Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drop Test System with Orientation Repeatability for 3C Products

Manufacturing of 3C (computer, communication and consumer electronics) products toward weight-reduction, thin-wall and minified-size is an inescapable trend for the future 3C industries. As a result, impact-induced damage becomes a great concern in design engineer regarding the robustness and reliability of 3C products. Traditionally, the mechanical performance of 3C product is mainly verified through physical drop test, which vast investment in cost and time is spent on proto-type model and development of experimental setup. It is necessary to know the impact force, acceleration and impact orientation when the products contact the ground. In this study, a physical drop/impact test system had setup. The drop/impact test system, associated with impact orientation control mechanism, fast speed visual surveillance system, and data acquisition/processing system is completed. A set of correlated spatial equations provides a relative accurate methodology to estimate the impact instance orientation, which is a key factor to structure design from impact damage. Based on the current study, it shows that drop/impact simulation plays an important role in design requirement of thin-wall products. It was found that this system provides excellent repeatability on impact angle control and spatial orientation analysis. Drop test for mouse housing is carried out at four different designed orientations and 50 tests are performed in each drop orientation. As long as the repeatability can be well controlled, a single frame, instead of continuous frames as taken by the HSC, is able to serve such a purpose with certain confidence levels. The repeatability of this tester is verified by four different drop orientation tests. The statistics show that the repeatability of the current drop tester can be achieved at 97.2% within plusmn5deg from a total of 200 drops. Finally, the maximum accelerations from the accelerometer outputs also indicate that those tests are very consistent. Therefore, it is crucial for the CAE users to understand the correlation effects between the simulation variation (such as structural stress/strain, impact force and acceleration), impact parameters (such as material definition, impact instance angle, part connection definition, etc.) and structural mechanical performance. Drop-impact performance should be well recognized during the product design. Experimental validation, robust modeling, analysis skill, and material property databases are the key factors to a future application. Accurate control on impact angle variation, impact acceleration, and numerical simulation are investigated and presented.
Quantification of normal cerebral oxygen extraction and oxygen metabolism by phase‐based MRI susceptometry: evaluation of repeatability using two different imaging protocols

Global oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were quantified in a test–retest study. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) data, required for CMRO2 estimation, were obtained using dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC‐MRI). OEF and CMRO2 were quantified using two separate data sets, that is, conventional high‐resolution (HR) gradient echo (GRE) phase maps as well as echo planar imaging (EPI) phase maps taken from the baseline (precontrast) part of the DSC‐MRI time series. The EPI phase data were included to elucidate whether an extra HR‐GRE scan is needed to obtain information about OEF and CMRO2, or if this information can be extracted from the DSC‐MRI experiment only.
Balance and Strength—Estimating the Maximum Prey‐Lifting Potential of the Large Predatory Dinosaur Carcharodontosaurus saharicus

Motivated by the work of palaeo‐art “Double Death (2011),” a biomechanical analysis using three‐dimensional digital models was conducted to assess the potential of a pair of the large, Late Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Carcharodontosaurus saharicus to successfully lift a medium‐sized sauropod and not lose balance. Limaysaurus tessonei from the Late Cretaceous of South America was chosen as the sauropod as it is more completely known, but closely related to the rebbachisaurid sauropods found in the same deposits with C. saharicus. The body models incorporate the details of the low‐density regions associated with lungs, systems of air sacs, and pneumatized axial skeletal regions. These details, along with the surface meshes of the models, were used to estimate the body masses and centers of mass of the two animals. It was found that a 6 t C. saharicus could successfully lift a mass of 2.5 t and not lose balance as the combined center of mass of the body and the load in the jaws would still be over the feet. However, the neck muscles were found to only be capable of producing enough force to hold up the head with an added mass of 424 kg held at the midpoint of the maxillary tooth row. The jaw adductor muscles were more powerful, and could have held a load of 512 kg. The more limiting neck constraint leads to the conclusion that two, adult C. saharicus could successfully lift a L. tessonei with a maximum body mass of 850 kg and a body length of 8.3 m. Anat Rec, 298:1367–1375, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Labour Productivity Growth in Canadian Manufacturing: A Regional Analysis

