Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analytical Methods in Anisotropic Elasticity: with Symbolic Computational Tools

* Preface * List of Figures * List of Tables * Fundamentals of Anisotropic Elasticity and Analytical Methodologies * Anisotropic Materials * Plane Deformation Analysis * Solution Methodologies * Foundations of Anisotropic Beam Analysis * Beams of General Anisotropy * Homogeneous, Uncoupled Monoclinic Beams * Non-Homogeneous Plane and Beam Analysis * Solid Coupled Monoclinic Beams * Thin-Walled Coupled Monoclinic Beams * Programs Description * References * Index
Frequency Dependence of Soil Parameters: Effect on the Lightning Response of Grounding Electrodes

Quantities related to the response of grounding electrodes subject to lightning currents are simulated under the assumption of constant and frequency-dependent soil resistivity and permittivity for 100-4000 Ω·m soils, using an accurate electromagnetic model. It was found that the frequency dependence of soil parameters is responsible for decreasing the grounding potential rise of electrodes and, thus, their impulse impedance and their impulse coefficient. This effect is more pronounced with increasing soil resistivity and for typical currents of subsequent strokes. The reduction of these quantities is negligible for soils of 300 Ω·m and below. It is considerable for soils above 500 Ω·m and is very significant above 1000 Ω·m. Reductions of around 23%, 30%, 40%, and 52% are found, respectively, for soils of 600, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Ω·m and typical subsequent stroke currents. Lower values, around 8%, 11%, 18%, and 28%, are found for first stroke currents.
Image‐based Material Weathering

The appearance manifold [WTL*06] is an efficient approach for modeling and editing time‐variant appearance of materials from the BRDF data captured at single time instance. However, this method is difficult to apply in images in which weathering and shading variations are combined. In this paper, we present a technique for modeling and editing the weathering effects of an object in a single image with appearance manifolds. In our approach, we formulate the input image as the product of reflectance and illuminance. An iterative method is then developed to construct the appearance manifold in color space (i.e., Lab space) for modeling the reflectance variations caused by weathering. Based on the appearance manifold, we propose a statistical method to robustly decompose reflectance and illuminance for each pixel. For editing, we introduce a “pixel‐walking” scheme to modify the pixel reflectance according to its position on the manifold, by which the detailed reflectance variations are well preserved. We illustrate our technique in various applications, including weathering transfer between two images that is first enabled by our technique. Results show that our technique can produce much better results than existing methods, especially for objects with complex geometry and shading effects.
Single-phase soft-switching AC-link buck-boost inverter

Soft-switching ac-link buck-boost converters, also known as ac-link universal power converters and partial resonant ac-link converters, have received remarkable attention during the last few years. These converters can be configured as dc-dc, dc-ac, ac-dc, or ac-ac (single-phase or multi-phase). Among the numerous advantages of these converters are compactness, higher reliability, and longer lifetime compared to the other types of converters. Soft-switching ac-link buck-boost converters are in essence an extension of the dc-dc buck-boost converters. Therefore, they can both step up and step down the voltage. Unlike the traditional buck-boost converters, the inductor current in these converters is alternating and all the switches have zero-voltage turn-on and soft turn-off. The high-frequency ac link in soft-switching ac-link buck-boost converters allows the use of a single-phase high-frequency transformer for providing the galvanic isolation. The application of this new class of power converters in the three-phase dc to ac, three-phase ac to dc, and three-phase ac to ac conversion has been successfully evaluated. The three-phase soft-switching ac-link buck-boost inverter is currently available in the market and listed in the California Energy Commission (CEC) list of approved photovoltaic inverters. In this paper the application of this converter in the dc to single-phase ac conversion will be studied in detail and two single-phase inverter configurations will be proposed.
The Development of Infrared Photosensitive Material Based on Polycrystalline PbS Films

Polycrystalline thin films of lead sulphide were deposited on glass substrates by the hot wall technique. The grain size varied from 100 to 500 A by varying the growth rate and the substrate temperature. The grain boundaries are assumed to influence the optoelectronic properties of polycrystalline films by generating potential energy relieves, estimated to reach 0.1 eV. We investigated the influence of the barrier height by introducing impurity atmospheres into the grain boundaries. Oxygen and indium were introduced into the films by diffusion from a gas phase. Conductivity was measured in the 80-300 K range. It rises with increasing temperature in oxygen doped films, indicating that conductivity is a thermal activation process. In the same time the conductivity of In doped PbS films decreases with temperature like in PbS single crystals. Photoconductivity was observed in films annealed in oxygen, which was significant up to room temperature. Carrier lifetime was found to decrease with rising temperature and be larger in films annealed in oxygen. A model is proposed to explain the optoelectronic behavior of the polycrystalline films. It is proposed that charge accumulation near grain boundaries set up potential barriers for free carriers. The barriers increase by oxygen and decreases by indium doping. The charge carriers generated by an illumination become spatially separated at grain boundaries. This separation retards their recombination and increases their lifetime, giving rise to persistent photoconductivity and potential high photosensitivity.
Anisotropic Young Diagrams and Infinite-Dimensional Diffusion Processes with the Jack Parameter

