Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remaining Life Assessment Technology Applied to Steam Turbines and Hot Gas Expanders

In today’s market place, a large percentage of oil refinery, petrochemical, and power generation plants throughout the world have been trying to reduce their operation cost by extending the service life of their critical machines, such as steam turbines, beyond the design life criteria. The key ingredient in plant life extension is Remaining Life Assessment Technology. This paper will outline the Remaining Life Assessment procedures, and review the various damage mechanisms such as creep, fatigue, creep-fatigue and various embrittlement mechanisms that can occur in these machines. Also highlighted will be the various testing methods for determining remaining life or life extension of components such as high precision STR (Stress Relaxation Test), which determines creep strength, and CDR (Constant Displacement Rate) Test, which evaluates fracture resistance. Other tests such as replication/microstructure analysis and toughness tests will also be reviewed for calculating the remaining life or life extension of the components. Use of the latest computer software will also be highlighted showing how creep-life, fatigue-life and creep/fatigue-life calculations can be performed. Also shown will be an actual life extension example of a hot gas expander performed in the field.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Safety and efficacy of sequential balloon dilation prior to ureteral access sheath insertion in nonstented patients undergoing ureteroscopy

Abstract Techniques such as ureteral access sheath placement and balloon dilation are utilized to facilitate ureteroscopy. A retrospective review was performed to evaluate the efficacy and complications from ureteral access sheath (UAS) placement with or without sequential ureteral balloon dilation (SBD) in non-prestented patients who underwent ureteroscopy with UAS with or without SBD for renal or proximal ureteral stones from February 2014 to April 2017. This was a two-surgeon series of 124 patients divided into groups of SBD + UAS or direct UAS placement. Postoperative complications included hematuria, fever, and flank pain. Successful UAS insertion rates and postoperative complication rates were statistically significantly higher in the SBD + UAS group (P = 0.01 and 0.023, respectively). The procedure time, emergency department return, and 6-week stone-free rates were not statistically different between the groups. In conclusion, SBD + UAS has a higher success rate of UAS insertion compared to direct UAS alone, allowing for same-setting ureteroscopy. However, SBD + UAS is associated with significantly higher rates of fever, flank pain, and hematuria. We conclude that SBD + UAS and direct UAS are equivalent.
Improved dynamic security assessment for AC/DC power systems using energy functions

A method is presented to integrate the dynamics of DC power flow into calculations of transient energy functions of AC/DC power systems. This method treats the generator input power as a function of the parameters and the input, output variables of the DC control system. By using this transient energy function, the accuracy of the stability prediction of AC/DC power systems is improved. The new transient energy function is validated using 12-bus and 30-bus test systems by comparing the stability results with those obtained from time simulation. The new transient energy function is used in a number of studies to establish its effectiveness.
The Relationship between Cars, Roads and Mortality Rates in the United States in the Early 20th Century

10 CHAPTER 1 Get Your Kicks on the Route 66: Automobile Diffusion and Road Development in the United States in the Early 20 Century . 11 1.
Study on Thermogravimetry Data of Cooking Oil Tar Based on Adaptive Wavelet Analysis

Test of the combustion characteristics of cooking oil tar in pipe was conducted. Wavelet transform was introduced to the thermogravimetric data smoothing and differentiation analysis according to the experiment results, and the orthogonal test method was used to find the optimize wavelet parameter. Wavelet transform results were compared to the traditional Moving average,Gaussian Smoothing and Vondrak smoothing methods and it was proved that the signal-to-noise ratio () of the measurement is increased significantly. The kinetic parameters calculated from the original TG curves and smoothed DTG curves have excellent agreement,and thus the wavelet transform smoothing algorithms can be used directly and accurately in kinetic analysis.
Multi-User Massive MIMO Visible Light Communications With Limited Pilot Transmission

Visible light communication (VLC) building on the existing illumination infrastructure utilizes light emitting diode (LED) luminaries as wireless transmitters. To achieve data rates on the order of gigabits per second in VLC systems, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission has been identified as a key technology. In this paper, we consider a centralized network architecture where the ceiling LED luminaries act as transmitter elements of a distributed massive MIMO VLC system. To obtain the full benefits of massive MIMO, channel state information must be available at the transmitter side. Downlink (DL) channel estimation in a massive MIMO system requires huge pilot overhead in DL as well as feedback overhead in uplink. This makes the implementation of massive MIMO system infeasible if not properly designed. In our study, we address the design of massive MIMO VLC systems with a limited number of DL pilot signals. We explore different DL pilot patterns (PPs) in frequency, time, and spatial domains where interpolation is performed to obtain the global channel matrix taking advantage of the indoor environment geometry and layout of luminaries. We then present data rate results for different DL PPs under the consideration of varying number of active user equipments through Monte-Carlo simulations.
Reproducibility of an Intraoperative Pressure Sensor in Total Knee Replacement