In this paper an analysis of growth in labour productivity in the manufacturing sectors of six Canadian regions over the period 1962–84 is presented. A review of trends in labour productivity indicates that significant regional differences persist throughout the study period. Specifically, labour productivities in Atlantic Canada and in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are significantly lower than those in central Canada and the far western provinces. A model that decomposes growth in labour productivity into the contributions of growth in the capital-labour ratio, scale economies, and technical progress while controlling for business cycle effects is estimated for each of five Canadian regions. Alternative specifications are employed in order to help distinguish between the effects of internal scale economies and agglomeration economies. The results support the hypothesis that agglomeration economies make a significant contribution to growth in labour productivity. Although rapid growth in the capital — labour ratio contributed significantly to growth in labour productivity in the Atlantic region, it was not sufficient to erase regional differences.
The comparison of heat transfer through the smart textile firefighter suit

This paper contains measurements and data evaluations of a heat transfer through the smart textile used for a firefighter suit. The aim of the whole project is to predict the time to a firefighter burning and to warn him in advance. At the beginning it is important to understand the way of the heat transfer through the textile. An infrared heater and propane-butane flames were used as a heat source. 3 experiments described in this paper were designed. We were interested in the influence of the heat source type, homogeneity of a heat field and influence of a surface sensors rotation. During our experiments no significant differences in the heat source type were observed, as well as during observation of the sensors rotation. Results of the heat field homogeneity are questionable and after a discussion we suppose that some changes will be needed in the experiment design.
Riding the Roller Coaster: Fiscal Policies of Nonrenewable Resource Exporters in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper analyzes recent fiscal policies of nonrenewable resource exporting countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of sharp swings in resource prices. Fiscal policies were predominantly procyclical during the boom period 2003-08 but to significantly differing degrees within the sample. Countries that pursued more conservative fiscal policies during the boom were then able to implement countercyclical fiscal policies during the downturn; moreover, they reduced or maintained their fiscal vulnerability to resource shocks, while their long-term fiscal sustainability positions improved or were broadly unchanged. However, these dimensions of fiscal policy did not seem to be linked to fiscal rules or resource funds, as countries with such institutions displayed a broad range of fiscal responses to the recent cycle.
An algorithm for minimum bandpass sampling frequency for multiple RF signals in SDR systems

The principal idea behind the design of a software radio is to place the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters as near the antenna as possible, such that most of the radio functionalities can be implemented on a programmable digital signal processor. One way lo achieve this is by direct bandpass sampling of the desired RF signal band to baseband frequency. However, the design of a software radio receiver becomes more complicated when two or more distinct RF signals are to be received. The traditional approach for this case has been to bandpass sample a continuous span of spectrum containing all the desired RF signals. The disadvantage with this approach is that the required sampling rate depends upon the span of spectrum, instead of the information bandwidths of the signals. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm to compute the minimum bandpass sampling frequency for direct downconversion of multiple distinct RF signal bands simultaneously. The novelty of this algorithm is that, at each iteration, it not only checks for a valid sampling frequency, but also determines the next possible minimum value of sampling frequency
A Dimension Distance-Based SCMA Codebook Design

For sparse code multiple access (SCMA) with traditional codebooks, the initial information of message passing algorithm (MPA) receiver is easily susceptible to noise and multipath fading, and the convergence reliability of the first detected user in each decision process is unsatisfactory. Driven by these problems, an optimized codebook design for SCMA is presented in this paper. In the proposed SCMA codebook design, we first use turbo trellis coded modulation technology to design a basic complex multi-dimension constellation, which can increase the minimum Euclidean distance. Then, phase rotation and coordinate interleaving are added on the constellation to increase diversity and coordinate product distance between any constellation points. Based on these, we propose a novel criterion to select the most appropriate permutation set, which can capture as large as the sum of distance between dimensions of interfering codewords multiplexed on each resource node and maximize the diversity over the set of the sums of distance between dimensions of interfering codewords multiplexed on all resource nodes. Benefiting from the proposed codebook design, the quality of initial information of MPA receiver on each resource node and the convergence reliability of the first detected user in each decision process will be improved. Simulation results show that the bit error rate performance of SCMA with the proposed codebooks outperforms SCMA with traditional codebooks, low-density signature, and orthogonal frequency division multiple access under the same load.
The role of institutions in economic development : Gunnar Myrdal lecture

