Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Institutional Resilience: A Useful Guide for Airline Safety Managers?

Significant attention has been given in the literature to aviation safety, with emphasis on the importance of developing and maintaining resilience to accidents. To date, this attention has remained at the conceptual level, with comparatively little empirical research undertaken to test the validity of concepts put forward in the literature. This report presents the findings of a qualitative study, investigating the factors perceived to facilitate safety culture and institutional resilience within airlines. Thirty-two senior managers, drawn from Safety Departments and Flight Operations Divisions, participated in the research, representing 12 airlines operating in the Asian and Pacific regions. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with participants, based on questions relating to terms contained in James Reason’s Checklist for Assessing Institutional Resilience. The checklist provided a useful framework for obtaining data; however, some terms reflected exclusivity in identifying factors that impact on organisational resilience, and others significantly overlapped in their application to the airline industry. Themes emerging from the findings include the importance of leadership roles undertaken by the board, senior management, chief pilots and safety departments, and the influence of both formal and informal performance management systems. Analysis of the findings addresses the implications for Reason’s checklist, and identifies those factors that are not on the checklist but perhaps ought to be. The emergence of a model which may be empirically tested through quantitative design is considered, along with other recommendations for future research. In conclusion, strategies are presented, drawn from the data, which support the presence or absence of safety cultures within the airline industry and impact on ability to assess institutional resilience.
Study of Energy-Saving Dyeing Process for Poly(lactic acid) Fabric

This research studied to develop an energy-saving dyeing process for PLA. The disperse dye used was C.I. Disperse Red 167.1. The effect of dispersing agents viz. SLS and the commercial dispersing agent, on the dyeing ability of the dye on PLA was determined. An energy-saving dyeing process was developed as a 2-stage dyeing process. The dyebath was first preheated at 60°C for 10 minutes followed by dyeing at 110°C for shorter times of 10 and 20 minutes when the conventional process was carried out at 110°C for 30 minutes. The results show that the 2-stage dyeing process provides a satisfactory dyeing with less energy consumption as compared with the conventional PLA dyeing process.
Green product innovation strategy

Over the last decades, companies have started to incorporate green issues in product innovation strategies. This dissertation studies green product innovation strategy, its antecedents and its outcomes. A three-stage approach is followed. In the first stage, the topic is explored and a preliminary research framework is identified. The second stage involves theory-building, using case studies and literature interactively. This stage leads to the identification of elelments of product innovation strategy that are easily overlooked from a traditional, non-green, perspective. The third stage applies a rigorous case study approach to test the developed theoretical model. The results reveal why some green product innovations are successful, whereas others are not. It is argued that green is not always better.
Prenatal Lead and Depression Exposures Jointly Influence Birth Outcomes and NR3C1 DNA Methylation

Many gestational exposures influence birth outcomes, yet the joint contribution of toxicant and psychosocial factors is understudied. Moreover, associated gestational epigenetic mechanisms are unknown. Lead (Pb) and depression independently influence birth outcomes and offspring NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) DNA methylation. We hypothesized that gestational Pb and depression would jointly influence birth outcomes and NR3C1 methylation. Pregnancy exposure information, DNA methylation, and birth outcome data were collected prospectively from n = 272 mother–infant pairs. Factor analysis was used to reduce the dimensionality of NR3C1. Multivariable linear regressions tested for interaction effects between gestational Pb and depression exposures with birth outcomes and NR3C1. Interaction effects indicated that higher levels of Pb and depression jointly contributed to earlier gestations, smaller infant size at birth, and asymmetric fetal growth. Pb and depression were also jointly associated with the two primary factor scores explaining the most variability in NR3C1 methylation; NR3C1 scores were associated with some infant outcomes, including gestational age and asymmetric fetal growth. Pb and depression can cumulatively influence birth outcomes and epigenetic mechanisms, which may lay the foundation for later health risk. As toxicants and social adversities commonly co-occur, research should consider the life course consequences of these interconnected exposures.
Photochemical Stability of a Cotton Fabric Surface Dyed with a Reactive Triphenodioxazine Dye

The paper describes the photochemical stability of a commercial triphenodioxazine dye (Reactive Blue_204) linked onto a cotton fabric. Preliminary studies have shown that as a result of irradiation, the dye and its photodegradation products can pass directly onto the skin under conditions that mimic human perspiration and cause side-effects. The cotton dyed fabric was photo irradiated at different time intervals. Standard methods were employed to evaluate the color strength at various levels of pH, temperature, dyeing contact time, and salt concentration. The influence of UV radiation at different doses (λ > 300 nm) on the structural and color modifications of the dyed cotton fabrics was studied. Structural modifications before and after irradiation were compared by applying FTIR, UV–Vis, and near infrared chemical imaging (NIR–CI) techniques. Color modifications were investigated with the CIELAB system. Color differences significantly increased with the irradiation dose. High irradiation doses caused changes in the dye structure.
A robust production control policy for VLSI wafer fabrication

