Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patrick Air Force Base integrated resource assessment. Volume 2, Baseline detail

This report documents the assessment of baseline energy use at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), a US Air Force Materiel Command facility located near Macon, Georgia. This is a companion report to Volume 1, Executive Summary, and Volume 3, Integrated Resource Assessment. The US Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) has tasked the US Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), supported by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL), to identify, evaluate, and assist in acquiring all cost-effective energy projects at Robins AFB. This is part of a model program that PNL is designing to support energy-use decisions in the federal sector. This program (1) identifies and evaluates all cost-effective energy projects; (2) develops a schedule at each installation for project acquisition considering project type, size, timing, and capital requirements, as well as energy and dollar savings; and (3) targets 100% of the financing required to implement energy efficiency projects. PNL applied this model program to Robins AFB. The analysis examines the characteristics of electric, natural gas, oil, propane, and wood chip use for fiscal year 1991. The results include energy-use intensities for the facilities at Robins AFB by building type, fuel type, and energy end use. A complete energymore » consumption reconciliation is presented that accounts for the distribution of all major energy uses and losses among buildings, utilities, and central systems. « less
Luck/Unluck of the Draw: An Empirical Study of Examiner Allowance Rates

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is tasked with reading and reviewing patent applications to determine those applications which qualify for patent protection. Each application is reviewed by a specific patent examiner who should apply the standards of patentability in an even, fair, unbiased and consistent manner. This task requires the examiner not only to be internally consistent with the applications she reviews, but consistent with the behavior of other examiners within the same art unit. I find this may not be the case. I show two specific populations of examiners that may be harming the patent system. The first population may be acting as a “rubber stamp” by allowing patents with little to no review and/or amendments to the claims. In contrast, the second population may be acting to reject too many “good” patents. In this article, I argue that the incentive system may play a role in creating these two distinct populations of examiners. Additionally, I propose a holistic pre-grant prosecution history review of both low and high allowance rate examiners to ensure a more consistent application of patentability rules.
Greedy Algorithm Applied to Relay Selection for Cooperative Communication Systems in Amplify-and-Forward Mode

Using a relaying system to provide spatial diversity and improve the system performance is a tendency in the wireless cooperative communications. Amplify-and-forward (AF) mode with a low complexity is easy to be implemented. Under the consideration of cooperative communication systems, the scenario includes one information source, M relay stations and N destinations. This work proposes a relay selection algorithm in the Raleigh fading channel. Based on the exhaustive search method, easily to realize, the optimal selection scheme can be found with a highly complicated calculation. In order to reduce the computational complexity, an approximate optimal solution with a greedy algorithm applied for the relay station selection is proposed. With different situations of the communication systems, the performance evaluation obtained by both the proposed algorithm and the exhaustive search algorithm are given for comparison. It shows the proposed algorithm could provide a solution approach to the optimal one.
Competing Risk Nomograms Predicting Cause-specific Mortality and Competing Mortality in Patients with Lung Adenosquamous Carcinoma

Background Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is an uncommon histological subtype of lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the cumulative incidence of lung cancer-specific mortality (LC-SM) and other cause-specific mortality (OCSM) for lung ASC patients, and construct the corresponding competing risk nomograms. Methods Data on 2,705 patients with first primary lung ASC histologically diagnosed during 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Cumulative incidence function (CIF) was utilized to calculate the 3-year and 5-year probabilities of LC-SM and OCSM, and a competing risk model was built. Based on the model, we developed the competing risk nomograms, and the corresponding concordance indexes ( C -index) and calibration curves were derived to assess the model performance. Results The 3-year and 5-year cumulative mortalities were 49.6% and 55.8% for LC-SM, and 8.2% and 11.8% for OCSM, respectively. In multivariate analysis, increasing age, male sex, no surgery, and advanced T, N and M stage were related to a significantly higher likelihood of LC-SM, in contrast with increasing age and surgery served as predictors for an elevated risk of OCSM. The nomogram showed a good calibration, and the 5-year C-indexes for predicting probabilities of LC-SM and OCSM in the validation cohort were 0.79 and 0.63, respectively. Conclusions The competing risk nomogram displayed an excellent discrimination and calibration, especially for predicting LC-SM. With the aid of this individualized predictive tool, it is more expedient for clinicians to devise appropriate treatment protocols and follow-up schedules.
Cell-to-Cell Variability and Culture Conditions during Self-Renewal Reversibly Affect Subsequent Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Cell-to-cell variability in clonal populations is reflected in a distribution of mRNA and protein levels among individual cells, including those of key transcription factors governing embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency and differentiation. This may be a source of heterogeneity resulting in mixtures of cell types in differentiated populations despite efforts to control the differentiation conditions and the use of a clonal starting population. In addition, this distribution may be affected by the cell microenvironment during self-renewal. Prior studies on self-renewal culture of ESC, however, focused on long term proliferation and pluripotency. The effects of culture conditions during self-renewal on the effectiveness of subsequent differentiation protocols remains understudied. Using a mouse ESC line harboring a GFP reporter, we examined cell-to-cell variability in clonal undifferentiated populations and how such variability affects subsequent differentiation. Subpopulations sorted according to their levels of Oct4-GFP expression displayed distinctly different expression levels of pluripotency and early differentiation markers and differentiated into cardiomyocytes at different efficiencies. However, when allowed to self-renew after sorting, the subpopulations regenerated the parental distributions of Oct4-GFP and subsequent differentiation after regeneration did not show differences. In addition to differences between cells in a clonal population, self-renewal conditions affecting Oct4 expression on the population-level were examined. Changes in culture conditions during self-renewal by low oxygen culture or small molecule dual inhibition (2i) of mitogen-activated protein kinase and glycogen synthase kinase reversibly affected levels of Oct4 expression in cells that were otherwise pluripotent. Effects of different self-renewal conditions immediately preceding differentiation are manifested by changes in subsequent differentiation to cardiomyocytes. This study demonstrates that manipulation of self-renewal culture conditions can lead to changes in the outcomes of defined differentiation protocols, a novel dimension to explore for directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells.
Transcriptome profiling to understand host-bacteria interactions: Past, present and future

