Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Where in America Are the Tech Firms Going and Why: An Exploratory Analysis of Site Selection Trends in the Information Technology Sector Based on Incentive Packages from 1980 to 2018

This paper tracks the location trends of information technology (IT) firms in the United States for the last 4 decades to identify commonalities in place-based recruitment subsidy policies and strategies. Utilizing the Good Jobs First Subsidy Tracker database, examined are: a) specific subsidy amounts; b) the type of subsidy, based on the different federal, state, and local options and c) the source of the subsidy funds, be it state, local or federal. Using ArcGIS programming, the analysis maps out the spatial clustering for new location deals of 421 IT facilities from 1981 to 2018. The trends in location choice are used to offer a typology of sub-industry relocation classifications, based on NAICS codes. These relocation flows are then evaluated for job creation outcomes. The findings indicate that fairly remote locations seem to consistently have lower number of jobs created at much higher dollar amounts spent per new job, as compared to metro areas. A clear trend of moving away from Silicon Valley emerges, where most new jobs are created in the Northeast and Canada, as a function of the most generous subsidy packages.
Features that influence composite power system reliability worth assessment

Reliability worth assessment using customer interruption costs is an important element in electric power system planning and operation. This paper deals with two features that affect the composite generation-transmission system reliability worth assessment. One feature is the incorporation of temporal variations in the cost of interruption. This paper illustrates the effect on the expected annual system outage cost of temporal variation in the interruption costs for the residential, agricultural, industrial, commercial and large user sectors. The other aspect considered in this paper is using a probability distribution approach to represent the cost of interruption model. The conventional customer damage function approach utilizes average customer costs while the probability distribution approach recognizes the dispersed nature of the customer outage data. These two methods of cost evaluation are applied to reliability worth assessment in this paper. A sequential Monte Carlo approach incorporating time varying loads is used to conduct all the studies. Case studies performed on two composite test systems show that incorporating time varying costs of interruption for the industrial sector resulted in a significant reduction in the expected outage cost. A comparison of the reliability worth obtained using the customer damage function method (CDF) with the probability distribution approach suggests that using the CDF method may significantly undervalue the reliability worth by a factor of three to four.
Traffic analysis of a simplified two-dimensional elevator system

The idea of multicar operation within one hoistway is not new. Two-car systems are currently available on the market, whereby the two cars travel with restricted independence because one car must always remain above the other. With recent advances in linear machines, systems with more than two cars in one hoistway will soon become possible. In this paper, the authors go one step forward by assuming that multiple cars can move in a two-dimensional plane either attached to the facade of the building or across a vertical slice within the building. The analysis has been restricted at this stage to incoming traffic only. It is assumed that elevator cars can move upwards, downwards as well as sideways. In this way, passengers can exit at a stop very close to their destinations. The foreseeable technology is discussed, and two configurations (denoted as setups A and B) are proposed. The traffic analysis equations for such a system are also derived. A simulation is then carried out for the two setups based on one-car operation. The simulation shows that the proposed two-dimensional elevator system can reduce the total traveling time of a passenger as compared with the conventional one-dimensional setup. The system is described as special because the number of hoistways is restricted (up to a maximum of 2). Practical application : This paper provides a practical way of evaluating the round trip time for two different two-dimensional elevator applications. It also then compares three different sizes of buildings and shows that the use of two-dimensional elevator arrangements is only feasible for building with more than 30 floors high by 30 rooms wide.
Spectral-domain computation of characteristic impedances and multiport parameters of multiple coupled microstrip lines

A numerical procedure based on the spectral-domain techniques is formulated to compute all the frequency-dependent normal-mode parameters of general multiple coupled line structures in an inhomogeneous medium. In addition to the phase and attenuation constants for all the normal modes, these parameters include the line-mode and decoupled line modal impedances and the current and equivalent voltage eigenvector matrices of the coupled system. The multiport admittance (and impedance) matrices and coupled line equivalent-circuit model parameters are evaluated in terms of these normal-mode parameters. Numerical results for these normal-mode parameters for typical asymmetric two-, three-, and four-line microstrip structures are included to demonstrate the procedure and the frequency dependence of these parameters. >
Experimental investigation of mutual coupling in a conical horn array

Mutual coupling in a small dominant mode conical horn array is investigated experimentally and the measured results are compared with theoretical predictions. Degradation in crosspolar purity due to generation of higher-order TM01 and TE21 modes via crosscoupling is confirmed. The effects of edge termination and diffraction are also discussed. Finally, clean-beam cluster patterns are measured and compared with theory.
Simulation of Deployment Process with Large Deflections for Coiled Flexible Shells Based on Prestress Initialization Method

