Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maintenance management in Italian manufacturing firms

Purpose – This paper aims to give a picture of maintenance management in Italian manufacturing firms supported by empirical evidence. The purpose is also to highlight how far maintenance performance and strategies are influenced by context and which measures and goals are within reach of small‐sized firms.Design/methodology/approach – Frameworks for describing maintenance management and strategies derived from literature were reviewed and used to develop a questionnaire. A survey‐based empirical research involving a sample of 100 manufacturing firms was performed. Non‐parametric statistics are applied to highlight correlations and dependencies between contextual variables, maintenance strategies and performance.Findings – Maintenance performance hardly seems a matter of size, while many elements of strategy certainly are. Some elements of strategy, in particular planning and control elements, seem to have little impact on performance. By contrast, an enhanced use of preventive maintenance and, above all, .
Automatic record extraction for the World Wide Web

As the amount of information on the World Wide Web grows, there is an increasing demand for software that can automatically process and extract information from web pages. Despite the fact that the underlying data on most web pages is structured, we cannot automatically process these web sites/pages as structured data. We need robust technologies that can automatically understand human-readable formatting and induce the underlying data structures. In this thesis, we are focused on solving a specific facet of this general unsupervised web information extraction problem. Structured data can appear in diverse forms from lists to trees to even semi-structured graphs. However, much of the information on the web appears in a flat format we call “records”. In this work, we will describe a system, MURIEL, that uses supervised and unsupervised learning techniques to effectively extract records from webpages. Thesis Supervisor: David R. Karger Title: Professor
Optical fiber instrumentation and applications

Optical fiber-based sensor instrumentation has been used extensively for the measurement of physical observables including strain, temperature and chemical changes in smart materials and smart structures, and have been integrated with MEMS devices to provide multi-measurement capability along the length of a fiber link or network. This plenary paper briefly outlines recent developments in such optical fiber sensor instrumentation. Fiber optic sensors are small in size, immune to electromagnetic interference and can be easily integrated with existing optical fiber hardware nd components that have been developed primarily for use in the larger telecommunications market. Such sensors can be easily multiplexed, resulting in networks that can be used for the health monitoring of large structures, or the real-time monitoring of structural parameters required for structural analysis and control. This paper briefly describes and compares three current fiber sensor configurations that use Fabry-Perot interferometry and fiber Bragg gratings and long-period grating elements to monitor strain, temperature and other parameters. Extensive details concerning additional related work and field test results and applications are discussed in the references.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Pteropurpura falcatus (Sowerby, 1834)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Pteropurpura falcatu was determined using genome walking techniques in this study. The total length of the mt genome sequence of P. falcatu was 15,319 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The overall composition of the mitogenome was estimated to be 29.4% for A, 38.3% for T, 15.6% for C, and 16.7% for G, respectively, indicating that an A + T (67.7%)-rich feature occurs in the P. falcatu mitogenome. The phylogenetic relationships of 12 mollusc species were constructed based on the complete mtDNA sequences by the neighbor-joining method using MEGA 7.0 and DNAMAN 6.0 software.
The Effect of Base Course Gradation on the Results of Laboratory Pumping Tests

This paper reports the results of a laboratory study initiated to investigate the performance of a variety of base course samples with different gradations, when those samples are placed over a standard subgrade soil and subjected to repetitions of load in such a way as to induce the pumping of fine soil to the base course surface and the intrusion of subgrade soil into the interstices between base course particles. To accomplish the purpose of this investigation, eight gravel base course samples varying from extremes of open-graded to dense-graded and seven coarse sand base course samples, similarly graded, were placed, each at a relative density of approximately 90 per cent, over a silty-clay subgrade soil compacted to 90 per cent of maximum modified AASHO dry unit weight, and subjected to 40,000 repetitions of a 25 psi load applied at the base course surface. In each case, the load was applied through a loading head which at all times remained in contact with the base course surface. Measurements of the total deflection of the subgrade- base course system were taken intermittently during each test. At the end of each test, the weight of soil pumped to the base course surface was measured and a grain size analysis was performed on the base course sample to determine the increase in soil finer than the No. 200 mesh sieve above the subgrade. A description of the repetitive load equipment is included and the results of density tests performed on each sample are presented. A good correlation was found to exist between large deflections of a subgrade-base course system and either base course pumping or subgrade intrusion. Test specimens with very open-graded gravel bases were subject to intrusion of subgrade soil and specimens with dense-graded gravel cases with an excess of 3 per cent by weight finer than the No. 200 mesh seive demonstrated pumping of fine soil sizes to the base course surface. There appeared to exist an optimum gradational range which exhibited neither base course pumping nor significant subgrade intrusion. Test specimens with course sand base course samples were found to perform satisfactorily over a wider range of gradation than those with the larger sized gravel bases. Test results were compared with existing filter criteria for thin base courses.
PHOSPHATE WASTE IN MIXTURES TO IMPROVE THEIR DEFORMATION

