Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of wheels and tires on high-strength lightweight wheelchair propulsion cost using a robotic wheelchair tester

Abstract Purpose This study was designed to investigate the effect of wheel and tire selections on the propulsion characteristics of a high-strength lightweight manual wheelchair using robotic wheelchair propulsion. Materials and methods Four configurations were compared with differing combinations of drive wheel tires and casters, with the baseline reflecting the manufacturer configuration of a solid mag drive wheel and 8"×1" caster. The robotic wheelchair tester propelled the chair using pre-generated straight and curvilinear manoeuvres using repeatable and reliable cyclic torque profiles. Additionally, energy loss of the components was measured using coast-down deceleration tests to approximate the system-level rolling resistance of each configuration. Results Results indicate a significant decrease in propulsion cost, increased distance travelled and increased manoeuvrability across all configurations, with upgraded casters and tires. Conclusions These results indicated that with better casters and drive wheel tires, the performance of high strength lightweight wheelchairs can be improved and better meet the mobility needs of users. Implications for rehabilitation Wheel and tire selection can have a demonstrable impact on the propulsion efficiency of manual wheelchairs Coast-down test protocols can be used as a simple and cost-effective means of assessing representative energy losses across various surfaces Wheelchair configurations can be optimized with proper knowledge of the main energetic loss contributions and the environments and contexts of use
Nonlinear Seismic Analysis of Concrete Arch Bridge with Steel Webs

Concrete arch bridge with steel webs is a modification of the conventional reinforced concrete arch bridge by replacing the concrete webs with the corrugated or plain steel webs. In this study, a finite element model of the reinforced concrete arch bridge and the concrete arch bridge with corrugated or plain steel webs were developed using a nonlinear finite element program, "NL_Beam3D". Their nonlinear seismic responses were studied and compared. The results demonstrate that axial force and out-of-plane bending moment are predominant under out-of-plane seismic excitations, and the materials at the arch springing have reached the plastic stage. On the other hand, axial force and in-plane bending moment are predominant under longitudinal seismic excitations, and the materials still remain in the elastic state. It is also found that seismic responses under out-of-plane excitations are greater than that under longitudinal excitations. For concrete arch bridges with steel webs, it is unnecessary to consider the effects of synchronous out-of-plane and longitudinal seismic excitations. RC-PSW arch bridge has better seismic performance than RC-PSW arch bridge.
Analysis of Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Data: A Step-by-Step Guide

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology provides an excellent platform for measuring the expression profiles of genes in heterogeneous cell populations. Multiple tools for the analysis of scRNA-seq data have been developed over the years. The tools require complicated commands and steps to analyze the underlying data, which are not easy to follow by genome researchers and experimental biologists. Therefore, we describe a step-by-step workflow for processing and analyzing the scRNA-seq unique molecular identifier (UMI) data from Human Lung Adenocarcinoma cell lines. We demonstrate the basic analyses including quality check, mapping and quantification of transcript abundance through suitable real data example to obtain UMI count data. Further, we performed basic statistical analyses, such as zero-inflation, differential expression and clustering analyses on the obtained count data. We studied the effects of excess zero-inflation present in scRNA-seq data on the downstream analyses. Our findings indicate that the zero-inflation associated with UMI data had no or minimal role in clustering, while it had significant effect on identifying differentially expressed genes. We also provide an insight into the comparative analysis for differential expression analysis tools based on zero-inflated negative binomial and negative binomial models on scRNA-seq data. The sensitivity analysis enhanced our findings in that the negative binomial model-based tool did not provide an accurate and efficient way to analyze the scRNA-seq data. This study provides a set of guidelines for the users to handle and analyze real scRNA-seq data more easily.
Assessing the Constancy of the Potential Term in the Green and Ampt Infiltration Equation

The general purpose of this article was to analyze the constancy of the water potential term (Hf) in the Green and Ampt (GA however, this parameter changed with time in FINDIT-G&A and the Skaggs method. The Hf parameter (negative) never decreased but always increased with time, stabilizing at approximately 70% of its initial value when flow volumes matched those of FINDIT. This trend occurred regardless of initial and boundary conditions or properties of the soil. The maximum change in the cumulative flow with G&A was on average about five percent when Hf was held constant compared to a time-dependent Hf.
A Bayesian Survival Model Approach for Business Distress Prediction

