Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rail Passengers’ Time Use and Utility Assessment

This paper uses data from Great Britain's National Passenger Survey 2010 to examine the travel time use of rail passengers and their indicative assessment of the utility of that time use. The paper explores the impacts of individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics, the activities undertaken, and the perceived difficulties that may be faced by the travelers on their assessment of travel time use utility. The study showed that only 13% of travelers considered their travel time to be wasted time. However, this result varied by journey purpose, traveling class (first or standard class), gender, and journey length. The study showed that the positive or negative appreciation by passengers of their journey time was a result not only of various combinations of onboard activity engagements, but also of the smoothness of the overall journey experience. The ability to work or study on the train most significantly increased individual appreciation of time use. However, a delay on an individual's train journey also had a major influence on the reduction of his or her perceived value of the travel time spent. Information and communication technology devices that enable travelers to watch film or video, play games, or check e-mails were more appreciated than those devices that provide access to music, podcasts, or social networking sites. The paper joins others in questioning the assumptions made in economic appraisals that travel time is unproductive. The paper concludes with a call for more substantive and targeted data collection efforts within travel behavior research devoted to further unraveling the phenomenon of the positive utility of travel.
Cultural values in political economy

Cultural studies and cultural analysis have been on the rise since the dawn of the Cold War, tailoring a field of research that has helped untangle the sources and meanings of not only cultural movements, but also political and economic outcomes. This book is a collective contribution in the field of cultural studies, coordinated by Professor J.P. Singh. It brings together scholars from different areas of study to provide guidance in the maze of the current cultural, political, social, and economic situation. The work is interdisciplinary at its core, given the varying backgrounds of the contributors in fields such as anthropology, international relations, political science, public affairs and policy, international affairs
Impact of absenteeism on academic performance under compulsory attendance policies in first to fifth year university students

Since the implementation of the European Higher Education Area, universities have been obliged to implement continuous assessment systems that require a high degree of attendance by students. Using recorded data, from year 1 to year 5, of 694 students of a European university, where attendance is mandatory, the main objective of this research is to analyse to what extent absenteeism affects performance across the years of degree study. The investigation found a decreasing effect. In addition, a cluster analysis was done to find out if the compulsory attendance policy impacts all students equally. Three different behavioural styles were found: those who attend regularly, students who manage their number of absences to comply with attendance rules, who are the real targets the policy, and a third group with a high number of absences not affected by the policy. These findings identify the groups of students who benefit most from adequate attendance.
A Bio-inspired Distributed Control Architecture: Coupled Artificial Signalling Networks

This thesis studies the applicability of computational models inspired by the structure and dynamics of signalling networks to the control of complex control problems. In particular, this thesis presents two different abstractions that aim to capture the signal processing abilities of biological cells: a stand-alone signalling network and a coupled signalling network. While the former mimics the interacting relationships amongst the components in a signalling pathway, the latter replicates the connectionism amongst signalling pathways. After initially investigating the feasibility of these models for controlling two complex numerical dynamical systems, Chirikov's standard map and the Lorenz system, this thesis explores their applicability to a difficult real world control problem, the generation of adaptive rhythmic locomotion patterns within a legged robotic system. The results highlight that the locomotive movements of a six-legged robot could be controlled in order to adapt the robot's trajectory in a range of challenging environments. In this sense, signalling networks are responsible for the robot adaptability and inter limb coordination as they self-adjust their dynamics according to the terrain's irregularities. More generally, the results of this thesis highlight the capacity of coupled signalling networks to decompose non-linear problems into smaller sub-tasks, which can then be independently solved.
Life Cycle Methodologies to Improve Agri-Food Systems Sustainability

The paper takes into account the sustainability issues linked to agri-food systems by deepening the so-called life cycle-based approaches as tools useful to characterize and quantify several impact typologies generated by all phases of a production process. To achieve the objectives of eco-compatibility, economic profitability and social well-being, the measurement of sustainability performances represents an essential requirement, as well as the need of increasingly innovative evaluation methods with holistic and all-embracing features. Even more so, in the evaluation of complex socio-environmental systems, like agricultural ones, uncertainty often arises and the quality of decision processes can be a high concern. Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), as conceptual framework, and its operative counterpart the Life Cycle Management (LCM) are characterized by a systemic approach useful to integrate sustainability priorities into all phases of production processes, by improving design, innovation and evaluation activities. LCM includes several analytical tools, more or less standardized or yet in working progress, which compose the so-called "tool box" including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), each one for the evaluation of the three different sustainability dimensions. This article aims to provide a brief overview of all life cycle methodologies by outlining the origin and evolution, the main features and potentiality of application in agri-food sector.
Full flow field computation of mixing in baffled stirred vessels

