Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pilot Study: Low Cost GelSight Sensor

GelSight sensor and related technology have been studied a decade to the date. It was proven that it is worth to explore in many haptics and tactile sensing applications. Elastomer, reflective coating, lighting, and camera were the main challenges of making a GelSight sensor within a short period. In this workshop paper, we present our preliminary studies on how to make a GelSight sensor using low cost material. In this study, we used a clear silicone cosmetic sponge as the elastomeric slab and that skipped the degassing process and hours of curing time in making it. Moreover, we used Psycho Paint® for the reflective coating, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for the lighting, and Logitech C270 webcam for our experimental setup. Furthermore, in this study Ultraviolet (UV) ink and UV LEDs have been tested as a marker for the reflective coating and lighting respectively. UV ink markers are invisible using ordinary LED but can be made visible using UV lighting. Comparable results have been found to show the effectiveness of our setup.
Impact of $RC$ Snubber on Switching Oscillation Damping of SiC MOSFET With Analytical Model

As the most popular wide bandgap (WBG) power device, the silicon carbide (SiC) metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) has been widely adopted in the power electronics applications and brings in the benefits, including reduced switching losses, enhanced switching frequency, and improved power density. However, the switching oscillation and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) become more serious due to the rapid switching speed of SiC MOSFET. Thus, adding <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$RC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> snubber branch is considered as an effective method to suppress such unwanted oscillation in the early works. In this article, the switching transient of SiC MOSFET with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$RC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> snubber is investigated with an analytical model based on the finite-state machine (FSM). The accuracy of the proposed analytical model can be verified by comparisons between the calculated and measured waveforms during the switching transition. In addition, the impacts of the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$RC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> snubber on switching oscillation, switching loss, and high-frequency (HF) EMI noise have been comprehensively investigated based on the model, which shows that the added <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$RC$ </tex-math></inline-formula> snubber can effectively avoid the switching oscillation and reduce the level of HF EMI without increasing switching loss.
Investigation on the Degree of Reaction in Twin Scroll Radial Turbines at Different Operating Conditions for Turbocharging Applications

Frequently in turbocharging radial turbine studies, some assumptions have to be done in order to make 1D matching calculations as easy as possible and to develop simulation approaches that can be useful for different purposes, like axial thrust prediction. One of these assumptions concerns the degree of reaction, which is often considered constant and equal to the value 0.5. In standard radial turbines design the velocity triangles are set by the target to keep a mean degree of reaction of 50%, in order to obtain low rotor losses and to minimize the exit swirl to get lower losses in the exhaust diffuser. From the experience gained on radial turbines operating in a wide range of conditions, it is evident that: the degree of reaction presents large variations along a given isospeed (especially at low rotational speed) and the mean value is far from 0.5 (particularly true in high performance applications). In the present work a method for the representation of the degree of reaction for radial turbine is suggested. The approach has been developed onto a twin scroll radial turbine for turbocharging, considering a large dataset of operating conditions (at both equal and partial admission). The discussion and the method suggested are based on a rich database from experimental data and numerical simulations developed by the authors on the 3D configuration of the turbines under investigation.
Archaeointensity of nineteenth-century Scottish firebricks from a foundry in Melbourne, Australia: comparisons with field models and magnetic observatory data

Abstract An archaeomagnetic intensity study was conducted on nineteenth-century firebricks manufactured in Scotland and used in an iron foundry in Melbourne, Australia, between 1842 and 1864 CE. Archaeointensity results obtained from bricks with a single component of magnetization gave values of 61.45 ± 0.89 and 61.92 ± 6.84 μT. These values are in agreement with historical absolute intensity measurements taken at the Melbourne geomagnetic observatory between 1858 and 1863 CE (61.17 ± 0.078 μT) and with the gufm1 model based on mariners’ data. A high-temperature vector component, presumably acquired at the time of manufacture in Scotland, was isolated in certain firebricks and an archaeointensity of 48.3 ± 8.39 μT was obtained, which is consistent with the gufm1 model for Scotland at this time (48.79 μT). The dual archaeointensity record of the firebricks supports their geographical provenance, highlighting the potential for archaeointensity data to be used in archaeological artefact-sourcing studies, whilst anomalously high intensities recorded in one of the bricks highlight potential contamination issues from non-Earth magnetic fields in archaeometallurgical contexts. The new Melbourne archaeointensity data are the most precisely dated archaeomagnetic data produced so far for Australia.
About The Department

