Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic modeling of construction and demolition waste management processes: An empirical study in Shenzhen, China

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to develop a model based on system dynamics (SD) approach, which integrates three subsystems for simulating construction and demolition (C&D) waste management in Shenzhen, Mainland China.Design/methodology/approach – SD approach was first used to construct the model for C&D waste management in Shenzhen. The model was then converted for running on computer through the software package “iThink”, which was specifically designed for SD modeling. The data required for model simulation was derived through various ways, including literature review, examination of official reports and yearbooks, and questionnaires. After all the parameters in the model were determined, simulation was carried out.Findings – The model proposed in this research can provide an experimental simulation platform to investigate the complexity and interdependencies of factors in managing C&D waste in Shenzhen, Mainland China. The simulation results show that the pressing situation of C&D waste management.
A model for ionic polymer metal composites as sensors

This paper introduces a comprehensive model of sensors based on ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) working in air. Significant quantities ruling the sensing properties of IPMC-based sensors are taken into account and the dynamics of the sensors are modelled. A large amount of experimental evidence is given for the excellent agreement between estimations obtained using the proposed model and the observed signals. Furthermore, the effect of sensor scaling is investigated, giving interesting support to the activities involved in the design of sensing devices based on these novel materials. We observed that the need for a wet environment is not a key issue for IPMC-based sensors to work well. This fact allows us to put IPMC-based sensors in a totally different light to the corresponding actuators, showing that sensors do not suffer from the same drawbacks.
Constructional and design difficulties of wide-band high-power pulsed travelling-wave tubes in the 10 Gc/s region

The paper describes some of the difficulties met in the development of a pulsed travelling-wave amplifier having a maximum power in the region of 1kW and gain greater than 30dB over the frequency band 7.5-11.5Gc/s. This is a considerably higher power level than has been previously attempted in this country with a helix-type tube, and the parts of the development which are described are, in general, only those in which difficulty was met due to the particular combination of high power, high frequency and broad bandwidth.Broad bandwidth in travelling-wave tubes necessitates the use of a helical circuit. This imposes design limitations which restrict the operating voltage in order to avoid backward-wave oscillation. The maximum power that can be achieved is thus limited, even under pulsed conditions, and becomes less as the frequency increases.In a practical design of a waveguide-coupled high-power pulsed travelling-wave tube for the X-band, it was found necessary to maintain a small external diameter. This led to a large dielectric loading factor, which was reduced by a suitable choice of wire diameter and by control of the envelope wall thickness.A simple coupling was developed which gives a voltage standing-wave ratio of less than 1.5 over the range 7.5-11.0Gc/s. An attenuator which is well matched and has substantially constant loss over the same band has also been provided.In operation, the onset of backward-wave oscillation is decreased by the use of an operating voltage considerably higher than the synchronous voltage.From the final valve, pulsed output powers of 1kW are obtained at a gain of 30dB. Small-signal gains of up to 50dB have also been observed.
Semiactive Suspension Design with an Optimal Gain Switching Target

The paper presents a two-phase design technique for semiactive suspensions. In the first phase, we use a procedure proposed by Yoshida et al. to compute a target active control law that can be implemented by Optimal Gain Switching. This control law is such that the force generated by the suspension system is bounded within a set U. In the second phase, we approximate this target by controlling the damper coefficient of the semiactive suspension. We also compute the region of the state space in which the force generated by the semiactive suspension is still within the set U. The results of several simulations show that the use of a semiactive suspension leads to minimal loss with respect to optimal performance of an active suspension.
Extreme sloshing and whipping-induced pressures and structural response in membrane LNG tanks

Abstract The long-term extreme pressure in the membrane LNG tank and structural response of the Mark III containment system are addressed. The effect of hull slamming-induced vibrations on the vertical acceleration is investigated and found to be important in certain situations. Determining structural response due to sloshing requires a stepwise approach considering long-term variation of the sea state, ship motion in a stochastic seaway, fluid motion in the tanks, pressures acting on the tank structure, structural load effects, and their comparison with the appropriate resistance. This paper is focused on the determination of the critical conditions to limit the number of combinations of sea states, vessel heading, and speed that need to be considered in estimating extreme sloshing pressures. In this context, an approximate method is introduced and validated. These sea states are determined by a full linear long-term analysis. The response quantiles suitable for the contour line approach are also found using simplified criteria. The effect of avoiding heavy weather in vessel operation on sloshing and whipping-induced pressures is investigated. Sloshing experiments and various scaling approaches are described. Application of the generalized Pareto distribution and correctly determining its shape parameter is discussed. Structural response of the LNG membrane tank wall is investigated. The importance of accounting for the steel flexibility in calculating sloshing response is shown. A new method for approximating the time history of sloshing impact pressure is suggested.
Production Scheduling for Sustainable Manufacturing Systems

