Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Star rating roads for safety - UK trials 2006-07

TRL was commissioned to develop a protocol for undertaking Road Protection Score (RPS) surveys in the UK that is compatible with protocols of EuroRAP and iRAP, and applicable to conditions on UK roads. EuroRAP RPS rates the safety of a road based on how well the design would protect a car occupant from severe injury in a collision, on a scale of 1 to 4 stars. Roadside, median and junction designs are the key factors in RPS. About 7000km of roads, including 2350km of Highways Agency network, were surveyed. Overall, motorways score significantly higher than A-roads, but 2% and 42% respectively scored less than 3-star. Nearly 1% of HA motorways scored below 3-star; around 51% scored 3-star, and 48% scored 4-star. Over 75% of HA A-roads scored 3 or 4 stars. Nearly two-thirds of English non-HA A-roads scored less than 3-star. Scottish motorways and A-roads scored well, gaining 4-star rating at a higher percentage. Welsh motorways scored well, but A-roads poorly, probably due to other road selection criteria that were employed. In Northern Ireland, 76% of motorways scored 3-star and 13% 4-star. 81% of A-roads scored less than 3-star. RPS performs the important function of providing information that accident histories do not, yet a good correlation is observed between both.
THE INFLUENCE OF ADJACENT SEATING CONFIGURATIONS ON EGRESS THROUGH A TYPE III EMERGENCY EXIT

When the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) established a mandatory action intended to improve access to, and opening of, Type 3 emergency exits, the Northwest Montain Region identified a need for a study to evaluate the proposed changes against existing minimum requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). The results indicate that the proposed CAA configuration and the alternative configuration were both more effective than the minimum configuration required by the FARs as measured by evacuation flow rate. There were no significant differences in the exit preparation time among the four seating arrangements.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS OF THE TIME TO READ ELECTRONIC MAPS : THE EFFECTS OF TEXT AND GRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

This report describes simulator experiments which examined how electronic maps are read. It involved the identification of representative maps and street names for testing. A pilot experiment focusing on the subjective legibility of different map typefaces was conducted. Results from the primary experiment revealed that the time to read the electronic maps was affected by text size, the number of streets, text orientation, and the street layout.
LABORATORY STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CEMENT AND OF LIME STABILIZATION FOR EROSION CONTROL

Soils ranging in texture from sand to heavy clay can be rendered effectively resistant to the soil erosion caused by raindrop impact by treatment with as little as 1 percent portland cement or hydrated lime. Erosion resistance was evaluated in a standard rainstorm sequence in which 8.2 cm (3.25in) of rain was applied for 1 h on each of two successive days. Compacted but otherwise unstabilized soils lost 1 to 2.5 g/sq m (0.014 to 0.035 lb/in.) of exposed surface, equivalent to 45 to 110 tons/acre, in this standard test. Incorporation of stabilizer and appropriate curing before exposure decreased this erosion loss to about 0.11 b/sq m (0.0016 lb/in.), equivalent to 5 tons/acre, for fully compacted specimens. Cement-treated soils tested after only modest compaction maintained their erosion resistance, but lime-treated soils were adversely affected by reduced levels of compaction. These laboratory test results do not necessarily predict practical field performance, because the effects of running water erosion, of the incomplete mixing characteristic of field incorporation of stabilizers, and of cycles of temperature change, wetting and drying, and freezing and thawing have not been tested.
Red deer exhibit spatial and temporal responses to hiking activity

