Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wavelet-Based Pavement Distress Image Edge Detection with À Trous Algorithm

Edge detection is an alternative method in the process for identifying and classifying pavement cracks for automated pavement evaluation systems. A number of edge detectors are widely used in image processing; most specify only a spatial scale for detecting edges. However, pavement surface images frequently have various details at different scales. Therefore, wavelet-based multiscale technique can be a candidate to extract edge information from pavement surface images. Instead of detecting edges in the space domain, wavelet analysis has the ability to describe both domains in time and in frequency. It was first applied in image edge detection in 1992, using the local maximum of the magnitude of the gradient to obtain edge representation. Nevertheless, this subsampling algorithm leads to a loss of translation variance and may produce many artifacts. In this paper, wavelet edge detection based on à trous algorithm (holes algorithm) is used in pavement distress segmentation. This algorithm is an undecimated wavelet transform executed via a filter bank without subsampling process. Translation invariance is one of its most important advantages. Therefore, the algorithm can minimize the artifact in the denoised data. Results of experiments on images are discussed in the paper. By comparisons with the results derived from five other traditional edge detectors, the study demonstrates the validity and effectiveness of this method for edge detection of pavement surface distresses.
Sensitivity characteristics of long-period fiber gratings

We present a detailed investigation into the sensitivity of long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) as a function of temperature, strain, and surrounding refractive index, with particular attention to the higher order cladding modes and the possibilities for ultrasensitive sensors. From a general theoretical analysis, we identify a general sensitivity factor which offers new physical insight into LPFG behavior and represents a useful design aid in conjunction with a set of measurand-specific sensitivity factors. Our analysis reveals the existence of turning points in the mode dispersion characteristics at which ultrasensitive operation may be obtained. In an extensive set of coordinated experiments, we verify the theoretical predictions with close agreement and provide demonstrations of the device behavior close to the turning points. Alternative sensor schemes for temperature, strain, and refractive index based, respectively, on measurement of the dual resonance characteristic of the modes and on the transmission characteristics close to the turning points, utilizing higher order modes of the LPFG, are presented. For two variables at least, we record the highest LPFG sensitivities yet reported.
The Relation Between Burnout and Personality Traits in Dentists Working in Southern Kerman

Background: Dentistry has been recognized as one of the most stressful occupations. Job stress and burnout are more common in dentists than in other people engaging in other occupations. This study aimed to investigate the relation between burnout and personality traits in dentists working in the southern cities of Kerman Province.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 dentists working in the southern cities of Kerman Province. The participants were selected through the census method. The data were collected via a demographic information questionnaire, the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment, and the 60-item NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) to assess neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 21) using independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The participants’ mean age, years of graduation, and years of working as a dentist were 41.05±9.45, 12.19±8.07, and 12.64±8.26 years, respectively. It was also shown that 90.5% of the dentists suffered from severe emotional exhaustion, 92.9% had severe depersonalization, and 28.6% had severe lack of personal accomplishment. Furthermore, the highest and lowest scores were related to conscientiousness and neuroticism as two personality traits. Burnout had a significant correlation with all subscales of personality traits except extraversion.Conclusion: The dentists working in the southern cities of Kerman Province reported high levels of burnout. Therefore, it is essential to prevent and treat burnout and its possible consequences among dentists.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: A REFLECTION ON THE DYNAMICS OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION IN NIGERIA

States are hard pressed due to limited financial resources to meet with the mounting demands placed upon it by its citizens, irrespective of how care is taken through the allocative system of the state’s yearly budget to significantly capture adequately those demands, more so, the call for prudence and accountability in the use of state finance makes the situation even the more tasking. However, it is believed that effective evaluation presents the state with the necessary tools for achieving these purposes. Hence, programs and projects which are outcomes of the budget, designed to meet public demands must be carefully evaluated and implemented in order to make governance meaningful to the public as well as obtain value for monies spent by public authority while at the same time attaining the ends of prudence and accountability in program delivery. As such, the role of program evaluation and implementation to state progress cannot be relegated to the background. Hence, this paper examines the dynamics of these elements and how these processes combine to contribute effectively to achieving the goals of public program execution.
Virtual Reality as a Human Factors Design Analysis Tool for Architectural Spaces - Control Rooms to Space Stations I: Objective Measures

