Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nimble Radiation-Pattern Antennas Using Agile Frequency Selective Surfaces.

The synergy gained between frequency selective surfaces as partially reflective/transparent screens and reflector antennas is exploited to present a new class of reconfigurable antennas for tactical communication systems in this thesis. The potentials of frequency selective surfaces in creating controllable electromagnetic shutters are theoretically and experimentally explored to fully take advantages of them in increasing the functionality of traditional reflector antennas. The related transmission line models of the corresponding sheets are also extracted to interpret their electromagnetic responses. To control the scattering responses of these shutters, high frequency switches are precisely incorporated into their constructing periodic elements. The possible DC-biasing feed schemes of active elements are investigated and the relevant reconfiguration mechanisms dictated by these schemes are identified. Furthermore, the effect of required biasing feed lines on the transmission/reflection responses of screens is evaluated. The adverse effects of non-ideal active elements are also examined to elaborate the screens according to the desired transmission/reflection responses. In the proposed new class of multi-functional reconfigurable antennas, an appropriate radiation mechanism is utilized, and a simple design guideline based on the key principles of reflector antennas and frequency selective surfaces is presented. The designed planar frequency selective surfaces are applied in this radiation topology as a controllable electromagnetic window, and their performances are evaluated. The pros and cons of each antenna in providing different functionalities are investigated to emerge a new class of antenna called "Nimble-Antenna". Indeed, a nimble-antenna refers to an antenna with two functionalities, including sweeping its radiation over aIl azimuth angles and reconfiguring the antenna radiation-pattern between directionallomni-directional cases. In the final designed reconfigurable electromagnetic window, a hybrid technique is also applied to enhance the nimble antenna performances and extend the functionally of the proposed radiation topology across two different frequency bands. In this structure, the number of active elements and overall antenna size are also reduced compared to the other presented prototypes.
A collaborative urban planning environment

The emerging Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) provide the possibility of developing innovative approaches to replace the traditional approaches of using text, 2D-maps, images and graphs to facilitate better communication and collaboration. This thesis uses these emerging technologies to present an innovative collaborative virtual environment for multiple stakeholders to come together to visualise and analyse complex urban agendas and have an informed debate about the proposed plans, their inter-dependencies and intended outcome. The research has been driven by working closely with a group of stakeholders in the Black Country. The case study approach ensured the concerns of the majority of the stakeholders are addressed within an urban planning context involving a range of complex data sets. This research has designed and implemented a software framework that can create a VR-centred planning environment which can efficiently manage planning related datasets, support interactive visualisation and analysis, and enhance stakeholder engagement. The overall software system has been implemented within a co-located workspace comprised of a PowerWall, 3D input devices and conferencing facilities for 30 participants. The underlying unified urban model can integrate various geospatial data, demographic data and new urban plans to bring new developments to life. This model allows the users to reconfigure the urban space to suit the discussion points relevant to an urban scenario. Three types of evaluations have been conducted: performance evaluation, usability evaluation and business benefit evaluation. In this case the experiments have been conducted within an urban space of 350km2. The performance evaluation experiments have shown that the interactive response for rendering, navigation and interactive tasks are adequate for real-time performance. The human factors experiments show that the user interface is easy to learn and easy to use for typical interactive tasks. The proposed collaborative environment has been rated high by the stakeholders in terms of the value of this system for their urban tasks.
Ultrasound imaging of the abdominal muscles and bladder: implications for the clinical assessment of individuals with lumbopelvic pain

Lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is associated with altered abdominal muscle function yet few tools exist that enable physiotherapists to identify these changes in a clinical setting. Ultrasound imaging (USI) has potential however its ability to detect altered abdominal muscle function and associated changes in bladder base (BB) position during tests common to a physiotherapy assessment of LPP, has yet to be established. The aims of this research were to determine the validity and reliability of USI technique in a clinical setting, investigate the relationship between changes in abdominal muscle thickness and electrical activity, and compare sonographic characteristics of the abdominal wall, and BB position, between persons with and without LPP. Validity results indicate that 5o-10o of angular, and 8mm of inward/outward transducer motion don’t produce measurement error, and that transducer motion can be kept within these thresholds during two commonly used clinical tests; the Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) test and Abdominal Drawing in Manoeuvre (ADIM). Regarding reliability, measurements of abdominal muscle thickness, inter-recti distance (IRD) and BB position (healthy and LPP cohorts) during the ASLR and ADIM were good to excellent (within day ICC; 0.84-0.99, between day; 0.80-0.99). Crosscorrelation functions examining the relationship between changes in abdominal muscle thickness and activity during an ASLR and ADIM were low (r=0.22-0.40), and associated time lags large (-0.44-1.15s), suggesting that changes in muscle thickness represent more than changes in electrical activity. On comparing sonographic features between cohorts a series of features were identified that differed between the groups. Specifically, the LPP cohort had a thinner rectus abdominis (p<0.001), thicker perimuscular connective tissue (p=0.007), a wider IRD (p=0.005) and demonstrated smaller increases in TrA thickness (p ~ 0.00-0.05), and greater BB descent (p=0.02-0.03) during the ASLR. To determine if these sonographic features assist in discriminating LPP a statistical classification technique was piloted. Preliminary results identified a set of 14 sonographic features that classified LPP participants with 84% accuracy. These findings support an argument regarding the clinical value of USI and serve as the basis for future investigations aimed at determining if USI enhances the assessment, and ultimately treatment, of individuals with LPP.
Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management: Twelve Drivers of Competitive Advantage

Chapter One Supply Chain Management as a Source of Competitive Advantage Chapter Two Coordinate the Traditional Business Functions Across the Company and Across the Supply Chain Chapter Three Collaborate with Supply Chain Partners On Non-Core Competency Functions Chapter Four Look for Supply Chain Synergies Chapter Five Not All Customers are Created Equal Chapter Six Identify and Manage the Supply Chain Flow Cycles Chapter Seven Manage Demand (Not Just the Forecast) Chapter Eight Substitute Information for Assets Chapter Nine Systems are Templates to be Laid Over Processes Chapter Ten Not All Products are Created Equal Chapter Eleven Make Yourself Easy to Do Business With Chapter Twelve Do Not Let Tactics Overshadow Strategies Chapter Thirteen Align Your Supply Chain Strategies and Your Reward Strategies Chapter Fourteen Putting It All Together
Finite Element Modeling and Cellular Studies on Controlled Pores with Sub-Surface Continuity for Biomedical Applications

Title of Thesis: FINITE ELEMENT MODELING AND CELLULAR STUDIES ON CONTROLLED PORES WITH SUBSURFACE CONTINUITY FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS Paul Keslar Lambert, Master of Science, 2012 Thesis Directed By: Professor Sreeramamurthy Ankem Department of Materials Science and Engineering This work investigated a novel process for improving the reliability of loadbearing joint prosthetics, in which electrical discharge machining (EDM) is used to create pores with sub-surface continuity on a conventionally-fabricated prosthetic material. The first part of this investigation utilized in vitro studies to verify the biocompatibility of deep, high-aspect-ratio EDM-produced pores. Mesenchymal stem cells were seeded onto Grade 4 titanium samples with EDM-created pores, and osteodifferentiation and mineralization were induced and assessed. It was found that such pores allowed for cell proliferation and mineralization indicating good biocompatibility. The second part of this work utilized three dimensional finite element modeling (FEM) to characterize simulated porous implant interfaces under stress. Interlocking strengths of selected structures were verified, interface separation under applied stress was measured for these structures with implications for wear particle intrusion in the interfaces, and stress shielding analysis was performed on simulated implants containing intersecting and non-intersecting pores. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number CMMI-0733522.
Ethnological Museums as Citizens’ Educational Instruments for Sustainability

This research is focused on studying the role that ethnological museums could play on the citizens’ scientific education for sustainability, since these museums are intended to show essential aspects of the life of human groups and the relationships established among them and their environment. They offer, therefore, an ideal opportunity to approach the local problems which affect a particular human group, as well as the global problems that humanity must face as a whole. For this purpose, the extent to which the contents of the ethnological museums incorporate socioenvironmental problems has been analysed. In the light of this analysis, a virtual museum has been designed, intended to contribute to citizen education for the sustainability transition, evaluating the results obtained by using this museum with both future teachers in training and students of secondary education.
A digital up-conversion architecture for future high efficiency wireless base stations

