Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
World class manufacturing: implementation and measurement in the Irish automotive rubber mouldings component industry

The main objectives of this thesis are to determine how and why world class manufacturing (WCM) practices are implemented, and to examine potential links between the introduction of these kinds of practices and performance measurement systems. There is theoretical and empirical evidence to suggest that WCM practices can be categorised into one or more of: total quality management (TQM), just in time manufacturing (JIT) and employee involvement (El). Four different WCM implementation modes are also identified in the literature. Research in the areas of management control and performance measurement suggest that in order for companies to assess the benefit of implementing WCM practices, there is an increasing necessity for them to use both financial and non-financial measures effectively. This literature thus provides the basis for the theoretical framework used in the study. The complete rubber mouldings segment of the Irish automotive component manufacturing industry is examined using a case-based design, to address both the initial research questions and the research propositions developed following literature reviews. The empirical data includes information from: preliminary interviews in academia, consultancy and government agencies; in-company interviews; plant tours; and a performance measurement questionnaire administered to three management levels in each of the five organisations studied. The findings suggest that firms can utilise both a main and secondary mode to introduce WCM practices, and that the overall implementation mode used is both affected by and affects other variables. This thesis contributes to research in a number of ways. First it provides an indepth study of WCM practices and performance measurement in an Irish context. It also develops and applies a classification of the implementation modes used to introduce WCM practices. Finally, it identifies internal and external factors associated with both the introduction of WCM practices as well as the performance measurement system utilised.
Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Proposal for Genome-Wide Investigation of Late-Effects Late-effects outcome: dyslipidemia Title: Genome-wide association to study dyslipidemia in adult survivors of childhood cancer

Working group and investigators: CCSS Chronic Disease Working Group Drs. Vincent G. Pluimakers, MD, PhD-candidate Prof. Marry M. van den Heuvel-Eibrink, MD, PhD Dr. Sebastian J.C. M.M. Neggers, MD, PhD Prof. André G. Uitterlinden, PhD Dr. L. Broer, PhD Dr. G.T. Armstrong, MD, MSCE Dr. S. Bhatia, MD, MPH Dr. Y. Yasui, PhD Dr. K.C. Oeffinger, MD Dr. L.L. Robison, PhD Dr. R.M. Howell, PhD Dr. L.M. Morton, PhD Dr. J.N. Sampson, PhD W.M. Leisenring, ScD Dr. M.M. Hudson, MD Dr. R.J. Brooke, MD, MSCE, MPH In the future: collaboration with the DCOG LATER Group 1 Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Genetics Working Group Data Access Committee 2 Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands 3 Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 4 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, USA 5 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA 6 Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, USA 7 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA 8 National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA 9 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA Correspondence: Vincent Pluimakers, v.g. pluimakers@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl
Marketing Research, European Edition: An Applied Approach (Маркетинговые исследования: прикладной подход)

Marketing Research: An Applied Approach is aimed at students studying marketing research at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This new edition of Marketing Research: An Applied Approach builds upon Birks well received European adaptation of Malhtoras classic text whilst also drawing on the strengths of Malhotras most recent US edition. It forms a comprehensive, authoritative and thoroughly European introduction to applied marketing research and covers both quantitative and qualitative techniques in depth. Рекомендуется для студентов, изучающих маркетинговые исследования как на базовом, так и на продвинутом уровне. Данное издание представляет собой адаптацию классического американского учебника и содержит подробный разбор количественных и качественных методов прикладных маркетинговых исследований.
Explicit Instruction

The public relations course is a science and skill-based course were in the Covid-19 pandemic, students are required to do independent learning at home. From this, preliminary research was conducted with the result that there was a high level of interest and perspective on achieving PR skills in attending public relations courses, but in this case, many students did not have books to support learning. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of developing a public relations pocketbook based on explicit instruction for Office Administration Education 2019 students who take public relations courses. The method used is the research and development method with five stages of research, namely Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluate. In conducting the research, the data collection instrument used a study sheet (material validation, graphic validation, and language validation) while the student assessment used a questionnaire with several assessment aspects, namely (content aspects, presentation aspects, and language aspects) and besides that, there was a questionnaire to measure skills.Public relations were formed as a result of the existence of a pocketbook. The results showed a positive response from expert lecturers and students with the "Very Good" category of eligibility be used as a learning medium for public relations courses. In addition, it was found that a pocketbook answered students' perspectives regarding the development of public relations skills (communication, managerial, social networking, honesty, and creativity) which were obtained in the "Very Good" category.
Harmonic Plus Noise Model for Concatenative Speech Synthesis

