Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION AND PARALLEL COMPUTING FOR THERMAL TRANSPORT MECHANISM DURING NANOMACHINING

OF THESIS NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION AND PARALLEL COMPUTING FOR THERMAL TRANSPORT MECHANISM DURING NANOMACHINING Nano-scale machining, or “Nanomachining” is a hybrid process in which the total thermal energy necessary to remove atoms from a work-piece surface is applied from external sources. In the current study, the total thermal energy necessary to remove atoms from a work-piece surface is applied from two sources: (1) localized energy from a laser beam focused to a micron-scale spot to preheat the work-piece, and (2) a high-precision electron-beam emitted from the tips of carbon nano-tubes to remove material via evaporation/sublimation. Macro-to-nano scale heat transfer models are discussed for understanding their capability to capture and its application to predict the transient heat transfer mechanism required for nano-machining. In this case, thermal transport mechanism during nano-scale machining involves both phonons (lattice vibrations) and electrons; it is modeled using a parabolic two-step (PTS) model, which accounts for the time lag between these energy carriers. A numerical algorithm is developed for the solution of the PTS model based on explicit and implicit finite-difference methods. Since numerical solution for simulation of nanomachining involves high computational cost in terms of wall clock time consumed, performance comparison over a wide range of numerical techniques has been done to devise an efficient numerical solution procedure. Gauss-Seidel (GS), successive over relaxation (SOR), conjugate gradient (CG), δ -form Douglas-Gunn time splitting, and other methods have been used to compare the computational cost involved in these methods. Use of the Douglas-Gunn time splitting in the solution of 3D time-dependent heat transport equations appears to be optimal especially as problem size (number of spatial grid points and/or required number of time steps) becomes large. Parallel computing is implemented to further reduce the wall clock time required for the complete simulation of nanomachining process. Domain decomposition with inter-processor communication using Message Passing Interface (MPI) libraries is adapted for parallel computing. Performance tuning has been implemented for efficient parallelization by overlapping communication with computation. Numerical solution for laser source and electron-beam source with different Gaussian distribution are presented. Performance of the parallel code is tested on four distinct computer cluster architecture. Results obtained for laser source agree well with available experimental data in the literature. The results for electron-beam source are self-consistent; nevertheless, they need to be validated experimentally.
Water Balance in Alpine Catchments by Sentinel Data

A comprehensive and reliable water balance of snow‐dominated alpine catchments is required for a holistic analysis of the hydrological and hydrogeological processes. A major limitation to the elaboration of this balance in alpine terrain is the difficulty of data acquisition as well as the limited presence of meteorological stations. Remotely sensed data can provide valuable information for the water balance assessment on a regional scale. We exploited Sentinel‐satellite data to estimate the groundwater storage for one hydrologic year in an extensive Alpine catchment located in northern Italy by means of the residual water balance approach. In particular, Evapotranspiration (ET) and Snow Water Equivalent were estimated with the combined use of Sentinel data, at a spatial resolution of 20 and 30 m, respectively. The results show that the adopted satellite‐based methods allow obtaining consistent and physically realistic values to describe the groundwater storage dynamics. In the period 2018–2020, a positive storage occurred only during the snowmelt period and the overall storage was negative, leading to a net lowering of the groundwater level in the floodplain. In addition, the influence of physiographic parameters (altitude, slope, and aspect) and seasonality on the estimates of ET and snow‐depth were investigated.
Validation of the Accuracy of Postoperative Analysis Methods for Locating the Actual Position of Implants: An In Vitro Study

Assessment of the accuracy of an implant guide system is essential, yet the reliability of postoperative methods for locating the implant position has still not been clarified. This study therefore sought to evaluate the accuracy of postoperative methods for locating the actual position of implants in terms of their linear and angular deviations. The implant position in a dentiform model was located using the following three methods: manual matching on a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image (MC group), manual matching on a mesh model of CBCT (MM group), and automatic matching on a scan abutment of a scan image (AS group). Thirty clinicians adopted each method, and the estimated position of the implant in each group was compared three-dimensionally with the reference implant position using image analysis software in terms of the linear, vertical, and angular deviations. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post-hoc test were used for statistical analyses (α = 0.05). In general, the deviations were the largest in the MC group, followed by the MM group and the AS group. The ANOVA results suggested that all deviations values were markedly smaller in the AS group than in the MC group (p < 0.001). The interoperator measurement variability of all deviations was relatively smaller in the AS group than in the other two groups. The automatic matching method using scan abutments was more accurate than the manual matching methods using CBCT and mesh images in assessing the deviations that existed between the planned and actual positions of the implant. The use of scan abutments is recommended for the postoperative assessment of an implant’s placement location.
Electrostatic Comb Drive for Resonant Sensor and Actuator Applications

