Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bus Operator Perceptions of Safety Risks

This paper presents the results of a survey of TriMet bus operators addressing safety risks in their assigned work. Surveyed risk factors were organized into five categories: vehicle design and condition; route layout; operating conditions; fatigue; and stress. Operators perceived fatigue and stress to be the greatest sources of safety risk, with split shifts, schedule pressures, passenger distractions, and negligence of other roadway users being the primary contributors to these conditions. Operators were also surveyed on the frequency and nature of “close calls,” with two-thirds of the operators indicating that such incidents occurred at least weekly and most often involved being cut off by other roadway users. Operators endorsed high visibility enforcement initiatives to improve safety, focusing primarily on negligent behavior. Other operator-recommended changes addressed scheduling practices and the need for more public information and outreach on safety risks.
"Gender Differences in Static and Dynamic Balance Testing"

The IRB approved study consisted of a convenience sample of 300 subjects. Prior to administering the battery of tests, the subjects were informed of the battery of tests that were to be performed, the description of the tests, and that the subjects could stop at any time during the tests. The subjects signed a consent form prior to the beginning of testing. The tests were conducted by University of New Orleans exercise physiology undergraduate students who were CITI-certified for Human Subjects Testing and trained to administer the battery of balance tests. The battery of tests administered to the subjects consisted of the following tests. Brief descriptions of the tests are also included [4,7-11]: ABSTRACT Purpose: Determine if gender differences exist in static and dynamic testing. Design: Three hundred subjects, 173 males (29.1 + 13.7 Yrs) and 127 (31.5 + 14.6 Yrs) females, were administered a battery of 5 balance tests, 3 static and 2 dynamic tests. Analysis: Mann-Whitney non-parametric and one-way ANOVA parametric tests were used to analyze the balance results comparisons between the two groups. Results: Non-parametric Mann-Whitney results indicated significant superior static balance of males in both the dominant and non-dominant leg of the Stork test; and significant superior dynamic balance of males for the 5 Times Sit-to-Stand test.
Writing Strategies Used by English Department Students with Different Self-Esteem Level to Revise Their Essay(s)

Abstract: This qualitative study investigated writing strategies used by English Department students with different self-esteem levels to revise their essay(s). This study involved six third-year students of the English Language Teaching study program at Universitas Negeri Malang. They have different self-esteem levels (3 students with high self-esteem and 3 students with moderate self-esteem levels). There were three types of writing strategies that the students with varying levels of self-esteem used to revise their essay(s): monitoring, getting feedback, and revising. Those strategies were considered helpful for the students to improve the quality of their essay(s). Abstrak: Penelitian kualitatif ini menginvestigasi strategi menulis yang digunakan oleh mahasiswa jurusan Bahasa Inggris dengan tingkat harga diri berbeda untuk merevisi esai mereka. Penelitian ini melibatkan enam siswa tahun ketiga program studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris di Universitas Negeri Malang yang memiliki tingkat harga diri berbeda tiga siswa dengan harga diri tinggi dan tiga siswa dengan harga diri sedang). Ada tiga jenis strategi menulis yang digunakan para siswa tersebut untuk merevisi esai mereka, yaitu monitoring, getting feedback, dan revising. Strategi menulis tersebut dianggap membantu para siswa untuk memperbaiki kualitas esai mereka.
Study on robot coalition problem based on novel quantum-inspired ant colony algorithm

Robot coalition problem is a complicated combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, a novel quantum ant colony algorithm for the problem is proposed, where the thought of quantum evolution algorithm is combined with ant colony algorithm. In this algorithm, the pheromone is encoded by quantum bits and a new pheromone representation is designed. To avoid the algorithm falling into local optimum, the strategy of quantum crossover is designed to improve the information structure of population. Simulation results show that the algorithm is more effective than quantum genetic algorithm and basic ant colony algorithm.
DIVERSITY OF DIDACTICAL APPROACHES TO FOSTER DIVERSITY OF ENGINEERS

Europe and USA have a specific focus on high technology and engineering services. In this case both accept the diversity argument; research and industry need to create teams made up of members of different backgrounds, ages and sexes to come close to future issues and today's markets. This means a strong link to engineering education and a continuous change of experiences in engineering education research. This is the issue of the workshop which invites the participants along with three keynotes to think about new perspectives of diversity in engineering education. The results of all research run in the last 20 years may be focused on the question: which were successful in integrating the different gender and diversity background of students to foster engineers?
Practical Solutions to the Non-minimum Phase and Vibration Problems under the Disturbance Rejection Paradigm