The objective of this research is to investigate the deformation behavior of asphalt concrete mixtures containing four phosphate waste fillers (12.7-mm reject, 4.5-mm reject, slime, and phosphogypsum) as compared to the behavior of a standard mixture containing limestone filler. The Marshall test results revealed that, generally, there were improved Marshall characteristics for the mixtures containing these wastes when compared to the standard mixture. The immersion wheel tracking machine results revealed that the 12.7- and 4.5-mm reject fillers increased resistance to deformation by 2.2 and 1.5 times, respectively, as compared to the standard mixture. As measured by the immersion wheel tracking machine, the effect of water on the slime and phosphogypsum indicated poor behavior of the mixtures containing both fillers. It is recommended that the slime and phosphogypsum fillers should not be used in wearing course mixtures. It was further concluded that the Marshall test method provided misleading conclusions with respect to the effects of water on the mixtures containing slime and phosphogypsum fillers and in terms of ranking mixtures in the order of their ability to resist deformation.
Terrorist Watchlist Checks and Air Passenger Prescreening

This report discusses the controversy continues to surround U.S. air passenger prescreening and terrorist watchlist checks. In the past, such controversy centered around diverted international flights and misidentified passengers. Recent incidents raise new policy issues regarding the interaction between these broader terrorist databases and systems and the "No-Fly" and selectee lists, as well as the relationship between passenger prescreening processes.
Stability aspects of a multifrequency model of a PWM converter

In this paper the stability of a multifrequency model of a PWM converter is investigated. A multifrequency model is a model based on Fourier series that contains as a special case the so-called state space average model. In contrast to a state space average model a multifrequency model may also include so-called higher order harmonics, where the zeroth order harmonic corresponds to the (moving) average. This paper focuses on a specific PWM converter, namely a ( uk converter, and it is proved that a multifrequency model of a ( uk converter with fixed duty ratio is asymptotically stable. This result generalizes the known corresponding result for a state space average model of a ( uk converter with fixed duty ratio. Taking all the harmonics into account the result also illustrates the well-known fact that a ( uk converter with a fixed duty ratio and a finite switching frequency is asymptotically stable in the following sense. If the signals in a ( uk converter do not correspond with a periodic behaviour, they will however do so in the limit, i.e. as time goes to infinity the signals will become periodic, and this limiting periodic behaviour is unique. Although the paper mainly deals with the stability issues for a ( uk converter, it is possible to use the ideas of the paper to derive similar results for other types of PWM converters.
Depth Induced Regression Medians and Uniqueness

: The notion of median in one dimension is a foundational element in nonparametric statistics. It has been extended to multi-dimensional cases both in location and in regression via notions of data depth. Regression depth (RD) and projection regression depth (PRD) represent the two most promising notions in regression. Carrizosa depth D C is another depth notion in regression. Depth-induced regression medians (maximum depth estimators) serve as robust alternatives to the classical least squares estimator. The uniqueness of regression medians is indispensable in the discussion of their properties and the asymptotics (consistency and limiting distribution) of sample regression medians. Are the regression medians induced from RD, PRD, and D C unique? Answering this question is the main goal of this article. It is found that only the regression median induced from PRD possesses the desired uniqueness property. The conventional remedy measure for non-uniqueness, taking average of all medians, might yield an estimator that no longer possesses the maximum depth in both RD and D C cases. These and other ﬁndings indicate that the PRD and its induced median are highly favorable among their leading competitors.
The Waypoint Planning Tool: Real Time Flight Planning for Airborne Science

