Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Driver response to controllable failures of fixed and variable gain steering

Active Front Steer (AFS) is a variable gain steering system that can be a useful driver aid: less wheel input is required to steer at low speeds than a more traditional fixed-gain (FG) system. However, should an AFS system fail, the sudden change in steering gain is potentially hazardous. Using a fully-immersive simulator, forty drivers participated in this single-blind study which compared driver response to both operational and failed AFS compared to a FG system with both functional and failed power steering. At low speeds, whilst negotiating an intersection, drivers rated AFS higher than FG for ease of steering. There were also trends suggesting that AFS failure was easier for drivers to control than the loss of power-assist to the FG system. At high speeds, AFS also showed advantages: drivers rated AFS higher and demonstrated fewer steering micro-corrections, intimating that maintaining control of the vehicle was less demanding with AFS.
Three Dimensional Effects in Taylor Flow in Circular Microchannels

The gas-liquid Taylor flow regime in microchannels is of great interest to a range of industries (e.g. electronics cooling, automotive, biomedical, aerospace and chemical processing) as the rates of heat and mass transport are significantly enhanced in Taylor flow when compared with laminar, fully-developed single phase liquid-only flow. The bubble shape and flow are generally assumed to be axisymmetric and steady (in a frame of reference moving with the bubble) in Taylor flow in millimetre-size circular channels. Our experiments performed using a combination of highspeed imaging and micro-Particle Image Velocimetry (micro-PIV) techniques have investigated the case of Taylor flow for an ethylene glycol-nitrogen system in a horizontal channel of 2 mm diameter, where the bubble shape was observed to show significant non-axisymmetric behaviour. To further understand the non-axisymmetric flow behaviour a periodic, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model employing the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method (using ANSYS Fluent) with geometric reconstruction to capture the gas-liquid interface was developed. A combination of experimental and computational techniques gives insight into the flow physics for the case of horizontal Taylor flow where three dimensional effects are important.
Multiphase Hydrodynamic Model Predicts Important Phenomena in Air-Drilling Hydraulics

Development of a model to determine optimal lifting velocity. The model accommodates non-uniformity in particle sizes and predicts the pressure-drop profile in the annulus under various simulated drilling conditions. It is capable of serving design, predictive, and descriptive purposes for air-drilling wellbore hydraulics, even for two particle sizes.
Characteristics and control of industrial effluent‐generated pollution

Evaluates existing systems of collection and disposal of industrial waste water in the Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. Examines the rate of generation of waste water in the paints, foods and beverages, battery, textile, brewery, and pulp and paper industries. These include among others some selected industries in Ikeja Industrial Estate, Lagos. The cases chosen are believed to give a broad outline of organic strength of industrial wastes as well as disposal problems. Results show biochemical oxygen demand, pH and temperature range of 44‐6000mg/l, 4.5‐9.5 and 30‐40°C respectively. Identifies problems facing industrialists in waste water treatment and disposal. Offers suggestions for minimizing environmental pollution by industrial effluents.
Experimental Investigation of Water Flow Heat Transfer in Metal Foams

This paper aims at finding the best pore density and porosity of metal foams for heat transfer, as well as the most proper operating conditions. A circulating water cooling system were designed which include micro-channel heat sink, heat exchanger, micro-pump, rot meter, electric heating rods, and conversion fans for the experiment. The comparison was made between different metal foam samples in terms of flow rate and equilibrium temperature of heating boundary. The results presented that a relatively low temperature can be achieved when flow rate is large, but at the same time the pressure drop increased. The excellent heat dissipation performance of metal foams has a close relationship with its specific surface area.
Modeling Reference Evapotranspiration Using Evolutionary Neural Networks

The ability of evolutionary neural networks (ENN) to model reference evapotranspiration (ET0) was investigated in this study. The daily climatic data, solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed of three stations in central California, Windsor, Oakville, and Santa Rosa, were used as inputs to the ENN models to estimate ET0 obtained using the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith equation. In the first part of the study, a comparison was made between the estimates provided by the ENN and those of the following empirical models: the California Irrigation Management System, Penman, Hargreaves, modified Hargreaves, and Ritchie methods. Root-mean-squared error, coefficient of efficiency, and correlation coefficient statistics were used as comparing criteria for the evaluation of the models’ accuracies. The ENN performed better than the empirical models. In the second part of the study, the ENN results were compared with those of the conventional artificial neural networks (ANN). The comparison results.
Withholding and Withdrawal of Life Support in Mechanically Ventilated Stroke Patients