This dissertation tackles two kinds of control problems under the disturbance rejection paradigm (DRP): 1) the general problem of non-minimum phase (NMP) systems, such as systems with right half plane (RHP) zeros and those with time delay; 2) the specific problem of vibration, a prevailing problem facing practicing engineers in the real world of industrial control. It is shown that the DRP brings to the table a refreshingly novel way of thinking in tackling the persistently challenging problems in control. In particular, the problem of NMP has confounded researchers for decades in trying to find a satisfactory solution that is both rigorous and practical. The active disturbance rejection control (ADRC), originated from DRP, provides a potential solution. Even more intriguingly, the DRP provides a new framework to tackle the ubiquitous problem of vibration, whether it is found in the resonant modes in industrial motion control with compliant load, which is almost always the case, or in the microphonics of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities in high energy particle accelerators. That is, whether the vibration is caused by the environment or by the characteristics of process dynamics, DRP provides a single framework under which the problem is better vii understood and resolved. New solutions are tested and validated in both simulations and experiments, demonstrating the superiority of the new design over the previous ones. For systems with time delay, the stability characteristic of the proposed solution is analyzed.
Inspection robot for spherical storage tanks

Osaka Gas Co. Ltd has utilized ultrasonic flaw detection systems (time of flight diffraction method) to externally inspect the inner and outer surfaces of weld seams on spherical storage tanks while the tanks are in use. In these systems, the vehicle mounted with an ultrasonic flaw detection probe is designed to travel in a straight line only. To improve the work efficiency, we developed an inspection robot that is propelled by four independently driven magnetic wheels. This robot has been in experimental operation on an actual spherical tank. The introduction of this robot has shorten inspection time by about one week from the conventional 23 days, and reduced the conventional number of inspectors required from 4 to 2.
Monitoring and Control System Design and Implementation of Emulational Transformer Substation Based on the MCGS

This paper describes the use of configuration software MCGS as a platform to achieve the simulation data of transformation substation monitoring system and to achieve monitoring capabilities. It includes designing the interface of simulation system, creating the database, arranging the operation process, etc., and thus achieves the switching operation of substation system, failure demo, data display and record. The whole simulation system is convenient and simple to use, and can be applied to the practice of teaching and on-site training.
Prioritizing Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Based on the 2013 Curriculum on Language Learning Evaluation at the Tertiary Level Education in Indonesia

The 2013 Curriculum is designed to revise many aspects of language learning for tertiary level students which is related to international evaluation standard based on Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). This study investigates the percentage of HOTS used in English learning evaluation and its implications to language learners at tertiary level education in Indonesia. By conducting a descriptive qualitative method, an English textbook of 2013 Curriculum for the tenth grade of tertiary level students in Indonesia is analyzed in this research. The data collected by using checklist at four steps of selecting, classifying, coding and presenting percentage of HOTS. The result shows that HOTS is prioritized in the textbook learning evaluation in which the questions are dominated by Higher Order Thinking Skills on C4, C5 and C6. Evaluating level (C5) plays the most dominant percentage (38.57%) in the level of questions from the textbook. As the implications, HOTS should be prioritized at tertiary level education in Indonesia because of these reasons: (1) The needs of students’ qualifications required by challenges in this Industrial Revolution 4.0 of 21st century to have the opportunities getting job/professions in the work places, (2) The target of Curriculum to gain Students’ Competence on: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication must be achieved, and (3) HOTS should be applied in any disciplines of subject matter in Indonesia since the primary level up to the tertiary ones because it must be started earlier to grasp the result faster.
A 12 bit current-mode folding/interpolation CMOS A/D converter with 2 step architecture

An 12 bit 20 MS/s current-mode folding and interpolation analog to digital converter (ADC) with multiplied folding amplifiers is proposed in this paper. A current-mode multiplied folding amplifier is employed not only to reduce the number of reference current sources, but also to decrease the power dissipation within the ADC. The proposed ADC is implemented by a 0.65 /spl mu/m n-well CMOS single poly/double metal process. The simulation result shows a differential nonlinearity (DNL) of /spl plusmn/0.5 LSB, an integral nonlinearity (INL) of /spl plusmn/1.0 LSB, the power dissipation of 280 mW with a power supply of 5 V.
StereoARS: Quality Evaluation for Stereoscopic Image Retargeting With Binocular Inconsistency Detection