In this paper we investigate the elaboration of an efficient production schedule for sustainable manufacturing systems. Because renewable energies are irregular by nature as they often depend on meteorological conditions (e.g. wind and solar energy), their use in the competitive field of manufacturing production must be addressed with caution. The challenge is to elaborate a reliable production schedule that accommodates energy stochastic fluctuations while satisfying customer and operational constraints. We propose to solve the problem using a meta-heuristic based on Tabu search and discuss major elements that are critical to the success of this approach.
Temporal shaping of the femtosecond pulse by micro-gratings array

A temporal femtosecond pulse shaping device, based on all-diffractive method, is designed for arbitrary waveform generation. The key components of the device are micro-gratings arranged in line. By changing the period and phase pattern of each grating, the diffraction angle, phase and amplitude of the first order diffraction light can be modulated. Experimental results are consistent well with simulation results, which indicate that arbitrary temporal waveforms can be gained by using micro-gratings array. Additionally, the configuration of the device allows for multiple outputs and can operate over a large wavelength range from ultraviolet to infrared pulse.
A simulation model for a competitive generation market

The simulation of a wholesale electricity market should go beyond a simple optimization based on the operating costs of the generating units. A model of a competitive electricity market must consider the market structure, the strategy of the market participants and any other factor that lead to prices different from costs. This paper presents COSMEE, a model of a wholesale electricity market based on simple bids, that estimates expected bid prices and quantities, system hourly prices and generation schedules, taking into account the bidding strategies of generators and the structure of the market. The model reflects the profit-maximizing behavior of the market agents, subject to different types of constraints. COSMEE has been used to simulate a real wholesale market.
A tecnologia de remoção de fósforo: gerenciamento do elemento em resíduos industriais

High phosphorus concentrations in industrial wastewaters is one of the main causes of the eutrophication of water bodies, leading to a growing concern with the management of phosphorus loads from industrial wastewaters. In addition to the environmental aspects of containment, it is strategically desirable that the treatment processes enable the recovery and reuse of this element, which is considered to be of high biological demand. For these reasons, this review describes and critically analyzes the current state of phosphorus management technologies for industrial wastewaters, with emphasis on the reuse of the element. The technologies considered include chemical approaches (chemical precipitation and adsorption), biological (bacterial systems, microalgae and macroalgae) plus fertigation techniques.
Instability of 4H-SiC MOSFET Characteristics due to Interface Traps with Long Time Constants

Instability of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) characteristics was evaluated by DC and pulse current-voltage (I-V) measurements. MOSFETs with nirided gate oxides were fabricated on C-face 4H-SiC. Their interfaces have near interface traps (NITs) with long time constants, depending on the cooling down process after nitridation. Such devices exhibited a large hysteresis in DC I-V and a large transient current in pulse I-V measurements. These phenomena can be explained by the charge state of NITs due to capture/emission of electrons in the channel.
Short term traffic flow prediction in heterogeneous condition using artificial neural network

Traffic congestion is one of the main problems related to transportation in developed as well as developing countries. Traffic control systems are based on the idea to avoid traffic instabilities and to homogenize traffic flow in such a way that risk of accidents is minimized and traffic flow is maximized. There is a need to predict traffic flow data for advanced traffic management and traffic information systems, which aim to influence traveller behaviour, reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility. This study applies Artificial Neural Network for short term prediction of traffic volume using past traffic data. Besides traffic volume, speed and density, the model incorporates both time and the day of the week as input variables. Model has been validated using actual rural highway traffic flow data collected through field studies. Artificial Neural Network has produced good results in this study even though speeds of each category of vehicles were considered separately as input variables.
Performance analysis for a real closed regenerated Brayton cycle via methods of finite-time thermodynamics

SYNOPSIS Performance analysis of a real power cycle has been performed using finite-time thermodynamics. The analytical formulae about the relations between power output and pressure ratio, and between efficiency and pressure ratio of a real closed regenerated Brayton cycle coupled to variable-temperature heat reservoirs are derived. In the analysis, the irreversibilities involve the heat resistance losses in the hot- and cold-side heat exchangers and the regenerator, the irreversible (non-isentropic) expansion and compression losses in the turbine and compressor, and the pressure drop loss in the pipe and system. The optimal performance characteristics of the cycle may be obtained by optimising the distribution of heat conductance or heat-transfer surface areas among two heat exchangers and regenerator, and the matching between working fluid and heat reservoirs. For the specified heat reservoir conditions, the power output is dependent on the effectiveness of the regenerator, and there exists an optimal .
Implementation of mechanistic-empirical pavement analysis in the State of Qatar

