Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Private Pilot Flight Skill Retention 8, 16, and 24 Months Following Certification

Abstract : This report describes the results of a 2-year longitudinal research program to assess objectively the skill retention levels of relatively low time private pilots. Objectives of this effort were to identify retention patterns for skills needed to perform a representative range of private pilot flight tasks; factors influencing the retention of these skills and the nature and degree of such influences; and continuation training methods to maintain or upgrade the skills. A secondary objective was to assess pilots' ability to predict and evaluate their own proficiency levels. Results are summarized for flight skill retention checks conducted 8, 16, and 24 months following private pilot certification. Proficiency loss was documented for all subjects and for each flight task studied, and the losses were statistically significant in nearly all cases. Tasks that were relatively high, low, and more rapid in skill loss were identified, and the effects of interpolated training on skill loss patterns were assessed. Pilots' ability to predict and evaluate their own skill retention levels for specific flight tasks was negligible. The present findings suggest that effective continuation training program and media are needed, especially to address cognitive types of flight skills. Several such potential media are described.
Prestige or Perish: Publishing Decisions in Academic Archaeology

Success in academic archaeology is strongly influenced by the publication of peer-reviewed articles. Despite the importance of such articles, minimal research has explicitly examined the factors influencing publishing decisions in archaeology. In order to better understand the landscape of archaeological publishing, we distributed a short survey that solicited basic professional and demographic information before asking respondents to (1) identify journals that publish important archaeological research, (2) identify journals that people who read archaeological academic CVs value most highly, and (3) rank the factors that affected their decisions about where to submit an article for publication. Our results from 274 respondents generated a list of 167 individual journal titles. Prestige was viewed as the most important factor that affected publishing decisions, followed by audience and open access considerations. There was no relationship between respondent-generated journal rankings and SCImago Journal Ranks (SJR), but there were significant differences in average SJR by gender and career stage. Responses showed consensus on only a small number of highly ranked archaeology and science-subject journals, with little agreement on the importance of most other journals. We conclude by highlighting the areas of disciplinary consensus and divergence revealed by the survey and by discussing how implicit prestige hierarchies permeate academic archaeology.
Robust speech recognition using speech enhancement

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) has matured into a technology which is becoming more common in our everyday lives, and is emerging as a necessity to minimise driver distraction when operating in-car systems such as navigation and infotainment. In “noise-free” environments, word recognition performance of these systems has been shown to approach 100%, however this performance degrades rapidly as the level of background noise is increased. Speech enhancement is a popular method for making ASR systems more ro- bust. Single-channel spectral subtraction was originally designed to improve hu- man speech intelligibility and many attempts have been made to optimise this algorithm in terms of signal-based metrics such as maximised Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) or minimised speech distortion. Such metrics are used to assess en- hancement performance for intelligibility not speech recognition, therefore mak- ing them sub-optimal ASR applications. This research investigates two methods for closely coupling subtractive-type enhancement algorithms with ASR: (a) a computationally-efficient Mel-filterbank noise subtraction technique based on likelihood-maximisation (LIMA), and (b) in- troducing phase spectrum information to enable spectral subtraction in the com- plex frequency domain. Likelihood-maximisation uses gradient-descent to optimise parameters of the enhancement algorithm to best fit the acoustic speech model given a word se- quence known a priori. Whilst this technique is shown to improve the ASR word accuracy performance, it is also identified to be particularly sensitive to non-noise mismatches between the training and testing data. Phase information has long been ignored in spectral subtraction as it is deemed to have little effect on human intelligibility. In this work it is shown that phase information is important in obtaining highly accurate estimates of clean speech magnitudes which are typically used in ASR feature extraction. Phase Estimation via Delay Projection is proposed based on the stationarity of sinusoidal signals, and demonstrates the potential to produce improvements in ASR word accuracy in a wide range of SNR. Throughout the dissertation, consideration is given to practical implemen- tation in vehicular environments which resulted in two novel contributions – a LIMA framework which takes advantage of the grounding procedure common to speech dialogue systems, and a resource-saving formulation of frequency-domain spectral subtraction for realisation in field-programmable gate array hardware. The techniques proposed in this dissertation were evaluated using the Aus- tralian English In-Car Speech Corpus which was collected as part of this work. This database is the first of its kind within Australia and captures real in-car speech of 50 native Australian speakers in seven driving conditions common to Australian environments.
Should Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Be Adjusted for Race?