This paper contains the text of a lecture delivered by Nobel laureate Professor Douglass C. North in March 2003, the first in a second series of lectures in honour of Gunnar Myrdal (the first Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe). The lecture highlights the important role played by institutions (defined as including formal rules such as the rule of law and property rights, as well as informal constraints relating to beliefs, traditions and social norms) in promoting socio-economic development. Professor North argues that the considerable gaps in per capita income between richer and poorer countries reflect the quality of their institutions. However, in a continuously evolving world economy, there is no single strategy for institutional design to fit all countries seeking sustained economic growth and development.
Harnessing collective expertise

Explains how a leading global law firm manages its market and client research. Outlines the firm's divisions, business activities and client base. Explains in detail how the firm uses business research, covering use of market intelligence on the business issues that an individual client faces, and the gathering of intelligence about the client, to disclose the nature and extent of the firm's ambitions to advise the organization concerned. Discusses the staffing of a law firm's business research capability, pointing out that not only staff expertise but also confidentiality concerns mean that it is not always efficient for lawyers to access internal and external information sources directly. Suggests that defining the minimum business research necessary improves the usefulness of the information delivered and saves the firm time — and that removing the uncertainty about what is required improves job satisfaction as well.
Radio Map Update Automation for WiFi Positioning Systems

This paper presents a novel method to reduce the recalibration costs of a radio map by automatically updating the radio map. The appearance frequencies of access points (APs) detected from user feedback data are mainly used for the update. The proposed method appeared superior to previous methods, especially in its ability to update newly installed APs in the radio map. According to the experiment conducted for the radio map of 233 Seoul subway stops, the proposed method was effective for updating APs with weak as well as strong signal strengths.
Developing a Framework and Priorities to Promote Mobility Among Older Adults

Mobility, broadly defined as movement in all of its forms from ambulation to transportation, is critical to supporting optimal aging. This article describes two projects to develop a framework and a set of priority actions designed to promote mobility among community-dwelling older adults. Project 1 involved a concept-mapping process to solicit and organize action items into domains from a broad group of stakeholders to create the framework. Concept mapping uses qualitative group processes with multivariate statistical analysis to represent the ideas visually through maps. A snowball technique was used to identify stakeholders (n = 211). A 12-member steering committee developed a focus prompt, “One specific action that can lead to positive change in mobility for older adults in the United States is . ” Project 2 included a Delphi technique (n = 43) with three iterations to prioritize four to six items using results from the concept mapping rating process. Project 1 resulted in 102 items across nine domains (Research to Practice, Independence and Engagement, Built Environment and Safety, Transportation, Policy, Housing and Accessibility, Community Supports, Training, and Coordinated Action). The number of items ranged from 6 to 18 per domain. Project 2 resulted in agreement on four items that reflect the importance of promoting environmental strategies through collaborative initiatives aimed at planning and best practices focusing on environmental enhancements or transit, training of professionals, and integration of mobility into state and local public health plans. These findings can be applied to support coordinated, multidisciplinary research and practice to promote mobility among older adults.
Reliability of solar keratosis clinical diagnosis: A prospective study

Usually solar keratoses (SK) are diagnosed clinically. However other diseases may clinically present as erythematous macules, papules or patches on sun‐exposed areas; therefore the histopathology remains the gold standard diagnostic tool. Our study, which assessed the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), showed that one in 20 clinically diagnosed SK lesions grade I–II identified by board‐certified dermatologists were rosacea and only one in 40 were malignant lesions. These findings should be considered by clinicians who treat clinically diagnosed grade I–II SK without response to treatment or diagnose the recurrence of SK after PDT.
Computer and informatics issues, and policy for third world development

Abstract This paper explains why the microelectronics and computer revolution has become a subject of extraordinary importance for the developing countries, because of the rapidity of technological change and the resulting global impacts on production and consumption. It stresses that a computer and informatics strategy must be developed in the national context, rather than piecemeal, and offers a framework for policy analysis in relation to fundamental national objectives. A basic decisionmaking model for assessing the demand for computer services is developed. The paper identifies the principal technical, national, and international issues arising from the information revolution, discusses the various policy options available, and describes how a practical computer policy might be formulated and implemented in a developing country. A case study of Sri Lanka is presented, involving the successful application of this approach to computer and informatics policy analysis and implementation. Finally, the eme.
Tool support for geographically dispersed inspection teams