Many stereoscopic image retargeting (SIR) methods have been developed for automatically and intelligently resizing stereoscopic images and we cannot always rely on time-consuming subjective user studies to validate the performance of different SIR methods. It is therefore required to design reliable objective metrics for SIR quality evaluation. This paper extends our previous 2D aspect ratio similarity (ARS) metric to a stereo 3D version termed as StereoARS where the key idea is to investigate into retargeting inconsistency between the original stereo correspondences. Our proposed StereoARS operates via two stages: monocular quality estimation and binocular inconsistency detection. In the first stage, monocular quality estimation is performed by applying a modified ARS measure on the left and right views separately to quantify the quality degradation within each monocular view. In the second stage, binocular inconsistency detection is performed in both pixel-level and grid-level to characterize the influence of binocular rivalry and stereo visual discomfort on SIR quality. In addition, we also measure to what extent the original pixel visibility relation is preserved after SIR as another binocular quality factor. Finally, these monocular and binocular quality estimates are fused to produce an overall SIR quality score. Extensive experiments have demonstrated that StereoARS achieves better alignment with human subjective ratings than the existing metrics by a large margin.
The effect of transarterial chemoembolization therapy on survival in patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Single-center study results

Background and Aim: This study was designed to investigate the tumor response and effect of drug-eluting transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) treatment on survival in patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: The records of 40 patients who underwent DEB-TACE between March 2018 and November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up included abdominal computed tomography and measurement of serum albumin, bilirubin, prothrombin time, and alpha-fetoprotein values. The treatment response was evaluated using the European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria. Results: A total of 70 TACE sessions were performed in the 40 study patients with HCC. The etiology was chronic hepatitis B virus (n=32), secondary biliary cirrhosis (n=2), cryptogenic (n=2), or chronic hepatitis C virus (n=4). Based on the TACE response, complete response was observed in 22 patients, a partial response in 8 patients, and progression in 10 patients. Liver transplantation was performed for 4 patients who had a complete response. The formation of new nodules was observed in 8 patients during the follow-up period. In all, 29 patients survived and 11 died. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that DEB-TACE had a positive effect on the survival of patients diagnosed with HCC who could not be treated surgically.
Energy-efficient Method for Embedded In Situ Structural Health Monitoring

This article introduces the principles of an ultra low-cost scheme for in situ, embedded structural health monitoring. Based on the interactions of a Lamb wave with the structure, the proposed technique relies in comparing the time period where the sensed signature of the Lamb wave is greater than an user-defined threshold with a reference value. Compared to similar methods based on the monitoring of the structural state evolution, the proposed scheme is ultra low-cost, and therefore suitable for integrated systems that have a limited amount of available energy.
Intelligent Bayesian regularization networks for bio-convective nanofluid flow model involving gyro-tactic organisms with viscous dissipation, stratification and heat immersion

In the current study, a novel intelligent numerical computing paradigm based upon the foundation of the artificial neural networks legacy involving the Bayesian regularization (ANN-BR) approach has been implemented for the investigation of the non-uniform heat preoccupation process with the bio-convective flow dynamics of nanomaterial involving gyro-tactic microorganisms. The designed bio-convective stratified nanofluid flow (BCSNF) model initially represented by a system of PDEs is transformed into nonlinear ODEs by exploring appropriate transformations. The reference dataset for the BCSNF model was generated by the Adams numerical method for six scenarios by variation of the magnetic number, Brownian motion parameter, Prandtl number, bio-convection Lewis number, thermophoretic parameter, and bio-convection Peclet number. The approximate solutions were determined with 5–7 decimal places of accuracy and interpreted for the BCSNF model by the testing, training, and validation processes of the designed ANN-BR scheme. To check the efficiency of the introduced ANN-BR method, absolute error analysis, histogram studies, regression indices, and mean squared error (MSE) based figures of merit were used exhaustively to solve the variants of the BCSNF model involving gyro-tactic microorganisms with viscous dissipation, stratification, and heat immersion to study the influence of prominent parameters on the velocity, temperature, concentration, and motile density profiles.
From the hypertransaminasemia symptoms to the recognition of late-onset Pompe disease in a 12-year-old boy

The paper presents the case of a 12-year-old boy hospitalised due to persistent hypertransaminasemia of unknown origin, in whom rare metabolic disease – Pompe disease, was finally diagnosed. We discuss the possible symptoms and the diagnostic criteria for Pompe disease, as well as modern genetic methods of diagnosing. The importance of including this metabolic disease in differential diagnosis of hypertransaminasemia was underlined. The recombinant human α-glucosidase as the enzyme replacement therapy makes nowadays the early diagnosis of Pompe disease especially important.
Neurofuzzy-model-based feedback controller for shape memory alloy actuators