The ability to numerically simulate the whole flow field in stirred vessels is fast becoming vital to their optimal design. Past attempts have adopted a steady-state, semi-empirical analysis requiring experimentally-based input in some form. A numerical method is developed for the computation of the full time-varying flow field for both the fluid within the impeller passages and that outside. Results of calculations are compared with experimental data for a model stirred vessel
A Semi-Empirical Three-Dimensional Model of the Pneumatic Tyre Rolling over Arbitrarily Uneven Road Surfaces

Nowadays virtual prototyping tools play an important part in the development of vehicles. For studying the dynamics of a vehicle, complex vehicle models are required that are composed of several accurately modelled components. As the tyre constitutes the only contact between the vehicle and the road surface, it is one of the most important components of a vehicle model. For performing ride comfort and durability analyses, there is a need for accurate tyre models that can predict the loads that are transmitted from the tyre to the wheel axle when driving over road irregularities. In this study, such a tyre simulation model is developed that can represent the dynamic response of a tyre when rolling over uneven road surfaces. The approach followed is the combination of the well-known rigid ring dynamic tyre model and a suitable enveloping model that generates a three-dimensional effective road surface, which is used as input for the rigid ring model. The thesis deals with the development of the enveloping models and with the extension of the rigid ring tyre model so that this model is capable of handling the effective road surface. It is shown that the combination of the rigid ring model and the enveloping model can be used successfully to describe the tyre dynamic response to uneven road surfaces. In this research project, numerous experiments have been carried out for model development, parameter identification and model validation. The results of many of these experiments are presented in the thesis.
Subscription Partitioning and Routing in Content-based Publish/Subscribe Systems

Content-based publish/subscribe systems allow subscribers to specify events of interest based on event contents, beyond pre-assigned event topics. When networks of servers are used to provide scalable content-based publish/subscribe services, we have the flexibility of partitioning existing subscriptions and routing new subscriptions among multiple servers to optimize various performance metrics including total network traffic, load balancing, and system throughput. We propose two approaches to subscription partitioning and routing, one based on partitioning the event space and the other based on partitioning the subscription set, and discuss their trade-offs. Finally, we collect and analyze a set of real-world stock-quote subscriptions and use that as the basis for our simulation study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Design and fabrication of PMMA-micromachined fluid lens based on electromagnetic actuation on PMMA–PDMS bonded membrane

The fabrication of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-micromachined fluid lens with an optimally designed built-in electromagnetic actuator was demonstrated in this study. Through a finite element method, the number of winding turns and the distance between magnetic moments were estimated to design an effective and miniaturized electromagnetic actuator. The lens body composed of PMMA structures was simply and rapidly micromachined using computer numerical control micro-milling. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membranes for electromagnetic actuation were bonded to the PMMA structures by using the proposed PMMA–PDMS bonding technique, which uses an SiO2 intermediate layer. A physical repulsive force produced by the electromagnetic actuator applies a controllable fluidic pressure to a fluidic chamber that is sealed with the PDMS membrane, thus allowing dynamic focusing. The focus tunability of the fabricated lens was 67 diopters with a focus hysteresis of less than 1 mm and a response time of 2 ms. The solenoid of the built-in actuator showed negligible thermal crosstalk to the lens.
Calculation of density and permeability of compacted crushed salt within an engineered shaft sealing system

Crushed salt from the host Salado Formation is proposed as a sealing material in one component of a multicomponent seal system design for the shafts of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a mined geological repository for storage and disposal of transuranic radioactive wastes located near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The crushed salt will be compacted and placed at a density approaching 90% of the intact density of the host Salado salt. Creep closure of the shaft will further compact the crushed salt over time, thereby reducing the crushed-salt permeability from the initial state and creating an effective long-term seal. A structural model and a fluid flow model have been developed to provide an estimate of crushed-salt reconsolidation rate as a function of depth, time, and pore pressure. Model results are obtained in terms of crushed-salt permeability as a function of time and depth within the salt column. Model results indicate that average salt column permeability will be reduced to 3.3 {times} 10{sup {minus}20} m{sup 2} in about 100 years, which provides for an acceptable long-term seal component.
Modern Power Electronics and AC Drives

