Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Software-Enabled Modular Instrumentation Systems

Like most other types of instrumentation systems, flight test instrumentation is not produced in series; its development is a one-time achievement by a test department. With the introduction of powerful digital computers, instrumentation systems have included data analysis tasks that were previously limited to post-experiment processing. However, the resulting integrated systems are hard to maintain in the traditional environment of instrumentation development. Software-Enabled Modular Instrumentation Systems describes the theory and praxis of a new methodology to analyze, design, implement, and validate a digital signal processing system for test and evaluation applications in the information age. Based on life cycle concepts from software engineering, this dissertation presents an object-oriented approach that allows to combine proprietary and off-the-shelf components in a way that reusability of the elements and extensibility of the application are ensured. The methodology covers all phases of test and evaluation: desktop simulation, hardware- and pilot-in-the-loop simulation, flight test, and post-experiment data analysis. Moreover, optimum reusability of the components is ensured not only through the phases of the project, but also from one test program to the next. The methodology thus results in reduced system development time and cost, and improved system reliability.
A wideband analog correlating spectrometer for millimeter astronomy

A WIDEBAND ANALOG CORRELATING SPECTROMETER FOR MILLIMETER ASTRONOMY FEBRUARY 2008 ROBERT E. GOELLER B.S., WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE M.S., NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Neal R. Erickson This project developed an analog correlating spectrometer intended for use in millimeter Astronomy. It is based in part on the Wideband Analog Spectrometers (WASP and WASPII) built by Harris, et al (Harris et al. (1998), Harris k Zmuidzinas (2001) ). Like WASP, we use tapped microstrip traces etched on a circuit board as delay lines to produce the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the incoming signal. We then get the spectrum by taking the Fourier Transform of the ACF. A major innovation of our design is the use of a single delay line (per segment) where the signal to be analyzed is launched on to the same delay line from either end. We produce the discrete autocorrelation function of the incoming signal via resistive taps coupled to detector diodes. Multiplication of the signals from each end is accomplished using the detector diode characteristics, along with phase switches and synchronous detectors, eliminating the need for expensive Gilbert Cell multipliers. We designed, built, and tested a complete prototype system with a bandwidth of 6.7 GHz and and a resolution of 31 MHz. In this work we describe the detailed design, operation and performance of the prototype spectrometer. The work culminated with the observation of several nearby galaxies; M82, NGC253, IC342 and NGC1068 as well as Sagittarius B2 and Venus, using the prototype spectrometer.
The challenges of e-commerce application among SMEs in West Coast of Sabah: A preliminary study

This article investigates the challenges related to social, technological, and investment issues of e-commerce application among small-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in west coast of Sabah. The result of these study stressed that the application of e-commerce are very important and need to be implemented widely especially in Sabah to make it more competitive and creative in order to compete in global market.
Principal preparation and training : a look at China and its issues

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of principal preparation and training in China by providing a background discussion of principal preparation in a number of countries. As an illustration, it provides an overview of the curriculum used in the initial preparation of school principals at Beijing Normal University. -----Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws mainly on writing and research from China, Australia and the USA to explore principal preparation and training in China. -----Findings: In addition to providing a rich description of principal preparation in China, the paper's main findings comprise seven key challenges that confront China as it endeavours to provide quality principal preparation. These challenges include China's diversity and uneven social, cultural and educational development; limited resources in some regions throughout China; the place and importance of study tours for principal preparation; the teaching approach used to train principals; the process used for assessing principal learning during their training programs; the limited transfer of learning from the classroom to the school environment; and the timing of training for principals. -----Practical implications: Each of the challenges arising here raises important practical implications for developers of principal training programs. -----Originality/value: The paper paints a picture of principal preparation in China and raises a number of issues and challenges with which it continues to grapple. Of note is that China is not alone in facing some of these ongoing concerns.
Environmental Risk Evaluation System (ERES) for Offshore Wind - Mock-Up of ERES, Fiscal Year 2010 Progress Report

The Environmental Risk Evaluation System (ERES) has been created to set priorities among the environmental risks from offshore wind development. This report follows the conceptual design for ERES and shows what the system would look like, using a web interface created as part of a Knowledge Management System (KMS) for offshore wind. The KMS, called Zephyrus, and ERES for offshore wind, will be populated and made operational in a later phase of the project.
A graph theoretic approach to evaluate the intensity of barriers in the implementation of total productive maintenance (TPM)

Total productive maintenance (TPM) is an innovative approach to maintenance which holds the potential for enhancing effectiveness of production facilities. But, implementation of TPM is not an easy task. Innumerable barriers are encountered in real-life cases during TPM implementation. It is very essential to evaluate the nature and impact of these barriers so that production and maintenance managers can cultivate some strategies to overcome these barriers. In the present exertion, a graph theoretic approach has been applied to find the intensity of these barriers through an index which is computed through a permanent function obtained from the digraph of TPM barriers.
Guerrilla HCI: using discount usability engineering to penetrate the intimidation barrier