Background. The determinants of decisions to limit life support (withholding or withdrawal) in ventilated stroke patients have been poorly investigated.Methods. In a prospective multicenter observational cohort (2005-2016), we evaluated limitation of life support in ventilated stroke patients compared to a non-brain-injured population and identified factors associated with such decisions in stroke patients using Fine and Gray competing risk models.Results. We identified 373 stroke patients (ischemic, n=167 (45%); hemorrhagic, n=206 (55%)), and 5683 non-brain-injured patients. Decisions to limit life support were taken in 41% of ischemic stroke cases (vs. non-brain-injured patients, sHR 3.59 [95% CI 2.78-4.65]) and in 33% of hemorrhagic stroke cases (vs. non-brain-injured patients, sHR 3.9 [95% CI 2.97-5.11]). Time from ICU admission to the first limitation was longer in ischemic than in hemorrhagic stroke (5 [3 - 9] vs 2 [1 - 6] days, p<0.01). Limitation of life support preceded ICU death in 70% of ischemic strokes and 45% of hemorrhagic strokes (p<0.01). Life support limitation in ischemic stroke was associated with a vertebrobasilar location (vs. anterior circulation, sHR, 1.61 [95% CI 1.01 - 2.59]) and in hemorrhagic stroke, it was associated with an age>70 years (2.29 [1.43 - 3.69]), a Glasgow score<8 (2.15 [1.08 - 4.3]) and a lower non-neurologic admission SOFA score (per point, 0.89 [0.82 - 0.97]). Conclusions. In ventilated stroke patients, decisions to limit life support are more than 3 times more frequent than in non-brain injured patients, with different timing and associated risk factors between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.
Dynamic Response of Whole Body System Subjected to Walking Generated Excitation

A human body is subjected to periodic excitations when walking at a uniform rate. In this study, the whole body is modeled as a multi degree of freedom system. The excitation is strictly caused by the muscle action, however, in the present study it is modeled as a sinusoidal acceleration input to all the masses. In view of the changing boundary conditions at the alternating feet movements, the system under study is a time varying system. However, in order to simplify the study, the system is considered as piecewise time invariant for each half period when one foot is in contact with the ground. The natural frequencies, responses in the time and frequency domains are computed, presented and discussed.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Considering rupture directivity effects, which structures should be named ‘long‐period buildings’?

Recorded accelerograms in the regions near active faults may have specific characteristics that inclusion of their effects on the response of structures is necessary. Of particular importance are permanent displacement, i.e. fling‐step, rupture directivity pulses and high‐frequency content. Several researchers have focused on the effects of rupture directivity pulses on response of structures. They have shown that long‐period structures are severely affected by these types of excitations. However, in near‐fault regions, the question ‘which building structures are long period? ’ has not been clearly and quantitatively answered. In this paper, responses of 10‐, 20‐, 30‐ and 40‐story steel structures designed based on Uniform Building Code 1997 regulations are investigated under artificial pulses produced by directivity effects. It is shown that, considering rupture directivity effects, a long‐period structure is the one that has a first‐mode period–to–pulse period ratio greater than about 0.44. Furthermore, the effects of variations in the period of the near‐fault velocity pulses on the characteristics of inelastic response of structures are examined. Consequently, analysis of the structures experiencing actual near‐fault records indicates that the pattern of response spectrum obtained from artificial pulses presents the behavior of the structure under real near‐fault earthquakes rather accurately. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving environmental management with full environmental cost accounting

Based on the most comprehensive field research ever conducted in corporate environmental management, this article reports on the integration of environmental impacts into product costing and cost management practices in organizations. It examines approaches for identifying and tracking current environmental costs related to both current and past production. It also develops the need and prospects for a complete analysis of future environmental impacts, including both costs and benefits, and the integration of these elements into a life-cycle costing or full environmental cost accounting model. The prospects for full environmental cost accounting and the related accounting issues are analyzed. Finally, the importance of full environmental cost accounting for improving corporate environmental performance, reducing corporate environmental impacts, and increasing long-term corporate profitability is discussed.
Design of Fused-Deposition ABS Components for Stiffness and Strength

The high degree of automation of Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) processing and its ability to create geometrically complex parts to precise dimensions provide it with a unique potential for low volume production of rapid tooling and functional components. A factor of significant importance in the above applications is the capability of producing components with adequate mechanical performance (e.g., stiffness and strength). This paper introduces a strategy for optimzing the design of Fused-Deposition Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (FD-ABS: P400) components for stiffness and strength under a given set of loading conditions. In this strategy, a mathematical model of the structural system is linked to an approximate minimization algorithm to find the settings of select manufacturing parameters, which optimize the mechanical performance of the component. The methodology is demonstrated by maximizing the load carrying capacity of a two-section cantilevered FD-ABS beam.
Emergence delirium and intranasal dexmedetomidine premedication in pediatric anesthesia: a retrospective study in plastic surgery

