Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing value in reverse supply chains by sorting before product recovery

Offering a well-designed reverse supply chain programme can significantly improve the ability of any organisation to differentiate itself, and even to take market share away, from its competitors. Reverse supply chain considerations should be a part of an organisation's corporate strategy. From a macro-level perspective, value propositions of reverse supply chains in for an organisation, and/or the industry in which the organisation operates, include considerations for both strategies (to reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, retrieve parts or cannibalise components, recycle, scrap, redesign returned products, etc.) and effective operations (to handle and sort returns by value and ease of remanufacture) to sustain and even enhance organisational competency. In this article, we examine the role of sorting used products before disassembly for parts retrieval and remanufacturing under stochastic variability based on customer demand using a Markov decision process. We address a problem of managing costs in a remanufacturing environment with stochastically variable demand and model it for two types of used parts. Each part type is assumed to have varying quality and acquisition costs. The cost function includes manufacturing, holding and backlog costs components. We compute optimal purchase policy that maximises the expected average profit per period. Using a case example from photocopier industry, numerical analysis is performed to study the implications of various holding cost for two parts on optimal purchase policy in remanufacturing environments.
An investigation of leadership styles and relationship cultures of Chinese and expatriate managers in multinational construction companies in Hong Kong

Cross‐cultural leadership research has predicted that the Chinese are perceived as people‐oriented and prefer a high‐context power relationship, whereas Westerners are perceived as task‐oriented and prefer a low‐context power relationship. However, such general predictions are less accurate when intercultural interactions exist in multicultural workplaces. For this reason leadership perceptions and power relationships of both Chinese and Western expatriate project managers are explored in multinational construction firms in Hong Kong. Questionnaire data from 45 project managers and 61 subordinates suggested that the local (Hong Kong) Chinese and Western expatriate managers do not differ significantly in terms of leadership perceptions and power relationships. Both manager groups equally considered the importance of task performance and interpersonal relationships. Two possibilities are proposed which lead to similar leadership and power relationship styles of managers from different cultural orientations: the ‘intercultural adjustment’ of expatriates, and the adaptation of Western styles of leadership by the Hong Kong Chinese project managers.
A Sound-Sensitive Source of Alpha Oscillations in Human Non-Primary Auditory Cortex

The functional organization of human auditory cortex can be probed by characterizing responses to various classes of sound at different anatomical locations. Along with histological studies this approach has revealed a primary field in posteromedial Heschl's gyrus (HG) with pronounced induced high-frequency (70–150 Hz) activity and short-latency responses that phase-lock to rapid transient sounds. Low-frequency neural oscillations are also relevant to stimulus processing and information flow, however, their distribution within auditory cortex has not been established. Alpha activity (7–14 Hz) in particular has been associated with processes that may differentially engage earlier versus later levels of the cortical hierarchy, including functional inhibition and the communication of sensory predictions. These theories derive largely from the study of occipitoparietal sources readily detectable in scalp electroencephalography. To characterize the anatomical basis and functional significance of less accessible temporal-lobe alpha activity we analyzed responses to sentences in seven human adults (4 female) with epilepsy who had been implanted with electrodes in superior temporal cortex. In contrast to primary cortex in posteromedial HG, a non-primary field in anterolateral HG was characterized by high spontaneous alpha activity that was strongly suppressed during auditory stimulation. Alpha-power suppression decreased with distance from anterolateral HG throughout superior temporal cortex, and was more pronounced for clear compared to degraded speech. This suppression could not be accounted for solely by a change in the slope of the power spectrum. The differential manifestation and stimulus-sensitivity of alpha oscillations across auditory fields should be accounted for in theories of their generation and function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To understand how auditory cortex is organized in support of perception, we recorded from patients implanted with electrodes for clinical reasons. This allowed measurement of activity in brain regions at different levels of sensory processing. Oscillations in the alpha range (7–14 Hz) have been associated with functions including sensory prediction and inhibition of regions handling irrelevant information, but their distribution within auditory cortex is not known. A key finding was that these oscillations dominated in one particular non-primary field, anterolateral Heschl's gyrus, and were suppressed when subjects listened to sentences. These results build on our knowledge of the functional organization of auditory cortex and provide anatomical constraints on theories of the generation and function of alpha oscillations.
Development of a Computational Thermal Manikin Applicable in a Nonuniform Thermal Environment—Part 1: Coupled Simulation of Convection, Radiation, and Smith's Human Thermal Physiological Model for Sensible Heat Transfer from a Seated Human Body in Radiant Environment

