Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forecasting Performance Comparison by Using Power Transformation between VAR and Bayesian VAR Models

This article is devoted to examine the performance of power transformation in VAR and Bayesian VAR (BVAR) forecasts, in comparison with log-transformation. The effect of power transformation in multivariate time series model forecasts is still untouched in the literature. We examined the U.S. macroeconomic data from 1960 to 1987 and the Taiwan’s technology industrial production from 1990 to 2000. Our results showed that the power transformation provides outperforming forecasts in both VAR and BVAR models. Moreover, the non-informative prior BAVR with power transformation is the best predictive model and is recommendable to forecasting practice.
Pose Tracking Using Inertial Sensors and Received Signal-Strength Index

Abstract In this paper a simulator design, localization algorithm, implementation and testing of inertial measurement unit are presented. The correction of the dead reckoning of orientation is done by combining magnetometer and accelometer readings. This can be done only when the INS unit is exposed to negligible translational acceleration compared to the acceleration due to the gravity. Correction of a position dead reckoning error is done by RSSI measurements from three Wifi base access points. The position estimate is done obtained by fingerprinting. A complete simulator for inertial measurement unit is developed and localization algorithm is proposed and finally tested on the real inertial measurement unit.
EUV mask blank readiness for 45-nm HP 2009 manufacturing

For successful commercialization of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography essentially defect free mask blanks are required by 2009 for the 45nm Half Pitch (HP). SEMATECH has been engaging with the mask blank materials and tool supplier community for several years and has evaluated rates of improvements against the needed alpha, beta, and production performance levels required to support EUV lithography introduction in 2009. Significant improvements in many performance levels must be achieved with simultaneous specifications including defectivity, reflectivity, wavelength control, and buffer / absorber stack performances. Although some commercial capability exists today for limited "alpha" level grade blank materials there are several orders of magnitude improvement needed in defectivity levels coupled with defect size detection sensitivity. Although coordinated regional development programs for mask blanks have high effort levels rapid improvements are required to meet the 45nm HP timing in 2009 that is just 5 short years away. Traditional supplier rates of improvements may not be enough to meet the need by 2009. This paper will illustrate the general rate of improvements and further developments or innovative solutions that may be needed in several areas. The SEMATECH EUV mask blank development roadmap will be reviewed with SEMATECH's perspective of commercial readiness predictions by 2009.
Delivering the planning system in England: Skills' capacity constraints

The planning system in England has recently undergone revision. At the same time local planning authorities are being required to implement new government initiatives, reviews and recently enacted EU legislation. All these changes are bringing in new ways of working for local authorities and sending the English planning system into a period of flux. Drawing on recent research the authors consider whether there is the capacity in terms of skills within local planning authorities in England for them to deliver the outcomes required by these changes.
Push-Mode Printhead Using Magnetic Linear Actuator

A magnetic linear actuator drop-on-demand printhead with interchangeable components is designed and fabricated. The manufacturing processes of all parts are carried out with simple techniques. A droplet generation relies on a linear motion from a piston inside a printhead chamber that causes a pressure wave to push an ink out from a nozzle-aperture. The motion is actuated by a voice coil liked actuator. The voltage applied across the actuator is significantly lower than the piezo actuator. The interchangeable components enable rapid configuration of a printhead to suit wide range of ink-materials. The prototype of our printhead was tested with inks prepared from glycerin-water solutions. The operability of the printhead was evaluated at actuated time ranging from 2 100 milliseconds. Our printhead was able to jet a single droplet of ink with viscosity up to 35 mPa.s. The drop size is comparable to other types of printheads.
A low-complexity and high-precision requantisation algorithm for MP3 decoding

The exponent calculation in requantisation is one of the most time-consuming operations in MP3 decoding. This article proposes a conversion method from float-point calculation to fixed-point calculation and a low-complexity and high-precision algorithm based on Newton's method for requantisation. The algorithm can be applied in many other multimedia applications to decrease the complexity. Furthermore, by means of error analysis a compensation approach is given. The experiments prove that the average error and the standard error are decreased to 0.001056% and 0.002293% respectively. The signal to noise ratio of MP3 is about 60 dB.
Optimization of a single-point frontal airbag fire threshold

A method of optimization of a single-point frontal airbag fire threshold. The relationship of the airbag fire distribution as a function of velocity to the airbag fire-time is characterized through the use of an optimization procedure. The optimization is conducted by abstracting the sensor algorithm and its associated constraints into a simple mathematical formulation. An airbag fire objective function is constructed that integrates the fire-rate and fire-time requirements. The function requires the input of a single acceleration time history, and it produces an output depending on the airbag fire condition. Numerical search of the optimal fire threshold curve is achieved through parameterizing this curve and applying a modified simplex search optimization algorithm that determines the optimal threshold function parameters without computing the complete objective function in the parameter space.
Flexible, Stretchable and Wearable Multifunctional Sensor Array as Artificial Electronic Skin for Static and Dynamic Strain Mapping