NASA Earth science research utilizes both spaceborne and airborne real time observations in the planning and operations of its field campaigns. The coordination of air and space components is critical to achieve the goals and objectives and ensure the success of an experiment. Spaceborne imagery provides regular and continual coverage of the Earth and it is a significant component in all NASA field experiments. Real time visible and infrared geostationary images from GOES satellites and multi-spectral data from the many elements of the NASA suite of instruments aboard the TRMM, Terra, Aqua, Aura, and other NASA satellites have become norm. Similarly, the NASA Airborne Science Program draws upon a rich pool of instrumented aircraft. The NASA McDonnell Douglas DC-8, Lockheed P3 Orion, DeHavilland Twin Otter, King Air B200, Gulfstream-III are all staples of a NASA's well-stocked, versatile hangar. A key component in many field campaigns is coordinating the aircraft with satellite overpasses, other airplanes and the constantly evolving, dynamic weather conditions. Given the variables involved, developing a good flight plan that meets the objectives of the field experiment can be a challenging and time consuming task. Planning a research aircraft mission within the context of meeting the science objectives is complex task because it is much more than flying from point A to B. Flight plans typically consist of flying a series of transects or involve dynamic path changes when "chasing" a hurricane or forest fire. These aircraft flight plans are typically designed by the mission scientists then verified and implemented by the navigator or pilot. Flight planning can be an arduous task requiring frequent sanity checks by the flight crew. This requires real time situational awareness of the weather conditions that affect the aircraft track. Scientists at the University of Alabama-Huntsville and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center developed the Waypoint Planning Tool, an interactive software tool, that enables scientists to develop their own flight plans (also known as waypoints) with point-and-click mouse capabilities on a digital map draped with real time satellite imagery. The Waypoint Planning Tool has further advanced to include satellite orbit predictions and seamlessly interfaces with the Real Time Mission Monitor which tracks the aircraft s position when the planes are flying. This presentation will describe the capabilities and features of the Waypoint Planning Tool highlighting the real time aspect, interactive nature and the resultant benefits to the airborne science community.
A Bio-inspired Hybrid Cross-Layer Routing Protocol for Energy Preservation in WSN-Assisted IoT

Nowadays, the Internet of Things (IoT) is adopted to enable effective and smooth communication among different networks. In some specific application, the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are used in IoT to gather peculiar data without the interaction of human. The WSNs are self-organizing in nature, so it mostly prefer multi-hop data forwarding. Thus to achieve better communication, a cross-layer routing strategy is preferred. In the cross-layer routing strategy, the routing processed through three layers such as transport, data link, and physical layer. Even though effective communication achieved via a cross-layer routing strategy, energy is another constraint in WSN assisted IoT. Cluster-based communication is one of the most used strategies for effectively preserving energy in WSN routing. This paper proposes a Bio-inspired cross-layer routing (BiHCLR) protocol
Low-Voltage, Vertical-Junction, Depletion-Mode, Silicon Mach-Zehnder Modulator with Complementary Outputs

We demonstrate a new silicon depletion-mode vertical p-n junction phase-modulator implemented in a lumped-element Mach-Zehnder modulator configuration enabling an ultra-low V? L of ~1V·cm and 10Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data transmission with wide-open complementary output eye diagrams.
High performance backup power supply system

The high performance backup power supply system is a powerful and clean backup power supply system suitable for the next-generation telecommunication systems. It uses nickel-metal hydride batteries, which have higher energy density than the lead-acid batteries used in conventional power supply systems. Compared to conventional systems, it offers longer power supply backup periods for the same installation space, or less space is needed for the same backup time. Also, the elimination of lead makes it environmentally friendly.
Floating coil position detection system for the Levitated Dipole Experiment

The Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX) is a joint Columbia University/MIT research collaboration sited at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center. LDX is investigating the physics of a plasma confined in a dipole magnetic field. The field is created with a superconducting electromagnetic ring in the center of a large vacuum chamber. The goals of the experiment call for the ring to be levitated in the center of the vacuum vessel by the magnetic field of another superconducting electromagnet. This act requires a feedback mechanism to control the position of the ring in the vacuum vessel. This thesis presents a design for a position detection system to give position information to the feedback controller and digital filters to reduce the effect of noise in the position measurements. Thesis Supervisor: Darren Garnier Title: Research Scientist, Columbia University
Distributed Intelligence In Design

The book contains the papers developed from the presentations at the Distributed Intelligence in Design Symposium, held in Salford in May 2009.In this context, Distributed Intelligence refers to the interdisciplinary knowledge of a range of different individuals in different organisations, with different backgrounds and experience, and the symposium discussed the media, technologies and behaviours required to support their successful collaboration.Thebook focusses on:how parametric and generative design media can be coupled with and managed alongside Building Information Modelling tools and systems how the cross-disciplinary knowledge is distributed and coordinated across different software, participants and organizations the characteristics of the evolving creative and collaborative practices how built environment education should be adapted to this digitally-networked practice and highly distributed intelligence in design The chaptersaddress a range of innovative developments, methodologies, applications, research work and theoretical arguments, to present current experience and expectations as collaborative practice becomes critical in thedesign offuture built environments.
Mapping indicators of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Nevada: Important resources for a water-limited state