One class of Virtual Reality (VR) applications is as a Human Factors design analysis tool for work areas and other architectural spaces. A study was conducted to compare subjects' qualitative and quantitative judgments of two “real” world control rooms at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and their corresponding virtual counterparts. The overall Independent Variables (IVs) were World (Real/Virtual) and Room (PCR/SIM) with Gender and World Order (Virtual-Real/Real-Virtual) as blocking variables. Nested within Room were range and relative range estimations. Range estimations were comprised of two IVs: 1) Item (Object/Surface) and 2) the Item's Range from the observer (Near/Far). The relative range estimations were comprised of two IVs: 1) Field-of-View (FOV) (Same/Different, i.e., whether or not the subject can see both objects simultaneously in the same FOV) and 2) the objects' Distance from the observer (Close/Away). There appears little difference between real and virtual worlds in one's ability to differentiate and estimate gross distances and to discriminate small relative range differentials within the same FOV. For different FOVs, this discrimination ability starts to deteriorate in the real world and is lost in the virtual world. There is also a clear World main effect of increased time to make judgments in the virtual world. The different perceptions, and the longer response times, point to a level of filtering occurring in the virtual environment that must be carefully considered when deciding where and how to use VR as a Human Factors analytical tool.
Dual-band stacked circularly polarized microstrip antenna for S and C band applications

A single-fed circularly polarized microstrip antenna is proposed where the antenna structure exhibits truncated corners in the radiating square patch. The truncated corners square patch structure is loaded with a circular slot and is resonating at 2.25 GHz with circular polarization. Furthermore, the proposed antenna is stacked using an upper circular patch thus achieving a dual-band circularly polarized pattern. The dual-band antenna resonates at 2.25 GHz in the first band and with impedance bandwidth ranging from 4.4 to 5.5 GHz in the second band. The size of the proposed stacked structure is compact compared with the conventional circularly polarized stacked antenna designs. Proposed structures are fabricated and fed using Subminiature version A (SMA) connector. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated. The antenna shows stable radiation characteristics for the entire band of operation.
Workplace Satisfaction and Thermal Comfort in Air Conditioned Office Buildings: Findings from a Summer Survey and Field Experiments in Iran

This study explores the interaction between perceived and calculated thermal comfort in Iranian office buildings. To achieve this, a questionnaire survey in six office buildings in Tehran (Iran) is conducted in conjunction with physical measurements. The study results reveal that there is a good agreement between perceived thermal sensation and calculated predicted mean vote (PMV) from the measurements for the majority of the offices (four out of six). This finding implies that the calculation of PMV is valid for the Iranian cultural situation in air conditioned and HVAC office buildings. The results also show that more than half of the studied offices are not in good compliance with the comfort levels suggested in ASHRAE Standard 55 and ISO Standard 7730.
The use of multiple physiological measures to determine flight segment in F4 pilots

Discriminant analysis techniques were used to classify flight segments for ten F-4 pilots from data recorded during air-to-ground training missions. Cardiac and eye blink parameters were used as variables, and 93% correct classification was found. It is concluded that this is a quite good result, especially since the combined measures correctly classified all of the segments for 6 of the 10 pilots, with the lowest percentage of correct classification being 80%. This indicates that this method should be considered for use in situations where pilot state and workload must be known. Application of this technique to flight environments of the future is discussed. <<ETX>>
Radio location through high resolution eigenstructure processing techniques that yield accurate multipath AOA and differential time delay estimates

An eigenstructure-based, doubly adaptive array processing algorithm is described. This algorithm was designed to resolve the differential time of arrival between a direct signal and a delayed replica that arrives via a different ray path. Simulations, using theoretical responses of a circular eight-element dipole array, demonstrates the characteristics of this doubly adaptive technique. Experiments have demonstrated robust differential time delay resolution of HF signals propagated to an array by two paths, a surface wave path and a skywave path. Differential time delays of approximately 1.9 milliseconds were observed for both pulse and phase modulated RF signals. <<ETX>>
Imágenes de Gray de códigos consta-cíclicos sobre anillos de Galois R de índice de nilpotencia 3

componentes p -ádicas de de anillos de índice nilpotencia 3 , 3 ) Abstract. We will state necessary and suﬃcient conditions for the image under the Gray map of a R -constacyclic code to be F p m -quasi-cyclic code. We study the Witt vectors to get a way to operate the µ -reduction of p adic components of the elements of the Galois rings of nilpotency index 3, R = GR ( p 3 , m ) . We analyze Galois rings, its mostly relevant properties, and we focus in the p -adic representation of their elements. Later on, we examine construction of the Witt vectors rings and its operations, in particular, we get explicit expressions for operations of addition and product of the elements in the truncated Witt vectors ring of length 3 , W 3 ( F p m ) . Finally, we will use these operations and an isomorphism between GR ( p 3 , m ) and W 3 ( F p m ) to get a way to operate the µ -reductions described above.
Probabilistic Control of Project Performance Using Control Limit Curves