Artificial electronic skin consists of mechanically flexible and stretchable sensor networks that can accommodate irregular surfaces and spatially map/quantify various stimuli, such as strains, pressures, and temperatures to imitate the human somatosensory system. Here, a flexible/wearable multifunctional sensor array is designed and fabricated in a cost‐effective manner through simple fabrication procedures for highly‐sensitive contact/pressure/strain detections. Composed of PET‐based Ag serpentine‐shaped electrodes, the sensor array is implemented for static and dynamic mapping of spatial contact/pressure/strain distributions in large‐scale, with a detection limit of 6 Pa (corresponding to 0.5 mg). By attaching the flexible/wearable devices on human body, different motions are recognized/distinguished for gesture control applications. Combining the easy‐fabricated and low‐cost features, these sensor arrays may become promising candidate for highly‐sensitive force detections, gesture controls, imaging of spatial pressure distributions, and find potential applications in advanced robotics, human‐machine interfaces, next‐generation prosthetics and healthcare monitoring devices.
Stringent structural plasticity of dendritic spines revealed by two-photon glutamate uncaging in adult mouse neocortex in vivo

Two-photon uncaging of glutamate is widely utilized to characterize structural plasticity in brain slice preparations in vitro. In this study, we investigated spine plasticity by using, for the first time, glutamate uncaging in the neocortex of adult mice in vivo. Spine enlargement was successfully induced in a smaller fraction of spines in the neocortex (22%) than in young hippocampal slices (95%), even under a low magnesium condition. Once induced, the time course and mean amplitudes of long-term enlargement were the same (81%) as those in vitro. However, low-frequency (1–2 Hz) glutamate uncaging caused spine shrinkage in a similar fraction (34%) of spines as in vitro, but spread to the neighboring spines less frequently than in vitro. Thus, we found that structural plasticity can occur similarly in the adult neocortex in vivo as in the hippocampus in vitro, although it happens stringently in a smaller subset of spines.
Optimal Control of Slow-Active Vehicle Suspension — Results of Experimental Data

Laboratory investigations of an active vehicle suspension of an in-series structure of the slow-active type are presented in this paper. The multidimensional model is reduced to a case representing quarter car suspension. Control laws for active vibration reduction systems are usually determined based upon linear models of objects. Active suspensions are characterised by nonlinearity, connected most often with actuating systems and their energetic restrictions. This causes divergences between theoretical quality factors and those determined experimentally. The second essential problem is finding a compromise between opposed quality factors (for example, minimum power requirement and high efficiency of vibration reduction). Thanks to the use of the proper control law in the active vibration reduction system of vehicle suspension, the goal of ensuring a high level of ride comfort, good vehicle handling and incessant contact of the wheels with the road surface with a minimum power requirement may be attained. The authors, in seeking a compromise, determined classical LQR controllers for the proposed quality indicators realising the aims mentioned above. These controllers are determined for a linearised suspension model obtained from identification. Experimental characteristics are determined for all of the suspension control systems.
Energy-Based Approach for Controller Design of Overhead Cranes: A Comparative Study

In this paper, five controllers including linear and nonlinear ones for an underactuated overhead crane are derived based on the passivity of the system. The total energy of the system and its square are used in Lyapunov candidate function to design controllers. The equilibrium point of the closed loop is proven to be asymptotically stable by the Lyapunov technique and LaSalle invariance theorem. In addition, the optimal linear controller is also combined to force the swing angle to converge fast to zero by reaching destination of the trolley. Numerical simulations are carried out to evaluate the controllers.
A blind estimation of speed and rotor position of permanent magnet synchronous motor from the measurements of stator currents using extended Kalman filter

A number of techniques have been developed for estimation of speed or rotor position in motor drives. In this paper, an extended Kalman filter (EKF) is developed for the estimation of speed and rotor position using only the measurements of three phase stator currents. Conventional mechanical sensors are not needed for this estimation. The paper proposes the modelling of the dynamic equations of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) to describe the dynamics in terms of direct axis current and voltage, quadarture axis current and voltage, rotor position and synchronous speed. Unlike the earlier papers in this direction, the present work does not take any input like vd or vq into the Kalman filter, but uses only the sensed line currents as measurements. The performance evaluation of the extended Kalman filter with online estimation of the speed and rotor position of a PMSM is presented with simulation results, for a varying load torque.
OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY: A MICROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

