Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What makes AS marking reliable? An experiment with some stages from the standardisation process

It is particularly important that GCSE and A‐level marking is valid and reliable as it affects the life chances of many young people in England. Current developments in marking technology are coinciding with potential changes in procedures to ensure valid and reliable marking. In this research the effectiveness of procedures to facilitate the reliability of marking were evaluated using a design with three interventions. Two of the interventions, the standardisation meeting and personal feedback, are similar to the conventional approach in GCSE and A‐level practice but within the constraints of a research study. The other intervention, pre‐written feedback, is how examples of marked scripts might be presented for part of examiner standardisation or training in other situations; it is also similar to the approach to feedback used in earlier research by Shaw and Baird et al. Each participating examiner experienced two of the three types of intervention. Marking data were gathered before and after the first intervention as well as after the second intervention. Inter‐examiner reliability was analysed using ANOVA models. Due to the different levels of inter‐examiner reliability at the beginning of the experiment it was hard to compare the effectiveness of the different interventions. Nevertheless, this research highlights that: (1) in line with previous research, standardisation meetings on their own are not particularly effective for experienced examiners; (2) as has been found in previous research, more experienced examiners were more lenient; (3) most combinations of interventions (combinations of standardisation processes – including the conventional approach) led to a decline in the size of the marking error; and (4) sometimes feedback (personal or pre‐written) was effective and sometimes it was not.
Non-exhaustive family based dispatching heuristics–exploiting variances of processing and set-up times

Group technology exploits similarities in product and process design to effectively meet the diversity of customer demand. In this paper we consider one of the implementations of this concept–heuristics for family based dispatching. Intrinsic to family based dispatching is the grouping of similar types of products for joint processing. Hence, the number of set-ups may be reduced. Consequently, lead time performance of the shop can be improved. Unfortunately, variances of processing and set-up times–as found in practice–have received little attention in heuristics’ construction and testing. To address this issue we propose several new, non-exhaustive heuristics. Whereas existing exhaustive heuristics set batch contents equal to all products available for a family, non-exhaustive heuristics allow for switching families, even when the current family queue is not empty. An extensive simulation study shows how this flexibility in batch composition improves shop performance, especially in case of high variances of processing and set-up times.
Optimising location of unified power flow controllers by means of improved evolutionary programming

The unified power flow controller (UPFC) is one of the most promising Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices for the load flow control. Simultaneous optimisation of location and parameters for UPFCs is an important issue when the given number of UPFCs is applied to the power system with the purpose of increasing system loadability. This paper presents a mathematical model about optimal location and parameters of UPFCs to maximise the system loadability subject to the transmission line capacity limits and specified voltage level. An improved computational intelligence approach: self-adaptive evolutionary programming (SAEP) is used to solve the nonlinear programming problem presented above for better accuracy. Case studies of the IEEE 30- and 118-bus systems using the proposed model and technique demonstrate that the proposed mathematical model is corrective and efficient. Furthermore, steady-state performance of power system can be effectively enhanced due to the optimal location and parameters of UPFCs.
Linear Electromechanical Model of Ionic Polymer Transducers -Part II: Experimental Validation

A series of experiments are performed to assess the validity of an equivalent circuit model of ionic polymer transducers. The fundamental parameters of the model are the dielectric permittivity of the material, the viscoelastic modulus, and the effective strain coefficient of the transducer. The results demonstrate the validity of a simplifying assumption regarding the reflected impedance of the polymer. This allows us to use a simpler set of expressions to predict the time and frequency response of the polymer. The expressions for sensing and actuation are verified in a series of step response and frequency response tests of cantilevered transducers. The curvefit algorithm used for parameter identification works well but there is always a tradeoff in accuracy between the time domain and frequency domain measurements. This could imply the existence of an input-level dependence on the parameters. In spite of this level dependence, the linear model is able to predict the response of an input-output pair that is independent of the parameter identification. This result supports the validity of the linear model. Experimental results also support the use of a reciprocal model in which each expression for actuation has a dual expression for sensing. Scaling experiments verify the predictions of the model with respect to changes in transducer length and width.
Research on the Multi-Parameter Modeling of Submarine Sediment Prediction

It is presented in this paper the technology of principal component analysis and analyze existing empirical equation and its calculation errors. A principle component model is then built up using the measurement data of sediments from the continental slope and shelf in southern South China Sea. It is also studied in theory how to exclude correlated parameters from a number of parameters that can affect the sound velocity and how to optimize a few parameters that are obviously related to sound velocity without cross-correlation. Using the optimal physical parameters, such as porosity n, median grain size Md (φ) and plastic limit Wp, a three-parameter forecasting equation of sound velocity is established for the continental shelf and slope in southern South China Sea.
Full-Body Occlusion Handling and Density Analysis in Traffic Video-Surveillance Systems

