Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decomposition Approach for Background Leakage Assessment: BBLAWN Instance

AbstractThis paper summarizes an approach for the assessment and control of background leakage on water distribution networks. The methodology was developed for the battle of background leakage assessment for water networks (BBLAWN) held at the Water Distribution System Analysis Conference 2014 in Bari, Italy. The problem instance posed for the conference considers an aging water network with high levels of background leakage. A range of operational and design changes including new valves, pipes, pumps, tanks, and controls are available to reduce the expenditure needed to operate the system. Constraints are imposed on nodal pressures and tank levels to meet service level requirements. The solution methodology proposed in this paper decomposes the problem according to the type of intervention, considering each type separately. An initial diagnosis of the network informs the manner and order of evaluating the various interventions. Custom implementations of network simulation, heuristic algorithms, and opti.
Motivation and attrition in engineering students

In the engineering profession we need to reflect continually on the students we are training, their suitability and ability to become the next generation of engineers, facing an ever-changing future. We need to face our responsibility in helping to develop the skills required for graduates of tomorrow and ensuring that we are not losing our best students to other professions. A survey has been conducted at Imperial College highlighting problem areas of students at risk from demotivation within engineering courses. Forty students who had not completed their course at the college were surveyed and 10 students were interviewed. The issues they raised have been analysed and intervention strategies have been identified which are presently being developed at the college as part of the ongoing quality improvement of courses. It is hoped that the approaches discussed can be disseminated further within Imperial College and to other universities.
Implementing Toyota Way principles for construction projects in China: a case study

The Toyota Way has evolved from an advanced production system to a socio-technical model in manufacturing. Many organizations are trying to replicate Toyota's success with the Toyota Way in their respective business and industry environments. This paper examines construction projects in China which, despite rapid progress in recent years, are still under enormous pressure to reduce costs while increasing productivity, reliability, and quality. The Toyota Way style of management seems to be appropriate and significant for construction firms in China to address these pressing issues. This paper identifies the similarities of the current project management practices of large Chinese construction firms in order to compare them with the principles of the Toyota Way. Using a case study, the paper analyses the challenges (i.e. lack of integration in implementation, low awareness of Toyota Way principles), opportunities for implementation where the Toyota Way has not been fully adopted, and outcomes (i.e. cost saving and ahead of schedule) for better implementation of the Toyota Way.
SERVICE LIFE PREDICTION OF EXISTING CONCRETE STRUCTURES EXPOSED TO MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Deterioration of reinforced concrete structures due to chloride ingress followed by reinforcement corrosion is a serious problem all over the world. Service life predictions, both for existing and planned structures, are therefore of great importance. In the present paper, a practical model for predicting service life in existing structures is presented. The model is based on Fick's second law of diffusion combined with empirical results from existing structures and laboratory tests. The mathematical model may be utilized in different situations as described in the original report. This paper details the most common situations. The model can be used as it is; however, more data has to be collected to refine the model and thereby give better predictions in the future. Such data should be collected in a formal manner to fit into the model.
Impact of widespread photovoltaics generation on distribution systems

Prompted by the need for clean energy sources, increasing numbers of photovoltaic (PV) generators are being connected to electricity distribution systems around the world. There is thus a growing imperative to understand and quantify the technical impact that high penetrations of such generators may have on the operation and performance of electricity distribution systems. Detailed simulations of a very high penetration of PV within a typical UK urban distribution network (11 kV, 400 V and 230 V) are reported. The study performed unbalanced three-phase load-flow analysis on an entire feeder within a time-domain simulation framework using load and generation data at 1 minute intervals. The results indicate that even at very high penetrations of PV, network voltage rises are small and unlikely to cause problems. Effects on network power flows and losses are also quantified and discussed
Discharge Prediction in Smooth Trapezoidal Free Overfall—(Positive, Zero and Negative Slopes)

This paper presents a calibration curve using dimensionless parameters [Qm1.5/(gB2.5)] and [e5.5(SO)mYe/B] for the prediction of discharge (Q) with the help of known end‐depth (Ye) and vice versa. The curve is based on published experimental data of different investigators for smooth trapezoidal free overfall in horizontal as well as sloping channels (both positive as well as negative slopes). The curve, best fitted to the data, shows an excellent agreement between the observed and predicted values of discharge with a correlation coefficient (CR) equal to 0.99753. The regression equation of the calibration curve has, also, been tested for unused data and an excellent agreement is obtained between the two. Furthermore, it is also observed that for horizontal channels, the theoretical value of the constant (i.e., slope) in the equation of the straight line Xe=(constant)(Xc) is greater than that obtained from the present investigation based on experimental data, where Xe=mYe/B and Xc=mYc/B. The constant obta.
Modeling Effects of Transit System Transfers on Travel Behavior