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) rely on groundwater for all or part of their water needs, and provide benefits to plants, wildlife and people. Almost half of endemic species in Nevada are associated with GDEs. To increase our understanding of groundwater needs for GDEs we 1) created a spatial database to identify the location and extent of GDEs in Nevada; 2) developed a story map to share data from the database to increase awareness about GDEs among the general public; and 3) conducted an assessment of GDE condition for areas previously mapped at high resolution. We found that at least 10% of Nevada is classified as having an indicator of groundwater dependence, and over two-thirds of Nevada’s hydrographic areas contained all 5 types of indicators of GDEs (i.e., phreatophyte communities; wetlands; springs; lakes and playas; and rivers and streams). Of the GDEs in 11 landscapes in Nevada, GDEs in montane riparian systems were the most ecologically departed from reference, mostly due to non-native plant species. Our next steps involve using the database to assess stressors and threats to GDEs to help us develop and prioritize strategies for protecting GDEs for people and nature.
Honeypots: Tracking Hackers

"The text is comprehensive, an honest survey of every honeypot technology I had ever heard of and a number I read about for the first time. " --Stephen Northcutt, The SANS Institute"One of the great byproducts of Lance's work with honeypots and honeynets is that he's helped give us a much clearer picture of the hacker in action. " --From the Foreword by Marcus J. Ranum"From the basics of shrink-wrapped honeypots that catch script kiddies to the detailed architectures of next-generation honeynets for trapping more sophisticated bad guys, this book covers it all.This book really delivers new information and insight about one of the most compelling information security technologies today. " --Ed Skoudis, author of Counter Hack, SANS instructor, and Vice President of Security Strategy for Predictive SystemsHoneypots are unique technological systems specifically designed to be probed, attacked, or compromised by an online attacker. Implementing a honeypot provides you with an unprecedented ability to take the offensive against hackers. Whether used as simple "burglar alarms," incident response systems, or tools for gathering information about hacker motives and tactics, honeypots can add serious firepower to your security arsenal.Honeypots: Tracking Hackers is the ultimate guide to this rapidly growing, cutting-edge technology. The book starts with a basic examination of honeypots and the different roles they can play, and then moves on to in-depth explorations of six specific kinds of real-world honeypots: BackOfficer Friendly, Specter™, Honeyd, Homemade honeypots, ManTrap®, and Honeynets.Honeypots also includes a chapter dedicated to legal issues surrounding honeypot use. Written with the guidance of three legal experts, this section explores issues of privacy, entrapment, and liability. The book also provides an overview of the Fourth Amendment, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Wiretap Act, and the Pen/Trap Statute, with an emphasis on how each applies to honeypots.With this book you will gain an understanding of honeypot concepts and architecture, as well as the skills to deploy the best honeypot solutions for your environment. You will arm yourself with the expertise needed to track attackers and learn about them on your own. Security professionals, researchers, law enforcement agents, and members of the intelligence and military communities will find this book indispensable.The CD-ROM contains white papers, source code, and data captures of real attacks. Its contents will help you build and deploy your own honeypot solutions and analyze real attacks. 0321108957B08282002
The Death of "e" and the Birth of the Real New Economy : Business Models, Technologies and Strategies for the 21st Century

From the Publisher: Peter Fingar, author of the internationally acclaimed book, Enterprise E-Commerce, joins forces with long time colleagues and industry veterans to go beyond e-commerce and on to the solid business fundamentals of the digital economy. The Internet is a whole new infrastructure for an entirely new way of doing business and competing. Economic transactions become frictionless as they move from "places" to "spaces. " The crisp and insightful chapters make quick reads for CEOs, COOs, CTOs, CIOs, and line-of-business executives with little time for reading distilling what management needs to be doing and thinking today to prepare themselves and their companies for the ride ahead. Now that doing business on the Internet is reaching the mainstream, it's no longer e-business or e-commerce it's just business and commerce. The authors take the mystery out of the deep and profound changes being ushered in by the ability to connect anyone-to-anyone or any computer-to-any-computer across the globe in real-time. The book signals the death of the e-hype and the beginning of the real work of building hyper-efficient, hyper-effective corporations that will continue to thrive in the years ahead. The book systematically disassembles an enterprise's business processes, core competencies, and value chains; then reassembles them into dynamic customer-driven value webs and business ecosystems. Along the way, the authors explain the emerging business models of electronic marketplaces, peer-to-peer commerce, e-hubs, B2B exchanges, auctions, wireless applications, m-commerce, intelligent agent technology, B2B consortia, collaborative commerce, digital strategies, essential technologies and Web-services. The book's Web site continues where the book leaves off: http://geocities.com/m_kpress