To predict the thermal sensation of people located in a nonuniform environment, it is very important to clarify the local heat transfer in detail. In this context, the coupled simulation of convection, radiation, and the multi-element thermal physiological model established by Smith is investigated. The sensible heat transfer from the surface of a human body placed in uniform and front-back asymmetric radiant environments, with ambient air temperature of 28°C, was calculated using the coupled simulation method. According to the results, the microclimate around the human body and its thermal characteristics changed in response to the radiant conditions. However, compared with the results of the human subject experiments, which were measured under the same thermal conditions, in terms of skin temperatures, it is indicated that the simulation cannot accurately predict the skin temperature at the limbs, even in a uniform environment. Finally, measures for improving the prediction accuracy of the present coupled simulation method are suggested based on examination of the cause of the discrepancy.
Temporary Resistive Switching Effect in Cu2O Based Heterostructure

We report a temporary resistive switching (RS) behavior of Cu2O based heterostructure. The Cu2O films were deposited by PLD method under different oxygen pressure (10-2 Pa and 10Pa). The results show that the RS performance of Cu2O (10Pa) is better than that of Cu2O (10-2 Pa). The Cu2O (10Pa) based heterostructure shows high resistive switching ratio of over 103 at read voltage of -0.5V after applied 3V/-5V pulse voltages. Moreover, the resistance states could be switched reversibly among multilevel resistance states by changing the magnitude of set or reset pulse voltages. It is demonstrated that the RS mechanism agrees with the carrier injection-trapped/detrapped process at the interface.
Development of a generic framework for collecting whole life cost data for the building industry

Whole life costing analysis is becoming much more important as long‐term building owners and clients start to demand evidence of what their costs of ownership will be. It is also becoming more important as more private companies invest in private finance initiative (PFI), public private partnership (PPP) and prime contracting (PC) projects. One of the main barriers to the successful implementation of whole life costing (WLC), is the lack of reliable and consistent data on elements of whole life cost (capital, facilities management, and disposal) and the performance of building elements and services. The objective of this paper is to discuss the development of a consistent and flexible framework for collecting whole life cost data for buildings. A description of the taxonomy of the cost breakdown structure is given. The proposed data structure will be of value to all the project team (designer, contractor, facilities manager, supplier, etc.) who might be involved in traditional procurement or PFI, PPP, and PC projects. When the cost data structure is populated, it will provide the foundation from which the whole life costs of different alternatives can be estimated and from which the risks such as the technical and financial risks related to WLC elements, operational risks, etc. associated with, PFI, PPP and PC projects can be assessed and minimised.
Feeding unrest

While both academics and politicians have long acknowledged the connection between food price shocks and so-called ‘food riots’, this article asks whether rising domestic consumer food prices are a contributing cause of sociopolitical unrest, more broadly defined, in urban areas of Africa. In order to unravel the complex and circular relationship between rising food prices and unrest, an instrumental approach with country fixed effects is used to isolate causality at the country-month unit of analysis for the period 1990 through 2012. Two instrumental variables, changes in international grain commodity prices and local rainfall scarcity, are evaluated and used individually and jointly as instruments for changes in domestic food prices. The main finding is that a sudden increase in domestic food prices in a given month significantly increases the probability of urban unrest, especially spontaneous events and riots, in that month. Undeniably, more fundamental economic and political grievances are also drivers of such events and are likely to determine how the unrest ultimately manifests, even when triggered by rising food prices. Although more research is necessary to determine why people choose particular protest methods and targets, the findings of this research provide evidence that sociopolitical unrest of different types is driven, or at least triggered, by a consumer response to economic pressure from increasing food prices regardless of the cause of the increase.
CYCLIC - LOADING PERFORMANCE OF WELDED FLANGE - BOLTED WEB CONNECTIONS

Cyclic-loading tests were conducted on eight large-scale welded flange–bolted web steel moment connections. The objective was to investigate the need for supplemental welds on the beam web connection, for beam sections where the web accounts for a substantial portion of the beam’s flexural strength. Such supplemental web welds are currently required by model seismic codes in the United States. Results of the testing program showed highly variable performance among the eight specimens. Plastic rotations developed by the beams prior to connection failure were judged to be poor to marginal for severe seismic applications. All connections failed by fracture at or near the beam–flange groove welds. Variability in the performance of the beam flange groove welds appears to have dominated the response of the specimens. This paper summarizes the test program and compares results to those of previous U.S. test programs. Concerns are expressed about the welded flange–bolted web moment connection detail for severe seismic applications.
Fluid Dynamics Associated with Body Impact