For coiled flexible shells, theoretical formulas of calculating the stress distribution are derived and applied to initialize the prestressed status of the shells before deploying. Following the prestress initialization, dynamic simulation of elastic and elasto-plastic deployment processes with large deflections of the shells is conducted by explicit time integration. It is shown that the simulation based on prestress initialization method is feasible and efficient. Comparing the deforming process and the energy history of the elastic deployment with that of the elasto-plastic deployment, the effects of plasticity are embodied as slowing the deployment process down and speeding the kinetic energy dissipation up, while making the shell unable to return to its original configuration, and keep more residual strain energy. A primary approach to decrease the effects of plasticity is improving the initial prestressed status of the coiled flexible shells.
Treatment Failure with combined csDMARDs increases the risk of Low Muscle Mass in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Background Low muscle mass (myopenia) is frequent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with a long-disease duration. Although, the use of combined therapy with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) is one of the main strategies observed in these patients; there is a lack of information if the failure to these therapies increases the risk of myopenia. Objective: To evaluate whether the treatment failure to combined therapy with conventional synthetic DMARDs is an independent risk factor for low skeletal muscle mass in women with RA. Methods This cross-sectional study compared 277 women with RA (cases) and 237 women from non-rheumatic population (controls). In RA patients, we assessed clinical, epidemiological, and therapeutic variables (identifying treatment failure to combined therapy with csDMARDs. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was estimated by DXA. Low skeletal muscle mass was defined as SMI<5.45 kg/m2. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to a) evaluate whether RA is an independent risk factor of myopenia in comparison with non-rheumatic population and b) identify if treatment failure with csDMARDs is an independent risk factor of myopenia in RA. Results RA patients had a higher prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass than controls (27.8% vs. 15.6%, p=0.001). After adjusting for other factors, RA patients had higher risk of low skeletal muscle mass than controls (OR: 2.7, 95%CI:1.7 to 4.5). Risk factors of low muscle mass in RA patients; were: menopause (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.2 to 4.6, p=0.02) and a failure to combined therapy with csDMARDs (OR: 2.4, 95%CI: 1.10 to 5.81, p=0.03). Conclusions Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with an increased risk of myopenia. Treatment Failure with conventional-synthetic DMARDs constitutes a strong risk factor for deteriorated skeletal muscle mass.
SPRAYER SPEED AND VENTURI–NOZZLE EFFECTS ON BROADCAST APPLICATION UNIFORMITY

Sprayer speeds up to ~26 kmh –1 did not reduce quantity or increase variation in field spray deposit across a 27.4–m boom when using Ultra Plus Low Drift (UPLD) venturi nozzles at pressures of at least 276 kPa. Sprayer speeds of 12.9, 19.3, and 25.7 kmh –1 with the UPLD nozzles produced water sensitive paper coverage of ~19% that was not significantly different than the ~20% produced by an extended range (ER 4) single elliptical orifice nozzle. A 6.4 kmh –1 treatment with UPLD 15 nozzles resulted in lower coverage (~14%) attributed to large droplets. Laser measured volume median diameters (Dv0.5 ) for the UPLD 15, 2, 4, and 5 nozzles corresponding to sprayer speed treatments of 6.4, 12.9, 19.3, and 25.7 kmh –1 were 663, 474, 579, and 513 m, respectively. The ER 4 nozzle produced a Dv0.5 of 187 m. UPLD nozzles resulted in spot densities ranging from 44.9 to 104.6 spot cm –2 , compared to 233.4 spot cm –2 for the ER 4, all at 93.5 Lha –1 spray rate. Overall, field applied coefficients of variation (CV) in deposit ranged from ~13% to 21% for all nozzles compared to ~4% to ~16% for a static spray pattern uniformity test. The static test determined an optimum nozzle height, based on minimization of CV, of 71 cm for UPLD nozzles. This was higher than 41 cm for the ER 4 nozzle. Slight nuances in coverage under nozzles versus between nozzles, between left, middle, and right boom were noted, including reduced coverage along the centerline of the sprayer for some speed/nozzle combinations.
Lameness in English lowland sheep flocks : farmers' perspectives and behaviour