Software inspection is one of software engineering's best practices for detecting and removing defects early in the development process. However, the prevalence of manual activities and face-to-face meetings within software inspections hinder their applicability in the context of global software development, where software engineering activities are spread across multiple sites and even multiple countries. In this article, we describe a web-based tool, called the Internet-Based Inspection System (IBIS), that aims to support geographically dispersed inspection teams. On the basis of findings from empirical studies of software inspections, the IBIS tool adopts a reengineered inspection process to minimize synchronous activities and coordination problems. We present the underlying process model, how the tool is used within the inspection stages, and experiences using the IBIS tool as the enabling infrastructure for distributed software inspections. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Employees' effort-reward imbalance in the banking industry - a discussion paper

During the last years, the banking industry has faced several challenges and crises leading to the closure of banks, the foundation of bad banks or to temporary nationalisation of banks. While in the USA or in Japan, investment and commercial banks are separated from each other, in Continental Europe, especially in Germany and Austria, universal banks are the rule. Here, the losses produced in investment banking generally influence also the traditional saving and loans business directly. Employees in the saving and loans business face increasing pressure due to general risk adjustments or the external risk seen by the markets, or just due to changing governance structures in the service sector. The present paper discusses the health effects on employees in the banking industry using own and secondary empirical data. Especially employees with direct customer contact face higher imbalances between effort and reward and show negative health effects.
Economic Growth and Child Undernutrition in Africa

Despite recent improvements in economic performance, undernutrition rates in Africa appear to have improved much less and rather inconsistently across the continent. We examine to what extent there is an empirical linkage between income growth and reductions of child undernutrition in Africa. We do this by pooling all DHS surveys for African countries, control for other correlates of undernutrition, and add country-level GDP per capita. We find that increases in GDP per capita are associated with lower individual probabilities of being underweight of about 2.5 percent per one hundred dollars. This association becomes insignificant when time fixed effects are added to the regression. Other explanatory variables such as mother’s education, socioeconomic status, and poor mother’s nutritional status are quantitatively more important than economic growth suggesting that other intervention to affect these correlates of undernutrition are likely to be more promising than relying on improved economic conditions.
Model Driven Multimedia Development Description

Modeling has traditionally been an important part of the multimedia software development process as it allows developers to tackle complex problems by using abstraction and hiding technical details. A models goal is to predict problems early on in design phases to avoid problems during implementation. Since defects can be detected earlier on in the software development process, the use of models reduces maintenance costs. Model-based software development is used for more than just visualizing the code or design of the system; it is used to produce source code directly from the model. Traditional model management and service system which is the key component of DSS only supports the single format model in the special application field. Based on requirements of multi-model-aided decision, this paper designs the general model management and service system which provides the general management and service for different format models on network. The system proposes the solution to manage different format models by providing model frame generator which aims to analyze decision problem top-down and model application frame which aims to integrate model function bottom-up.
Repertoires of emotion regulation: A person-centered approach to assessing emotion regulation strategies and links to psychopathology

Despite growing research on emotion regulation (ER) strategies and psychopathology, research has primarily focused on identifying one-to-one associations between ER strategies and symptoms. Thus, little is known about how patterns in the repertoires of ER strategies are associated with different mental disorders. We utilised latent class analysis to identify distinct repertoires of ER strategies, and their links with various psychopathology domains (i.e., anxiety, depression, disordered eating, borderline personality). Participants (N = 531) reported on their use of seven ER strategies in six recalled stressful contexts, as well as on their symptoms of psychopathology. We identified five classes of ER strategies: Low Regulators (n = 168), High Regulators (n = 140), Adaptive Regulators (n = 99), Worriers/Ruminators (n = 96) and Avoiders (n = 28). Generally, High Regulators and Worriers/Ruminators endorsed greater levels of psychopathology, relative to Low and Adaptive Regulators. Our findings underscore the importance of characterising the dynamics of ER repertoires when seeking to understand links between ER strategies and psychopathology.