Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of soccer match-play on markers of anterior cruciate ligament injury risk

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have a high prevalence in soccer players, and this particularly during the latter stages of match-play. Gaining a better understanding of how match-play increases ACL injury risk will benefit the development of effective screening and injury prevention programmes. This thesis therefore aimed to investigate the effects of simulating soccer match-play on markers of ACL injury risk. First, 45 min treadmill versus overground match-play simulations were evaluated for external validity by observing physiological responses and key biomechanical and muscular strength related markers of ACL injury risk. Generally, overground simulations demonstrated physiological responses that were more similar to actual soccer match-play than treadmill simulations, and for some of the markers of ACL injury risk the expected detrimental effects were greater, albeit only in males. These markers were mostly related with reduced hamstrings eccentric peak torques. With this notion that overground simulations better represent actual match-play demands, the influence of a 90 min overground simulation on muscle strength markers, and on biomechanical markers during unanticipated side cutting manoeuvres were investigated. This confirmed the previous observations, whilst also showing more extended knee extension angles at initial contact, and an unexpected reduction in peak knee abduction moments over time. Overall though, sufficient evidence was gathered that certain impairments in muscle strength and altered knee and hip mechanics, particularly in the second playing half and even immediately following a passive half time rest, may induce increased ACL injury risk. Finally, the potential to reverse these impairments was investigated through an intervention involving re-warm up during half-time. The re-warm up intervention could not reverse the impairments, yet the outcome revealed some valuable practical implications. Overall, this work has helped gain a greater understanding for the development of better screening and injury prevention programmes.
The generalized slenderness‐based resistance method for the design of SHS and RHS

: The cross-sectional strength of square (SHS) and rectangular (RHS) hollow sections loaded in compression and various degrees of uniaxial or biaxial bending are governed by local instabili-ties in the elastic or plastic range. Com-mon design checks for cross-sectional strength, e.g. those found in the Euro-codes, regularly penalize these sections
The Diesel and the Vegetable oil Properties Assessment in terms of Pumping Capability and Cooperation with Internal Combustion Engine Fuelling System

Abstract In the paper, the results of preliminary diesel and vegetable oil research were shown, the subject of which were directly intended to be the fuel for powering compression ignition engines. In the times of climate protection and more strict standards concerning combustion gas emissions, the fuel production and transportation process became an important aspect. Decentralization of this process and enabling fuel obtaining directly from cultivation (oleaginous plants) let limit the global CO2 emission. This is why the preliminary assessment of two fuel sorts properties was attempted, on one side, the basic one, which is the diesel, on the other side - vegetable oil. Prior to subjecting the compression ignition engine to the process of adaptation to vegetable fuelling, the properties of the fuel responsible for pumping should be assessed (mainly viscosity) and friction nodes cooperation (lubricity). The first of researched parameters is the base to elaborating the system of engine controlling algorithm or the range of changes in construction of powering system. The second one is the wear issue - object fitness and repairing overhauls.
A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurial Leadership and Organizational Culture Oriented toward Innovation in Central Government Agencies, Public Enterprises, and Executive Agencies

Research indicates that entrepreneurial leadership is positively related to organizational innovation among central government agencies, public enterprises, and executive agencies in Korea. In addition, a performanceoriented with a humane orientation supports organizational innovation, while hierarchical culture has a negative impact on organizational innovation in Korean public sectors. Among organization types, only central government agencies have been found to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between performance-oriented culture and organizational innovation. Given that public enterprise is more market-based and that executive agencies have great autonomy in budgeting and personnel to ensure the maximization of performance, central government agencies should adopt more practices designed to improve performance in a positive work culture.
Stability and design of steel beams in the strain-hardening range

