Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Innovative Materials and Technologies for Construction and Restoration

new concepts and measures of safety. Tackling these issues requires integrated, multidisciplinary efforts between material- and structure-oriented experts. Even more complex is the problem of preservation and strengthening of historical buildings, which involves additional challenges such as reversibility, minimal intrusion and the expectation of durability over a century time scale. The aim of the conference was to provide an international forum for researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to exchange information and ideas on innovation in materials and technologies in the civil engineering field. The conference was conceived in three parts of focusing on: i Materials; ii Construction; and iii Restoration. The idea behind this format was to foster the interaction between experts working on civil engineering problems at different scales material, system and full structural, as well as with different perspectives structural engineers and restoration experts. The Special Issue contains fourteen papers from all three areas some being relevant to more than one area, all having passed the usual peer-review process before publication. Reflecting the trend of the papers presented at the conference, particular attention is devoted to the characterization and application of fiber-reinforced polymer composites for reinforcement or strengthening of structures.
Database tomography applied to an aircraft science and technology investment strategy

Abstract : Data Base Tomography (DT) is a textual data base analysis system consisting of two major components: (1) algorithms for extracting multiword phrase frequencies and phrase proximities (physical closeness of the multiword technical phrases) from any type of large textual data base, and (2) applying interpretative capabilities of the expert human analyst. DT was used to obtain technical intelligence from aircraft data bases derived from the Science Citation Index and the Engineering Compendex. Phrase frequency analysis by the technical domain expert provided the pervasive technical themes of the aircraft data bases, and the phrase proximity analysis provided the relationships among the pervasive technical themes. Bibliometric analysis of the aircraft literature supplemented the DT results with author/journal/institution publication and citation data. Comparisons of the aircraft data base results with past analyses of similarly structured near-earth space, chemistry, and hypersonic/supersonic flow data bases are made.
Spine formation in 'Novocrania' and 'Danocrania' (Brachiopoda, Craniata)

Spine formation in three species of 'Novocrania' and one species of 'Danocrania' is described and illustrated. These craniids display three methods of spine formation; tubular-hollow, sutured-hollow and, newly proposed herein, sutured-fold. Possible functions for craniid spines include extending sensory tissue beyond the valve margins, physically protecting the gape by creating a barrier, and discouraging settlement of epibionts.
Ergodic Outage and Capacity of Terahertz Systems Under Micromobility and Blockage Impairments

Terahertz (THz) communications systems are expected to become a major enabling technology at the air interface in sixth-generation (6G) cellular systems. However, utilizing extremely narrow antenna radiation patterns at both base station (BS) and user equipment (UE) sides, these systems are affected by not only dynamic blockage but micromobility of UEs. To alleviate the impact of both factors one may utilize the multiconnectivity mechanism allowing for UE to remain connected to several BSs simultaneously and switch between them in case the active connection is lost. In this work, we develop a mathematical framework to characterize the outage probability and spectral efficiency associated with different degrees of multiconnectivity in dynamic blockage and micromobility environment for different beamsearching design options. Our results demonstrate that the presence of UE micromobility may have a positive impact on system performance. Particularly, multiconnectivity allows improving outage and spectral efficiency for small and medium blockers density (up to 0.5 bl./m2) up to that of an ideal system with zero beamsearching times. Furthermore, higher gains are observed for higher degrees of multiconnectivity (e.g., greater than two) as compared to the system with only blockage impairments. For higher blockers densities, however, the reverse effect is observed.
Determinants of early lexical acquisition: Effects of word- and child-level factors on Dutch children's acquisition of words

Abstract Previous research on the effects of word-level factors on lexical acquisition has shown that frequency and concreteness are most important. Here, we investigate CDI data from 1,030 Dutch children, collected with the short form of the Dutch CDI, to address (i) how word-level factors predict lexical acquisition, once child-level factors are controlled, (ii) whether effects of these word-level factors vary with word class and age, and (iii) whether any interactions with age are due to differences in receptive vocabulary. Mixed-effects regressions yielded effects of frequency and concreteness, but not of word class and phonological factors (e.g., word length, neighborhood density). The effect of frequency was stronger for nouns than predicates. The effects of frequency and concreteness decreased with age, and were not explained by differences in vocabulary knowledge. These findings extend earlier results to Dutch, and indicate that effects of age are not due to increases in vocabulary knowledge.
Nusselt number and friction factor correlations for solar air heater duct with broken V-down ribs combined with staggered rib roughness

