Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A two‐point calibration method for quantifying organic binary mixtures using secondary ion mass spectrometry in the presence of matrix effects

Quantification of the composition of binary mixtures in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is required in the analyses of technological materials from organic electronics to drug delivery systems. In some instances, it is found that there is a linear dependence between the composition, expressed as a ratio of component volumes, and the secondary ion intensities, expressed as a ratio of intensities of ions from each component. However, this ideal relationship fails in the presence of matrix effects and linearity is observed only over small compositional ranges, particularly in the dilute limits. In this paper, we assess an empirical method, which introduces a power law dependence between the intensity ratio and the volume fraction ratio. A previously published physical model of the organic matrix effect is employed to test the limits of the method and a mixed system of 3,3′‐bis(9‐carbazolyl) biphenyl and tris(2‐phenylpyridinato)iridium (III) is used to demonstrate the method. This paper introduces a two‐point calibration, which determines both the exponent in the power law and the sensitivity factor for the conversion of ion intensity ratio into volume fraction ratio. We demonstrate that this provides significantly improved accuracy, compared with a one‐point calibration, over a wide compositional range in SIMS quantification and with a weak dependence on matrix effects. Because the method enables the use of clearly identifiable secondary ions for quantitative purposes and mitigates commonly observed matrix effects in organic materials, the two‐point calibration method could be of significant benefit to SIMS analysts.
DESIGNING A REVERSE SUPPLY CHAIN NETWORK FOR PRODUCT REFURBISHMENT

Shortened product life cycle resulting in an increasing number of obsolete products has caused growing environmental concerns. In recent years, product recovery, which is one way of overcoming the waste problem, is becoming popular. To effectively implement product recovery or refurbishment activities, a reverse supply chain network design that can facilitate reverse flow of used products in an efficient way is required. In this paper, an approach to design a reverse supply chain network for product refurbishment, incorporating multi-objective functions, multi-period planning horizons, and dealing with uncertainties is presented. This approach consists of mathematical and simulation models; mathematical model in the form of mixed integer programming is used to model the multi-objective, multi-period problem of network design, whereas simulation models are used to capture uncertainties. Due to its complexities, spanning-tree based genetic algorithms are employed to find non-dominated solutions, and preferred non-dominated solutions are simulated under several scenarios of uncertainties to determine the best-preferred reverse supply chain network design.
Effects of Information Technology on Rural Economic Development from the Perspective of Smart City

This paper introduces the new concept to address the influence of information technology on rural economic development by an empirical study from the perspective of smart city. Moreover, this paper makes a quantitative analysis of information's impact on rural economic development from the perspective of demand and analyzes the relationship between information technology and regional economic development in rural areas during the construction of smart city as the starting point.
Comparison among Spinal, Epidural, and General Anesthesia for Knee Arthroscopy: A Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Original Research Article Introduction: Basically, knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows doctors to view the knee joint without making a large incision through the skin and other soft tissues. It is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of problems in the knee joint. In this procedure, surgeons make a very small incision and insert a tiny camera, arthroscope into the knee. As it is a painful procedure so anesthesia is necessary here. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare among spinal, epidural, and general anesthesia for knee arthroscopy in adults. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of Anesthesia, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, Bangladesh during the period from July 2019 to June 2020. In total 66 adult patients for arthroscopies were selected as the study population for the study. All the participants were randomly divided into 3 equal groups for using spinal, epidural, and general anesthesia separately. For collecting, processing, analyzing and disseminating data MS Excel and SPSS version 20 were used as per need. Result: In analyzing the major symptoms during follow up period we did not find any significant correlation among the groups (Group-I Vs Group II: P =0.54; Group-II Vs Group-III: P=0.37; Group-1 Vs Group-III: P=0.13). Finally in analyzing the satisfaction scores we found significant correlation between Group I and Group II where P value was 0.014. Comparatively the best results were found in Group I where 16 (73.73%), 3 (13.64%), 2 (9.09%) and 1 (4.55%) patient found Very satisfied, Satisfied, Neutral and Dissatisfied leveled outcomes. Conclusion: In our study comparatively the best results were found in general anesthesia group. So for good efficacy and for cutting the treatment duration general anesthesia may be the best choice. These findings may be helpful in further similar studies.
Sviluppo e implementazione di moduli in ambiente Matlab-Simulink per la realizzazione di un simulatore di rete energetica distribuita

