Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Converter Design for Nuna Maximum Power Point Tracker

The world is rapidly moving towards a greener future, a mainstay of which is solar energy. Hence, maximum power point trackers, or MPPTs for short, are an indispensable component, since these devices provide one with the capability to fully maximize the achievable power from solar cells in a system. A symbol of the greener world that is evolving around us is the biannual World Solar Challenge, where state-of-the-art solar powered cars race against one another through the deserts of Australia. This thesis forms the link between these two elements: to design an MPPT optimally suited towards the requirements of the Nuna Solar Car. Commercially available MPPTs are not particularly well suited for the specific demands of such a bleeding edge race. They are mostly designed for high power or low voltage systems. The MPPT designed during this thesis is optimized for high efficiency and other requests stated by the Nuon Solar Team members. The design of the MPPT has been split into several parts. This thesis is focused on the converter within the MPPT. It presents the result of research, design exploration, simulation and testing. The results obtained with the prototype that has been built show the designs correctness and conformance to the requirements, with an efficiency of up to 98,5%.
Fault Diagnosis And Prognosis Of Satellite Attitude Control System With Reaction Wheels and Control Moment Gyros

Condition-based maintenance (CBM) and prognostics and health management (PHM), as consisting parts of diagnosis, prognosis, and health monitoring (DPHM) framework, have developed over the past decades to remedy the limitations of the traditional maintenance practices for complex systems. In space, where mass and power budget are restricted, application of CBM and PHM has become more vital to the success of a mission. Reaction wheels (RW) and Control Moment Gyros (CMG), as the most commonly used actuators onboard satellites, are prone to faults and failures. The ability to detect faults, isolate their location and severity, and estimate the remaining useful life (RUL) of the faulty unit can enhance mission success rate and reduce maintenance and damage costs extensively. Therefore, in this thesis, a model-based DPHM framework is developed and evaluated. Firstly, a novel fault detection algorithm is proposed, using Unscented Kalman filters (UKF) in conjunction with residual and innovation sequences, for detecting agile faults in RW/CMG onboard satellites. Secondly, a novel fault isolation algorithm is proposed, using UKF, Bayes’ probability and interacting multiple models (IMM), to isolate the location of the fault and its severity. Finally, a new fault prognosis approach is proposed, using UKF and particle filters (PF) to estimate the RUL of a faulty unit. Extensive simulations were conducted for each phase of the DPHM to verify advantages of the proposed techniques over the available methods in the literature. Extensive simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods in each module of the framework. Regarding the proposed fault detection scheme, results showed superior performance of the proposed adaptation technique compared to the original UKF and a previously developed AUKF. The proposed fault isolation scheme was able to successfully isolate the faulty unit at multiple levels of isolation including formation level, system level, and actuator level with over 99% success rate for formation level, over 99% success rate for the RW assembly and for up to 90% success rate for the CMG assembly in the system level. For the CMG assembly, due to direct estimation of the fault parameters, it was possible to determine the severity of the faults as well as their location. Finally, the proposed fault prognosis approach provided RUL estimates with errors as low as 1.5% compared to the actual remaining useful life. Overall, the proposed framework can be regarded as a promising tool for fault detection, isolation and identification, and prognosis of the complex nonlinear systems. Furthermore, the proposed framework can be extended to other complex systems in space including multi-agent formation systems and other areas where the model of the system under study is available.
Assessment of the Lightning Performance of Compact Overhead Distribution Lines (Special Issue on System Technical Performance)

∗∗ Non-member ∗∗ ∗∗ ∗∗∗ The assessment of the lightning performance of a compact configuration of MV overhead lines that is expected to be adopted in the near future by an electricity distribution company in a Brazilian region characterized by high keraunic levels is presented. The compact configuration is characterized by the presence of an unenergized wire that has the main function to sustain the spacers of the phase conductors. As the wire could be periodically grounded, the paper analyses its effectiveness in reducing the overvoltages due to indirect lightning. The results are compared with those relevant to a conventional configuration of MV overhead lines now adopted by the same distribution company. The effects of the presence of surge arresters along the line are also analysed.
CAN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI) REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT IN HOME COUNTRIES? ANALYSIS FOR ASEAN 5