Artificial roughening of a broad wall of solar air heater leads to significant enhancement in heat transfer besides comparable rise in friction losses. This paper presents the outcome of experimental study on heat transfer and fluid friction characteristics of solar air heater duct roughened with broken V-down rib combined with staggered rib piece. Experimental data were collected on a high aspect ratio rectangular duct by varying the Reynolds number from 3000 to 17 000, relative gap position (s′/s) 0.2–0.8, relative staggered rib position (p′/p) 0.2–0.8, relative staggered rib size (r/e) 1–2.5, for the fixed values of relative roughness pitch (p/e) of 10, relative roughness height (e/Dh) of 0.043, relative gap size (g/e) of 1, and angle of attack (α) of 60°. The effect of flow Reynolds number and roughness parameters on Nusselt number and friction factor has been explored and the results are compared with continuous V-down rib roughened duct and smooth duct under similar flow conditions. Correlations for.
A 45° Polarized Wideband and Wide Coverage Patch Antenna Array for Millimeter-Wave Communication

A 45° polarized millimeter-wave (mmWave) patch antenna and arrays with wide impedance and gain bandwidth are proposed in this paper. The compact antenna consists of stacked patches, one substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) back cavity, one SIW square cavity, and a feeding line. The patches and the SIW back cavity rotate 45° with respect to the SIW square cavity. For the antenna, the - 10 dB impedance bandwidth is from 22.31 GHz to 29.65 GHz, and the peak gain is greater than 5 dBi in the bandwidth from 22 GHz to 30.5 GHz. Based on the proposed antenna, a 1 × 16 linear array is designed, fabricated, and measured. According to the experimental results, all antenna elements can realize the - 10 dB impedance bandwidth from 21.7 GHz to 27 GHz. Within 3-dB gain fluctuation, the scanning coverage of the linear array can achieve 116° in the frequency band from 22 GHz to 26 GHz and 110° at 27 GHz. Then, an 8 × 8 planar array with wide bandwidth and wide scanning coverage is proposed. The reflection coefficient can achieve less than -10 dB from 21.82 GHz to 27.22 GHz. The main beam of the radiation pattern can be widely spatially scanned. In the bandwidth from 22 GHz to 26 GHz, the scanning coverage within 3 -dB gain fluctuation can achieve 107°. And at 27 GHz, the coverage can achieve 90° . Due to the outstanding performance, reliable multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication technology, and easy integration with circuits, the proposed antenna and arrays are good candidates for the fifth-generation (5G) mmWave communication systems, satellite communication systems, and so on.
SARS-COV-2 δ variant drives the pandemic in the USA through two subvariants

Delta variant of SARS-COV-2 has overtaken all other variants and become a dominant pandemic driver aggressively. In India, it has evolved and yielded delta1, delta2, delta3 and delta4 subvariants. Delta1 has also gradually become the dominant pandemic driver there and across Europe, raising the question whether this is true in other regions around the world. Here I demonstrate that delta1 has also become the dominant pandemic driver in the USA. In April and May 2021, alpha variant was the major pandemic driver, with Ida and gamma variants playing minor roles. Delta variant only started to emerge in April and May, but it rose exponentially and became a major driver one month later. By September, it was detected in ~99% COVID-19 cases and emerged as almost the sole pandemic driver. In the country, ~50% of its population was fully vaccinated in the summer of 2021;vaccination may have selected against all other variants and thereby helped delta variant achieve such an alarming status. One puzzling question is what genomic features make delta variant so highly competitive. Related to this, delta1, but not delta2, delta3 and delta4, has risen exponentially after May 2021, suggesting that unique NSP3 and nucleocapsid mutations that delta1 carries make it so competitive as a predominant pandemic driver. These results indicate that it is not delta variant per se , but its offspring, delta1, that makes delta variant a predominant pandemic driver. Alarmingly, delta1 subvariant has evolved further and gained additional mutations to finetune functions of spike, nucleocapsid and NSP3 proteins. Compared to delta1, delta2 subvariant is less important in driving the ongoing pandemic in the USA, but this subvariant has also evolved further and gained extra mutations. These results suggest a continuously branching model on delta variant evolution and reiterate urgent need to track and block the evolution.
Effects of rules changes on shots dynamics in water polo world championship 2003-2013

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of rules changes in water polo on throws dynamics in numerical equality, counterattack and powerplay. The performance indicators observed in the Women’s and Men’s World Championships of 2003 and 2013 were compared. The observational design was nomothetic, multidimensional and follow-up. 8765 throws were analyzed, 4112 in the 2003 championship and 4372 in the 2013. In the women’s competition, the rules changes influenced the following performance indicators of the numerical equality: frecuence (p <. 001) and technique (p =. 001); in counterattack: frecuence (p <. 001), distance (p <. 001) and efficacy (p =. 003); and in numerical desiquality: frecuence (p <. 001), distance (p <. 001), position (p =. 016) and technique (p =. 001). In the men’s competition the indicators that showed dependence with the rules changes were the distance in counterattack (p =. 001) and powerplay (p <.001), and the technique in powerplay (p =. 036). In conclusion, the observational methodology allowed to verify the different effects in the throws dynamics caused by the new rules in both gender.
The influence of process parameter variations on the signal distribution behaviour of wafer scale integration devices