The School of Politics & International Relations and Philosophy (PIRP) has quickly developed an outstanding reputation for teaching and research in exciting areas of the discipline. The Department offers a range of modules that reflect its strengths in global and transnational politics; international relations and international law; European politics and culture; multiculturalism, nationalism and post-colonial studies; new political communication and e-government; democratic theory and practice; and contemporary Anglo-American and post-Nietzschean political philosophy. The department aims in its teaching and research to combine close analysis of contemporary events and issues with informed theoretical reflection appropriate to a globalized and ever-changing world
Slope Stabilization Using Back-analysis Method

This paper presents a case study of slope stabilization in a constructing highway through Henan Province in China. The geology and stability back-analysis of the landslide are introduced. The more representative values of regional shear strength parameters are received from back-analysis. A solution is recommended to stabilize a 45 m high slope. This solution is to use the retaining system combining compression anchor and reinforced concrete beam. The lengths of anchors vary from 20 m to 33 m. The stability analysis of this reinforced slope is also presented. 12 monitors are installed in order to record the axial load change. Based on record data, the effect of the anchors is analyzed.
echnical Note: Effects of Polyurethane Resin on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood Fiber/Kernel Shell Composite Boards

This article investigates the effect of polyurethan (PU) resin as a binding agend for wood fiber (WF)_ and palm kernel shell (PKS) composite boardl in terms of physical and mechanical properties. A series of fiberboard samples consisting of WF/PKS at a ratio of 85/15 with different percentage of PU adhesive (40%, 50% and 60%) have been fabricated. The results showed that flexural modulus, flexural strength, tensile modulus, tensile strength and hardness of the boards were increased with the increase of PU adhesive percentage. The effects of the binder were also explained in terms of porosity and surface morphology. Based on the results, the board met the Japanese Industrial Standard A 5905 for type 5 and can be classified as medium density fibreboard, which could potentially be used in the decoration application. Replacing formaldehyde with the PU resin as a binding agent in fiberboard composites is one way to avoiding health issues.
Molecular dynamics simulation of platinum film growth based on thermal evaporation method

Platinum film growth using thermal evaporation method was studied using molecular dynamics simulation. This platinum film was intended as catalyst film for graphene growth. Tersoff, Eam and Lennard-Jones potential were used to describe interaction of Si-Si, Pt-Pt and Pt-Si respectively. Deposition process was performed with low incident energy to represent thermal evaporation method. Our simulation found that heating temperature at 400 K produced platinum film with higher percentage of crystal structure than other heating condition 300K, 500K & 600K. We also found transition phase from fcc to bcc at 600K.
Deterministic Skill of Subseasonal Precipitation Forecasts for the East Africa‐West Asia Sector from September to May

The East Africa‐West Asia (EA‐WA) sector is a region where the skill in forecasting rainfall is unusually high in the subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) time range and where ENSO and MJO signals have significant impacts. Much of regional rainfall intra‐seasonal variability is related to tropical‐temperate interactions on synoptic time scales, and we examine whether the skill of dynamical S2S forecasts for the region exceeds the predictability associated with ENSO and the MJO. Deterministic skill (Spearman's rank correlation) of multimodel ensemble forecasts of weekly and Week 3–4 precipitation averages is examined for starts in September–April, based on three ensemble prediction systems (EPS) from the S2S prediction project over the common 1999–2010 reforecasts period. The skill of weekly forecasts decreases with increasing lead but remains statistically significant out to Week 3 and Week 4, a level of skill that has not been previously reported at such leads. The skill of Week 3–4 forecasts is higher than that of Week 3 or Week 4 forecasts. The prediction skill of weekly and 2‐week precipitation averages from ENSO and the MJO is estimated using a multiple linear regression and found to be less than that achieved by the dynamical forecasts for Week 3, Week 4, and Week 3–4 targets. This is evidence for achievable forecast skill that extends beyond typical weather‐scale lead times and that is not simply related to ENSO or MJO signals. The opportunity for skillful predictions is illustrated through successful forecasts up to 4 weeks in advance of extreme rainfall over the Arabian peninsula related to strong tropical‐temperate interactions during weak ENSO and MJO conditions.
Production of complex shape magnets using additive manufacturing: A state-of-the-art analysis

Additive manufacturing has been gaining ground both in the industry and in the academic world due to its flexibility, easy operation, and the possibility of making products in the most varied formats. Also, it can be observed that magnets are largely produced using a sintering process, although it results in high (BH)max, this process is very limited in relation to the shapes of the magnets, thus, additive manufacturing can be used to produce complex shaped magnets. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the state of the art regarding the applied methods to produce permanent magnets and materials for magnet production. Considering this, a literature review was conducted using the methodology called mapping study to select the articles to be used, thus, demonstrating that the main compound used as the magnetic particle is NdFeB alloy powder. Finally, it can be concluded that the magnets produced by additive manufacturing have lower (BH)max than those produced by sintering processes, which despite having high filling capacity of magnetic particles increases the magnet’s magnetic capacity, limits their shape, those by manufacturing magnets can be produced with complex shapes, the heating temperature may reduce the maximum energy, and the coercive force improves it.
3D Printing of Compositional Gradients Using the Microfluidic Circuit Analogy