The State of Qatar is experiencing tremendous growth in infrastructure including road network and highways. The current methods used in design of asphalt pavements in the State of Qatar are empirical and might not be suitable for the design of long-lasting pavements. Given the significant increase in traffic, road authorities in the State of Qatar have been considering the use of mechanistic-empirical methods in the design and analysis of asphalt pavements. This study documents the results of a study in which the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (M-E PDG) software was used in the design of asphalt pavements with input parameters that were carefully selected to reresent local materials and climatic conditions. The selection of material properties was based primarily on specifications and design guides in the State of Qatar and on published literature about these materials. The mechanistic-empirical method was also used to assess the benefits of adopting the concepts of perpetual pavement design and also to compare the performance of pavement structures in which various bitumen grades, granular bases and chemically stabilised sub-base were used. A life-cycle cost analysis was carried out to determine the design with the highest net present value among the various options investigated. It is expected that the outcomes of this study would promote the use of mechanistic-empirical methods in the State of Qatar and the region. Inevitably, this will require significant efforts to calibrate material and damage prediction models used in the M-E PDG for more accurate representation of material properties and measured pavements performance.
Impact Injury Mechanisms in Abdominal Organs

Blunt abdominal trauma is a major cause of death in the United States. However, little experimental work has been done to clarify the mechanism of blunt abdominal injury and to quantify tolerance parameters for the abdominal organs. This paper describes a joint study by the Highway Safety Research Institute and the Section of General Surgery of The University of Michigan in which direct impacts were applied to livers and kidneys. The tests were performed in a high-speed testing machine at a controlled ram velocity and stroke limit. The organ was surgically mobilized in anesthesized Rhesus monkeys and then placed on a load cell while still being perfused in the living animal. Tests were performed at ram speeds of 120, 6000, and 12000 in/min (5, 250, and 500 cm/s). The resulting load-deflection data were normalized and average stress-strain curves plotted for each test. In addition, the resulting injury severity was estimated immediately after impact using an injury scale of 1 to 5. A discussion of the injury mechanisms observed in the tests is given, and correlation between injury severity and the mechanical parameters of stress, strain, and strain energy produced in the tissue of the organ is presented.
Automated ambulatory assessment of cognitive performance, environmental conditions, and motor activity during military operations

Until recently scientists had limited opportunities to study human cognitive performance in non-laboratory, fully ambulatory situations. Recently, advances in technology have made it possible to extend behavioral assessment to the field environment. One of the first devices to measure human behavior in the field was the wrist-worn actigraph. This device, now widely employed, can acquire minute-by-minute information on an individual’s level of motor activity. Actigraphs can, with reasonable accuracy, distinguish sleep from waking, the most critical and basic aspect of human behavior. However, rapid technologic advances have provided the opportunity to collect much more information from fully ambulatory humans. Our laboratory has developed a series of wrist-worn devices, which are not much larger then a watch, which can assess simple and choice reaction time, vigilance and memory. In addition, the devices can concurrently assess motor activity with much greater temporal resolution then the standard actigraph. Furthermore, they continuously monitor multiple environmental variables including temperature, humidity, sound and light. We have employed these monitors during training and simulated military operations to collect information that would typically be unavailable under such circumstances. In this paper we will describe various versions of the vigilance monitor and how each successive version extended the capabilities of the device. Samples of data from several studies are presented, included studies conducted in harsh field environments during simulated infantry assaults, a Marine Corps Officer training course and mechanized infantry (Stryker) operations. The monitors have been useful for documenting environmental conditions experienced by wearers, studying patterns of sleep and activity and examining the effects of nutritional manipulations on warfighter performance.
Derivation, Design and Simulation of the Zeta converter

The purpose of this paper is to guide electrical engineering students from analysing basic DC-DC converter topologies to more advanced topologies. Textbooks and free online papers include the derivation of second order DC-DC topologies such as buck, boost and buck-boost, while fourth order such as the Zeta converter are not as readily available as open knowledge online. This paper provides a detailed derivation of the Zeta converter topology in continuous conduction mode (CCM), it presents an example of component sizing and verifies the design by simulation in LTspice.
Project Success as a Topic in Project Management Journals

