Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Development Effectiveness Through R&D: Dynamic Learning and Evaluation

Research and development (R&D) is a common process in for-profit organizations. Despite the benefits, it is not routinely practiced in nonprofit organizations, in part because it is difficult to identify the effects of programs that are designed to involve individuals over long periods of time. This paper presents a process by which organizations looking to affect social outcomes can learn from their programs in both the short- and long-run in order to develop the most cost- and impact-effective programs. We call it Dynamic Learning and Evaluation (DLE). DLE is a multi-arm experimental approach to program development that encompasses all stages of the design and implementation process. It combines a clear model of the causal chain of a program with high quality monitoring and impact evaluation. During the initial program development, organizations randomly apply multiple implementation designs and test them against each other using qualitative and administrative data. Once the organization determines a combination of designs that hold the most potential, they then implement these designs in the field and estimate impacts using participant data collection processes. The organization then uses the results to inform the next round of program implementation. They repeat this process over multiple designs for the life of the program and organization. At no point in the lifespan of the organization is this learning process stopped: programs are continually updated using systematic and objective methods to improve their design and impact. We present this process in detail.
Chapter 1: Overview and summary

The ITER Physics Basis presents and evaluates the physics rules and methodologies for plasma performance projections, which provide the basis for the design of a tokamak burning plasma device whose goal is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes. This Chapter summarizes the physics basis for burning plasma projections, which is developed in detail by the ITER Physics Expert Groups in subsequent chapters. To set context, the design guidelines and requirements established in the report of ITER Special Working Group 1 are presented, as are the specifics of the tokamak design developed in the Final Design Report of the ITER Engineering Design Activities, which exemplifies burning tokamak plasma experiments. The behaviour of a tokamak plasma is determined by the interaction of many diverse physics processes, all of which bear on projections for both a burning plasma experiment and an eventual tokamak reactor. Key processes summarized here are energy and particle confinement and the H-mode power threshold; MHD stability, including pressure and density limits, neoclassical islands, error fields, disruptions, sawteeth, and ELMs; power and particle exhaust, involving divertor power dispersal, helium exhaust, fuelling and density control, H-mode edge transition region, erosion of plasma facing components, tritium retention; energetic particle physics; auxiliary power physics; and the physics of plasma diagnostics. Summaries of projection methodologies, together with estimates of their attendant uncertainties, are presented in each of these areas. Since each physics element has its own scaling properties, an integrated experimental demonstration of the balance between the combined processes which obtains in a reactor plasma is inaccessible to contemporary experimental facilities: it requires a reactor scale device. It is argued, moreover, that a burning plasma experiment can be sufficiently flexible to permit operation in a steady state mode, with non-inductive plasma current drive, as well as in a pulsed mode where current is inductively driven. Overall, the ITER Physics Basis can support a range of candidate designs for a tokamak burning plasma facility. For each design, there will remain a significant uncertainty in the projected performance, but the projection methodologies outlined here do suffice to specify the major parameters of such a facility and form the basis for assuring that its phased operation will return sufficient information to design a prototype commercial fusion power reactor, thus fulfilling the goal of the ITER project.
Simulation of Scouring Due to Tsunami at Downstream of a Seawall

Tsunami may run-up and overflow a sea wall that was designed as tsunami protection. Such overflow as happened in Japan in 2011 was capable of overturning the seawall by scouring the bed behind the sea wall. This indicates that a better design of downstream protection is required. A simulation of scouring due to tsunami at downstream of a seawall may need a long flume and relatively large flow discharge. Since along flume and sufficient pump capacity was not available, a short flume equipped with a tank was designed and used as the substitute. A water tank was placed above the flume to store water needed for the entire simulation. Before each simulation, water was pumped into the tank using a relatively small pump capacity which is normally available. Such an arrangement was possible as the duration of tsunami is normally limited, and thus the entire simulation needs a relatively small amount of water to be stored in the tank. A gate valve with an electronic controller was installed in the pipe system to control the release of water from the tank into the flume. The opening and closing time and duration of the valve make it possible to generate a certain tsunami flow hydrograph on land. A seawall model was installed in the middle of the flume to observe the behavior of tsunami overflow and the scour at the downstream of the seawall. The tsunami generator was capable of modeling the scouring at the downstream of the seawall. The dimension of the scour depends on the overflow discharge, the wall height and the material’s characteristic at the downstream of the seawall. Finally, a preliminary method to reduce the scouring was developed and presented.
Single- and Multi-Carrier DS-CDMA: Multi-USer Detection, Space-Time Spreading, Synchronisation, Standards and Networking