Il presente rapporto tecnico illustra i risultati ottenuti in relazione alle attivita previste dall’Accordo di Collaborazione tra ENEA e Universita di Roma “Sapienza” DIAEE – Sezione di Ingegneria Elettrica, per una attivita di ricerca dal titolo “Sviluppo e implementazione di moduli in ambiente MatLAB Simulink per la realizzazione un simulatore dinamico di rete energetica distribuita”, che si innesta nel Progetto dal titolo “Strumenti e tecnologie per l'efficienza energetica nel settore dei servizi”, finanziato nell’ambito dell’Accordo di Programma MSE-ENEA sulla Ricerca di Sistema Elettrico. Oggetto del contratto e la realizzazione di modelli che simulano il comportamento energetico di una rete termica per usi civili, per integrare i modelli gia realizzati nella piattaforma ODESSE allo scopo di rendere la stessa piattaforma in grado di simulare il comportamento termico di una rete energetica distribuita. In particolare l’attivita ha previsto l’analisi delle problematiche relative alle diverse configurazioni di rete (ad anello chiuso, radiali, ibride) inerenti il comportamento termico in regime stazionario, includendo i componenti impiantistici che realizzano l’interfaccia di collegamento fra la rete e i nodi. Il contributo del DIAEE nell’ambito di questo contratto si e sviluppato in due fasi: Fase A: Definizione e implementazione di modelli per la simulazione del comportamento energetico di una rete termica per usi civili. Fase B: Applicazione del modello di rete termica ad una tipologia impiantistica reale. I risultati sono descritti nel presente rapporto. In particolare l’attivita di ricerca ha consentito: 1. la definizione dei modelli energetici della rete termica necessari a collegare i nodi di carico (edifici) e quelli di generazione, basati sul comportamento reale dei sistemi impiantistici in configurazione “generazione distribuita”; 2. l’implementazione dei suddetti modelli in ambiente MatLab/Simulink in modo da essere integrabili con i modelli di edificio e di impianti di generazione gia realizzati nella piattaforma ODESSE.
Conformal window manufacturing process development and demonstration for polycrystalline materials

Conformal windows pose new and unique challenges to manufacturing due to the shape, measurement of, and requested hard polycrystalline materials. Their non-rotationally symmetric shape and high departure surfaces do not lend themselves to traditional optical fabrication processes. The hard crystalline materials are another challenge due to increased processing time and possibility of grain decoration. We have developed and demonstrated a process for manufacturing various conformal windows out of fused silica, glass, zinc-sulfide multispectral, and spinel. The current process involves CNC generation/grinding, VIBE polishing, and sub-aperture figure correction. The CNC generation step incorporates an ultrasonic assisted grinding machine; the machine settings and tool are being continuously optimized for minimal sub-surface damage and surface form error. In VIBE, polishing to less than 5 nm rms surface roughness while maintaining overall form error is accomplished with a full aperture conformal polishing tool and with rapid removal rates. The final sub-aperture polishing step corrects the overall form error. Currently we utilize our CMM for surface form measurement and have shown that we can produce spinel conformal windows with form error within ±10 micrometers of the nominal shape, without grain decoration. This conformal window manufacturing process is continuously optimized for cost reduction and precision of the final optic.
Telerobotics in medicine and surgery

Summary. The application of telerobotic technologies to medicine and surgery strictly depends on research and development in five main areas: functionality, environment, physical constraints, communication, and security. The clinical application of robotic technology in the field of microsurgery, orthopaedic surgery, and minimally invasive surgery has shown promising results, pushing researchers to further develop computer-aided surgery as well as diagnostics systems and microrobots. Telemanipulation, interface technologies, sensors, vision systems, virtual reality and function integration are employed to re-design the operating theatre, thus enhancing future applications of robotics in surgery. Because of the restrictions in the surgical field, the construction of miniaturized mechanisms is required, being grounded on different technologies: silicon micro-mechanics, surface micro-engineering and LIGA technology. Nanotechnology, memory alloys and superelastic materials are also employed. Other technologic.
Visualizing Evolution of Knowledge Management Capability in Construction Firms

