Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of urban vulnerability towards floods using an indicator-based approach – a case study for Santiago de Chile

Abstract. Regularly occurring flood events do have a history in Santiago de Chile, the capital city of Chile and study area for this research. The analysis of flood events, the resulting damage and its causes are crucial prerequisites for the development of risk prevention measures. The goal of this research is to empirically investigate the vulnerability towards floods in Santiago de Chile as one component of flood risk. The analysis and assessment of vulnerability is based on the application of a multi-scale (individual, household, municipal level) set of indicators and the use of a broad range of data. The case-specific set of indicators developed in this study shows the relevant variables and their interrelations influencing the flood vulnerability in the study area. It provides a decision support tool for stakeholders and allows for monitoring and evaluating changes over time. The paper outlines how GIS, census, and remote sensing data as well as household surveys and expert interviews are used as an information base for the derivation of a vulnerability map for two municipalities located in the eastern part of Santiago de Chile. The generation of vulnerability maps representing the two different perspectives of local decision makers (experts) and affected households is exemplified and discussed using the developed methodology.
Effects of simulated herbivory and intraspecific competition on the compensatory ability of birches

To improve our knowledge regarding plant responses to herbivory we sub? jected juvenile birches (Betula pubescens) to different types of simulated herbivory, i.e., removal ofthe top (1 cm) ofthe main stem or defoliation (including removal of main stem top), and to different levels of intraspecific competition (i.e., three stand densities). Treat? ments were also repeated during the following year. Birch responses to these treatments were measured as changes in plant height and dry mass. Defoliated plants showed reduced growth irrespective of the level of intraspecific competition. Topped plants in the low-density plots showed enhanced growth, i.e., over- compensation, whereas topped plants growing in the high- and medium-density plots were unaffected by the treatments. Our results indicate that we should expect a continuum of plant responses to herbivory. Thus, there is little value in asking whether herbivory has a positive or negative effect on plant growth. Instead, emphasis should be placed on identifying conditions under which we would expect different responses. Further, we suggest that overcompensation should not generally be considered as an adaptive response that has evolved as a consequence of natural selection due to herbivory, but rather as an indirect consequence of selection for competitive ability. Because apical dominance (assumed to be an adaptation to competition) restricts growth, the growth rate will increase if apical dominance is removed.
Numerical study for enhancement-mode AlN/GaN/AlN N-polar MISFET with self- aligned source/drain regions

In this work, for the first time, the electrical characteristic of the enhancement-mode (E-mode) N-polar GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor field effect transistor with self-aligned source/drain regions is investigated by SILVACO TCAD software. Macroscopic polarization effect of III-V nitrides are included and are used to realize the Emode operation. Numerical study results show that E-mode N-polar GaN transistor can keep E-mode operation at the gate length of 0.62 μm, and the simulation result is in accordance with the experimental report result. As the gate length decreases, the short channel effect becomes severe and is able to change this E-mode device to depletion mode operation. The introduction of the vertical scaling technique is beneficial to suppress short channel effect to maintain the E-mode operation even if the gate length scales to below 100nm gate length. This detailed study in N-polar GaNbased transistors establishes technological base for further development of field effect devices based on N-polar IIInitrides. Keywords-GaN; short channel effect; III-nitrides; MISFET; enhancement-mode
Decorated architecture as material culture : a preliminary look at the vernacular architecture of the Msinga area