Outdoor recreation has the potential to impact the spatial and temporal distribution of animals. We explore interactions between red deer Cervus elaphus and hikers along a popular hiking path in the Scottish Highlands. We placed camera traps in transects at different distances (25, 75 and 150 m) from the path to study whether distance from hiker activity influences the number of deer detected. We compared this with the detection of red deer in an additional, spatially isolated area (one km away from any other transects and the hiking path). We collected count data on hikers at the start of the path and explored hourly (red deer detection during daytime), daily, diurnal (day versus night) and monthly spatial distributions of red deer. Using generalized linear mixed models with forward model selection, we found that the distribution of deer changed with the hiking activity. We found that fewer red deer were detected during busy hourly hiking periods. We found that during daytime, more red deer were detected at 150 m than at 25 m. Moreover, during the day, red deer were detected at a greater rate in the isolated area than around the transects close to the path and more likely to be found close to the path at night. This suggests that avoidance of hikers by red deer, in this study area, takes place over distances greater than 75 m and that red deer are displaced into less disturbed areas when the hiking path is busy. Our results suggest that the impact of hikers is short-term, as deer return to the disturbed areas during the night.
Investigating the Students’ Writing Ability in Responding to Environmental Issue

The purpose of this study is to investigate Foreign Language (FL) learners’ ability in writing an essay by using an environmental topic in terms of how they write the introduction, the body of the piece, and conclusion through content analysis design. Twenty-nine students, who took an academic writing class in the academic year 2019-2020 in a private College of Teachers Training and Education (STKIP PGRI) in Pasuruan, Indonesia, become the sample of the study. The result shows that to write the introductory paragraph, the majority of the students (69%) uses general way to open the essay, while the rest prefers questions (24%) and anecdote (7%). The result also shows that almost all the students can state their thesis statement (97%). The body of the essay is organized by using a cause-effect relationship (17%), reasoning (38%), problem-solution (10%), and the combination of those (35%). Moreover, almost all the paragraphs in the body of the essay have their topic sentences (90%). In terms of the concluding section, all students can provide proper conclusions for their essays by using recommendation or advice (48%), summary (48%), and hope (4%). In sum, using an environmental topic can help the students to write better because the issue is close and personal. Furthermore, the issue triggers students’ self-awareness to protect their environment.
Inhibition of AMPA receptors containing TARP γ-8 with JNJ-55511118 shows preclinical efficacy for pharmacotherapeutic treatment of chronic repetitive alcohol self-administration.

BACKGROUND A prominent therapeutic indication for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is reduction of chronic repetitive alcohol use. Glutamate α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isooxazole receptors (AMPARs) regulate chronic alcohol self-administration in preclinical models, and recent evidence indicates that their expression and function require the transmembrane AMPAR regulatory protein γ-8 (TARP γ-8). This study was designed to evaluate the preclinical efficacy of JNJ-55511118, a novel, selective, high affinity inhibitor of TARP γ-8 bound AMPARs, for reduction of chronic operant alcohol self-administration. METHODS Separate groups of male and female C57BL/6J mice (n=8/sex/group) were trained to lever press in operant conditioning chambers for sweetened alcohol (9% v/v + sucrose 2% w/v) or sucrose-only (2% w/v) on an FR-4 schedule of reinforcement. After a 40-day baseline, JNJ-55511118 (0, 1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered in randomized order 1-hr before self-administration sessions. Parameters of operant behavior including response rate, total reinforcers, and head entries in the drinking troughs were computer-recorded. RESULTS During baseline, alcohol-reinforced responding, but not sucrose, was greater in female as compared to male mice. In male mice, both doses of JNJ-55511118 decreased multiple parameters of alcohol self-administration but did not reduce behavior-matched sucrose-only self-administration. JNJ-55511118 had no effect on sweetened alcohol or sucrose self-administration in female mice. Subsequent tests of motor function showed that the lowest effective dose of JNJ-55511118 (1 mg/kg) had no effect on open-field activity in male mice. CONCLUSIONS This study shows for the first time that TARP γ-8 bound AMPARs regulate a behavioral pathology associated with addiction. Preclinical efficacy of JNJ-55511118 to reduce alcohol self-administration in male mice suggests that inhibition of TARP γ-8 bound AMPARs is a novel and highly significant neural target for the development of medications to treat AUD and other forms of addiction.
Wave Energy Extraction from buoys

