Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finite Element Modeling of Hard Roller Burnishing: An Analysis on the Effects of Process Parameters Upon Surface Finish and Residual Stresses

Hard roller burnishing is a cost-effective finishing and surface enhancement process where a ceramic ball rolls on the machined surface to flatten the roughness peaks. The ball is supported and lubricated by hydrostatic fluid in a special tool holder. The process not only improves surface finish but also imposes favorable compressive residual stresses in functional surfaces, which can lead to long fatigue life. Most research in the past focused on experimental studies. There is still a special need for a reliable finite element method (FEM) model that provides a fundamental understanding of the process mechanics. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional FEM models for hard roller burnishing were established. The developed 2D FEM model was used to study the effects of process parameters (i.e., burnishing pressure, feed rate) on surface finish and residual stresses. The simulation results were evaluated and compared to the experimental data. Results show that the established FEM model could predict the residual stresses and provided useful information for the effect of process parameters. Both FEM and experiments show that burnishing pressure is the most influence, where high burnishing pressure produces less roughness and more compressive residual stress at the surface.
Digital photogrammetric station DPA: a measurement system for close-range photogrammetry

The Digital Photogrammetric Station DPA based on a PC has been realized as a measurement system for close-range photogrammetry. Different digital image sources can be implemented and a large variety of image processing and measurement tools are available for 2D and 3D object reconstruction. In this paper performance and accuracy of the DPA measurement system are described and evaluated, giving some examples concerning industrial and architectural photogrammetry.
Comparison of Organoids from Menstrual Fluid and Hormone-Treated Endometrium: Novel Tools for Gynecological Research

Endometrial organoids (EMO) are an important tool for gynecological research but have been limited by generation from (1) invasively acquired tissues and thus advanced disease states and (2) from women who are not taking hormones, thus excluding 50% of the female reproductive-aged population. We sought to overcome these limitations by generating organoids from (1) menstrual fluid (MF; MFO) using a method that enables the concurrent isolation of menstrual fluid supernatant, stromal cells, and leukocytes and (2) from biopsies and hysterectomy samples from women taking hormonal medication (EMO-H). MF was collected in a menstrual cup for 4–6 h on day 2 of menstruation. Biopsies and hysterectomies were obtained during laparoscopic surgery. Organoids were generated from all sample types, with MFO and EMO-H showing similar cell proliferation rates, proportion and localization of the endometrial basalis epithelial marker, Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen-1 (SSEA-1), and gene expression profiles. Organoids from different disease states showed the moderate clustering of epithelial secretory and androgen receptor signaling genes. Thus, MFO and EMO-H are novel organoids that share similar features to EMO but with the advantage of (1) MFO being obtained non-invasively and (2) EMO-H being obtained from 50% of the women who are not currently being studied through standard methods. Thus, MFO and EMO-H are likely to prove to be invaluable tools for gynecological research, enabling the population-wide assessment of endometrial health and personalized medicine.
A review of the effects of different feeding regimes of cows on milk fatty acids profile and antioxidant capacity

This bibliography review analyzes the effects of different feeding regimes of cows the nutritional and sanogenic quality of milk, with a particular emphasis on milk content in functional fatty acids and non-enzymatic lipophilic antioxidants. Thus, using suitable feeding regimes of cows, fatty acid (FA) profile of milk fats can be improved by increasing the concentration in functional FA (C18:1 trans-11, vaccenic acid; C18:3 n-3, acid linolenic and C18:2 cis-9 trans-11, isomer of conjugated linoleic acid), considered as beneficial for consumer’s health. These suitable feeding regimes of cows aim using green fodder (pastures), preserving the fodder by drying or silage, supplementing the food with fats rich FA polyunsaturated (PUFA) and ensuring an optimal ratio between volume and ration concentrates. Milk yielded from grazing cows shows a considerably higher concentration of functional FA and lipophilic antioxidants (tocopherols, retinol and carotenes) and a lower content of saturated FA compared to that yielded from cows fed in shelter with TMR (total mixed ration). Also, hay-based feed rations, mainly those containing small amounts of concentrates or those supplemented with vegetable fats, ensure a milk yield with a fatty acid profile more favorable for human health and a better oxidative stability of compared to those with feed-based rations on silage or those high in concentrates.
Interaction Curves for In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Behaviors of Unreinforced Masonry Walls