This paper describes development of a motion controller for Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators using a dynamic model generated by a neuro-fuzzy inference system. This kind of smart alloy is known to have a unique characteristic in that its shape can be controlled by temperature that can be varied by passing a current through it. Using SMA actuators, it would be possible to design miniature mechanisms for a variety of applications. Today SMA is used for valves, latches, and locks, which are automatically activated by heat. However it has not been used as a motion control device due to difficulty in the treatment of its highly non-linear strain-stress hysteresis characteristic which is further influenced by its temperature. In this project, a dynamic model of a SMA actuator is developed using ANFIS, a neuro-fuzzy inference system provided in MATLAB environment. Using neuro-fuzzy logic, the system identification of the dynamic system is performed by observing the change of state variables (displacement and velocity) responding to a known input (voltage across the SMA actuator). Then, using the dynamic model, the estimated input voltage required to follow a desired trajectory is calculated in an open-loop manner. The actual input voltage supplied to the SMA actuator is the sum of this open-loop input voltage and an input voltage calculated from an ordinary PD control scheme. This neuro- fuzzy logic-based control scheme is a very generalized scheme that can be used for a variety of SMA actuators. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the potential for this type of controller to control the motion of the SMA actuator.
Displacement Back Analysis Based on Differential Evolution Algorithm in Metro Station Engineering

In this paper differential evolution algorithm (DE) which is a new global optimization algorithm is introduced into the displacement back analysis, and the self-developed back analysis program based on DE is used in metro station engineering. The results show that the superiority of DE and the practicability of intelligent displacement back analysis program, more importantly, it is being applied to engineering practice to provide reference and advanced prediction for the construction process.
Using the coherence function for noise reduction

With the development of hands-free radio communications there is great interest in noise cancelling or speech enhancement in a car. The authors assume that M observations are available; each one is composed of signal and noise (s/sub i/+b/sub i/), and s/sub 1/ is the signal to be estimated. Whatever the distance between microphones is, the signals are strongly correlated, while the correlation between noises becomes rather weak for a sufficiently great distance. The coherence function is then a pertinent criterion to know whether a speech signal exists or not. The three methods presented use the coherence function to filter the observations so giving an estimate of the signal s/sub 1/. The procedures presented are first shown for M=2. Then, a generalisation of these procedures is offered. The performances of the three methods have been evaluated on real noisy speech signals by objective tests (gain on the signal-to-noise ratio, distance measures) and informal listening tests. < >
Integrated Assessment for Setting Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets under the Condition of Great Uncertainty about the Probability and Impact of Abrupt Climate Change

In this paper the mid-21st-century target level for industrial carbon dioxide emissions is analyzed, taking into account the very large uncertainty about abrupt climate change. Following a brief review of integrated assessments of abrupt climate change, this study introduces an extension of DICE-2007, an integrated assessment model for climate policy analysis, which contains a hazard function that connects the rise in air temperature with the probability of abrupt change. The probability of abrupt change under a certain air temperature conditions and the economic impact of abrupt change are treated as widely variable parameters. Graphic indications of the combination of these parameters for several emission targets using the extended model show the necessity of developing adaptation measures to control the economic loss from abrupt change to below 8%, as well as to restrain global industrial carbon emissions in 2055 to the same level as those in 2005, assuming a most likely equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3 oC. Although a more stringent emissions target may be suggested in the spirit of precaution, it may lead to excessive carbon reduction from the viewpoint of cost-benefit balancing.
Disassembly Sequence Planning Based on Poisoning Ant Colony Algorithm

Disassembly of scrap product is a necessary procedure of products recycling and reusing, which is an important part of whole life cycle of the products. Scrap product disassembly process planning can reduce the cost of disassembly operation. It can also improve operation efficiency and the enterprise competitiveness. A new improved algorithm is developed based on the basic ant colony algorithm, which is poisoning ant colony algorithm. Poisoning ant colony algorithm is applied to realize the search and optimization for feasible disassembly sequence solution set with disassembly root diagram. Finally, the optimal sequence is obtained based on evaluation objective function. Toxic environment and life value are also introduced to this algorithm. The characteristics of the algorithm are preferable search and convergence property.
Design of an Expert System Model for the Analysis of the Innovation Technology Management Process: A Case Study at the University of Coahuila, México

The complexity and high responsibility in education demands a profound and continuous improvement of the technology management process. The objective of this research is to develop an analysis and deep understanding of the universitys innovation technology process to describe the main factors that affect its performance. The public universities in Mexico constitute the majority of the student and faculty body in Mexico. Therefore it is mandatory to develop research in public universities to evaluate the technology management process using appropriate methodologies and tools with respect to strategy, research and development, technology, innovation human resources, and resource funding. By doing so, it can be observed how an organization captures information on technology and converts it into knowledge as well as to predict future scenarios. It is complex to measure the real impact of innovation as the balance between the investment and the expected results. The investments on innovation are tangible and could be easily quantified, however the benefits of research and innovational development are in many cases intangibles, since knowledge and its growth is difficult to measure in monetary terms, because it could take several years to show preliminary results. This research shows a methodology to measure such impact by using network modeling and its description in ELVIRA, an expert system support tool to evaluate the innovation performance.