Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis and testing of a fluidic vortex microdiode

A new design of fluidic microdiode is proposed. An initial numerical simulation of this so-called vortex microdiode allows us to understand the working principle of the diode. It is shown that the complex relationship between the inertial and viscous effects may lead to paradoxical results: as an example, an increase in the viscosity can involve an increase in the flow rate. The simulated performances, confirmed by experimental measurements with a microdiode etched by deep reactive ion etching on a silicon wafer, are compared to the performances of other microdiodes described in the literature. The efficiency of the vortex microdiode is found to be comparable to that of the Tesla microdiode, which was the most efficient microdiode. This is very encouraging, all the more so since the optimization perspectives are varied, due to a sophisticated design.
Framework for Aeroservoelastic Analyses Involving Nonlinear Actuators

A framework for aeroservoelastic computations involving nonlinear actuators is presented. A typical business jet configuration is the example used to illustrate the capabilities of the framework. The effects of a nonlinear actuator model on control surface stability under various actuator failure scenarios are examined. The various failures result in the actuator dynamics becoming highly nonlinear in both amplitude and frequency. Unsteady generalized aerodynamic force matrices are computed using the doublet lattice method at various Mach numbers and reduced frequencies. The generalized aerodynamic forces and the structuralmodal data are then used to generate state-space models of the aeroelastic system comprising the complete aircraft configuration at various flight conditions. These state-space models are then coupled with a nonlinear actuator model in a simulation environment. Freeplay in the actuator and its linkages can also be simulated with this framework. The response of the control surface to initial conditions is examined in the presence of freeplay and/or the nonlinear actuator. Limit-cycle oscillations are observed at various flight conditions. This paper highlights some important considerations in aeroservoelastic modeling and simulation involving actuator nonlinearities.
Design, analysis and realisation of a high-performance magnetic gear

Magnetic gears offer significant potential advantages compared with mechanical gears, such as reduced maintenance and improved reliability, inherent overload protection, and physical isolation between the input and output shafts. However, to date they have received relatively little attention, probably due to the relatively poor torque transmission capability of the magnetic circuit topologies which have been proposed. A new magnetic gear topology which combines a highly competitive torque transmission capability and a very high efficiency is described.
Labour flexibility: Impact of functional and localised strategies on team-based product manufacturing

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between labour flexibility and effective team working, which are two of the most sought after properties in today's dynamic and competitive manufacturing environment. This is due in no small part to the growth of modern manufacturing principles and philosophies such as just-in-time, lean manufacturing, total quality management, world class manufacturing and flexible manufacturing systems. These systems strongly advocate the need for both teamwork and flexibility. The central platform for realising these philosophies is the popular and well-known manufacturing process, cellular manufacturing. In this paper, an empirical study is undertaken to explore the impact of two labour flexibility strategies (functional and intra-cell flexibility) on the effectiveness of team working within cellular manufacturing environment. The study found that functional flexibility had an overall stronger, significant effect on team processes (communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, goals and performance, tasks and planning) than did intra-cell flexibility. The study also found that functional flexibility improved team outputs in areas such as customer delivery, inventory holdings and quality.
Low SAR reconfigurable multiband planar inverted-F antenna for wireless communication applications

A low specific absorption rate (SAR) reconfigurable multiband coplanar waveguide fed planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) is presented in this paper. Different numbers of meander-turn-shaped slots are etched on the PIFA radiating plate to excite new resonant frequencies. Extra resonant frequencies are created by increasing the number of meander-turn-shaped slots for different wireless communication applications. A new independent resonant frequency is created by etching a coupled slot within the ground plane for the upper WLAN. A PIN diode switch is used to reconfigure the fundamental resonant frequency from the LTE band 11 to band 8 with a total of 63% size reduction compared with the original PIFA size. Furthermore, the SAR in the human head is investigated using the Hugo voxel model in CST Microwave Studio. The volume of the antenna is 22 × 30 mm2 over a 35 × 50 mm2 ground plane, which is suitable for handheld devices.
Roundabouts in Signalized Corridors

Typically, roundabouts in the United States are installed at isolated intersections to address location-specific safety or operational needs. The use of roundabouts in signalized corridors, however, has not been well evaluated. It is commonly believed that roundabouts can improve traffic flow and travel speeds along an urban corridor by reducing delay caused by idling at intersections. Concern exists, however, that a roundabout in a coordinated signalized corridor will disrupt continuous traffic flow: downstream signals can more efficiently process vehicles in a platoon, and roundabouts disperse rather than form platoons. Roundabouts also can discharge vehicles more efficiently when traffic arrives randomly. Thus unnecessary queuing may result when roundabouts are downstream of signalized intersections. Since little research was available to compare the traffic flow impacts of roundabouts within a signalized corridor, two case studies were evaluated with the microscopic traffic simulation package, VISSIM. A roundabout and two signalized alternatives, as well as a roundabout and a four-way, stop-controlled alternative, were compared at intersections along signalized corridors in Ames, Iowa, and Woodbury, Minnesota, respectively. The traffic data and corridor geometry were coded into VISSIM, and traditional intersection traffic control within the corridors was compared with a scenario that had a two-lane roundabout. With the microsimulation software, average travel time, stopped delay, and average delay for the entire corridor were compared.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Tibet Gaoshan Yak (Bos grunniens)