Different types of Wave Energy Converters currently tested or under development are using the vertical movement of floating bodies to generate electricity. For commercial applications, arrays have to be considered in order to produce a significant power. In this thesis, we investigate the interaction between floating buoys from an hydrodynamic point of view. The objective is to derive general features of energy extraction without resorting to direct numerical simulation by applying the method of homogenization. After reviewing characteristic aspects of power extraction from a single oscillating body, we study a first configuration where many small buoys are placed close to each other. We show that a collection of point absorbers extract more energy than a single big buoy and that the bandwidth is wider. We also show that multiple scales analysis allows to treat radiation problems, and that if the incoming wave length is a multiple of the spacing between buoys, energy extraction can be reduced in a very significant way due to a very strong reflection, which prevents the wave from traveling inside the array. Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Chiang C. Mei Title: Ford Professor of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Social Network Business Plan: 18 Strategies That Will Create Great Wealth

Acknowledgements. Introduction. Chatper 1. Eighteen Sustainable Revenue Channels. Chapter 2. Your Recommender Community as Theater. Chapter 3. Mimic the Bakers and Copy Starbucks. Chapter 4. Why Not Start Five Simultaneously? Chapter 5. Loyalty and Passion Builders. Chapter 6. Disruption: The Sumptuous Impertinence. Chapter 7. Should You Sell, or Are You Having Too Mucdh Fun? Chapter 8. Wrap-Up. Bibliography. Index.
Technical and environmental efficiencies and best management practices in agriculture

An Input Distance Function (IDF) is estimated to empirically evaluate and analyse the technical and environmental efficiencies of 210 farms located in the Chaudière watershed (Quebec), where water quality problems are particularly acute because of the production of undesirable outputs that are jointly produced with agricultural products. The true IDF is approximated by a flexible translog functional form estimated using a full information maximum likelihood method. Technical and environmental efficiencies are disaggregated across farms and account for spatial variations. Our results show that there is a significant correlation between the two efficiencies. The IDF is used to compute the cumulative Malmquist productivity index and the Fisher index. The two indices are used to measure changes in technology, profitability, efficiency and productivity in response to the adoption of two selected Best Management Practices (BMPs) whose objective is to reduce water pollution. We found significant differences across BMPs regarding the direction and the magnitude of their effect.
INFLUENCE OF CONTAINER TYPE ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF STONE PINE (PINUS PINEA L.) SEEDLINGS IN NURSERY

Rast i razvoj sadnica pinije (Pinus pinea L.), koje su se uzgajale u razlicitim kontejnerima, pratio se tijekom dvije godine uzgoja u rasadnicima Slavinj u Omisu i Subicevac u Sibeniku s ciljem da se utvrdi ucinak istraživanih kontejnera na razvijenost biljaka pinije. Koristena su tri tipa kontejnera: Bosnaplast 12, Bosnaplast 18 i PVC tuljak 7/24, koji su napunjeni standardnom mjesavinom treseta i zemlje u omjeru 2:1. Sjetva u kontejnerima je obavljena 11. travnja 2002. godine. Nakon nicanja biljaka obavljene su izmjere i analize jednogodisnjih i dvogodisnjih biljaka u rasadniku. Izmjere su obavljene sukcesivno svaka dva mjeseca u 3, odnosno 6 navrata. Varijable koje su proucavane u rasadniku i laboratoriju su bile: visina stabljike, promjer vrata korjena, težina lista (iglica), težina korjena, ukupna dužina korjena, prosjecni promjer korjena, težina stabljike, ukupna težina biljke, odnos težine stabljike i korjena. Volumen kontejnera pozitivno je utjecao na morfologiju jednogodisnjih i dvogodisnjih biljaka u rasadniku. Najvece i najkvalitetnije biljke proizvedene su u PVC tuljcima, kontejnerima s volumenom od 923 cm3 i s odnosom visine i promjera 3, 4 zatim u kontejnerima Bosnaplast 18 volumena 220 cm3, te najmanje u kontejnerima Bosnaplast 12 volumena 120 cm3. Istraživanjima je utvrđen i razliciti stupanj deformacije korjenovog sustava s obzirom na tip kontejnera i dužinu uzgoja. U Bosnaplast 12 i 18 deformacija korjenovog sustava zapocinje sredinom prve vegetacije, pocetkom kolovoza, a u poluetilenskim tuljcima nakon jedne vegetacije primjeceno je spiraliranje korjenovog sustava. Prema tome, ne preporucuje se uzgoj sadnica pinije u kontejnerima Bosnaplast 12 duže od jedne vegetacije, odnosno sest do sedam mjeseci nakon sjetve, u kontejnerima Bosnaplast 18 trinaest do cetrnaest mjeseci nakon sjetve zbog velikih deformacija korjena, a za kontejnere u PVC tuljcima jednu i pol vegetaciju, odnosno sesnaest mjeseci nakon sjetve.
A Tracking Review on Non Arc Melting Processes for Improved Surface Properties in Metallic Materials