AbstractA firm, as a dynamic, evolving, and quasi-autonomous system of knowledge production and application, develops knowledge management capability (KMC) through strategic learning to sustain competitive advantages in a dynamic environment. Knowledge governance mechanisms and knowledge processes connect and interact with each other, thereby forming learning mechanisms that execute double-loop learning. This in turn drives the genesis and evolution of KMC to modify operating routines that contribute to the desired performance. This paper reports a study that was performed within a context of construction contractors, a type of project-based firm, which operates within the dynamic Hong Kong construction market. The writers used a multiple-case design to incorporate evidence from the literature and interviews, with the help of system dynamics modeling, to visualize the evolution of KMC. The writers’ paper demonstrates the feasibility of visualizing how a firm’s KMC correlates with its operating environment.
Implementation and Effectiveness of Novel Therapeutic Substances for Advanced Malignant Melanoma in Saxony, Germany, 2010–2020—Cohort Study Based on Administrative Data

Simple Summary Novel therapies have become available in the routine care of metastatic melanoma in recent years. We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on SHI data from Germany (2010–2020) to investigate overall mortality between patients that received different substance classes. We included 463 patients with distant metastases in the main analysis. Classical chemotherapeutics (CTx) as well as targeted therapeutics (TT) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) showed protective effects after treatment initiation, which decreased over time. Predicted survival of an average patient over five years since first metastasis was best by sequential treatment with ICI and TT. The worst survival was seen in patients treated with TT alone. However, it is conceivable that the observed high survival differences were overestimated due to bias, such as confounding by indication. It is likely that patients treated exclusively with TT were in an extremely serious condition and died before they could have received an ICI. Abstract (1) Background: Targeted (TT) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies have become available in the routine care of metastatic melanoma in recent years. (2) Objective: We compared mortality in patients with metastatic melanoma and different systemic therapies. (3) Methods: A retrospective cohort study, based on pseudonymized health insurance data of about two million individuals from Saxony, Germany, was conducted for the years 2010 to 2020. Only patients with an advanced stage, i.e., distant metastases were considered for the main analysis. Relative survival since metastasis and predicted survivor curves derived from a Cox model were used to assess potential differences in mortality. (4) Results: Relative survival was highest in the subgroup with sequential use of ICI and TT. All treatments except interferon had significant hazard ratios (HR) in the Cox model with time-dependent effects indicating a protective effect after treatment initiation (HR 0.01–0.146) but decreasing over time (HR 1.351–2.310). The predicted survivor curves revealed best survival under ICI-TT treatment and worst survival under TT treatment alone. (5) Conclusions: We found real-world evidence for survival benefits of patients with metastatic melanoma who received sequential ICI and TT treatment. It is conceivable that the observed high survival differences were overestimated due to bias, such as confounding by indication.
Explainable neural network-based approach to Kano categorisation of product features from online reviews

ABSTRACT The Kano model is an extensively used technique for understanding different types of customer preferences. It classifies product features based on the effects of their performance on the overall customer satisfaction. Compared to surveys, numerous online reviews can be easily collected at a lower cost. This paper proposes an explainable neural network-based approach for the Kano categorisation of product features from online reviews. First, product feature words are identified by clustering nouns based on word embedding. Subsequently, the sentiments of the product feature words are determined by conducting the Vader sentiment analysis. Finally, the effects of the sentiments of each product feature on the star rating are estimated using explainable neural networks. Based on their effects, the product features are classified into the Kano categories. A case study of three Fitbit models is performed to validate the proposed approach. The Kano categorisation by the proposed approach is compared with the results of a previous product feature word clustering and ensemble neural network-based method. The results exhibit that the former presents a more reliable performance than the latter. The proposed approach is automated after providing several hyperparameters and can assist companies in conducting the Kano analysis with increased speed and efficiency.
Hybrid power electronic controller for combined operation of constant power and maximum power point tracking for single-phase grid-tied photovoltaic systems

This study presents a hybrid technique that offers constant power operation for single-phase grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems while performing maximum power point tracking function. A boost converter and a line commutated inverter (LCI) have been used for interfacing PV array with utility grid. Fixed firing angle of the LCI keeps the dc-link voltage constant and the boost converter extracts maximum power from the solar PV array by simply adjusting the duty ratio of the boost converter. A low-capacity battery bank connected at the dc link is used to deliver constant power to grid. Harmonic filter is eliminated as the system inherently delivers quality supply with reduced current harmonics. PIC microcontrollers have been programmed for generating pulses to the inverter and the boost converter. The system has been simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and the simulation results are presented. The parameters of a PV panel rated for 100 W, 21.5 V and 6.83 A have been used for the simulation. Experiments have been conducted on the 21.5 V, 6.83 A PV panel for obtaining a constant power of 80 W with varying irradiation and the results correlate with the simulation study.
Process capability vector for multivariate nonlinear profiles