Despite advances in antimicrobials, vaccination and public health measures, bacterial infectious diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. With the increase in antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of new bacterial pathogens, there remains a need for better understanding of the host response to infection. This would lead to new paths of basic research and the identification of potential diagnostic biomarkers and new drug targets to overcome issues of antibiotic resistance. Bacterial pathogens have evolved strategies to promote their survival by significantly over-riding the transcriptional profile of the host cells they infect. In particular, pathogen-encoded effector molecules modulate host cells through different mechanisms. Transcriptomics is a powerful way to gauge these changes in mechanism of either bacterial or eukaryotic cells under a given condition. Microarray technology and more recently RNA sequencing are well established tools to unravel host-pathogen interactions which is of central importance to understand the host response to a particular bacterial infection or the mechanisms employed by a pathogenic bacteria to subvert host defenses. The establishment of dual RNA-sequencing has enabled the profiling of gene expression changes simultaneously in an infecting bacterium and its infected host. This technology is able to provide greater discriminative power to study the pathogen and host simultaneously throughout the infection process. This review provides an overview of the transcriptome-based tools utilised and new knowledge obtained from dissecting hostpathogen interactions.
Asymptotically zero power dissipation gigahertz clock distribution networks

A novel global clock distribution network design with zero asymptotic power dissipation for the GHz frequency range is proposed. Power dissipation and clock skew of the new global clock distribution network are analyzed. A simple experiment on a transmission line, as a scaled model of a clock distribution network, demonstrates a 97% reduction in power dissipation.
Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport

1. The Role of Science in Sport: Understanding Physiological Principles which Relate to Performance Understanding Psychological and Social Factors which Relate to Performance Understanding Biomechanical Principles which Relate to Performance Conclusion Section One Applied Biomechanics: 2. The Analysis of Technique in Sport Pre-Analysis Methods Subjective Analysis Methods Objective Analysis Methods Conclusion 3. The Role of Biomechanics in Improving Sport Performance: Technique Development The Problem of Overuse Injuries Coaching for High Velocity Movements Conclusion 4. The Modification of Physique and Technique to Improve Performance: The Body Modification - Technique Modification Concept Conclusion 5. Body Typing in Sport: Basic Somatotypes Development of the Somatotype Rating System Body Type and Health Changes in Body Type During Growth Body Type and Sport Performance Desirable Body Types for High Level Performance Sport Selection and Somatotype Somatotype Modification Conclusion 6. Body Composition in Sport: Factors Affecting Body Composition Body Composition Assessment Body Composition and Sports Performance Modifying Body Composition Conclusion 7. Body Proportions and Their Effect on Sport Performance: Significance of Proportionality Modificaion in Sport Effect of Growth on Proportionality Kinanthropometirc Assessment Individual Comparisions of Athletes Proportionality Applied to Sport Performance Proportionality Characteristics of Athletes Racial Characteristics Technique Modification Conclusion
Computer vision based navigation for spacecraft proximity operations