A framework for empirical research on the productivity effects of office technology is outlined. The approach taken rests on the idea that measuring the impact of office technology on productivity is essentially an issue of measuring office productivity. The framework is based on micro‐economic production theory, and the unit of analysis is the firm. The office is viewed as an information processing activity. Information processing is contrasted to realization activities, and the firm is defined as a set of information processing and realization activities. The technical efficiency of realization activities is proposed as a measure of office productivity.
A software architecture supporting run-time configuration and self-management

This paper describes a component architecture that facilitates highly flexible dynamic configuration and self-management. Innovative features of the approach include: Design-time support for the demarcation of static and dynamic aspects of components’ behaviors and thus formal validation techniques can be partially used. Run-time configuration and self-management are decentralized and can be deployed at any number of developer-specified places called ‘dynamic decision points’ (DP). A wrapper is automatically associated with each DP and provides run-time supervision, guaranteeing that a legal decision is returned, no matter what internal faults occur in the evaluation of the self-management logic; this significantly enhances robustness and reduces the extent of the dynamic validation challenge. A sophisticated policy technology is encapsulated as the core self-management technique, yet the architecture is sufficiently flexible that it is possible to replace the core technology in a modular fashion as well as to deploy different technologies at each DP if required. A performance management application exemplifies the approach. This uses a variety of context sources and has multiple embedded DPs. The example illustrates how policies can be dynamically upgraded, each with specific context requirements which are automatically satisfied. The high robustness provided by the wrapper’s silent internal error handling is demonstrated under various fault scenarios.
Parallel operation of single phase inverter modules with no control interconnections

To provide reliable power under scheduled and unscheduled outages requires an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) which can be easily expanded to meet the needs of a growing demand. A system suck as this should also be fault tolerant and include the capability for redundancy. These goals can be met by paralleling together smaller inverters if a control scheme can be designed to allow them to operate independently yet still share the load. We have developed a control technique for operating two or more single phase inverter modules in parallel with no auxiliary interconnections. This technique uses frequency, fundamental voltage, and harmonic voltage droop to allow independent inverters to share the load in proportion to their capacities. Simulation results are provided to prove the concept.
Thermoelastic analysis of a rotating functionally graded cylindrical shell with functionally graded sensor and actuator layers on an elastic foundation placed in a constant magnetic field

The behavior of a rotating exponentially graded hybrid cylindrical shell subjected to an axisymmetric thermoelectromechanical loading and placed in a constant magnetic field is investigated. The hybrid shell consists of a functionally graded material host layer embedded with functionally graded piezoelectric material layers as sensors and/or actuators that are perfectly bonded to inner and outer surfaces of a shell. The shell is simply supported and could be rested on an elastic foundation. The material properties of functionally graded material and functionally graded piezoelectric material are assumed to be exponentially graded in the radial direction. To solve governing differential equations, the Fourier series expansion method through the longitudinal direction and the differential quadrature method across the thickness direction are used. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effects of material inhomogeneity, magnetic field, elastic foundation, thermal loading, and angular velocity on the response of the hybrid shell.
Experiential Marketing: A New Framework for Design and Communications

IN BERND SCHMITT'S conception of branding, consumers buy experiences rather than products or services. Thus, like many corporate executives, Schmitt asks: How can these experiences be managed? He articulates five distinct experience “modules,” followed by a review of strategies for analyzing the balance among those modules. It's a holistic view of marketing that integrates a broad spectrum of design elements to communicate with customers and influence their loyalty and purchase decisions.
Integrated post tape outflow for fast design to mask turn-around time

SMIC is a pure-play IC foundry, as foundry culture Turn-Around Time is the most important thing FABs concern about. And aggressive tape out schedule required significant reduction of GDS to mask flow run time. So the objective of this work is to evaluate an OPC methodology and integrated mask data preparation flow on runtime performance via so-called 1-IO-tape-out platform. By the way, to achieve fully automated OPC/MDP flow for production. To evaluate, we choose BEOL layers since they were the ones hit most by runtime performance -- not like FEOL, for example, Poly to CT layers there're still some non-critical layers in the between, OPC mask makings & wafer schedules are not so tight. BEOL, like M2, V2,then M3 V3 and so on, critical layer OPC mask comes one by one continuously. Hence, that's why we pick BEOL layers. And the integrated flow we evaluated included 4 layers of metal with MB-OPC and 6 layers of Via with R-B OPC. Our definition of success to this work is to improve runtime performance at least of larger than 2x. At meantime, of course, we can not sacrifice the model accuracy, so maintaining equal or better model accuracy and OPC/mask-data output quality is also a must. For MDP, we also test the advantage of OASIS and compared with GDS format.
Generating Cross Domain Models using Generative Adversarial Networks