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is considered a strategic policy to reduce unemployment in the host country. Through multinational companies, it is expected to be able to absorb new workers so that they can reduce the unemployment rate. Some studies show that FDI is not only related to capital transfers but also provides several key benefits such as reducing unemployment, transferring technology and managerial capabilities. But the benefits are again questioned, both for developing countries and for developed countries. Some studies have found that FDI can reduce unemployment but other studies have also found different things. So that the interrelationships between foreign direct investment and the unemployment rate are not fully clarified. This study aims to analyze the effect of FDI on the labour market in ASEAN 5. This research focuses on 5 founding countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. This study uses a series of Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) analyzes to analyze the effect of FDI on unemployment rates, both in the long and short term in each ASEAN 5 country. Through the Impulse Response Function (IRF) test in VECM analysis, it can also analyze the impact of FDI shocks on fluctuations in the unemployment rate. The data used is annual data covering the years 1975-2016. The results show that FDI can reduce unemployment in ASEAN 5 countries, but this result is only seen in the long term. While through the IRF it was explained that the results were different in each country.
Significant duration predictive models developed from strong‐motion data of thrust‐faulting earthquakes recorded in Mexico City

Predictive models for estimating strong‐motion duration in sites characterized by soft‐soil profiles are presented in this paper. The models were developed using a strong‐motion database that includes observations from subduction interface earthquakes that occurred from 1989 to 2020 and recorded in Mexico City, which is located at source‐to‐site distances up to 600 km. A linear mixed‐effects regression model, which is a statistical fitting procedure that allows to consider the correlation structure of grouped data, was used to develop the predictive models. Relative significant duration was selected to measure strong‐motion duration. This measure can be directly associated with the accumulation of energy of the ground movement. The proposed predictive models relate relative significant duration with moment magnitude, either hypocentral distance or closest distance to the rupture plane, and dominant period of the soil. Regression analyses were performed grouping the ground‐motion data by both seismic event and site class. Model assumptions, such as homoscedasticity, normality, and linearity of effects, were verified from residual analyses. From the results, the expected value of the natural logarithm of relative significant duration was found to be ∼1.2 times greater for an earthquake with a moment magnitude equal to 8.0 than for one of 6.0. An insightful discussion about the sources and character of the uncertainties detected in the proposed predictive models is also presented in this study. The predictive models proposed in this paper are of valuable application in seismic and structural engineering because they allow to circumscribe properly the dimension and randomness of strong‐motion duration.
The Effect of Information Sharing and Inventory Management in the Supply Chain Practices on Firms’ Performance: Empirical Evidence from Some Selected Companies of Ethiopia

The objective of this paper is to investigate empirically the effect of information sharing and inventory management practice on firms’ performance. To achieve the stated objective the study targeted supply chain practices of some companies operating in Ethiopia. Data were collected from 170 respondents including employees, suppliers, and distributors of the companies under investigation. Before the analysis of data, the accuracy of data entry, the existence of missing values, normality of data distribution and outliers checked and proved the nonexistence of serious issues. The specified objective and proposed hypotheses in this study tested by structural equation modelling (SEM). The result shows information sharing and inventory management practices have a direct and significant effect on the firm’s performance. Similarly, the higher share of information leads to better inventory management practice, which in turn leads to a greater performance of firms. The study concludes that information sharing has both direct and indirect effects on a firm's performance in the supply chain practices; whereas inventory management practices have a direct effect on the firm's performance. Generally, the results of the study have major theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it offers concrete evidence on the significant effects of information sharing and inventory management in the supply chain practices on firm’s performance in developing countries; and hence contributes to the scarce body of literature and reduces the gaps of knowledge in the developing countries on the specified area of study. Besides the theoretical implication, practically the study allows the companies and industries under the considerations to recognize the significant effects of information sharing and inventory management practices on firm’s performance and to use this information to develop and enhance culture of information sharing and usage of sound inventory management techniques in the supply chain practices for the enhancement of organizational performance. ARTICLE INFO Submitted Date 11-Sep-2020 Revised Date 11-Sep-2020 Accepted Date 04-Nov-2020
Adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron cell library adopting minimalist design

We herein build an adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron (AQFP) cell library adopting minimalist design and a symmetric layout. In the proposed minimalist design, every logic cell is designed by arraying four types of building block cells: buffer, NOT, constant, and branch cells. Therefore, minimalist design enables us to effectively build and customize an AQFP cell library. The symmetric layout reduces unwanted parasitic magnetic coupling and ensures a large mutual inductance in an output transformer, which enables very long wiring between logic cells. We design and fabricate several logic circuits using the minimal AQFP cell library so as to test logic cells in the library. Moreover, we experimentally investigate the maximum wiring length between logic cells. Finally, we present an experimental demonstration of an 8-bit carry look-ahead adder designed using the minimal AQFP cell library and demonstrate that the proposed cell library is sufficiently robust to realize large-scale digital circuits.
Korunmuş Yağların Hayvan Beslemede Kullanımı