3D printing of structures with compositional gradients requires accurate dispensing control to achieve desired profiles. Here, empirical data are used with a model based on the microfluidic circuit analogy (MCA) to project dispense rate profiles that yield improved compositional accuracy in the printed part. Since minor variation in the experimental setup for each printing session can result in significant changes, a calibration procedure is developed to measure the system response. This calibration enables the extraction of the empirical MCA model parameters specific to each print session. Using the empirical parameters, the MCA model then can be used to predict appropriate dispense rates for the desired composition profile and toolpath of interest. The MCA model is validated experimentally by direct ink write 3D printing of compositional gradients using viscoelastic polydimethylsiloxane inks and is shown to improve accuracy to desired profile by a factor of 2–5. This approach enables a new route to 3D print structures with arbitrarily complex compositional gradients.
An Analytical Evaluation of Pile-Soil Interaction in Two-Phase Approach

‘Two-phase approach’ as an extension of the homogenization method has been proposed recently (Sudret, 1999). This is a very powerful method that has been used in the analysis of many reinforced soil structures such as reinforced soil retaining walls (Seyedi Hosseininia & Ashjaee, 2018; Seyedi Hosseininia & Farzaneh, 2010; Seyedi Hosseininia & Farzaneh, 2011), tunnels (de Buhan et al., 2008) and piled embankments (Hassen et al., 2009). At first, this method is used whereas perfect compatibility of displacement at the reinforcement-soil interface has been assumed. Later on, researchers have focused on the interaction between the reinforcement and the surrounding soil. It has been shown in many studies (Bourgeois et al., 2012 and 2013) that the interaction has an important role on results. In order to extend such scientific endeavours, this contribution is devoted to the extension of the analytical evaluation of the soil-reinforcement interaction. Referring to the two-phase description, each point of the system in macroscopic scale that is composed of two mutually continues media, ‘matrix’ and ‘reinforced’ phases, have two different kinematics fields. These two phases have mechanical interaction (I) that is introduced as follows:
Health Care Utilization Patterns of Workers’ Compensation Pneumoconiosis Patients with a Long Length of Stay

Objectives : This study investigated the health care utilization patterns of workers` compensation insurance(WCI) pneumoconiosis patients with excessively long hospital stays. Methods : The discharge summary data of 3,094 WCI pneumoconiosis patients were analyzed. The study sample was divided into 3 groups based on the length of stay(LOS). Health care utilization patterns were compared among the groups with logistic regression analysis, and the LOS determinants were identified with linear regression analysis. Results : The average LOS of the 222 long stay group patients was 1,448 days. Patients in this group tended to use private general hospitals, were admitted through the emergency room and discharged without the consent of a doctor. Conclusions : Many of the long LOS patients will maintain their inpatient status for the rest of their lives. For quality of life and efficient use of health care resources, policy makers need to establish a policy that enables patients to receive outpatient care in appropriate living conditions outside the hospital.
Refined Permian–Triassic floristic timeline reveals early collapse and delayed recovery of south polar terrestrial ecosystems

The collapse of late Permian (Lopingian) Gondwanan floras, characterized by the extinction of glossopterid gymnosperms, heralded the end of one of the most enduring and extensive biomes in Earth’s history. The Sydney Basin, Australia, hosts a near-continuous, age-constrained succession of high southern paleolatitude (∼65–75°S) terrestrial strata spanning the end-Permian extinction (EPE) interval. Sedimentological, stable carbon isotopic, palynological, and macrofloral data were collected from two cored coal-exploration wells and correlated. Six palynostratigraphic zones, supported by ordination analyses, were identified within the uppermost Permian to Lower Triassic succession, corresponding to discrete vegetation stages before, during, and after the EPE interval. Collapse of the glossopterid biome marked the onset of the terrestrial EPE and may have significantly predated the marine mass extinctions and conodont-defined Permian–Triassic Boundary. Apart from extinction of the dominant Permian plant taxa, the EPE was characterized by a reduction in primary productivity, and the immediate aftermath was marked by high abundances of opportunistic fungi, algae, and ferns. This transition is coeval with the onset of a gradual global decrease in δ13Corg and the primary extrusive phase of Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province magmatism. The dominant gymnosperm groups of the Gondwanan Mesozoic (peltasperms, conifers, and corystosperms) all appeared soon after the collapse but remained rare throughout the immediate post-EPE succession. Faltering recovery was due to a succession of rapid and severe climatic stressors until at least the late Early Triassic. Immediately prior to the Smithian–Spathian boundary (ca. 249 Ma), indices of increased weathering, thick redbeds, and abundant pleuromeian lycophytes likely signify marked climate change and intensification of the Gondwanan monsoon climate system. This is the first record of the Smithian–Spathian floral overturn event in high southern latitudes.
THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG GDP, CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, ENERGY CONSUMPTION, AND ENERGY PRODUCTION FROM OIL AND GAS IN SAUDI ARABIA

