Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sketch-Based Solid Modeling for Conceptual Design

A simple, rapid and efficient approach to constructing 3D conceptual solid models on sketch-based user interface is presented. It emulates the traditional sketching design approach with paper and pencil to sketch strokes on the calligraphic interface, and then applies the feature-based modeling method to construct different sweep feature-based primitives according to the shape and location relationship of feature strokes. In order to construct complex solid models, the feature joining and cutting mechanism based on intention capturing is introduced. This paper illustrates the implementation of the algorithm, and experiment shows that the algorithm is efficient and well suitable for real time on-line 3D conceptual model creation.
The New Product Online Evaluation by Expert Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process Method

This study analyzed an evaluation method on new product design over the internet. The expert evaluation is an essential part in product producing and consuming chain. The research takes the Tai Huoniao website (http://www.taihuoniao.com) as a thinking point, which used scoring on product design works. The research uses the analysis hierarchy process method in product evaluation, adding a quantitative analysis on expert-rating. The method also brings an influence on product design works in evaluating online. It is evident that the weight of criterion over the expert evaluation is strongly influenced consumer’s decision-making. By the way of imposing weight on criterion after expert evaluation, it provides an approach for designer to learn more about how can a new product be assessed on computer screen. The weighting on criterion supports the new product design efficiently. The aim of the research is to evaluate the product design criterion in AHP method so as to meet the consumers’ need.
Clustering via hypergraph modularity

Despite the fact that many important problems (including clustering) can be described using hypergraphs, theoretical foundations as well as practical algorithms using hypergraphs are not well developed yet. In this paper, we propose a hypergraph modularity function that generalizes its well established and widely used graph counterpart measure of how clustered a network is. In order to define it properly, we generalize the Chung-Lu model for graphs to hypergraphs. We then provide the theoretical foundations to search for an optimal solution with respect to our hypergraph modularity function. A simple heuristic algorithm is described and applied to a few illustrative examples. We show that using a strict version of our proposed modularity function often leads to a solution where a smaller number of hyperedges get cut as compared to optimizing modularity of 2-section graph of a hypergraph.
Discretion versus Policy Rules in Practice

The paper seeks empirical evidence on the question if the interest rate variations of the European Central Bank (ECB) can be described by a Taylor-type reaction function. Applying least squares estimation approaches several empirical specifications will be discussed. The baseline sample focusses on monthly data that are supposed to reflect the aggregated economic performance of the euro area including the time period since the beginning of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999 until February 2007. Due to the break of macroeconomic fundamentals in 2003 we will split the investigation period. Our results propose that the ECB did not follow a Taylor-type reaction pattern over the whole investigation period. Corresponding interest rate variations can only be observed from 1999 to 2003. As we identify remarkable shifts in the estimated inflation coefficents when splitting the observation sample we assume that empirical results may depend rather on the investigation period than on the estimated specification. Kai Schmid Matr.Nr: 3127090 Weiherstr. 16/1 73230 Kirchheim kai.schmid@web.de
Additive Manufactured Metal-Only Modulated Metasurface Antennas

In metasurface (MTS) antennas, a surface wave (SW) is gradually transformed into a leaky wave, owing to the SW interaction with a reactance tensor periodically modulated in the aperture plane. In such antennas, the modulated reactance is typically obtained by subwavelength patches printed on a dielectric substrate. As an alternative technology, we propose the use of a class of metal-only MTSs in the synthesis of the reactance tensor. The absence of dielectric is useful to withstand harsh environments in space applications. The proposed element consists of a metallic cylinder with elliptical cross section, placed on a ground plane and arranged in a square lattice with subwavelength unit cells. This structure is well suited for fabrication by metal additive manufacturing. We have applied the metal cylinders in the design of a right-handed circularly polarized antenna, with broadside pencil beam at Ka-band. The obtained performance has been verified by full-wave simulations. A prototype has been successfully manufactured and measured, showing a good performance.
From The Ground Up I: Light Pollution Sources in Flagstaff, Arizona

