Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positive matrix factorization on elemental concentrations of PM10 samples collected in areas within, proximal and far from mining and power station operations in Greece.

The identification of PM sources and their contribution to measured PM concentrations is crucial for the environmental policy making since the findings be able to conduce to the development of relevant legislation in order to achieve effective air quality manage. In this study, the sources of PM10 at three receptors with different characteristics, within the Western Macedonia (WM) in NW Greece, were investigated: S1 in the center of Kozani, a medium sized city located at the southern edge of the industrial axis of WM, where urban activities and traffic density occur. S2 in the city of Ptolemaida, a medium sized city located in the centre of industrial zone, and S3 in the village of Eratyra, a rural residential district outside of the industrial area. For this purpose the multivariate Positive Matrix Factorization (EPA PMF 5.0) receptor model was applied on elemental data. Specifically, PM10 samples, obtained by filtration during 1-year sampling campaign, were analyzed by ICP-MS instrument. Twenty five elements were detected at quantifiable concentrations in the investigated PM samples. For the particle samples obtained in areas within and proximal from mining and power station operations, a six-factor model gave source profiles that attributed to be vehicle exhaust, road dust, soil dust, coal combustion, oil combustion and biomass burning. Furthermore, at the background site, the major contributors were biomass burning, soil dust and oil burning while no distant transport from industrial axis was recorded.
Hybrid Orthogonal Code Sequences for High-Density Synchronous CDMA Systems

One of the primary tasks of the mobile system designers in order to support high density of devices in a CDMA system is to create a code sequence with a capacity for large number of spreading code sequences having low cross-correlation values between them, in order to ensure accommodation of large number of users and to minimise the effect of multiple access interference. In this research, the design for a novel hybrid orthogonal very large set (HOVLS) code sequence is proposed for high density mobile application scenarios. The design and development of both fixed and variable spreading factor code sequences are presented in this thesis. Both type of code sequences have been implemented via simulation using Matlab/Simulink. The performance of the code sequences has been evaluated and compared with that of existing code sequences. The proposed code sequences are more advantageous for high density mobile networks. The unique feature of the fixed length HOVLS code sequence is that its ACF, CCF, and BER performances are similar to that of orthogonal Gold code sequence and orthogonal m-sequence under Rayleigh flat and frequency selective fading channel conditions while having a significantly higher capacity than those orthogonal code sequences. The proposed HOVLS code sequence could support 134 different cells which is more than twice than that of orthogonal Gold code sequence and orthogonal m-sequence. To the knowledge of the author, this is the largest reported family size in the literature for an orthogonal code sequence for CDMA applications.In order to support variable data rate, fixed length HOVLS code sequence was developed into orthogonal variable spreading factor code sequence. It is shown that the proposed OVSF code sequence has slightly better CCF than those of OVSF Gold code sequence and m-sequence in terms of CM (correlation margin). The ACF of the proposed OVSF code sequence is similar to those of OVSF Gold code sequence and m-sequence. The proposed OVSF code sequence possesses comparable BER performance to those of orthogonal Gold code sequence and orthogonal m-sequence under flat fading channel condition. Whereas, the BER performance of the proposed OVSF code sequence is slightly better than that of Gold code sequence and OVSF m-sequence under frequency selective fading channel.Therefore, the proposed HOVLS code sequence is appropriate code sequence in CDMA systems than those of orthogonal Gold code sequence and orthogonal m-sequence for both fixed and variable rate high density network applications.
Gaining Momentum: Warm Mix Asphalt

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is the latest high impact innovation in the asphalt industry. Surprisingly, WMA is not a new mix or materials system. At the most basic level, it is a means of producing an asphalt mix without heating the aggregate to the normal hot mix asphalt (HMA) levels. This article provides an overview of WMA technology, which allows mixing and placement at temperatures significantly lower than those used for HMA. Using one of the WMA processes, asphalt mixes can be produced as much as 100 deg F lower than by conventional HMA means.
Physical Fidelity of Driving Simulators

Driving simulators are often used to explore important facets of the transportation landscape. They have been used to measure driver response to new technologies like crash avoidance systems or to assess the effects of distracting tasks on situation awareness. Both the authors and the readers of these studies hope that the results obtained in the simulator can be generalized in the real world. But in deciding how or even if such a generalization is warranted users are confronted with questions about the fidelity of the simulation. Did the simulator accurately represent the critical aspects of the driving experience? In addition to the visual scene, did the driver receive other cues from audio, motion, or tactile perception? How accurately were the cues delivered? And most critically, how might the known errors in the simulation affect the results? An important way to begin answering these questions is to gain an understanding of what contributes to the physical fidelity of a driving simulator. The authors introduce a four-step framework that describes how any physical aspect of the driving experience (e.g., the acceleration that occurs when a vehicle changes lanes) is transformed from an abstract representation into a sensation. The framework allows us to examine the types of errors and distortions that occur at each stage of the cue-rendering process.
SARTRE Automated Platooning Vehicles