This study introduces a new probabilistic project control concept to assure an acceptable forecast of final project performance, in terms of not exceeding planned budget and schedule risk levels. This concept consists in the implementation of performance control limit curves for both actual cost and elapsed time, obtained with a probabilistic approach and a graphical representation referred to as Stochastic S curves (SS curves). In order to facilitate the project control process, control limit curves can be used to display and evaluate actual project performance status without the need of actualizing at completion performance forecasts. Three different approaches (quality, benchmarking, and incremental variance) are proposed in this paper for obtaining the project performance control limit curves. In order to find the control limit curve definition with more conservative acceptable performance variations, these approaches are tested in an example project. A further managerial advantage is found in the recommended approach, as it allows monitoring the use of both cost and scheduling contingencies, along the project execution.
Risk, trust and place : a mixed methods investigation into community perceptions of a nearby nuclear power station

Recent UK government policy advocates the expansion of nuclear power, and indicated that any new nuclear power stations will be built mostly at existing 'nuclear' sites where it is apparently assumed that broad community acceptance will be encountered. This thesis investigated community perceptions of an existing nearby nuclear power station at three locations, through a mixed-methods design incorporating a Q-Method study (n=84) and a household study (n=1,327), and with additional reference to an existing qualitative dataset. The thesis aimed to provide a detailed description of how such communities live with nuclear power. Specifically, it investigated (a) the main community points of view on the nearby nuclear power station; (b) the dimensionality of trust between communities and the power station; (c) the associations between risk perceptions, trust, sense of place, and residential proximity to the power station, and (d) the factors associated with community support for new nuclear build in the nearby area. Four points of view were identified. These were broadly consistent across study locations but also reflected some site-specific concerns. The dimensionality of trust between the nuclear power station and nearby communities was found to comprise separate Affective and Cognitive components. It was concluded, however, that the primary influences, both on public perceptions of the risks associated with the existing nuclear power station, and on community attitudes towards the building of a new one, were related to perceptions of place. This thesis provides a contemporary insight into some of the ways that communities live in close proximity to a nuclear power station. Its theoretical and applied implications are discussed in the context of psychological theory and recent UK energy policy.
A Virtual Car: Prediction of Sound and Vibration in an Interactive Simulation Environment

Feeling and hearing the results of engineering decisions immediately via a "virtual car" simultaneous engineering - can significantly shorten vehicle development time. Sound quality and discrete vibration at the driver ’s position may be predicted and "driven" before the first prototype is built. Although sound cannot yet be predicted in an unknown chassis, the sound and vibration behavior resulting from a new engine, never previously installed in a given vehicle, may be predicted, heard binaurally and felt in an interactive "drivable" simulation based on transfer path analysis. Such a simulation, which includes the binaural sound field and discrete vibration of steering wheel and seat, can also include wind and tire noise to determine if certain engine contributions in sound and vibration may be masked. The method involves use of two technologies in conjunction: binaural transfer path analysis (with vibration transfer path analysis) and a real-time interactive multichannel acoustic and vibration simulation system. From the transfer path data the simulation environment permits interactive control from throttle position, etc. of relevant vehicle behavior including load, gear ratios, and vehicle mass, providing a running acoustic and vibration simulation. The user can change chassis impedances and transfer path properties and immediately "drive" the resulting behavior.
DEVELOPMENT OF NONLINEAR TIME REVERSED ACOUSTICS (NLTRA) FOR APPLICATIONS TO CRACK DETECTION IN SOLIDS

Nonlinear acoustic methods of Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) exhibit extremely high sensitivity to the presence of cracks. Time Reverse Acoustical (TRA) methods provide the means to focus acoustic energy to any point in a solid. In combination, we are applying the focusing properties of TRA and the elastic nonlinear properties of cracks to locate them. The experiments were conducted using a glass parallelepiped containing a small crack near the surface. The TR signal was focused on the crack and compared with a signal focused elsewhere on the surface. The spectrum of the narrow band TR signal focused on the crack exhibited a level of higher harmonics several orders larger than the level of those obtained from a wave focused away from the crack. The results of experiments demonstrate the possibility of isolating linear from nonlinear scatterers in general, ultimately providing the means to locate and discern cracks from voids for instance. These are the first measurements we are aware of combining elastic nonlinearity and time reversal in solids.
Study of 6.5 kV injection enhanced floating emitter (IEFE) IGBT switching behavior and its improved short-circuit robustness