Many of the principal concepts that underpin current metallic structural steel design codes, notably Eurocode 3, were developed on the basis of elastic, perfectly plastic material behaviour, essentially ignoring strain-hardening; such material behaviour lends itself to the concept of discrete cross-section classification. A newly proposed, deformation based approach to structural steel design represents an alternative treatment to cross-section classification that is based upon a continuous relationship between cross-section slenderness and deformation capacity, as well as a rational exploitation of strain- hardening. This method is referred to herein as the Continuous Strength Method. The aim of this research is to develop preliminary guidance for the use of the Continuous Strength Method at the member level, focusing on the behaviour of simply supported and continuous beams. Particular attention will be given to determining the maximum laterally unsupported lengths prior to which the full capacity predictions of the Continuous Strength Method can be achieved, as well as the performance of lateral bracing elements in various structural configurations. Through a programme of experiments, numerical modelling and parametric studies, the implications of allowing for strain-hardening in the design of laterally restrained steel beams is investigated with particular emphasis on the performance of the bracing elements. A total of fourteen tests on simply supported beams and six tests on continuous beams were performed considering two basic scenarios: discrete rigid restraints and discrete elastic restraints of varying stiffness. In all tests, bending resistances in excess of the plastic moment capacity were observed, but generally it was concluded that closer restraint spacing than specified in current design codes to achieve the cross-section capacity may be required to harness significant benefit from strain-hardening and to develop the full CSM bending resistance. The forces generated in the restraints were within current code requirements although some modifications were suggested. Furthermore, the spacings of the restraints were also considered and a new limiting slenderness and transition curve for the CSM was proposed. The results from the experiments were supplemented by parametric studies conducted using analytical and numerical models developed as part of this thesis, as well as through the use of proprietary software packages. A parallel experimental investigation into the material modelling assumptions of the Continuous Strength Method was also conducted, employing an innovative full cross-section tensile test to capture average cross-section material properties. The results from the investigation validated the modelling assumptions of the Continuous Strength Method and improved the accuracy of the predictive capacity equations.
LMAC: efficient carrier-sense multiple access for LoRa

Current LoRa networks including those following the LoRaWAN specification use the primitive ALOHA mechanism for media access control due to LoRa's lack of carrier sense capability. From our extensive measurements, the Channel Activity Detection (CAD) feature that is recently introduced to LoRa for energy-efficiently detecting preamble chirps, can also detect payload chirps reliably. This sheds light on an efficient carrier-sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol that we call LMAC for LoRa networks. This paper presents the designs of three advancing versions of LMAC that respectively implements CSMA, balances the communication loads among the channels defined by frequencies and spreading factors based on the end nodes' local information and then additionally the gateway's global information. Experiments on a 50-node lab testbed and a 16-node university deployment show that, compared with ALOHA, LMAC brings up to 2.2× goodput improvement and 2.4× reduction of radio energy per successfully delivered frame. Thus, should the LoRaWAN's ALOHA be replaced with LMAC, network performance boosts can be realized.
Managing Customer Relationships: A Strategic Framework

Preface xi PART I PRINCIPLES OF MANAGING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS 1 CHAPTER 1 Evolution of Relationships with Customers 3 CHAPTER 2 The Thinking behind Customer Relationships 37 PART II IDIC IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS: A MODEL FOR MANAGING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS 71 CHAPTER 3 Customer Relationships: Basic Building Blocks of IDIC and Trust 73 CHAPTER 4 Identifying Customers 103 CHAPTER 5 Differentiating Customers: Some Customers Are Worth More than Others 121 CHAPTER 6 Differentiating Customers by Their Needs 159 CHAPTER 7 Interacting with Customers: Customer Collaboration Strategy 185 CHAPTER 8 Customer Insight, Dialogue, and Social Media 217 CHAPTER 9 Privacy and Customer Feedback 243 CHAPTER 10 The Payoff of IDIC: Using Mass Customization to Build Learning Relationships 275 PART III MEASURING AND MANAGING TO BUILD CUSTOMER VALUE 305 CHAPTER 11 Optimizing around the Customer: Measuring the Success of Customer-Based Initiatives 307 CHAPTER 12 Using Customer Analytics to Build the Success of the Customer-Strategy Enterprise 349 CHAPTER 13 Organizing and Managing the Profitable Customer-Strategy Enterprise: Part 1 381 CHAPTER 14 Organizing and Managing the Profitable Customer-Strategy Enterprise: Part 2 409 CHAPTER 15 Where Do We Go from Here? 451 Summary 480 Food for Thought 481 Name Index 483 Term Index 487
Robust optimization for total maximum daily load allocations

The determination of the pollutant load distribution among different pollutant sources in a watershed is a critical step in total maximum daily load (TMDL) development. Under current TMDL practices, TMDL allocations are typically determined through a trial‐and‐error approach of reducing pollutant loadings until a watershed simulation model predicts that water quality standards will be met given a margin of safety. Unfortunately, many feasible combinations of load reductions and significant uncertainties may exist. Therefore it is difficult and time‐consuming to compare various allocation scenarios using a trial‐and‐error approach. A robust optimization model is developed in this study to incorporate the uncertainty of water quality predictions and to minimize pollutant load reductions given various levels of reliability with respect to the water quality standards. The generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation approach is used to explicitly address the uncertainty of a watershed simulation model, the Hydrological Simulation Program–Fortran. The uncertainty is integrated into TMDL allocations using a robust genetic algorithm model linked with a response matrix approach. The developed robust optimization model is demonstrated using a case study based on the Moore's Creek fecal coliform TMDL study. The trade‐offs between reliability levels and total load reductions of allocation scenarios are evaluated, and the optimized load reduction scenarios are compared with the scenario generated by a trial‐and‐error approach and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The results show that the optimized load reduction scenario requires 30% less load reductions than the scenario approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the same reliability level.
Stochastic network interdiction for optimizing defensive counter air operations planning