The use of computer vision for spacecraft relative navigation and proximity operations within an unknown environment is an enabling technology for a number of future commercial and scientific space missions. This thesis presents three first steps towards a larger research initiative to develop and mature these technologies. The first step that is presented is the design and development of a " flight-traceable" upgrade to the Synchronize Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites, known as the SPHERES Goggles. This upgrade enables experimental research and maturation of computer vision based navigation technologies on the SPHERES satellites. The second step that is presented is the development of an algorithm for vision based relative spacecraft navigation that uses a fiducial marker with the minimum number of known point correspondences. An experimental evaluation of this algorithm is presented that determines an upper bound on the accuracy and precision of this system. The third step towards vision based relative navigation in an unknown environment is a preliminary investigation into the computational issues associated with high performance embedded computing. The computational characteristics of vision based relative navigation algorithms are discussed along with the requirements that they impose on computational hardware. A trade study is performed which compares a number of dierent commercially available hardware architectures to determine which would provide the best computational performance per unit of electrical power.
New Zealand personnel consultants and the selection process : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies at Massey University

This study is based on a survey of 27 selection methods used by New Zealand personnel consultants in managerial selection. The results are consistent with those of other studies in personnel selection, which suggest that personnel consultants (like many personnel managers) do not always have an accurate perception of the validity of selection methods and frequently use selection methods with low levels of validity. The results of this study showed a small positive relationship between reported and perceived validities. As expected, the relationship between perceived validity and frequency of use was much stronger and was statistically significant. Yet on a method-by-method basis, only half were significant. A quite disturbing result was the strong negative and statistically significant correlation between use and perceived validity for only the most frequently used selection methods. Of the most frequently used selection methods, those with high reported validities are used relatively infrequently, while those methods with lower validities are used more frequently. Thus, when some personnel consultants are selecting managers for clients, they are regularly using selection methods which are of little or no value.
Electrostatic protection of the Solar Power Satellite and rectenna

Several features of the interactions of the solar power satellite (SPS) with its space environment were examined theoretically. The voltages produced at various surfaces due to space plasmas and the plasma leakage currents through the kapton and sapphire solar cell blankets were calculated. At geosynchronous orbit, this parasitic power loss is only 0.7%, and is easily compensated by oversizing. At low-Earth orbit, the power loss is potentially much larger (3%), and anomalous arcing is expected for the EOTV high voltage negative surfaces. Preliminary results of a three dimensional self-consistent plasma and electric field computer program are presented, confirming the validity of the predictions made from the one dimensional models. Magnetic shielding of the satellite, to reduce the power drain and to protect the solar cells from energetic electron and plasma ion bombardment is considered. It is concluded that minor modifications can allow the SPS to operate safely and efficiently in its space environment. The SPS design employed in this study is the 1978 MSFC baseline design utilizing GaAs solar cells at CR-2 and an aluminum structure.
New proposed adaptive frequency load shedding scheme for cogeneration plants

Industrial power systems can benefit from load shedding following loss of utility mains. Conventional underfrequency load shedding has been the most common technique applied to save a system from blackouts. This method is based on multiple frequency settings where pre-specified amounts of load are shed when these levels are breached. As the shed and see principle was not immune to blackouts a rate-of-change-of-frequency (ROCOF) technique was developed to enhance its performance. The ROCOF method proved to require an adequate knowledge of the power system operating strategies. The authors demonstrate the dependence of ROCOF on the power system configuration and propose a new adaptive technique which utilises online information of the operating status of the overall system. >
Evaluating MPPT Converter Topologies Using a Matlab PV Model

An accurate PV module electrical model is presented based on the Shockley diode equation. The simple model has a photo-current current source, a single diode junction and a series resistance, and includes temperature dependences. The method of parameter extraction and model evaluation in Matlab is demonstrated for a typical 60W solar panel. This model is used to investigate the variation of maximum power point with temperature and isolation levels. A comparison of buck versus boost maximum power point tracker (MPPT) topologies is made, and compared with a direct connection to a constant voltage (battery) load. The boost converter is shown to have a slight advantage over the buck, since it can always track the maximum power point.
Outdoor sound propagation: comparisons between calculations performed with atmos, a pe-based model, and wind tunnel experiments

