Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Big Data in Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

A cyber physical system (CPS) is a complex system that integrates computation, communication, and physical processes. Digital manufacturing is a method of using computers and related technologies to control an entire production process. Industry 4.0 can make manufacturing more efficient, flexible, and sustainable through communication and intelligence; therefore, it can increase the competitiveness. Key technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, 3D printing, and Big Data have great impacts on Industry 4.0. Big Data analytics is very important for cyber-physical systems (CPSs), digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0. This paper introduces technology progresses in CPS, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0. Some challenges and future research topics in these areas are also presented.
Natural Radioactivity and Associated Dose Rates in Soil Samples of Malnichera Tea Garden in Sylhet District of Bangladesh

The activ ity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K, were measured by using a Broad Energy Ge (BEGe) detector for soil samples collected fro m the Malnichara tea garden in Sylhet district of Bangladesh. The average activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in soil samples were found to be 55.284±4.68, 125.270±5.81 and 497.91±43.83 Bqkg -1 , respectively. The results obtained for the corresponding nuclides are slightly higher than the world wide average values of 35, 30, and 400 Bqkg -1 , respectively. The average outdoor absorbed dose and the annual effective dose rates due to 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were observed to be 124.12 ± 7.59 n Gyh -1 and 152.22±9.31 µSvy -1 , respectively; which are above the world average. Whereas, the radium equivalent activity and external hazard indices are less than the world average values. Tea is a one kind of popular soft drin ks. About 70% of the people in Bangladesh drink tea for refreshment. The Sylhet area is very near to Assam and Tripura of India. So me Uraniu m deposits were found in those States of India. The aim of the present work is to search the possibility of uranium deposition as ore and health risk assessment associated with Thoriu m and Potassium in the study area. This work was undertaken to measure the activity concentrations and γ- ray absorbed doses of the naturally occurring radionuclides ( 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K) in soil samples of Malnichera tea garden in Sy lhet. Moreover, another aim of the present work is to create the public awareness about the radiation hazards and the workers those who are working in this tea garden . This study will also be helpful to establish a research base line in this area.
Model-based and Statistical Approaches for Sensor Data Monitoring for Smart Bridges

At present, bridge maintenance management typically consists of regular visual building inspections. Structural damage frequently remains undiscovered until it becomes clearly visible, a situation which makes little economic sense. However, it is often the case that damage and critical reactions to a bridges internal structure occur in inaccessible and concealed places, and are caused by existing but often unknown effects on the construction. Existing as well as newly-constructed bridges should therefore be able to provide information about their condition and it’s development at an early stage in addition to the building inspections. To achieve this, flexible and adaptable modular systems are required in and on the bridge structures to provide measurement-technology support, together with differentiated evaluation procedures and a correspondingly enlarged maintenance management program. The instrumentation required must consist of capable and durable sensor technology to register effects on the structures and the reactions of individual structural elements; on the other hand smart measurement data processing must also be in place to ensure the plausibility, fusion, interpolation and reduction of sensor data streams in situ. This article summarizes the approaches and prospects of implementing a high-performance sensor data analysis and monitoring concept which has been examined in the context of current research with a focus on practical aspects of monitoring bridge structures. The discussion in this contribution focuses on model-based and statistical analysis techniques with regard to areas of application and input-to-benefit-ratios. The findings of this research are of general interest and therefore transferable to other areas of infrastructure maintenance management.
Analysis of Hill Road Network Structure in Developing Countries

The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical road links and intersections in a road network which have a great influence on the road network. A framework of road network structure measurement model is proposed. The node importance number and the link importance number are introduced in this model to define road network structure. Using this model, the critical components of the road network can be identified. Then, necessary interventions in a road network can be designed to improve its structure either adding a new link/s or upgrading the properties of the existing link/s or node/s (e.g. geometry, safety, capacity). The road network of the hill town of Tansen in Nepal is analyzed by using this model. The network structure measurement method proposed in this paper can be generalized to hill road network in developing countries.
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE STRUCTURAL MEASURES FOR AEROELASTIC WINGLET DESIGN

This paper concerns the aero-structural design of winglets for transport aircrafts. The different multidisciplinary design targets are discussed and limitations of the conventionally aerodynamics-focused design approach are shown. In order to better combine conflictive targets the design space is opened towards advanced passive and active structural concepts. As basis, the suitability of different state-of-the-art numerical measures is evaluated and tools engineered for the efficient investigation of unconventional structures are presented.
Effect of Pre Operative Educational Guidelines on Postoperative Health Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Surgery