Different types of macro-elements have been proposed to simulate the behavior of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures under seismic loads. In many of these, macro-elements URM walls are replaced with beam elements with different hysteretic behaviors. The effect of out-of-plane loading or change of gravity load due to the overturning moment is usually not considered in the behavior of these macro-elements. This article presents interaction curves for bidirectional loadings of unreinforced masonry walls to investigate the importance of these factors. Two parameters are systematically changed to derive the interaction curves for a wall with specific dimensions, including compressive traction atop the wall to represent gravity loading, and loading angle that represents a combination of in-plane and out-of-plane earthquake loadings. Interaction curves are developed considering various possible failure modes for bricks and mortar, including tension, crushing and a combination of shear and compression/tension failures. The proposed interaction curves show the initiation of failure of URM walls as a function of compressive traction and loading angle. Several examples are presented for URM walls with different aspect ratios to aid in understanding the effects of various parameters on the derived interaction curves. Finally, for a specific case, the derived interaction curve is compared with nonlinear finite element results and ASCE41. The results show that, as a simplified method, the derived interaction curves can be used for the preliminary evaluation of URM walls under bidirectional loadings.
The vocabulary learning strategy use of Iranian elementary EFL learners

In order to learn vocabulary efficiently, the utilisation of learning strategies is very important and surely it depends on learners’ attempts. The current study aimed at examining the strategies that Iranian elementary English as a foreign language (EFL) learners adopt for learning English vocabulary. To this end, based on the performance of the participants on the Quick Placement Test, the researcher recruited 100 participants through availability sampling. To determine the strategies that the participants employ for learning English vocabulary, Schmitt’s taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) questionnaire was administered. The findings of the current study indicated that Iranian elementary EFL students were medium VLS users. The social strategy was found as the most frequently used category of strategies, followed by memory, determination, cognitive and metacognitive strategy. Keywords: Language, learning strategies, vocabulary, Iranian, elementary.
Printed monopole antenna with tapered feed line, feed region and patch for super wideband applications

A novel and compact super wideband (SWB) exponentially tapered feed region and patch printed monopole antenna is proposed. This antenna is fed by a 50-Ω triangular tapered feed line. The antenna operates over a bandwidth of 2.5-80 GHz with a return loss of 10 dB or more. The dimensions of the proposed antenna are 40 × 30 × 1.6 mm 3 . An exponential curve is employed in the feed region and a triangular tapered feed line is used. The ground plane feed gap is optimised to 1.3 mm. The proposed tapered monopole antenna has demonstrated an ultra-large bandwidth with satisfactory radiation properties. Two particular antennas are examined, one with a rectangular feed line and another with a triangular tapered feed line. The performance of the antenna in frequency domain is investigated, and a good agreement is achieved between the simulation and experimental results. In addition, the time domain characteristics of the proposed antenna are evaluated experimentally. This antenna can be used in ultra-wideband or SWB applications.
Monitoring the health status of water mains using a scorecard modelling approach

There has been considerable research into prediction of water mains failure, however, those models are very complex and fail to convey the message of the health status of an asset to the relevant stakeholders. The study developed a ‘pipe health scorecard’ based on historical failure data which could be used for operation, maintenance, refurbishment, or replacement decisions by a water utility. This scorecard model was developed by using 160,413 pipe-condition datasets from the South Australian Water Corporation over 10 years. Measures such as the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) statistic, Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC), and Population Stability Index (PSI) showed the model is strong enough to predict the health status of water mains. The study found that the factors influencing water mains failure to be in the order of importance: length, material, age, location (road vs verge), diameter, and operating parameters. The development of a simple but reliable model for the assessment of the health status of water mains will have major benefits to the water utility with the ability to identify and potentially replace water pipes prior to failure. Additional benefits of flexible scheduling of the maintenance and replacement programs would contribute to cost savings.
A Comparison Between Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine as Adjuvants to Levobupivacaine in Labour Analgesia