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is considered the best overall measurement of kidney function and is an important clinical variable used in determining the optimal management of a patient with chronic kidney disease, determining the risks of radiologic procedures that require the administration of contrast, and determining doses of drugs with significant renal excretion.1 Current practice is to estimate GFR using an estimation equation that takes serum creatinine, age, and sex as variables, and to present that result whenever serum creatinine is reported.2 It has become standard practice to report a higher level of GFR for Black individuals thanWhite individuals for a given level of serum creatinine using the same multiplicative factor irrespective of age, sex, or level of GFR. This practice has come under scrutiny in recent years as part of a general reevaluation of the use of race in medical decision making.3
Solar electric geocentric transfer with attitude constraints: analysis. Final technical report

A time optimal or nearly time optimal trajectory program was developed for solar electric geocentric transfer with or without attitude constraints and with an optional initial high thrust stage. The method of averaging reduces computation time. A nonsingular set of orbital elements is used. The constraints, which are those of one of the SERT-C designs, introduce complexities into the analysis and the solution yields possible discontinuous changes in thrust direction. The power degradation due to VanAllen radiation is modeled analytically. A wide range of solar cell characteristics is assumed. Effects such as oblateness and shadowing are included. The analysis and the results of many example runs are included.
Epidemiological Study of Drowning Deaths in Madurai Region

Background: World Health Organization described drowning as serious and neglected public health problem. Nearly about 42 people every hour and 3.7 lakh people every year die due to drowning in the world. Method: The present study was undertaken at Government Medical College and Hospital located in Madurai on dead bodies brought for postmortem. The study was carried out during the period of January 2017 to December 2018 on 80 cases to study the various epidemiological parameters of drowning. Results and Conclusions : We have concluded that 75% victims were males and 25% were females. Drowning deaths were commonly seen in age groups of 11 to 20 years (25%). Maximum no of drowning deaths had occurred in urban region constituting 52% followed by rural region of 48%. Study also revealed majority of the victims were students constituting males 67% and females 33%. Number of victims of drowning deaths has familial and financial problems in males 78% and females 22%, depression seen in males 71% and females 29%. Number of drowning deaths occurred in September 16.5%. Most of the drowned victims were retrieved from river 59%, Wells 25%, Pond 29%.
Detection Of Selected Pathogens In Ixodid Ticks Collected From Animals And Vegetation In Five Regions Of Ukraine

Background Over the last few decades tick-borne diseases have emerged as an increasingly significant public health problem. The distribution and prevalence of zoonotic pathogens infecting ixodid ticks from Western Europe have been extensively examined. However, data on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine are scarce. The objective of the current study was, therefore, to investigate the prevalence rates of Anaplasma phagocytophilum , the Anaplasmataceae family, Rickettsia spp. , Babesia spp. , Bartonella spp. , and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in engorged and questing ixodid ticks collected from five administrative oblasts (regions) of Ukraine, namely Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Ternopil, and Vinnytsia.Methods The ticks were collected from both wild and domestic animals and from vegetation. Of 524 ixodid ticks collected, 3, 99, and 422 ticks were identified as Ixodes hexagonus , Ixodes ricinus, and Dermacentor reticulatus , respectively. DNA samples individually extracted from 168 questing and 354 engorged adult ticks were subjected to pathogen-specific PCR analyses.Results The mean prevalence rates in all I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks were, respectively: 10.3% (10/97) and 2.8% (12/422) for A. phagocytophilum ; 69.1% (67/97) and 52.1% (220/422) for the Anaplasmataceae family; 24.7% (24/97) and 27.7% (117/422) for Rickettsia spp. ; 3.1% (3/97) and 1.4% (6/422) for Babesia spp. ; and 9.3% (9/97) and 4.7% (20/422) for Bartonella spp. Overall, between the five cities, there was no significant difference in the prevalence rates of any of the pathogens for the respective ticks ( p >0.05). The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the engorged and questing I. ricinus ticks varied from 26.7% and 0% to 44.4% and 14.3%, respectively, with no statistical significance identified between the five cities ( p >0.05). Conclusions In addition to reporting the updated data for Kyiv and Ternopil, this study is the first to provide the prevalence rates of the tick-borne pathogens for Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Vinnytsia. This investigation is also the first to detect Ca. N. mikurensis in ixodid ticks from Ukraine. These new data will be useful for medical and veterinary practitioners as well as public health officials when diagnosing infections and when implementing measures to combat tick-borne diseases in Ukraine.
REAC/TS radiation accident registry. Update of accidents in the United States