Cervical spine surgery is both a lifesaving procedure and a life-changing event. Individual responses to cervical disorders are varied and complex, and are influenced by a range of personal, clinical, social, physical and environmental factors. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of educational guidelines on postoperative health outcomes of cervical spine surgery patients. Study design: a quasiexperimental study (Control and study groups; pre-test-post-test design). Subject: A purposive sample of sixty patients undergoing cervical spine surgery was recruited from neurosurgical units at Ain Shams University Hospital. Tools for data collection: six tools were used; self-administered patients' knowledge assessment questionnaire, patients' post cervical spine surgery practice observational checklists, visual-analog scale (VAS), pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), neck disability index (NDI) and short form-36 (SF-36). The results: This study found that, the majority of the cervical spine surgery patients had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and practice pre implementation of the educational guidelines that significantly improved post implementing the guidelines. Moreover, all patients showed significant improvement in all health-outcomes three months after surgery with mean changes between pre and post three months for NDI, VAS, PCS and F-36 scores were 14.41±12.09, -3.34±2.67, 7.24±9.01, 25.38±8.02 respectively. Conclusion: This study concluded that the educational guidelines had positive effect on cervical spine surgery patients' postoperative health outcomes. Recommendation: The study recommended conducting a standard rehabilitation programs for improving cervical spine surgery patients' life style.
Sketch-Based Spatial Queries for the Retrieval of Human Locomotion Patterns in Smart Environments

A system for retrieving video sequences created by tracking humans in a smart environment, by using spatial queries, is presented. Sketches made with a pointing device on the floor layout of the environment are used to formqueries corresponding to locomotion patterns. The sketches are analyzed to identify the type of the query. Directional search algorithms based on the minimum distance between points are applied for finding the best matches to the sketch. The results are ranked according to the similarity and presented to the user. The system was developed in two stages. An initial version of the system was implemented and evaluated by conducting a user study. Modifications were made where appropriate, according to the results and the feedback, to make the system more accurate and usable. We present the details of the initial system, the user study and the results, and the modifications thus made. The overall accuracy of retrieval for the initial system was approximately 93%, when tested on a collection of data from a real-life experiment. This is improved to approximately 97% after the modifications. The user interaction strategy and the search algorithms are usable in any environment for automated retrieval of locomotion patterns. The subjects who evaluated the system found it easy to learn and use. Their comments included several prospective applications for the user interaction strategy, providing valuable insight for future directions.
Intrinsic traits of woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou calves depredated by black bears Ursus americanus and coyotes Canis latrans

Individuals in substandard physical condition are predicted to be more vulnerable to predation. Support for this prediction is inconsistent partly as a result of differences across systems in the life histories of predator and prey species. Our objective was to examine the physical condition of woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou calves depredated by two predators with different life histories in Newfoundland, Canada. Black bears Ursus americanus are capable of chasing calves at high speeds over short distances and primarily prey on calves <1 month of age. Coyotes Canis latrans are cursorial predators that pursue prey over longer distances, which is expected to result in the selection of substandard individuals. We hypothesized that 1) black bears will kill calves in substandard physical condition, while 2) coyotes will kill calves from across the distribution of individual conditions. We used mitochondrial DNA species identification tests to assign predator species to calf mortalities. We then used molecular identifications and field observations to build a predictive model using generalized boosted trees to predict the predator species where a molecular identification was unavailable. We tested our hypotheses using Cox proportional hazards models under a competing risks framework. Bears killed younger calves and lighter calves, while coyotes killed heavier calves. Coyotes also killed more late-born calves, which might suggest prey switching as calves become more abundant later in the season. Our findings suggest that the physical constraints of predators play a greater role than predator hunting strategies in this system, but other processes are likely influential. The tendency for coyotes to kill heavier calves might result from sustained coyote predation over time, following the removal by black bears of lighter calves during their first month of age. This research illuminates the complexity of predator–prey interactions in Newfoundland and highlights an important source of variability for predator–prey systems.
Meta-Analysis of Grazoprevir plus Elbasvir for Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Grazoprevir is an NS3/4A protease inhibitor (PI), while elbasvir is an NS5A inhibitor. We performed this meta-analysis to directly compare grazoprevir plus elbasvir and ribavirin regimen vs. grazoprevir and elbasvir without ribavirin in the treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection and to precisely evaluate the efficacy of the latter regimen in cirrhotic, IL28 CC genotype patients and those coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS A computer literature search of PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Embase, and Cochrane central was conducted. Studies were screened for eligibility. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were pooled using OpenMeta[Analyst] software for windows. A subgroup analysis was performed to stratify the treatment efficacy according to the different baseline characteristics of HCV patients. RESULTS Eight randomized controlled trials (n = 1,297 patients) were pooled in the final analysis. The overall SVR rate was 96.6% with 95% CI [95.5% to 98%]. For cirrhotic patients, the SVR rate was 95.7% with 95% CI [93.9% to 97.5%] and for non-cirrhotic patients, the SVR rate was 97% with 95% CI [95.9% to 98.4%]. Furthermore, the addition of ribavirin (RBV) to the treatment regimen did not significantly improve the SVR (RR 1.003, 95% CI [0.944 to 1.065]). The dual regimen was effective in patient populations with NS3 resistance-associated (RAS). However, this regimen achieved lower SVR rates (< 90%) in patients with NS5A RAS. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the 12-week treatment regimen of the fixed dose combination of grazoprevir plus elbasvir achieved high SVR rates in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. The addition of ribavirin to this regimen did not add a significant benefit.
Maternal and Neonatal Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight in Guwahati Metro, Assam, Northeast India