Interdigitated finger (comb) structures are demonstrated to be effective for electrostatically exciting the resonance of polycrystalline-silicon (polysilicon) microstructures parallel to the plane of the substrate. Linear plates suspended by a pair of folded-cantilever truss as well as torsional plates suspended by spiral and serpentine springs are fabricated from a 2 μm-thick phosphorus-doped low-pressure chemical-vapor deposited (LPCVD) polysilicon film. Three experimental methods are used to characterize quasi-static and resonant motions: microscopic illumination, observation with a scanning-electron microscope (SEM), and capacitive sensing using a frequency-modulation technique. Resonant frequencies of the laterally-driven structures range from 8 kHz to 80 kHz and quality factors range from 20 to 130 at atmospheric pressure, to about 50,000 in vacuum (10 torr). For linear structures suspended with compliant springs, a static electromechanical transfer function of 40 nm·V is demonstrated. Resonant vibration amplitudes of up to 20 μm peak-to-peak are observed. First-order mechanical theory is found to be adequate for calculating spring constants and resonant frequencies, using a Young’s modulus between 140 and 150 GPa and neglecting residual strain in the released structures. Finger gap is found to have a more pronounced effect on comb characteristics than finger width or length, as expected from simple theory. A finite-element program is used to simulate the vertical levitation associated with the comb drive. This phenomenon is due to electrostatic repulsion by image charges mirrored in the ground plane beneath the suspended structure and is characterized as an electrostatic spring. As a result, the applied dc bias modulates the vertical resonant frequency. By electrically isolating alternating drive-comb fingers and applying voltages of equal magnitude and opposite sign, levitation can be reduced by an order of magnitude, while reducing the lateral drive force by less than a factor of two. These results agree well with first-order theory incorporating results from finite-element simulation. A two-dimensional manipulator based on an orthogonally coupled comb-drive pair is designed and analyzed for use with a resonant micromotor and a microdynamometer. These devices can be fabricated and tested with the same technology and methods as the basic comb-drive structures. Approved by ______________________________ Committee Chairman
Evaluation of seismic margins for an in-plant piping system

Earthquake experience as well as experiments indicate that, in general, piping systems are quite rugged in resisting seismic loadings. Therefore there is a basis to hold that the seismic margin against pipe failure is very high for systems designed according to current practice. However, there is very little data, either from tests or from earthquake experience, on the actual margin or excess capacity (against failure from seismic loading) of in-plant piping systems. Design of nuclear power plant piping systems in the US is governed by the criteria given in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B PV) Code, which assure that pipe stresses are within specified allowable limits. Generally linear elastic analytical methods are used to determine the stresses in the pipe and forces in pipe supports. The objective of this study is to verify that piping designed according to current practice does indeed have a large margin against failure and to quantify the excess capacity for piping and dynamic pipe supports on the basis of data obtained in a series of high-level seismic experiments (designated SHAM) on an in-plant piping system at the HDR (Heissdampfreaktor) Test Facility in Germany. Note that in the present context, seismic margin refers tomore » the deterministic excess capacities of piping or supports compared to their design capacities. The excess seismic capacities or margins of a prototypical in-plant piping system and its components are evaluated by comparing measured inputs and responses from high-level simulated seismic experiments with design loads and allowables. Large excess capacities are clearly demonstrated against pipe and overall system failure with the lower bound being about four. For snubbers the lower bound margin is estimated at two and for rigid strut supports at five. 4 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs. « less
Health care use and treatment-seeking for depression symptoms in rural India: A descriptive cross-sectional analysis

Background There is a large “treatment gap” for depression worldwide. This study aimed to better understand the treatment gap in rural India by describing health care use and treatment-seeking for depression. Methods Data were analysed from a two round cross-sectional community survey carried out in rural Madhya Pradesh between May 2013 and December 2016. We examined the proportion of individuals with probable depression who sought treatment in different sectors, for depression symptoms and for any reason, and compared the latter with health service use by non-depressed individuals. We showed the frequency with which barriers to healthcare utilisation were reported by adults with probable depression, and examined differences in the proportion of adults who sought treatment for depression by predisposing, enabling and need factors. Results 86% of adults with probable depression reported seeking no depression treatment. However, 66% had used health services for any reason in the past 3 months, compared to 46% of those without depression (p<0.0001). Private providers were most frequently consulted by adults with probable depression (32%), while only 19% consulted traditional providers. Structural barriers to healthcare use such as cost and distance to services were frequently reported (54% and 52%, respectively) but were not associated with treatment-seeking for depression. The following factors were found to be positively associated with treatment-seeking for depression: higher symptom severity; reporting lack of energy, lack of interest/pleasure, low self-esteem, or slow movements/restlessness on more than 7 days in the past 2 weeks; being married; having discussed depression symptoms; and reporting problems with medication availability and supply as a barrier to healthcare. No evidence was found for an association between treatment-seeking for depression and most socio-economic, demographic or attitudinal factors. Discussion and conclusions The majority of adults with probable depression actively seek healthcare, but not specifically for depression symptoms, indicating the need to improve detection of depression during consultations about other complaints. Private providers should be included in programmes to improve the detection and treatment of depression. Unmarried individuals may experience greater difficulties in accessing care in this setting. Further research should test the hypotheses generated in this descriptive study.
Building Consensus for Ambitious Climate Action Through the World Climate Simulation

