Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustainability potentials of housing refurbishment

The benefits of choosing refurbishment over new build have recently been brought into focus for reducing environmental impacts of buildings. This is due to the fact that the existing buildings will comprise the majority of the total building stocks for years to come and hence will remain responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions from the sector. This paper investigates the total potentials of sustainable refurbishment and conversion of the existing buildings by adopting a holistic approach to sustainability. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and questionnaires have been used to analyse the environmental impact savings (Co2e), improved health and well-being, and satisfaction of people living in refurbished homes. The results reported in the paper are based on a two year externally funded research project completed in January 2013.
Performance evaluation of the fixed function pipeline and the programmable pipeline

When developing applications in Direct3D today, developers can choose between using the fixed function pipeline and the programmable pipeline. The programmable pipeline is more flexible than the fixed function pipeline, but what is the price for high flexibility? Is high flexibility desired at any cost? How is the choice of pipeline affecting performance? The purpose of this master thesis is to evaluate the performance of the two pipelines. This will be achieved by developing a benchmark program, which measures performance when various graphical effects are tested. The results of the evaluation will hopefully help developers to decide which pipeline to use, in terms of performance. In the end we will see that the fixed function pipeline is faster than the programmable pipeline in all our tests.
Robust position estimation of a mobile vehicle

The ability to estimate the position of a mobile vehicle is a key task for navigation over large distances in complex indoor environments such as nuclear power plants. Schematics of the plants are available, but they are incomplete, as real settings contain many objects, such as pipes, cables or furniture, that mask part of the model. The position estimation method described in this paper matches 3-D data with a simple schematic of a plant. It is basically independent of odometry information and viewpoint, robust to noisy data and spurious points and largely insensitive to occlusions. The method is based on a hypothesis/verification paradigm and its complexity is polynomial; it runs in (Omicron) (m4n4), where m represents the number of model patches and n the number of scene patches. Heuristics are presented to speed up the algorithm. Results on real 3-D data show good behavior even when the scene is very occluded.
Spatiotemporal variation in the adult sex ratio, male aggregation, and movement of two tropical cloud forest dung beetles

Abstract While theory suggests that at conception the sex ratio should be balanced (1:1), this can be variable across space and time in wild populations. Currently, studies of the environmental factors that regulate adult sex ratio (ASR) in species with different life history traits are scarce. Using capture–recapture over a year, we analyzed the influence of habitat type (forest and nonforest) and season (rainy and dry) on variation in ASR, male aggregation and the trajectory movement of 2 dung beetle species with different life history traits: Deltochilum mexicanum (a hornless roller species) and Dichotomius satanas (a tunneler species with horns on its head and thorax). We found opposite tendencies. The D. mexicanum population tends to be female-biased, but the population of D. satanas tends to be predominantly male, and observed values were not related to habitat type or season. However, the 95% confidence intervals estimated were highly variable between seasons depending on habitat. On examining the monthly variation in ASR for both habitats, we found that it depends on the species. In addition, male aggregation differed between species depending on habitat type and season, and species movement patterns were closely related to their habitat preferences. Based on our results, we argue that comparative population studies of species with different life history traits are necessary to understand the variation in demographic parameters as well as its ecological and evolutionary implications in the face of spatial and climatic environmental variation.
Distributed Control of Networked Nonlinear Euler-Lagrange Systems

Motivated by recent developments in formation and cooperative control of networked multi-agent systems, the main goal of this thesis is development of efficient synchronization and formation control algorithms for distributed control of networked nonlinear systems whose dynamics can be described by Euler-Lagrange (EL) equations. One of the main challenges in the design of the formation control algorithm is its optimality and robustness to parametric uncertainties, external disturbances and ability to reconfigure in presence of component, actuator, or sensor faults. Furthermore, the controller should be capable of handling switchings in the communication network topology. In this work, nonlinear optimal control techniques are studied for developing distributed controllers for networked EL systems. An individual cost function is introduced to design a controller that relies on only local information exchanges among the agents. In the development of the controller, it is assumed that the communication graph is not fixed (in other words the topology is switching). Additionally, parametric uncertainties and faults in the EL systems are considered and two approaches, namely adaptive and robust techniques are introduced to compensate for the effects of uncertainties and actuator faults. Next, a distributed H_infinity performance measure is considered to develop distributed robust controllers for uncertain networked EL systems. The developed distributed controller is obtained through rigorous analysis and by considering an individual cost function to enhance the robustness of the controllers in presence of parametric uncertainties and external bounded disturbances. Moreover, a rigorous analysis is conducted on the performance of the developed controllers in presence of actuator faults as well as fault diagnostic and identification (FDI) imperfections. Next, synchronization and set-point tracking control of networked EL systems are investigated in presence of three constraints, namely, (i) input saturation constraints, (ii) unavailability of velocity feedback, and (iii) lack of knowledge on the system parameters. It is shown that the developed distributed controllers can accomplish the desired requirements and specification under the above constraints. Finally, a quaternion-based approach is considered for the attitude synchronization and set-point tracking control problem of formation flying spacecraft. Employing the quaternion in the control law design enables handling large rotations in the spacecraft attitude and, therefore, any singularities in the control laws are avoided. Furthermore, using the quaternion also enables one to guarantee boundedness of the control signals both with and without velocity feedback.
IL4I1 binds to TMPRSS13 and competes with SARS-CoV-2 spike