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Birth weight is an important determinant of child survival and development. Low birth weight is an index of our status of public health, maternal health and nutrition. The major challenge in the field of public health is to identify the factors influencing low birth weight and to institute remedial measures. The study was attempted to assess prevalence of low birth weight and its risk factors affecting low birth weight was conducted among 300 mothers and their respective live born baby in GMCH, Guwahati metro, Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study design was carried out in a government hospital among 300mothers using interviewer administered questionnaire. All 300 postnatal mothers who delivered in the hospital during study period were included in the study except still births. All babies were weighted on standard beam balance within 24 hours of delivery and mother’s height was measured by height measuring stand. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify the predictors at p<0.001 and p<0.05. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS: The prevalence of low birth weight was found as 26.0% (95%, CL=21.3631.24) in 300 samples. 50% of LBW was found in the age group of mothers <18 yrs. Low birth weight was significantly risk with maternal age <18years (OR=3.06* 95%Cl=1.24-3.52), height of the mother <145cm (OR=2.72* 95%CL=1.61-4.62), history of ANC visit <3(OR=1.90* 95% Cl=1.03-3.52), multiple pregnancy (OR=5.95* 95% Cl=1.07-33.13), gestational age <37weeks (OR=10.00*885 95% Cl=4.53-22.09), . Female child (OR=1.02, 95% Cl=0.61-1.72) and preterm birth (OR=10.00, 95%Cl=4.53-22.09), weight gain during pregnancy <6 kg (OR=1.98 95%Cl=0.88-4.44), history of high risk behavior(use of tobacco) (OR=8.84 95%Cl=0.91-86.28), iron and folic acid consumption(OR=1.44, 95%CI: 0.35-5.90), status of previous birth (OR=2.73, 95%CI: 0.81-9.14), were found to be higher risk of LBW. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The prevalence of low birth weight was found to be very high and it was associated with many risk factors related to maternal health and services. Hence it is recommended to improve maternal health through strengthening the existing maternal services at the basic level of community.
Experiences of black-owned Small Medium and Micro Enterprises in the accommodation tourism-sub sector in selected Durban townships , Kwazulu-Natal

Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) contribute to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product. The aim of this article is to unpack the lived-experiences of SMMEs in the accommodation and tourism sub-sector in the three townships of Umlazi, Clermont and Inanda in Durban. SMMEs which took part in the study pursued product, price and quality as hallmarks of their differentiation thrust. While some products on offer were essentially not unique, client services and prices did matter. As such, price competition, product and after-sales-services seemed to be the dominant strategies pursued in marketing their businesses. From their subjective perspective, constraints both in accessing initial and in working capital to meet day-to-day business operations were identified as the key factors that affect the survival of SMMEs. The study also reveals that bank financing is beyond the reach of most of these SMMEs, as many were denied loans due to a lack of collateral security. The government could help these SMMEs through a new vehicle that takes into consideration the lack of substantial collateral because only government can do that. Their other main challenges include the difficulty of building a credible client base, competition, locational disadvantages, a low networking profile and lack or absence of effective government support systems. This research recommends that business owners need to be educated about the kind of business they want to venture into before they get approved for funding.
Correlation of lymphatic vessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor with nodal metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