Most metallic materials lack the adequate surface characteristics to satisfactorily perform intended service functions. In such instance, the surface properties are modified by altering the chemistry, structure and/topology of the top surface of the surface via modification techniques. There exists wide options of techniques for modifying the surface properties and these are well documented in the literature. However, these techniques have different scientific underpinnings controlling them such that it is difficult to use a single mechanism to characterize the techniques. Arising from this, it is imperative that a holistic understanding of the various processes is provided. Therefore, in this paper, research status on the wide range of non-melting technique for surface modification is presented. The presentation discusses the investigation conducted on the various non-surface melting techniques and provides a comparison across the techniques. Recent developments in these techniques are equally presented. Existing challenges and emerging trends in the field are also highlighted. to chromium carbide was equally studied. The results indicated that suitable time for complete transformation of the most stable carbide phase Cr 3 C 2 was achieved by heating the chromium coated fiber for 6 h in vacuum at 900 °C. has been presented. The progression of surface modification from the basic thermochemical treatment through conversion coating to vapour deposition
The ‘new’ new technology: exploiting the potential of mobile communications and open educational resources

The ’new’ new technology: exploiting the potential of mobile communications and open educational resources Book Section How to cite: Power, Tom (2013). The ’new’ new technology: exploiting the potential of mobile communications and open educational resources. In: Moon, Bob ed. Teacher Education and the Challenge of Development:a global analysis. Education, Poverty and International Development. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 212–226.
Incident Detection Optimization and Data Quality Control

Project 0-4745 developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach for the determination of patterns in the spatial and temporal distribution of incidents along freeway corridors. The research documented incident detection and data archival at several transportation management centers (TMCs) in Texas, a process to develop a data model and geodatabase of intelligent transportation system (ITS) equipment and archived ITS data, and a process to determine patterns in the spatial and temporal distribution of freeway incidents. This report describes the procedures and activities completed during the second phase of the project. The analysis included an evaluation of incident detection procedures at a sample TMC (TransGuide) and an assessment of the feasibility to modify/calibrate alarm threshold values to help optimize incident detection practices at that TMC. The research involved the use of two performance measures (detection rate and false alarm rate) and the development of a prototype offline tool to evaluate automatic incident detection algorithm performance. The analysis also included an evaluation of archived loop detector data completeness and quality control.
A novel differential mode rejection network for conducted emissions diagnostics

A differential mode rejection network (DMRN), a device which separates common mode noise from differential mode noise in a line impedance stabilization network (LISN)-based conducted emissions setup, is described. Although it is not a filter, its function is analogous to that of a filter. The DMRN filters out differential mode, and passes common mode unfiltered. The differential mode is attenuated by more than 50 dB, and the common mode noise is attenuated by less than 4 dB. Applications of the DMRN are discussed for filter design and troubleshooting, and electromagnetic interference source suppression is briefly described. Mathematical analysis and hardware implementation of the devices are explained. <<ETX>>
The effectiveness of licence restriction for drink drivers: The Australian experience