This article highlights the characteristics of articles on project success published between 1986 and 2004 in the Project Management Journal (PMJ) and the International Journal of Project Management (IJPM). The analysis covers references, concepts like project management success, project success, success criteria, and success factors; features of the samples, data collection, and analysis techniques used; and professional disciplines. The results show that research on project success is characterized by diversity except in epistemological and methodological perspectives. The article suggests a shift to project, portfolio, and program success and concludes with a discussion on the traditional state of the research, criticizes its assumptions, and offers alternative metaphors and recommendations for future research.
Trusted Bootstrap of Para-Virtualized Domain

Trusted Computing technique can be applied to alleviate the concerns for the security of virtual machines (VMs), accompanying the increase in the use of virtualization technology. This paper aims to provide for guest para-virtualized machine (GPVM) applications a complete trusted chain from the physical TPM in a flexible way. We propose a robust and fast method for measuring the integrity of the system booting files of a GPVM. This method integrated with the existing integrity measure software such as Trusted Grub and Integrity Measurement Architecture (IMA) can provide the complete trusted chain. Compared to the existing method of measuring the GPVM integrity, our method is very flexible and fast.
Fully front-side bulk-micromachined single-chip micro flow sensors for bare-chip SMT (surface mounting technology) packaging

This paper reports novel single-wafer-based piezoresistive micro flow sensors, which are bulk micromachined only from the front side of the silicon wafer to facilitate the sensor-bare chips directly packaged into micro-fluidic systems with low-cost surface mounting technology (SMT). With neither double-sided micromachining nor multiwafer bonding needed, two structural types of the piezoresistive flow sensors are designed and fabricated in (1 1 1) wafers, where ‘type A’ sensor has a smaller channel cross section area compared to ‘type B’ sensor. After the bare sensor chip directly attached on a printed circuit board (PCB), wire bonded between the pads and the PCB for electric interconnection and the inlet/outlet front side connected, deionized water is flowed into the both types of flow sensors to characterize piezoresistive output of the differential pressure sensing elements in terms of the flow rate. For ‘type A’ and ‘type B’ sensors that are both power supplied with DC 5 V, the sensitivities are sequentially measured as 766.80 mV (µL s−1)−1 and 19.12 mV (µL s−1)−1, with the nonlinearities as 0.4% FS and 0.9% FS, respectively. Compared with traditionally fabricated micro flow sensors, the single-chip fabricated differential-pressure flow sensors can be low-cost volume manufactured. Moreover, the bare sensor chips can be simply SMT packaged for low-cost micro-system applications.
Highlights I. Global Environmental Governance, II. Climate Change and International Burden Sharing, III. Food Supplies and Global Warming

I. While our knowledge of environmental problems has grown immensely in the last few decades our ability to take rational and effective decisions and implement them has not kept pace with our accumulated information. II. A major contribution to the discussions concerning the carbon dioxide problem and its effects on our environment. III. The possible impact of climate warming is starvation and malnutrition in many parts of the world.
TIME DEPENDENT BEHAVIOR OF RC MEMBERS STRENGTHENED WITH FRP LAMINATES

This study attempts to develop a fundamental understanding of the time-dependent behavior of reinforced-concrete beams strengthened with fiber reinforced plastic laminates. The paper describes an analytical procedure for the deformation of cross sections based on the age-adjusted effective modulus method for concrete, Findley's (1960) model for composite materials, and a stress relaxation procedure to yield the cross sectional stresses and strains as a function of time. Also presented are parametric studies asesssing the effect of the type and area fraction of composite material, and the area fraction of steel reinforcement on the long term response of strengthened elements. The analytical model is used to predict the deflections of concrete beams strengthened with FRP laminates of different thicknesses.
Enhancement of Audit Quality Through Audit Firm Rotation (Case Study Selected Commercial Banks in Ethiopia)

The purpose of this study is to examine the Audit Firm Rotation and Audit Quality using Evidence from selected Ethiopia Commercial Banks in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. The main objective of the study is to examine the extent that audit firm rotation significantly affects audit quality, and to evaluate the relationship between board independence and audit quality. The possibility of enhancing audit quality through audit firm rotation is a key method used by regulatory body. This study intended to assess the applicability of the mandatory auditor rotation concept in the Ethiopian banking sector so as to enhance and improve audit quality, from the findings of both the literature as well as the field survey, it was discovered that audit firm rotation significantly affect audit quality. It was concluded that rotation is a good solution to enhance Audit quality and also to maintain the auditor independence by decreasing the audit firm’s dependence on the client. Recommendations were made based on the findings that the regulatory bodies such as National Bank of Ethiopia, Federal Auditor General should make a laws that will appreciate audit firm rotation in order to improve audit quality, also the National Bank of Ethiopia should think of possible other ways of addressing the concept of audit quality.