When asking how many usability specialists it takes to change a light bulb, the answer might well be four: Two to conduct a field study and task analysis to determine whether people really need light, one to observe the user who actually screws in the light bulb, and one to control the video camera filming the event. It is certainly true that one should study user needs before implementing supposed solutions to those problems. Even so, the perception that anybody touching usability will come down with a bad case of budget overruns is keeping many software projects from achieving the level of usability their users deserve.
Stresses in peripheral arteries following stent placement: a finite element analysis

The success of stents to restore blood flow in atherosclerotic peripheral arteries is low relative to coronary arteries. It has been shown that joint flexion induces a mechanical environment that makes stent placement in these arteries highly incompatible, and damage and destruction of stents has been recorded. However, the effect of this environment on the stresses in the arteries is unknown. It is hypothesised that the stresses induced in arteries as a result of this mechanical environment could be sufficient to explain the relatively low success rates. To investigate this hypothesis, a finite element model of the stent–artery interaction was developed. Following stent expansion, bending was simulated by applying a displacement boundary condition to the artery. It is found that high stresses occur at the proximal/distal ends of the stent. As high stress and vascular injury are hypothesised to cause restenosis, the results presented here suggest that the mechanical environment of peripheral arteries could be the predominant cause of high restenosis rates.
Attention anomalies as measured by time estimation under G stress

To investigate attention anomalies under G stress, performance tests involving the estimation of time duration were conducted at sustained levels of 1 G/sub z/, 3 G/sub z/, and 5 G/sub z/ stress for a duration of 60. Two types of time-estimation tasks were conducted, counting and noncounting. Analysis of these data across all subjects indicates that the estimation of the minimum-duration counting task was grossly underestimated. Data were first analyzed across all subjects, and only the shortest counting task was affected by the 5 G/sub z/ stress condition. Overall, however, for a given stress level, the counting task was much more accurate a method of estimating time than noncounting. The 5 G/sub z/ stress level was slightly below the threshold to affect performance; however, for the documented case of one subject under great mental stress, his results were significantly affected by the combination of 5 G/sub z/ stress and the psychological stress. This effort has identified the 5 G/sub z/ stressor as the level at which performance begins to degrade, subject to the level of mental stress experienced by the subject. <<ETX>>
miRNA-24 Down-Regulates Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression and Inhibits Endothelial Cell Tube Formation

Background: This study is to investigate the effects of miR-24 on expression of eNOS and Sp1, the proliferation, migration, and tube formation abilities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results: After transfection with miR-24 overexpression plasmid or anti-miR-24, miR-24 was successfully over-expressed or inhibited. Compared with the control group, the HUVEC proliferation and cell number in the miR-24 high expression group was significantly decreased. Moreover, for the miR-24 high expression group, the cell motility was slower, and the migrating cells were significantly decreased by 61.20%, with very few capillaries in the Matrigel assay. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of eNOS were decreased by 44.44% and 47.00 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein levels of Sp1 were significantly decreased by 34.88% and 68.00%, respectively. In the miR-24 interference group, the above indexes were decreased compared with control group, while significantly increased compared with the miR-24 high expression group, especially concerning the number of branches and the tube length. Moreover, the Sp-1 and eNOS mRNAs were found to be the direct targets of miR-24 by a luciferase reporter system.Conclusion: Over-expression of miR-24 significantly suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation ability of HUVECs, via regulating eNOS expression. The transcription factor Sp1, a target of miR-24, might contribute to the eNOS expression regulation and the inhibiting effects on HUVECs.
Development of a Pulsed Eddy Current System and its Characterization

The pulsed eddy current (PEC) technique has shown considerable promise as a new tool for the detection and characterization of hidden corrosion and cracking. Included among its attributes is the ability to sense deeply buried defects and obtain important information for use in defect characterization, a result that is enabled by the presence of multiple frequency components. This paper presents a laboratory‐based pulsed eddy current system, and an accompanying data analysis methodology that enables quantitative instrumentation characterization. The focus is on the latter aspect, i.e. the system characterization methodology based on the full waveform data and analytical NDE models. We introduce a linear response function description of the instrumentation effect on measured waveforms, and formulate a procedure to isolate and extract the response function effect out of the waveforms. Finally, we present validation results to demonstrate the validity of the proposed system characterization procedure.
The design method of photonic crystal directional coupler switch with short switching length and wide bandwidth