(NOTE: Each chapter begins with an Introduction and concludes with a Summary and References.) Preface. List of Principal Symbols. 1. Power Semiconductor Devices. Diodes. Thyristors. Triacs. Gate Turn-Off Thyristors (GTOs). Bipolar Power or Junction Transistors (BPTs or BJTs). Power MOSFETs. Static Induction Transistors (SITs). Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs). MOS-Controlled Thyristors (MCTs). Integrated Gate-Commutated Thyristors (IGCTs). Large Band-Gap Materials for Devices. Power Integrated Circuits (PICs). 2. AC Machines for Drives. Induction Machines. Synchronous Machines. Variable Reluctance Machine (VRM). 3. Diodes and Phase-Controlled Converters. Diode Rectifiers. Thyristor Converters. Converter Control. EMI and Line Power Quality Problems. 4. Cycloconverters. Phase-Controlled Cycloconverters. Matrix Converters. High-Frequency Cycloconverters. 5. Voltage-Fed Converters. Single-Phase Inverters. Three-Phase Bridge Inverters. Multi-Stepped Inverters. Pulse Width Modulation Techniques. Three-Level Inverters. Hard Switching Effects. Resonant Inverters. Soft-Switched Inverters. Dynamic and Regenerative Drive Braking. PWM Rectifiers. Static VAR Compensators and Active Harmonic Filters. Introduction to Simulation-MATLAB/SIMULINK. 6. Current-Fed Converters. General Operation of a Six-Step Thyristor Inverter. Load-Commutated Inverters. Force-Commutated Inverters. Harmonic Heating and Torque Pulsation. Multi-Stepped Inverters. Inverters with Self-Commutated Devices. Current-Fed vs Voltage-Fed Converters. 7. Induction Motor Slip-Power Recovery Drives. Doubly-Fed Machine Speed Control by Rotor Rheostat. Static Kramer Drive. Static Scherius Drive. 8. Control and Estimation of Induction Motor Drives. Induction Motor Control with Small Signal Model. Scalar Control. Vector or Field-Oriented Control. Sensorless Vector Control. Direct Torque and Flux Control (DTC). Adaptive Control. Self-Commissioning of Drive. 9. Control and Estimation of Synchronous Motor Drives. Sinusoidal SPM Machine Drives. Synchronous Reluctance Machine Drives. Sinusoidal IPM Machine Drives. Trapezoidal SPM Machine Drives. Wound-Field Synchronous Machine Drives. Sensorless Control. Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) Drives. 10. Expert System Principles and Applications. Expert System Principles. Expert System Shell. Design Methodology. Applications. Glossary. 11. Fuzzy Logic Principles and Applications. Fuzzy Sets. Fuzzy System. Fuzzy Control. General Design Methodology. Applications. Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. Glossary. 12. Neural Network Principles and Applications. The Structure of a Neuron. Artificial Neural Network. Other Networks. Neural Network in Identification and Control. General Design Methodology. Applications. Neuro-Fuzzy Systems. Demo Program with Neural Network Toolbox. Glossary. Index.
Direct Effect of Lipopolysaccharide and Histamine on Permeability Barrier of Rumen Epithelium

Background: Disruption of the ruminal epithelium barrier occurs during subacute ruminal acidosis due to low pH, hyper-osmolality, and increased concentrations of lipopolysaccharide and histamine in ruminal fluid. However, the individual roles of lipopolysaccharide and histamine in the process of ruminal epithelium barriers disruption are not clear. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the direct effect of lipopolysaccharide and histamine on barrier function of the ruminal epithelium. Results: Compared with control (CON), lipopolysaccharide (HIS) increased the short-circuit current (Isc) (88.2%, P = 0.0022), transepithelial conductance (Gt) (29.7%, P = 0.0564) and the permeability of fluorescein 5(6)-isothiocyanate (FITC) (1.04-fold, P = 0.0047) of ruminal epithelium. The apparent permeability of LPS was 1.81-fold higher than HIS (P = 0.0005). The mRNA abundance of OCLN in ruminal epithelium was decreased by HIS (1.1-fold, P = 0.0473). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggested that histamine plays a direct role in the disruption of ruminal epithelium barrier function while lipopolysaccharide without acidic pH has no significant effect on the permeability of rumen tissues.
The Effect of Managerial Overconfidence on Firm Value: Evidence from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange

Managers of a company are responsible for enhancing shareholder wealth. However, decisions made by managers are not always rational, and such irrational decisions could have a direct impact on the value of a firm, and thus, the wealth of its shareholders. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effect of managerial overconfidence on the value of firms trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The results of this study indicate that managerial overconfidence exhibits an insignificant effect on a firm’s leverage and innovation levels. Interestingly, this study reports that managerial overconfidence exhibits a significant negative effect on firm value. This finding implies that investors should avoid investing in firms with overconfident managers because such investments could result in a reduction of their wealth. As such, it is important that regulators and policymakers introduce policies to mitigate overconfident and biased decision-making processes.
Assessment of radionuclide content in waste barrels using the Canberra In-Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS)