This project develops the new model Harmonic Plus Noise applied for the concatenative speech synthesis. The software is composed of an analysis part (off-line process) applied on the first initial database and a synthesis part (real time process) applied on the HNM database and the prododic modifications from FESTIVAL. The future work consists of the integretion into the HMM-based speech synthesis.
A literature and best practices scan : ITS data management and archiving

To manage and operate the transportation system to exceed customer expectations, data is needed on the structure, status, use, and behavior of the entire transportation system. This "infostructure" serves the needs of the people and organizations that operate and use the system. There are at least three major aspects to fulfilling data needs: 1. Understanding what data is needed by the full range of stakeholders; 2. Creating, operating, maintaining, and updating the mechanisms that will gather, analyze, coordinate, and store the data; 3. Providing convenient, timely, and affordable access to the data to both operators and users of the transportation system. This report aims to provide the literature review and best practice scan for the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) data management and archiving, and articulate the relevance of good and complete data collection to transportation operations and management. The report provides examples of the types of users that can benefit from data, what types of data they would like and what benefits can accrue if these users obtain the quality data they seek. The report overviews the current data collection and management environment, characterizing both the nature and extent of current data collection and the techniques available - or soon to be available - for improved data management and archiving. Finally, this report provides recommendations on what can be done to improve data management to enable increased effectiveness of transportation operations and system usage.
A Baseband, Impulse Ultra-Wideband Transceiver Front-end for Low Power Applications

Abstract : Interest in indoor wireless communications has been increasing. In addition to high throughput WLAN systems such as 802.11a/b/g/n, attention is also being focused on lower rate, short distance systems such as Bluetooth and Zigbee. These low rate radios are being proposed for a variety of applications including automation/security, smart toys, remote sensing/control, asset tracking, and as a replacement for computer peripheral wires. While not demanding aggressive throughput, these radios do require low cost, power efficient operation and optionally the ability to perform ranging. Unfortunately, currently reported radios are up to an order of magnitude away from these power and cost targets or do not support ranging. However, a recent ruling from the FCC has opened up nearly 8GHz of unlicensed spectrum (from dc to 960MHz and from 3.1GHz to 10.6GHz) for ultra-wideband (UWB) deployment. One attractive method of UWB signaling that seems suited to a low power, highly integrated implementation communicates with short pulses, on the order of a nanosecond, that spread energy over at least 500MHz of bandwidth. Termed "impulse-UWB," the baseband nature of this signaling promises low cost and low power consumption through design simplicity, pulsed (or "duty-cycled") operation, and a "mostly-digital" implementation. The benefits of this approach are balanced by the risk of jamming from in-band interference, of stricter sampling and gain constraints, and of increased digital complexity. This dissertation presents the system exploration, specification, design, and demonstration of a low power, highly integrated, flexible, baseband, impulse ultra-wideband transceiver front-end.
Rhesus macaques compensate for reproductive delay following ecological adversity early in life

Abstract Adversity early in life can shape the reproductive potential of individuals through negative effects on health and life span. However, long‐lived populations with multiple reproductive events may present alternative life history strategies to optimize reproductive schedules and compensate for shorter life spans. Here, we quantify the effects of major hurricanes and density dependence as sources of early‐life ecological adversity on Cayo Santiago rhesus macaque female reproduction and decompose their effects onto the mean age‐specific fertility, reproductive pace, and lifetime reproductive success (LRS). Females experiencing major hurricanes exhibit a delayed reproductive debut but maintain the pace of reproduction past debut and show a higher mean fertility during prime reproductive ages, relative to unaffected females. Increasing density at birth is associated to a decrease in mean fertility and reproductive pace, but such association is absent at intermediate densities. When combined, our study reveals that hurricanes early in life predict a delay‐overshoot pattern in mean age‐specific fertility that supports the maintenance of LRS. In contrast to predictive adaptive response models of accelerated reproduction, this long‐lived population presents a novel reproductive strategy where females who experience major natural disasters early in life ultimately overcome their initial reproductive penalty with no major negative fitness outcomes. Density presents a more complex relation with reproduction that suggests females experiencing a population regulated at intermediate densities early in life will escape density dependence and show optimized reproductive schedules. Our results support hypotheses about life history trade‐offs in which adversity‐affected females ensure their future reproductive potential by allocating more energy to growth or maintenance processes at younger adult ages.
A Position-Sensing and Control System for a Cochlear Prosthesis