This volume is dedicated to a range of CDMA and MC-CDMA transmission aspects of systems designed for communicating over fading wireless channels. Currently, a technical in-depth book on this subject, which has a similar detailed exposure of the recent advances in CDMA, M-ary CDMA and MC-CDMA, is unavailable. A further attraction of the joint treatment of these topics is that it allows the reader to view their design trade-offs in a comparative context. Divided into five main parts: Part I – provides a detailed introduction to the subject of CDMA systems designed for employment in various application Part II – deals with the currently hot topic of genetic algorithm assisted multiuser detection Part III – gives a detailed account of new, reduced-complexity M-ary CDMA schemes Part IV – considers a range of novel MC-CDMA schemes which have the potential of supporting numerous design objectives Part V – provides an overview of the 3G wireless system proposals and characterises the expected network capacity gains attained with the aid of adaptive CDMA systems By providing an all-encompassing self-contained treatment this groundbreaking volume will have appeal to researchers, postgraduate students, academics practising research and development engineers working for wireless communications and computer networking companies, as well as senior undergraduate students and technical managers in the field.
The five competitive forces framework in a technology mediated environment : do these forces still hold in the industry of the 21st century?

In 1979 Michael E. Porter published his article “How competitive forces shape strategy“ which has gained massive popularity among entrepreneurs and managers for suggesting a holistic framework to analyze the forces driving industry competition. Now, more than 30 years later, academics suggest that the model became frozen in time, and, is in its original form no more applicable to today’s business context. Hence, this study will find out that indeed according to recent literatures the five competitive forces model can be partly rejected. Moreover, four additional forces will be presented in the course of this study to make up for the innate weaknesses imposed by Porter’s framework. These additional forces will then be integrated into Porter’s original five forces framework and applied to the telecommunications industry to depict the weaknesses of the unaltered model. It will be understood that Porter’s model in its original form will solely provide a very superficial attempt to explain the forces driving industry competition in the 21st century. The readjusted model will allow to step beyond Porter’s model and provide a much clearer view on the decisive forces determining industry competition.
Bearing capacity of unsaturated oil-contaminated sand

Onshore and offshore oil spills contaminate soil. In addition to environmental concerns about ground water pollution and other possible effects, the geotechnical properties of the contaminated soil such as the shear strength and the hydraulic conductivity are also altered. This paper presents the results of research to evaluate the variation of the shear strength of a sand contaminated by three different types of oil with varying kinematic viscosities and thus the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations. The results of the tests reported here relate to only one type of sand and three types of oil. The oil contents were varied from zero to 6%. Results of direct shear tests for determining the soil friction angles are given. Additionally, laboratory model test results to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of a surface strip foundation supported by oilcontaminated sand are also presented. Based on these test results, the effect of oil contamination in drastically reducing the bearing capacity is discussed.
Simulations of Hydro-Elastic Impacts Using a Parallel SPH Model

The work presented in this paper started with a PhD Thesis (GTT/ECN) (Deuff, 2007) dedicated to the development of a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) solver able to simulate hydro-elastic impacts with strong fluid/structure coupling. Further developments have been made to integrate the fluid/structure SPH solver in an industrial SPH platform named SPHF low. These developments have mainly focused on the parallelisation of the fluid/structure solver and the implementation of solutions to avoid the so-called Tensile Instability. They enable the simulation of liquid impacts on complex structures such as MarkIII or NO96 containment systems. The paper first describes the theoretical core of the SPH fluid/structure solver. Various academic test cases are presented for validation of the recently implemented SPH structural model, such as the free vibration of a beam and wave propagation through a heterogeneous material. Recent developments on the parallelisation and solutions implemented to avoid Tensile Instability are described. The final validation case allows a comparison of the results of the fluid/structure SPH solver with analytical model results on a deformable beam wedge impacting the free surface at very high velocity.
Nourishing intertidal foreshore: Improving safety and nature