It is well documented that indigenous vernacular and traditional architectures are a product of climatic and geographical influences. In addition, people often surround themselves with material evidence of their metaphysical environments and cultural belief system, evident in art, craft and clothing production. Vernacular architectures or the indigenous built environments were often studied in isolation, and have only recently been acknowledged as a reflection of the material cultural patterns of the people that built them. The decorated architecture of the Mthembu and Mchunu clans of the Msinga district in KwaZulu-Natal reflects a synergy of the material cultures of the area, where buildings display not only the physical pattern systems seen in the material culture, but also the cognitive patterning of the culture of the people that build them. The architecture is unique in the regional context as it is decorated, a feature unusual for Zulu buildings. It shows that the decorated buildings are as much a part of the material culture as the distinctive local beadwork and earplugs. In addition, the temporal development of the wall decoration styles appears to have been a process that has evolved as a result of dynamic religious, cultural, and aesthetic systems. It is important to include the indigenous vernacular architecture as part of a broader scheme of decorative traditions and not to read it in architectural isolation. This paper seeks to offer interpretations suggested by informants of the decorated building tradition, to identify the different styles of wall painting, and to realise their contribution in the greater decorative culture of Zulu speaking people.
Flow Simulations in a Liquid Ring Pump Using a Particle Method

The application of the MPS (Moving Particle Semi-implicit) scheme to incompressible viscous fluid flow problem in the liquid ring vacuum pump with rotating impeller is presented. The rotating impeller in the pump is attached to a center hub and located in off-set from the center of a cylindrical body. For such flow problem there are some interesting phenomena including the formation of the liquid ring by rotating impeller, the interface dynamics between gas and liquid, and so forth. The MPS scheme is widely utilized as a particle strategy for the free surface flow, the problem of moving boundary, and multi-physics/multi-scale ones. Numerical results demonstrate the workability and the validity of the present approach through incompressible viscous fluid flow in the pump with rotating impeller blades.
Model-based Prediction of Complex Multimedia/Hypermedia Systems

−This work develops a model-based approach to the specification and analysis of the functional/temporal behavior of complex multimedia/ hypermedia systems. The approach is centered on Time Stream Petri Nets (TSPN) as the authoring formal language and on UPPAAL as the target tool for model checking activities. A structural translation from TSPN to UPPAAL timed automata (TA) was recently defined in the form of a reusable TA library. The library was proven to be timed bisimilar to TSPN. This paper focuses on the practical aspects of the approach by showing its application to a non trivial modeling example related to a hypermedia system whose properties are predicted by exhaustive verification. Finally, conclusions are drawn with an indication of on-going and future work. Keywords-Model-based prediction; multimedia/ hypermedia systems; time stream Petri nets; synchronization consistency; model checking; UPPAAL.
Selection of Smoothing Parameter for One-Step Sparse Estimates with Lq Penalty

This paper discusses the selection of the smoothing parameter necessary to implement a penalized regression using a nonconcave penalty function. The proposed method can be derived from a Bayesian viewpoint, and the resultant smoothing parameter is guaranteed to satisfy the sucient conditions for the oracle properties of a one-step estimator. The results of simulation and application to some real data sets reveal that our proposal works eciently, especially for discrete outputs.
SPRAY & LIQUID LENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF TETRADECANE AS A SURROGATE IN COMPARISON TO JP-8

Extensive studies have been completed for diesel engine high pressure injection on spray and combustion characteristics with diesel fuel. However the US military’s objective is to use JP-8 as a replacement to diesel fuel, which has limited spray and combustion information available. The differences between JP-8 and diesel in terms of fuel properties translate to differing spray and combustion characteristics. To fulfill the Single-Fuel Concept of the military and incorporate JP-8 fuels, knowledge of the fuels spray, vaporization, and combustion behavior is imperative for determining fuel impact on performance. This work quantifies vaporizing spray characteristics of vapor penetration and vaporizing liquid length using high speed imaging methods of combined Mie-scatter and Schlieren in a constant volume combustion vessel. Studies are undertaken at a constant injection pressure of 700 bar, at temperatures of 800, 946, and 1150 K at a density of 24.1 kg/m 3 . Tetradecane is used as a vaporizing single component surrogate for JP-8, with results compared to spray characteristics of JP-8 and diesel available in the literature. Tetradecane is chosen as a surrogate since prior experimental work using heptamethylonone (HMN) as a surrogate showed HMN does not match JP-8 liquid length trends, especially at low density conditions. Although the boiling point of HMN (240°C) matches the 90% distillation point of JP-8, a higher boiling point fuel (tetradecane at 252°C) may provide a better match to vaporization characteristics of JP-8. Results from this study provide an understanding of spray and vaporization characteristics of tetradecane as a surrogate for JP-8.
Nudging parental health behavior with and without children's pestering power: fat tax, subsidy or both?