In cochlear prostheses, the distance between the electrode array and the neural receptors along the cochlear wall is critical not only in determining stimulus levels and frequency resolution, but also in protecting the remaining neurons from damage during the implant. This project seeks to develop sensors for position and wall contact inside the cochlea to allow closed-loop control of stimulus levels and minimize insertion damage. An interface providing multi-point microstimulation and position sensing has been developed, integrating a thin-film electrode array with signal-processing electronics. The array incorporates piezoresistive polysilicon sensors for position and tip contact. The signal-processing chip (2.4mm x 2.4mm) operates from 3V and performs command validation, stimulus generation, sensor selection, 5b offset compensation, and signal conditioning. The calibrated polysilicon sensors have typical gauge factors of 15. They resolve tip position on an 8-segment array to within 50µm. Although the present sensors, intended for animal studies, have shank lengths of only 8mm, they are directly expandable to 32mm-long devices for human use. The present devices employ a parylene coating at wafer level with a bulk silicon release etch. This project is supported by the Engineering Research Centers Program of the National Science Foundation under award number EEC-9986866 and by a gift from Ms. PollyAnderson.
Projecting long-term armed conflict risk: an underappreciated field of inquiry?

Little research has been done on projecting long-term conflict risks. Such projections are currently neither included in the development of socioeconomic scenarios or climate change impact assessments nor part of global agenda-setting policy processes. In contrast, in other fields of inquiry, long-term projections and scenario studies are established and relevant for both strategical agenda-setting and applied policies. Although making projections of armed conflict risk in response to climate change is surrounded by uncertainty, there are good reasons to further develop such scenario-based projections. In this perspective article we discuss why quantifying implications of climate change for future armed conflict risk is inherently uncertain, but necessary for shaping sustainable future policy agendas. We argue that both quantitative and qualitative projections can have a purpose in future climate change impact assessments and put out the challenges this poses for future research.
Incipient bearing fault diagnosis using DWT for fea ture extraction

Abstract —An efficient predictive plan is needed for any industry because it can optimize the resources management and improve the economy plant, by reducing unnecessary costs and increasing the level of safety. A great percentage of breakdowns in the productive processes are caused for bearings, they began its deterioration from early stages, also called incipient level. This paper addresses a recent study to analyze signature vibrations related with four conditions in bearing including normal (without fault), ball, inner race and outer race faults, acquired from an experimental system. The extracted features from the DWT are used as inputs in a neural network for classification purposes. The results show that the developed method can reliably diagnose four different conditions and can be considered as an improvement of previous works in this field. Keywords: Wavelets, Artificial networks, Fault diagnosis, Signal processing, Pattern classification
Flight Dynamics Simulation Modeling and Control of a Large Flexible Tiltrotor Aircraft

Abstract : A high order rotorcraft mathematical model is developed and validated against the XV-15 and a Large Civil Tiltrotor (LCTR) concept. Separate modeling of each rotorcraft component in a multi-body like formulation allows for structural flexibility to be included, which is important when modeling large aircraft where structural modes affect the flight dynamics frequency ranges of interest. Details of the formulation of the mathematical model are given, including derivations of structural, aerodynamic, and inertial loads. Flexibility effects are evaluated by looking at the nature of the couplings between rigid-body modes and wing structural modes and vice versa. A proportional-integral feedback on the structural acceleration is used to improve damping and reduce the overall excitation of a structural mode. A model following control architecture is then implemented on full order flexible LCTR models. The impact of structural feedback investigated. A rigid aircraft model has optimistic performance characteristics, and a control system designed for a rigid aircraft could potentially destabilize a flexible one. The various control systems are flown in a fixed-base simulator. Pilot inputs and aircraft performance are recorded and analyzed.
Improving distribution-performance for Ready-mix Concrete at Van Nieuwpoort Transport: Applying the Balanced Scorecard to performance measurement system-design

Van Nieuwpoort Transport (VNT) wants to optimise its logistics by applying the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). However applying the BSC to optimize VNT’s logistics presents five challenges: (i) no experience with the BSC, (ii) lacking performance drivers, (iii) traditional culture, (iv) ambiguous leadership commitment, (v) scarce staff-resources. The fourth and fifth challenges are of major concern because the conventional BSC-approach requires both leadership commitment and staff-resources. This report presents a BSC-proposal for optimising VNT’s logistics that is tested by a proof of concept. Based on desk research and interviews the conventional BSC-approach (Kaplan, 2010) can be adapted by a selection of frames – a modified BSC-frame, a logistics frame and a Performance measurement system-frame – to propose a suitable BSC to VNT for logistics optimisation. Nine opportunities (SWOT) for logistics optimization, of which three lack leadership commitment, are identified based on interviews, observation and data-analysis. A BSC, presented by a strategy-map consistent with eight out of nine opportunities, is proposed to VNT. The implementation plan is a roadmap to achieve the strategic goals for the perspectives of internal process and learning & growth of the strategy map. A Prototype-PMS that has the TMS as only data-source is designed, developed and used for evaluation. The practical utility is that logistics optimization by means of the proposed BSC is possible to some extent. The scientific utility is that the proof of concept shows the feasibility of the approach used in this situation. Therefore main conclusion is that a suitable BSC is proposed to optimise VNT’s logistics while taking into account that extensive triangulation limited internal –and structural validity of the implementation plan and PMS-prototype. Some recommendations are made to improve the validity and utility of the proposed BSC.
Genome-wide Survey of bHLH Super Gene Family in Brassica napus and Their Roles in Roots

