Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling the effects of knots in Structural Timber

The main purpose of the pursued research is to increase knowledge of the effects of knots in structural timber so that characteristics of weaker timber may be determined and applied to improve current grading techniques. In the process, a three-dimensional fiber paradigm was established, which describes variations of local principle material axes in timber containing knots. The adaptability of the paradigm allows practically any softwood knot and its effect on surrounding wood material to be modeled with an accuracy that is limited only by input data. In the description of the fiber paradigm, considerations are given to Shigo’s knot formation theory, which predicts two separate patterns of fiber direction within annual growth layers related to live knots. In order to determine the possibility to practically and non-destructively predict local material directions in structural timber with the three-dimensional fiber paradigm, variations of knot and knot bump geometry and related fiber disturbance of eleven knots from two trees of Nordic Spruce (Picea Abies) grown in Southern Sweden were analyzed. Results showed that the paradigm could be calibrated to describe measured projected fiber orientations in the radial and tangential planes from two visual knot parameters with a coefficient of correlation R2=0.88. Spiral grain was considered in the investigation, and was shown to correspond well to results from previous research on Nordic Spruce. When modeling the mechanical behavior of timber containing knots, variation of material properties within the stem wood, and the effect of altering fiber patterns within a single annual growth layer were modeled with the principles of homogenization and assumed constant material properties of the earlywood, transientwood, and latewood. Flatwise bending stiffness along a timber beam was predicted numerically with the model and compared to measured values. The results indicated that the proposed model of the effect of knots on sawn timber, and the assumed properties of earlywood, transientwood, and latewood in relation to variations of annual ring thickness throughout the beam account for the measured variations of stiffness. The results also suggest that variation of annual ring thickness may cause larger variations in stiffness than the distribution and properties of knots along the beam. The derived and verified model of knot effects on sawn timber was applied to predict the severity of stress states for various knot positions in tensile loaded timber members. From these results a definition of a critical knot was derived. The applicability of the critical knot definition was analyzed in relation to actual tensile load carrying capacities experimentally determined for structural timber. Based on these results it is concluded that the derived critical knot definition offers an efficient method to sort out particularly weak members (tensile capacity less than 20 MPa). (Less)
Insertion Loss Measurement of EMI Filters with Arbitrary Input and Output Impedances

The performance of the EMI filter is characterized by the insertion loss (IL). Classical, measurement of the IL is performed with 50Ω/50Ω even if the final application has not these impedances values. In this work, an experimental approach is used to determine the IL for arbitrary (input/output) impedances. The proposed method is based on a black-box model obtained from S-parameter measurements with 50Ω/50Ω, and then extended to determine the IL of the EMI filter with arbitrary impedances. I. INTRODUCTION The EMI filters are widely used to mitigate the common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) conducted emissions generated by static converters. The insertion loss represents the effectiveness of the filter that depends on internal components (stray elements) and the input/output impedances connected to the filter. The kind of these impedances will impact the performance of the
High Resolution Techniques for Direction of Arrival Estimation of Ultrasonic Waves

In this paper, the Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation is implemented using a set of Ultrasonic transducers. Different experiments for different number of sources (one and two sources) have been achieved. The techniques used in this paper are high-resolution techniques such as Pisarenko Harmonic Decomposition (PHD), MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC), and EigenVector (EV) methods. These techniques are compared with the classical method, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The practical results show the better performance of high resolution techniques when compared with the classical method.
MAC architecture for broadband satellite access systems

In recent Years, the telecommunications industry has expanded tremendously. A tendency of integrating various business revenues with the conventional communication systems is becoming more and more popular to achieve global information services. The integration is triggered by increasing demands of costumers to access various types of broadband multimedia services. The access system can be implemented on many platforms; from line feed as cable, fiber, or copper networks to wireless as radio or satellite networks. Broadband satellite access is a leading candidate to contribute to such development due to satellites' distinctive features of global coverage over single hops and distance insensitivity. However, as satellite networks possess rather longer delays and bounded resources, a MAC layer that can efficiently share resources over a minimum possible bandwidth is mandatory to the success of satellite access. Existing MAC protocols are not able to achieve optimum performance. Hence, design of a new MAC becomes inevitable. The new MAC should introduce a novel structure with certain behavioral sequences and an efficient access technique. In this thesis, we propose a MAC architecture that aims to address such requirement. We utilize a novel access technique based on an enhanced CFDAMA protocol. We also introduce a new concept of two level differential scheduling. We present formal models based on SDL to verify the validly of the devised system. Finally, we build an OPNET simulation model to demonstrate quantitative system operation and serve as a nucleus model for possible future research involving performance optimization in satellite networks over the devised architecture.
A two-factor evaluation of bus delays based on GIS-T database and simulation