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causal relationship among economic growth, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, energy consumption, and energy production from oil and gas during 1990-2017. By vector autoregressive models and Granger causality Wald tests, this study suggests that there is bidirectional relationship between: Economic growth and energy consumption, economic growth and CO2 emissions, and electricity production from gas and CO2 emissions. Moreover, there is a unidirectional causality runs from energy consumption and CO2 emission to growth of electricity production from gas, and from energy production from oil to growth of CO2 emissions. This result confirms that energy consumption is a critical input of production and plays as a complement to the important factors of labor, capital, and land in Saudi Arabia.
The relationship of Blood Pressure and Obesity among adult Bengalee Male of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

The study intends to find out the relationship of blood pressure and obesity among adult male of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. A cross sectional study has been carried out among 232 male (aged 18 to 60 years) in four villages of block Habra I and II of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Two anthropometric measurements viz. height and weight were taken; BMI was calculated. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were taken and MAP was calculated. There is a significant positive correlation (r= 0.404) between Body Mass Index and Mean Arterial Pressure. With the increasing of BMI status there is a significant increase in both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (r= 0.389 and 0.362 respectively). There is a significant difference between Mean Arterial Pressure of obese and non-obese persons (t=3.4005). The study suggests that, the effect of obesity is present on blood pressure, in adult male of the studied area.
Changes in the composition of marine and sea-ice diatoms derived from sedimentary ancient DNA of the eastern Fram Strait over the past 30,000 years

Abstract. The Fram Strait is an area with a relatively low and irregular distribution of diatom microfossils in surface sediments, and thus microfossil records are underrepresented, rarely exceed the Holocene and contain sparse information about past diversity and taxonomic composition. These attributes make the Fram Strait an ideal study site to test the utility of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) metabarcoding. By amplifying a short, partial rbcL marker, 95.7 % of our sequences are assigned to diatoms across 18 different families with 38.6 % of them being resolved to species and 25.8 % to genus level. Independent replicates show high similarity of PCR products, especially in the oldest samples. Diatom richness is highest in the Late Weichselian and lowest in Mid- and Late-Holocene samples. Taxonomic composition is dominated by cold-water and sea-ice associated diatoms and shows two re-organizations – one after the Last Glacial Maximum and another after the Younger Dryas. Different sequences assigned, amongst others, to Chaetoceros socialis indicate the detectability of intra-specific diversity using sedaDNA. We detect no clear pattern between our diatom sedaDNA record and the previously published IP25 record of this core, although proportions of pennate diatoms increase with higher IP25 concentrations and proportions of Nitzschia cf. frigida exceeding 2 % of the assemblage point towards past sea-ice presence.
Learning from Data: Cleft Lip and Palate Patients in the West Coast of Sabah

Analysing data can be quite a challenge sometimes due to the nature of the data and the vast options of methods and techniques that can be used on the data. In this study, for example, a six years Cleft Lip and Palate dataset were gathered on these patients’ conditions in the quest to identify the contributing factors for a successful pre-graft orthodontic treatment. The challenges faced was in the small number of datasets and imbalance sample class. Therefore, this study had taken a step back and tried to approach the dataset with a combination of unsupervised and supervised learning methods to tackle the challenges by incorporating clustering - for testing records creation and; resampling - for balancing sample class. We also observed if the auto-created testing records are replaceable with the manually selected testing records by looking at the performances of the classification models. Based on the feature that was selected, k-Means and PAM were implemented as the clustering algorithm using the Euclidean formula as the distance measure. Resampling was done using SMOTE and Random Forest as the classification model. When the comparison was done on the models, the ones that were fed by resampled training records showed an increase in the AUC values and decrease in the OOB error. Comparable results were also achieved between the training records produced by PAM and by manual selection as both models, based on the AUC values, was classified as excellent classification models.