The secreted enzyme interleukin four-induced gene 1 (IL4I1) is involved in the negative control of the adaptive immune response. IL4I1 expression in human cancer is frequent and correlates with poor survival and resistance to immunotherapy. Nevertheless, its mechanism of action remains partially unknown. Here, we identified transmembrane serine protease 13 (TMPRSS13) as an immune cell-expressed surface protein that binds IL4I1. TMPRSS13 is a paralog of TMPRSS2, whose protease activity participates in the cleavage of SARS-Cov2 Spike protein and facilitates virus induced-membrane fusion. We show that TMPRSS13 is expressed by human lymphocytes, monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, can cleave the Spike protein and allow Sars-Cov2 Spike pseudotyped virus entry into cells. We identify regions of homology between IL4I1 and Spike and demonstrate competition between the two proteins for TMPRSS13 binding. These findings may be relevant for both interfering with SARS-Cov2 infection and limiting IL4I1-dependent immunosuppressive activity in cancer. One-Sentence Summary Through binding to its newly identified receptor TMPRSS13, the enzyme IL4I1 interferes with SARS-Cov2 Spike cleavage thereby blocking viral entry into host cells.
Dynamic analysis of cylindrical shells subject to multiple blasts using FSI

Localised pressure pulse loads can pose a significant threat to structural elements as well as critical equipment and may cause failure and damage in the target due to the concentrated energy delivered upon a localised area of the target. The impulse impinged upon the localised zone at the contact interface can exceed 80% of the total impulse that the charge can deliver to the infinite target, leading to potential perforation of the structural element. When multiple charges are detonated, the advection of gaseous products depends, among other parameters such as fluid density, mass, and shape, on the type of blast wave interference and superposition. This work examines the influence of multiple charge detonations blasted in the air on the external surface of cylindrical shells. Two types of detonations were considered, viz. simultaneous and sequential. In both cases the charges were positioned at 50mm and 75mm stand-off to the right and left of the shell. The Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) phenomenon was investigated in each scenario. The pressure registered with the gauge points of the rigid target was implemented in an uncoupled study on a flexible target which demonstrated different mode shapes occurring in the shell due to each blast scenario. A dimensionless impulse parameter was defined based on the Gaussian distribution function associated with the load shape, which renders the probability of the impulse as the total impulse that can potentially be imparted to the target.
Evaluation of E-Budgeting Implementation in Planning Budget in Maros Regency

Several Regional Governments then implemented E-Budgeting in the preparation of the budget. One region that has implemented E-Budgeting in preparing regional budgets is Maros Regency. The research in this paper was conducted by reviewing literature, articles and using secondary data with documentation from observations via the internet. The data was obtained by monitoring the government website and the application used by the Maros Regency Government in conducting the E-Budgeting process and then conducting a descriptive qualitative analysis. The results of the study show that evaluation of the implementation of the E-Budgeting System in Budgeting in Maros Regency can be stated that at this time the electronic-based budgeting system has been implemented well but has not been fully optimal in achieving the results and benefits, this can be seen in 6 (six) criteria in the evaluation, namely effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, equity, and responsiveness.
Designing an intelligent system to detect stress levels during driving