The authors present control policy for shop-level scheduling in a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility. The policy is designed to reduce the work in process in the shop floor and to follow the production plan as closely as possible. It is also robust against random interference such as machine breakdowns. The flow rate control policy is compared with two other approaches using event-driven simulation. Simulation results are presented to show the advantages of the proposed approach. >
Effect of dispersion in the 3-D condensed node TLM mesh

The general dispersion equation, derived for the 3-D transmission line matrix (TLM) condensed node mesh, is presented and compared to dispersion of the finite-difference time-domain and the expanded node TLM schemes. Spurious mode propagation, as predicted by the dispersion equation for the condensed node, is also addressed. Analysis of dispersive effects is essential to assessing abnormalities in time-domain simulations. <<ETX>>
Rim Sealing of Rotor–Stator Wheelspaces in the Absence of External Flow

Sealing of the cavity formed between a rotating disc and a stator with an asymmetric external flow is considered. In these circumstances circumferential pressure variations in the external flow and the pumping action of the disc may draw fluid into the cavity. Gas concentration measurements, showing this effect, have been obtained from a model experiment with a simple axial clearance seal. In the experiment, guide vanes, fitted upstream of the rim seal, generate an asymmetric external flow. The measurements are shown to be in reasonable agreement with three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations and are also compared with more elementary models. The CFD results give further insight into the effects of ingestion within the cavity.
LncRNA ADAMTS9-AS2 is a Prognostic Biomarker and Correlated with Immune Infiltrates in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background The role of long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) ADAMTS9 antisense RNA 2 (ADAMTS9-AS2) is unclear in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between ADAMTS9-AS2 and LUAD, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and bioinformatics analysis. Methods Various statistical methods, Kaplan–Meier method, Cox regression analysis, GSEA, and immune infiltration analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between clinical features and ADAMTS9-AS2 expression, prognostic factors, and the significant involvement of ADAMTS9-AS2 in function. Results In LUAD patients, low expression of ADAMTS9-AS2 was associated with N stage (P=0.011), gender (P=0.002), number of packs smoked (P=0.024) and smoker (P<0.001). Low ADAMTS9-AS2 expression predicted a poorer overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.51–0.91; P=0.01). And ADAMTS9-AS2 expression (HR: 0.626; 95% CI: 0.397–0.986; P=0.043) was independently correlated with OS in LUAD patients. Unwinding of DNA, extrinsic pathway, polo-like kinase-mediated events, cori cycle, MCM pathway, proteasome pathway, lagging strand synthesis and PCNA-dependent long patch base excision repair were differentially enriched in ADAMTS9-AS2 high expression phenotype. ADAMTS9-AS2 expression was correlated with certain immune infiltrating cells. Conclusion In LUAD patients, ADAMTS9-AS2 expression was significantly associated with poor survival and immune infiltration. ADAMTS9-AS2 may be a promising biomarker of prognosis and response to immunotherapy for LUAD.
3D reconstruction of aircraft structures via 2D multi-view images

Aircraft pose is of great importance to the monitor during flight test. Commonly, traditional pose measurement is based on various sensors, which has the inconvenience of repair and replacement because of damage. Two-dimension (2D) single image processing method alleviate the inconvenience, but it has the ambiguity of single image three-dimension (3D) reconstruction. To address these problems, we accomplish 3D reconstruction of the aircraft’s structures via 2D multi-view images. Structures are obtained from 2D multi-view images of aircraft by a convolutional neural network (CNN) and then used to accomplish reconstruction. Structures typically represent the topological relationship between components of aircraft, reducing the self-occlusion of point features. To more precise evaluation of the experimental results, we propose a new Mean Per Frame Position Error (MPFPE) calculation for the structures position. Compared with the Mean Per Joint Position Error (MPJPE), the MPFPE takes the length of structures into account and mixes the multi-view images. Experiments show the mean error of our method is 1.47%, which shows great potential for aircraft pose estimation.
Functional Safety Management in Microcontroller Design and Development Process: the Case of Safety-Critical Vehicle Systems

Safety is always the key issue in automotive industry. The adoption of hi-tech automotive applications requires not only the development of reliable electrical/electronic/programmable electronic (E/E/PE) systems and communication protocols, but also an evolution in functional safety process management. ISO/WD 26262, the adaption of IEC 61508 for road vehicles, provides guidelines and standardized measurements for functional safety. This paper discusses how automotive microcontroller suppliers can deal with this new challenge by integrating functional safety management into product design and development. An ISO/WD 26262-compliant functional safety management flow is proposed, with specifications on techniques of corresponding safety assessment.
New Models to Predict the Acute and Chronic Toxicities of Representative Species of the Main Trophic Levels of Aquatic Environments