Transfers can have an important influence on customer satisfaction and on whether many customers find transit service an attractive option. An empirical investigation of transfers from commuter rail to subway in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, is performed. The research identifies a higher transfer penalty between commuter rail and subway than between subway lines. Fare payment and network familiarity also are shown to affect transfer decisions. Despite a large variation of the transfer experience between the stations analyzed, riders seem to have a similar perception of transfers. For example, in most cases, the perceived transfer penalty has a narrow distribution, with a coefficient of variation below 0.5. Potential applications of the research findings to transit planning are presented.
Wind tunnel hotwire measurements, flow visualization and thrust measurement of a VAWT in skew

The results of experimental research on the wake and induced flow around a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) in skew are presented. The previous research on VAWTs in skew is limited because this operation mode has only recently been found to be significant in the operation of VAWTs in the built environment. These results contain hotwire measurements of the incoming flow and wake of a VAWT in nonskewed and skewed flow. The high sampling rate of the hotwire data allows the effects of blade passing to be identified. Flow visualization of the tip vortices is also presented. Thrust measurements of the rotor were performed to understand the effect of skew on thrust variation and to compare with analytical predictions. Copyright © 2006 by ASME.
Conceptual Seismic Design of Cable-Stayed Bridges

Cable-stayed bridges can be a very effective means of bridging large distances in both seismic and non-seismic regions. Their design, analysis, and construction can be very challenging, and fortunately there is a considerable amount of literature that can assist engineers with both the analysis and detailed design of cable-stayed bridges. It is less common, however, to find simple recommendations for the conceptual design of cable-stayed bridges, in particular for seismic loading. As such, this article reviews and discusses some of the important conceptual design considerations for cable-stayed bridges, first for gravity loads and then for seismic excitation. The advantages and disadvantages of different cable-stayed bridge solutions are highlighted, with review of deck sections, tower configurations in both the longitudinal and transverse direction, deck-to-pier connections, and cable arrangements, amongst other things. Reference is made to a number of real cable-stayed bridge solutions. After reviewing the important conceptual design considerations for cable-stayed bridges, a simple preliminary sizing procedure is proposed. The preliminary sizing procedure is intended to offer designers a quick but rational means of identifying reasonable member sizes for cable-stayed bridges that should then be verified through advanced analyses in the developed and detailed design stages of the project. A case study application of the preliminary sizing procedure is made for a three-tower cable-stayed bridge in Ecuador, and by comparing preliminary and final design member sizes it is concluded that the preliminary sizing procedure may be a useful tool for design.
Impact of Urban Green Space on Residential Housing Prices: Case Study in Shenzhen

AbstractPublic resources such as transportation, hospitals, parks, and schools are important factors in housing prices. However, studies on property value have mainly concentrated on transportation, and few studies have focused on the effect that green space has on property values. Researchers have mainly focused on specific parks within different communities rather than parks (on a larger scale) to study the average impact of green space on housing prices. Therefore, the objective of this research is to quantify the effect of public resources on property value, especially green space, using the hedonic pricing method (HPM). This paper focuses on 71 parks within Shenzhen to make results universal. Transaction price data and the structural attributes of 6,473 dwelling units were collected. This paper looks at HPM from three dimensions: structural attributes, location variables, and environmental variables. The results showed that (1) proximity to a central business district (CBD) produced the greatest effe.
Quantitative impact characterization of aeronautical CFRP materials with non-destructive testing methods

In recent years, an increasing number of safety-relevant structures are designed and manufactured from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) in order to reduce weight of airplanes by taking the advantage of their specific strength into account. Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for quantitative defect analysis of damages are liquid- or air-coupled ultrasonic testing (UT), phased array ultrasonic techniques, and active thermography (IR). The advantage of these testing methods is the applicability on large areas. However, their quantitative information is often limited on impact localization and size. In addition to these techniques, Airbus Group Innovations operates a micro x-ray computed tomography (μ-XCT) system, which was developed for CFRP characterization. It is an open system which allows different kinds of acquisition, reconstruction, and data evaluation. One main advantage of this μ-XCT system is its high resolution with 3-dimensional analysis and visualization opportunities, which enables to.
NW Pacific‐Panthalassa Intra‐Oceanic Subduction During Mesozoic Times From Mantle Convection and Geoid Models

