Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Cleansing Design of Rectangular Open Storm Sewer

The aim of the present study is to develop incipient motion equation and design chart based on critical velocity approach for the self-cleansing design of rectangular open storm sewer. Data from experimental work on incipient motion from rectangular flumes with two different widths, namely 0.3 m and 0.6 m were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis. Selected regression models for critical velocity were further subjected to performance test by using the data from three different authors in the literature. The best regression model was proposed as the critical velocity equation and was used to develop a self-cleansing design chart. The design chart could be used to determine the minimum slope required for the purpose of self-cleansing design for the respective standard open storm sewer size available from the manufacturer of open concrete rectangular sewer.
Assessment of the impact of different N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide thresholds on echocardiography services

N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) is considered a rule‐out test for patients with suspected heart failure. The NT‐proBNP thresholds recommended for echocardiography by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are based on small studies of patients with heart failure and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The purpose of our study was to examine the relation between NT‐proBNP and LVSD in a larger number of patients with symptoms suggestive of heart failure in a non‐acute setting.
Optimizing a left and right visual field biphasic stimulation paradigm for SSVEP-based BCIs with hairless region behind the ear

Objective. Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) based brain–computer interface (BCI) has the characteristics of fast communication speed, high stability, and wide applicability, thus it has been widely studied. With the rapid development in paradigm, algorithm, and system design, SSVEP-BCI is gradually applied in clinical and real-life scenarios. In order to improve the ease of use of the SSVEP-BCI system, many studies have been focusing on developing it on the hairless area, but due to the lack of redesigning the stimulation paradigm to better adapt to the new area, the electroencephalography response in the hairless area is worse than occipital region. Approach. This study first proposed a phase difference estimation method based on stimulating the left and right visual field separately, then developed and optimized a left and right visual field biphasic stimulation paradigm for SSVEP-based BCIs with hairless region behind the ear. Main results. In the 12-target online experiment, after a short model estimation training, all 16 subjects used their best stimulus condition. The paradigm designed in this study can increase the proportion of applicable subjects for the behind-ear SSVEP-BCI system from 58.3% to 75% and increase the accuracy from 74.6 ± 20.0% (the existing best SSVEP stimulus with hairless region behind the ear) to 84.2 ± 14.7%, and the information transfer rate from 14.2 ± 6.4 bits min−1 to 17.8 ± 5.7 bits min−1. Significance. These results demonstrated that the proposed paradigm can effectively improve the BCI performance using the signal from the hairless region behind the ear, compared with the standard SSVEP stimulation paradigm.
Review and implications of IARC monograph 103 outcomes for the asphalt pavement industry

On 18 October 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) revealed its conclusions of an eight-day comprehensive review of bitumen (asphalt) and bitumen emissions (fumes). The working group concluded that occupational exposures to oxidized bitumens and their emissions during roofing are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2A); occupational exposures to hard bitumens and their emissions during mastic asphalt work are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2B); and occupational exposures to straight-run bitumens and their emissions during road paving are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2B) These evaluations and supporting data have been published as Volume 103 of the IARC Monographs. The IARC process is described, as well as details of the conclusions, hazard versus risk, prominent human, animal and mechanistic studies, routes of exposures and ways to reduce exposures. Implications for the asphalt pavement industry include communication to workers and product users, and potential changes in safety data sheets. Implications with regulatory agencies as a result of this hazard communication are discussed. Results encourage continued occupational exposure reduction strategies within the industry to minimise risk of this potential hazard to workers.
Hausärzteschaft und die Standortwahl – Ergebnisse einer Befragung

Zusammenfassung Die flächendeckende Versorgung mit Hausärzt*innen stellt in vielen Bundesländern ein zunehmendes Problem dar. Zielsetzung Ziel des Beitrags ist es, sozioökonomische und sozialpsychologische Einflussfaktoren auf die Standortwahl zu untersuchen, die relevant für die Standortentscheidung sein können. Methodik Grundlage der Analyse ist eine Befragung von Medizinstudierenden und Hausärzt*innen. Ergebnisse Unsere Auswertung legt nahe, dass sozioökonomische Faktoren wie Einwohnerzahl des Heimatorts und Familie bei der Standortwahl entscheidend sind. Nur 8,2 % der befragten Medizinstudierenden planen eine Niederlassung in einem Dorf. Schlussfolgerung Unsere Ergebnisse bestätigen die Diskussion um abnehmende medizinische Versorgung im ländlichen Raum und legen nahe, dass ein Fokus auf sozioökonomische Faktoren bei der Anreizsetzung für Landärzt*innen hilfreich sein könnte.
Conceptualizing Labor Regimes in Global Production Networks: Uneven Outcomes across the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Apparel Industries