Sociopolitical values are an important driver of climate change beliefs, attitudes, and policy preferences. People with “individualist‐hierarchical” values favor individual freedom, competition, and clearly defined social hierarchies, while “communitarian‐egalitarians” value interdependence and equality across gender, age, heritage, and ethnicity. In the US, individualist‐hierarchs generally perceive less risk from climate change and express lower support for actions to mitigate it than communitarian‐egalitarians. Exposure to scientific information does little to change these views. Here, we ask if a widely used experiential simulation, World Climate, can help overcome these barriers. World Climate combines an engaging role‐play with an interactive computer model of the climate system. We examine pre‐ and post‐World Climate survey responses from 2,080 participants in the US and use a general linear mixed model approach to analyze interactions among participants' sociopolitical values and gains in climate change knowledge, affect, and intent to take action. As expected, prior to the simulation, participants holding individualist‐hierarchical values had lower levels of climate change knowledge, felt less urgency, and expressed lower intent to act than those holding communitarian‐egalitarian values. However, individualist‐hierarchs made significantly larger gains across all constructs, particularly urgency, than communitarian‐egalitarians. Participants' sociopolitical values also shifted: those with individualistic‐hierarchical values before the simulation showed a substantial, statistically significant shift toward a communitarian‐egalitarian worldview. Simulation‐based experiences like World Climate may help reduce polarization and build consensus towards science‐based climate action.
Short Message Service - SMS: The Creation of Personal Global Text Messaging

Contributions from Finn Trosby, Kevin Holley, Ian Harris Written to celebrate the 25th anniversary of SMS standardization by the people who produced the standards, Short Message Service (SMS): The Creation of Personal Text Messaging, describes the development of the SMS standard and its ongoing evolution. The standardization of SMS started in February 1985 as a part of the creation of the second generation digital cellular system GSM, and the 25th anniversary of the first work on SMS provides an opportunity to review and understand how this service was developed. The book also looks to the future, as a large number of new GSM and evolved GSM phones will support SMS as a mass market high availability messaging service, a new simple Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) suitable for use by everyone and for implementation in every new terminal is proposed. One of the only books which covers the complete SMS genesis from concept ideas to standardization of a first technical solution and its evolution to the present day. Describes the service concept including the limitation of the message length to 160 characters and explains the rationale behind the concept. Based on existing and newly retrieved documentation. Concludes that SMS has a long future since most future GSM phones will support SMS as the only messaging service, and so an SMS evolution is put forward.
OPTIMISATION OF PECTIN EXTRACTION ASSISTED BY MICROWAVE
FROM BANANA (Musa sapientum L.) FRUIT PEELS USING RESPONSE
SURFACE METHODOLOGY

In this study, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was used to extract pectin from waste banana (Musa sapientum L. CV. Kluai Namwa) fruit peels. Central composite design (CCD) was used to study and optimise the effects of processing parameters’ variables (microwave irradiation, extraction time, and pH) on the pectin yield, degree of esterification (DE), and galacturonic acid content (GA) of pectins extracted from dried banana fruit peels with hydrochloric acid of 0.05 M. Extraction parameters applied in this study are microwave irradiation (300-600 watt), extraction time (5-15 min), and pH (1-3). The results showed that all the process variables had significant effect on the responses. The optimum conditions for the maximum pectin yield (13.47%), DE (92.45%), and GA (87.99%) were obtained at microwave irradiation of 580 watt, extraction time of 15.86 min, and pH of 1.71. Under the optimal conditions, close agreement between experimental and predicted values was obtained. From the results, second order polynomial model was developed and it adequately explained the data variation and significantly represented the actual relationship between independent variables and the response.
Effect of Light Intensity on Growth and Yield of a Nigerian Local Rice Variety-Ofada

