Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Car2X sensor model for virtual development of automated driving

Automated driving requires a reliable digital representation of the environment, which is achieved by various vehicle sensors. Wireless devices for communication between vehicles and infrastructure (Car2X communication) provide additional data beyond the vehicle’s sensor range. In order to reduce the amount of on-road testing, there has been an increased use of numerical simulation in the development of automated driving functions, which demands accurate simulation models for the sensors involved. The present research deals with the development of Car2X sensor models for conceptual, automated driving investigations based on relatively simple yet computationally efficient mathematical models featuring parameters derived from on-road hardware testing. For analysis purposes, variations in range and reliability in different driving situations were measured and depicted in Google Earth. For the sensor model, a combination of geometric and stochastic models was chosen. The modeling is based on a link budget calculation that considers system and path losses, where wave propagation is described using Nakagami probability density functions. For intersections, an additional term is added to account for the path loss with geometric parameters of the intersection. After model parametrization, an evaluation was conducted. In addition, as a sample case, Car2X was added to an adaptive cruise control, and the improved functionality was demonstrated using vehicle dynamics simulation. This extended adaptive cruise control used information from the indicator of surrounding vehicles to react faster to lane changes by these vehicles.
Functional Layers for Enhanced Photon Extraction in ITO-free OLEDs

The structure-function relation of hierarchically structured ZnO scattering layers and PEDOT:PSS polymeric electrodes were investigated by the use of X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. Highly diffuse ZnO scattering layers were obtained to enhance the light outcoupling of OLEDs. In combination with the polymeric electrode PEDOT:PSS, conducting bilayers were realized. Furthermore, the conductivity and water sensitivity is shown to be linked to the PSS content and the morpholgocial structure of PEDOT:PSS. Hence, efficient PSS extraction is realized by acid post treatments.
An Efficient and Secured Framework for Mobile Cloud Computing

Smartphone devices are widely used in our daily lives. However, these devices exhibit limitations, such as short battery lifetime, limited computation power, small memory size and unpredictable network connectivity. Therefore, numerous solutions have been proposed to mitigate these limitations and extend the battery lifetime with the use of the offloading technique. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed to offload intensive computation tasks from the mobile device to the cloud. This framework uses an optimization model to determine the offloading decision dynamically based on four main parameters, namely, energy consumption, CPU utilization, execution time, and memory usage. In addition, a new security layer is provided to protect the transferred data in the cloud from any attack. The experimental results showed that the framework can select a suitable offloading decision for different types of mobile application tasks while achieving significant performance improvement. Moreover, different from previous techniques, the framework can protect application data from any threat.
Mitigation of laser induced damage on dielectric mirrors in a robust way

Laser induced damage on dielectric mirrors and its rapid growth with successive shots have been and continue to be an important barrier to high power laser systems. Here the morphology of mitigation pit is optimized theoretically, and an ultrashort laser is utilized to totally remove damage on both high-reflective (HR) and anti-reflective (AR) coating. At the same time, the substrate is handled carefully and free of laser ablation, which lower the scattering loss and the amount of debris during laser machining process. Then, using R-on-1 test procedure, several mitigated sites with size of 1mm× 1mm are investigated by a Nd:YAG laser system with a flat-top spatial distribution of fully covering the mitigated site. The experimental results show even at the average fluence of 18J/cm2@6ns, there’s no damage initiation on AR coatings and no damage growth on HR coatings. It demonstrates that ultrashort laser machining is an effective and robust way to mitigate laser damage and a promising way to improve dielectric mirror performance of high power laser system in volume production.
Fire-shaped cylindrical glass micronozzles to measure cell deformability

Most blood cells exhibit a natural deformation capability. Specifically, red blood cells (RBCs) are characterized by their great ability to deform and squeeze through microcapillary vessels, even with strict restrictions, recovering their shape after crossing them. That capability can be affected by various blood diseases (malaria, diabetes, etc), turning the cells into more rigid, and, as a result, it can generate blood flow disorders in the microcirculatory system. In this work, we propose a new micro-device to study the cell deformability consisting of a simple borosilicate micronozzle whose production is straightforward, fast, and uses low-cost equipment, when compared with other similar microfluidic devices found in the literature. We checked that the optical distortion coming from the glass is negligible when the micronozzle was submerged in a bath of glycerol, being able to perform blood flow visualizations through the micronozzle by using a high-speed video microscopy system. The shape of the converging area of our micronozzles produced an extensional flow. This type of flow is proper to conduct cell deformability assessments. After the characterization of our micro-device, we applied it to obtain the deformation index (DI) of both healthy and chemically treated human RBCs for several sections of our micronozzles. As expected, the experimental results show that the DI of healthy RBCs is much higher than the corresponding for more rigid (chemically treated) ones. These measurements show that the borosilicate nozzles allow to detect changes in the cellular mechanical properties similar to those produced by blood diseases, and suggest that, this microfluidic device could be easily transformed into a clinical tool for detection of blood diseases.
Pallet recognition and localization using an RGB-D camera