We present a two-phase methodology based on the concept of depth to measure the capability of processes characterized by the functional relationship of multivariate nonlinear profile data, treated as multivariate functional observations. In the first phase, the modified tolerance region is estimated using a historical data set, while in the second, a current process is assessed using the proposed three-component vector, where the first component measures the volume ratio between the current process region and the modified tolerance region; the second measures the probability that the median of the current process is within the modified tolerance region, and the third measures the probability that the current process region is inside the modified tolerance region. To facilitate interpretation, a single index is derived from this capability vector. A simulation study is carried out to assess the performance of the proposed method. An real example illustrates the applicability of this approach.
Empirical study of motivation, challenges and strategies in the use of electronic information resources by postgraduate library users in South- east Nigerian Federal Universities

It is one thing to acquire electronic information resources (EIRs) and quite another thing to use them. This paper explores several factors that motivate postgraduate researchers to use the e-resources available in their university libraries. The study reveals challenges that constitute inhibiting factors to EIRs use and strategies that will encourage maximum utilization are recommended. The research design adopted in this study is a descriptive survey. The sample size for the study is one hundred and twenty (120) respondents. The simple random sampling method was used to select five (5%) of the total population for the study. Two complementary instruments were used for collecting primary data; questionnaire and unstructured interview of Heads of ICT Unit of the university libraries. At varying percentages, the study reveals that PG students are motivated to use the EIRs in their university libraries because they found e-resources to be: More Informative; Easy access and use; Save time; more useful or Less expensive. The study also reveal that the challenges to use as: Insufficient computers with Internet facilities; Incessant power outage; Slow Internet connectivity; Lack of ICT skills; Difficulty in finding relevant information and inadequate IT Infrastructure. Strategies to improve motivation to use of EIRs, among others include: Increase ICT infrastructure/facilities; Have stable electrical backup Information Literacy Training for users. Key words: Electronic Information Resources, motivation of EIRs use, PG library users, Nigerian Federal Universities.
Optimizing formation movement over heteregeneous terrain

Abstract : Formation movement is vital to preserve security among its units during military operations. We plan movement of a military formation over real, or simulated terrain, maximally preserving the relative positions of units in formation while it avoids barriers, and while its units avoid obstacles. Terrain is divided into homogeneous cells (say, squares), and a pair of neighboring cells is adjacent if the formation can transit between these cells while avoiding barriers with sufficient clearance. We induce a graph from these adjacencies, and determine the movement cost on each arc with a fine time-step simulation that finds local movement vectors to preserve relative formation position while avoiding approach too close to barriers or obstacles (this emulates solving differential equations with Euler's method). We then nominate an origin and a destination, select a shortest path, and repeat the time-step simulation over this path to determine the individual positions of each unit as the formation makes its transit. Game designers and robot controllers have published schemes to guide formation movement, but their movements can penetrate barriers, and myopically get caught in cul-de-sacs. By contrast, we guarantee that if a path exists that avoids these pitfalls, we will find it.
A flexible bivariate distribution for count data expressing data dispersion

Abstract The bivariate Poisson distribution is a natural choice for modeling bivariate count data. Its constraining assumption, however, limits model flexibility in some contexts. This work considers the trivariate reduction method to construct a Bivariate Conway-Maxwell-Poisson (BCMP) distribution, which accommodates over- and under-dispersed data. The approach produces marginals that have a flexible form which includes several special case distributions for certain parameters. Moreover, this BCMP model performs well relative to other bivariate models for count data, including BCMP models based on different methods of construction. As a result, the trivariate-reduced BCMP distribution is a flexible alternative for modeling bivariate count data containing data dispersion.
Wavelet packet based damage detection in beam-like structures without baseline modal parameters

In this paper, a new approach for damage detection in beam-like structures is presented. The method can be used without the need for baseline modal parameters of the undamaged structure. Another advantage of the proposed method is that it can be implemented using a small number of sensors. In the proposed technique, the measured dynamic signals are decomposed into the wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) components, the power spectrum density (PSD) of each component is estimated and then a damage localisation indicator is computed to indicate the structural damage. The proposed method is firstly illustrated with a simulated beam and the identified damage is satisfactory with assumed damage. Then, the method is applied to a steel beam. The effect of damage location and the effects of wavelet type and the decomposition level are examined. The results show that the proposed method has great potential in crack detection of beam-like structures.