Using a discrete choice experiment with real economic incentives, this paper studies one of the most well-known governmental mechanisms of nudging consumers towards a healthier way of eating, namely food fiscal policies. The experimental design varies food prices of healthier and unhealthier alternatives of food products for children as part of specific food fiscal policies. We also examine the interplay of children’s pestering power as well as information about the fiscal policies. Results from our lab experiment suggest that (a) implementing a fat tax and a subsidy simultaneously can nudge parents to choose healthier food products, (b) that providing information regarding the food fiscal policies in place can further increase the impact of the intervention, and (c) kid’s pestering power is one of the causes of the policies’ moderate effectiveness as it strongly affects parents in making unhealthier choices.
The effect of tool wear on the quality of lap joints between 7075 t6 aluminum alloy sheet metal created with the FSW method

One of the methods of joining metal elements, which is becoming more and more popular in recent times is friction stir welding (FSW). Friction stir welding was developed by Mr. Wayne Thomas in the Welding Institute (UK) in 1991 to join light metal [25]. The technique is based on joining material in the solid state, which makes it possible to produce constant joints in materials that were considered difficult or impossible to weld. Compared to other welding methods of joining metals, FSW is energy efficient, universal, and ecological [6, 17, 20, 28]. The quality of welded joints is dependent on the process parameters. A weld results from localized heating of the material by the tool’s rotation as well as tool dive to a desired depth and its translation along a specified tool path at a selected rate. The plasticized material, resulting from the friction between the material and tool, moves around the pin. The element becomes joined as result friction stirring of the semisolid state material [9]. Besides the process parameters, it is also critical to specify additional parameters like tool geometry, mounting system, welding direction etc. [5, 21, 27] Due to the high strength of FSW joints, this method can easily compete with traditional joining methods. The applications of this method instead of traditional welding or riveting is appealing because it lowers the manufacturing costs and the mass of the product. Due Burek r, Wydrzyński d, sęp J, WięckoWski W. The effect of tool wear on the quality of lap joints between 7075 T6 aluminum alloy sheet metal created with the FsW method. eksploatacja i Niezawodnosc – Maintenance and reliability 2018; 20 (1): 100–106, http://dx.doi. org/10.17531/ein.2018. 1.13.
Low-Cost Data-Driven 3D Reconstruction and its Applications

This paper describes two approaches for estimating human 3D shapes (i.e. full bodies or feet) using a regular smartphone or just entering a set of parameters (e.g. age, gender and self-taken measurements). The proposed approaches are based on data-driven 3D reconstructions, using parameterised shape spaces created from large 3D body or feet databases. The reconstruction algorithm finds the combination of shape parameters that best matches either the silhouettes extracted from the images or the body measurements entered. Despite not being actual body scanners, these solutions are easy-to-use and can provide enough accuracy for applications such as virtual try-on, made-to-measure or size allocation of certain types of wearables. Moreover, they can be distributed to the final consumer or to the points of sale at a really reduced cost (or even for free), thus overcoming the main barriers to the massive spreading of body scanners’ use to e-commerce, retail shops, new production pipelines or new business models. In order to illustrate these technologies, some examples of application to different contexts are provided, namely virtual worlds, e-commerce and personalisation.
Electroanalysis of Unconventional ( Herbal ) Drugs Using Surface Modified Electrodes in Conjunction with Cyclic Voltammetry