Background The epidural analgesia technique is effective for labor analgesia and combinations of various local anesthetics with lipophilic opioids like fentanyl are used. However, fentanyl can cause an increased incidence of pruritus, urinary retention, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, shivering, and respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine and clonidine are selective alpha 2 agonists with analgesic properties and have been used via the neuraxial route with local anesthetics for the same without the side effects of fentanyl. Thus, the primary objective was to assess and compare the analgesic efficacy of the two-drug combinations by the visual analog scale (VAS) score. Methods Fifty-four primigravida women were randomly allocated in two groups of 27 each and were given an initial bolus of 10 mL of 0.125% levobupivacaine with dexmedetomidine 0.5 ug/kg in Group A and with clonidine 1 μg/kg in Group B. Subsequently, each patient received a background infusion rate of 10 mL/h, a bolus dose of 5 ml, and a lock-out interval of 10 min via a patient-controlled-analgesia (PCA) pump. The blood pressure, heart rate, and severity of pain using VAS were assessed. Durations of the stages of labor, rate of instrumental delivery, and cesarean section, side effects, maternal sedation, and neonatal Apgar scores were also recorded. Results VAS scores in both the groups progressively decreased to <3 by 15 min with significant differences at five, 10, 15, and 120 min being lower in group A. Onset of analgesia and time for maximum analgesia was significantly shorter in group A. There was a significant decrease in hemodynamic parameters from baseline in both groups. The fall in heart rate was significantly greater in Group A and at almost all the time intervals after baseline, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was also lower in group A. Maternal motor blockade scores, the intensity of maternal sedation, the incidence of maternal complications, the duration of the first and second stage of labor, the rate of instrumental delivery and cesarean section, total analgesic dose and PCA bolus requirement, and neonatal Apgar scores did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion Both dexmedetomidine and clonidine provide hemodynamically stable labor with a fall in heart rate and maternal blood pressure in the initial hours. Dexmedetomidine has the advantage of faster onset of analgesia and time for maximum analgesia.
Corticosteroid Use in Otolaryngology: Current Considerations During the COVID-19 Era

Objective To offer pragmatic, evidence-informed advice on administering corticosteroids in otolaryngology during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, considering therapeutic efficacy, potential adverse effects, susceptibility to COVID-19, and potential effects on efficacy of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Data Sources PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, and guideline databases. Review Methods Guideline search strategies, supplemented by database searches on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Bell’s palsy), sinonasal polyposis, laryngotracheal disorders, head and neck oncology, and pediatric otolaryngology, prioritizing systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and COVID-19–specific findings. Conclusions Systemic corticosteroids (SCSs) reduce long-term morbidity in individuals with SSNHL and Bell’s palsy, reduce acute laryngotracheal edema, and have benefit in perioperative management for some procedures. Topical or locally injected corticosteroids are preferable for most other otolaryngologic indications. SCSs have not shown long-term benefit for sinonasal disorders. SCSs are not a contraindication to vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that these vaccines are safe for immunocompromised patients. Implications for Practice SCS use for SSNHL, Bell’s palsy, laryngotracheal edema, and perioperative care should follow prepandemic standards. Local or topical corticosteroids are preferable for most other otolaryngologic indications. Whether SCSs attenuate response to vaccination against COVID-19 or increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown. Immunosuppression may lower vaccine efficacy, so immunocompromised patients should adhere to recommended infection control practices. COVID-19 vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines is safe for immunocompromised patients.
High-performance carbon nanotube network transistors for logic applications

We report on the fabrication of carbon nanotube network field effect transistors, in which a submonolayer network is selectively and uniformly dispersed in the active region with individually addressable back gate. The high current on/off ratio (104) and good device-to-device uniformity were achieved by selective burnout of metallic pathways. The enhanced capacitive coupling between the gate and nanotube network reduces the subthreshold slope down to 180mV∕dec. The effective local gating allows us to implement logic circuits, such as an inverter and the two most important universal NOR and NAND gates.
Review on the Application of Driving Simulators for Research and Training Activities in Malaysia

Driving simulators (DS) are extensively used worldwide as tools in research and training related to driving behaviour and road safety. However, DS have yet to be used extensively in Malaysia. While there is no guarantee that the use of DS may have direct positive impact on road safety, it offers an objective and insightful opportunity to measure and understand driving behaviour. This is especially relevant in Malaysia as it struggles to reduce the high number of fatalities due to road crashes. This paper reviews the role of simulators in research and training worldwide to better understand the driving behaviour and how Malaysia can benefit from useful tool.
Spanwise Lift Distribution for Blended Wing Body Aircraft.