Background Dexmedetomidine is increasingly used in the treatment of emergency delirium (ED) in pediatric patients. However, further evidence on its use in pediatric anesthesia and on potential differences in the reduction of ED according to patient’s age and type of anesthesia is required. Moreover, whether dexmedetomidine influences time of discharge from the surgical area remains unclear. We evaluated whether intranasal dexmedetomidine is effective in decreasing the incidence of ED in 106 children who had anesthesia for plastic surgery undergoing general or combined anesthesia at different ages. We also assessed if this drug has an impact on time to discharge from the surgical area. Methods In total, 106 children, aged 2–10 years, were enrolled in this retrospective study. Among them, 50 have been premedicated with dexmedetomidine (dexmedetomidine group); the remaining 56 patients served as controls (control group). The incidence of ED was evaluated according to the use of dexmedetomidine premedication, age and type of anesthesia (general vs combined). The length of anesthesia and duration of staying in the surgical area were also analyzed. Results Three patients who received dexmedetomidine premedication showed ED (6%), compared with 43 patients in the control group (77%; p<0.05). This lower incidence of ED was also present when stratifying patients according to the type of anesthesia or age. We observed no significant difference between the dexmedetomidine group and control group in terms of discharge from surgical area. Conclusions Premedication with dexmedetomidine is associated with decreased incidence of ED, regardless of patients’ age or type of anesthesia and without seemingly increasing the timing of discharge after surgery.
La prévision hydro-météorologique à 3-6 mois. Etat des connaissances et applications

Cette étude est centrée sur les méthodes et outils pour la prévision saisonnière des débits. Après un bref état de l'art sur le sujet, nous présentons deux méthodes différentes appliquées aux étiages sur des cours d'eau français. La première approche testée ambitionne de prédire les probabilités d'apparition d'étiages sévères sur les régions hydrologiquement homogènes selon le type de temps du jour. La qualité de la prévision en conditions parfaitement connues montre que la France n'offre pas un cadre favorable d'application. Le deuxième cas d'étude concerne le bassin du Rhin. Le modèle pluie-débit GR4J, le module neige du modèle suédois HBV et un générateur stochastique de pluie ont été assemblés pour restituer les débits journaliers sur 90 jours pour sept stations du bassin du Rhin. Les résultats montrent qu'une prévision fiable à 30 jours est possible à l'aval du bassin, en revanche, l'outil ne parvient pas à anticiper les étiages en amont du bassin (forte réactivité).
Multimode equivalent network representation of inductive and capacitive multiple posts

Novel multimode equivalent network representations for multiple inductive and capacitive posts in rectangular waveguides are presented. The network representations art derived from a rigorous formulation that leads to frequency independent integral equations. The network representations developed are used to compute the response of several waveguide devices, and comparisons between measured and simulated performances are also included, showing very good agreement up to millimetre-wave frequencies. >
Modeling the Relationship of Consumer Engagement and Brand Trust on Social Media Purchase Intention - A Confirmatory Factor Experimental Technique

Today’s marketing landscape is characterized by social media proliferation. This impels companies to adapt such advertising strategies that engage with the audience in their predominantly used medium. Appertaining to the cogitation, the empirical study endeavours to identify the relationship of consumer engagement and brand trust on purchase intention through advertisement on social media. Besides, it also aspires to explore the mediation effect of performance expectancy on brand trust and purchase intention. A model designed was tested using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). A structured questionnaire was prepared and administered to 542 respondents, selected by judgemental sampling method of which 482 were found valid and hence considered for model development. The conclusions of the research study suggests empirical implications for an effective advertising strategy on social media.
Information system utilization in supply chain integration efforts

This paper investigates a set of advisable strategies for information systems utilization in supply chain integration initiatives. Through an analysis of structural relationships among the ways in which information systems are utilized for supply chain integration--i.e. Infrastructural Support, Value Creation Management, Logistical Operations--and supply chain management performance, we argue that there might be a recommended sequence in using information systems for supply chain integration. Tests of hypotheses relating to information systems utilization using empirical data from manufacturing firms indicate that, as the stage of integration moves from independent operation to internal and on to external integration, the focus of information systems utilization should shift from infrastructural support to value creation management and logistical operations, and this change of IS utilization focus can lead to sustainable competitiveness.
Imported Apparel: Retail Buyers' Reasons for Foreign Procurement