Experiments and numerical simulations were conducted in order to examine the flow field surrounding a flat-faced body impacting on a flat surface. In the experiments impact velocities ranged up to nearly 5 m/s. Visualisation was with a standard z-format schlieren system using a high-speed camera. The associated flow field exhibited ejected gas jets, shed vortices and weak compression waves in the external flow, as well as in the gap depending on pressure differences between the gap and the external field. A computational fluid dynamic simulation (CFD) was undertaken, enabling detailed evaluation of: the flow in the gap, the flow of the emerging jet near the impacting surface, and the development of the wave system and flow on the upper and lower surfaces of the impactor during its descent. It was found that very high pressures are generated in the gap between the impactor and impacting surface and that the jet emerging from the periphery of the impactor can reach supersonic velocities.
Developing statistical thinking for performance in the food industry

Purpose – The paper aims to describe a recently completed research project on the use of statistical quality control (SQC) methods in the context of food and drinks manufacturing. It discusses issues surrounding the successful uptake of such methods, including organisational motivation, possible application, costs and benefits, critical success factors and the central importance of prerequisite statistical thinking (ST). Design/methodology/approach – A three stage, mixed methods approach was adopted, incorporating surveys augmented by case studies and key informant interviews with industry managers and providers of relevant industry training. All data were combined to produce the final model.Findings – The paper finds that SQC methods are of relevance in the industry, providing the process is appropriate and management have a basic awareness of the fundamentals of ST. Certain organisational and external factors were found to progressively reduce the effectiveness with which such methods are introduced and .
The success criteria for implementing knowledge management systems in an organization

The main objective of this dissertation is to explore both the technological and organizational aspects of the success criteria of Knowledge Management Systems (KMS), and focus on the process of building an organizational knowledge base for operational knowledge reuse. In a time of change, more organizations are deploying a variety of Knowledge Management Systems to enhance business processes and performance. Information and communication technology (ICT) has provided abundant tools and utilities to enable such systems. After nearly a decade of practice in knowledge management, the results are mixed at best and the type of systems utilized are very diverse and often fragmented in infrastructure. In identifying these enabling criteria in a knowledge management system, the author wishes to aid in the future analysis, design, and evaluation of successfully utilizing such systems. This study is divided in two parts. Part I focuses on building a knowledge process model in the framework of information systems (IS) and acquiring all the functional and structural attributes. The model uses information systems commonly utilized in providing products or services to enlist most of the organizational and technological attributes. A generic knowledge management system is characterized as an input-system-output workflow with which a knowledge worker can interact to enhance the service or product. Part II validates the criteria identified in the model and analyzes data gathered utilizing surveys of knowledge workers in various industries. The analysis of the data collected in exploratory interviews also gave us the opportunity to see how much the industry was still fragmented and what was most important in terms of implementing a KMS. The key findings are both the technological and organizational enablers/criteria that make the KMS more effective, or encourage the knowledge workers to more routinely interact with the knowledge base. Technologically, we found scalability, adaptability, transparency, dependability, and personalization to be most important when specifically referring to the KMS itself. Organizationally, time and monetary resources, corporate culture, evaluation, business alignment, and training influence the effectiveness of KMS initiative the most. The main contribution of this thesis is the development of the KMS success model and criteria. The unique aspect of this research is the utilization of the knowledge worker perspective as opposed to the managerial point of view most commonly used in this type of research.
Interior Design: Homeless shelter design: A psychologically recuperative approach

MErIT OF DISTInCTIOn Title: Homeless shelter design: a psychologically recuperative approach Persons who are homeless are often victims of life crises that can result in emotional disorientation. It follows that homeless shelters should possess an architectural design that fosters a counterbalancing sense of healing and refuge from this distress of life on the streets. Perhaps among the most impactful aspects of environments for the homeless are psychological ramifications that encompass issues of personal space, territoriality and the spatial nature of human social interaction.
Potentialities of a Common Rail Injection System for the Control of Dual Fuel Biodiesel-Producer Gas Combustion and Emissions