Rumende korunmus yaglar sut ineklerinin rasyonlarina rumen fonksiyonunu etkilemeksizin rasyonun enerji yogunlugunu artirmak amaciyla katilmaktadir. Sicaklik stresi esnasinda ineklerde metabolik degisiklikler olusmakta, kuru madde tuketimi azalmakta ve performansta dusmeler meydana gelmektedir. Bu degisikliklerin olumsuz etkilerini minimize etmek ve yuksek laktasyon performansini saglamak icin korunmus yag katkisinin sut endustrisinde onemi giderek artis gostermektedir. Cesitli calismalarda, korunmus yaglarin cesitli verim olcutlerini iyilestirdigine dair bilgiler de bulunmaktadir. Laktasyondaki ruminantlarin rasyonlarinda yem katkisi olarak korunmus yag kullaniminin sut verimini, sut yag icerigini iyilestirdigi, sut yaginin yag asit komposizyonunu duzenledigi, sut protein duzeyini de dusurdugu tespit edilmistir. Genel olarak sut ineklerinin rasyonuna yag katkisi kuru maddenin % 3’u duzeyinde sinirlandirildiginda kuru madde ve seluloz sindirilebilirligi azalmaktadir. Korunmus yag katildiginda ise rasyonun yag icerigi kuru madde tuketiminin % 6-7’sini gecmektedir. Ruminantlar, yag asitlerinin kalsiyum tuzlariyla beslendiklerinde plazma kolesterol ve progesteron duzeylerinde artis olusmakta bu da ovulasyon orani ile embriyo kalitesi uzerine olumlu etki yapmaktadir. Bu makalede, hayvan beslemede kullanilan korunmus yaglar ile hayvanlar uzerinde yapilan besleme calismalari ele alinmistir.
Effects and opportunities of mobile advergames into brand management and marketing: a content analysis

In advergames, game design can be used as a way to understand aspects of user interaction and brand management. With the integration with mobile technologies, it’s necessary to investigate the impact of this platform in the design of mobile advergames. The objective of our work is to develop an overview of the application of elements of mobile advergames into brand management and marketing strategies. In the first section we identify the main elements of mobile advergames. Then we illustrate the scenario of previous research in advergames, including elements to be analyzed and classified. To conclude we investigate the relationship between mobile advergames affordances and brand management, outlining the impact of each element into marketing strategies involving advergames.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS COMPARISON BETWEEN PT HOLCIM INDONESIA TBK AND PT INDOCEMENT TUNGGAL PRAKASA TBK

This research are aimed to understand the sustainability reports of PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk and PT Indocement Tunggal Prakasa Tbk, and to determine whether they are in accordance with GRI G3.1. The researcher also compared the sustainability report of those companies to know which one is more in accordance with GRI G3.1. This research applied Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to interprete the content of sustainability reports of the companies. This analysis focused on the six indicators, namely Economic indicator (EC), Environmental indicator (EN), Labor Practices and Decent Work indicator (LA), Human Rights indicator (HR), Society indicator (SO), and Product Responsibility indicator (PR). The data collection techniques used in this research are the documentation and literature study. By comparing sustainability reports issued by the companies toward the guidelines issued by GRI, it is found that PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk has fully fulfilled 24% core indicators and 28% additional indicators, and the company has also partially fulfilled 76% core indicators and 72% additional indicators. Meanwhile, PT Indocement Tunggal Prakasa Tbk has fully fulfilled 38% core indicators and 43% additional indicators, and the company has also partially fulfilled 62% core indicators and 57% additional indicators. From the results compared to the application level requirement, it shows that PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk achieves grade C while PT Indocement Tunggal Prakasa Tbk achieves grade B. This research confirms that the sustainability report of PT Indocement Tunggal Prakasa Tbk is more in accordance with GRI G3.1 guidelines than PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Key words: Sustainability report, GRI, PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk, PT Indocement Tunggal Prakasa Tbk
Potential Impacts of Vehicle Automation on Design, Infrastructure and Investment Decisions - A State DOT Perspective

Connected and autonomous vehicle technologies have the potential to significantly change surface transportation as we know it today. State Departments of Transportation (DOT) need to understand how these new technologies will change their approach to designing, managing and operating existing and planned transportation infrastructure. This paper explores the impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles on design, existing infrastructure and investment decisions, as they relate to State DOTs. The project was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) with an assumption that all vehicles will be connected and autonomous by the year 2040. Design and investment decisions related to ITS message signs, radio advisories, lane capacity, clear zones, width of lanes and medians, and traffic signals are disaggregated into groups of connected, autonomous and connected automated environments and series of recommendations are provided to PennDOT and State DOTs alike to prepare for and manage the new technologies. Furthermore, a timeline is suggested for the recommended actions to help plan accordingly. The paper discusses a number of key uncertainty factors related to demand requiring state DOTs to make decisions that are robust under a range of conditions. The paper concludes that most decisions impacting State DOTs in the near term will be related to connectivity and vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technologies such as those related to traffic signals. As technologies progress State DOTs will need to follow the market driven forces while being cautious on new investment decisions that could potentially interfere with V2I deployment and technologies.
Effect of auditory intersection collision avoidance warnings on driving behaviors in different distracted driving conditions