In many jurisdictions, licence restriction is used as an alternative to full suspension for certain drink driving offenders. However, this may undermine both the specific and general deterrent effect of licence loss, by reducing the perceived certainty and severity of the sanction. To explore this proposition, an analysis was undertaken of the records of almost 22,000 male drivers initially convicted of drink driving during 1988 in Queensland, Australia. At a process level, it was found that licence restriction was relatively common, with 12% of offenders being granted a restricted licence for employment purposes. Contrary to legislative guidelines, these licences were sometimes granted to offenders with a recent history of drink driving. At an outcome level, it was found that the restricted drivers were involved in a similar proportion of alcohol-related crashes, but more non alcohol-related crashes, during the term of the sanction than drivers who had been fully suspended. This is consistent with previous research by the authors indicating that restricted drivers do not commit any more drink driving offences than suspended drivers. Therefore, while full suspension produces greater overall road safety benefits, restricted licences appear no less effective as a specific deterrent to drink driving.
A system for automated visual inspection of ceramic tiles

The paper deals with an image processing system for visual inspection of ceramic tiles aimed at automated surface quality analysis. Such a system is currently under development within a project devoted to defining and implementing an advanced equipment for high-resolution color-image acquisition, based on a newly developed sensor, implementing an appropriate image analysis algorithm for color measurement, texture characterization, and defect detection in ceramic tiles, and integrating them into an automated inspection system. Results show that good performances in defects detection can be obtained by using a set of adaptive rank-order filters driven by some local features, such as anisotropy or local business, even when textured tiles are concerned. <<ETX>>
The Effect of Temperature on the Operation of Quantum Well Laser: A Simulation Study Based on Three-Level Rate Equations

A temperature-dependent quantum well laser equivalent circuit model based on three-level rate equations is presented. The model is simulated using an ORCAD PSPICE circuit simulator. The characteristic properties such as threshold current, delay, and frequency response are simulated and compared with the available results. Included are temperature effect, leakage current, and heat dissipation effect on the chip. Threshold current increases, whereas turn on delay and optical output decrease with increasing temperature. An increase in temperature also reduces the operating frequency and resonance peak shifts to higher frequency. It is also observed that the modulation response of a QW laser with shorter separate confinement heterostructure region is more sensitive to the temperature variation.
Assessing quality dimensions and elements of online learning enacted in a higher education setting

ASSESSING QUALITY DIMENSIONS AND ELEMENTS OF ONLINE LEARNING ENACTED IN A HIGHER EDUCATION SETTING Dawn M. Hathaway, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2009 Dissertation Director: Dr. Priscilla Norton This study described how online learning is enacted in a university setting by addressing what university students reported about their perceptions of the quality of their learning in online environments and what university students reported about the ways in which online learning experiences were enacted across a large university. Using literature related to theories of teaching and learning as well as research-based elements of online design, a theory of online learning quality was developed that included six dimensions of quality interactions (instructor-learner, learner-learner, learner-content, learnerinstructional strategies, learner-interface, and social presence) A questionnaire to assess the quality of online courses from students’ perceptions was created using the theory of online learning quality as a framework. The questionnaire was administered to undergraduate and graduate, full and part time students enrolled in online courses in the Fall 2008 semester at large, comprehensive university located in the metropolitan area of
PERMANENT DEFORMATION IN PAVEMENT DESIGN AND EVALUATION

The paper deals with the prediction of permanent deformation of flexible pavements for design and evaluation purposes. In the last decade, research on this subject has gone into development of predictive models and basic material characterization. Of the two types of models proposed, one is rational and the other, statistics oriented. The paper presents a simplified fundamental procedure along the lines of the rational model, whereby the residual deflection is computed by the linear elastic theory as the difference between loading and unloading. Both elastic and plastic parameters are needed to compute the relevant moduli as functions of the number of load applications. (Author/TRRL)