We develop an estimate of the complete outdoor lighting of Flagstaff Arizona, as well as lighting-use densities (lumens per acre) for a number of different land uses. We find a total outdoor light output of 173 million lumens (Mlm) including sports lighting, and 139 Mlm without sports lighting, with an uncertainty of about 7%. The average fraction escaping directly upward from light fixtures is estimated to be 8.3%. After correcting approximately for near-ground blocking described in the accompanying paper by Luginbuhl et al., total uplight is estimated at 17.9 Mlm or 12.2 Mlm with and without sports lighting, respectively. Of these 17.9 Mlm, 33% arise from sports lighting, when it is on; when sports lighting is off, commercial and industrial lighting account for 62% with the remainder dominated by residential (14%) and roadway lighting (12%). We show that the 1989 Flagstaff lighting code that limited total outdoor lighting on new construction has reduced the growth rate of lighting, resulting in a 17% growth in light escaping into the sky from 1989 to 2003, compared to a 43% increase expected if the 1989 code had not been enacted. If all legally nonconforming lighting installed before 1989 were to be brought into compliance with the code, we would expect sky glow in Flagstaff to actually decrease by 36% compared to that in 2003; if all lighting, including residential, could be converted to fully shielded fixtures, sky glow would decrease to about half the current value. The implications for the most effective ways to address sky glow through lighting codes are discussed.
Investigation of fiber / matrix adhesion : Test speed and specimen shape effects in the cylinder test

The cylinder test, developed from the microdroplet test, was adapted to assess the interfacial adhesion strength between fiber and matrix. The sensitivity of cylinder test to pullout speed and specimen geometry was measured. It was established that the effect of test speed can be described as a superposition of two opposite, simultaneous effects which have been modeled mathematically by fitting two parameter Weibull curves on the measured datas. Effects of the cylinder size and its geometrical relation on the measured strength values have been analyzed by finite element method. It was concluded that the geometry has a direct influence on the stress formation. Based on the results achieved, recommendations were given on how to perform the novel single fiber cylinder test.
A Model Predictive Cloud-Based Control Scheme for Trajectory-Tracking: Effects of Round-Trip Time Over-Estimates

This paper addresses the design and implementation of a Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme for trajectory tracking on a robotic vehicle with limited onboard computation power by exploiting an external web-server to solve the related MPC optimization problem. Specifically, an MPC controller that globally asymptotically stabilizes the origin of a suitable tracking error is designed, deployed in a web-server, and utilized in a web-server-in-the-Ioop fashion. The optimal state and input predictions computed by the web-server are fused in the onboard unit using smart buffers to obtain the control signal to apply to the vehicle. Numerical simulations show the robustness of the proposed scheme to additive disturbances in the state equation of the vehicle model and highlight the effect of the selection of the round-trip time guess that is utilized in the implementation of the web-server-in-the-loop strategy, in the closed-loop tracking performance.
Effects of ration on the maturation and fecundity in captive Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)

We examined the effects of amount of food on vitellogenic oocyte size and number (fecundity) between two experimental groups of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) kept in separate but identical compartments of a large seawater tank. Growth and maturation were monitored for 1.5 years. Each group of 200 fish was fed exclusively on krill. At the end of the experiment, a high-ration group, fed 12 mg ·g fish-1 ·day-1, had similar weights-at-length as wild specimens of the same stock. A low-ration group fed about half the amount of the high-ration group had significantly lower weights-at-length. Ration had no effect on oocyte size and relative potential fecundity (oocytes per gram), but mean potential fecundity (oocytes per fish) of the low-ration fish was 26% lower than that of the high-ration fish. The relative intensity of early stages of atresia was quantified histologically. Atresia is a common phenomenon in Atlantic herring and increases markedly with suboptimal feeding. Mean relative atretic intensities .
ii Creating in-vitro phantoms of blood vessels to support the testing and validation of new ultrasonic blood flow imaging techniques

Ultrasound has proven to be a versatile technique, and its applications could be broadened by focussing on the visualization of perfusion throughout the microcirculatory system. This implies the use of high-frequency imaging (>15 MHz) which augments the spatial resolution needed to detect small capillaries. The main goal of this thesis is to quantify the accuracy of flow estimations when using high frequencies, with variation in depth, vessel size, flow speed and frequency itself. To do so, an experimental set-up has been made, based on the possibilities described in the literature. The first part elaborates on the attempted methods to produce such a phantom, describing what went wrong and which methods did prove to work. The second part consists of conducting experiments on the developed phantom. Theoretical flow speeds were compared to the measured ones when using a Visualsonics (16-32 MHz) echography machine, and a conventional GE Vivid 7 (5-9 MHz) apparatus. The results showed a high accuracy for spectral PW as well as Colour Doppler measurements. Further testing should be done using perfused ex-vivo tissue to investigate complex fractional structures. The third part comprises the production of a 3D model of the Circle of Willis. As this region is crucial to the perfusion of the brain, the model could simulate problematic flow inputs, and the results could be validated using 3D printed version of the geometry in an in-vitro setting.
A genetic algorithm modelling framework and solution technique for short term optimal hydrothermal scheduling