Abstract Tibet Gaoshan Yak (Bos grunniens) is a local Yak breed that mainly produces meat in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Tibet Gaoshan Yak was sequenced. The total length of the mitochondrial genome is 16,323 bp, and the base composition is 33.71% for A, 13.21% for G, 27.27% for T, and 25.81% for C. The genome includes 13 protein-coding genes (ND1-ND6, ND4L, COX1-COX3, ATP6, ATP8, and CYTB), two rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16SrRNA), 22 tRNA genes, and a noncoding control region (D-loop). Phylogenetic analysis showed that Tibet Gaoshan Yak has the closest relationship with Polled Yak. The sequence analysis provided in this study will be helpful to the management of Yak breeds, the origin, and evolution of Yak, and the protection and utilization of genetic resources.
Monitoring Welding Discontinuities with Fuzzy Control Chart

Over the past few years, several extensions of the traditional control charts have been proposed to adapt to the fuzziness inevitably existing in practical manufacturing processes. This paper proposed a fuzzy u chart to monitor the nonconformity of industrial products. A thorough evaluation of manufacturing conditions was also developed with certain categorization rules which can classify the process into four consequences, including in-control, rather in-control, rather out-of-control and out-of-control. With an empirical study of monitoring the weld discontinuities, our proposed approach can efficiently provide more sufficient and justified classification results in contrast with the traditional online processes monitoring methods.
Study on Automatic Planning of Truck-Mounted Concrete Boom Pump System

In many cases, pouring concrete automatically instead of manually will lessen the operator’s labor intensity and increase productivity dramatically. An automatic pouring system was schemed in this paper, as well as the planning of pouring trajectory. A simulation model was built based on virtual prototyping, and the impact of new automatic pouring system on the boom system was verified with the co-simulation method. Since the complexity of the work environment, the obstacle avoidance of boom system was analyzed and planned. A 3D program based on virtual reality technology was built to simulate the automatic pouring process.
Optimal Control of Probabilistic Boolean Networks: An Information-Theoretic Approach

The primary challenge with biological sciences is to control gene regulatory networks (GRNs), thereby creating therapeutic intervention methods that alter network dynamics in the desired manner. The optimal control of GRNs with probabilistic Boolean control networks (PBCNs) as the underlying structure is a solution to this challenge. Owing to the exponential growth in network size with the increase in the number of genes, we need an optimal control approach that scales to large systems without imposing any limitations on network dynamics. Furthermore, we are encouraged to use the graphics processing unit (GPU) to reduce time complexity utilizing the easily available and enhanced computational resources. The optimal control of PBCNs in the Markovian framework is developed in this paper employing an information-theoretic approach which includes Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence. We convert the nonlinear optimal control problem of PBCN to a linear problem by using the exponential transformation of the cost function, also known as the desirability function. The linear formulation enables us to compute an optimal control using the path integral (PI) method. Furthermore, we offer sampling-based methodologies for approximating PI and therefore optimizing PBCN control. The sampling-based method can be implemented in parallel, which solves the optimal control problem for large PBCNs.
Seismic performance of irregular bridges – comparison of different nonlinear static procedures

The adequate seismic performance of transportation infrastructures is important for the functioning of the economy and society. This paper focuses on the seismic assessment and analysis of one of the most important components of these infrastructures, the bridges. In this field, nonlinear static procedures (NSPs) have gained significant attention, resulting in different proposals to improve the accuracy of the procedures while keeping their simplicity. The main goal of this study is focused on the evaluation of the applicability of NSPs for irregular reinforced concrete viaducts. A comparative approach is pursued by resorting to (1) the analyses of the performance of three well-known NSPs (N2 method, modal pushover analysis and adaptive capacity spectrum method) and (2) the extension of the scope of previous studies in this field to a more recent method, the extended N2. As such, a set of bridges with different levels of irregularity, configurations and lengths is investigated. The accuracy of different NSPs is evaluated by comparing the results of NSPs with the ones obtained by means of nonlinear dynamic analyses. The comparison of results confirms the acceptable performance of the multi-modal NSPs and highlights the effectiveness of extended N2 method with respect to its simplicity.
Noise effects in injection locked laser simulation: phase jumps and associated spectral components