The early warning signals of corporate distress and failure have been a major area of concern for shareholders, policy makers and academicians alike. Numerous approaches have been applied to examine firm insolvency ranging from the famous Altman’s Z-score, traditional econometrics, financial ratio analysis to the more contemporary tools of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The Cox proportional survival hazard model is a commonly applied technique not only in the field of medical sciences for estimating occurrences of a specific event but also in failure prediction of private firms. The study investigates distress prediction of firms in context of emerging nation like India where otherwise the application of Bayesian survival models is limited. A rich panel of firms spanning over ten years and representing varied sectors like manufacturing, services, mining and construction is compiled for the purpose. The study contributes by developing hazard (survival) modelling using Bayesian perspective. The advantage of Bayesian method lies in dealing effectively with censored and small samples over usual frequentist methods. Both standard Cox survival model for censored failure time and Bayesian estimation have been performed to assess and compare their performance. It is found that prediction accuracy of Bayesian Cox model is significantly higher than of the classical Cox model. The study contributes by providing useful insights in detecting early signs of distress in Indian corporate sector that is otherwise scant in literature.
Eye Blink Classification for Assisting Disability to Communicate Using Bagging and Boosting

Disability is a physical or mental impairment. People with disability have more barriers to do certain activity than those without disability. Moreover, several conditions make them having difficulty to communicate with other people. Currently, researchers have helped people with disabilities by developing brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which uses artifact on electroencephalograph (EEG) as a communication tool using blinks. Research on eye blinks has only focused on the threshold and peak amplitude, while the difference in how many blinks can be detected using peak amplitude has not been the focus yet. This study used primary data taken using a Muse headband on 15 subjects. This data was used as a dataset classified using bagging (random forest) and boosting (XGBoost) methods with python; 80% of the data was allocated for learning and 20% was for testing. The classified data was divided into ten times of testing, which were then averaged. The number of eye blinks’ classification results showed that the accuracy value using random forest was 77.55%, and the accuracy result with the XGBoost method was 90.39%. The result suggests that the experimental model is successful and can be used as a reference for making applications that help people to communicate by differentiating the number of eye blinks. This research focused on developing the number of eye blinks. However, in this study, only three blinking were used so that further research could increase these number.
Low power size‐efficient CMOS UWB low‐noise amplifier design

The design and measurement results of 3–5 GHz fully integrated ultra‐wideband (UWB) CMOS LNA are presented. To boost the transconductance of the LNA and to reduce circuit area effectively, we eliminate a source degeneration inductor using resistive‐feedback cascode structure. The implemented UWB LNA shows peak gain of 10.8 dB, more than 10 dB of input return loss, and a noise figure of 3.3–4.2 dB from 3 to 5.1 GHz with power dissipation of 14 mW. The input P1dB and input IP3 (IIP3) at 4 GHz are about −6 dBm and +4 dBm, respectively. For low cost, the LNA has been fabricated using a 0.18‐μm thin metal CMOS process with top metal thickness of 0.84 μm. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 494–496, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24104
Temporal Complexity in Team Coordination Associated with Increased Performance in a Fast-Paced Puzzle Task

Coordination is a critical component of team performance. Nonlinear time-series measures, such as Sample Entropy (SEn), provide a novel means to examine temporal structure in team coordination. The goal for this study was to apply SEn to the continuous motor responses (gamepad button presses) of dyadic teams who performed a fast-paced puzzle task (Quadra – a variant of videogame Tetris). Inferential analyses were used to: a) determine if meaningful (i.e., deterministic) temporal structure existed in team responses using SEn, and b) examine correlations between team performance and coordination metrics (including SEn). Results confirmed that meaningful temporal structure existed in the sequential type and time of team motor responses. In addition, SEn was the only coordination metric to exhibit a significant relationship with team performance outcomes. Together, these findings support the viability and salience of nonlinear measures such as SEn in assessment of team coordination.
Success Factors of Global New Product Development Programs, the Definition of Project Success, Knowledge Sharing, and Special Issues of Project Management Journal®

Project Management Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2–11 © 2015 by the Project Management Institute Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/pmj.21480 research design, and results of this research program and elaborates on the implications for practice and research. The article builds on an integrated framework, which has been derived from three types of literature: new product development, globalization, and organization. The basic assumption is that success factors can be classified into two groups: (1) ‘Resources,’ which are the longer-term, background factors—that is, the more tacit, ‘softer,’ and difficult-to-imitate—factors that must be part of the internal environment of the firm if it is to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage; and (2) ‘Capabilities,’ which entail more actionable and specific skills, competencies, and routines that firms develop and adjust in line with the dynamics of the situation in the shorter term. In this view of what leads to success, resources are seen as having an indirect impact on performance, in that they are empowered by relevant capabilities. The invited article from Ulrike de Brentani and Elko Kleinschmidt summarizes five of their previous articles:
Design principles of sequentially fed, wide bandwidth, circularly polarised microstrip antennas