We have developed a design method for a photonic crystal directional coupler switch (PCDCSw) with a short switching length and wide bandwidth. Usually, the relationship between the switching length and bandwidth has a trade-off. To overcome this trade-off relation, we invented the suitable dispersion curve of eigenmodes of the PCDCSw. To actually obtain this dispersion curve, we examine the electromagnetic field of an ordinary PCDC at each wavenumber, and modify the even-mode mainly by enlarging the radius of the airs-holes and by shifting the position of the air-holes closer to the waveguides in the photonic crystals. We confirm using numerical simulation that the switching length of the new designed structure is only 4% of that for the ordinary PCDC.
A High-Sensitivity Micromachined Accelerometer Based on Electron Tunneling Transducers

This paper describes the design, fabrication, modeling, and early testing of a new high-sensitivity bulk-silicon micromachined accelerometer based on electron tunneling. The electron tunneling transducer permits detection of small displacements of the proof mass with high electrical response; such a transducer is essential for a high-performance miniature accelerometer. Using bulk-silicon microfabrication technology, a new tunneling accelerometer has been fabricated successfully and operated reliably. The resonant frequency of the proof mass in this tunneling accelerometer is easily modified to satisfy different requirements of sensitivity, dynamic range and bandwidth. This tunneling accelerometer is designed for underwater acoustic application and can be packaged in an 8 cm3 volume with a mass of 8 grams. The measured sensitivity is as high as 200 V/g with a resolution of less than 10 μg/Hz, which is limited by environmental noise, from a few Hz to 270 Hz for a 360 Hz resonant proof mass.
Maternal diabetes during pregnancy – obstetrical considerations and long term effects

Maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy has detrimental health impacts on both the mother and fetus, and include increased risks of cardiac malformations, cesarean section (CS), and asphyxia. The aim of the thesis was to investigate short and long term cardiac effects after fetal exposure to DM, investigate the ability of a 5 minute Apgar score as a marker for obstetrical care, investigate the association between mode of delivery in diabetic pregnancies and a low 5 minute Apgar score, and to investigate the association between offspring birth weight and maternal risk of future DM. Paper 1: Fetuses to mothers with either type 1 DM (p = 0.0015) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (p = 0.006) showed increased pulsatility index in the ductus venosus (PI-DV) in relation to gestational age. After the exclusion of SGA fetuses and those with blood flow changes, the PI-DV was still increased in type 1 DM (p = 0.02) and GDM pregnancies (p = 0.035), presumably reflecting short term cardiac impact. Paper 2: Fetuses exposed to type 1 DM showed an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease, as measured by consumption of drugs for cardiovascular disease, OR 1.46 (95% CI 1.16-1.83), this increased risk was however no longer present when data was adjusted for offspring with insulin dependent DM, OR 1.22 (95% CI 0.97-1.54). As previous studies have showed, an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease was found when born SGA, OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.24-1.35). No increased risk was found after being born LGA. Paper 3: The Apgar score is a resourceful marker of obstetrical care, as a substantial risk increase of needing education in special schools, OR =1.93(95% CI 1.75-2.14) low, or no grades when graduating from compulsory school, in nearly all school subjects, was found after being born with a 5 minute Apgar score under 7. One of 44 children born with an Apgar-score <7 at 5 minutes after birth will need education in a special school due to the factors leading to the low Apgar score. Paper 4: A 50% decreased risk of an Apgar score<7 at 5 minutes was found in DM+GDM pregnancies after a planned CS in gestational week 38 as compared to planned vaginal birth (from gestational week 39 and beyond), (p= 0.021), but no decreased risk was found in the DM group (p=0.08), GDM group (p=0.12) or LGA group alone (p=0.06). Paper 5: Offspring birth weight is a direct mirror of the maternal metabolic status, as a profound risk increase of developing both type 1 OR=3.46 (95% CI 3.12-3.83) or type 2 DM OR= 2.90 (95% CI 2.80-3.01) was found subsequent to giving birth to a LGA or macrosomic fetus.
Driver Distraction: Evaluation with Event Detection Paradigm

The effects of eight in-vehicle tasks on driver distraction were measured in a large, moving-base driving simulator. Forty-eight adults, ranging in age from 35 to 66, and 15 teenagers participated in the simulated drive. Hand-held and hands-free versions of phone dialing, voicemail retrieval, and incoming calls represented six of the eight tasks. Manual radio tuning and climate control adjustment were also included to allow comparison with tasks that have traditionally been present in vehicles. During the drive the participants were asked to respond to sudden movements in surrounding traffic. The driver’s ability to detect these sudden movements or events changed with the nature of the in-vehicle tasks that were being performed. Driving performance measures such as lane violations and heading error were also computed. The performance of the adult group was compared with the performance of the teenage drivers. Compared with the adults, the teens were found to choose unsafe following distances, have poor vehicle control skills, and be more prone to distraction from hand-held phone tasks.
MCM-D implementation of passive RF components: Chip/package tradeoffs

