Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Modified Mathieu versus Standard Tubularised Incised-Plate Urethroplasty for Distal Hypospadias Repair

Objective: To compare the outcomes of modified Mathieu versus standard tubularised incised-plate urethroplasty for distal hypospadias repair. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted on 54 cases affected by distal hypospadias presenting to Institute of Kidney Disease, Hayatabad, Peshawar form February 2015 to June 2020. The inclusion criteria was patients with distal hypospadias (coronal, sub-coronal, or distal penile), age range of 15 to 60 months. Cases with severe chordee/ventral curvature, history of previous hypospadias repair, and poorly developed urethral plate were excluded. The patients with distal hypospadias were divided into two equal groups: in-group I repair done with Mathieu procedure plus incision of the urethral plate (modified Mathieu) and in-group II repair was performed with Tubularized Incised Plate (TIP). The principal author performed functional and cosmetic assessment at follow up visits which includes; denvo meatus; size and pressure of the stream; and complications like meatal stenosis, urethral cutaneous fistula. Fisher Exact test was used to compare categorical variables between the two groups and student t test for continuous variables. Results: The mean age of the study was 38.13±12.55 months. The operating time was less in TIP than modified Mathieu procedure statistically (P=0.036, 95% CI=0.315, 9.02). In modified Mathieu procedure the sprayed stream of micturition was higher (n=4, 14.8%) while in TIP procedure the frequency of narrow stream was higher (n=4, 14.8%). The difference was statistically significant (P=0.054). Only in modified Mathieu procedure the meatus shape was round in 4 (14.8%) cases and the results were statistically different (P=0.038). Post-operative fistula was higher TIP (n=6, 22.2%) than modified Mathieu (n=1, 3.7%) statistically (P=0.043). Only in TIP procedure postoperative meatal stenosis was found in 5 (18.5%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.019). Conclusion: The modified Mathieu technique can improve the cosmetic outcome through creation of slit-like meatus, low incidence of fistula and meatal stenosis than tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in the repair of distal hypospadias.
Integration of Additive Manufacturing and Virtual Verification Strategies within a Commercial CAM System

AbstractAdditive manufacturing (AM) processes are becoming more common; however, there is little process planning control. Standalone proprietary software is used by AM systems to create a build file that displays the travel paths, but not a complete representative model, which may not be optimal. Integrating AM into existing CAM systems provides a direct link between the CAD model and the AM build file, as well as allowing planners to directly combine additive and subtractive operations. When considering the number of entities and constraints related to the travel paths, most of the AM processes are a derivative of the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process; consequently, modeling the FDM process within a commercial CAM system is the focus of this research. An AM user interface and a process verification system based on the X3D standard is developed, as current machining verification solid modeling kernels have been found to not be suited due to the number of entities to be processed. Various examples a.
STUDI MENGENAI KOMPETISI PENAWARAN HARGA BORONGANTIDAK WAJAR PADA BIDANG JASA KONTRUKSI

Penulisan tesis ini bertujuan untuk Mengetahui faktor penyebab terjadinya penawaran harga Jasa Kontruksi yang tidak wajar pada penyedia Jasa Kontruksi Bangunan Gedung yang ada di Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Dalam penyusunan tesis ini dengan metode survy dan pengalaman pribadi, dengan acuan Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 54 tahun 2010 Tenteng Pengadaan Barang / Jasa Pemerintah, batasan masalah jumlah responden 30 ( tiga puluh ) penyedia Barang/Jasa yang berada di wilayah Yogyakarta. Penelitian menggunakan sekala Likert, dengan analisa Kwantitatif, uji validitas dengan SPSS. Dengan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa faktor yang mempengaruhi adanya penawaran tidak wajar akibat dari aturan yang ada masih ada celah untuk melakukan penawaran dengan harga rendah dan persaingan ketat antara penyedia jasa.
Wind-rain-induced vibration test and analytical method of high-voltage transmission tower

A new computational approach for the rain load on the transmission tower is presented to obtain the responses of system subjected to the wind and rain combined excitations. First of all, according to the similarity theory, the aeroelastic modeling of high-voltage transmission tower is introduced and two kinds of typical aeroelastic models of transmission towers are manufactured for the wind tunnel tests, which are the antelope horn tower and pole tower. And then, a formula for the pressure time history of rain loads on the tower structure is put forward. The dynamic response analyses and experiments for the two kinds of models are carried out under the wind-induced and wind-rain-induced actions with the uniform and turbulent flow. It has been shown that the results of wind-rain-induced responses are bigger than those of only wind-induced responses and the rain load influence on the transmission tower can`t be neglected during the strong rainstorm. The results calculated by the proposed method have a good agreement with those by the wind tunnel test. In addition, the wind-rain-induced responses along and across the wind direction are in the same order of response magnitude of towers.
Frequency of mentum deformity in Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae) in a laboratory culture