The SARTRE project develops and integrates solutions to allow trucks and cars to drive in platoons to reduce fuel consumption, increase safety, improve road congestion and increase driver convenience. The lead vehicle in the platoon is driven normally and the following vehicles are automated, allowing the drivers to perform other tasks. The platoon vehicles operate on conventional motorways in a mixed environment with other non-platoon traffic, without requiring changes to the road infrastructure. A demonstration system with two trucks and three cars was operated on test tracks and on the public motorway at speeds of up to 90 km/h and gap sizes from 4-25m. They were used to measure the fuel consumption gains at a range of inter-vehicle gaps, demonstrating the potential for significant fuel savings for both trucks and cars. The business case for the introduction of automated platooning systems in trucks and cars was investigated, and estimates for the costs as well as the benefits were evaluated.
A COMPREHENSIVE RANKING SYSTEM FOR LOCAL AGENCY PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT

Pavement management systems for local agencies (cities and counties) require a method to determine how to allocate funds for maintenance and rehabilitation of pavements. This should provide a reasonable analysis of the impact of budget decisions on the pavement network condition and future budget needs. However, most local agencies have limited funds to collect data concerning their pavements as well as maintain them. An approach has been developed that uses a minimum of information to make reasonable budget analysis concerning maintenance and rehabilitation needs with unconstrained funding. Described in this paper is the way in which funding needs are then allocated when funding is less than needs. It includes consideration of the condition of the pavement, change of condition over time, and stopgap maintenance generated by deferring maintenance. This was accomplished by making it simple for the public works personnel to visualize and use. It is part of a network-level microcomputer-based pavement management system developed for San Francisco Bay Area agencies.
Analysis of transportation network design strategies for forced transfer busing.

Forced transfer busing occurs primarily at the elementary school level when students are bused to an alternate school when their geographically-assigned school is full at their specific grade level. Ineffective forced transfer busing can result in extra student travel time and inefficient use of often scarce transportation resources. In fact, some force transferred students regularly arrive to their alternate school after morning classes have started due to inefficient transportation practices. The authors examine various forced transfer busing network design strategies using actual public school system data from two school districts to assess various proposed solution methodologies effectiveness at developing practically implementable busing solutions in a realistic amount of time. In addition, preliminary models and analysis are presented for special needs busing problems in one local school district such that student travel time is minimized for these often medically-fragile children.
Viability, Functionality, and Genetic Assessment of Cells After Laser Guidance

To precisely control the position of multiple cell types in a culture for the study of cell-cell contact interactions, we have developed a laser micropatterning technique. The technique employs the optical forces of a weakly focused laser beam. In the beam’s focal region, the optical force draws microparticles, such as cells, into the center of the beam, propels them along the beam axis, and guides them onto a target surface. Specific patterns are created through computer- controlled micromanipulation of the substrate relative to the laser. In this thesis, we systematically vary the controllable laser parameters, namely, wavelength, intensity, and exposure time of the laser on single cells to clearly establish laser parameters that allow negligible cell damage with significant cellular position control. To accomplish this goal, embryonic day 7 (E7) chick forebrains neurons were cultured with control and test cells selected one hour after seeding to allow attachment, at which time test cells were subjected to the laser. Cells were imaged at 4, 12, 24, and 36 hours after laser exposure to evaluate viability and functionality by using the Live/Dead Viability Cytotoxicity Kit (Molecular Probes L3224) and measuring neurite outgrowth, respectively. We have modified the COMET (single-cell gel electrophoresis) assay to quantify DNA damage on individual patterned cells and, thus, more extensively explore possible cell damage. For all parameters tested, our results show that there is no significant effect of laser exposure on cell viability or neurite outgrowth.
Completion of the Edward Air Force Base Statistical Guidance Wind Tool