To assess the impact of chemicals on an aquatic environment, toxicological data for three trophic levels are needed to address the chronic and acute toxicities. The use of non-testing methods, such as predictive computational models, was proposed to avoid or reduce the need for animal models and speed up the process when there are many substances to be tested. We developed predictive models for Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia magna, and fish for acute and chronic toxicities. The random forest machine learning approach gave the best results. The models gave good statistical quality for all endpoints. These models are freely available for use as individual models in the VEGA platform and for prioritization in JANUS software.
Automated, Targeted Testing of Property-Based Testing Predicates

Context: This work is based on property-based testing (PBT). PBT is an increasingly important form of software testing. Furthermore, it serves as a concrete gateway into the abstract area of formal methods. Specifically, we focus on students learning PBT methods. Inquiry: How well do students do at PBT? Our goal is to assess the quality of the predicates they write as part of PBT. Prior work introduced the idea of decomposing the predicate's property into a conjunction of independent subproperties. Testing the predicate against each subproperty gives a"semantic"understanding of their performance. Approach: The notion of independence of subproperties both seems intuitive and was an important condition in prior work. First, we show that this condition is overly restrictive and might hide valuable information: it both undercounts errors and makes it hard to capture misconceptions. Second, we introduce two forms of automation, one based on PBT tools and the other on SAT-solving, to enable testing of student predicates. Third, we compare the output of these automated tools against manually-constructed tests. Fourth, we also measure the performance of those tools. Finally, we re-assess student performance reported in prior work. Knowledge: We show the difficulty caused by the independent subproperty requirement. We provide insight into how to use automation effectively to assess PBT predicates. In particular, we discuss the steps we had to take to beat human performance. We also provide insight into how to make the automation work efficiently. Finally, we present a much richer account than prior work of how students did. Grounding: Our methods are grounded in mathematical logic. We also make use of well-understood principles of test generation from more formal specifications. This combination ensures the soundness of our work. We use standard methods to measure performance. Importance: As both educators and programmers, we believe PBT is a valuable tool for students to learn, and its importance will only grow as more developers appreciate its value. Effective teaching requires a clear understanding of student knowledge and progress. Our methods enable a rich and automated analysis of student performance on PBT that yields insight into their understanding and can capture misconceptions. We therefore expect these results to be valuable to educators.
Pose Normalization for CAD Meshes

CAD meshes are used in assembly models for digital mock-up (DMU) applications. They are defined as polygonal meshes, and their pose information is usually lost when they are brought together in a model. Accordingly, this paper presents a simple method of finding good poses for CAD meshes. Since extrusion features can be seen in most such meshes, our method estimates their axes from polygonal meshes. For each triangle in a CAD mesh, voting is applied for the estimated extruding axis, and the local coordinate system of the mesh is determined from the voting result. This approach facilitates the capture of good poses for CAD meshes, whereas PCA-based methods create misalignment in most cases. This paper also demonstrates that our method is efficient for a number of applications in CAD and voxel-based mesh generation.
Patient-Reported Roles in Decision-Making Among Asian Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Multicountry Study

Purpose. We investigated 1) perceived roles in decision-making among advanced cancer patients in 5 Asian countries 2) associations of patient characteristics with these roles, and 3) the association of perceived roles with quality of life and perceived quality of care. Methods. We surveyed 1585 patients with stage IV solid cancer. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to analyze associations of patient characteristics with decision-making roles. Multivariate regressions were used to analyze associations of decision-making roles with quality of life and care. Results. The most common perceived-role was no patient involvement. Most patients (73%) reported roles consistent with their preferences. Being male, nonminority, higher educated, aware of advanced cancer diagnosis, and knowledge of cancer diagnosis for ≥1 year were associated with higher levels of patient involvement in decision-making. Compared to no patient involvement, joint decision-making (together with physicians/family) was associated with higher social (β = 2.49, P < 0.01) and spiritual (β = 2.64, P < 0.01) well-being, and better quality of physician communication (β = 9.73, P < 0.01) and care coordination (β = 13.96, P < 0.01) while making decisions alone was associated with lower emotional (β = −1.43, P < 0.01), social (β = −2.39, P < 0.01), and spiritual (β = −2.98, P < 0.01) well-being. Conclusions. Findings suggest that a substantial number of advanced cancer patients were not (and preferred not to be) involved in decision-making. Despite this finding, joint decision-making together with physicians/family was associated with better quality of life and care. Implications. Physicians should explain the benefits of shared decision making to patients and encourage participation in decision-making, while ensuring that patients feel supported and do not find decision-making overwhelming.
Analysis of an Alternator with Two Displaced Stator Windings