Abstract : This thesis describes a stochastic, network interdiction optimization model to guide defensive, counter-air (DCA) operations planning. We model a layered, integrated air-defense system, which consists of fighter and missile engagement zones. We extend an existing two-stage, stochastic, generalized-network interdiction model by Pan, Charlton and Morton, and adapt it to DCA operations planning. The extension allows us to handle multiple-type interdiction assets, and constrain the attacker's flight path by the maximum allowable traveled distance. The defender selects the locations to install multiple interceptor types, with uncertainty in the attacker's origin and destination, in order to minimize the probability of evasion, or the expected target value collected by the evader. Then, the attacker reveals an origin-destination pair (independent of the defender's decision), and sends a strike package along a path (through the interdicted network) that maximizes his probability of evasion. By adding a small persistence penalty we ensure the plans are consistent in presence of minor variations in the number of interceptors. We present computational results for several instances of a test case consisting of the airspace over a 360-by-360 nautical miles area. The computational time ranges from some seconds to ten minutes, which is acceptable for operational use of this model.
Performance of a discrete Linear Quadratic Gaussian controller with a realistic noise model for adaptive optics systems

—Modern adaptive optics systems represent a significant challenge for automatic control. The output disturbance must be compensated in real time despite significant measurement noise and system delays. This paper presents the formulation of a discrete Linear Quadratic Gaussian controller with a realistic model of the measurement noise. The cases of high, medium, and low measurement noise are considered. The influence of the measurement noise on the discrete Linear Quadratic Gaussian controller in adaptive optics systems is discussed. The analysis of numerical stability of the discrete controller is provided.
Hepatic lipidosis

The liver is a remarkable and complex organ located in the very front of the abdomen, behind the diaphragm. The liver is responsible for metabolism and storage of nutrients, processing toxins and drugs, synthesizing proteins and other compounds, and forming and secreting bile to aid in digestion. The portal vein is a blood vessel that brings absorbed digested nutrients from the intestines to the liver for further processing and storage. Blood percolates through the liver before entering into the body as a whole.
GNCDE: Exploiting the Capabilities of Development Environments for GNC Design

The GNC Design Process usually comprises a set of different disciplines and requires involvement of a team composed of people with different background knowledge and formation. The set of knowledge areas usually involved to a certain extent in the GNC design process includes the following ones:  Mission design and planning  S/C systems knowledge  Trajectory design  Control design  Sensor technology  Navigation strategy and Navigation filters design  Onboard SW coding  SW verification  System verification (including HW in the loop)
Current source converters for megawatt wind energy conversion systems

The rapid growth of wind energy market has propelled the research and development of high-power wind turbines in the megawatt range. At this power level, current source converter (CSC) topologies possess favorable features such as simple structure, grid friendly waveforms, controllable power factor, and reliable grid short-circuit protection. This dissertation proposes the use of current source converters for permanent magnet synchronous generator based megawatt wind energy conversion systems (WECS). Related research in terms of converter topology, modulation scheme, control strategy and grid integration are carried out to adapt the proposed configuration for megawatt wind applications. Various current source converter topologies are compared for wind applications. Detailed feasibility study and performance evaluation are conducted based on theoretical analysis and simulation results. Among all, the back-to-back pulse-width modulated (PWM) current source converter is identified as the most promising converter configuration for megawatt WECS due to its high performance, control flexibility and compliance with grid connection codes. A novel multi-sampling space vector modulation (MS-SVM) scheme with superior harmonic performance and controllability is proposed to operate the PWM CSC. The device switching frequency under MS-SVM is investigated and methods to eliminate additional switching are presented. The proposed scheme is compared with the conventional modulation schemes. It is demonstrated that the MS-SVM scheme provides superior performance at low switching frequency. It not only offers high control flexibility but also substantially reduces the low-order harmonics existing in the conventional schemes. System modeling and controller design for the current source converter based WECS are then presented. Dynamic, steady-state and small-signal models are developed for analysis and controller design. An optimum de-link current control scheme is developed to achieve the best dynamic performance and maximize the system overall efficiency. Control strategies such as decoupled active and reactive power control and power feed-forward control are also proposed to further improve the system dynamic performance. Grid integration issues, especially the low-voltage ride-through capability of the current source converter based WECS, are addressed. Challenges for the grid-connected current source converter are identified based on grid code requirements. A unified de-link current control scheme is proposed to assist the system to ride through grid low-voltage faults while maintaining the control capability of active and reactive power during and after the fault. The unified de-link controller can be well embedded in the system control structure. Smooth transitions between normal and fault operations are achieved. Simulation and experimental verifications for various objectives are provided throughout the dissertation. The results validate the proposed solutions for the main challenges of using current source converter in a megawatt WECS.
A hybrid digital FIR lattice filter for PRML magnetic read channel