In-vehicle information systems (IVIS) have become popular; IVIS could be used to provide drivers with a variety of information (e.g., en-route guidance information and collision warning information) via different in-vehicle devices. In Taiwan, some aggressive driving behaviors are observed such as tailgating (close following) and violating traffic signals. Intersection collision warning system (ICWS) provided by IVIS could be used for avoiding the accidents due to violating traffic signals. This study employed a driving simulator to investigate the influence of auditory collision warning messages on drivers’ perception-reaction times and workload when the drivers were visually or audibly distracted by secondary tasks via different IVIS devices. The secondary task was to solve simple mathematical problems displayed to the driver three different formats: voice, numbers shown on a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and number shown on a heads-up display (HUD). The most important finding of the study was that the auditory collision warning message was capable of decreasing drivers’ perception-reaction times when the drivers were visually distracted by the mathematical problems shown on the LCD panel or the HUD. However, when the drivers were distracted by an auditory task (i.e., hearing mathematical problems), the auditory collision warning message increased drivers’ perception-reaction times.
Sheepskin Effect in Guatemala. Years 2002 and 2018.

The returns to education show a downward trend worldwide, according to a study by the World Bank (2014). The situation in some Latin American countries is such that, in Peru, Yamada (2007) published a study that includes in the title the question Is it worth the effort? To refer to the cost, both in time and opportunity, which it involves studying for a degree. Villaroel and Hernani (2011), in Bolivia, were more forceful in this regard, when asking, Does education still pay? Added to the above is the decision of global companies, such as Apple, Google, Netflix or Siemens, not to require a university degree as a requirement to hire (Forbes, 2019).
Evaluation of an Electronic Pressure Sensor for Tibio-Femoral Contact Pressure Measurement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate K-Scan electronic pressure sensor model K-4000 (K-Scan; Tekscan, Inc., Boston, MA, USA) for use in the human knee joint to assess the effect that anatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction has on tibio-femoral contact pressure. The sensor was used to measure static pressure when 1000N of axial loading was applied to the knee joint using a materials testing machine. This study also considered the calibration of the sensor. Three methods of calibration were investigated: pressurized bladder, materials testing machine, and polyurethane rollers. Calibration data from the materials testing machine was used in this study because it was the only method able to calibrate the sensor for the widest pressure range. Twelve fresh, frozen cadaveric human knees were used for this study. Double-bundle ACL reconstruction was performed arthroscopically using hamstring grafts. Three different graft fixation tensions were used: i) AM/PL: 30N/10N, ii) AM/PL: 10N/30N, iii) AM/PL: 40N/40N. Each knee was tested with 1000N of axial loading 0, 15, 30, and 45 degrees of flexion at the intact state and each of the reconstructions, and pressure readings were taken with the sensor for each test. The results of this study found that double-bundle ACL reconstruction did not significantly change the peak contact pressure, location of peak pressure, and location of center of pressure of the intact knee during 1000N of axial loading. This study also found that there was no significant change in peak contact pressure, location of peak pressure, and location of center of pressure during ACL graft fixation (without loading).
Performance of nonlinear grading coating on polymeric outdoor insulators under lightning impulse voltages

This paper investigates the performance of an 11kV polymeric outdoor insulator equipped with a nonlinear grading material when subjected to a lightning impulse voltage. The grading layer is introduced as a field dependent material at the interface between the core and the silicone housing. The equipotential contours and electric field distribution over the insulator surface were computed and analysed using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Comparative studies show that the nonlinear grading layer, with an appropriate electrical property, can be an effective approach to reduce the electrical stress along the insulator by redistributing the surface field into a more uniform distribution.
Compatibility Matrixing of Multichannel Bit-Rate-Reduced Audio Signals

Matrixing enables multichannel audio to be made two-channel compatible. If bit-rate reduction based on psychoacoustic models is applied to the two-channel downmix, unmasking of the quantization noise may result after demixing. The general principle to solve this problem is presented: the application of so-called prequantization and masked threshold adaptation. It is shown how minimum bit rates are obtained by dynamic switching between the possible matrix equations. The necessary refinements to enable such dynamic switching are discussed. Further attention is needed in the two situations where the center signal dominates and where the compatible masked threshold drops below the multichannel one. Methods to handle these situations are given. Compatibility matrixing is part of the ISO/ IEC International Standard 13818-3, also known as MPEG-2.