The goal of this task was to develop a GUI using EAFB wind tower data similar to the KSC SLF peak wind tool that is already in operations at SMG. In 2004, MSFC personnel began work to replicate the KSC SLF tool using several wind towers at EAFB. They completed the analysis and QC of the data, but due to higher priority work did not start development of the GUI. MSFC personnel calculated wind climatologies and probabilities of 10-minute peak wind occurrence based on the 2-minute average wind speed for several EAFB wind towers. Once the data were QC'ed and analyzed the climatologies were calculated following the methodology outlined in Lambert (2003). The climatologies were calculated for each tower and month, and then were stratified by hour, direction (10" sectors), and direction (45" sectors)/hour. For all climatologies, MSFC calculated the mean, standard deviation and observation counts of the Zminute average and 10-minute peak wind speeds. MSFC personnel also calculated empirical and modeled probabilities of meeting or exceeding specific 10- minute peak wind speeds using PDFs. The empirical PDFs were asymmetrical and bounded on the left by the 2- minute average wind speed. They calculated the parametric PDFs by fitting the GEV distribution to the empirical distributions. Parametric PDFs were calculated in order to smooth and interpolate over variations in the observed values due to possible under-sampling of certain peak winds and to estimate probabilities associated with average winds outside the observed range. MSFC calculated the individual probabilities of meeting or exceeding specific 10- minute peak wind speeds by integrating the area under each curve. The probabilities assist SMG forecasters in assessing the shuttle FR for various Zminute average wind speeds. The A M ' obtained the processed EAFB data from Dr. Lee Bums of MSFC and reformatted them for input to Excel PivotTables, which allow users to display different values with point-click-drag techniques. The GUI was created from the PivotTables using VBA code. It is run through a macro within Excel and allows forecasters to quickly display and interpret peak wind climatology and probabilities in a fast-paced operational environment. The GUI was designed to look and operate exactly the same as the KSC SLF tool since SMG forecasters were already familiar with that product. SMG feedback was continually incorporated into the GUI ensuring the end product met their needs. The final version of the GUI along with all climatologies, PDFs, and probabilities has been delivered to SMG and will be put into operational use.
Exploring the Plausible Impacts of Increasing Commercial Transportation of Liquid Bio-Fuel on the Tanker Market

i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii DEFINITIONS iii LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background of the study 1 1.1.1 History of liquid bio-fuel 2 1.1.2 Evolutional development of liquid bio-fuel 3 1.1.3 Liquid biofuel trade 3 1.1.4 Shipping of liquid bio-fuel 5 1.2 Problem discussion 7 1.3 Research Objective & Question 8 1.4 Limitations of the study 8 1.5 Thesis Structure 9 CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY 11 2.1 Research design 11 2.1.1 Exploratory study 11 2.1.2 Formal study 12 2.2 Research Approach 12 2.3 Strategies of inquiry 13 2.3.1Qualitative method 13 2.3.2 Quantitative method 14 x 2.3. 3 Mixed methods 14 2.4 Methods to gather data 14 2.4.1 Questionnaire 14 2.4.2 Interviews 15 2.4. 3 Observation 15 2.5 Primary and Secondary data sources 15 2.6 Evaluation of research design and method 16 2.6. 1 Validity 16 2.6. 2 Reliability 16 2.6. 3 Transferability 16 2.7 Chosen methods 17 2.8 The survey 19 2.9 Quality and Credibility of the research 21 CHAPTER THREE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 23 3.1 Ethanol and bio-diesel markets (production and forecast of future trade) 23 Figure 3.2: Global bio-fuel production 2000 to 2010 26 3.2.1 An overview of the shipping industry 27 3.2.2 Shipping market 29 3.2.3 The MARPOL Convention 29 3.2.4 Tanker market 31 3.2.4.1 Noxious Liquid Substance tankers 33 3.2.4.2 Summary on NLS Tankers 37 3.2.5 Freight rates in the tanker market 38 3.2.6 Liquid cargo in bulk trade 40
Human capital development through an undergraduate agribusiness program: A reflection on 20 years experience at The University of Queensland

In 2009 the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report titled Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World in which it challenged colleges of agriculture to redefine ‘their academic focus around the reality of issues that define the world’s food and agriculture and to refashion the way in which they foster knowledge of those complex systems in their students’. In this paper we reflect on 20 years experience in delivering an innovative and contemporary agribusiness curriculum that is relevant to the challenges of the NAS and meets the needs of our agribusiness partners.
AUTOMATION AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE IN AVIATION. IN: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF AVIATION PSYCHOLOGY

Reviewed is the research on human performance in automated systems in relation to applications in aviation. Also analyzed is a number of aviation incidents and accidents that have been associated with automation usage. Identified are several factors that appear to contribute to effective human-automation interaction. They include: identifying types of information processing to which automation is applied; choosing the appropriate level of automation; making automation state indicators and behaviors salient and understandable; calibrating operator trust in automation; balancing operator mental workload; and considering dynamic funtion allocation, or adaptiva automation.
Is Conscientiousness a Proxy for Depression? A study of Big Five Conscientiousness Predictive Power above Depression