Pacific‐Panthalassa plate tectonics are the most challenging on Earth to reconstruct during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras due to extensive subduction, which has resulted in large (>9,000 km length) unconstrained gaps between the Pacific and Laurasia (now NE Asia) back to the Early Jurassic. We build four contrasted NW Pacific‐Panthalassa global plate reconstructions and assimilate their velocity fields into global geodynamic models. We compare our predicted present mantle structure, synthetic geoid and dynamic topography to Earth observations. P‐wave tomographic filtering of predicted mantle structures allows for more explicit comparisons to global tomography. Plate reconstructions that include intra‐oceanic subduction in NW Pacific‐Panthalassa fit better to the observed geoid and residual topography, challenging popular models of Andean‐style subduction along East Asia. Our geodynamic models predict significant SE‐ward lateral slab advections within the NW Pacific basin lower mantle (∼2,500 km from Mesozoic times to present) that would confound “vertical slab sinking”‐style restorations of imaged slabs and past subduction zone locations.
Use of Real-Time Probes for Measuring Situation Awareness

This study examined the validity of real-time probes as measures of situation awareness (SA). Real-time probes are verbal queries (derived from an SA requirements analysis) posed to the operator concurrent with operations. Mixed results were obtained. A weak but significant correlation was found between real-time probes (both accuracy and latency measures) and Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique queries, indicating that real-time probes were measuring some facet of SA. However, correlations with workload were also found, and this correlation needs to be investigated further. Although real-time probes show promise, more research is needed to assess the utility of real-time probes as a metric of SA.
Superior–Subordinate Relationships in Korean Civil Engineering Companies

The Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) relationship quality between superiors and subordinates in Korean civil engineering companies were empirically examined for superiors’ feedback-seeking behaviors. The results showed that for superiors, affect, loyalty, and contribution toward subordinates were positively related to seeking negative as well as positive feedback from subordinates. From subordinates’ point of view, affect, contribution, and professional respect toward their superiors were positively related to superiors’ negative feedback seeking, but affect was negatively related to superiors’ positive feedback seeking. It was also found that superiors and subordinates were not consensual in LMX and superiors’ feedback-seeking behaviors. For example, for superiors, all of the four LMX dimensions were positively related to superiors’ asking subordinates directly for feedback, whereas for subordinates, none of the LMX dimensions were significantly related to superiors’ asking subordinates directly for feedback.
Establishing a common metric for self‐reported anxiety in patients with prostate cancer: Linking the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer with PROMIS Anxiety

Anxiety is a common patient concern and clinical endpoint in prostate cancer outcomes research. It is measured using different self‐report instruments that are not directly comparable, thereby making clinical trials, clinical performance measurement, and comparative effectiveness research challenging when anxiety is the outcome of interest. The objective of the current study was to enable a common reporting metric of anxiety so that scores on commonly used anxiety measures could be converted into Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores for ease of application, interpretation, and comparability.
Load Transfer Characteristics of Dowel Bar System in Jointed Concrete Pavement

In a jointed concrete pavement, the dowel bar system and the aggregate interlock are two mechanisms for transferring wheel loads from one panel to the adjacent panel. The aggregate interlocking load transfer mechanism is effective for narrow joints while the dowel bar system works well for both narrow and wider joints. This paper examines the effects of different parameters on load transfer efficiency of a joint with the help of a three-dimensional finite-element model for the analysis of a dowel-jointed concrete pavement. The model was compared using experimental data available in the literature. The group action of the dowel bar system was also examined and useful relationships have been developed for estimation of the relative load shared by the individual dowel bars. These relationships will be useful in the design and evaluation of dowel jointed concrete pavements.
Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market, and Organizational Change, 2nd Edition

The first edition of Managing Innovation quickly became established as a bestselling text for MBA and MSc course on management of technology, innovation management, and entrepreneurship. It was also widely used by managers in both service and manufacturing sectors. In this second edition, Tidd, Bessant and Pavitt have provided a thorough update and included new material that reflects the latest developments in research and practice into the management of innovation.
Polar Coding Theorems for Discrete Systems