In this paper we report on the use of surface modified electrodes in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry to study the redox profiles of quinine in unconventional drugs-herbal medicine. The unconventional drugs used in the study include cinchona bark and malbet. The results show quinine in cinchona is redox active with the oxidation and reduction potentials on bare carbon graphite electrode occurring at 0.495V and 0.345V respectively. The oxidation/reduction potential on bentonite modified electrode occurred at 0.450V/ (0.345V and -0.030V). It was observed that, when in contact with the bentonite over along period, quinine in cinchona is physi-sorbed. The redox process of the quinine extract is diffusion limited. In the case of malbet the quinine in Alstonia scholaris was detected . The other natural products in malbet appear not to be electroactive. The oxidation and reduction peak potential for quinine in alstonia scholaris appeared at 0.540V and 0.225V in 1M H2SO4 and 0.525V and 0.330 V in HCl.The malbet appears to ingress into bentonite lattice and is pre-concentrated in the bentonite hence, giving enhanced redox signals.The electrochemical signal obtained in malbet is attributed to quinine in Alstonia scholaris.
Impact of physical parameterizations and initial conditions on simulated atmospheric transport and CO2 mole fractions in the US Midwest

Abstract. Atmospheric transport model errors are one of the main contributors to the uncertainty affecting CO2 inverse flux estimates. In this study, we determine the leading causes of transport errors over the US upper Midwest with a large set of simulations generated with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model. The various WRF simulations are performed using different meteorological driver datasets and physical parameterizations including planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes, land surface models (LSMs), cumulus parameterizations and microphysics parameterizations. All the different model configurations were coupled to CO2 fluxes and lateral boundary conditions from the CarbonTracker inversion system to simulate atmospheric CO2 mole fractions. PBL height, wind speed, wind direction, and atmospheric CO2 mole fractions are compared to observations during a month in the summer of 2008, and statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of both physics parameterizations and meteorological datasets on these variables. All of the physical parameterizations and the meteorological initial and boundary conditions contribute 3 to 4 ppm to the model-to-model variability in daytime PBL CO2 except for the microphysics parameterization which has a smaller contribution. PBL height varies across ensemble members by 300 to 400 m, and this variability is controlled by the same physics parameterizations. Daily PBL CO2 mole fraction errors are correlated with errors in the PBL height. We show that specific model configurations systematically overestimate or underestimate the PBL height averaged across the region with biases closely correlated with the choice of LSM, PBL scheme, and cumulus parameterization (CP). Domain average PBL wind speed is overestimated in nearly every model configuration. Both planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) and PBL wind speed biases show coherent spatial variations across the Midwest, with PBLH overestimated averaged across configurations by 300–400 m in the west, and PBL winds overestimated by about 1 m s−1 on average in the east. We find model configurations with lower biases averaged across the domain, but no single configuration is optimal across the entire region and for all meteorological variables. We conclude that model ensembles that include multiple physics parameterizations and meteorological initial conditions are likely to be necessary to encompass the atmospheric conditions most important to the transport of CO2 in the PBL, but that construction of such an ensemble will be challenging due to ensemble biases that vary across the region.
The Relationship Between Image Quality and Radiation Dose in Low Enerty X-Ray Absorption Tomography

In this paper we examine the relationship between image quality, defined as the . _ suitability of an image for carrying out a specific task, and the radiation dose needed to obtain that image, for the case of tomographic imaging with low energy X-ray beams of high intensity. The dependence of image quality on the method of tomographic reconstruction for a given dose is specifically addressed. · The examples chosen are simulations from the field of biology, brit the applicability of the work presented is much wider in scope. The specific tasks that we have selected are the detection and shape determination of thin fibers of protein in water (high contrast case) and the detection and shape determination of cylindrical objects having absorption coefficients substantially lower than protein (low contrast case). The emphasis in current literature to relate Signal. ;. to-Noise (SIN) ratios to dose is demonstrated to be misleading, as that parameter is only one of the factors that may influence the suitability of an imaging method to generate useful results. In the absence of a general, reliable and objective analytical method for predicting human response in evaluating images, we have taken a practical approach and shown reconstructions by rendering then in 3-dimensions, giving our interpretations of the results. · SIN ratios have only been used for the purpose of validating the simulation and reconstruction methodology, by comparing simulation results to theoretical calculations. It is shown that simple superposition or Backprojection (BP) of2-dimensional projections, although yielding excellent SIN ratios, results in images with serious quantitative and qualitative limitations. Filtered Backprojection methods (FBP) with the standard, full resolution ramp filter and with a lower noise Butterworth filter have also been investigated. Both FBP methods result in quantitatively correct irruiges; although they are noisier than the simpler BP images. Finally, we investigate the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE)
INTERAKSI ASPEK BUDAYA DALAM AKUNTANSI PADA INDUSTRI KRIPIK TEMPE DI KOTA MALANG