Is Conscientiousness a proxy for Depression? A study of Big Five Conscientiousness predictive power above depression. Abstracts The literature reveals a relationship between Conscientiousness and Depression. Research illuminating this relationship is lacking. The current study examined the predictive power of Big Five and narrow measures of Conscientiousness over depression in 110 undergraduates using College Grade Point Average (GPA) as the outcome measure. Results showed that Big Five Conscientiousness had little predictive power above Depression and narrow measures of Conscientiousness. This finding suggests that the constructs of Conscientiousness and Depression are not as independent as previously thought. The findings suggest that Conscientiousness might not be related to performance due to work ethic but because individuals high on Conscientiousness are not depressed. Thus, the relationship between Conscientiousness and performance may be better explained because of a lack of depression rather than a strong work ethic. conscientiousness, grit, and perseverance) in this study, this did not translate into a notable correlation between depression and college GPA. This suggests that depression changes the way people respond to self-report conscientiousness measures but does not change performance (i.e., biases our measures). Depression may correlate with having a lower opinion of oneself that is not reflected by actual performance. There are a host of practical implications that can be gleaned from these findings which warrant further research.
Analys av fingeravtryck

This report describes a system for verification of fingerprints against a previous created template. It describes how and why a fingerprint image must be processed before it can be used to either identify or verify a person. The method is based on special features of a fingerprint, called minutiae points. The whole process from image to matching is described, every step in the process with image enhancement, binarization, thinning and how to find the minutiae points. Also what false minutiae points are, how they arise, why they deteriorate the result, and how to handle them, is discussed. Finally a test of the system with a large number of fingerprints is presented, to see how good the system is according to security and reliability about not accepting prints from other fingers or reject the fingerprints, which are from the same finger as the template. Many proposals about how the performance and the security of the system can be improved are also presented.
Espoused corporate and business level strategies : An analysis of annual reports in the heavy electrical engineering industry, 1987-2002

BackgroundStrategy forms an inevitable part of a company’s existence, whether explicitly formulated or implicitly acted on. Today, there are many ways to find information about companies and their strategic directions, for example in the non-financial sections of annual reports. However, the future actions and strategic choices tend not to be spoken of explicitly or in terms of strategy concepts or typologies. Thus, the presentation of strategies in annual reports may differ in terminology from the conceptions and notions as presented in strategy concepts. This implies a challenging base for analysis and will inevitably create an interesting situation if one wants to map out a company’s strategic direction with these reports as basis. Annual reports could also possibly constitute a cross-over between the theoretical realm and the business world, which might allow the drawing of parallels between theoretical concepts and espoused strategic actions.PurposeThe purpose of this thesis is to provide an overall image of strategy in the heavy electrical engineering industry in the time period of 1987 to 2002, using the non-financial information in annual reports as the single source for identifying and classifying companies in terms of strategy.Mode of procedureAnnual reports from four large companies in the heavy electrical engineering industry have been studied with a grounded approach of textual analysis. The case study was conducted with an inductive starting point, and covered a vast amount of empirical material. Key features of strategic directions, on the corporate and business level, were derived from the empirical material as well as from strategy literature, and these features then served as base for further analysis and conclusions.ResultsAll four studied companies displayed different strategic phases on the two levels. However, inconsistency and a multitude of comments sometimes obstructed the identification of distinct phases. On an inter-company level, the European companies tended to have more features in common than the American ones. Furthermore, specific characteristics have been identified for each company. Finally, each of the four case companies was classified in terms of generic strategies. The classification of the companies showed that a multitude of strategic typologies was applicable during the studied time period, some recurrently and others in unique periods.
Analysis of retinal images

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that causes blindness amongst many people with diabetes if left untreated. When the eye is affected, various changes in the blood vessels occur. To be able to observe these changes over time, images of the back of the eye called retinograms are acquired. Automated analysis of retinograms becomes important as the number of people afflicted with diabetes increases worldwide. A diabetic retinopathy detection system should be able to analyse retinograms, interpret them and record the changes over time. The methods associated with blood vessel detection in retinograms have a common drawback which is that small vessels that have low contrast are normally missed out during detection. Evaluation of these methods is commonly carried out using a technique which has the drawback of having a bias towards the detection of thick vessels. In this thesis a retinal vessel detection method is proposed which is capable of detecting blood vessels of different width, length and orientation in the back of the eye. The state-of-the-art method proves to be comparable to the existing methods applied to the same images used in this project. When applied for segmenting the whole vessel network, it achieves an area under the ROC curve (Az) of 0.960(�0.0021)599 compared to the best result of 0.9722 obtained via another method. When applied for vessel centreline detection, it achieves an Az of 0.977(�0.0013)66 which is higher than the best method with an Az of 0.967(�0.0017). These results are obtained using an evaluation method proposed in this project that eliminates the drawback of current evaluation methods hence removes the bias towards the detection of thick vessels.