Some clarifying simulation results concerning the effect of noise on injection locking are presented and analysed. A new spectral component near the eigenfrequency, associated with discrete phase jumps, is observed on the injected laser spectrum. This phenomenon, not appreciable if the noise is not taken into account, has also been observed in recent experimental works, with very similar reported results.
Field Methods for Identification of Bearing Support Parameters: Part I — Identification From Transient Rotor Dynamic Response Due to Impacts

A simple procedure, with potential as a field resource, for identification of bearing support parameter from recorded transient rotor responses due to impact loads follows. The method is applied to a test rotor supported on a pair of mechanically complex bearing supports, each comprising a tilting pad bearing in series with an integral squeeze film damper. Identification of frequency dependent bearing force coefficients is good at a rotor speed of 2,000 rpm. Stiffness coefficients are best identified in the low frequency range (below 25 Hz) while damping coefficients are best identified in the vicinity of the first natural frequency (48 Hz) of the rotor bearing system. The procedure shows that using multiple-impact frequency averaged rotor responses reduces the variability in the identified parameters. The identification of frequency-dependent force coefficients at a constant rotor speed is useful to assess rotor-bearing system stability. © 2003 ASME
“I’m Grateful, but Am I?”: The Exploration of Gratitude as a Complex Experience Among Malaysian Cancer Patients

Gratitude has gained attention among health researchers for its benefits among chronic illness. However, most of the studies were focusing on the positive effects, neglecting the complex dimensions of gratitude that can contribute to both opportunities and challenges for chronic illness patients. This study aims to understand gratitude among cancer patients in Malaysia from a sociocultural perspective. This includes understanding how cancer patients view gratitude and the impacts of gratitude throughout their cancer-battling journey. This qualitative study involved 35 cancer patients. A thematic analysis was done to analyze the collected data. Among the themes discovered were searching for meaning, meaningful experience, gratitude through the enrichment activities, and gratitude as religious cultural expectations. This study suggests that gratitude is an important experience for chronic illness patients. The ability to understand this experience is vital to support and empower the patients throughout their daily lives.
A review of Longitudinal Research in the Product Innovation Field, with Discussion of Utility and Conduct of Sequence Analysis

This paper examines how longitudinality is investigated in innovation research. A review of longitudinal methods in innovation articles, published between 2000 and 2011, is undertaken. Our findings show that longitudinal approaches to data collection are gaining some credence, in line with increased criticism of the overuse of positivist methods to study process-based phenomena. However, results demonstrate a dearth of systematic longitudinal analytical methods employed in product innovation research. Static analytical methods are prominent. These inevitably lead to static presentation of results, and this is borne out in our findings. Second, the paper discusses the conduct and utility of a specific technique for product innovation research: sequence analysis. By drawing on two studies, which apply sequence analysis in product innovation research, sequence analysis is shown to be a useful technique to achieve rigor in analyzing longitudinal data. The paper concludes by discussing how such systematic methods for analyzing longitudinality in the innovation field demand greater usage and exploration.
β-Dystroglycan Restoration and Pathology Progression in the Dystrophic mdx Mouse: Outcome and Implication of a Clinically Oriented Study with a Novel Oral Dasatinib Formulation

ROS-activated cSrc tyrosine kinase (TK) promotes the degradation of β-dystroglycan (β-DG), a dystrophin-glycoprotein complex component, which may reinforce damaging signals in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Therefore, cSrc-TK represents a promising therapeutic target. In mdx mice, a 4-week subcutaneous treatment with dasatinib (DAS), a pan-Src-TKs inhibitor approved as anti-leukemic agent, increased muscle β-DG, with minimal amelioration of morphofunctional indices. To address possible dose/pharmacokinetic (PK) issues, a new oral DAS/hydroxypropyl(HP)-β-cyclodextrin(CD) complex was developed and chronically administered to mdx mice. The aim was to better assess the role of β-DG in pathology progression, meanwhile confirming DAS mechanism of action over the long-term, along with its efficacy and tolerability. The 4-week old mdx mice underwent a 12-week treatment with DAS/HP-β-CD10% dissolved in drinking water, at 10 or 20 mg/kg/day. The outcome was evaluated via in vivo/ex vivo disease-relevant readouts. Oral DAS/HP-β-CD efficiently distributed in mdx mice plasma and tissues in a dose-related fashion. The new DAS formulation confirmed its main upstream mechanism of action, by reducing β-DG phosphorylation and restoring its levels dose-dependently in both diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscle. However, it modestly improved in vivo neuromuscular function, ex vivo muscle force, and histopathology, although the partial recovery of muscle elasticity and the decrease of CK and LDH plasma levels suggest an increased sarcolemmal stability of dystrophic muscles. Our clinically oriented study supports the interest in this new, pediatric-suitable DAS formulation for proper exposure and safety and for enhancing β-DG expression. This latter mechanism is, however, not sufficient by itself to impact on pathology progression. In-depth analyses will be dedicated to elucidating the mechanism limiting DAS effectiveness in dystrophic settings, meanwhile assessing its potential synergy with dystrophin-based molecular therapies.
Analysing the dynamics of regulated converters

