Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A performance evaluation framework of construction projects: insights from literature

The present work attempts to develop a theoretical framework of the performance evaluation of construction projects based on six key performance indicators (KPIs) namely time, cost, quality, safety, minimum site disputes and environmental impact. These KPIs were identified through literature review and discussions with project management professionals. For evaluating the performance on the above KPIs, several characteristic features pertaining to the project, project environment and the stakeholders associated with the project have been identified through an extensive literature review. These characteristic features, termed as critical success factors (CSFs), have been suitably classified under six broad heads based on their commonalities and unique features. The six CSFs are named as project-related, client-related, consultant-related, contractor-related, supply chain-related and external environment-related factors. We have demonstrated the relationship between CSFs and overall project performance with the help of a conceptual diagram. The diagram reveals how the factors influence the performance of a construction project and also how the factors themselves are related to each other. In addition, it also shows how the overall performance leads to community satisfaction. This has been discussed through a set of nine propositions. We have concluded by highlighting the contributions of the paper to the existing body of project management literature.
BCC-CSM2-HR: A High-Resolution Version of the Beijing Climate 
Center Climate System Model

Abstract. BCC-CSM2-HR is a high-resolution version of the Beijing Climate Center (BCC) Climate System Model. Its development is on the basis of the medium-resolution version BCC-CSM2-MR which is the baseline for BCC participation to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). This study documents the high-resolution model, highlights major improvements in the representation of atmospheric dynamic core and physical processes. BCC-CSM2-HR is evaluated for present-day climate simulations from 1971 to 2000, which are performed under CMIP6-prescribed historical forcing, in comparison with its previous medium-resolution version BCC-CSM2-MR. We focus on basic atmospheric mean states over the globe and variabilities in the tropics including the tropic cyclones (TCs), the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), and the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the stratosphere. It is shown that BCC-CSM2-HR keeps well the global energy balance and can realistically reproduce main patterns of atmosphere temperature and wind, precipitation, land surface air temperature and sea surface temperature. It also improves in the spatial patterns of sea ice and associated seasonal variations in both hemispheres. The bias of double intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), obvious in BCC-CSM2-MR, is almost disappeared in BCC-CSM2-HR. TC activity in the tropics is increased with resolution enhanced. The cycle of ENSO, the eastward propagative feature and convection intensity of MJO, the downward propagation of QBO in BCC-CSM2-HR are all in a better agreement with observation than their counterparts in BCC-CSM2-MR. We also note some weakness in BCC-CSM2-HR, such as the excessive cloudiness in the eastern basin of the tropical Pacific with cold Sea Surface Temperature (SST) biases and the insufficient number of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic.
Relationship between measured and intrinsic conductances of MOSFETs

The relationship between measured and intrinsic MOSFET small-signal conductances in the presence of source and drain series resistances given by S.Y. Chou et al. (1987) is modified to include the effect of the source resistance on the substrate bias. The equation relating the measured to the intrinsic conductances of MOSFETs with constant resistances in series with the source and the drain is derived considering the effect of the voltage drops in these resistors on gate-source, drain-source, and substrate-source voltages. The resulting degradation is the same for all small-signal conductances. The general equations make it possible to determine the conditions where the simpler previous equations can be used. >
THE IMPACT OF JOB ASSIGNMENT RULES FOR STRADDLE CARRIERS ON THE THROUGHPUT OF CONTAINER TERMINALS

Straddle carriers represent a critical resource in the handling of containers within a container terminal. It is essential that they are deployed in an as efficient manner as possible. The research presented in this paper is motivated by the need to critically evaluate job assignment rules for straddle carriers that operate in a multiple straddle environment. This is achieved by developing a discrete event simulation model using industrial simulation software to model a container terminal located in Melbourne, Australia. The model accounts for variables such as the number of straddle carriers needed, the speed of straddle carriers, the arrival rate of trucks, and the job assignment rule. A principal finding of the study is that increasing the number of straddles in the present set-up from 6 to 7 has a negligible effect on daily throughput. However, an increase in the number of straddles to 7 is expected to have a profound effect on reducing the average waiting time of trucks within the terminal from over 16 minutes to under 9 minutes, a decrease of 46.5%. However, a further increase in the number of straddles results in no further increase in daily throughput. It was observed that the throughput of the terminal is very sensitive to the speeds at which straddles travel. The management of the terminal has proposed a new heuristic job assignment rule for straddles, because the present rule does not assign the jobs to straddles closest to the truck requesting to load or unload a container. As a result a new heuristic job assignment rule was tested. The simulation results revealed that both the old and new rules performed equally well using performance indicators such as average container flow time, daily throughput, average waiting time of jobs, number of jobs in the queue, and straddle utilisation. Therefore, the new rule will not improve these performance measures if implemented
Numerical analysis of the DC performance of ITER TF samples with different cabling pattern based on resistance measurements on terminations