The technique of sequentially rotating the feed position of a microstrip patch antenna to improve the circular polarisation bandwidth of an array of such elements is briefly reviewed in the wider context of other known antenna parameter staggering concepts. A first order analysis then shows how the sequential technique significantly improves the axial ratio bandwidth in the relation to the number of patches in the array and the feeder connections. Unwanted effects such as feeder phase errors, multiple reflections in feeders, the presence of higher order modes and mutual coupling are then considered. Computations embracing these effects and measurements illustrate the various properties and topological options available. Finally, the application of the technique is briefly illustrated for a single patch and an array of patches. In conclusion the design principles are summarised and feeder effects are identified as the main limitation when implementing the sequential technique. < >
The risk to organisational excellence by processes that limit managerial knowledge and perception

The focus on organisational excellence in the first instance must be excellence, defined by The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary as “surpassing merit; thing in which persons etc. excel,” where to excel is to “be superior”. To be excellent one must exceed the existing, to “do more than is warranted by, go beyond the limit set by … surpass. ” This paper examines the limits to organisational excellence by investigating the knowledge base behind the perceptions, values and beliefs that have developed both within business and business education over the last 100 years and provides supporting argument from relevant researchers. These authors postulate that such developments have placed limits at both the managerial and organisational levels by developing attitudes and beliefs that are actually in opposition to the real concept of capitalism. Such limits disempower the agents who have the real ability to achieve excellence within the organisation through increasing quality, effectiveness and cooperation.
A multi‐objective approach for local path planning of autonomous mobile robot based on metaheuristics

The traditional methods of mobile robot (MR) path planning very often fail in finding the optimal path in a cluttered, complex, and unknown environment. Therefore, in this article, a novel constrained multi‐objective function involving route length, smoothness of the path, and path safety is formulated for a disc‐shaped MR integrated with sensors. The imposed constraints to the problem are the size of the robot and the collision‐free path. A new population‐based algorithm called the chemical reaction optimization algorithm is used to solve the path planning problem. The results obtained through the proposed controller are compared with the results of other methods available in the literature. To demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed algorithm in finding the solution to the path planning problem, statistically significant tests, that is, the coefficient of variation analysis and Friedman's test are conducted. It is observed that the proposed method outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of route length, path smoothness, average sensing, and planning time, and time is taken to reach the goal.
Assessing the impact of institutions on economic growth in the BRICS countries

This study examines the impact of institutional quality on economic performance in the BRICS countries for the period from 2002 to 2019. The panel data study was estimated using pooled OLS and a fixed effect model. The study employed six institutional quality indicators (Worldwide Governance Indicators) which included voice and accountability, political stability and absence of violence/terrorism, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption. The study also controlled for conventional sources of growth, i.e. human capital, physical capital, government expenditure, and inflation. All of these factors were positive and significant in our study. The findings also reveal that government effectiveness, regulatory quality and control of corruption had a positive and significant impact on economic growth in the BRICS countries, whereas other institutional variables turned out to be insignificant.
THEORY RESEARCH ON APPLICATION OF CT TECHNOLOGY TO SHIELDED NUCLEAR MATERIAL DISCRIMINATION

Smuggling of nuclear material is a serious threat to security of international society. Formal research on nuclear material discrimination can fulfil customs inspection requirement. This paper designs a situation that nuclear material which is packaged and shielded by heavy metal need to be discriminated accurately on the condition that the object being detected cannot be dismantled. Calculation results prove nuclear material could be discriminated accurately while the ideal condition is fulfilled. If multi-energy X-ray source is used the discrimination accuracy is declined. However the accuracy could be improved while energy spectrum shaping technique is used.
Modelling human behaviour within the fire risk assessment tool CRISP

