples with varying RAP contents, RAP sources, Sasobit® contents, virgin asphalt quantities, and temperature to investigate compactability and indirect tensile strength of the samples. The results provided no evidence that acceptable air voids could not be achieved at warm mix temperatures using only moderate amounts of virgin asphalt. Indirect tensile strengths were much greater in high RAP mixtures, which could indicate cracking potential. More research is needed to make definitive statements. Multiple producers of asphalt within Mississippi were contacted to discuss issues related to increased RAP percentage and the use of warm mix additives. The data provided was incorporated into select portions of the research. Overall, the research found no reason to believe that high RAP warm mixed asphalt was not feasible and recommended additional research that would further the cause.
Sandblaster 2 Support of See-Through Technologies for Particulate Brownout

Abstract : This report describes the procedures and results from dust cloud testing performed by Midwest Research Institute (MRI) in support of the DARPA Sandblaster I testing program. The testing was conducted at the La Posa drop Zone of the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) during three periods in February through April 2006. MRI's objective was the characterization of "brownout" dust clouds generated by six rotorcraft airframes: UH-1, CH-46, CH-53, V-22, HH-60, and MH-53. The primary MRI measurement parameters were dust "intensity" [concentration] and particle size distribution. All airframes were tested in a hover-taxi maneuver, except for the V-22, which was also tested during landing. The soil beneath the flight path was tilled before testing to maximize the dust emission potential. The MRI sampling array was deployed at fixed positions on the center-line of the flight path and downwind along the rotor-tip path and at distances of 18 m and 35 m downwind of the rotor-tip path. This deployment was used to characterize the brownout cloud formation and transport phenomena.
Simulation of the effect of auxiliary ties used in the construction of Mallorca Cathedral

The thesis is oriented on the study of Mallorca Cathedral taking into account its construction process and, particularly, the influence of iron ties used as auxiliary devices during the construction. Some previous studies (Roca et al., 2013, 2012) have presented some possible hypotheses about the construction process of this gothic cathedral. This study complements the previous results by considering the possibility of the adoption of auxiliary ties, since some evidences of their application can be recognized in the structure nowadays. Before focusing on Mallorca Cathedral, a first part is devoted to the effective use of iron elements during medieval times with a special interest on temporary and long-lasting ties in gothic architecture. The main goal of this research is to show the widespread adoption of iron in gothic constructions. Then, a thorough investigation of the bays of Mallorca Cathedral has been carried out in order to estimate the location of the temporary ties. It is assumed that such ties were adopted to stabilize the lateral vaults before the construction of the central ones, and were cut afterwards. After this preliminary work, three different ties configurations are considered (upper tie, lower tie and two ties) together with a reference configuration without any tie. The ties were added to an existing model of a typical bay of the cathedral. The four models developed are used to study the role of the ties during the construction and the effects resulting from being later cut. The study also includes the analysis of the long-term deformation of the structure taking into account the effects resulting from the removal of the ties, as well as parametric analyses: one focused on the influence of the section of the ties and another one on the influence of the tensile strength of the masonry.