In this work the improved short-circuit robustness of a new IGBT along with its switching behavior is investigated. The application of the recently proposed injection enhanced floating emitter (IEFE) concept to a 6.5 kV IGBT results in a higher hole current injection from the buried floating p-islands in front of the p-collector under short-circuit conditions. Hence, this concept provides a significantly improved short-circuit robustness compared to IGBT without p-islands and for the same design. The simulated results of the IEFE IGBTs depict the suppression of electrical current crowding at the collector-side without affecting the static and dynamic losses of the device.
Application of a wavelet-based signal analysis for evaluating the tool state in cutting operations

Manufacturing within a flexible production environment rises high demands on a sensor based monitoring of process and tool state. Frequently changing machining conditions in one-off and small batch size production require intelligent and flexible process monitoring systems. Signal analysis and disturbance identification strategies must be able to reliably separate signal pattern caused by the occurrence of tool wear from signal variations in the regular cutting process. Finish milling of sculptured surfaces is characterised by permanently changing engagement conditions between the ball end milling tool and the workpiece surface. The paper describes developments for tool wear monitoring in this complex machining process. The combination of the wavelet based signal parameters and an engagement dependent monitoring strategy allows a reliable determination of the tool state.
Application of genetic programming to control of vehicle systems

The development of sophisticated and complex 'intelligent' systems often requires effective means to process information and control complicated systems. An 'intelligent' system gathers information and interacts with its environment under the control of microprocessors programmed to process information and to execute control actions or responses to sensory inputs. The authors review briefly the basic principles of genetic algorithms and examine some potential applications of genetic programming for intelligent vehicle systems. They demonstrate the potential of this method by examining a particular problem in detail; the discovery of a control algorithm for an active suspension system. <<ETX>>
Effects of Positioning of Multi-Sensor Devices on Occupancy and Indoor Environmental Monitoring in Single-Occupant Offices

The advancements in sensor and communication technologies drive the rapid developments in the applications of occupancy and indoor environmental monitoring in buildings. Currently, the installation standards for sensors are scarce and the recommendations for sensor positionings are very general. However, inadequate sensor positioning might diminish the reliability of sensor data, which could have serious impacts on the intended applications such as the performance of demand-controlled HVAC systems and their energy use. Thus, there is a need to understand how sensor positioning may affect the sensor data, specifically when using multi-sensor devices in which several sensors are being bundled together. This study is based on the data collected from 18 multi-sensor devices installed in three single-occupant offices (six sensors in each office). Each multi-sensor device included sensors to measure passive infrared (PIR) radiation, temperature, CO2, humidity, and illuminance. The results show that the positions of PIR and CO2 sensors significantly affect the reliability of occupancy detection. The typical approach of positioning the sensors on the ceiling, in the middle of offices, may lead to relatively unreliable data. In this case, the PIR sensor in that position has only 60% accuracy of presence detection. Installing the sensors under office desks could increase the accuracy of presence detection to 84%. These two sensor positions are highlighted in sensor fusion analysis as they could reach the highest accuracy compared to other pairs of PIR sensors. Moreover, sensor positioning can affect various indoor environmental parameters, especially temperature and illuminance measurements.
ACCsiNet: Asymmetric Convolution-Based Autoencoder Framework for Massive MIMO CSI Feedback

Channel state information (CSI) is a critical part for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. However, it is a big challenge to send a large amount of CSI from the receiver to the transmitter with limited channel resources. In this letter, we propose asymmetric convolution-based autoencoder framework (ACCsiNet) to handle the CSI compression and decompression problem. Specifically, asymmetric convolution block (AC-Block) is used to enhance the feature extraction ability of convolution. Further, a lightweight method is applied, which can greatly reduce the storage space at the receiver. Considering the practical deployment, multi-model fusion schemes including multi-rate and multi-scenario fusion are also discussed to strengthen the generalization ability of the network. Experimental results show that the proposed ACCsiNet can improve the NMSE and cosine similarity $\rho $ performance, especially for outdoor scenario. The results also verify that both the lightweight and multi-model fusion schemes can reach a near-optimal performance of the proposed ACCsiNet, but further significantly reduce the parameter amount by more than 83% and 90%, respectively.