abstract This article seeks to develop the concept of labor regimes as a tool for understanding the uneven labor outcomes of global production networks (GPNs). Existing work on labor regimes tends to give primacy to the control of labor, thereby analyzing labor regimes largely from a governance perspective. The agency of labor, however, is deeply embedded in the workings of labor regimes in GPNs, and remains somewhat undertheorized therein. In this article, we seek to build on recent work that has revivified the concept of labor regimes in the context of global production to develop an approach that brings the governance and agency of labor under one analytical domain. For this purpose, we develop a multiscalar conceptual framework with relations amongst and between labor, capital, the state, and international civil society organizations delimited as the key dynamics shaping labor regimes. By employing comparative case study methods and qualitative inquiry, the article deploys this framework to examine and compare the labor regimes of the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan apparel industries, which exhibit seemingly very different labor outcomes in the context of enrollment in similar GPNs. Based on the findings, the article explains how and why labor regimes are shaped as a result of the variable intersections of governance and agency, which in turn are deeply embedded in, and constitutive of, both global production dynamics and territorially specific characteristics.
Seismic Performance Evaluation of High Voltage Transformer Bushings

The main objective of this paper is to identify the dynamic characteristics of a realistic model of a commercial transformer (230 kV) and identify the critical components that influence the dynamic response of three high voltage porcelain bushings installed on its flexible roof. For this purpose, a finite element model of the transformer is appropriately modified and enhanced. The improved model is subjected to a wide band random motion excitation and the responses at various locations are processed in the frequency domain. The dynamic response of the high voltage porcelain bushings (196/230kV) and the amplification that occurs between the base and the top of the transformer’s oil tank, is assessed through detailed sensitivity analysis for a variety of potential structural modifications of the model. Each structurally modified model is investigated using a random ground motion, compatible to IEEE-693 spectrum. The accelerations are monitored at the bushings, at the corners of the cover plate and at the top of the turrets for each model and comparisons are made for the effect of each modification to be assessed. The ground motion amplifications at the cover are obtained from the spectra at the corners of the cover and at the top of the turrets. The sensitivity shows that the cover plate has the predominant influence on the response of the bushings.
Incoherent multibeam Doppler current profiler performance: Part I--Estimate variance

We derive statistical lower bounds on the velocity and shear profile estimation accuracies (variances) achievable with both four-beam and three-beam Doppler current profilers. We find that performance (estimate variance) is asymptotic to a constant as SNR increases; this is evidently due to the assumed incoherent scattering properties of the medium. Curves and expressions are developed which define the tradeoffs between accuracy and resolution for two systems manufactured by AMETEK-Straza. The spatial response properties of the systems are addressed in a companion paper [3].
Accounting for Sentence Position and Legal Domain Sentence Embedding in Learning to Classify Case Sentences

In this paper, we treat sentence annotation as a classification task. We employ sequence-to-sequence models to take sentence position information into account in identifying case law sentences as issues, conclusions, or reasons. We also compare the legal domain specific sentence embedding with other general purpose sentence embeddings to gauge the effect of legal domain knowledge, captured during pre-training, on text classification. We deployed the models on both summaries and full-text decisions. We found that the sentence position information is especially useful for full-text sentence classification. We also verified that legal domain specific sentence embeddings perform better, and that meta-sentence embedding can further enhance performance when sentence position information is included.
Implementation of PRINCE with resource-efficient structures based on FPGAs

In this era of pervasive computing, low-resource devices have been deployed in various fields. PRINCE is a lightweight block cipher designed for low latency, and is suitable for pervasive computing applications. In this paper, we propose new circuit structures for PRINCE components by sharing and simplifying logic circuits, to achieve the goal of using a smaller number of logic gates to obtain the same result. Based on the new circuit structures of components and the best sharing among components, we propose three new hardware architectures for PRINCE. The architectures are simulated and synthesized on different programmable gate array devices. The results on Virtex-6 show that compared with existing architectures, the resource consumption of the unrolled, low-cost, and two-cycle architectures is reduced by 73, 119, and 380 slices, respectively. The low-cost architecture costs only 137 slices. The unrolled architecture costs 409 slices and has a throughput of 5.34 Gb/s. To our knowledge, for the hardware implementation of PRINCE, the new low-cost architecture sets new area records, and the new unrolled architecture sets new throughput records. Therefore, the newly proposed architectures are more resource-efficient and suitable for lightweight, latency-critical applications.
Silicon carbide high-power devices