After extensive flooding in 1953, Deltaworks were constructed to protect the Southwest delta in the Netherlands. In the Eastern Scheldt the connection to the North Sea was regulated by an open storm surge barrier and two compartment dams. These decreased the tidal volume and consequently tidal flats are eroding and disappear under water. The intertidal flats and shoals have two important functions in the basin. Firstly, they are valuable habitat and foraging grounds for wading bird species. A second function of intertidal foreshores is to reduce the wave attack on surrounding water barriers. In front of the Oesterdam Rijkswaterstaat has started a pilot project called “the Oesterdam safety buffer? to find a solution to the erosion problems. This report investigates several solutions for this foreshore nourishment. In total seven different designs have been evaluated in this report. Four different design strategies have been found in a workshop namely, a high dune, a buffer, an equally spread flat nourishment and finally a wave breaking ridge. For all these strategies different profiles have been dimensioned. To model the morphological development of the profiles a 1D morphological model called XBeach has been used. A safety check for the design conditions (1/4000yr) has been done both for the initial profiles, as designed, and for the final profiles at the end of their 50years lifetime. To calculate the overtopping over the Oesterdam the program PC-Overslag has been used. Results showed that all nourishment designs give a smaller overtopping volume of the dam and thus create safety. Final evaluation of the designs showed that a Flat foreshore nourishment combines a solution for nature and safety.
RECOMMENDED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDELINES FOR RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEMS

The Recommended Emergency Preparedness Guidelines contained in this document are designed to help rail transit systems to assess, develop, document and improve their capability for responding to emergency situations, and to coordinate these efforts with emergency response organizations in a manner which best protects the traveling public and transit system facilities and equipment. Four major areas of emergency preparedness are addressed. The first section presents recommendations for Emergency Plan Development, including emergency response procedures, agreements with emergency organizations, and supporting documentation. The Training section outlines recommended training for both transit system and emergency response personnel, as well as programs to promote public awareness. The last two sections--Facilities and Equipment and Vehicles--focus on performance requirements and emergency equipment recommendations to facilitate passenger evacuation and minimize transit property damage. These guidelines have been developed over the past several years, with input obtained from discussions and workshops with transit system and emergency response organization personnel, and from literature sources such as industry guidelines, codes, and standards.
Quantifying the Impacts of Warm Mix Asphalt on Constructability and Performance

Joint efforts by the federal government and HMA industry to minimize cost and the environmental impacts of asphalt pavement construction have resulted in development of warm mix asphalt (WMA). This technology has gained such interest due to the potential to deliver pavements at lower temperatures, allowing for reduced energy consumption and emissions. In order to be effective WMA must meet the specified values of in-place density at reduced temperatures during construction and demonstrate sufficient resistance to pavement distresses while in-service. The overall objective of this research was to promote effective use of WMA through development of a procedure to recommend additive specific mixing and compaction temperature ranges that will provide adequate workability during construction, and an acceptable level of in-service performance. To pursue this objective an experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of various WMA technologies on the workability and performance properties of asphalt binders and mixtures using existing standards and new test methods developed during the study. The new test methods were pursued to better define the role of asphalt binder as a lubricant during compaction and to properly account for the effects of reduced production temperatures on asphalt binder performance and potential for moisture damage. Results found that use of WMA impacts both construction and performance properties. To account for these factors an evaluation framework to select appropriate production temperatures for WMA was introduced that is based on evaluation of mixture volumetrics, compactability, resistance to moisture damage, and rutting performance. Furthermore, to facilitate the mixture design and temperature selection process surrogate test methods to evaluate workability and performance properties of the asphalt binder as well as the integrity of the bond at the asphalt/binder aggregate interface were proposed and verified through relationships with mixture performance.
Structural Design under Seismic Risk Using Multiple Performance Objectives

Structural design is a decision-making process in which a wide spectrum of requirements, expectations, and concerns needs to be properly addressed. Engineering design criteria are considered together with societal and client preferences, and most of these design objectives are affected by the uncertainties surrounding a design. Therefore, realistic design frameworks must be able to handle multiple performance objectives and incorporate uncertainties from numerous sources into the process. In this study, a multi-criteria based design framework for structural design under seismic risk is explored. The emphasis is on reliability-based performance objectives and their interaction with economic objectives. The framework has analysis, evaluation, and revision stages. In the probabilistic response analysis, seismic loading uncertainties as well as modeling uncertainties are incorporated. For evaluation, two approaches are suggested: one based on preference aggregation and the other based on socio-economics. Both implementations of the general framework are illustrated with simple but informative design examples to explore the basic features of the framework. The first approach uses concepts similar to those found in multi-criteria decision theory, and directly combines reliability-based objectives with others. This approach is implemented in a single-stage design procedure. In the socio-economics based approach, a two-stage design procedure is recommended in which societal preferences are treated through reliability-based engineering performance measures, but emphasis is also given to economic objectives because these are especially important to the structural designer's client. A rational net asset value formulation including losses from uncertain future earthquakes is used to assess the economic performance of a design. A recently developed assembly-based vulnerability analysis is incorporated into the loss estimation. The presented performance-based design framework allows investigation of various design issues and their impact on a structural design. It is a flexible one that readily allows incorporation of new methods and concepts in seismic hazard specification, structural analysis, and loss estimation.
Redundancy-based Approaches in Wireless Multihop Network Design.