Serious injury due to ionizing radiation is a rare occurrence. From 1944 to the present, 243 US accidents meeting dose criteria for classification as serious are documented in the REAC/TS Registry. Thirty individuals have lost their lives in radiation accidents in the United States. The Registry is part of the overall REAC/TS program providing 24-hour direct or consultative assistance regarding medical and health physics problems associated with radiation accidents in local, national, and international incidents. The REAC/TS Registry serves as a repository of medically important information documenting the consequences of these accidents. Registry data are gathered from various sources. These include reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC), state radiological health departments, medical/ health physics literature, personal communication, the Internet, and most frequently, from calls for medical assistance to REAC/TS, as part of our 24-hour medical assistance program. The REAC/TS Registry for documentation of radiation accidents serves several useful purposes: 1) weaknesses in design, safety practices, training or control can be identified, and trends noted; 2) information regarding the medical consequences of injuries and the efficacy of treatment protocols is available to the treating physician; and 3) Registry case studies serve as valuable teaching tools. This presentation will review and summarize data on the US radiation accidents including their classification by device, accident circumstances, and frequency by respective states. Data regarding accidents with fatal outcomes will be reviewed. The inclusion of Registry data in the IAEA’s International Reporting System of Radiation Events (RADEV) will also be discussed.
Supply chain management for the process industry

This thesis investigates some important problems in the supply chain management (SCM) for the process industry to fill the gap in the literature work, covering production planning and scheduling, production, distribution planning under uncertainty, multiobjective supply chain optimisation and water resources management in the water supply chain planning. To solve these problems, models and solution approaches are developed using mathematical programming, especially mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), techniques. First, the medium-term planning of continuous multiproduct plants with sequence-dependent changeovers is addressed. An MILP model is developed using Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) classic formulation. A rolling horizon approach is also proposed for large instances. Compared with several literature models, the proposed models and approaches show significant computational advantage. Then, the short-term scheduling of batch multiproduct plants is considered. TSP-based formulation is adapted to model the sequence-dependent changeovers between product groups. An edible-oil deodoriser case study is investigated. Later, the proposed TSP-based formulation is incorporated into the supply chain planning with sequence-dependent changeovers and demand elasticity of price. Model predictive control (MPC) is applied to the production, distribution and inventory planning of supply chains under demand uncertainty. A multiobjective optimisation problem for the production, distribution and capacity planning of a global supply chain of agrochemicals is also addressed, considering cost, responsiveness and customer service level as objectives simultaneously. Both e- constraint method and lexicographic minimax method are used to find the Pareto-optimal solutions Finally, the integrated water resources management in the water supply chain management is addressed, considering desalinated water, wastewater and reclaimed water, simultaneously. The optimal production, distribution and storage systems are determined by the proposed MILP model. Real cases of two Greek islands are studied.
Results of an Investigation of Concepts for Developing Computer-Based Decision Support for a Modern Frigate

Abstract : DREV is investigating concepts for the development of a computer based, real time decision support system that can provide combat system operators with advanced support capabilities for countering the current and anticipated threat to the Canadian Patrol Frigate. Among its principal roles, this system will continuously take in data from the ship's sensors and other information sources; support the formulation, maintenance and display of an accurate tactical picture derived by fusing all available data, leading to enhanced situation awareness; and assist in determining and selecting a response to anticipated or actual threats. This document examines a range of concepts for the design of the system, focusing on automation, cognitive and methodological issues. It also exposes preliminary ideas of a novel model based framework that is being developed to support design.
Air Traffic Controller Trainee Selection.

Abstract : The purpose of this effort was to examine new and existing selection procedures for entry into Air Traffic Control Operator School, in an effort to reduce the high level of attrition during and after training. The existing selection measures were the General Aptitude Index (AI) and Administrative AI from the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). New tests that were examined included the Multiplex Controller Aptitude Test (MCAT), Object Completion Test (OCT), Rotated Blocks Test (RBT), Perceptual Abilities Test (PAT), and Electrical Maze Test (EMT). First, the relationships between ASVAB AIs and training performance were assessed. It was found that the Administrative AI had a smaller relationship with training performance compared to the General, Mechanical, and Electronics AIs which correlated well with the criteria. Second, the five new tests were administered and the test scores were compared to a dichotomous pass/fail criterion. Multiple regression analyses showed that the combination of MCAT and RBT yielded the best combined prediction and that their use would improve upon prediction made by using the ASVAB alone. In conclusion, the results of this investigation indicated that the General AI is a useful predictor of air traffic controller training performance and that the Administrative AI should be deleted as a skeleton requirement for entry into Air Traffic Control Operator School. Further, other tests, not included in the ASVAB, could make a significant contribution to the prediction of air traffic controller training outcomes.
Bromley by Bow Centre research and evaluation project: integrated practice - focus on older people.