In recent years, silicon carbide has received increased attention because of its potential for high-power devices. The unique material properties of SiC, high electric breakdown field, high saturated electron drift velocity, and high thermal conductivity are what give this material its tremendous potential in the power device arena. 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diodes (1400 V) with forward current densities over 700 A/cm/sup 2/ at 2 V have been demonstrated. Packaged SITs have produced 57 W of output power at 500 MHz, SiC UMOSFETs (1200 V) are projected to have 15 times the current density of Si IGBTs (1200 V). Submicron gate length 4H-SiC MESFETs have achieved f/sub max/=32 GHz, f/sub T/=14.0 GHz, and power density=2.8 W/mm @ 1.8 GHz. The performances of a wide variety of SiC devices are compared to that of similar Si and GaAs devices and to theoretically expected results.
The Synthesis of Stable Force-Closure Grasps

Abstract : The thesis addresses the problem of synthesizing grasps that are force-closure and stable. The synthesis of force closure grasps constructs independent regions of contact for the fingertips, such that the motion of the grasped object is totally constrained. The synthesis of stable grasps constructs virtual springs at the contacts, such that the grasped object is stable, and has a desired stiffness matrix about its stable equilibrium. A grasp of an object is force-closure if and only if we can exert, through the set of contacts, arbitrary forces and moments on the object. So force-closure implies equilibrium exists because of zero force and moment is spanned. In the reverse direction, a non-marginal equilibrium grasp is also a force-closure grasp, if it has at least two point contacts with friction in 2D, or two soft-finger contacts of three hard-finger contacts in 3D. All force-closure grasps can be made stable, by using either active or passive springs at the contacts. A simple relation is developed between the stability and stiffness of the grasp and the spatial configuration of the virtual springs at the contacts. The stiffness of the grasp depends also on whether the points of contact stick, or slide without friction or straight or curved surfaces of the object.
Life verification of large capacity Yardney Li‐ion cells and batteries in support of NASA missions

Lithium‐ion batteries have been used on a number of NASA missions and have been base‐lined for use on a number of up‐coming aerospace applications. The Li‐ion cells and batteries that have been developed together with Yardney Technical Products are especially attractive due to their high specific energy and energy density, good performance over a wide operating temperature range, as well as their good calendar and cycle life performance. However, given that the Li‐ion technology is relatively new to the aerospace community and that mature, large capacity prototype cells have continued to evolve over the last 10 years, real‐time performance test data is especially valuable in demonstrating the capabilities over a number of environmental and application specific conditions. For this reason, we have focused on performing a number of generic and mission specific performance life tests to establish the viability of the technology to meet current and future applications. In this work, we will describe the results of a number of generic cycle life tests, including 100% depth‐of‐discharge (DOD) cycling at various temperatures, partial DOD cycling simulating planetary orbiters and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite conditions, as well as partial DOD mission specific testing. We will also describe the results obtained from a number of calendar life tests where the cells were stored under different conditions, such as at different temperatures and different storage modes (i.e. open circuit voltage (OCV) conditions and storage under trickle charge conditions). Methods to quantify the capacity degradation and impedance growth of the batteries when subjected to different electrical and environmental conditions will be discussed, as well as, possible degradation mechanisms that can lead to reduced lifetime. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Miniaturized substrate integrated waveguide filter with complementary spiral resonator

In this letter, the miniaturized substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filter is proposed using a complementary spiral resonator (CSR). The CSR is based on the multiple turns SR (SRm), which was introduced in 2004 by some of the authors. CSR technique can be applied to the design of miniaturized filter by increasing electrical length. To demonstrate the idea, the miniaturized SIW filter is designed with CSR2 and CSR3, respectively. The measured central resonant frequencies are 3.25 and 2.23 GHz, which are lower than the SIW filter with complementary split‐ring resonator occurs at 5.17 GHz. Details of the experimental results compared with the simulated results are presented and discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:1308–1311, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25992
Nonlinear transient simulation of transformers

In this paper, a nonlinear model of a power transformer which takes into account both the saturation and the hysteresis is proposed. In order to simulate transient phenomena in transformers, a system of equations is presented. The digital simulation of the energization and de-energization of a three-phase distribution transformer is studied. Ferroresonant phenomena in iron core transformers supplied through capacitive links are presented. Finally, the influence of MOV arresters on overvoltage reduction is investigated.
Dynamic model of stationary contacts based on random variations of surface features