A genetic algorithm is applied to the problem of determining the optimal hourly schedule of power generation in a hydrothermal power system. A multi-reservoir cascaded hydroelectric system with a nonlinear relationship between water discharge rate, net head and power generation is considered. The water transport delay between connected reservoirs is also taken into account. The main control parameters that affect the genetic algorithm performance are discussed and a summary of the theoretical basis of the genetic algorithm method is presented. It is shown that a multiple step genetic algorithm search sequence can provide the optimal hourly loading of the system generators.
Towards a Types-As-Classifiers Approach to Dialogue Processing in Human-Robot Interaction

We propose a novel Types-As-Classifiers approach to dialogue processing for robots using probabilistic type judgments. In our proposal, incoming sensory data is converted to a world belief record in real time, and then derived beliefs such as intention attribution to a user, or the prediction of affordances of visible objects, are made as record type judgements of that record. The record can be updated dynamically like a dialogue state, allowing information of different perceptual sources to be easily combined in real time.
Effect of Different Supplementation Levels of Soybean Flour on Pearl Millet Functional Properties

Pearl millet cultivar (Dempy) was supplemented with soybean flour to raise the protein content by 5%, 10% and 15%. Defatted soybean flour, pearl millet flour and their composite flour had varying functional properties. Water and fat absorption, bulk density, nitrogen solubility and dispersibility were higher for soybean flour compared to that of pearl millet flour. Therefore, such properties were improved significantly (P ≤ 0.05) for pearl millet with increasing the level of soybean supplementation. The emulsifying and foaming properties of pearl millet flour were poor but after supplementation with soybean they significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved. Supplementation of pearl millet flour with soybean had no effect on least gelation concentration of millet. The implication of these results will be realized in designing protein-enriched products based on pearl millet flour, especially for pearl millet–growing regions in the under-developing countries.
The effect of individuality of animal on diurnal pattern of pH and redox potential in the rumen of dry cows.

- vidual dry cows using a newly developed wireless device. Three dry Holstein cows fitted with rumen cannulas were used for the individual measurement of ruminal pH and redox potential (Eh) using a newly developed wireless device. The experiment was carried out in the period of 14 days consisting of a 10-day preliminary period followed by a 4-day measurement period. Cows were fed twice daily the diet based on maize silage, lucerne hay and concentrate. During the measurement period ruminal pH and redox potential were monitored continuously using a developed wireless probe. Average daily feed intake throughout the experiment was 8.2 kg/day. The mean ruminal pH was almost identical in Cows 21 and 25, being 6.79 and 6.75, respectively, and was lower than in Cow 26 (6.86; P 0.05). The diurnal pattern of ruminal pH and Eh showed a similar trend in all animals. Mean values of rH (Clark's exponent) calculated for Cows 21 and 25 being 4.43 and 4.48, respectively, were lower than the value calculated for Cow 26 (4.59; P < 0.05). This method may be useful for investigating factors affecting the dynamics of ruminal fermenta - tion and may also help in the identification of variables associated with various metabolic disorders.
Pre-activation of ice-nucleating particles by the pore condensation and freezing mechanism

Abstract. In spite of the resurgence in ice nucleation research a comparatively small number of studies deal with the phenomenon of pre-activation in heterogeneous ice nucleation. Fifty years ago, it was shown that various mineral dust and volcanic ash particles can be pre-activated to become nuclei for ice crystal formation even at temperatures as high as 270–271 K. Pre-activation was achieved under ice-subsaturated conditions without any preceding macroscopic ice growth by just temporarily cooling the particles to temperatures below 228 K. A two-step mechanism involving capillary condensation of supercooled water and subsequent homogeneous freezing was proposed to account for the particles' enhanced ice nucleation ability at high temperatures. This work reinvestigates the efficiency of the proposed pre-activation mechanism in temperature-cycling experiments performed in a large cloud chamber with suspended particles. We find the efficiency to be highest for the clay mineral illite as well as for highly porous materials like zeolite and diatomaceous earth, whereas most aerosols generated from desert dust surface samples did not reveal a measurable pre-activation ability. The pre-activation efficiency is linked to particle pores in a certain size range. As estimated by model calculations, only pores with diameters between about 5 and 8 nm contribute to pre-activation under ice-subsaturated conditions. This range is set by a combination of requirements from the negative Kelvin effect for condensation and a critical size of ice embryos for ice nucleation and melting. In contrast to the early study, pre-activation is only observed for temperatures below 260 K. Above that threshold, the particles' improved ice nucleation ability disappears due to the melting of ice in the pores.
Scaling migration speed in animals that run, swim and fly