Appropriate soft tissue tension in total knee replacement (TKR) is an important factor for a successful outcome. The purpose of our study was to assess both the reproducibility of a modern intraoperative pressure sensor (IOP) and if a surgeon could unconsciously influence measurement. A consecutive series of 80 TKRs were assessed with an IOP between January 2018 and December 2020. In the first scenario, two blinded sequential measurements in 48 patients were taken; in a second scenario, an initial blinded measurement and a subsequent unblinded measurement in 32 patients were taken while looking at the sensor monitor screen. Reproducibility was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). In the first scenario, the ICC ranged from 0.83 to 0.90, and in the second scenario it ranged from 0.80 to 0.90. All ICCs were 0.80 or higher, indicating reproducibility using a IOP and that a surgeon may not unconsciously influence the measurement. The use of a modern IOP to measure soft tissue tension in TKRs is a reproducible technique. A surgeon observing the measurements while performing IOP may not significantly influence the result. An IOP gives additional information that the surgeon can use to optimize outcomes in TKR.
Apparatus for experimental simulation of magnetic flux and power loss distribution in a turbogenerator stator core

An experimental model recently built to simulate magnetic flux and power loss distribution conditions in a large turbogenerator stator core is described. The model consists of a stack of laminated steel segments of around 0.5 cm depth. It is excited by a three-phase winding wound in the stator slots and arranged to allow easy replacement of stator segments. A plain disc stationary laminated steel "rotor" provides a low reluctance path across the machine. Results of various performance tests are presented and it is concluded that the pattern of flux distribution displayed by the model is of the correct general form. Typical results are included from measurements of local flux using small search coils and of loss using miniature thermocouples. The model should be valuable for studies of the effects of changes in various design parameters where its representation of local conditions is likely to be superior to currently available mathematical models.
Life-Cycle Economic Performance for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies

Hot mix asphalt pavements comprise approximately 96% of the paved roadway surfaces in North America. Strategies employed to rehabilitate these surfaces vary widely at a cost of approximately $600 million annually. The Colorado Department of Transportation maintains approximately 28,000 lane miles of asphalt pavements. Of the many rehabilitation strategies employed to maintain this network, three strategies have been utilized most frequently. These strategies are: 1) overlays, 2) cold milling with overlay, and 3) heater scarification and overlay. This research was conducted to determine the expected life-cycle of these strategies. Performance was judged based on smoothness, permanent deformation, and cracking. Independent variables included asphalt binder, traffic, aggregate gradation, and climate. Results of this analysis indicate two of the rehabilitation strategies perform approximately equally with one performing slightly better than the other, and both performing significantly better than the third. Polymer-modified asphalts enhanced pavement performance depending on which rehabilitation strategy was utilized. Some pavements were rehabilitated after reaching the zero-remaining-service-life threshold. As a result, the expected life of the rehabilitation strategies utilized on these pavements may be shorter than could be expected had rehabilitation been done before distress reached this high level.
Resistance to 16-Membered Macrolides, Tiamulin and Lincomycin in a Swine Isolate of Acholeplasma laidlawii

Acholeplasma (A.) laidlawii is an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to disseminate resistance determinants to antibiotics; however, its resistance to macrolides has been less studied. The aim of the present study was to characterize the mechanisms responsible for the resistance to macrolides, tiamulin and lincomycin found in a strain of A. laidlawii isolated from a pig with pneumonia. MICs of erythromycin, 15- and 16-membered macrolides, tiamulin and lincomycin were determined by microdilution method with and without reserpine, an inhibitor of ABC efflux pumps and regions of the genome were sequenced. Reserpine only decreased lincomycin MIC but it did not change the MICs of macrolides and tiamulin. The analysis of the DNA sequence of 23S rRNA showed nucleotide substitutions at eight different positions, although none of them were at positions previously related to macrolide resistance. Five mutations were found in the L22 protein, one of them at the stop codon. In addition, two mutations were found in the amino acid sequence of L4. The combination of multiple mutations in the ribosomal proteins L22 and L4 together with substitutions in 23S rRNA DNA sequence was associated with the resistance to macrolides, the pleuromutilin and lincomycin in the studied A. laidlawii strain.
Interval Kicking Program for the Punting and Place-Kicking Athlete: A Systematic Literature Review and Need Analysis