Vision-based traffic surveillance systems are among the most reliable, inexpensive, and highly applicable methodologies for surveying traffic conditions. The implementation of these strategies, however, is limited under certain conditions, such as the presence of vehicle occlusions or poor illumination conditions that lead to either overcounted or under-counted traffic data. The proposed motion-based methodology is intended to overcome these limitations by using a new technique for full-body occlusion handling of vehicles. The methodology is based on five main steps: calibration, detection, tracking, counting, and occlusion handling. The proposed methodology was tested with various 30–min videos and 452 preidentified cases of occlusion. Preliminary results indicated that the proposed methodology was reliable and robust in providing traffic density analysis. Future work may rely on the extension of the proposed methodology to deal with the detection of vehicles moving toward multiple directions.
The Use of Reflection Mode Ultrasonic Transceiver Sensor in Pipeline Inspection Guage to Monitor Pipeline Internal Corrosion

Aging gas transmission pipelines are prone to internal corrosion due to the presence of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide in the natural gas constituents. Commonly, the in-line inspection tool known as Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) is applied to perform the corrosion inspection of the pipeline. This paper describes an ultrasonic instrumentation system for PIG to monitor internal corrosion of pipeline. The system consists of ultrasonic transceiver sensor, ultrasonic driving circuitry and data acquisition system. The hardware is equipped with a sensor carrier which is propelled along the test pipeline. The time of flight (TOF) of the ultrasonic wave is measured and was used to evaluate the internal corrosion of pipeline. An initial experimental instrument was set up to perform the distance measurement test at a frequency of 390 kHz, to simulate the changes of pipe wall thickness due to corrosion effect. Surface anomalies were created at different positions to simulate the changes of pipe wall thickness due to the corrosion effect. Variation in measured distances implied the existence of the surface anomalies. The results of the simulated surface anomalies showed that the percentage error was less than + 5%. The large value of average DC voltage gave indication of distance increment due to the depth of the surface anomalies. The developed ultrasonic instrumentation system is capable to monitor the internal corrosion of pipeline.
Online Gamified Learning to Enhance Teachers’ Competencies Using Classcraft

Every English language teacher should be competent enough to serve as a model of reference for students. As stipulated by the Roadmap 2015–2025, Ministry of Education, Malaysia, teachers need a minimum CEFR Level C1 qualification to teach English language at all levels. This poses a need for teachers who have not achieved this minimum requirement to re-skill and upskill themselves to the minimum competency level. Past studies have indicated that online gamification techniques have increased teacher competency levels. However, there has been a lack of studies that have investigated teachers’ language-teaching/learning competencies using online gamified learning. As such, this study aims to address this problem using experiential learning techniques on an online gamified platform, Classcraft. The online gamified learning module was developed using the Design and Development Research (DDR) methodology, and was conducted in the five-phase ADDIE Model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation). This paper seeks to brief the reader on the design and development process of this online gamified learning using Classcraft. The findings of the design phase were derived through the Fuzzy Delphi technique to acquire the experts’ consensus on the content of the module, and the appropriate gamification elements which ought to be included in the development of the module. The findings of the development phase, as agreed by expert consensus, were used to develop the online gamified learning module. Thus, the findings portrayed the enhancement of the competencies of the English Language teachers who used this online gamified learning with the integration of Classcraft.
Model Transformation Method of Embedded System Hardware for Improving Design Process Performance

Gap between designer productivity and IC technology is a challenge for improving embedded system design methodology. Register Transfer Level (RTL) is a current design abstraction that no longer adequate as the starting abstraction level. It needs a new methodology for facing the lack of RTL. Transaction Level Modeling (TLM) is a candidate design methodology to improve designer productivity. It offers many advantages especially on process time reduction. In this paper, a new model transformation method is proposed for transforming TLM model to RTL model design incrementally. TMC (TLM-RTL Model Communicator) is used as a key component in this method. TMC communicates between TLM and RTL model. GCD (Greatest Common Divisor) processor is designed to show transformation process from TLM to RTL model. The experiment results show that model transformation method using TMC is effective for transforming TLM model to RTL model incrementally. These results show the design process improvement using this method.
Anti-Contractile Mechanism of Resveratrol in Non-Vascular Smooth Muscle Under α1Adrenoceptor Stimulation involves IP3 Receptor, Protein Kinase-C and NADPH Oxidase