We construct a family of Markov processes with continuous sample trajectories on an infinite-dimensional space, the Thoma simplex. The family depends on three continuous parameters, one of which, the Jack parameter, is similar to the beta parameter in random matrix theory. The processes arise in a scaling limit transition from certain finite Markov chains, the so called up-down chains on the Young graph with the Jack edge multiplicities. Each of the limit Markov processes is ergodic and its stationary distribution is a symmetrizing measure. The infinitesimal generators of the processes are explicitly computed; viewed as self-adjoint operators in the L 2 spaces over the symmetrizing measures, the generators have a purely discrete spectrum which is explicitly described. For the special value 1 of the Jack parameter, the limit Markov processes coincide with those of the recent work by Borodin and the author (Probability Theory and Related Fields 144 (2009), 281-318). In the limit, as the Jack parameter goes to 0, our family of processes degenerates to the one-parameter family of diffusions on the Kingman simplex studied long ago by Ethier and Kurtz in connection with some models of population genetics. The techniques of the article are essentially algebraic. The main computations are performed in the algebra of shifted symmetric functions with the Jack parameter and rely on the concept of anisotropic Young diagrams due to Kerov.
Design of a Torsional Dynamic Absorber Using Magnetorheological Elastomers for Powertrain Vibration Control

This paper presents the design of torsional adaptive tunable vibration absorber (ATVA) using magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) for vibration reduction of powertrain systems. The MRE used for the ATVA development consists of a silicone polymer, silicone oil and magnetic particles with the weight fractions are 60%, 20%, 20%, respectively. Experimental testing is conducted to measure MRE Young’s modulus and damping ratio. With the MRE, a dynamic absorber design is proposed for powertrain vibration reduction and the parameters of magnetic circuit such as the number of turns of coils can be determined. Also, the mechanical parameters of the dynamic absorber are designed. In addition, the ATVA effectiveness is investigated through simulations, which is useful to optimize ATVA parameters to develop the ATVA.
Measurements of non-elastic frozen-in residual stress near the cleaved end of an optical fiber by the inverse linear polarizing method

Few years ago, the inverse linear polarizing method (ILPM) has been suggested as an effective measurement method for the residual stress of optical fibers by Y. Park et al. and it has been used as an important tool to study photoelastic and birefringent characteristics of optical fibers. Non-elastic frozen-in residual stress was only recently found to be an important draw-induced inelastic strain that can significantly perturb the refractive index profile and hence the waveguiding properties of optical fibers. We have investigated residual stress distributions of optical fibers drawn at various draw tensions along the distance from the cleaved fiber end by using the ILPM. From the measurement of residual stress distributions and the definition of the mean axial stress, we calculated non-elastic frozen-in residual stress of optical fibers drawn at various draw tension. By the calculation of non-elastic frozen-in residual stress distributions of optical fibers, we have found that non-elastic frozen-in residual stress in the optical fiber can be released near the cleaved fiber end and release degree of non-elastic frozen-in residual stress near the cleaved fiber end is proportional to draw tension applied on the optical fiber fabrication. We have also found that non-elastic frozen-in residual stress along the cleaved fiber end becomes restored and restoration tendency of non-elastic frozen-in residual stress from the cleaved fiber end is dependent on draw tension applied on the optical fiber fabrication.
The structure of an ECF‐σ‐dependent, light‐inducible promoter from the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus

Expression of the Myxococcus xanthus gene crtI is controlled by a light‐inducible promoter. The activity of this promoter depends on CarQ, a σ factor of the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) subfamily. Here, we show that the minimum DNA stretch reproducing normal expression of crtI extends from a few bases upstream of the −35 position to a site well downstream of the transcriptional start. The downstream DNA contains an enhancer‐like element that remains active when displaced upstream of the promoter. Experimental evidence is provided for the activity of the crtI promoter being critically dependent on a pentanucleotide sequence centred at the −31 position. The similarity of this sequence with the consensus for ECF‐σ‐dependent promoters from other bacteria is discussed. The activity of the crtI promoter also depends on certain basepairs at the −10 region. Hence, the operation of ECF‐σ‐factors seems to require binding to two different DNA sites, although the −10 sequences of different ECF‐σ‐dependent promoters are unrelated to one another, and the ECF‐σ‐factors themselves lack the conserved domain known to mediate binding of other σ‐factors to the −10 DNA site.
Biostatistical Aspects of Genome‐Wide Association Studies