Lameness in sheep is an important welfare concern causing financial loss through lost performance. This thesis increases epidemiological understanding of sheep lameness from the farmers’ perspective, using interdisciplinary approaches. Previous work indicated that routine foot trimming (RFT), used by >75% of farmers to control lameness, correlated with higher lameness prevalences. A within farm, clinical trial using stratified random sampling examined the effect of RFT versus no RFT on 173 ewes. RFT was not beneficial and over-trimming was detrimental. Thirty-five farms were visited to assess accuracy of farmers’ estimated lameness prevalence in their sheep flocks compared with a researcher’s observations. Farmers’ estimates were consistently, closely and significantly correlated with the researcher’s estimates. Successful knowledge transfer and research impact requires understanding lameness management from farmers’ perspectives. Qualitative interviews with 17 farmers examining attitudes towards lameness management were used to inform design of a questionnaire, sent to 1000 randomly selected farmers, to quantify farmers’ attitudes towards lameness. Farmers considered interdigital-dermatitis and footrot distinct. Barriers to prompt treatment (e.g. lack of time/labour) accounted for most observed variance, with non-financial motivators rated higher than financial motivators. Ineffective flock record keeping, environmental subsidies and market price fluctuation may reduce financial motivation. Consistent with the RFT trial, there was no difference (p>0.5) in lameness prevalence by RFT frequency/absence. Despite RFT trial evidence given, farmers were reluctant to stop RFT; with reluctance less from those with higher lameness prevalences, large, commercial flocks, infrequently using parenteral antibacterial treatments or not treating mildly lame sheep. This thesis provides evidence that farmers’ lameness estimates are sufficiently accurate and can be used in research. Routine foot trimming appears to be of no benefit to reduce lameness but farmers require further evidence to be convinced of this. Further farmer focused research into RFT, barrier cause and effect, and whole flock managements is required.
Learning-Based Interference Mitigation for Wireless Networks

Wireless networks have raised great attention in the past decades because they provide tether-free connectivity. Although much of the effort in wireless network research has been spent on reducing the interference among the communication nodes, the problem remains open. In this dissertation, we propose a learning-based approach to alleviate wireless interference. The principle of the learningbased approach is based on the observation that although wireless networks are usually complex and dynamic, information can still be extracted from the data measured in the past. By learning from what was observed in the past, we can select the desired operational parameters, react intelligently, and achieve substantial performance gain. In particular, we show that interference mitigation can be achieved in three different aspects: (1) collision avoidance, (2) channel rate adaptation, and (3) spatial reuse.
Physicochemical and Nutritional Evaluation of Bread Incorporated with Ayocote Bean (Phaseolus coccineus) and Black Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

The objective of this study was to examine the physicochemical composition, thermal properties, quality, and sensorial characteristics of bread with substitution of wheat flour with ayocote bean (Phaseolus coccineus) or black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) flours at 10, 20, and 30%. Ayocote and black bean contain 21.06 and 23.94% of protein, 3.06 and 5.21% of crude fiber, and 3.1 and 5.21% of ash, respectively, directly influencing bread composition. Bread with ayocote and black bean presented higher values in those components in contrast with control bread. The protein content increased in a range of 14–34%; ash increased by 10% to double, and crude fiber also increased. In vitro protein digestibility was similar for bread with 10% of substitution and control, and it decreased in samples with 30% of wheat substitution. Thermal analysis by DSC denoted that the addition of those legumes reduces retrogradation, as seen in 45.33–65.65 °C endotherm, producing higher endotherms of amylose-lipid complexes and protein denaturalization. Finally, the addition of black bean and ayocote bean decreased specific volume when the replacement percentage was 30% black bean and 20 and 30% for ayocote. An increase in nutrient content without sensorial properties affectation could be observed in substitution around 10 and 20%.
Barriers to Water Access in Rural Communities: Examining the Factors Influencing Water Source Choice

In Nigeria, the rural population comprises 49% of the total population and has been reported to bear the brunt of ongoing water access challenges. For communities to have access to clean and safe water, an adequate water source should be ensured. In dissevering the definition of water access, this research identifies that distance to a water source, time spent to collect water, water availability, and water quality are determinants of water source choice. A survey with 404 randomly selected respondents was conducted in three local government areas in Kogi state alongside interviews with key participants (n = 12). The data collected were analysed using a Chi-square test to determine any significant relationship between water source choice and the predictor variables (age, education, occupation, religion, ethnic group, household size, income, and distance). Furthermore, multinomial logistic regression was adopted to investigate the relationship and effect between these variables. Findings indicated that the predictor factors such as age, level of education, ethnic group, and participants’ occupation have a statistically significant relationship with using a particular water source. Finally, more insights for policymakers are provided to bridge the gap surrounding water access in developing countries while focusing on an adequate water source.
Characterization of Pyromark 2500 Paint for High-Temperature Solar Receivers

Pyromark 2500 is a silicone-based high-temperature paint that has been used on central receivers to increase solar absorptance. The radiative properties, aging, and selective absorber efficiency of Pyromark 2500 are presented in this paper for use as a baseline for comparison to high-temperature solar selective absorber coatings currently being developed. The solar absorptance ranged from ∼0.97 at near-normal incidence angles to ∼0.8 at glancing (80°) incidence angles, and the thermal emittance ranged from ∼0.8 at 100 °C to ∼0.9 at 1000 °C. After thermal aging at temperatures of ∼750 °C or higher, the solar absorptance decreased by several percentage points within a few days. It was postulated that the substrate may have contributed to a change in the crystal structure of the original coating at elevated temperatures.
Comparison of Safety Performance Models for Urban Roundabouts in Italy and Other Countries