MCM-D technology offers the capability to integrate passive components with ICs. Currently, most application volume is in a frequency range between 800 MHz and 2 GHz. On-chip integration of inductors in this range poses particular problems because of the conflicting needs for small size and high quality factor. MCM technology offers a way to tightly integrate inductors and capacitors in a more cost-effective fashion. To use this approach to its best advantage requires closely coupled design of ICs and substrate and calls for new design methodologies that can work across different technologies.
Tilting trains and beyond - the future for active railway suspensions. Part 2: Improving stability and guidance

Active components are starting to become accepted within railway vehicle suspension systems which have been exclusively mechanical since railways began in the 1800s. At the moment these are principally being applied in tilting trains, but opportunities which arise from applying control systems engineering to railway suspensions extend much further, and this is the second of two articles (the first was in August 1999 CCEJ) which explore these possibilities. Part 2 deals with control approaches which can be applied at a fundamental level to influence the way in which the wheels and wheelsets function in terms of guidance and stability. A range of options are explained, and then some ideas are presented giving a possible vision of future `mechatronic' rail vehicles.
Quality of Care in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Iran: A 5-year retrospective study

Background The object of this study was to evaluate the quality of care indicators (process- and outcome-related) in patients with type 2 diabetes using patient-level data during the last 5 years in Iran, in private and public diabetes centers in five provinces (Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Mazandaran, and Kurdistan). Method Our study was a cross-sectional study carried out on patients with type 2 diabetes at 13 diabetes centers (private and public). Annual tests for hemoglobin A1C, serum lipid (LDL) and screening for nephropathy (urine protein or urine albumin quantitative test) were used to evaluate process-related and hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure and lipids levels were used to assess outcome-related outcomes.Findings Among 1976 patients, 54% were women with an average of 15 years of diabetes duration and approximately 83% of patients were obese or overweight. About 9% of patients had a hemoglobin A1C test every three months. The values obtained were favorable for controlling lipid profile but less than standard for screening for nephropathy and only about 30% of patients were within the optimal range for simultaneous control of process-related indicators. Findings for outcome- related indicators show that the achievement of blood glucose, blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein targets were 31, 49 and 70%, respectively and concurrent achievement was 13.8% in the last year.Conclusion The performance of the health system has much room for improvement and diabetes control programs have not been favorable in any of the provinces studied and have not led to optimal control.
Determination of Energy Balance and Economic Analysis of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Production in Tillage Methods

Energy whatever might be its source viz. human, animal, machine, electricity, solar, seed, chemical, fertilizer, gasoline or diesel has become a crucial input of agriculture right from preparatory tillage to the disposal of farm produce, energy input is necessary. This study investigates the energy balance and economic analysis of cucumber production in tillage methods. A tin of 50 g of treated cucumber seeds was planted in three different tillage systems namely; reduced, minimum and maximum tillage using foot dibbling method. Human power, machinery, diesel fuel, fertilizer, seed and pesticides were various forms of energy inputs used during the field cultivation of cucumber in the selected tillage methods. Input and output method of energy analysis was used to analyze the amount of input and output energies in each of the three tillage systems used in the production of cucumber. The calculated energy indices determined are energy ratio, energy productivity, specific energy, net energy and energy efficiency index. The result revealed that the highest total energy input and output values of 8694.09 and 8359.33 MJha -1 were estimated in maximum tillage, minimum tillage has an average values of 7774.42 and 12015 MJha -1 , while the least average values of 5688.26 and 12736.67 MJha -1 were estimated in reduced tillage, respectively. The highest benefit–cost ratio of 2.94 was found in minimum tillage, followed by maximum tillage with a value of 2.35, while least value of 2.08 was estimated in reduced tillage.
Arbitrarily polarized planar antennas

This paper describes the analysis and design of a class of antennas which can radiate and receive constant shape pencil beams with either circular sense, any linear, or elliptical polarization by a simple adjustment in the feed circuit. Such radiators are called arbitrarily polarized antennas. The apertures described are located on upper plates of radial waveguides and are composed of annular slots, with each annulus consisting of a discrete number of crossed slots. The annular slots are positioned so that each arm of the crossed slots can couple by a constant factor to the radial or circumferential currents flowing over the aperture plate to produce a common instantaneous direction for the electric field in each slot pair. Both standing-wave and traveling-wave array types are employed. The standing-wave array requires only one radial waveguide mode for its operation. The traveling-wave array requires two modes and results in greater bandwidth and greater freedom in arraying many annuli. The methods used to excite the various radial waveguide modes are discussed, and theoretical and experimental radiation patterns at X-band are compared.