Interval programs have been developed for multiple sports, allowing athletes to return to sport-specific activity in a graded fashion, minimizing the risk of reinjury. However, there currently exists a gap in the literature surrounding the use of interval programs for the rehabilitation of punting and place-kicking athletes. We aim to perform a systematic review of the literature examining the use of interval kicking programs to aid punting and place-kicking athletes following a lower-extremity injury. Following PRISMA guidelines, a review was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE databases to evaluate the literature surrounding interval kicking programs for punting and place-kicking athletes. Search terms were combined using Boolean operators of “AND” and “OR”. Articles included in this review met these criteria: 1) included patients with lower-extremity pain/injury, 2) reported a return to sport progressive program, and 3) analyzed the measure’s ability to predict a successful return to sport. The initial search returned 115 articles. Seventy-nine of these articles were excluded after initial screening, leaving 36 full-text articles for final review. Of these final articles, there were no studies outlining the use of interval kicking programs by punting or place-kicking athletes. Of the articles reviewed, the most relevant was an interval kicking program developed by Arundale et al. specifically for the soccer athlete. Punting and place-kicking use biomechanically distinct patterns of movement, warranting a specific interval program. This review identified a gap in knowledge surrounding the use of interval programs in the rehabilitation of punting and place-kicking athletes. This review will now describe what is currently known regarding biomechanics of punting and place kicking, the injuries experienced by these athletes, and the benefit an individualized interval program could provide. There currently exists a gap in the literature surrounding the use of interval programs for the rehabilitation of punting and place-kicking athletes. The biomechanics and application of these skills are distinct, and an interval program designed specifically for these athletes is warranted. Future research should be dedicated to the development, implementation, and analysis of an interval kicking program designed for these athletes.
A magnetic guidance method for automated guided vehicles

A belt-like permanent magnet and a magnetic sensor, as a guide path and a guide sensor, are employed for a magnetic guidance system for an automated guided vehicle. A magnetic flux sensor using a saturable coil has high sensitivity and stability, which are necessary to detect the weak magnetic field from the guide belt. The guide sensor consists of the magnetic flux sensor and the magnetic switches. Several saturable coils are used to detect a wide area. The guide sensor produces several kinds of signals to control the steering of the vehicle, by detecting the magnetic guide belt.
Low loss DC to 50 GHz LTCC SMT package for millimeter wave MMICs

The new vertical transition using the trough line, the slab line, and shielded multilayer coplanar waveguides (SMCPW) in order to implement the DC ∼ 50‐GHz band low loss LTCC hermetic surface mounting (SMT) MMIC package was developed. The trough line, the slab line, and the SMCPWs were employed in order to minimize the discontinuity of the conventional via vertical transition, and the radiation loss and crosstalk. The proposed vertical transition is constructed using the multiple transmission lines of the SMCPW1–trough line–slab line–SMCPW2–SMCPW3. The manufactured LTCC hermetic SMT MMIC package showed a low insertion loss less than 0.6 dB and a reflection loss less than −20 dB in the frequency range from DC to 53 GHz. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 24–29, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22973
A Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Teaching Model using a Cloud-Based Constructivist Learning Environment to Enhance Thai Undergraduate Creative Thinking and Digital Media Skills

The objective of this research was to develop a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Model which used a cloud-based constructivist learning environment to enhance Thai undergraduate creative thinking and digital media skills. Initially using a mixed-methods approach, a five-step model was conceptualized. Thereafter, a panel of five academic experts gave input into the model’s design from which the model was expanded to include six related learning environments. The instrument used in the research was a problem-based assessment form. Data collection was carried out utilizing group chats and analyzed using descriptive statistics including the mean and standard deviation. The results of the study revealed that the initial model contained five steps including (1) problem identification, (2), problem analysis, (3) research, (4) presentations, and (5) summary and evaluation, which is integrated into the model’s additional six learning environment elements. These six learning environments were (1) problem-based, (2) resources, (3) cognitive tools, (4) collaboration, (5) scaffolding, and finally, (6) coaching. When applying the proposed model and related environments, there was a consensus from the experts that the model had excellent suitability and can be used as a model for teaching and learning at the bachelor's degree level.
Manufacturing feature-based cost management system: a case study in Brazil

Feature costing is a topic of recent discussion related to cost management systems (CMSs) aimed at understanding how product features influence production process costs. It raises as a key issue in mass customisation environments where a single product model can present hundreds of menu options. In this study, we explore the concept of feature costing beyond the use of activity-based costing (ABC). We propose a CMS based on features and common elements as costing objects instead of products. In our model, we use the unit of production effort method to organise the direct manufacturing costs, ABC method to address the indirect cost and the standard methods to compute raw materials costs. We illustrate the method in the production of bus seats in a Brazilian manufacturing company. This study gives different perspectives to the international academic community on the use of a different CMS used by many Brazilian companies.
Cucumber powdery mildew detection using hyperspectral data