The DC transport properties of ITER TF conductors are analyzed in the SULTAN facility, but their associated current sharing temperature (Tcs) can give scope for different interpretations. To extract the conductor’s pure performance during such short sample tests requires a detailed quantitative model such as JackPot, for which as many as possible input parameters are based on experimentally verified data. The crucial interstrand contact resistance data of the TFPRO-2 and TFJA-3 samples, which have a different cabling and joint layout, has recently become available. With only three parameters for JackPot’s joint model, we were able to find a good match between the measured and simulated interstrand resistances for all terminations, despite their different layout. For Nb3Sn conductors, the axial strain is the only free model parameter left for matching the simulations with SULTAN Tcs tests. We were able to find a match with the measured voltage–temperature characteristic for all but one conductor. The simulation results indicate that the termination layout can be the cause of lower sample performance due to current imbalance. The outcome of this analysis also confirms that transverse load degradation can be significantly mitigated by finding an optimal set of cable twist pitches.
Drivers and Barriers for Investments in Wind Energy in Serbia: “Don Quixote against the windmills”

The objective of this thesis has been to explore the potential for expansion of wind power in Serbia, through analysis of the key drivers and barriers for further development. This has been done primarily through literature review and semi-structured interviews. After elaborating on the institutional setting and national legal framework, this thesis examines international circumstances that impact investments in wind energy. These factors include the Acquis Communautaire of the European Union and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of Kyoto Protocol. The negotiations with the EU for the status of candidate country result in the need for restructuring energy sector, which commenced with transposing the legal norms of the Acquis in the sphere of energy. However, this research depicts existing procedural barriers, such as complicated and contradicting licensing procedures and vague scheme for attaining subsidies for producing power from renewable energy sources. Thesis further examines the potential of wind energy to comply with National CDM Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Development. Generally, the issue of wind energy development is embedded in the context of energy pricing and the issue of energy security. In this milieu local communities can benefit greatly from wind energy. The potential for wind energy development on the local level was analysed through the SWOT (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats) analysis of the position of municipalities. The SWOT analysis aimed at indicating different managerial strategies those municipalities could take, pointing out drivers and barriers in this process. Research suggests that actors involved on the local and national level have the lack of understanding of crucial processes, followed by high transaction costs, the lack of will and the lack of human capacities. However, potential benefits that local actors observe – the broader level of job creation, the transfer of technologies and the raise of capacities – are seen as strong drivers and give significant impulses to wind energy sector development.
Manejo de Conyza bonariensis com glyphosate + 2,4-D e amônio-glufosinate em função do estádio de desenvolvimento

Knowing the stage where the weed is more susceptible to chemical control is a fundamental part of weeds integrated management. In the specific case of C. bonariensis that is a weed with difficult control, this knowledge has a direct influence on herbicides efficiency. Thus the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of glyphosate + 2,4-D and glufosinate herbicides in controlling C. bonariensis sprayed at different stages of development. Treatments were arranged in a 2x5 factorial scheme, where the first factor was represented by glyphosate + 2,4-D (960 + 496 g ha-1) and glufosinate (400 g ha-1) and second one for different development stages of C. bonariensis plants (cotyledon or 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 cm height). For each development stage of this specie was used a check for evaluating the efficiency of these herbicides and dry mass comparison. The development stage of C. bonariensis plants at application time affects significantly the efficiency of glyphosate + 2,4-D and glufosinate herbicides. Excellent controls for this species occurred when glyphosate + 2,4-D and glufosinate applications were performed on plants taller than 6 cm. Satisfactory control of C. bonariensis was obtained when plants showed maximum height of 10 and 11 cm at application time of glyphosate+2,4-D and glufosinate herbicides, respectively.
Toward online non-contact roughness profile measurements with a sensor based on conoscopic holography: current developments

On-line non-contact roughness metrology is still an open problem. Usual methods involve either contact (stylus-type devices) or perform indirect evaluations of some roughness parameters, such as Ra, with light scattering techniques or speckle measurement (among the most common optical techniques), inductance (only for magnetic materials) or ultrasound methods. However, a generic method able to obtain every roughness parameter (what means recording the real distance profile), able to work with a variety of surface types, and able to be installed in production lines is still to be developed. In this article, the ongoing work towards the construction of a non-contact optical profile measuring sensor that could be used for roughness measurements is presented. Our approach is based on Conoscopic holography, a common-path interferometric technique which is a good candidate for industrial applications. Current research effort is focused in enhancing accuracy in these systems, by both reducing the coherence of the illuminating source (laser) and changing the hardware and software setup, with the aim of building a sensor able to capture a profile of an object's surface in a single shot with high precision from a relatively long standoff (several cm).
A metrology solution for the orthopaedic industry