In addition to the devastating effects of anxiety and stress on the development and exacerbation of the cardiovascular disease, lack of stress control increases drivers' risk of accidents. This paper aims to identify the stress of drivers in various driving situations to warn the driver to control the tense conditions during driving. In order to detect stress while driving, we used the heart signals in the Physionet database. To analyze the conditions of the electrocardiogram (ECG) under various driving situations, linear and non-linear features were used. The characteristics of the RRIs are the only able to identify driver stress in different driving modes relative to rest periods, while the return mapping features, in addition to identifying driver stress while resting, have the ability to identify stress between different driving positions also brought. The results showed that driver's stress level during driving in city 1 and highway 1 with a P-value of 0.028 and also in city 3 and highway 2 with a P-value of 0.041 can be distinguished. The accuracy obtained from the proposed detection method is 98±2% for 100 iterations. The result indicated an efficiency of our proposed method and enhanced the reliability.
A joint field/circuit model of line-to-ring coupling structures and its application to the design of microstrip dual-mode filters and ring resonator circuits

A joint field/circuit model is proposed in this paper to characterize a class of line-to-ring coupling structures for design and optimization of microstrip dual-mode filters and ring resonator circuits. The generic model is derived from field theory and presented in terms of circuit elements by applying a newly developed numerical deembedding technique called "short-open calibration" in a deterministic method-of-moments scheme. It provides a new design strategy for characterizing and optimizing electrical performance of the line-to-ring coupling structures. Such three-port topologies are explicitly formulated by using an equivalent network having circuit elements calculated by the proposed joint field/circuit model. Three microstrip tightly coupling geometries and their related ring resonators are studied with the extracted J-inverter susceptance parameters. Experiments are performed to validate the joint model and also show coupling characteristics of the three types of line-to-ring circuit for the design of ring resonators and dual-mode filters. With this new technique, an optimized microstrip dual-mode filter is successfully designed and the prediction agrees well with our measurements.
Identification of three-dimensional defect topology in concrete structures based on self-attention network using hammering response data

The ageing of concrete structures in Japan is becoming an increasingly serious issue. Periodic inspection is necessary to prevent accidents caused by ageing. One of the methods used to inspect concrete is the hammering test. In this study, we aim to develop a system using machine learning for identifying the topology of defects in concrete, based on acceleration response data obtained from the hammering test. As part of the machine learning method, we constructed a neural network based on self-attention. In addition, we evaluated the eﬀect of changing the size of the estimation domain using the machine learning model
Infrastructure under construction: continuous improvement and learning in projects

Continuous improvement and learning are popular concepts in management literature and practice. Often they are situated in an environment where the work is of a repetitive nature. However, there are a lot of organisations where (part of) the primary processes are carried out by means of projects. An example is organisations involved in management of infrastructure. A survey into the state-of-the-art of continuous improvement and learning in this sector was carried out at the end of 1997. The sector is part of the construction industry, which has some very distinctive characteristics that are not necessarily conducive to continuous improvement and learning. The survey results sketch a picture of organisations that have sufficient capabilities for carrying out and managing projects, but are not really oriented towards improvement and learning. They are struggling with these concepts, do not use available tools and techniques, and hence are depriving themselves of possibilities to improve their performance.
A Study of Positive Psychological Capital on Employee Engagement on a Defence Establishment of India

ABSTRACT Positive Psychological Capital (PsyCap) is a vital build of Positive Psychology which consists of four psychological components namely Self-efficacy, Hope, Optimism and Resilience. Previous researches has shown that PsyCap do have a positive association with work-related outcomes such as employee engagement, employee attitude, behavior, and job performance. Most of the researches related to the PsyCap and Employee engagement were done on employees of multinational firms/ business strata ignoring the world’s largest organization “The Defence Establishments”. In today’s world defence personal’s operates in a very dynamic, technical and complex work environment, which brings drafting increase in mental health issues and hampering organizational outcome as well as employee engagement. The present study was undertaken to explore the relationship between Positive Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and Employee Engagement (EE) on a defence establishment of India. On the basis of availability of sample, data of 30 participants from a defence establishment of India were collected in a field survey. Basic descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation and Regression analysis were performed. Results revealed positive relationship of PsyCap with Employee Engagement.
When Reporters Make the News: Narrated Role Performance During Colombia's Post-Conflict with the FARC Guerrilla Group

ABSTRACT Based on a qualitative analysis of 1,462 articles published during the six years of the signing of the peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla group, this study examines the roles that emerged from the journalist's narratives when their colleagues made the news. Specifically, we seek to understand how they redefined and negotiated their professional roles to survive in Colombia's complex and unsafe environment. The results of our analysis reveal four emerging roles: (1) resilient watchdog; (2) savvy expert; (3) crusader; (4) and community-embedded. The texts examined also reveal how journalists negotiated the agenda-building, since reporters were forced to limit on-site newsgathering, consult multiple sources, self-censor, and deal with the differential working conditions of metropolitan and local journalists as a consequence of risk. This study contributes to role theory by focusing on narrated roles of an insecure democracy from an inductive approach. It further introduces an innovative perspective to boundary work theory, since reporters’ boundaries have been challenged in new, often menacing ways, due to the world's longest-running internal conflict and transition to peace.
Design of a time-based sigma-delta modulator