This article reports our research results on an autonomous forklift, with the focus on pallet recognition and localization using an RGB-D camera. It is a fundamental issue for unmanned storehouses, which enables the forklift to insert the forks within the pallet’s slots for loading and unloading packages. Particularly, a pallet recognition and localization approach is presented. The range image is firstly segmented into planar patches based on a region growing algorithm. Then, the segments are filtered heuristically according to the storehouse environment. Afterward, a template matching method is utilized to recognize pallets in the remained segments, based on calculating the degree of similarity at each location during sliding the templates on the segment. Once a pallet has been recognized, its pose is calculated straightforward. The article has three main contributions, that is, a low-cost RGB-D camera is employed for pallet recognition and localization, where only depth information has been utilized; using the proposed method, multiple kinds of pallets can be used at the same time, which provides a flexibility for the storehouse; and furthermore, the method has a good expansibility to allow the storehouse to adopt new pallets easily.
A competency-based approach to cooperative higher education in a knowledge society

The emerging knowledge society is one of the main reasons that underlie the appearance of the interactive combination of learning and working in higher education. Universities will be able to benefit from knowledge-intensive organisations when they become knowledge productive partners. The coop education system can be an important instrument in developing knowledge networks in which universities and organizations participate. Though there are several other drivers for cooperative higher education (the early introduction to a complex job market and the influence of recent educational psychology), this education form raises a lot of questions in the Netherlands. The fear for the loss of academic level and autonomy of the university-programmes inhibit the acceptance of dual academic education. Based on a literature study and secondary analysis of evaluation and policy studies with relation to dual academic education, the drivers for the development of coop higher education as well as the factors that inhibit the acceptance of coop higher education, are being distinguished. To further the conceptualisation of the coop system, a competency approach of higher education may play an important role. The advantage of competencies over traditional content descriptions is that such competencies can partly be developed and achieved outside the traditional university premises, in an authentic work environment. The competency-based curriculum of the master-programme on Human Resource Development at the University of Twente explores the possibilities that such a curriculum could have for the dual academic education system.
Creating an interaction interface to improve user engagement in virtual reality systems

Abstract Virtual Reality (VR) has come up as a pinnacle of the ground-breaking advances in computing power through developments in fields of electronics, software and mobile computing. VR systems were first introduced to target entertainment and gaming, but finds equal importance in educational and training purposes. The system used in our experiment takes help of Google’s ‘Cardboard’ platform. Although very easy to operate, extremely cost effective and portable, it lacks a sophisticated input system to facilitate interaction between virtual world and the user. We design and implement a wearable device that enables the VR system to recognize user hand movement and gesture to allow manipulation of objects in the virtual world. We measure the effectiveness of above mentioned system by usability and acceptance testing in comparison to the existing interaction techniques. The effects on user engagement is also quantified and analysed. Through our experiments, we intend to establish that such a setup is preferred by users for regular usage and improves their level of interaction and participation.
Blunted Social Reward Responsiveness Moderates the Effect of Lifetime Social Stress Exposure on Depressive Symptoms