One of the key issues of the implementation of circuits using wafer scale integration technologies is the synchronous distribution of signals, either clock, data or control over a large area of silicon. Fluctuations of process parameters can have a major influence on the performance of these devices. Within this paper, simulations, based on real measured process parameters, are undertaken to show the sensitivity of different signal distribution strategies to these variations.
Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGCs) for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure

The objective of this study is to develop novel Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGCs) implementing locally available ingredients to produce a new generation of materials that are practical, cost-effective, and eco-friendly for repair and new construction of transportation infrastructure in the South-Central region. In order to achieve this objective, EGC mixtures will be designed with different types and proportions of locally available precursor materials (mainly locally available fly ash and metakaolin). EGCs fresh and hardened properties will be evaluated to identify key parameters ensuring EGC strain hardening response as well as optimum design of the composition balancing fresh and hardened properties. Furthermore, bonding properties of EGC with regular concrete will be assessed. Finally, a cost analysis for EGC implementation will be performed by comparing the cost of EGC materials to current materials utilized in the field.
Behavior of Varied Steel Frame Connection Types Subjected to Air Blast, Debris Impact, and/or Post-Blast Progressive Collapse Load Conditions

In response past terrorist events and to actions required by executive order, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Office of the Chief Architect (OCA), designed and executed a steel frame bomb blast and progressive collapse (PC) test program (2004–2007) [the GSA Test Program]; enhanced by its integration into the ` Discrete Leto ' Blast Effects Test Series conducted by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), to experimentally evaluate the behavior of varied beam-to-column connection types subjected to such severe loading events. The broad objective of the GSA Test Program was to develop appropriate PC design criteria for steel frame construction, including identification of desirable connection characteristics for blast and PC mitigation that result in reliable high-capacity performance.
When Intelligent Transportation Systems Sensing Meets Edge Computing: Vision and Challenges

The widespread use of mobile devices and sensors has motivated data-driven applications that can leverage the power of big data to benefit many aspects of our daily life, such as health, transportation, economy, and environment. Under the context of smart city, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), such as a main building block of modern cities and edge computing (EC), as an emerging computing service that targets addressing the limitations of cloud computing, have attracted increasing attention in the research community in recent years. It is well believed that the application of EC in ITS will have considerable benefits to transportation systems regarding efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Despite the growing trend in ITS and EC research, a big gap in the existing literature is identified: the intersection between these two promising directions has been far from well explored. In this paper, we focus on a critical part of ITS, i.e., sensing, and conducting a review on the recent advances in ITS sensing and EC applications in this field. The key challenges in ITS sensing and future directions with the integration of edge computing are discussed.
Topographic Influences on the Wind-driven Exchange Between Marginal Seas and the Open Ocean

The wind-driven exchange through complex ridges and islands between marginal seas and the open ocean is studied using both numerical and analytical models. The models are forced by a steady, spatially uniform northward wind stress intended to represent the large-scale, low-frequency wind patterns typical of the seasonal monsoons in the western Pacific Ocean. There is an eastward surface Ekman transport out of the marginal sea and westward geostrophic inflows into the marginal sea. The interaction between the Ekman transport and an island chain produces strong baroclinic flows along the island boundaries with a vertical depth that scales with the ratio of the inertial boundary layer thickness to the baroclinic deformation radius. The throughflows in the gaps are characterized by maximum transport in the center gap and decreasing transports towards the southern and northern tips of the island chain. An extended island rule theory demonstrates that throughflows are determined by the collective balance between viscosity on the meridional boundaries and the eastern side boundary of the islands. The outflowing transport is balanced primarily by a shallow current that enters the marginal sea along its equatorward boundary. The islands can block some direct exchange and result in a wind-driven overturning cell within the marginal sea, but this is compensated for by eastward zonal jets around the southern and northern tips of the island chain. Topography in the form of a deep slope, a ridge, or shallow shelves around the islands alters the current pathways but ultimately is unable to limit the total wind-driven exchange between the marginal sea and the open ocean.
The Effects of Using Socio-Scientific Issues and Technology in Problem-Based Learning: A Systematic Review