Normally an average human can understand the relationship between different fields and domains easily with limited information exposure. On the other hand even a modern day computer is pretty bad in understanding relationship between different domains and fields which can be changed using a neural network called ‘GAN’ (Generative Adversarial Networks). GAN is a generative network that can generate data that we have ever seen before by Leveraging the generative nature of GAN . All of this is done using generator and discriminator in Generative Adversarial Networks. Two different datasets are trained on discriminator and generator. After training it generates new data which has attributes of both the datasets. But the biggest problem we face is with the training phase. Training in GAN is a like MinMax game. It doesn’t know when to stop. This is due to the fact that both Generator and discriminator try to overpower each other which leads to a lot of loss and error rate as it keeps on training. In this paper we have found an ideal state for the GAN.
Electroactive polymer actuators for active optical components

Adaptive optical systems incorporate active components that compensate for wavefront aberrations introduced by optical defects. The quality of optical compensation is largely determined by the stroke of the adaptive component’s underlying actuating mechanism. Development of compact polypyrrole trilayer actuator arrays may deliver superior performance over conventional active technologies such as electrostatic electrodes or piezoelectric actuators. This study introduces a novel piston–tilt mirror apparatus that utilizes low-voltage electroactive polymer actuators to reorient a plane mirror. The design of the mirror and its ancillary systems are first reported, followed by the polymer synthesis procedure and actuator fabrication method. Finally, laser beam steering results are provided in the context of an experimental retinal imaging system. The outcomes indicate a promising future for electroactive polymer-enabled devices in adaptive optical systems with technological implications ranging from more powerful astronomical telescopes to improved retinal tissue diagnosis.
Automatic Detection of Repetitive Components in 3D Mechanical Engineering Models

We present an intelligent method to automatically detect repetitive components in 3D mechanical engineering models. In our work, a new Voxel-based Shape Descriptor (VSD) is proposed for effective matching, based on which a similarity function is defined. It uses the voxels intersecting with 3D outline of mechanical components as the feature descriptor. Because each mechanical component may have different poses, the alignment before the matching is needed. For the alignment, we adopt the genetic algorithm to search for optimal solution where the maximum global similarity is the objective. Two components are the same if the maximum global similarity is over a certain threshold. Note that the voxelization of component during feature extraction and the genetic algorithm for searching maximum global similarity are entirely implemented on GPU; the efficiency is improved significantly than with CPU. Experimental results show that our method is more effective and efficient than that existing methods for repetitive components detection.
Compostagem da fração sólida da água residuária de suinocultura

Avaliar o desenvolvimento do processo de compostagem utilizando como substrato a fracao solida da agua residuaria de suinocultura foi o objetivo deste trabalho. Para a obtencao da fracao solida, a agua residuaria de suinocultura foi submetida ao peneiramento, utilizando-se de peneira com malha de 1 milimetro. Apos separacao, a fracao solida foi utilizada para a confeccao de tres leiras de compostagem, em patio com piso de concreto e cobertura plastica. Durante a compostagem da fracao solida da agua residuaria de suinocultura, foram avaliados: temperatura, reducoes de solidos totais (ST), solidos volateis (SV), demanda quimica de oxigenio (DQO), carbono orgânico, materia orgânica compostavel (MOC), materia orgânica resistente a compostagem (MORC), numeros mais provaveis (NMPs) de coliformes totais e coliformes termotolerantes, alem do volume e dos teores de nutrientes no composto. A compostagem mostrou-se eficiente no tratamento da fracao solida da agua residuaria de suinocultura devido a elevada minimizacao do poder poluente dos dejetos, observando-se reducoes de 71,24% nos teores de ST, 64,55% no volume, 56,89% no teor de DQO e 56,89% na MOC. Foram verificadas reducoes de 100% nos NMPs de coliformes totais e termotolerantes, o que possibilita seu uso como adubo orgânico.
Compact tri‐band monopole antenna with hybrid strips for WLAN/WiMAX applications

A novel compact microstrip‐fed tri‐band monopole antenna for WLAN and WiMAX applications is presented in this letter. Hybrid Strips including an L‐shaped strip and a meandered strip are used to generate three resonances in the monopole antenna. Due to the use of a meandered line structure, the antenna size is reduced to 38 × 20 × 1 mm3 only. Compared to the existing designs, the proposed antenna has a size 30, 55, and 70% of the designs in [1–3], respectively. To investigate the performance of antenna versus key antenna design parameters, results of a parametric study are presented. Simulated surface current is also shown. To validate the concept, one antenna prototype is implemented and tested, and the measured results show that the antenna can achieve good performance for WLAN 2.4/5.8 GHz and WiMAX 3.5 GHz applications. The antenna has a compact size and is easy for fabrication, hence useful for practical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:94–99, 2015