A statistical model was developed to characterize surface profiles and calculate the density of contact spots produced when rough surfaces are pressed together. This model incorporates contact force, microhardness, and real and apparent contact area as parameters which can be varied. The effects these variables have on the number of contact spots and asperity deformation were calculated. These results were subsequently used to evaluate the impact on electrical performance of aged contacts. This was accomplished using a previously developed degradation model due to the author (1990) that utilizes the concept of a third level of constriction to simulate aging. The results indicate that both contact force and geometry play important roles in electrical performance of aging contacts. The connection between geometry and apparent pressure was estimated using the Hertz theory and indicates that one can view pressure as an important vehicle as well. >
Study on the Cause of Oil Tank Fire and Fire Prevention Countermeasure

Oil is a kind of important chemical raw materials, countries have put oil as an important sources of energy and actively expanded its strategic oil reserve along with our country energy strategy adjustment. The number of oil storage increases constantly, the tank farm scale expands unceasingly and fire accident of oil storage tank rises constantly. So it is an important measure for preventing the oil tank fire to analyze reason of oil tank fire and adopt corresponding fire prevention countermeasures.
Shear-sensitive magnetoresistive robotic tactile sensor

We have developed a tactile sensor for robotic applications that is sensitive to pressure and, unlike most other tactile sensors, also responds to shear components of the vector force. We consider this an important advantage for robotic manipulation. In our design a magnetoresistive detector senses variation in the magnetic field of a miniature magnetic joystick. This joystick is mechanically mounted by attaching it to a metal foil, which provides elasticity without hysteresis. The detector chip is fabricated using IC technology, and an array of joystick mechanisms can potentially be made by batch processing. We have designed and partially tested a 2 × 2 array prototype, demonstrating the viability of this approach.
Effect of curvature angle and rotational speed on fracture of various Ni-Ti rotary files used in extracted molars

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rotational speed and angle of curvature in curved root canals on the fracture of different nickel-titanium rotary instruments that is Profiles, ProTaper, and K 3 files. Materials and Methods: Freshly extracted 180 human maxillary and mandibular molars were selected and divided into two groups of 90. Each group was then divided into three sub groups A, B, and C according to angle of curvature, Group I < 30° and Group II > 30°, which was measured by Schneider′s method. Instrumentation was performed using the profile, ProTaper, and K3 (Company and in Literature name of Rotary file is K3) rotary instrument at 3 rotational speeds of 150, 250, and 350 rpm (10 molars at each rotational speed). Results: There were total of 32 instrument fractured out of 120 files. In a multivariable analysis, it was demonstrated that the rotational speed of 350 rpm fractured than those used at 150 rpm (odd′s ratio [OR]: 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-10.5). An increase in the angle of curvature of the canal did not significantly increase the likelihood of fracture (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.8-4.2). No significant differences were found between various designs of files used. Conclusion: Instrument fracture was associated with rotational speed and the angle of curvature.
16 channel phased array wavelength demultiplexer on InP with low polarisation sensitivity

A waveguide grating demultiplexer on InP which resolves 16 channels in the 1535-1565 nm wavelength range is reported. The channels are spaced by 1.8 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth of 1.1 nm. Crosstalk is better than 9 dB and polarisation sensitivity is only 0.48 nm, which is the lowest value achieved with this demultiplexing approach.
VIII NORDIC-SCOTTISH CONFERENCE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Akureyri, Iceland

Title: Collaboration between university, industry and society - Halfway point experiences from the Ostra Norrbotten research station. This paper discusses the conditions for and experiences from collaboration between university and the surrounding society, with the Ostra Norrbotten Research Station as the starting point. Beginning in January 2002, this multi-year development project is conducted in collaboration between Lulea University of Technology, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umea, and industry and municipal leaders from four municipalities in eastern Norrbotten (Kalix, Haparanda, Overkalix and Overtornea). The research station’s centre of operations consists of a research school with six Ph.D. candidates active within different fields that the region itself prioritised as important. Except for the usual research education and the candidates’ own research projects, activities during the first year have focused on creating, by various means, meeting places between the different categories of actors included in the project. Based on previous research knowledge concerning Triple Helix cooperation, this paper specifically discusses the interaction between academia, represented by the universities’ Ph.D. candidates, and other Triple Helix actors. With the support of what can be closely described as an interactive and action research focused effort, this article concludes with a number of lessons that can be used by other regions with similar ambitions to develop locally or regionally coupled knowledge production.
Power laws from the bird species abundance distribution

A recent study found that bird species with fewer individuals are abundant, but large species are rare. We show that this new data strongly suggests a power-law distribution rather than the most accepted log-normal. Moreover, we discuss extinction risk across the bird phylogeny and future conservation efforts by profiting from the hierarchical structure revealed by the new data.