The characterisation of regulated converters is addressed to enable the assessment of the stability, performance, supply and load interactions as well as transient responses. A canonical model of a converter is proposed and used to create a set of parameters that are able to fully describe the dynamics associated with a converter and therefore can be used to predict the dynamical behaviour of the converter to in changes in source and load interactions. System theory is used to develop methods to study the internal stability of cascaded subsystems such as an electromagnetic interference filter, load and converters. A framework is established that allows the evaluation of different converter topologies under different operation and control modes.
Light-sensing ambipolar organic transistors for optoelectronic applications

Since their invention use of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) has been restricted to applications that explore their unifunctional, i.e. current switching, characteristics. Recently, however, OFETs with additional functionalities have been designed and demonstrated with most notable examples the light-emitting (LE-OFET)[1] and light-sensing (LS-OFET)[2] transistors. These devices are of particular significance since design and fabrication of a new type of organic circuits can now be envisioned. Here we report on electro-optical circuits based on ambipolar LS-OFETs and unipolar OFETs. By carefully tuning the ambipolar transport of LS-OFETs their photosensitivity can be controlled and optimised. By going a step further and integrating LS-OFETs with unipolar OFETs we are able to demonstrate various optoelectronic circuits including electro-optical switches and logic gates. A unique characteristic of these gates is that their input signal(s) can be designed to be either all-optical or electro-optical. An additional advantage of the technology is that LS-OFETs can be integrated with the driving electronics using the same number of processing steps, hence eliminating the need of additional fabrication costs. This is one of the first demonstrations of organic circuits where signal processing involves the use of both optical and electrical input signals. Such optoelectronic devices/circuits could one day be explored in various applications including electro-optical transceivers and optical sensor arrays.
NEW PHYTOTRON FOR STUDYING THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON PLANT PATHOGENS

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its recent fourth assessment report predicts that, because of higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, until 2100 the global mean temperature would rise between 0.6 and 4°C, in combination with changes in precipitation and an increased frequency of extreme weather events. Despite this trend, the extent and mechanisms through which elevated CO 2 affects plant diseases remain uncertain. Increases in CO 2 and temperatures are also expected to induce complex effects on plant pathogens. Although re- 10 search on the effects of climate change continues to be limited, new tools are permitting to study the effects of climate variables on infection rates in the case of some pathosystems. The shortage of critical epidemiological data on individual plant diseases needs to be addressed using experimental approaches. A useful tool for such types of studies is represented by phytotrons. Hereby, a new phytotron typology, built with the specific aim of studying the effect of climate change on plant disease, is described. Beginning from a general plant overview, key mechanical and electrical systems are described (i.e. air temperature and relative humidity control, lighting and CO 2 control system etc.) as environmental parameters and operation cycle are summarized. In particular both parameters which could be set and monitored and those measured and stored are reported. After a suitable testing period, several operation cycles were performed in order to assess the control system’s stability and to optimize the management of all systems involved and the first experimental trials were carried out. The effect of three different simulated climatic conditions: 450 ppm of CO 2 with standard temperature (ranging from 18 to 24°C or 18 to 26°C), elevated CO 2 (800 ppm) with standard temperature and elevated CO 2 (800 ppm) with elevated temperature (4°C higher than standard) on the development of grape powdery and downy mildew were tested.
Optimum Machining Conditions for Mirror Polishing of Aluminum Alloy Using a Robot

Using robots in precision machining fields, such as grinding and polishing, is becoming more prominent in recent years. This paper presents original research results of aluminum alloy surface polishing using a rubber polishing disk in a robotic polishing system. A rotary hand-polishing system is held by the actuator of a six-axis articulated robot to perform the polishing task. The workpiece is an aluminum alloy block fixed on a piezo-electric type dynamometer. For finding the optimal tool angle to obtain the best polished surface, some polishing experiments were carried out using various tool angles. The effects of the number of polishing strokes on the surface roughness and depth of machining have been also estimated. Finally, calculated results and experimentally obtained results of a multi-stage polishing were compared. The obtained experimental results are useful for finding the optimum machining conditions for making an autonomous robotic polishing system.