The benefits and costs of using the lattice properties in the design of a finite-impulse response (FIR) filter are investigated. Using conventional design methods, the transversal structures are not very efficient in higher order digital FIR filter implementation due to the complexity of the multipliers. This design presented reduced hardware over the conventional transversal FIR filter by taking advantage of the numerical robustness of the lattice structure. In this thesis, techniques were developed for efficiently synthesizing digital lattice filters using the stable transversal filter for comparison purposes. A preliminary system study was done to find the equalization tradeoffs between the continuous time filter (CTF) and the FIR. We performed MATLAB behavioral and structural simulations to evaluate the lattice structure and optimized the filter parameters. We used QuickSim VHDL and Synopsys compiler to implement the architecture for system specification, design refinement, and gate level simulation. The design used TSC4000 library supporting worst case 33C12 process for a 0.6 pm metal pitch and 3.3V supply running at a speed 54 MHz with a power dissipation of 82mW. The chip area is 2289.25 equivalent NAND gates or an actual silicon area of 0.212mm 2 . We used Aquarius auto place&route tool for layout. Thesis Supervisor: Anantha P. Chandrakasan Title: Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering This thesis is dedicated to my parents, my father, Joseph Ah-Sine Wong Ok Yuen and my mother, Marie Chantal Wong Ok Yuen
Text-Mining Open-Ended Survey Responses Using Structural Topic Modeling: A Practical Demonstration to Understand Parents’ Coping Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore

ABSTRACT Open-ended survey questions crucially contribute to researchers’ understandings of respondents’ experiences. However, analyzing open-ended responses using human coders is labor-intensive. Structural topic modeling (STM) is a text mining method that discover topics from textual data. We demonstrate the use of STM to analyze open-ended survey responses to understand how parents coped during the COVID-19 lock-down in Singapore. We administered online surveys to 199 parents in Singapore during the COVID-19 lock-down. To show a STM analysis, we demonstrated a workflow that includes steps in data preprocessing, model estimation, model selection, and model interpretation. An 18-topic model best fit the data based on model diagnostics and researchers’ expertise. Prevalent coping methods described by respondents include “Spousal Support,” “Routines/Schedules,” and “Managing Expectations. ” Topic prevalence for some topics varied with respondents’ levels of parenting stress and whether parents were fathers or mothers. STM offers an efficient, valid, and replicable way to analyze textual data such as open-ended survey responses and case notes that can complement researchers’ knowledge and skills. STM can be used as part of a multistage research process or to support other analyses such as clarifying quantitative findings and identifying preliminary themes from qualitative data. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2022. 2036301 .
Off the Shelf Technology for Gun Barrel Straigntness Measurement

Abstract : Gun barrel straightness is one of several manufacturing variables that must be held to a specified tolerance. Therefore, barrel centerline measurement is a necessity. In the past, centerline measurement techniques have been developed specifically for this application, and production of such machines has been made on a small quantity basis. This paper will describe the application of an off-the-shelf, three-dimensional laser tracker system, manufactured by Spatial Metrix Corporation (SMX), to measure the bore centerline of a 120 mm tank gun barrel. An introduction/tutorial on barrel straightness terminology, coordinate systems, and the level of precision required for such measurements is presented. A side-by-side comparison is then made between the SMX-based measurement and the standard/conventional measurement of several barrel centerlines, with the pros and cons of each system noted.
Quantile

New global sensitivity measures based on quantiles of the output are introduced. Such measures can be used for global sensitivity analysis of problems in which  -th quantiles are explicitly the functions of interest and for identification of variables which are the most important in achieving extreme values of the model output. It is proven that there is a link between introduced measures and Sobol’ main effect sensitivity indices. Two different Monte Carlo estimators are considered. It is shown that the double loop reordering approach is much more efficient than the brute force estimator. Several test cases and practical case studies related to structural safety are used to illustrate the developed method. Results of numerical calculations show the efficiency of the presented technique.