Overall migration speed is likely to be a trait under selection pressure in animals migrating annually between habitats for reproduction and survival. A general expression was used for migration speed (V-migr), accounting for energy accumulation and transport, and derive how V-migr scales with body mass for three types of migratory locomotion: running, swimming and flying (powered and soaring flight). Migration speed is predicted to increase with increasing body mass in animals that run (proportional tom(1/11)), swim (proportional tom(1/24)) and fly by soaring (proportional tom(0.22)), whereas in animals migrating by powered flight it decreases (proportional tom(-1/4)). How the relative duration of fuel accumulation to that of migratory locomotion scales with body mass is also derived. This proportion should increase in animals that run and fly, but should remain unaffected by body size in swimmers. The suggestion is made that in runners and swimmers, selection for enhanced migration speed could provide an explanation to Cope's rule, i.e. the observation that body size gradually tends to increase over time. (Less)
Acoustic Perturbations in HRTFs Measured on Mixed Reality Headsets

Materials that obstruct the path of acoustic waveforms in free-field to the human ear, may introduce distortions that can modify the natural Head-Related Transfer Functions. In this paper, the effect of wearing commercially available Head-Mounted Displays for Mixed and Augmented Reality has been measured via a dummy head mannequin. Such spectral distortions may be relevant for mixed reality environments where real and virtual sounds mix together in the same auditory scene. The analysis revealed that the measured HMDs affected the fine structure of the HRTF (> 3-6 kHz) and also introduced non-negligible distortions in the interaural level difference range mostly at the contralateral ear. Distortion patterns in HRTFs and cue modifications are reported and discussed across incidence angles and frequency bands.
Socially Assistive Robotics for the Blind: Evaluation of a Small Humanoid Robot

Engagement and motivation are important elements for successful educational processes. Researchers point out that humans tend to attribute life-like characteristics to robots and to socially engage with them, projecting intentions, goals, and emotions to them. In this study we have investigated, through a short-term experiment, blind persons perceptions of a physically collocated robot compared to a regular computer in regard to functional and social aspects. Results show that, in general, participants preferred to interact with the robot, demonstrating interest and being more engaged. In addition, our findings suggest that the physical embodiment evokes a positive attitude from the blind persons towards the robot propositions.
Preparation methods of nanoliposomes containing Zataria multifl ora essential oil : A comparative study

Nowadays there is a substantial interest on the biological activities of essential oils. Zataria multifl ora essential oil has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. However, essential oils are unstable and susceptible to degradation by oxygen, light and temperature and also low penetration in transdermal administration. Therefore, nanoliposomal systems can be used as promising strategies to overcome these limitations due to their unique set of properties: Nanoliposomes were prepared via two different methods based on thin fi lm hydration method, including extrusion and sonication methods. The physical properties of nanoliposomes such as particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation effi ciency and stability were also determined. In comparison of two methods, sonicated nanoliposomes had smaller mean particle size and better dispersity while mean encapsulation effi ciency in extruded ones were higher. It can be deducted by consideration of signifi cance level; physicochemical properties of the vesicles were strongly infl uenced by essential oil and cholesterol concentration besides the preparation method.
Implementing a scalable recommender system for social networks

Large amounts of items and users with different characteristics and preferences make personalized recommendations a problem. Many companies employ recommender systems to solve the problem of discovery and information overload where it is unreasonable for a user to go through all items to find something interesting. Recommender systems as a field of research has become popular during the past two decades. Recommendations are for many companies an important aspect of their products concerning user experience and revenue. This master’s thesis describes the development and evaluation of a recommender system in the context of a social network for sports fishing called Fishbrain. It describes and evaluates several different approaches to recommender systems. It reasons about user characteristics, user interface, and the feedback data provided by the users, for which help make recommendations. The work aims to improve user experience in the given context. All this has been implemented and evaluated, with mixed results, considering the many variables taken into account that are important to Fishbrain.
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): Understanding the wavelength dependence of galaxy structure with bulge-disc decompositions

With a large sample of bright, low-redshift galaxies with optical–near-IR imaging from the GAMA survey we use bulge-disc decompositions to understand the wavelength-dependent behaviour of single-Sersic structural measurements. We denote the variation in single-Sersic index with wavelength as N, likewise for effective radius we use R. We find that most galaxies with a substantial disc, even those with no discernable bulge, display a high value of N. The increase in Sersic index to longer wavelengths is therefore intrinsic to discs, apparently resulting from radial variations in stellar population and/or dust reddening. Similarly, low values of R (< 1) are found to be ubiquitous, implying an element of universality in galaxy colour gradients. We also study how bulge and disc colour distributions vary with galaxy type. We find that, rather than all bulges being red and all discs being blue in absolute terms, both components become redder for galaxies with redder total colours. We even observe that bulges in bluer galaxies are typically bluer than discs in red galaxies, and that bulges and discs are closer in colour for fainter galaxies. Trends in total colour are therefore not solely due to the colour or flux dominance of the bulge or disc.