con-Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are products from enzymatic systems that are responsible for several biological disturbances when uncontrolled. Superoxide anion (O 2- ), increases intracellular calcium-regulated contractile/relaxation responses in smooth muscles. Activation of α1-adrenoceptors promotes these contractions through the Gq pathway involving protein kinase C (PKC) and calcium mobilization. It has been reported that Gq pathway is related to ROS production. It has also been shown that resveratrol (RESV), an antioxidant agent, decreases vascular smooth muscle contraction. The effect of RESV was not yet demonstrated in the anococcygeus smooth muscle contraction. Since ROS are present in rat anococcygeus smooth muscle and RESV has an antioxidant effect, the hypothesis for the current work is that the contractile response, under α1-adrenoceptor stimulation, can be decreased by RESV through decreasing ROS production related to the pathways of PKC and calcium mobilization. Thus, the aims were to investigate if the RESV interferes with the non-vascular smooth muscle contractile reactivity stimulated by the α1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (PE) and to analyze its potential mechanisms. Anococcygeus smooth muscles were isolated from male Wistar rats and placed in organ baths to evaluate isometric tension. RESV enhanced the decreased contractions after incubation with α1-adrenoceptor and IP3-receptor (RIP3) antagonists as well as PKC and NADPH oxidase inhibitors. Under α1-adrenoceptor stimulation, the anococcygeus smooth muscle contractions are indeed related to the pathway of ROS production, involving inhibition of Ca 2+ mobilization, PKC activation and NADPH oxidase that are all sensitive to RESV.
An AlN piezoelectric microactuator array

This paper presents the design, fabrication and characterisation of a piezoelectric microactuator array, the key component of a remotely controlled, wireless, solar powered microsystem which should be capable of locomotion. The walking principle mimics the elliptical leg motion of walking animals by using a combination of multiple DOF surface micromachined piezoelectric actuators associated with wafer-through etched features that transmit and amplify the piezo-induced motion to the backside of the wafer. Aluminium nitride has been chosen as the thin film piezoelectric material since it is highly insulating and can be deposited repeatedly with very high quality. The characterisation of the fabricated structure shows very promising results in view of meeting the wireless locomotion challenge.
Following the Correct Direction: Renovating Sparsified SGD towards Global Optimization in Distributed Edge Learning

Distributed edge learning collaborates powerful edge devices to train a shared global model. Since the frequent communication between the server and workers is very expensive, it is desired to accelerate the learning process. The gradient sparsification is an efficient method that only uploads a small subset of gradient elements. However, most existing works neglect the distributed nature of local datasets, and consequently the local gradients uploaded by edge devices cannot follow the global correct optimization direction well, which results in the loss of accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new gradient sparsification with a renovating mechanism, called Global Renovating Stochastic Gradient Descent (GRSGD). GRSGD utilizes the previous-round global gradient to estimate the current global one and renovates the current zero-sparsified local gradients. It mitigates the communication overhead while making the convergence direction of training closer to the global optimization, accelerating the distributed edge learning process. We provide a theoretical convergence guarantee for our algorithm based on the non-convex assumption, which better fits most deep learning problems. With extensive experiments in PyTorch, we show that GRSGD effectively accelerates the learning process with a smaller communication cost and a faster convergence rate on most training tasks. For example, on ImageNet MnasNet, GRSGD cuts down the gradient size from 8.47MB to 2.13MB while achieving 9.6%+ higher accuracy.
The Ten Commandments for Translating Simulation Results Into Real-life Performance

Simulation designers are continuously facing the challenge of determining how much of the expected value the simulation has delivered to the client. Addressing this challenge is not easy, and it requires simulation designers to stretch their comfort zones. This article presents a ten-step approach for meeting simulation objectives and translating simulation results into actual performance improvement. Each of these ten commandments is explained and illustrated by using real-life simulation projects.
Interconnected logistic networks and protocols: simulation-based efficiency assessment

Logistic networks intensely use means of transportation and storage facilities to deliver goods. However, these logistic networks are still poorly interconnected and this fragmentation is responsible for a lack of consolidation and thus efficiency. To cope with the seeming contradiction of just-in-time deliveries and challenging emissions targets, a major improvement in supply networks is sought here. This new organisation is based on the universal interconnection of logistics services, namely a Physical Internet where goods travel in modular containers for the sake of interconnection in open networks. If from a logical point of view, merging container flows should improve efficiency, no demonstration of its potential has been carried out prior to the here reported research. To reach this potentiality assessment goal, we model the asynchronous shipment and creation of containers within an interconnected network of services, find the best path routing for each container and minimise the use of transportations means. To carry out the demonstration and assess the associated stakes, we use a set of actual flows from the fast-moving consumer goods sector in France. Various transportation protocols and scenarios are tested, revealing encouraging results for efficiency indicators such as CO2 emissions, cost, lead time, delivery travel time, and so forth. As this is a first work in the field of flows transportation, the simulation model and experiment exposes many further research avenues.
A Multi-agents System for a Distributed Power Management of Micro Turbine Generators Connected to a Grid