Abstract: This study aimed to understand the spectral changes induced by Podosphaera xanthii, the causal agent of powdery mildew, in cucumber leaves from the moment of inoculation until visible symptoms are apparent. A principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the spectra to assess the spectral separability between healthy and infected leaves. A spectral ratio between infected and healthy leaf spectra was used to determine the best wavelengths for detecting the disease. Additionally, the spectra were used to compute two spectral variables [i.e., the red-well point (RWP) and the red-edge inflexion point (REP)]. A linear support vector machine (SVM) classifier was applied to certain spectral features to assess how well these features can separate the infected leaves from the healthy ones. The PCA showed that a good separability could be achieved from 4 days post-inoculation (DPI). The best model to fit the RWP and REP wavelengths corresponded to a linear model. The linear model had a higher adjusted R2 for the infected leaves than for the healthy leaves. The SVM trained with five first principal components scores achieved an overall accuracy of 95% at 4 DPI (i.e., two days before the visible symptoms). With the RWP and REP parameters, the SVM accuracy increased as a function of the day of inoculation, reaching 89% and 86%, respectively, when symptoms were visible at 6 DPI. Further research must consider a higher number of samples and more temporal repetitions of the experiment.
Scallop shells as geochemical archives of phytoplankton‐related ecological processes in a temperate coastal ecosystem

Phytoplankton dynamics in coastal ecosystems is increasingly altered by land‐based human activities. Yet, this global vision conceals major disparities, among sites and through time. As conventional monitoring time series are quite sparse and relatively short, biological records of environmental variability appear as relevant tools to gain insights into phytoplankton dynamics over larger temporal and spatial scales. Here, we present results of an interdisciplinary project dealing with chemical information archived in shells of Pecten maximus (Bivalvia; Pectinidae), known to form daily growth striae on its shell surface. Several individuals were collected in the Bay of Brest (France) in 2011 and 2012, and analyzed for the molybdenum and lithium concentrations in their soft tissues and the element‐to‐calcium ratios (Mo : Ca and Li : Ca) in their calcitic striae. All shells revealed high synchrony and reproducibility in their Mo : Ca and Li : Ca profiles, characterized with a major peak at the end of May and in mid‐June 2011, respectively. Detailed analysis of physical, chemical, and biological variables measured in seawater during an extensive 9‐month environmental survey enabled a meticulous description of phytoplankton dynamics in 2011 and its impact on shell geochemistry. Main findings strongly suggest that (1) the timing of Mo : Ca peaks reflects the occurrence of silicon limitation and diatom aggregation periods, (2) the height of these peaks relates to the amplitude of the first spring diatom bloom, and (3) Li : Ca serves as a proxy for the temporal dynamics of diatom biovolume and of biogenic silica recycling at the sediment–water interface.
Thermally stimulated current in low‐density polyethylene/MgO nanocomposite. On the mechanism of its superior dielectric properties

Polymer nanocomposites are attracting attention as emerging insulating materials. We measured the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/MgO nanocomposites while varying measuring such parameters as the temperature increase rate and the intensity of the applied electric field. A TSDC peak that spreads over a wide temperature range from 0 °C to 60 °C was observed in all samples. As the amount of MgO nanofiller increases, the TSDC peak height decreases. Furthermore, by adopting a partial heating method, the wide TSDC peak was resolved into several component peaks. Among them, the peak at about 12 °C was found not to appear in the base LDPE. Analysis of its initial rising portion indicated that the 12 °C peak had a fairly large energy depth of about 2 eV. These results indicate that charge carriers tend to be captured more strongly after the addition of MgO nanofillers. If these captured charge carriers induce homocharge layers in the vicinity of the electrodes, further space charge formation would be suppressed. This seems to explain the fact that the amount of space charge is smaller in nanocomposites with a proper addition of MgO than in the base LDPE. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 176(3): 1–7, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21136
Virtual reality adoption capability in Malaysian automotive manufacturing industry

Virtual reality and three-dimensional modelling technologies are mainly used in industry in many aspects. The automotive industry is considered as the initial group that uses virtual reality technologies. However, without adopting advanced technology, the automotive industry cannot compete with its global competition. In this study, six automotive companies in Malaysia were selected as case study to verify the virtual reality adoption capability. A total number of 240 questionnaires were distributed among the six car companies in Malaysia and 153 people responded to the questionnaires. For analysing, Pearson chi-square test was conducted followed by frequency analysis on the respondents’ answers. The analysis showed that 54% of industry respondents have stated that existing technology is not enough while 83.7% of them showed tendency towards adoption and improvement with new technology in which virtual reality was found as the best option that can be adopted to different sections of automotive manufacturing industry. The results also revealed that manufacturing, designing, ‘planning and research’ and engineering departments are the appropriate areas for implementing virtual reality technology.