In order to store radioactive waste its contents need to be known. Determining radioactive waste can be achieved by different means. The most common method is using a detector to measure the gamma photons produced by the radionuclides in the waste. A widely used method is Segmented Gamma Scanning, in which the waste package is rotated in front of a detector and then raised to the next vertical segment etc. until the top of the package is reached. Commercially available waste assay systems from Canberra, ISOCS™, and ORTEC®, ISOTOPIC, exist in which the geometry of the measurement can be modelled in its entirety. Studies are inconclusive as to which accuracy can be achieved. This work aimed to determine how well Canberra’s ISOCS™ could estimate the activity content in a waste barrel with different radionuclide content and waste matrices and to estimate the accuracy of this estimated activity. Also if a NaI(Tl) detector could be used to gain additional information about the measured geometry. Three different measurement setups were performed at Studsvik Nuclear AB. In setup 1 liquid sources of 111In and 131I and a point source of 134Cs were measured placed in the radial centre as well as in the radial periphery of a barrel filled with water. Homogeneous activity distributions of 111In and 131I were also measured. In setup 2 point sources of 57Co, 60Co, 133Ba and 137Cs were measured in the radial centre and the radial periphery of a barrel filled with water. All point sources were also measured at a different vertical position in the barrel. 57Co and 133Ba were measured individually. In setup 3 a cylindrical liquid source of 18F were measured in the radial centre and radial periphery of a barrel filled with water and homogeneously distributed in the water. The conclusion is that ISOCS™ can estimate the activity well when the correspondence between the modelled and measured geometry is very good, e.g. sources free in air or homogeneous activity distributions. When the matrices are more complex the correspondence is worse but whether this is due to the software being sensitive for mismatches between the model and reality or because of uncertainties in the experimental setup or a combination of both is not clear. ISOCS™ underestimates the activity content by 60 % for 511 keV when applying a homogeneous activity distribution for a heterogeneous matrix with the source in the centre of the barrel. A NaI(Tl) detector can be used to assess large inhomogeneities in the activity and to apply an accuracy to the activity estimation.
THE BIOMECHANICS OF HURDLING: FORCE PLATE ANALYSIS TO ASSESS HURDLING TECHNIQUE

Hurdle racing, especially the high hurdles, is one of the most demanding of track and field events. The athlete requires the speed of a sprinter in conjunction with the technical ability to clear ten 1.07m hurdles with minimum loss of velocity. Kinematic analysis has provided insight into hurdling technique, but little data has been reported on the kinetics of hurdling. This paper reports the results of force plate analysis of hurdling and outlines how it can be used in the routine assessment of hurdling technique. Two force plates are mounted at floor level in a portion of a 110m Rekortan track which passes through the laboratory. The protocol involves the athlete starting from starting blocks and clearing three hurdles set at standard distance from the start. Vertical and anterio/posterior ground reaction force data are collected for the take off and landing of the second hurdle clearance. Velocity changes associated with braking, propulsion and vertical impulse in conjunction with contact times and mean and peak force data are determined. These parameters in addition to simple kinematic data determined at the instant of touchdown in both takeoff and landing and the velocity determined by light gates are used in the quantitative assessment of hurdling technique. Sample data and the diagnostic possibilities of the analysis will be discussed.
MAKING A VOCAL TRACT CLOSURE LONGER AND SHORTER

This study examined lip and tongue kinematics in stop and fricative consonants of different durations. Native speakers of Japanese served as subjects. An analysis of the lower lip closing movement indicated that it differed for the long and short labial consonants. In particular, the lower lip reached its highest vertical position later during the closure for the long than for the short consonants, and its deceleration was modified to keep it in contact with the upper lip for a longer time. Thus, both the magnitude and timing of the lower lip movement were changed to control closure duration. For the lingual consonants, the magnitude of the tongue movement during the closure was larger for the long than for the short consonants. However, the speakers reduced the average speed of the tongue during the closure for the long consonant This allowed the tongue to maintain contact with the palate to produce the vocal tract closure. (Less)
Evaluation of Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester

For more than 5 years, the Utah Department of Transportation collected field material and tested it with the asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). Thirty-four field mixtures were evaluated as part of this study. The mixtures were produced according to Utah DOT standard volumetric specifications with two binder grades, Performance Grade (PG) 64-34 and PG 70-28, from three suppliers. The results of these tests showed that the AMPT produced data with a coefficient of variation below 15%, which indicates good repeatability. Mixtures prepared with different binder grades were easily separated. The dynamic modulus master curves of mixtures prepared with the same binder grade were essentially the same regardless of the aggregate source. The same type of mixture was used. These results show that it is possible to obtain input parameters for the Level 1 asphalt mixture from the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide on the basis of historical data, knowledge of the binder grade used, and testing at only one temperature. The single-temperature test can be used for quality control and to verify that the mixture is of the same kind as the historical data available. This approach can significantly reduce the time and effort required to obtain AMPT data without any loss in the capacity of performance prediction and thus make adoption of this device more appealing to state departments of transportation.