Studi ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan interaksi antara makna budaya terhadap bisnis dan praktik akuntansi, yang berkembang pada pengusaha kripik tempe khususnya di Kampung Sanan, Kota Malang. Sebagai bentuk manifestasi budaya yang berkembang, kripik tempe menjadi oleh-oleh asli Kota Malang dan Kampung Sanan berhasil membuktikan keberadaannya menjadi sentra industri kripik tempe terbesar di Kota Malang. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode etnografi sebagai metodologi penelitian, dimaksudkan untuk menggali lebih dalam hubungan antara budaya dan akuntansi pada usaha kripik tempe yang berkembang di Kampung Sanan. Dalam suatu bisnis, akuntansi bertujuan untuk memberikan informasi yang akan mempengaruhi pengambilan keputusan pihak internal. Sehingga dalam studi ini akan diungkapkan bahwa, karakteristik, nilai, dan makna budaya turut menjadi faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi praktik akntansi dan pengambilan keputusan dalam bisnis yang dilakukan oleh para pelaku usaha kripik tempe. Kata kunci: praktik akuntansi, usaha mikro, etnografi, makna budaya, kripik tempe.
Geometry of Probability

We introduce toric varieties to probability theory. In our framework, taking expectation value corresponds to the reverse process of star subdivision in toric resolution singularity. We show that probabilities and values have a residual symmetry in fiber space on toric varieties, when only using the equivalence of expectation value as only one restriction. Also, we show this symmetry can be interpreted an extension of Radon-Nikodým derivative and the equivalence of expectation works like Girsanov’s theorem. We discuss the subjectiveness of probabilities and values with an example of asset approach theory. We also discuss physical applications, sequential transition, and the factorization of toric resolution of singularities in the sense of probability theory. *mmsato11@yahoo.co.jp
Cellular Response to Prosthetic Wear Debris Differs in Rheumatoid Versus Non-Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Objective— This study examined whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) demonstrate different patterns of prosthetic wear or cellular responses to implant wear debris compared to patients without inflammatory joint disease. Methods— Thirty-eight patients who had a primary revision of a total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) for aseptic loosening between 1996 and 2008 were identified. Twenty-five had RA and 13 had no inflammatory arthritis. Clinical data, gross wear patterns of the removed prostheses, and histopathological analyses of peri-implant tissue were compared between RA and non-RA patients. Results— Evaluation of the retrieved prostheses showed that conformational change of the humeral polyethylene bushing was associated with the generation of polyethylene and metal particles. The amount and type of wear debris in peri-prosthetic tissues was similar in RA and non-RA patients. RA patients not on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy exhibited a histologic pattern of interstitial and sheet-like lymphocytic infiltrates associated with a high plasma cell composition, which was different from the predominantly perivascular infiltrates with few plasma cells seen in non-RA patients (p-value = 0.04). RA patients on anti-TNF therapy fell in between these two groups. Conclusion— RA patients exhibit a distinct cellular response to implant wear debris compared with non-RA patients. This reaction was unrelated to differences in the type or amount of wear debris and was mitigated by anti-TNF therapy. These results suggest an intrinsic alteration in immunoregulation in RA and have implications for potential immunologic treatment of osteolysis in these patients.