To improve efficiency and alleviate certain limitations in large generators, two separate stator windings have been suggested. The behavior of an alternator with two 3-phase stator windings displaced by an angle e;, is analyzed by means of an orthogonal transformation of the a, b, c; A, B, C; and fd variables into a new set: dl, ql, 01; d2, q2, 02; and fd. For balanced operating conditions the differential equations with the new variables have time-indenendent coefficients. Thus a phasor diagram can be drawn using self and mutual reactances Xd, Xqv X12d and X12q, determined from flux linkages. The latter are based on flux plots obtained bysolving the quasi-Poissoniandifferentialequation. The characteristic parameters for a specific operating condition are calculated for a 1200 MVA, 24 kV, 60 Hz, two-pole turbogenerator, and test data are presented covering single circuit operation on a 2-circuit generator with 600 belts connected as an alternate pole and alternate belt type double winding machine.
Control of vortex-induced non-resonance vibration using piezo-ceramic actuators embedded in a structure

Closed-loop control of vortex-induced non-resonant vibration of a flexible square cylinder is experimentally investigated in this paper. Piezo-ceramic actuators were embedded inside the cylinder to cause an oscillation of the cylinder surface, which subsequently altered the fluid–structure interaction. Experiments were conducted in a wind tunnel at Reynolds numbers, Re, of 2800 and 8000. Two typical control schemes, i.e. Y_control and u+Y_control, were deployed using feedback signals from structural vibration Y and combined Y and fluctuating flow velocity u, respectively. The control effects on the structural vibration and flow were assessed using a laser vibrometer, an optical fiber Bragg grating sensor, hot wires and particle image velocimetry. Experimental results show that both vortex shedding from the cylinder and the vortex-induced non-resonant vibration were effectively suppressed. The best control effects were observed with u+Y_control in use; the root mean square values of Y, the structural strain rate εy along the lift direction and u, i.e. Yrms, εy,rms and urms, and the circulation Γ dropped at Re = 8000 by 58%, 52%, 53% and 88%, respectively, compared with the unperturbed case. It was found that the control effectively modified the nature of the fluid–structure interaction by changing the in-phase fluid–structure synchronization at all dominant frequencies into anti-phase interaction, accounting for the suppression in both vortex shedding and structural vibration.
Plasma IgM Levels Differentiate between Survivors and Non-Survivors of Culture-Positive and Culture-Negative Sepsis and SIRS: A Pilot Study

Immunoglobulin IgM is important for controlling viral and bacterial infections, and low immunoglobulin levels have been found in sepsis. There is a clear need to stratify sepsis patients according to the presence of an invading organism, compared to no organism identified, and SIRS patients, where organ dysfunction is a result of a non-infective process. The aim of this pilot study in a small cohort of patients with sepsis was to evaluate the association between IgM plasma levels and survival in 47 patients with sepsis and 11 patients diagnosed with organ failure without the identification of a pathogen (SIRS). Patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at The Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, UK between 2010 and 2014. We found that low IgM levels were associated with sepsis, but not SIRS. IgM levels did not differ significantly for culture-positive (CP) compared with culture-negative (CN, no organism found) sepsis samples. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare survival curves according to IgM levels, with no significant difference. We observed significantly higher survival in the CP samples when comparing with CN. Cut-off value for IgM (266 μg/mL) for diagnosis of sepsis patients was determined using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves with 70% sensitivity, 69% specificity and 92% negative predictive values (NPV), respectively. The corresponding area under the curve (AUC) for the discrimination of sepsis patients was AUC = 0.73, and in a subgroup analysis of CP was AUC = 0.77 and for CN was AUC = 0.79. We confirm IgM as a good diagnostic marker of sepsis. These findings indicate a difference in the pathology between culture-positive versus negative sepsis, SIRS and survival. This indicates that IgM is likely relevant to pathology, because of its role in the early immune response against pathogens, the potentially protective role of natural IgM antibodies, and supports its application in immunoglobulin therapy.
An antenna capable of harvesting radio frequency, vibration, and light energy based on piezoelectric and solar film materials

This article proposes a new type of antenna capable of harvesting radio frequency, vibration and light energy based on piezoelectric and solar film materials. The antenna is designed by using solar film and Polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) piezoelectric film as the medium. Due to the high dielectric constant of the antenna medium, the size of the energy harvesting antenna can be effectively reduced. A stacked circle patch was designed for the microstrip antenna, and the antenna size is 53 mm × 60 mm × 0.6 mm. In order to improve the conversion efficiency, the rectifier circuit is optimized, and the modal analysis of PVDF is carried out. Test results show that the bandwidth of the antenna is 2–3 GHz. When the antenna is 50 cm away from the signal emission source with 3 dBm at 2.4 GHz, the output voltage is 2.02 V; under 75 Hz vibration excitation, the output voltage and power can reach 1.5 V and 1.13 mW; when the light intensity is 100 mW/cm2, the output voltage is 1.42 V, the output voltage can reach 1.3 V.