The midge Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae) has been used in ecotoxicological tests because it is sensitive to a variety of inorganic pollutants. Among the parameters used to evaluate the toxicity of a substance is the frequency of mentum deformity, which is part of the oral system of this organism. However, there is still no consensus on the baseline level (percentage) of acceptable deformities in laboratory cultures not exposed to pollutants. The determination of this variable is important to ensure the validity of bioassays and to compare cultures from different research and teaching institutions. Once this value is established, it will also be used to monitor the quality of organisms cultured, since factors such as inbreeding could increase the frequency of mentum deformity. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify the percentage of mentum deformity in the fourth instar of C. sancticaroli larvae from the culture of the Laboratory of Aquatic Ecosystems, at Embrapa Meio Ambiente. The average frequency of mentum deformity obtained was 6,63%. It is believed that factors such as the renewal of the culture with the inclusion of spawns from the laboratories of other institutions, as well as the control of the quality of the dilution water and the sediment of the breeding may have contributed to a low frequency of mentum deformity of the culture observed in this study.
Numerical Investigation of Scour Beneath Pipelines Subjected to an Oscillatory Flow Condition

The present study carries out two-dimensional numerical simulations to investigate scour beneath a single pipeline and piggyback pipelines subjected to an oscillatory flow condition at a Keulegan–Carpenter (KC) number of 11 using SedFoam (an open-source, multi-dimensional Eulerian two-phase solver for sediment transport based on OpenFOAM). The turbulence flow is resolved using the two-phase modified k−ω 2006 model. The particle stresses due to the binary collisions and enduring contacts among the sediments are modeled using the rheology model of granular flow. The present numerical model is validated for the scour beneath a single pipeline, and the simulated sediment profiles are compared with published experimental data and numerical simulation results. The scour process beneath three different piggyback pipelines under the same flow condition are also considered, and the scour development and surrounding flow patterns are discussed in detail. Typical steady-streaming structures around the pipeline due to the oscillatory flow condition are captured. The scour depth during the initial development of the scour process for the piggyback pipeline with the small pipeline placed above the large one is the largest among all the investigated configurations. The phase-averaged flow fields show that the flow patterns are influenced by the additional small pipeline.
Cost-Effectiveness of Lignocellulose Biorefineries and their Impact on the Deciduous Wood Markets in Germany

Biorefineries, especially if based on woody biomass, may cause significant changes to the forest and wood-based industry. The resulting changes may, in turn, affect the economic feasibility of lignocellulosic biofuels production. In this article, we introduce a spatial partial equilibrium model of the forest and wood processing industries in Germany. The wood market model is linked to the Reaction Network Flux Analysis (RNFA), a model for the systematic selection of reaction pathways in the preliminary evaluation of the mass balance of innovative biofuel components. In doing so, we can simulate the impact of wood-based biorefineries on their feedstock markets and also assess the economic feasibility of the proposed production process. In a case study based on the transformation of beech wood to methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), a potential biofuel component currently under development, we show how the net present value of lignocellulosic biorefineries of various sizes is completely reversed once the wood market’s response to the entry of a new high-volume consumer is taken into account.
Effects of 3D Aerofoil Tip Clearance Variation on a 4-Stage Low Speed Compressor

The aerodynamic performance of turbomachinery airfoils and therefore the overall efficiency of an engine are strongly dependent on the design of the near end wall sections of blades and vanes. In addition, good compressor stability can only be achieved if the running clearance is as small as allowed for save operation. In the engine the radial gap varies in size due to thermal effects and deterioration as well as transient maneuvers. Since the width of the running clearance can hardly be reduced, a new aerofoil sectional design for cantilevered vanes has been introduced to improve compressor stability over its whole range of operation. The baseline design and the new improved concept have been tested and analyzed for different clearance widths (TC1[[ellipsis]]TC3) on the rotor blades and cantilevered stator vanes. A baseline configuration featuring two-dimensional airfoils has been used as a datum to develop a more advanced design applying sweep and dihedral at the stacking axes. The running clearance on rotors and the radial gap on cantilevered stators were increased in three steps. Both numerical and experimental investigations had been carried out to verify the effect of variable running clearances on modified end wall sections. Experimental and numerical investigations have shown the effect of bow and sweep within this low speed application does not fully support the common theory of unloaded end wall sections as discussed in various publications. For the 2D blade design the common theory has been proven by both numerical and experimental evaluations. The 3D blade design configuration (BUILD IX) features a significant difference in efficiency sensitivity due to tip clearance width variation, whereas numerical prediction suggested improved compressor performance and stability. Measurements has shown higher losses at this configuration.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The economic analysis in the implementation of the Water-Framework Directive in Spain