art For the first group of students, the project ran for eight weeks in the IT room. It started off with a brainstorming questionand-answer session with the health visitor. Also, the students gathered information on IDA from the internet. They then interviewed the Young@Art members about their diet to learn about causes of IDA in older people. Also, they interviewed mothers in the Baby Clinic. As a next step, the medical students scanned iron-rich foods, manipulated the images and created large boards with abstract pictures. These were integrated with the other information on IDA in the reception. Abstract art based on scanned apricots Abstract art based on sliced peppersart based on sliced peppers
Measurement of cloud-based game streaming system response to competing TCP cubic or TCP BBR flows

Cloud-based game streaming is emerging as a convenient way to play games when clients have a good network connection. However, high-quality game streams need high bitrates and low latencies, a challenge when competing for network capacity with other flows. While some network aspects of cloud-based game streaming have been studied, missing are comparative performance and congestion responses to competing TCP flows. This paper presents results from experiments that measure how three popular commercial cloud-based game streaming systems - Google Stadia, NVidia GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna - respond and then recover to TCP Cubic and TCP BBR flows on a congested network link. Analysis of bitrates, loss rates and round-trip times show the three systems have markedly different responses to the arrival and departure of competing network traffic.
Towards a universal and integrated digital representation of physical phenomena: a model to investigate comfort and energy efficiency in future environments

This thesis describes the exploration and the development of computational means to investigate the behaviour of design objects before they are available for investigation in the physical world. The motivation is to inform the design process about the design object's performance in order to achieve better--more performance-oriented--design outcomes in the sense of energy efficiency and comfort performance than can be achieved by conventional design techniques.
Long distance free-space quantum key distribution

In the age of information and globalisation, secure communication as well as the protection of sensitive data against unauthorised access are of utmost importance. Quantum cryptography currently provides the only way to exchange a cryptographic key between two parties in an unconditionally secure fashion. Owing to losses and noise of today's optical fibre and detector technology, at present quantum cryptography is limited to distances below a few 100 km. In principle, larger distances could be subdivided into shorter segments, but the required quantum repeaters are still beyond current technology. An alternative approach for bridging larger distances is a satellite-based system, that would enable secret key exchange between two arbitrary points on the globe using free-space optical communication. The aim of the presented experiment was to investigate the feasibility of satellite-based global quantum key distribution. In this context, a free-space quantum key distribution experiment over a real distance of 144 km was performed. The transmitter and the receiver were situated in 2500 m altitude on the Canary Islands of La Palma and Tenerife, respectively. The small and compact transmitter unit generated attenuated laser pulses, that were sent to the receiver via a 15-cm optical telescope. The receiver unit for polarisation analysis and detection of the sent pulses was integrated into an existing mirror telescope designed for classical optical satellite communications. To ensure the required stability and efficiency of the optical link in the presence of atmospheric turbulence, the two telescopes were equipped with a bi-directional automatic tracking system. Still, due to stray light and high optical attenuation, secure key exchange would not be possible using attenuated pulses in connection with the standard BB84 protocol. The photon number statistics of attenuated pulses follows a Poissonian distribution. Hence, by removing a photon from all pulses containing two or more photons, an eavesdropper could measure its polarisation without disturbing the polarisation state of the remaining pulse. In this way, he can gain information about the key without introducing detectable errors. To protect against such attacks, the presented experiment employed the recently developed method of using additional "decoy" states, i.e., the the intensity of the pulses created by the transmitter were varied in a random manner. By analysing the detection probabilities of the different pulses individually, a photon-number-splitting attack can be detected. Thanks to the decoy-state analysis, the secrecy of the resulting quantum key could be ensured despite the Poissonian nature of the emitted pulses. For a channel attenuation as high as 35 dB, a secret key rate of up to 250 bit/s was achieved. Our outdoor experiment was carried out under real atmospheric conditions and with a channel attenuation comparable to an optical link from ground to a satellite in low earth orbit. Hence, it definitely shows the feasibility of satellite-based quantum key distribution using a technologically comparatively simple system.