To search the entire human genome for association is a novel and promising approach to unravelling the genetic basis of complex genetic diseases. In these genome‐wide association studies (GWAs), several hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are analyzed at the same time, posing substantial biostatistical and computational challenges. In this paper, we discuss a number of biostatistical aspects of GWAs in detail. We specifically consider quality control issues and show that signal intensity plots are a sine qua condition non in today's GWAs. Approaches to detect and adjust for population stratification are briefly examined. We discuss different strategies aimed at tackling the problem of multiple testing, including adjustment of p ‐values, the false positive report probability and the false discovery rate. Another aspect of GWAs requiring special attention is the search for gene‐gene and gene‐environment interactions. We finally describe multistage approaches to GWAs. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Numerical optimization of process control variables for the Bridgman casting process

Specific objective functions and algorithms are presented, which by means of dedicated finite element simulation software, calculate optimized control variables for an industrial Bridgman casting furnace. A gradient method and an evolution strategy have been integrated into an efficient optimization tool in order to minimize an objective function which characterizes the quality of directional solidified (DS) or single crystal (SC) turbine blades. The goal is to minimize the manufacturing costs for a desired quality. For a dummy turbine blade geometry, the macrograin structures produced by the optimized withdrawal velocity profile and an equivalent constant velocity, which had the same total process time, are compared. This comparison shows that the developed optimization techniques are applicable to the casting of DS/SC turbine blades.
Kinetics of Chikungunya Infections during an Outbreak in Southern Thailand, 2008–2009

The Indian Ocean chikungunya epidemic re-emerged in Thailand in August 2008. Forty-five adults with laboratory-confirmed chikungunya in Songkhla province, Thailand were clinically assessed and serially bled throughout the acute and convalescent phase of the disease. Patient symptoms, antibody responses, and viral kinetics were evaluated using observational assessments, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serological assays. All subjects experienced joint pain with 42 (93%) involving multiple joints; the interphalangeal most commonly affected in 91% of the subjects. The mean duration of joint pain was 5.8 days, 11 (25%) experiencing discomfort through the duration of the study. Rash was observed in 37 (82%) subjects a mean 3.5 days post onset of symptoms. Patents were positive by PCR for a mean of 5.9 days with sustained peak viral load through Day 5. The IgM antibodies appeared on Day 4 and peaked at Day 7 and IgG antibodies first appeared at Day 5 and rose steadily through Day 24.
Work-in-Progress: Learning to Program in a Connected World

The problem of teaching introductory programming is a recurrent one which has interested and challenged computer scientists over the years. It has evoked differing philosophies, has motivated new languages and fuelled 'wars' between supporters of different languages and approaches. Much of the discourse surrounding these practices dates from a period when learning was bounded by practical activities and assiduous use of reference books. Recent technological changes are however impacting on learners' approaches to life and study, the Internet has not only become a very visible field for the programmer's skills, it is also plays an intrinsic role in the practices and experiences of novice learners. However academics engaged in instructing these courses, although highly computer literate may have limited personal experience of integrating independent learning via the web as a novice programmer. This account of work in progress presents a preliminary study which explores the learning practices of students enrolled on introductory programming courses. A mixed methods approach using quantitative and qualitative data is designed to triangulate information order to reveal practices, beliefs and attitudes to learning. It focuses on discovering what the student believes, experiences and does. The paper will present interim findings and discuss the challenge and potential advantages of working within a mixed methods research framework.
Dynamic Tight Glycemic Control During and After Cardiac Surgery Is Effective, Feasible, and Safe

BACKGROUND: Tight blood glucose control reduces mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients, but intraoperative glucose control during cardiac surgery is often difficult, and risks hypoglycemia. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of a nurse-driven insulin protocol (the Aalst Glycemia Insulin Protocol) for achieving a target glucose level of 80–110 mg/dL during cardiac surgery and in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We included 483 nondiabetics and 168 diabetics scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. To anticipate rapid perioperative changes in insulin requirement and/or sensitivity during surgery, we developed a dynamic algorithm presented in tabular form, with rows representing blood glucose ranges and columns representing insulin dosages based on the patients’ insulin sensitivity. The algorithm adjusts insulin dosage based on blood glucose level and the projected insulin sensitivity (e.g., reduced sensitivity during cardiopulmonary bypass and normalizing sensitivity after surgery). RESULTS: A total of 18,893 blood glucose measurements were made during and after surgery. During surgery, the mean glucose level in nondiabetic patients was within targeted levels except during (112 ± 17 mg/dL) and after rewarming (113 ± 19 mg/dL) on cardiopulmonary bypass. In diabetics, blood glucose was decreased from 121 ± 40 mg/dL at anesthesia induction to 112 ± 26 mg/dL at the end of surgery (P < 0.05), with 52.9% of patients achieving the target. In the ICU, the mean glucose level was within targeted range at all time points, except for diabetics upon ICU arrival (113 ± 24 mg/dL). Of all blood glucose measurements (operating room and ICU), 68.0% were within the target, with 0.12% of measurements in nondiabetics and 0.18% in diabetics below 60 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia < 50 mg/dL was avoided in all but four (0.6%) patients (40 mg/dL was the lowest observed value). CONCLUSIONS: The Aalst Glycemia Insulin Protocol is effective for maintaining tight perioperative blood glucose control during cardiac surgery with minimal risk of hypoglycemia.
Reducing Transient Disconnectivity using Anomaly-Cognizant Forwarding