One of the most innovative elements of the Water-Framework Directive (WFD) is the important role that economic analysis is assigned in achieving its environmental objectives. In Spain, a great effort has been put forth by river basin agencies to diagnose the current state of water bodies and to implement the economic tools and principles required by the Directive. However, there have been a number of shortcomings in the way the economic analysis was designed and applied (as well as a significant delay in meeting the WFD's deadlines). The objective of this paper is to critically review the implementation of the economics of the WFD in Spain and to make suggestions on how to deal with the problems that have been encountered. Some of the more important shortcomings are that the characterization of water uses is mostly descriptive and lacks prospective analysis; that analysis of the potential for costs recovery of water services has incorrectly assumed that the financial costs of water provision are completely covered by the payment of the current legal tariffs; and that environmental and resource costs have not been included in the analysis for the selection of mitigation measures. The main reason for these problems is that water policy-makers and managers were unprepared for, and inexperienced with economic analysis. The most important recommendation of this paper to improve future revisions of the River Basin Management Plans is to strengthen the links between water planners and academics, moving towards evidence-based policy-making.
Design of high-speed low-power 3-2 counter and 4-2 compressor for fast multipliers

A 3-2 counter and a 4-2 compressor are the basic components in the partial product summation tree of a parallel array multiplier. A new high-speed and low power design of these components is presented. Owing to the reduction of the internal load capacitance, the counter and compressor have better speed and power performance than other recently proposed approaches.
The Effects of Temperature Cyclic Loading on Lead-Free Solder Joints of Wafer Level Chip Scale Package by Taguchi Method

In this study, the effects of the temperature cyclic loading on three lead-free solder joints of 96.5Sn-3.5Ag, 95.5Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu, and 95.5Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu bumped wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) on printed circuit board assemblies are investigated by Taguchi method. The orthogonal arrays of L 16 is applied to examine the shear strain effects of solder joints under five temperature loading parameters of the temperature ramp rate, the high and low temperature dwells, and the dwell time of both high and low temperatures by means of three simulated analyses of creep, plastic, and plastic-creep behavior on the WLCSP assemblies. It is found that the temperature dwell is the most significant factor on the effects of shear strain range from these analyses. The effect of high temperature dwell on the shear strain range is larger than that of low temperature dwell in creep analysis, while the effect of high temperature dwell on the shear strain range is smaller than that of low temperature dwell in both plastic and plastic-creep analyses.
Nonparametric Estimation of Undrained Shear Strength for Normally Consolidated Clays

For decades, various well-known empirical correlations have been established and commonly used to estimate the undrained shear strength of normally consolidated clays in geotechnical practice. However, there are still many contradictory cases regarding the validity of these correlations, so their applicability and reliability are questionable. In this study, an extensive geotechnical database for normally consolidated clays has been compiled. Next, a Bayesian nonparametric method is exploited to identify the most critical soil index properties in inferring the undrained shear strength and a new predictive model is proposed. Finally, the performance of the proposed predictive model is assessed and compared with two well-known correlations using an independent testing database. It confirms that the proposed model not only possesses high predictability, but also provides superior performance over other existing empirical correlations.
Long-Term Behavior of Integral Abutment Bridges

Integral abutment (IA) construction has become the preferred method over conventional construction for use with typical highway bridges. However, the use of these structures is limited due to state mandated length and skew limitations. To expand their applicability, studies were implemented to define limitations supported by rational analysis rather than simply engineering judgment. Previous research investigations have resulted in larger length limits and an overall better understanding of these structures. However, questions still remain regarding IA behavior; specifically questions regarding long-term behavior and effects of skew. To better define the behavior of these structures, a study was implemented to specifically investigate the long term behavior of IA bridges. First, a field monitoring program was implemented to observe and understand the in-service behavior of three integral abutment bridges. The results of the field investigation were used to develop and calibrate analytical models that adequately capture the long-term behavior. Second, a single-span, quarter-scale integral abutment bridge was constructed and tested to provide insight on the behavior of highly skewed structures. From the acquired knowledge from both the field and laboratory investigations, a parametric analysis was conducted to characterize the effects of a broad range of parameters on the behavior of integral abutment bridges. This study develops an improved understanding of the overall behavior of IA bridges. Based on the results of this study, modified length and skew limitations for integral abutment bridge are proposed. In addition, modeling recommendations and guidelines have been developed to aid designers and facilitate the increased use of integral abutment bridges.
Firm Characteristics and Empirical Factor Models: A Model Mining Experiment