In Italy, almost half of all road crashes occur at intersections, primarily in urban areas. In recent years the widespread conversion of at-grade intersections to roundabouts has brought many safety advantages. To assess the safety benefits of roundabouts, transportation professionals need the powerful statistical tool known as the safety performance function (SPF). To date there has been no reported application of this tool to assess the relative safety performance of Italian urban roundabouts. This paper fills that void by using data sets from two municipalities in northern Italy. SPFs were estimated for each city with the negative binomial error distribution and then recalibrated for application in the other city by using the procedure described in the Highway Safety Manual. Model reliability and between-city transferability were evaluated with the cumulative residuals method. To assess how the Italian roundabout SPFs might be used to learn lessons from differences in crash experience for similar intersections elsewhere, a comparison with models from other countries is also provided. This comparison reveals that Italian roundabouts tend to be less safe. Potential reasons for this finding are explored.
Degradation of tunnel-oxide floating-gate EEPROM devices and the correlation with high field-current-induced degradation of thin gate oxides

In the past it has been assumed that the behavior of MOS transistors and thin-oxide floating-gate memory cells during high field stress can be predicted using experimental results obtained on capacitors. Here, it is shown that, due to incorrect extrapolation of the results, important memory degradation phenomena, such as window opening, are prone to misinterpretation. The results of a study on the degradation of tunnel-oxide floating-gate EEPROM devices, making use of the charge-pumping technique in combination with threshold voltage window degradation measurements, are reported. Contacted floating-gate transistors were used to study the effect of Fowler-Nordheim tunneling on thin-oxide gate dielectrics. Different types of floating-gate transistors were subjected to different degradation conditions. By comparing the experimental results with those of a theoretical study of the influence of trapped oxide charges on injection current and threshold voltage, it is possible to explain all measured degradation characteristics unambiguously. >
Design guidelines for Suzuki stacks as reliable high-speed Josephson voltage drivers

The application of superconducting circuits for high-performance computing and high-speed analog-to-digital converters suffers from the difficulty of amplifying the weak signals of superconducting circuits to the volt level of semiconductor electronics. We refer to the most accepted Josephson circuit used to amplify weak signals of about a millivolt to several tens of millivolts as a Suzuki stack. It can be directly triggered by a single flux quantum pulse and has a very high switching speed of about 25 ps. We report here an in-depth study of design issues for Suzuki stacks with extensive systematic simulations as well as experimental results. We explain the origin of previously reported phenomena such as multiple-level switching, high bit-error-rates, and interactions between stacks, and give design guidance for avoidance of such problems. We show experimental results for a set of Suzuki stacks operating correctly and independently with a single power supply. The presented design guidelines address important characteristics that need to be optimized: output voltage, bias margins, operating frequency, bit-error-rate, delay, power dissipation, and physical size.
Energy and buildings research: challenges from the new production of knowledge

The current state and future challenges of energy and buildings research are explored from the perspective of the social study of science. Major trends in knowledge production are considered for practices within current energy and buildings research. New forms of knowledge production hold the potential to provide clearer strategies to overcome barriers between researchers and practitioners. These are investigated through an explorative survey of researchers based on their own accounts of energy and buildings research, their expectations of future challenges, and their perceptions of ‘good’ science. Two sets of challenges from knowledge production arise for building energy research. First, with an increasing focus on environmental and other impacts of the research, the framing and definition of these extra-scientific factors will become a significant challenge for researchers. Second, as buildings become simultaneously more complex and more connected, the already existing need for the integration of different kinds of expertise will increase further. L'état actuel et les défis futurs de la recherche en matière d'énergie et de bâtiments sont examinés du point de vue de l'étude sociale des sciences. Les principales tendances de la production de savoir sont envisagées sous l'angle des pratiques existant dans les recherches actuelles sur l'énergie et les bâtiments. De nouvelles formes de production de savoir offrent la possibilité de fournir des stratégies plus claires pour surmonter les barrières entre chercheurs et praticiens. Celles-ci sont étudiées au moyen d'une enquête exploratoire conduite auprès des chercheurs, basée sur leurs propres récits des recherches menées sur l'énergie et les bâtiments, sur les défis futurs qu'ils prévoient, et sur leurs perceptions de la « bonne » science. Deux séries de défis posés par la production de savoir découlent des recherches sur l'énergie dans le bâtiment. Tout d'abord, en mettant davantage l'accent sur les incidences environnementales et autres de la recherche, l'encadrement et la définition de ces facteurs extra-scientifiques deviendront un défi considérable pour les chercheurs. Deuxièmement, au fur et à mesure que les bâtiments gagnent simultanément en complexité et en connectivité, le besoin déjà existant d'intégrer différents types de compétences augmentera encore. Mots clés: bâtiments, énergie, collaboration interdisciplinaire, production de savoir, programme de recherche, science, durabilité