Exposure to social stress is a well-established risk factor for the development and recurrence of depression. Reduced neural responsiveness to monetary reward has been associated with greater symptoms following stress exposure. However, it remains unclear whether reduced reward responsiveness serves as a mediator or moderator of the effects of stress on internalizing symptoms or whether similar patterns emerge with responses to social reward. We addressed this issue by measuring lifetime stress exposure and event-related potentials (ERPs) to social reward in 231 emerging adults (M = 18.16, SD = 0.41 years old). Participants completed the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) to assess severity of lifetime stressors and self-report measures of current internalizing symptoms. In addition, participants completed the Island Getaway task in which the reward positivity (RewP) ERP was recorded in response to social acceptance, adjusting for responses to rejection (RewP residual). In this task, participants vote to accept or reject peers and receive reward/acceptance and rejection feedback. Stressors were divided into social and non-social stress severity scores. Analyses were conducted to test social reward responsiveness as a mediator or moderator of the effects of social and non-social stress on internalizing symptoms. Both social and non-social stress exposure over the life course predicted symptoms of depression (ps < 0.001) and social anxiety (ps < 0.002). The effect of social stress on depression was moderated by the residual RewP to social reward, adjusting for responses to social rejection (p =0.024), such that greater lifetime social stress exposure and a relatively blunted RewP to social reward were associated with greater depressive symptoms. Social reward responsiveness did not mediate effects of stress on internalizing symptoms. Reduced processing of social reward may be a vulnerability for depression that increases risk for symptoms following exposure to social stress. Blunted social reward responsiveness appears to be a relatively unique vulnerability for depression, rather than social anxiety. Results support the utility of ERP measures in measuring individual differences in social reward processing that can be applied to better understand neural processes involved in the development of depression, and highlight the importance of considering specific dimensions of stressful life experiences.
Random Forest for Scale and Item Level Prediction Analysis in the Social Sciences: An Application Using Organizational Deviance Data.

ANDREWS, JOSHUA SCOTT. Random Forest for Scale and Item Level Prediction Analysis in the Social Sciences: An Application Using Organizational Deviance Data. (Under the direction of Dr. Samuel Pond III). This study examines the utility of machine learning (ML) algorithms, specifically random forest (RF), to outperform traditional predictive modeling approaches in social science. Specifically, this study compares RF to Ordinary Least Squares Regression (OLS) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression for their ability to interpret item level validity. Using an archival data set that includes Maladaptive Traits and Beliefs (MTBs) and Counterproductive Work Behaviors (CWBs), I illustrate the process of conducting OLS, LASSO, and RF using a traditional approach (aggregate scales) and an item level approach (scale items). I also discuss the differences in variable importance ratings across models, which I used to rank order the importance of items. Findings from this study support the utility of RF, which had the best overall performance compared to OLS and LASSO using both scale and item level predictors. Furthermore, using the RF variable importance metrics, I was able to reduce the MTB item RF model to only two items and consequently achieve the highest fit indices of all study models. This study also presents a generalizable (i.e. soft-coded) version of the R code that I used to analyze the data, which researchers can easily apply to their own data sets. © 2019 by Joshua Andrews All Rights Reserved Random Forest for Scale and Item Level Prediction Analysis in the Social Sciences: An Application Using Organizational Deviance Data by Joshua S. Andrews A Dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy
Effect of precursor concentration of microstructured titanium-di-oxide (TiO2) thin films and their photocatalytic activity

TiO2 thin films were synthesised by hydrothermal method on ITO coated glass substrate at a hydrothermal temperature of 160 °C for 24 h with different titanium precursor amount (0.3 ml, 0.5 ml, 0.7 ml, 1 ml). The band gap energy of prepared thin films varies from 3.2 eV to 3.6 eV. A sharp peak was observed at about 280 nm in the absorption spectrum, revealing a large band gap in the UV region. Reflectance spectra show high value with decreasing wavelength. XRD analysis confirms the presence of a TiO2 thin film phase. FESEM images of the thin films show sieve-like porous layered morphology. On the increasing amount of precursor, the porosity of the thin films increases. We calculated porosity from the transmittance data and the refractive index from the reflectance data. Particle sizes of the thin films were roughly found to lie between 10 nm–40 nm. Sharp emission at 440 nm is due to electron transition mediated by defect states. Small peaks between 450 nm–500 nm are assigned to free electron recombination from conduction band to the ground state. The visible light photocatalytic degradation rate of Methylene Blue (MB) is highest for the TiO2 thin film whose precursor amount is 0.5 ml. The kinetic rate of degradation and porosity is also greater for the same sample.
Optimal configuration of the waveguide acousto-optic TE-TM polarization mode convertor on X-cut lithium niobate substrate

An excitation, distribution, and interaction of surface acoustic waves (SAW) with the guided light in integrated optical structures on X-cut lithium niobate substrates were studied. The resonance excitation frequencies, the spatial SAW distribution and the TE-TM optical mode conversion efficiency were investigated. An optimal configuration and most suited material of interdigital transducer (IDT) for integrated acousto-optic devices were found.
Corpus Linguistics for Vocabulary: A Guide for Research