AbstractThis paper conducts an extensive experimental campaign for dual fuel biodiesel-producer gas combustion development and the related pollutant emissions and reports the results with the aim of highlighting the effect of biodiesel pilot injection parameters. For this purpose, a common rail diesel research engine was converted to operate in dual fuel mode; the gaseous fuel was introduced into the engine through an indirect injector housed well upstream of the engine intake duct; and the composition of the gaseous fuel simulating the producer gas was obtained using a mixing system able to generate a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and nitrogen (N2) with the desired amount for each of them. The biodiesel pilot injection required to ignite the gaseous fuel was instead sprayed into the cylinder using a common rail high-pressure injection system. During tests, the biodiesel injection amount, pressure, and advance were varied on several levels, together with the composition and amoun.
Serious Game Design as Research-Creation to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Research-creation is a growing practice in humanities that tries to balance the pace of socio-cultural inquiries with modern media advancements and qualitative knowledge construction methods. It refers to various conjunctions of “research” and “creation” (i.e., research-for-creation; research-from-creation; creative presentations of research; and creation-as-research) around an artistic component. Drawing from fieldwork with instructors in four agricultural colleges in rural Ethiopia, this article explores how a participatory arts-based serious game design process is explicable within the context of research-creation. This work’s change-oriented agenda led to developing Mela, a serious game, to educate and empower instructors in agriculture colleges to tackle sexual and gender-based violence issues in their institutions. Here, we articulate Mela’s design process, its artistic composition, and how we understand it from different angles of research-creation practices. We also offer our introspective accounts during and after the design stages, referencing culture and gender as critical concepts. Serious games are pedagogical products that are designed for a meaningful learning experience. This work deepens the understanding of how research-creation practice can benefit the serious game design field by ensuring the attention to both process and production.
Fatigue and Healing of Asphalt Mixtures: Discriminate Analysis of Fatigue Curves

Fatigue laws obtained by means of laboratory tests do not usually take into account the fact that asphalt mixtures in highways have rest periods (without loads). These rest periods tend to increase the fatigue life of mixtures due to the phenomenon known as healing. A new fatigue test which includes rest periods has been developed. In order to study healing, tests with and without rest have been carried out on asphalt concrete, and the corresponding fatigue curves have been obtained. The test results show an increase of five to ten times fatigue strength. This paper summarizes the main experiences. The testing method used in the research is described. The results are analyzed by means of a statistical technique called discriminate analysis.
Comparison of integration solutions for wind power in the netherlands

In this study, a commercially available unit commitment and economic despatch (UC–ED) tool is extended for the simulation of wind power integration in an international environment. An existing generation unit database for the Netherlands is extended to include conventional generation portfolios of neighbouring areas to the Netherlands. Furthermore, wind power in Germany is modelled such that the spatial correlation between wind speeds at different locations in the Netherlands and Germany is maintained. These additions allow the assessment of the benefits of international exchange for wind power integration and a comparison with other integration solutions. The UC–ED tool is applied for annual simulations of a power system with generation portfolios foreseen for the year 2014. Four variants for international exchange possibilities are investigated for different wind power penetrations. The opportunities of the following integration solutions are assessed: use of conventional generation in isolated systems,use of international markets, flexible combined heat and power (CHP), pumped hydro energy storage, compressed air energy storage and interconnection to a hydro-based system. The solutions are placed in an order of potential with respect to technical, economical and environmental aspects. The results show that the advantages of international exchange for wind power integration are large and provide an alternative for the development of energy storage facilities.
Some Effects of Non-Axisymmetric End Wall Profiling on Axial Flow Compressor Aerodynamics: Part II—Multi-Stage HPC CFD Study

Non-axisymmetric end wall profiling is now a well established design methodology in axial flow turbines, used principally to improve their aerodynamic efficiency by reducing secondary loss. However, profiled end walls (PEWs) have yet to find an in-service application in a gas turbine compressor. This two-part paper presents the results of a number of studies, both experimental and computational, into the potential aerodynamic benefits of applying PEWs in axial flow compressors. The second paper describes an investigation into PEWs as a means of suppressing stator hub corner stall. An in-house design optimisation system (SOPHY) was applied to a typical embedded stator row in a multi-stage HP compressor. This enabled a new PEW geometry to be defined which is shown to be an effective alternative to 3-D aerofoil shaping in controlling stator hub corner stall. The results of this new study and of the work described in the first paper have been combined in a further investigation. PEWs were applied to an HPC with purely 2-D blading, which exhibited extensive stator hub corner stall at off-design conditions. CFD analysis showed that stator hub corner stall was successfully suppressed by the PEWs. It is concluded that PEWs can significantly affect the end wall flow field and have similar effects on corner stall as 3-D blading. The potential for improving the performance of axial flow compressors using PEWs is discussed. To successfully achieve any such improvements, extensive computational resources that are dedicated to design optimisation will be required.Copyright © 2008 by Rolls-Royce plc