As initial assemblers of merchandise assortments, retail buyers play a critical role in determining what clothing will be available to consumers. This study examined retail buyers' reasons for procuring imported apparel. Sixty-nine retail buyers for specialty, department, and discount stores were the subjects of the study. All subjects strongly believed that imports offer better quality for price than domestic products do. There were significant differences between buyers in specialty stores and buyers in discount stores on the question of exclusive merchandise andprivate branding: specialty store buyers indicated that these were important reasons for their buying imports. Analysis of covariance and stepwise multiple regression were used to examine the influence of age, education, salary, and position experience upon buyers' responses. Implications of these findings for domestic apparel manufacturers are discussed.
Computer Aided Design of Mixed Flow Turbines for Turbochargers

The paper describes a comprehensive computer aided design procedure and its use to investigate mixed flow turbines for automotive turbocharger applications. The outside dimensions of rotor and casing as well as blade angles are determined from one-dimensional design and off design calculations, the detailed blade shape from quasi-three-dimensional analysis and mechanical stressing and vibration programs, and geometric data are presented as outside views and sections of the rotor by a graphics subroutine. The procedure consists of a series of separate programs rather than a single program, so that the designer’s intervention at each stage of the process can be applied. Two mixed flow rotors were designed, manufactured and tested in a specially designed high speed dynamometer. The first was intended to achieve a substantial increase in mass flow over the reference radial rotor without loss of efficiency, while the latter was intended as a direct replacement of the reference radial rotor, but should give more favorable pulse performance when operating in conjunction with an engine due to changes in the operating map viz: a) lower tip speeds for best efficiency, and b) flatter mass flow characteristics. Both effects were predicted by analysis and confirmed by tests.
Promotions and Productivity: The Role of Meritocracy and Pay Progression in the Public Sector

Author(s): Deserranno, Erika; Kastrau, Philipp; Leon-Ciliotta, Gianmarco | Abstract: We study promotion incentives in the public sector by means of a field experiment with the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone. The experiment creates exogenous variation in meritocracy by linking promotions to performance for the lowest tier of health workers and in perceived pay progression by revealing to them the salary of higher-tier workers. We find that meritocratic promotions lead to higher productivity for workers who expect a steep pay increase and those who are highly ranked in terms of performance. When promotions are not meritocratic, increasing the pay gradient instead reduces worker productivity through negative morale effects. The findings highlight the importance of taking into account the interactions between different tools of personnel policy.n
Quantitative assessment of neural elements in rat model using nerve growth factor after remnant-preserving anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemical study

Background: Immunohistochemical analyses of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) allografts following remnant-preserving ACL reconstructions using Achilles tendon allografts have provided evidence for the presence of neural elements. In this study, we aimed to examine the expression of neural elements and quantify the presence of neural cells in ACL remnants and Achilles allografts using nerve growth factor (NGF) therapy after remnant-preserving ACL reconstruction. Methods: Experiments were conducted on 5 pairs of rats (approximately 8 weeks old and weighting 320 g at the time of surgery). Longitudinally-split Achilles tendons from the paired rats were freshly frozen and later defrosted with warm saline and allografted onto the right ACL of the other, which was partially detached at the femoral attachment site. A sham operation was conducted on the left knee to be used as Control. NGF was injected in both the knee joints 1 week after surgery. The presence of neural cells in the ACL of the sham-operated knee, allografted Achilles tendon, and ACL remnant was examined 6 weeks post surgery using H and E and immunohistochemical staining. Results: H and E staining did not reveal neural cells in any of the three groups. However, immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of nestin-positive neural elements in normal ACL as well as ACL remnants. Additionally, neural elements were examined in 7 of the 8 (87.5%) allograft tissues. Quantitative analysis showed no difference in the number and area of nuclei among the three groups. However, the number and area of neural cells in Achilles allograft were significantly lower than in the other two groups (p=0.000 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Our observations indicate that ACL remnants promote new ingrowth and persistence of neural cells. We suggest that the ingrowth of neural elements could support the persistence and new ingrowth of mechanoreceptors, thereby enhancing the functional stability of knee joints. Moreover, the expression of neural cells in Achilles allograft was lower than that of normal ACL or ACL remnants in the quantitative evaluation, thereby confirming the essential role of ACL remnants in knee joint functionalization. Key terms: anterior cruciate ligament, remnant preservation, immunohistochemistry, nerve growth factor