In a novel model mining experiment, we data mine hundreds of randomly constructed three-factor models and find that many outperform well-known models from the literature, including those with four and five factors. The results provide compelling evidence that the threshold of factor model success needs to be raised. Confidence intervals for model rankings, derived from a bootstrap simulation, offer new insights into the consistency of a model’s pricing ability. Rankings for some well-known models are unusually volatile, which have wider confidence intervals than that of most of the random factor models.
KivaTM: a numerical framework for improving foundation heat transfer calculations

KivaTM was developed to evaluate the energy performance of building foundation designs. This free, open-source tool can be integrated into existing annual building energy simulation software tools. This article describes the verification of Kiva's six numerical solution methods against the International Energy Agency Building Energy Simulation Test and Diagnostic Method test cases for slab-on-grade heat conduction. Comparisons of accuracy, computation time and stability between the numerical solution methods revealed their advantages and disadvantages. While each solution method satisfactorily approximates slab heat loss, many methods exhibited stability issues or required substantially longer computation time. The method least affected by these two challenges was the alternating-direction implicit (ADI) method. Kiva features four approaches of initializing the soil temperatures for an annual simulation. A new accelerated initialization approach is shown to reduce the required years of pre-simulation. The combination of the ADI method and accelerated initialization reduces the total computation time by 95% relative to the traditional implicit solutions.
Effects of Tailpipe Friction on the Nonlinear Dynamics of a Thermal Pulse Combustor

The effect of tailpipe friction on the combustion dynamics inside a thermal pulse combustor has been investigated using a nonlinear model consisting of four coupled first order ordinary differential equations. The dynamics of the system is represented through time series plots, time-delay phase plots, and Poincare maps. The results indicate that as the tailpipe friction factor is lowered, the system undergoes a transition from steady combustion through oscillating combustion to an intermittent combustion with chaotic characteristics before extinction. The time series data are shown to be useful indicator for early detection of extinction. In one approach (thresholding), the occurrence of local peak pressures below a predefined threshold value is identified as an event and the number of events (event count) and largest number of successive cycles with such events (event duration) are recorded as the friction factor is lowered. In another approach, the statistical moments (kurtosis) of the data are used. Number of kurtosis peaks above a prescribed value and variance of the kurtosis values are recorded for decreasing values of friction factor. All these numbers sharply increase as the system approaches extinction.
Temperature Monitoring and Aeration Strategies for Stored Wheat in the Central Plains

Two aeration strategies were compared to non-aeration in field tests of stored wheat in Kansas. An additional summer aeration cycle before the usual two autumn cycles produced better temperatures for insect control in the grain. Both aeration strategies yielded much better temperatures for insect control than did the naturally cooled, non-aerated bin (ca. 3,500 bu bin). In two years of tests with wheat aerated with low airflow rates in summer immediately after harvest, there were sufficient hours with air temperatures below 24°C (75°F) to cool the grain with an airflow rate of 0.11 m3/min-t (0.1 cfm/bu). However, during one year, high humidities during these nighttime periods of low temperatures resulted in final temperatures higher than 24°C due to the heating effect when the grain was slightly rewetted by the high humidity air. These results indicate the importance of looking at both temperature and humidity together to evaluate whether weather conditions are acceptable for adequate aeration cooling, especially during summer aeration when air temperatures are near the upper acceptable limit.
Earthbound Civil Engineering Experience for Space Applications

Since the dawn of civilization, the civil engineering profession has served mankind. Civil engineers have provided humanity with safe, reliable, and economical facilities and a livable environment. This paper seeks to outline the potential applications of various Earth‐based civil engineering fields for the engineering, construction, and operation of facilities in space stations in Earth orbit, bases on the Moon and Mars, and the exploration of other extraterrestrial bodies. On Earth, civil engineers have played a key role in design, construction, and operation of ground‐support facilities since the beginning of the space program. The vast and diverse Earth‐based knowledge and experience earned by civil engineers could be applied to create a suitable infrastructure in space to satisfy human needs. Therefore, civil engineers can play a significant role in the future expansion of human endeavors into space. The time has come for civil engineers throughout the world to come together; take the challenge posed.