CRISP is a Monte-Carlo model of entire fire scenarios. The sub-models representing physical 'objects' include rooms, doors, windows, detectors and alarms, items of furniture etc, hot smoke layers, and people. The stochastic aspects include starting conditions such as windows and doors open or closed, the number, type and location of people within the building, the location of the fire and type of burning item. The fire and smoke spread are simulated by a 2-layer zone model. The simulation uses a variable timestep in order to achieve maximum efficiency while still maintaining a numerically stable solution. People are assumed to adopt distinct behavioural roles, either naturally or due to training. Their behaviour can be described in terms of actions, which may be abandoned, and substituted by new ones, depending on the state of the environment, Rational decisions are made based on current knowledge (which may be limited and/or incorrect). Movement of people through the building firstly requires a route to be planned through the network of rooms. The choice of route is influenced by the doors' transit difficulty (modified for the presence of smoke) and the distance. Within each room, movement to the next door on the route is directed by means of a contour map of distance to go. This enables any obstacles to be avoided. Movement speed is affected by local crowd density. Deviations from the minimum distance path through a room may be made to avoid areas of high crowd density. Some of the outputs from the CRISP model are described. These include histograms of Fractional Effective Dose (FED) acquired by the occupants (from which the life risk is calculated), and profiles of the number of people remaining in the building as a function of time.
Flight Results of Vision-Based Navigation for Autonomous Spacecraft Inspection of Unknown Objects

This paper describes a vision-based relative navigation and control strategy for inspecting an unknown, noncooperative, and possibly spinning object in space using a visual–inertial system that is designed to minimize the computational requirements while maintaining a safe relative distance. The proposed spacecraft inspection system relies solely on a calibrated stereo camera and a three-axis gyroscope to maintain a safe inspection distance while following a circular trajectory around the object. The navigation system is based on image processing algorithms, which extract the relative position and velocity between the inspector and the object, and a simple control approach is used to ensure that the desired range and bearing are maintained throughout the inspection maneuver. The hardware implementation details of the system are provided. Computer simulation results and experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station during Expedition 34 are reported to demonstrate the performance and applicab.
NEW DATA ON FINDING OF ALIEN PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM NIPPONENSE (DECAPODA, PALAEMONIDAE) IN THE DON RIVER (AZOV SEA BASIN)

For the first time, a freshwater prawn of the genus Macrobrachium Spence Bate, 1868, earlier unknown for the basin of the Azov Sea, was recorded in the lower reaches of the Don River in September, 2019. Based on their morphological characteristics, the found specimens were identified as M. nipponense (De Haan, 1849). This work presents the results of genetic analysis confirming the species status of the prawn, and also reports on new discovery and spreading of this species in the Don River. Oriental river prawn M. nipponense is a subtropical species, in its natural range widespread in Southeast Asia. Since the middle of the 1960s, this species is rapidly expanding its range in Eurasia. In a temperate climatic zone within the area of the former USSR, this thermophilic species was introduced in cooling ponds of thermal power plants (TPP). Acclimatization of M. nipponense was carried out as a part of warm-water aquaculture in order to improve the food supply of fish and enrich the fauna of TPP cooling ponds. This paper summarizes the available information about the formation of stable populations of M. nipponense within the area of the former USSR countries, as well as an assessment of the risks of invasion in the Don River.
Micromechanical electrostatic voltmeter

The prototype for a microminiature, noncontacting electrostatic voltmeter (ESV) is discussed. The ESV works on the principle of intermittent shuttering and exposing a sensing electrode to an electric field between a remote electrode at a different potential from the sensing electrode. The resultant time-varying field at the electrode produces an electrical signal which can be used to monitor the remote voltage. The prototype ESVs hat have been made and tested have electrostatic-comb drives and shutters with areas ranging from 0.022 to 0.067 mm/sup 2/ that are suspended roughly 2 mu m above the surface of the silicon substrate. Initial tests on ESVs showed them to respond to voltages above 20 V for electrodes spaced 0.2 mm away. Sensitivity is expected to be greatly improved by redesigns that are already being investigated. <<ETX>>
Protective Effects of Bacillus coagulans JA845 against D-Galactose/AlCl3-Induced Cognitive Decline, Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation

Recently, the efficacy of probiotics in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders has been reported in animal and clinical studies. Here, we assessed the effects of Bacillus coagulans JA845 in counteracting the symptoms of D-galactose (D-gal)/AlCl3-induced Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in a mice model through behavioral test, histological assessment and biochemical analysis. Ten weeks of pre-treatment with B. coagulans JA845 prevented cognitive decline, attenuated hippocampal lesion and protected neuronal integrity, which demonstrated the neuroprotective features of B. coagulans JA845 in vivo. We also found that supplementation of B. coagulans JA845 alleviated amyloid-beta deposits and hyperphosphorylated tau in hippocampus of D-gal/AlCl3-induced AD model mice. Furthermore, B. coagulans JA845 administration attenuated oxidative stress and decreased serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 and MyD88/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway. Our results demonstrated for the first time that B. coagulans has the potential to help prevent cognitive decline and might be a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.