Over the past few years, there has been a growing need for wireless communications with higher data rates and ubiquitous coverage, and these must be achieved at reduced cost and with a lower carbon footprint. This evolution in wireless demand places a big burden on transmitter architectures. The need for higher efficiency has stimulated research into the potential replacement of current linear power amplifiers (PAs) by switch mode power amplifiers (SMPAs) at cellular frequencies. The radio frequency (RF) PA currently accounts for a significant part of the cost, and most of the power requirements of a typical wireless base station. This research is focused on the modulation and up-conversion circuits for generating the SMPA drive signals. The switched (‘on’/‘off’) nature of the amplifier drive signal creates an opportunity for an all-digital solution removing traditional analog components such as the digital to analog converters, reconstruction filters, quadrature modulator and local oscillators. Digital signal processing techniques used for signal modulation are extended to digital up-conversion to generate suitable drive signals for the SMPA. In this thesis, a sigma-delta (ΣΔ) based technique is used to embed a complex modulation scheme such as OFDM into a single ‘on’-‘off’ bit stream.
Empirical analysis of the airline industry on the U.S.-China route

This dissertation studies the airline industry on the route between the U.S. and China by examining various issues including market liberalization, airline alliances, and airline mergers. The rst chapter focuses on the liberalization in the airline industry between the U.S. and China. As a highly regulated industry, the airline industry has been of interest to policymakers who try to understand the impact and magnitude of airline market restrictions. The aviation agreement between the U.S. and China restricts the routes as well as the number of carriers and ights permitted on these routes. An amendment in 2007 allowed additional routes, and introduced new carriers to participate in these routes. This paper examines detailed transaction data on passenger aviation over a six-year period, and analyzes the impact of the sequential introduction of nonstop routes. In this paper, I also estimate a structural econometric model of demand and supply for air travel, which allows me to conduct counterfactual analysis. The second chapter studies alliances between carriers from the U.S. and China. As international airlines have expanded in recent decades, increasing demand for international air travel between the U.S. and China has prompted U.S. airlines to forge alliances with their overseas counterparts in China to extend the reach of their networks. An airline alliance is an agreement between two or more airlines to cooperate on a substantial level, including unlimited code-sharing between partners. Code-sharing is usually associated with changes in airfares and tra¢ c volume for related routes. In theory, code-sharing should allow providers
DRIVERS VIGILANCE. ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENCES IN VIGILANCE STATES ASSESSMENT BY PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MECHANICAL INDICATORS

This paper presents the results of an experiment which correlates fluctuations in driver EEG measurements with simultaneous changes in vehicle speed and steering wheel movements. The aim is to find a method to automatically monitor driver attention, in order to alert the driver if he is in danger of falling asleep at the wheel. Twelve healthy subjects drove on a motorway for six hours, during which time their EEG and EOG were continuously monitored. Steering wheel movements and vehicle speed were also monitored. A video camera also recorded each driver's behaviour. One of these cameras recorded drivers' visual expression. For the covering abstract see IRRD 868006.
BLENDED LEARNING SYSTEMS: DEFINITION, CURRENT TRENDS, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The term " blended learning " is being used with increased frequency in both academic and corporate circles. In 2003, the American Society for Training and Development identified blended learning as one of the top ten trends to emerge in the knowledge delivery industry (cited by Rooney, 2003). In 2002, The Chronicle of Higher Education quoted the president of Pennsylvania State University as saying that the convergence between online and residential instruction was " the single-greatest unrecognized trend in higher education today " (Young, 2002, p. A33). Also quoted in that article was the editor of The Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks who predicted a dramatic increase in the number of hybrid (i.e., blended) courses in higher education, possibly to include as many as 80-90% of all courses (Young, 2002). So what is this " blended learning " that everyone is talking about? This chapter will provide a basic introduction to blended learning systems and share some trends and issues that are highly relevant to those who are implementing such systems. To accomplish these goals, the chapter will address five important questions related to blended learning systems such as: What is blended learning? , Why blend? , What current blended learning models exist? , What issues and challenges are faced when blending? , and What are the future directions of blended learning systems?
Biomechanics of the hand : a basic research study

This book contains selected works on the biomechanics of the hand accumulated in the Biomechanics Laboratory of Mayo Clinic over the past eleven years. It attempts to apply a composite approach to normal and pathological functions of the hand by utilizing mechanical modeling, anatomical testing and clinical verification. A collaborative effort of the disciplines of orthopedics and engineering science has been put forward in this research. Attention is focused on the understanding of the function of the hand in relation to force and motion potentials observed in normal and pathological cases.
Spintronic Nanoelectronics based on Magneto-Logic Gates