Polar coding is a recently invented technique for communication over binary-input memoryless channels. This technique allows one to transmit data at rates close to the symmetric-capacity of such channels with arbitrarily high reliability, using low-complexity encoding and decoding algorithms. As such, polar coding is the only explicit low-complexity method known to achieve the capacity of symmetric binary-input memoryless channels. The principle underlying polar coding is channel polarization: recursively combining several copies of a mediocre binary-input channel to create noiseless and useless channels. The same principle can also be used to obtain optimal low-complexity compression schemes for memoryless binary sources. In this dissertation, the generality of the polarization principle is investigated. It is first shown that polarization with recursive procedures is not limited to binary channels and sources. A family of low-complexity methods that polarize all discrete memoryless processes is introduced. In both data transmission and data compression, codes based on such methods achieve optimal rates, i.e., channel capacity and source entropy, respectively. The error probability behavior of such codes is as in the binary case. Next, it is shown that a large class of recursive constructions polarize memoryless processes, establishing the original polar codes as an instance of a large class of codes based on polarization methods. A formula to compute the error probability dependence of generalized constructions on the coding length is derived. Evaluating this formula reveals that substantial error probability improvements over the original polar codes can be achieved at large coding lengths by using generalized constructions, particularly over channels and sources with non-binary alphabets. Polarizing capabilities of recursive methods are shown to extend beyond memoryless processes: Any construction that polarizes memoryless processes will also polarize a large class of processes with memory. The principles developed are applied to settings with multiple memoryless processes. It is shown that separately applying polarization constructions to two correlated processes polarizes both the processes themselves as well as the correlations between them. These observations lead to polar coding theorems for multiple-access channels and separate compression of correlated sources. The proposed coding schemes achieve optimal sum rates in both problems.
on Intelligent Manufacturing and Automation , 2013 Tunisian Soil Organic Carbon Stock-Spatial and Vertical Variation

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is of big importance in the global carbon cycle. Distribution patterns of SOC in various regions of Tunisia constitute a baseline for studies on soil carbon changes. This paper presents Tunisian SOC stock calculated using soil profile descriptions defined by FAO/UNESCO classification, and the digital soil map 1:500 000. A soil database has been compiled, containing data from 5024 horizons and 1483 profiles. SOC stocks have been calculated for each profile by a classical method for a given depth, it consists of summing SOC stocks by layer determined as a product of bulk density (Db), organic carbon (OC) content, and layer thickness. Db values were calculated from pedotransfer functions when we have missing values. SOC stocks by profiles were calculated and linked by soil type to polygons of a digital soil map of Tunisia. In total, Tunisian SOC stocks are 1.006 Pg C in the 0 to 100 cm soil depth, and 0.405 Pg C in the upper layer 0-30 cm. The surface horizon (0 – 30 cm) stored 40 % of the soil organic carbon stock. OC stocks were higher in Luvisols 71.6 and 159.2 t/ha in 0 – 30 and 0-100 cm soil depth, respectively. In Podzoluvisols there are 6.19 and 138.8 t/ha, but amounts are lower in Lithosols at 18.4 and 40.4 t/ha. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of DAAAM International Vienna.
Frozen-thawed embryos generated from successful fresh IVF cycles have higher potential for favorable outcome than frozen-thawed embryos obtained from unsuccessful fresh cycles: A retrospective cohort

Background: Many variables, including woman`s age, embryo quality and endometrial receptivity, influence the success rate of either fresh embryo transfer (ET) or frozen-thawed ET (FT-ET) cycles. The aim of this study is to examine whether the results of a fresh in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle correlates with its frozen-thawed embryos transfer outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary medical center single IVF unit between 2014 and 2017. The study population was comprised of women who underwent fresh ET with the remaining embryos frozen using vitrification and at least one consecutive FT-ET cycle. Comparison of FT-ET cycle's details and outcomes were assessed in relation to the outcome of the preceding fresh ET cycle . Results: A total of 599 women underwent fresh ET and at least one consecutive FT-ET cycle. Significantly higher rates of successful FT-ET cycle outcomes were observed in the group of patients with a successful fresh cycle compared to the group with an unsuccessful fresh cycle (48.9% vs. 20.8%, p<0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated an adjusted OR of 5.02 for successful FT-ET after a successful fresh cycle. Conclusions: Frozen-thawed embryos generated from successful fresh IVF cycles have higher potential to implant when compared to frozen-thawed embryos obtained in an unsuccessful fresh cycles.
A study of motorcyclist's idling stop behavior at red lights

Abstract Motorcycle activity in Asian economies is a significant contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, both when moving and when idling at traffic lights. This paper investigates Taiwanese motorcyclists’ behavior of turning off the idling engine while stopping at traffic lights based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which recognizes that the achievement of voluntary change behavior can be identified by knowing an individual's attitudes (or behavioral intentions [BIs]) in the context of social norms (SN). A structural equation model system is used to identify candidate causal links between attitudes, SN, BI and behavior related to the idling stop behavior of motorcyclists. A partial least squares (PLS) model is built to correct the covariance matrix, given the relatively small sample size. Results suggest that attitudes, SN and perceived behavioral control, are significant determinants of idling stop BI at red lights.