A study is presented of the effects of spanwise lift distribution on aerodynamic efficiency for a blended wing body (BWB) configuration of a given baseline planform. The baseline geometry is initially assessed by a high-fidelity aerodynamic model based on a multiblock structured grid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solution. The accuracy of the simulation is investigated by a grid sensitivity study regarding total drag and its pressure drag and skin-friction drag components. Excessive outer wing loading with associated shock wave, hence, wave drag, has been revealed to be the major factor degrading the aerodynamic performance of the baseline BWB model. To relieve the outer wing, an efficient low-fidelity panel method aerodynamic model is used for the inverse design to achieve the target lift distributions through the variation of twist distribution along the span, shifting the load inboard. For the given BWB geometry, the baseline model is retwisted to achieve an elliptic, a triangular, and an averaged elliptic/triangular spanwise loading distribution. The designs are then analyzed using the high-fidelity RANS aerodynamic model. The wave drag component of the total drag for different span loadings is extracted from the flowfield solution to gain insight into the drag reduction provided by the new twist designs
Optical thin films. User's handbook

Practical, user-oriented reference for engineers who must incorporate and specify coatings for filters, antiglare effects, polarization, or other purposes in optical or electro-optical systems design. It focuses on preparation techniques and characteristics of commercially available products and provides information needed to determine what type of filter is needed to solve a particular problem, what its limitations are, and how to care for it.
Depth–Duration–Frequency Relationship Model of Extreme Precipitation in Flood Risk Assessment in the Upper Vistula Basin

The Upper Vistula Basin is a flood-prone region in the summer season (May–October) due to intensive rainfall. From the point of view of water management, it is particularly important to assess the variability in this main factor of flood risk, as well as to establish the depth–duration–frequency (DDF) relationship for maximum precipitation, this having not yet been derived for the region. The analysis of a 68-year (1951–2018) data series of summer maximum precipitation collected by 11 meteorological stations showed the series’ stationarity, which supports the conclusion that there is no increase in the risk of rainfall floods due to the intensification of extreme precipitation. A new approach is proposed for the determination of the DDF relationship, where the best-fitted distribution for each station is selected from among the set of candidate distributions, instead of adopting one fixed distribution for all stations. This approach increases the accuracy of the DDF relationships for individual stations as compared to the commonly used approach. In particular, the traditionally used Gumbel distribution turns out to be not well fitted to the investigated data series, and the advantage of the recently popular GEV distribution is not significant.
Possibility of Steering of Product Surface Layers Properties in Burnishing Rolling Process

In this study the process of burnishing rolling is considered as a geometrical and physical boundary and initial value problem, with unknown boundary conditions in the contact area. 3D dynamic explicit method for burnishing rolling process with taking into account surface after turning (as previous treatment) under ANSYS/LS-DYNA environment was established. The analysis covered surfaces characterized by vertical angles of the asperities in range: 60°÷150°. The simulation results (i.e. surface deformation, states of strain and stresses, depth of stress deposition) were evaluated. The influence of vertical angle of the asperities after turning process on the states of stress and strain and the depth of its deposition are presented.
Values assessment for personnel selection: comparing job applicants to non-applicants

ABSTRACT Some scholars suggest that organizations could improve their hiring decisions by measuring the personal values of job applicants, arguing that values provide insights into applicants’ cultural fit, retention prospects, and performance outcomes. However, others have expressed concerns about response distortion and faking. The current study provides the first large-scale investigation of the effect of the job applicant context on the psychometric structure and scale means of a self-reported values measure. Participants comprised 7,884 job applicants (41% male; age M = 43.32, SD = 10.76) and a country-, age-, and gender-matched comparison sample of 1,806 non-applicants (41% male; age M = 44.72, SD = 10.97), along with a small repeated-measures, cross-context sample. Respondents completed the 57-item Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) measuring Schwartz’ universal personal values. Compared to matched non-applicants, applicants reported valuing power and self-direction considerably less, and conformity and universalism considerably more. Applicants also reported valuing security, tradition, and benevolence more than non-applicants, and reported valuing stimulation, hedonism, and achievement less than non-applicants. Despite applicants appearing to embellish the degree to which their values aligned with being responsible and considerate workers, invariance testing suggested that the underlying structure of values assessment is largely preserved in job applicant contexts.
An autonomous controller for improved dynamic performance of parallel-connected, single-phase inverters

A new control technique is presented for the parallel connection of distributed generation inverters. The proposed control technique is based on a modification of the power angle droop control method, and uses only locally measured feedback signals. An improvement in transient response is achieved because the real and imaginary components of the output current are used when deriving the power angle droop controller. The method achieves good active and reactive power sharing and minimises circulating current between parallel connected units. Improved transient response is obtained whilst maintaining power sharing precision or output voltage and frequency accuracy. Simulation and experimental results validate that performance is better than that attained with conventional droop-based approaches.