The aim of this study was to investigate not only the intratumoral and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (ILD and PLD) but also the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and to test their correlation with regional lymph nodal metastases in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).
Capacitive coupling return loss of a new pre-ionized monopole plasma antenna

Plasma antenna has unique properties like low RCS and variable impedance; however, previous plasma antenna uses 500 MHz RF power to generate a plasma column, which is limited in energy efficiency and bandwidth. Here we introduce a new type of plasma antenna that generates plasma column with pre-ionization from a DC high voltage, and signal is coupled to the plasma antenna via capacitive coupling. This device greatly increases the overall energy efficiency and bandwidth of the plasma antenna. The electron density of the plasma is nearly constant in entire length, and is tunable in some degree by the DC current. Two plasma antenna of 1 m and 60 cm have been built and tested against same length metal antenna, the results are similar. Positive gain can be achieved at X-band. This device also shows a few obvious resonance lines where signal are absorbed strongly by the plasma. Return loss and radiation pattern of such antenna is reported.
A Coarse Matrix Iterative Solver for Magnetostatic Domain Decomposition Analysis

An iterative domain decomposition method is proposed for numerical analysis of 3-Dimensional (3D) linear magnetostatic problems taking the magnetic vector potential as an unknown function. The iterative domain decomposition method is combined with the Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (PCG) procedure and the Hierarchical Domain Decomposition Method (HDDM) which is adopted in parallel computing. Our previously employed preconditioner was the Neumann-Neumann (NN) preconditioner. Numerical results showed that the method was only effective for smaller problems. In this paper, we consider its improvement with the Balancing Domain Decomposition DIAGonal scaling (BDD-DIAG) preconditioner. Specially, the coarse matrix solver is changed to an iterative solver and numerical results show that the incomplete CG iterative solver like CG(10) is more effective than the standard approach.
Multi-style Transfer : Generalizing Fast Style Transfer to Several Genres

This paper aims to extend the technique of fast neural style transfer to multiple styles, allowing the user to transfer the contents of any input image into an aggregation of multiple styles. We first implement single-style transfer: we train our fast style transfer network, which is a feed-forward convolutional neural network, over the Microsoft COCO Image Dataset 2014, and we connect this transformation network to a pre-trained VGG16 network (Frossard). After training on a desired style (or combination of them), we can input any desired image and have it rendered in this new visual genre. We also add improved upsampling and instance normalization to the original networks for improved visual quality. Second, we extend style transfer to multiple styles, by training the network to learn parameters that will blend the weights. From our work we demonstrate similar results to previously seen single-style transfer, and promising preliminary results for multi-style transfer.
FREE VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF AXIALLY FUNCTIONALLY GRADED TAPERED MICRO BEAM , USING MODIFIED STRAIN GRADIENT ELASTICITY

In this paper, free Vibration analysis of axially functionally graded tapered micro beam are investigated in conjunction with strain gradient elasticity theory. It is assumed that cross section and material properties of the non-uniform and non-homogenous micro beam vary continuously in the longitudinal direction. Natural frequencies of the fixed-free micro beam are obtained by means of Rayleigh-Ritz method. The results show the effects of material properties and taper ratios on natural frequencies of axially functionally graded tapered micro beams and illustrate the effects of considering length scales parameters by comparing the results with those determined by classical theories. To validate and demonstrate accuracy of the present analysis, some results are compared with the available results from the existing literature. KeywordsVibration, Functionally Graded, Tapered Micro Beam, Strain Gradient Theory.
HRM Practices and Firm Performance: The Mediation of HR Roles

Prior studies proven that there is internal fit to support the theories regarding the relationship between HRM practices and firm performance. However, there are still lack of explanation on how exactly HRM practices support firm performance. This paper is designed to extend previous findings by examining what have been studied and found, and therefore to provide a framework that complementing all the previous models to explain how exactly HRM practices act as strategic elements to support firm performance.