Total joint replacement is one of the most common elective surgical procedures performed worldwide, with an estimate of 1.5 million operations performed annually. Currently joint replacements are expected to function for 10–15 years, however, with an increase in life expectancy, and a greater call for knee replacement due to increased activity levels, there is a requirement to improve their function to offer longer term improved quality of life for patients. The amount of wear that a joint incurs is seen as a good indicator of performance, with higher wear rates typically leading to reduced function and premature failure. New technologies and materials are pushing traditional wear assessment methods to their limits, and novel metrology solutions are required to assess wear of joints following in vivo and in vitro use. This paper presents one such measurement technique; a scanning co-ordinate metrology machine for geometrical assessment. A case study is presented to show the application of this technology to a real orthopaedic measurement problem: the wear of components in total knee replacement. This technique shows good results and provides a basis for further developing techniques for geometrical wear assessment of total joint replacements
A comparative study on the customized design of mandibular reconstruction plates using finite element method

Mandible defects and its deformities are serious complications and its precise reconstruction is one of the most challenging tasks in oral maxillofacial surgery. The commercially available standard mandible implants are manually bended before surgery to custom fit the patient’s jaw. A slight mismatch in the plate and bone alignment may result in the implant failure. However, with the integration of computer-aided design, rapid prototyping, and advanced imaging systems (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), it is possible to produce a customized mandible implant that can precisely fit the patient’s jaw. The aim of this article is to compare a new design of customized mandible implant (sinewave plate) and compare it with the commonly used straight implant design. The finite element–simulated results reveal that the commonly used straight reconstruction plates are more prone to loosening of the screws due to its higher strain concentration on the screw hole when compared to newly designed sinewave reconstruction plate. Moreover, the straight plate is more sensitive to the chewing load variations and develops almost 20% increase in the stresses when compared to sinewave plate. The study reveals that the sinewave reconstruction plate can significantly enhance the stability and safety of the mandible implant.
Le rôle de la fermeture utérine en un seul plan sur le risque de rupture utérine lors d'une prochaine grossesse

OBJECTIVE: Uterine rupture is one of the worst obstetrical emergencies. Recently, studies with small sample size suggested that the type of uterine closure could be associated with uterine rupture. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of a prior single-layer versus a double-layer closure on the risk of uterine rupture. STUDY DESIGN: A multicentre case-control study of women with a single prior low transverse cesarean (LTCS) who experienced a complete uterine rupture during a trial of labor (TOL) was performed. For each case, three women who underwent a TOL without uterine rupture after a prior LTCS were selected as controls. Risk factors such as type -of prior closure (singlevs double-layer), suture material (vicryl vs chromic), prior cesarean for arrest disorder, diabetes, prior vaginal delivery (before or after the previous cesarean), labor induction, cervical ripening, birthweight, prostaglandin use, maternaI age and weight, gestational age and interdelivery interval, were compared between the groups. Logistic regression analyses were performed. RESUL TS: Ninety-six cases of uterine rupture including 28 withadverse neonatal outcome, and 288 controls were analyzed. In univariate analyses, single-layer closure, short interdelivery interval, labor induction with cervical maturation or labor induction with unfavourable cervix, use of oxytocin, and birthweight greater than 3500 grams were aIl associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture, while a prior vaginal birth had a protective effect. In multivariate analyses, only a single-layer closure (O.R.2.22, 95%C.I.: 1.23-4.01) and a birth weight greater than 3500 grams (O.R.2.01, 95%C.I.: 1.223.30) were associated with increased rates of uterine rupture while a prior vaginal birth remained a protective factor (O.R. 0.49, 95%C.I.:0.25-0.95). A single-layer closure was also related to uterine rupture associated with adverse neonatal outcome (O.R. 2.92, 95%C.I.: 1.02-8.33). CONCLUSION: A prior single-layer closure is associated with more than twice the risk of uterine rupture compared to a double-layer closure. Single-layer closure should therefore be avoided in women who could contemplate future vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
Biophysical Characterization of Three SCN5A Mutations Linked to Long QT Syndrome Type 3, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Atrial Fibrillation