It is well known that BGP convergence can cause widespread temporary losses of connectivity resulting from inconsistent routing state. In this paper, we present Anomaly-Cognizant Forwarding (ACF) a novel technique for protecting end-to-end packet delivery during periods of convergence. Our preliminary evaluation demonstrates that ACF succeeds in eliminating nearly all transient disconnection after a link failure without the use of precomputed backup routes or altering the dynamics of BGP.
SWIM: A Simple Word Interaction Model for Implicit Discourse Relation Recognition

Capturing the semantic interaction of pairs of words across arguments and proper argument representation are both crucial issues in implicit discourse relation recognition. The current state-of-the-art represents arguments as distributional vectors that are computed via bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory networks (BiLSTMs), known to have significant model complexity. In contrast, we demonstrate that word-weighted averaging can encode argument representation which can be incorporated with word pair information efficiently. By saving an order of magnitude in parameters and eschewing the recurrent structure, our proposed model achieves equivalent performance, but trains seven times faster.
THE IMPACT OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN MNE ORGANIZATION AND HOST INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT ON PRACTICE-BASED SUBSIDIARY LEARNING

Current perspectives on learning in MNEs project subsidiary learning as the flow of abstract knowledge, and tend to neglect the impact of the interplay between organization structure and institutional contexts on learning. Drawing on social learning theory, we understand learning as practice-based and subject to various contexts. We apply this understanding to an international setting to shed light on why some organizations learn more than others. We systematically compare the introduction of continuous improvement practices in four subsidiaries located in two contrasting national institutional systems (collaborative and compartmentalized) by two MNEs operating different organizational models (international and multi-domestic). Our findings suggest that i) subsidiary learning varies depending on different levels of fit between MNE organization models and host institutional contexts, ii) high level of learning is encouraged in structures other than the transnational model, and iii) organizational learning in international settings is a process of active participation beyond a process of simply transferring best practices.
Quantification and Estimation of Differential Odometry Errors in Mobile Robotics with Redundant Sensor Information

By the extrapolation of movement increments detected by differential encoders, the position of a mobile robot can be easily computed. However, the encoders suffer from various systematic errors resulting in an increasing error of the obtained robot position. This problem is also known from the scope of inertial navigation, but the transfer of the respective concepts of maintaining merely errors to mobile robot localization has, with few exceptions, been neglected so far. In this paper, the position error is related to the encoder errors in an augmented state-space system. As done in inertial guidance, the position error is estimated by an error-state Kalman filter making use of general complementary sensor information as, for example, absolute position measurements or redundantly detected movement increments. Specifically, the usage of a rate gyroscope as a complementary sensor is examined. This case is somehow special, as it implies a correlation of the overall error model and the observation, demanding a modification of the Kalman filter equations. The derived filter is embedded in the localization scheme of the robot in partly closed-loop mode allowing a mutual online-correction of the encoder readings and the gyroscope output. As demonstrated by exemplary trajectories, the proposed localization scheme can substantially improve the position estimation. Furthermore, it can easily be modified to accept, for example, absolute position measurements as a complement to its own position estimation.
An O(N) iterative solution to the Poisson equation in low-level vision problems

In this paper, we present a novel iterative numerical solution to the Poisson equation whose solution is needed in a variety of low-level vision problems. Our algorithm is an O(N) (N being the number of discretization points) iterative technique and does not make any assumptions on the shape of the input domain unlike the polyhedral domain assumption in the proof of convergence of multigrid techniques. We present two major results namely, a generalized version of the capacitance matrix theorem and a theorem on O(N) convergence of the alternating direction implicit method (ADI) used in our algorithm. Using this generalized theorem, we express the linear system corresponding to the discretized Poisson equation as a Lyapunov and a capacitance matrix equation. The former is solved using the ADI method while the solution to the later is obtained using a modified bi-conjugate gradient algorithm. We demonstrate the algorithm performance on synthesized data for the surface reconstruction and the SFS problems. <<ETX>>