Abstract The proliferation of distributed generation systems in power grids will lead to complex situations where the power management becomes difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate this various distributed generation systems. This paper proposes a multi-agent system to coordinate a distributed power management of micro turbine generators connected to the grid. The system views the problem as the interaction of simple independent agents. The interaction protocol of these agents is proposed to manage their communications and satisfy their constraints. This work is implemented and tested using a new platform which combines real-time simulation systems and network communication. The results obtained from this platform illustrating the performance of multi-agent system are presented.
Multiobjective genetic algorithm approach for a dual-feed circular polarised patch antenna design

A design procedure for a dual feed network is presented to produce a circular polarised matched antenna involving eight design parameters with associated constraints. Determination of such design parameters has been made possible by utilising a multiobjective genetic algorithm (MGA) approach. The conditions for circular polarisation and impedance matching were the objective functions employed in the MGA. The associated constraints were the lengths and characteristic impedance values of the feed network. The return loss and axial ratio for a 5.8 GHz antenna were investigated and good agreement was obtained between simulated and practical measurements.
The Harmonic Response Analysis of Workover Rig Platorm Base on ANSYS Workbench

Normally, the workover rig platform is obtained only low order natural frequency by modal analysis. In order to understand the frequency response of structure dynamic load, we well carry out harmonic response analysis on the operation platform in this paper. On this basis, determine the modal frequency that is greatest effect on dynamic behaviour of the workover rig operation platform structural system. To extract the modal frequency as dynamic optimization goal or state variables.Finally, achieve forecast the possibility of dynamic interference between operation platform and other components.
Kinematics, design and control of the 6‐PSU platform

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ohio University has designed, constructed, and controlled a new 6‐dof in‐parallel‐actuated platform, a combination and modification of existing designs. The 6‐PSU platform consists of six legs with a prismatic joint, spherical joint, and universal joint connecting links in each leg which move the platform in the six Cartesian freedoms with respect to the base. The prismatic joint is actuated while the other two joints in each leg are passive. The six prismatic joints move vertically with respect to the base, which appears to be a big improvement over the standard Gough/Stewart platform. Experimental results from the Ohio University manipulator are presented.
Caracterização do sistema de coleta programada de peças, milk run

The article analyses the new approach of material management in Brazilian automobile industry to reduce holding and inventory cost. It describes the conventional procurement system (direct shipping) and gives account of the Milk Run and its features. It also compares Milk Run to Just-in-Time and describe how to use both systems at the same time depending on the distance (automobile manufacturing site/supplier) and the material volume to be obtained picked up (or collected) of each supplier within supply chain. PALAVRAS-CHAVES Fornecedores, montadora, operador logistico, cadeia de suprimentos, custo de estoque.
Dielectric lens balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna with low cross-polarisation for ultra-wideband applications

The major deficiency of conventional ‘balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna’ (BAVA) is its tilted beam over upper working frequencies. This study reports on a new BAVA to overcome this defect. By applying a dielectric lens in front of the antenna's aperture, beam-tilting in E-plane was improved within the ultra-wideband frequency range, as well as higher frequencies. In the new BAVA, the authors have also achieved an acceptable cross-polarisation. Measurements show that the antenna has better than 10 dB return loss within the aforesaid frequency range. The measurements successfully verify the simulation results. Group delay and fidelity factor as time domain characteristics of the proposed antenna have been studied. They have compared performance of the conventional BAVA, with achievements of the new BAVA as hereunder.
Non-Destructive Structural Integrity Assessment of a Decommissioned Rail Wagon System

Abstract This paper presents a multi-criteria based approach for non-destructive diagnostic structural integrity assessment of a decommissioned flatbed rail wagon (FBRW) used for road bridge superstructure rehabilitation and replacement applications. First, full-scale vibration and static test data sets are employed in a finite element (FE) model of the FBRW to obtain the best “initial” estimate of the model parameters. Second, the “final” model parameters are predicted using sensitivity-based perturbation analysis without significant difficulties encountered. Consequently, the updated FBRW model is validated using the independent sets of full-scale laboratory static test data. Finally, the updated and validated FE model of the FBRW is used for structural integrity assessment of a single lane FBRW bridge subjected to the Australian bridge design traffic load.