This paper presents a novel design concept for spintronic nanoelectronics that emphasizes a seamless integration of spin-based memory and logic circuits. The building blocks are magneto-logic gates [1] based on a hybrid graphene/ferromagnet material system. We use network search engines as a technology demonstration vehicle and present a spin-based circuit design with smaller area, faster speed, and lower energy consumption than the stateof-the-art CMOS counterparts. This design can also be applied in applications such as data compression [2]–[5], coding [6] and image recognition [7], [8]. In the proposed scheme, over 100 spin-based logic operations are carried out before any need for a spin-charge conversion. Consequently, supporting CMOS electronics requires little power consumption. The spintronic-CMOS integrated system can be implemented on a single 3-D chip. These nonvolatile logic circuits hold potential for a paradigm shift in computing applications.
Design and Analysis of Digitally Modulated Transmitters for Efficiency Enhancement

The last decade has witnessed a tremendous growth in wireless communications. Consumer demands for battery-operated mobile devices with versatile, high data-rate communication capabilities that are of low cost, small form-factor and long operating cycle have motivated the research on fully-integrated, back-off-efficient and coexistence-friendly wireless transceivers in CMOS VLSI technology. However, the full integration of an efficient CMOS power amplifier (PA) into such a transceiver is still among the most difficult challenges towards a true System-On-Chip (SOC) solution. This thesis investigates the PA efficiency enhancement techniques for a complete power transmitter system that is fully-integrated and coexistable. Direct digitally modulated transmitter architecture has been identified as one of the most promising solutions to the above challenges. Within such a transmitter, the PA efficiency is able to back off from a high peak efficiency at least with class-B characteristic; meanwhile, the transmit linearity can be more easily improved by digital predistortion due to the direct digital modulation scheme. To validate such a promising architecture, we have built a fully-integrated CMOS digital power transmitter for the IEEE 802.11g 54Mbps application. System-level considerations and design choices are presented with an aim for low out-of-band noise and good transmit linearity. As the core of the transmitter, the RF switching PA is designed for high efficiency with minimum number of on-chip passives that only exercise an accurate control over fundamental and second-harmonic terminations. The class-B efficiency back-off characteristic is further improved by a dynamic impedance modulator which boosts the PA drain impedance at a low instantaneous envelope level. Open-loop phase interpolator based topology is used for the polar phase modulator, which achieves wideband phase modulation with competitive power consumption. Digital baseband filtering is fully optimized at both the algorithm and the hardware level, which offers larger than 60dB attenuation on the close-in spectral images with reduced filter complexity. The prototype has been implemented in a 65nm bulk CMOS technology and has demonstrated a combination of good output power, overall efficiency and spectral purity with a very high level of system integration.
Does Positive Text Expression Perceived Better: Evidence from China Government Subsidy Announcement

Text expression in the announcement of listed companies is very important while its market effect is not fully discovered. Government subsidy is regarded as good news because it can increase earnings directly. However, the text expression may indicate opposite effect. There are generally two ways of text expression besides the number of subsidies, positive and neural. We document the market reaction and the economic consequence of each type, examine factors that have the cross-sectional effect and provide possible explanation for managers to take negative mood. Collectively, our findings shed light on the power and information content of text, as well as the behavior of managers.
New issues arising from E-education

The Internet provides access to an unlimited wealth of resources, such as virtual libraries, databases, and electronic communities. In e-education, the World Wide Web and the Internet are the vehicles for information dissemination and retrieval, and also for networking and collaboration. Computer technology is thus broadening choices for the mode of delivery, content, and access, because information can be stored anywhere and transmitted anywhere. There is the danger that the tools of technology are used because they are the latest phenomenon. In this chapter, the focus is on sound pillars of ethics for the mass production of education. We deal first with knowledge processing and the implications for various changes that have arisen in e-education. We discuss ethical issues regarding student-student and student-faculty interaction. We then discuss assessment of learning and the potential problems and possible solutions. Finally, we address institutional management of e-education.
Construction de modèles environnementaux de véhicules pour l'évaluation environnementale des innovations

In this paper, we propose to test the design of environmental models of vehicles that will be used in the environmental evaluation of innovations. In order to do this, the life cycle assessments of thirteen vehicles have been collected. Hierarchical clustering has been applied on them to produce dendrograms. Then, an iterative process allows the identification of optimal clusters per dendrogram according to two validity conditions. Thus, the environmental models are produced. The analysis of the clusters shows that a discrimination strategy of the life cycle steps and of the environmental indicators seems to be the most interesting in order to generate knowledge. Mots clefs : analyse du cycle de vie (ACV), innovation, automobile, classification ascendante hierarchique (CAH), modeles environnementaux de vehicules (MEV)