Wireless ad hoc and mesh networks are examples of multihop networks. Such networks are backbone-less and created on-the-fly. They can be deployed rapidly, making them a cheap and quick alternative to wired networks. Nodes in multihop networks can dynamically self-organize into arbitrary network topologies. These networks however suffer from random link failures due to the inherent uncertainty of the wireless medium. Additionally there may be failures due to malicious nodes such as jammers in the network. Being able to predict the reliability of a transmission a priori can be useful in designing reliable networks. In this study we investigate redundant routing approaches in multihop networks. We present an analytical model that can predict the reliability of a transmission given certain parameters such as network node density, region of network involved in the transmission etc. For this study we consider a geodiffuse multipath routing technique that we call Petal Routing, as well as a geo-diverse multipath routing technique. We compare metrics such as reliability obtained from the analytical model and from OPNET simulations.
Hydroelastic inflatable boats: relevant literature and new design considerations

Inflatable boats are considerably more flexible than conventional metal or composite vessels. The RNLI have developed an inflatable boat, the IB1, with improved performance which has been attributed to its flexibility or hydroelasticity. Current design methodologies for planing vessels predict the performance assuming it is rigid. Designing an entirely hydroelastic boat presents completely new design challenges and will require new design methodologies in the future. This paper considers how to approach an entirely hydroelastic planing vessel and how to divide the boat into practical problems. A design approach taking into account hydroelasticity could potentially improve the performance further by decreasing boat motions, reducing added resistance in waves and minimising the slamming accelerations. This paper reviews the literature relevant to rigid inflatable and inflatable boats and shows the construction of the IB1. The hydroelastic design problem is broken down into three main hydroelastic events: global hydroelasticity, hydroelastic planing surfaces and hydroelastic slamming. Each event is defined, the relevant literature is reviewed and the possible advantages are discussed. A design approach is suggested using a hydroelastic design cycle. The hydrodynamic problem of interacting sponsons is briefly discussed.
Characterization, modeling and design of the braided pneumatic muscle

Electrical motors, hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders are traditionally used as actuators. They are very effective for most industrial applications; however, they are not suitable for devices that interact with human beings. Such devices can be medical assisting robots, robotic prostheses for handicapped people and others. To ensure the safety of the user (i.e. patient) and the effectiveness of the device, these applications require an actuator that is compliant and physically flexible, yet powerful and of light weight. The Braided Pneumatic Muscle, a pneumatic linear actuator, is a candidate device that satisfies the above requirements. Although invented in 1941, limited experimental evaluation of the BPM has hindered its applicability until 1961. Moreover, accurate mechanical models and design processes, as well as the issues of proper control of the device, still limits its wide spread application. This thesis aims to study the Braided Pneumatic Muscle behaviour, develop mechanical models to characterize this as well as to propose a design process that enables the user to select the Braided Pneumatic Muscle size and configuration based on the required muscle force, the muscle contraction distance and the muscle stiffness. In this thesis, a comprehensive experimental evaluation is achieved which led to the discovery of new muscle properties as well as the understanding of muscle behaviour. Moreover, a novel force-based modeling approach has been developed and has resulted in accuracies of the static and dynamic models that are better than those of published analytical models. Furthermore, the muscle's dynamic behaviour has been modeled using linear and non-linear system identification models. Finally, the closed loop behaviour of the Braided Pneumatic Muscle was analyzed with a Proportional Integral Derivative controller.
STRATEGIES FOR BEEF CATTLE ADAPTATION TO FINISHING DIETS, RACTOPAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE UTILIZATION, AND MATURE SIZE GENETIC SELECTION

49 Introduction.50 Materials and Methods.52 Results and Discussion.59 Literature Cited.67 Tables.70 Figures.80 IV. EFFECTS OF INTERMITTENT FEEDING OF RACTOPAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FEEDLOT STEERS.82 Abstract.82. 82 Introduction.83 Materials and Methods.85 Results and Discussion.88 Literature Cited.92 Tables.95 Figures.98