Design of a Time-based Sigma-Delta Modulator Arnab Kumar Dutta, M.S.E The University of Texas at Austin, 2010 Supervisor: Arjang Hassibi In this thesis, a time-based oversampling sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter(ADC) architecture is introduced. This system uses time, instead of voltage, as the analog variable for its quantizer, where the noise shaping process is realized by modulating the width of a variablewidth digital pulse. The sigma-delta loop integrator, comparator, and subtractor are all time-based circuits and implemented by using only digital gates. The only voltage-based circuit is voltage-to-time Converter(VTC) which requires only a current source. No amplifier is required in the entire circuit. As a proof of concept, the simulation results for a prototype ADC incorporating this time-based sigma-delta ADC architecture is presented.
Active Dynamic Balancing Unit for Controlled Shaking Force and Shaking Moment Balancing

For a mechanism with many elements that needs to be shaking-force and shaking-moment balanced with a low addition of mass, a low addition of inertia, and a low addition of complexity, the use of actively computer-controlled balancing elements is promising. With these actively controlled elements the net reaction forces and the net reaction moments to the base of the mechanism can be balanced directly instead of balancing each mechanism element separately as is common practice for passive balancing. Adaptability of the control also allows balancing of (variable) payload. This paper presents the concept of an active dynamic balancing unit, which is a unit that is mounted on unbalanced mechanisms and is controlled such that the combined system is dynamically balanced. The conceptual design and possible control strategies of such a unit, including pick-and-place motion of variable payloads, is studied. A simulation is presented to give insight in the possibilities and limitations of active dynamic balancing
Gas Turbine Rotor Blade Film Cooling With and Without Simulated NGV Shock Waves and Wakes

Detailed heat transfer measurements have been made around a film-cooled transonic gas turbine rotor blade in the Oxford Isentropic Light Piston Tunnel. Film cooling behaviour for four film cooling configurations has been analysed for a range of blowing rates both without and with simulated nozzle guide vane (NGV) shock wave and wake passing. The superposition model of film cooling has been employed in analysis of time-mean heat transfer data, while time resolved unsteady heat transfer measurements have been analysed to determine interaction between film-cooling and unsteady shock wave and wake passing. It is found that there is a significant change of film-cooling behaviour on the suction surface when simulated NGV unsteady effects are introduced. © 1990 ASME
Effect of shear stud clusters in composite girder bridge design

As part of ongoing efforts to accelerate bridge construction in Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) has turned increasingly to prefabricated bridge technology as a bridge construction method when conditions allow. One of the prefabricated deck systems commonly used by MTO involves installing precast full-depth deck panels with pre-formed shear pockets on top of the naked steel girders, which are then made composite with the girders through shear studs installed inside the shear pockets. Construction of the deck slab is completed by filling the shear pockets with in situ concrete. Recent prefabricated bridge projects have shown an increasing tendency to concentrate the shear studs into clusters of closely-spaced studs in shear pockets that are spaced at relatively large distances apart. Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the resulting composite action between the precast panels and the supporting girders. As a result, MTO’s Bridge Office recently carried out a compreh.
Influence of Spontaneous and Mechanical Ventilation on Frequency-Based Measures of Heart Rate Variability

Frequency-based measures of heart rate variability have been shown to be a useful physiological marker in both clinical and research settings providing insight into the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. Ongoing interactions between the autonomic nervous system control of the heart and lung occurs during each ventilation cycle because of their anatomical position within the closed thoracic cavity. Mechanical ventilation and subsequent removal change the normal ventilator mechanics producing alterations in the tidal volume, intrathoracic pressure, and oxygen delivery. A noninvasive method called heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to evaluate this interaction during ventilation and can be quantified by applying frequency-based measures of the variability between heartbeats. Although HRV is a reliable method to measure alteration of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and cardiopulmonary interaction, there have been limited reports concerning the changes in the frequency-based measure of HRV during both spontaneous and mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this methodological study is therefore to describe the physiological influence of both spontaneous and mechanical ventilation on frequency-based measures of HRV.