SCN5A is a major gene known to encode the human cardiac Na channel (Nav1.5) that is responsible for initiation and propagation of cardiac action potentials. Long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3) and familial atrial fibrillation (AF) could be caused by dysfunctional Nav1.5 channels. Patients with LQT3 are at high risk of developing life-threatening arrhythmias, particularly torsades de pointes, which may lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Objectives: The goal of the present study is to characterize biophysical properties of three SCN5A mutations and to explore the relation of those properties and the clinical effects seen in patients carrying the mutations (Y1767C in LQT3, S1333Y in SIDS, and K1493R in AF patients). Methods: Wildtype and mutant channels were transiently expressed in the tsA 201 cell, a branch of the HEK 293 cell. The biophysical properties were studied with the patch clamp technique using the whole cell configuration. Results: Y1767C mutation was located in segment 6 of domain IV (DIVS6). The Y1767C mutant channels produced a persistent Na current and an increased window current, which is consistent with clinical data in an affected patient. Ranolazine, a new Na channel blocker, blocked the persistent Na current, reduced the window current, and produced an enhanced frequency-dependent inhibition with a slow recovery process. S1333Y mutation was located in the S4-S5 linker of domain HI. A functional study revealed a gain-of-function property of persistent Na current and an enhanced window current generated by a -8 mV shift in activation and a +7 mV shift in inactivation. K1493R mutation was located in the III-IV linker. Its gating properties showed an increased window current caused by a depolarized shift of steadystate inactivation. Conclusions: The differences in clinical manifestations associated with these three mutations probably arise from the distinct biophysical abnormalities of the mutant Nav1.5 channels reported in this study. We conclude that (1) Y1767C is an LQT3 mutation. Moreover, ranolazine acted as an open-channel blocker, and ranolazine inhibition of the mutant channel revealed its potential as a pharmacologic target in the affected population; (2) The LQT3associated mutation S1333 Y could be implicated in the sudden death of the SIDS patient, which suggests that neonatal ECG screening may have utility in prevention of SIDS; (3) the K1493R mutation may have caused AF through cardiomyocyte hyperexcitability, in the patient carrying that mutation.
Study of extruded power cable insulation anisotropy by means of electrical treeing growth tests

The effects of anisotropy in samples of EPR insulating compound taken from an HV power cable have been studied analysing suitable electrical tree growth parameters. Certain samples were cut in the radial direction R, others in the longitudinal and tangential direction L and T with respect to the cable extrusion axis. Point plane geometry specimens were obtained inserting 5 /spl mu/m tip radius needles into such samples by means of a special hot moulding process. As the adhesion between needle tip and EPR compound could influence the final treeing tests results, the needle insertion procedure and the hot moulding process were optimised. The average Tree Inception Voltage (TIV) and the average Breakdown Voltage (BDV) were measured, during AC ramp voltage tests, for each of the three types of specimens. Finally the Time-to-breakdown (Tbd) was recorded during 15 kV AC constant voltage tests, in the three cases. The overall results (BDV and Tbd) clearly indicate that R specimens offer a "resistance" to treeing growth higher than L ones, while the T specimens behaviour is in between. Therefore it is concluded that, in the bulk of the investigated cable insulation, a significant anisotropy exists. The potential of the above outcome (data and testing procedures) for improving the overall design and/or the manufacturing process of extruded cables for energy transmission applications is recalled.
A high power PWM quadrature booster phase-shifter based on a multi-module converter

This paper analyses a PWM quadrature booster phase-shifter based on a multi-module converter to attain high voltage levels and improve the harmonic spectrum and the speed response. The modules are based on a nonconventional three-phase PWM AC-AC converter that requires only four force-commutated switches and is controlled by duty cycle variation. The PWM technique is carrier based and the individual modules are gated through phase shifted triangular carriers. As a result, harmonic cancellation take place in the input current and output voltage, yielding an improved harmonic spectrum in both order and magnitude of the line injected harmonics. An additional operating mode with negligible harmonic generation and step-like control is identified. The feasibility and advantages of the proposed phase-shifter are demonstrated by digital simulations. <<ETX>>
On the development of an active vision system for 3-D scene reconstruction and analysis from underwater images

Detection, localization and recognition of objects and nearby obstacles are critical in employing intelligent (autonomous) underwater vehicles for surveillance, collision- free navigation, target tracking, docking, surveying and mapping the ocean floor. Although deployment of video cameras onboard submersibles have become commonplace, computer processing of underwater images for scene reconstruction and interpretation is a technology yet to be developed. This paper describes steps toward the development of an active vision system for intelligent data acquisition and processing. This provides the capability to obtain information about the scene from video images online, and to exploit this knowledge in enhancing the data acquisition process; by achieving optimum parameters and geometry of the imaging system to improve image quality and information content.