Noise impact of road and railway infrastructures are more and more severely regulated by national laws: acceptable thresholds and reception levels are decreasing. It becomes necessary to predict more and more finely meteorology and its interactions with boundaries effects in current sound prediction models. ATMOS (Advanced Theoretical Models for Outdoor Sound propagation), a PE (Parabolic Equation) based calculation code dedicated to complex outdoor situations, has been developed to fulfil this need. In order to validate it, a measurement campaign has been performed in the wind tunnel of CSTB, Nantes (France). Such measurements present many advantages compared to outdoor experimentations. The main one is the possibility to control precisely many parameters such as temperature, wind speed profile and wind direction. Aerodynamic measurements as well as computational fluid dynamic simulations with FLUENT have also been undertaken in parallel to acoustical studies. Their results have been used to perform excess attenuation calculations with ATMOS. Comparisons between measurements and numerical simulations for realistic complex traffic noise configurations are presented here for a few cases (flat ground, impedance jump, noise barrier, embankment).
Autonomous Intersection Management

Abstract : Artificial intelligence research is ushering in an era of sophisticated, mass-markettransportation technology. While computers can fly a passenger jet better than ahuman pilot, people still face the dangerous yet tedious task of driving. IntelligentTransportation Systems (ITS) is the field focused on integrating informationtechnology with vehicles and transportation infrastructure. Recent advances in ITSpoint to a future in which vehicles handle the vast majority of the driving task. Onceautonomous vehicles become popular, interactions amongst multiple vehicles will bepossible. Current methods of vehicle coordination will be outdated. The bottleneckfor efficiency will no longer be drivers, but the mechanism by which those driversactions are coordinated.Current methods for controlling traffic cannot exploit the superior capabilities of autonomous vehicles. This thesis describes a novel approach to managing autonomousvehicles at intersections that decreases the amount of time vehicles spendwaiting. Drivers and intersections in this mechanism are treated as autonomousagents in a multiagent system. In this system, agents use a new approach builtaround a detailed communication protocol, which is also a contribution of the thesis.In simulation, I demonstrate that this mechanism can significantly outperformcurrent intersection control technologytraffic signals and stop signs.This thesis makes several contributions beyond the mechanism and protocol.First, it contains a distributed, peer-to-peer version of the protocol for low-trafficintersections. Without any requirement of specialized infrastructure at the intersection,such a system would be inexpensive and easy to deploy at intersections whichdo not currently require a traffic signal. Second, it presents an analysis of the mechanismssafety, including ways to mitigate some failure modes.
Evaluating leadership's approach to implementing organizational change across the Naval Aviation Enterprise with a focus on the development of Fleet Readiness Centers

Abstract : NAVAIR is currently realigning its aviation maintenance infrastructure to fall under the overarching umbrella of the newly minted Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE). This realignment will call for a new enterprise-wide strategy and structure. Hierarchies and relationships are being redefined throughout the enterprise, resulting in entirely new organizational structures that are functionally equivalent to industry's small business units. This realignment, which will eliminate Intermediate level maintenance as it exists today, presents a myriad of challenges to the Fleet in the terms of achieving business efficiencies and employee relationship management. This MBA Project evaluates, by survey, how effectively the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps have managed the change effort as they continue to realign their Intermediate and Depot level units under the new FRC construct.
The conically-shaped microlens for achieving a low coupling loss between a laser diode and a single-mode fibre

A conically-shaped microlens has been fabricated directly on the end face of a single-mode fibre (SMF) which demonstrates low coupling losses of -1.8 dB and -1.34 dB at the operating wavelengths of 0.82 /spl mu/m and 1.55 /spl mu/m, respectively. Experimental results on lateral and axial misalignments are also reported.
The Economic Impact of Clean Indoor Air Laws: A Review of Alternative Approaches and of Empirical findings

This paper surveys existing approaches and empirical results to estimating the impact of Clean Indoor Air Laws on smoking behaviour, on the one hand, and on the hospitality industry, on the other. The purpose is twofold: first, identifying important gaps, if any, in the literature that could be addressed in future research; second, trying to unfold the reasons of the wide heterogeneity in the results and, as a consequence, to provide an assessment of the reliability of those results. The discussion begins with a look at the recent regulations that motivate the study of the impact of Clean Indoor Air Laws, with a special emphasis on European smoking bans. This is followed by critical reviews of studies and approaches to estimating the economic impact of Clean Indoor Air Laws. We can distinguish between a direct and an indirect effect of anti-smoking regulations: the direct effect on smoking behaviour and the indirect effect on the economic performance of the hospitality industry. The first review assesses those studies and approaches that have focused on the direct impact on smoking behaviour. The second review analyzes estimation of the economic impact on the hospitality industry. At the end of each of the two broad reviews, we summarize a selection of the empirical findings. The fifth section explores methodological differences and problems that may affect the empirical analysis reviewed in the previous sections with the purpose of shedding light on the wide heterogeneity in the empirical findings. The concluding section asks whether the studies reviewed in this paper place us in a better position to assess the economic impact of Clean Indoor Air Laws