Corpus linguistics is typically defined as the analysis of language using corpora (McEnery & Hardie, 2012). Corpora, in turn, refer to large organized collections of authentic data (spoken, written, or both) stored electronically (Tognini-Bonelli, 2001). Corpus linguistics plays a key role in researching, teaching, and learning vocabulary because it demonstrates how language is used authentically and in different contexts. This, in turn, enables instructors to teach language more efficiently, material developers to develop more authentic materials, and students to learn and use authentic words, collocations, and patterns. Corpus Linguistics for Vocabulary: A Guide for Research by Pawel Szudarski is an introductory book written to familiarize readers with the interrelationship between corpus linguistics and vocabulary learning. This book is a helpful resource for students and teachers who wish to conduct corpus-based research on vocabulary-related questions.
El Modelo Piramidal: alternativa feminista para analizar la violencia contra las mujeres

Resumen: El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una propuesta de modelo explicativo para la violencia contra las mujeres llamado modelo Piramidal que pretende responder a dos objetivos: (a) Recoger los principales elementos incluidos en diferentes modelos explicativos multicausales, completando algunos de sus aspectos. Particularmente, profundiza en analizar cómo se conectan entre sí los factores explicativos de esta violencia y en aquellos mecanismos que permiten comprender porqué ciertos varones eligen ejercer violencia contra las mujeres. (b) Ser aplicable a las diferentes formas de violencia contra las mujeres, incidiendo en los elementos comunes a todas ellas. El modelo resultante, al que se ha denominado modelo piramidal, incluye cinco etapas o escalones (sustrato patriarcal, socialización diferencial, expectativas de control, factores desencadenantes y estallido de la violencia) y un proceso de filtraje.
The Design of a Theme-Based and Genre-Oriented Strategic Reading Course to Improve Students' Reading Comprehension Skills at a Public School in Colombia

This paper reports the process of designing and partially implementing and evaluating a content-based and genre-oriented syllabus with a group of ninth graders at a public school in Barranquilla, Colombia. The syllabus sought to promote reading strategies in order to improve learners’ comprehension of natural science texts. The results of this intervention show that the use of academic texts with low achievers, who in turn can develop a good comprehension of different kind of texts, is possible if these students are aware of the structure of the texts they are reading and if they are provided with reading strategies that are appropriate for each genre.
PENGARUH MODERATOR BAGI KOMUNITI PEMBELAJARAN PROFESSIONAL TERHADAP KEPIMPINAN INSTRUKSIONAL PENGETUA DAN EFIKASI KOLEKTIF GURU

Instructional leadership practices, professional learning communities and collective efficacy of teachers are essential to producing quality schools and student outcome as set out in PPPM 2013-2025. In this regard, the study aims to examine the influence of principals’ instructional leadership on the collective efficacy of teachers and the role of professional learning communities as moderators. The data for this survey was obtained from 368 teachers randomly selected from the national secondary school in Kedah Darul Aman. The questionnaire used in this study is a combination of Instrumentional Leadership Practice Instrument, IAB, KPM (2014) which is a translated instrument from the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS), instrument of Professional Learning Community Practice Instrument, IAB, KPM (2013 ) translated from the Instrument of Professional Learning Community Assessment-Revised (PLCA-R) and Collective Efficacy Scale-Short Form translation instrument by Anandan Kuppan (2010) 2001). This data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that there is a significant moderator influence of the teachers' professional learning community on the relationship between instructional leadership of the principal and the collective efficacy of teachers. In conclusion, school leaders should effectively practice instructional leadership, develop teachers' capacity through a professional learning community and thereby enhance the collective efficacy of teachers to produce quality schools and pupil environments as set out in PPPM 2013-2025.
Democratic Citizenship Education and Inclusion: Preparing Preservice Teachers for Inclusive Social Studies.

Students classified with disabilities make up more than 13 percent of the public school population in the United States, but they remain on the margins of social studies research. Thus, we know very little about social studies education in inclusive settings. This study explores how social studies methods classes in one teacher education program prepare teachers for inclusive education. Combining theoretical perspectives from democratic citizenship education and Disability Studies in Education (DSE), this study explores how themes of democracy, community, diversity, disability, and inclusion manifested in two social studies methods classes. Findings indicate the methods instructor encouraged and practiced democratic and inclusive pedagogy, but his approach often met resistance from preservice teachers’ experiences with disability and inclusion, the intransigence of a traditional special education paradigm, and the limitations of diversity education vis-à-vis DSE. Implications for democratic citizenship education, inclusive education, and teacher education are discussed.