Background: Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene family is one of the largest transcription factors in plants and are functionally characterized in diverse species. However, less is known about their functions in the economically important allopolyploid oil crop, Brassica napus . Results : We identified 602 potential bHLHs in B. napus genome ( BnbHLHs ) and categorized them into 36 subfamilies, including seven newly separated subfamilies, based on phylogeny, protein structure and exon-intron organization analysis. The intron insertion patterns of this gene family were corrected and a total of eight types were identified in the bHLH regions of BnbHLHs . Chromosome distribution and synteny analyses revealed that hybridization between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea was the main expansion mechanism for BnbHLHs . Expression analyses showed that BnbHLHs were wide and formed six main patterns, suggesting they may participate in various aspects in B. napus during the development. The expression profiles under five hormone treatments (IAA, ABA, ACC, GA3, 6-BA) in roots further revealed the active response of BnbHLHs with a large proportion of which being induced. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression profiles of five candidate BnbHLHs under five hormone inductions. Up to 246 BnbHLHs from nine subfamilies were predicted to have potential roles relating to root development by joint analysis of expression profile and homolog function. Further, the MYB/bHLH/WD40 (MBW) protein complex regulating root hair development were verified in B. napus by yeast two-hybrid experiment. Conclusion: The 602 BnbHLHs identified from B. napus could be classed into 36 subfamilies, and those members from the same subfamily generally have similar sequence motifs. BnbHLHs may widely involve in root biological process in B. napus . Overall, this study provides important insights into the characterization and potential functions of B. napus bHLH super gene family and thus will be useful in future gene function research.
FOCUS: A Model of Sensemaking

Abstract : Sensemaking is a relatively new concept that has largely been associated with Weick (1995) and his work in organizational behavior. Sensemaking refers to the set of processes involved in trying to improve one's understanding of a situation, often in response to surprise. The primary purpose of the current project was to unpack and develop the concept of sensemaking, principally by developing and testing a cognitive model of the processes involved. The resulting Data/Frame model posits a highly interactive relationship between data inputs and mental representations or "frames" for interpreting data. The Data/Frame model also proposes six key sensemaking activities for handling frames in light of (anomalous) data: Elaborating, Questioning, Comparing, Preserving, Reframing, and Seeking. A secondary aim was to provide recommendations for training and other applications of the model that would be of direct benefit to the warfighter. To that end, several specific links to applied issues in domains such as information operations, intelligence analysis and combat systems design for UAV control have been developed and pursued. At this juncture, the concept of sensemaking and the Data/Frame model appear to be supported by the data, and also quite useful for military applications.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY SUPPORT WITH ARTIFICIALLY FROZEN GROUND

Use of artificially frozen ground to provide temporary support is increasing in the United States. Temporary frozen ground structures ae usually designed by contractors experienced in this type of construction. However, there is an absence of accepted requirements for artificially frozen ground. Sheeting and shoring are typically designed by a professional engineer, stress levels are regulated by code, and computations are often reviewed. Similar standard design procedures do not exist for temporary frozen walls. As a result, the owner and the engineer cannot readily ascertain the adequacy of the design of a project or the risk undertaken by the contractor. This paper describes the ground-freezing process and proposes performance and monitoring requirements for artificial ground freezing. Engineers can then judge whether the design is commensurate with project needs. Case histories are included.
Towards performance evaluation in Volunteer Clouds

Cloud computing has emerged as a new paradigm that promises to reduce costs of IT by allowing customers to harness computing resources and pay for their usage only. However, cloud computing can still be costly for some projects such as scientific projects. Therefore, volunteer cloud model appears with a goal to provide cloud services at a little cost, if not free. Volunteer clouds aim at providing cloud capabilities out of non-dedicated resources such as nor- mal PCs based on the cloud business model. However, volunteer clouds pre- sent numerous challenges that need to be tackled before it can be seen as a vi- able solution. The performance of services provided by volunteer clouds is a major issue in this context. This report presents our research problem, motiva- tion and work progress in a PhD research.