Currently, a growing number of learning institutions at all educational levels are including problem-based learning (PBL) in their curricula. PBL scenarios often utilise technology and socio-scientific Issues (SSI), which enables the simultaneous learning of content and creative thinking and working skills needed in generating new knowledge for the future. In this sense, using SSI and technological tools in PBL learning environments can be viewed as a starting point for acquiring and integrating new knowledge. However, there is no comprehensive knowledge regarding the possibilities of this approach. The objective of this systematic review is to produce this knowledge via the PRISMA method. The strategy is used to explore the effects of the described approach through implementations conducted at secondary and undergraduate levels. The data consisted of 33 research articles that were categorised via qualitative content analysis. According to the results, PBL scenarios exploit mainly local SSIs that link scientific knowledge with a meaningful context for students. Technology is principally used in offering technical support for teaching tasks. Lastly, these results are discussed from the technological pedagogical science knowledge (TPASK) framework perspective, which proposes guidelines for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
A Novel Approach for Detection of Bearing Defects from Noisy Vibration Signal

Vibration signal of a defective bearing carries fault related information. The aim of this paper is to develop a signal processing methodology that identifies the presence of defect from bearing vibration signal subjected high background noise. A simulated vibration signal considering inner race defect in a deep groove ball bearing with low signal to noise ratio has been generated and investigated. A technique involving CWT of vibration signal and post-processing though FFT has been adopted to analyze the signal. Results show that proposed methodology can yield the presence of inner race defect prominently from a noisy vibration signal.
Relationship between Structural Stiffness and Viscous Damping Coefficient in Reinforced Carbon Structure under Varying Carbon Fiber Angles

A linearized dynamic model of a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) structure can be formulated using the structural stiffness and viscous damping coefficient. The carbon fiber angle is an influential factor in determining the structural stiffness of CFRP structures by serially combining the stiffness of a binding matrix and that of a carbon fiber. The viscous damping coefficient of the CFRP structure is also highly sensitive to the carbon fiber angle; that is, it assumes a parallel series between the damping coefficient of the binding matrix and that of the carbon fiber. In this study, a sensitivity formula was derived to obtain the ratio of two parameters—the structural stiffness, and the viscous damping coefficient—by dividing all parameters by the value of the reference angle. The CFRP structure was chosen for a simple rectangular specimen with five carbon fiber angles, ranging from 0° (reference) to 90°. The identified modal parameters were used from the impact modal test conducted in a previous study. Sensitivity analysis was conducted for both the structural stiffness and the viscous damping coefficient. The sensitivity results revealed that the sensitivity index of the viscous damping coefficient was proportional to that of the structural stiffness. Even a small value of the viscous damping coefficient of the carbon fiber was sensitive to the CFRP structure because the carbon-fiber damping coefficient was parallel to the large damping coefficient of the binding matrix.
Welded-Tee End Connections for Circular Hollow Tubes

The paper investigates, theoretically aand experimentally, the behavior of welded‐tee end connections for circular hollow tubes in tension. Elastic stress distributions around the tube walls below the cap plate are derived. The results show that maximum stresses in the tube below the cleat‐plate corners may be reduced if thicker or narrower cleat plates are used. A total of 21 end connections having various combinations of 8 mm and 12 mm cap and cleat‐plate thicknesses on three tube sizes are tested. The observed first‐yield load, the ultimate load, and the mode of failure are reported for each test specimen. It was found that apart from possible weld defects failure of the end connections is either by local fracture in the tube below the cleat‐plate corners, or by tube yielding if thick enough cap and cleat plates are used. Results reveal that considerable stress redistribution occurs in the test specimens before failure. A simple design approach based on a 60° spread of load through the cap plate is pro.
Do Homeless People Giving Up Hope? A Qualitative Study in Penang, Malaysia

This qualitative study aims to explore the lives of homeless people around Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia especially in the social support aspect of their lives. Twenty (20) informants were involved in this study. Data obtained were analyzed using the content analysis method. The results showed that the homeless were classified as those who had given up hope. Lack of social support resources makes the homeless' lives to be drifted and then further triggers risky behaviour changes. The feelings of isolation and neglect caused the homeless to decide not to have any kind of relationship with their nuclear family. This study has the potential to contribute to the knowledge of social marginalization issues affecting homeless people in Malaysia in general and especially in Georgetown, Penang as well as its implications for the survival and sustainability of these minorities' lives.
Rigorous multimode network representation of capacitive steps

Capacitive steps discontinuities are the basic components of many waveguide devices of common use, and several models have been developed for their characterizations. The multimode equivalent network formulation presented in this paper provides a new, simpler and more flexible representation of the step. The method leads to a frequency independent integral equation that is solved numerically by using the Method of Moments. From the solution, a frequency independent multimode impedance coupling matrix is computed. The coupling matrices of a number of cascaded steps can then be combined in a global matrix, so that a wide class of waveguide devices can be analyzed with only one inversion per frequency point. The results obtained from the method presented here are compared with measured data, showing very good agreement. A comparison of the runtimes of the code developed with a typical mode-matching solution is performed, showing that the code based on the multimode network formulation is substantially more efficient. >