Rice is an important staple food in Nigeria but production is low due to single cropping season among other factors. The effect of light regimes on the growth and yield of Ofada rice (Oryzasativa L) was studied. Seeds were collected from Igbemo-Ekiti, Nigeria (lat7° 42'E and long 5° 24'N). They were pre-treated by soaking in water for 24 hours and sown in germinating trays filled with top-soil and watered regularly. A total of four troughs each with dimension of 2.5m x 1m x 0.25m were filled with top soil and flooded. Three seedlings hill-1 were transplanted at 20cm x 20cm spacing. Two days later, the troughs were covered with one, two and three layers of green coloured fine mesh net to achieved 75%, 50% and 25% light intensity respectively. The fourth trough (control) with no covering had 100% light intensity. Five hills from each trough were randomly selected and measurements of height and number of tillers were taken at 25 and 45 days after transplanting. Growth and yield parameters such as plant heights (PH), total number of tillers per plant (TNOT), number of effective tillers (EFT), flag leaf length (FLL), panicle length (PANL), panicle weight (PANW), number of grain per panicle (NOG/P), number of spikelet per panicle (NSPP), number of filled and unfilled grain, 1000 grain weight (1000-GW), economic yield (EW), straw weight (SW) and harvest index (HI) were assessed. There were significant differences in PH, TNOT, EFT, number of unfilled grain per panicle, PANW, 1000-GW, HI, EY and BY. Plant height, TNOT, EFT, 1000-GW, EY increased with increasing light intensity while number of unproductive tillers increased with reduced light. Ofada is recommended for planting under full light intensity but there are potentials for breeding for shade tolerance in the variety.
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering

A sealed closure between a cylindrical tubular member and an inserted member is effected by rolling over the projecting end of the tubular member with a roller which is moved radially with respect to the tubular member but exerts a deforming force obliquely to the axis thereof, so as to effect deformation of the inserted member and a fluid tight seal without interposition of a separate sealing ring or the like.
Model Study on Arching Above Buried Structures

THE AUTHORS ESTABLISH AN ANALYTICAL STRUCTURAL MODEL OF ARCHING ABOVE AN UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE. THE MODEL WAS BASED ON VARIOUS EXPERIMENTAL PARAMETERS, PERMITTED ANALYSIS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SOIL-STRUCTURE SYSTEM AND PROVIDED DESIGN CRITERIA FOR BURIED STRUCTURES. OWING TO RELATIONS BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND SOIL RIGIDITIES, STRESS TRAJECTORIES ARISE IN SOIL IN A SHAPE OF AN ARCH THAT TRANSMITS FORCES FROM ABOVE THE STRUCTURE TO THE ARCH ABUTMENTS. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF THIS STRUCTURAL ARCH IS GOVERNED BY THE SOIL CHARACTERISTIC AND BY THE SUPPORT CONDITIONS ALONG THE ARCH AND ITS ABUTMENTS. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY CARRIED OUT IN A GLASS WALLED CONTAINER, FILLED WITH SAND, CAN BE SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS: (1) ARCHING INCREASES WITH STRUCTURE DEPTH BUT TENDS TOWARD A DEFINITE VALUE, (2) ARCHING INCREASES WITH EXTERNAL LOAD AND THE RATE OF THIS INCREASE VARIES WITH DEPTH, (3) ARCHING INCREASES WITH THE HEIGHT OF PROTRUDING ROOFS; VANISHING WITH INCREASING DEPTH, AND (4) A DIRECT RELATION CAN BE FOUND BETWEEN THE ARCHING AND THE SAND RIGIDITY AT THE ARCH ABUTMENTS. /ASCE/
Strengthening the quality of paediatric primary care: A process evaluation of a complex health systems intervention in South Africa

BACKGROUND: Innovative strategies like WHO’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) have resulted in progress in addressing infant and child mortality. However, the needs of children continue to present a burden upon primary healthcare services. The capacity of services and quality of care offered require greater support to address these needs and extend integrated curative and preventive care, specifically, for the well child, the child with a long-term health condition and the child older than 5 years, not included in IMCI. In response to these needs, the PACK Child intervention was developed, based on a similar successful approach in adults, that expands the scope and reach of integrated management and training programmes for paediatric primary care. We report findings from the process evaluation of the integration of PACK Child intervention within the existing primary health care system. METHODS: A mixed methods process evaluation was completed in ten primary health care facilities in the Western Cape province in South Africa, where clinicians were trained to integrate PACK Child into routine practice. Qualitative data included transcribed interviews with managers, clinicians, caregivers and policymakers; audio-recordings and observational fieldnotes of training, consultations and clinic flow. Quantitative data were collected from training logs, questionnaires, and consultations. Qualitative data were analysed using linguistic ethnographic techniques, including conversation and thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Influence of PACK Child on clinical practice: Longer consultations, improved clinical knowledge and practice, better teamwork, strengthening of appropriate referrals and inclusion of psychosocial risk screening. Implementation fidelity of PACK Child was hindered by over-reliance on documentation and embedded checklist approach to consultations limited to acute episodic illnesses. PACK Child increased caregiver participation during consultations. CONCLUSIONS: The PACK Child intervention has strengthened primary care for children despite institutionalised care provided by a limited number of clinicians focusing on acute illness with little participation of the caregiver. With refinement of the programme, there is potential for PACK Child to strengthen paediatric care in low-resource settings.