During the urbanization process, vehicles quantity increase with expansion in population. Under this situation, bus transportation system also suffers from bus delay. Bus delay could be caused by a series of factors, for instance, overload passengers, traffic jam, traffic accident and other unpredictable situations. Therefore, choosing crucial elements to efficiently evaluate bus delay is a complex problem in bus delay researches and operation management. The thesis propose an approach to evaluate and explain bus delay by two elements: traffic congestion and passengers’ waiting time. Those two elements would represent the action of external and internal factors on bus operation. This approach could be adaptive to explain the reasons for bus delays, thus to help the optimization of bus lines and give useful information for decision making of transportation company. To achieve the research aim, a GIS-T database was created by combining the GIS database and TIS database. Spatial data as well as attribute data are combined in the database to represent the crucial information for bus delay. Based on GIS-T the database, the impact of traffic congestion and passengers’ waiting time was calculated using the bus line simulation. By implementing the above steps, the main cause of bus delay was studied. A case study application of this method is narrated; focusing on optimize the bus system of Guiyang city, South China. Different methods are used to find out the problem of system and the reason for delay. Moreover, optimization suggestion is proposed according to result. Compared with other methods, the two-factor method has the advantage of locating the reason of delay for each station. The time performance is not superior to other methods. By comparing the situation of adjacent station, the proportion of traffic congestion and overload passenger in bus delay was determined. The two-factor method is applicable for other transit system in different cities which has similar structure as Guiyang. However, for cities with other structure, a feasibility should be made to select an appropriate model.
Beyond Budgeting: How Managers Can Break Free from the Annual Performance Trap

Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction: Toward a New General Management Model Part I The Promise of Beyond Budgeting 1. The Annual Performance Trap 2. Breaking Free Part II The First Beyond Budgeting Opportunity: Enabling Adaptive Management Processes 3. How Four Organizations Introduced Adaptive Processes 4. Principles and Practices 5. Insights into Implementation Part III The Second Beyond Budgeting Opportunity: Enabling Radical Decentralization 6. How Four Organizations Have Radically Decentralized 7. Leadership Principles 8. Embedding the Principles in the Management Culture Part IV Realizing the Full Promise of Beyond Budgeting 9. The Roles of Systems and Tools 10. The Vision of a Management Model Fit for the Twenty-First Century Glossary Notes Index
Control of a robot based on intelligent systems

In this work a novel neuro-fuzzy controller was designed and implemented using an artificial six-legged arthropod (hexapod). The core of the controller is based on both artificial neural networks based on trigonometric series and fuzzy clusters. A new scheme was optimised and the performance of the hexapod was adequate. The implementation was done by a Motorola microcontroller. Programming the controller law into a Motorola microcontroller gave flexibility to the platform proposed. Simulation and experimental results are included to validate the theory presented in this paper.
Artifical Immune Networks for Robot Control

We investigate how a robot can be provided with an architecture that would enable it to developmentally 'grow-up' and accomplish complex tasks by building on basic built-in capabilities. The paper introduces into the basic principles of AIS and presents experimental results from a real robot. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation of an AIS architecture for controlling a real mobile robot
Adaptive software rejuvenation

In this dissertation, we present a framework for adaptive software rejuvenation (ASR). Software rejuvenation is a proactive fault management technique. Its objective is to counter the phenomenon of software aging, the gradual accumulation of potential fault conditions and their impacts during system operation. Software rejuvenation has gained quick recognition since it emerged in 1995, and has broader applications as software systems have become ubiquitous in today's economic, social, medical, and other infrastructures. This dissertation addresses itself to the new, pressing, and challenging issue of adapting software rejuvenation to the dynamic changes of a system. A typical software system undergoes many changes over its lifetime, most notable in system components, resources, services, and client requirements, among others. System changes are the rule instead of the exception. The purpose of adaptive software rejuvenation (ASR) is to maintain system availability, reliability or other measures while a system undergoes the aging process and dynamic changes. Adaptive software rejuvenation poses some challenges, particularly with respect to theoretical understanding and practical implementation. The ASR framework presents a basic, integrated solution. It includes system modeling, online inspection, adaptive degradation estimation, and adaptive rejuvenation scheduling. We introduce new concepts and methodologies pertaining to all these aspects of the framework. In modeling, we have unified the modeling techniques to enable the traditional analysis of systems in ideal conditions, the incorporation of online measured data that pertains to the aging process, and the adaptive analysis of systems in degradation. In the degradation estimation, we provide a methodology to isolate the effects of the aging process, particularly resource leaks, from the other failure factors. This is essential to avoid adverse software rejuvenation. We provide a methodology to incorporate measured data with a degradation model to provide an adaptive degradation estimate. In rejuvenation scheduling, we have built a degradation-and-rejuvenation hierarchy with a rejuvenation model on top of a degradation model. We have introduced a method for providing adaptive software strategies to maintain a system under expected conditions or reach its highest potential in certain aspect. The ASR methodologies designed to realize the ASR objective are not limited to those introduced and illustrated in this dissertation. They may be more application-specific in practice or more advanced in general.
Conversational Capital: How to Create Stuff People Love to Talk About

About the Authors x How This Book Came Together xi This Is an Open Source Book xiii Foreword by Hermann Deininger xv Introduction xvii PART 1: Defining Conversational Capital 1 What Is Conversational Capital? 3 2 The Eight Engines of Conversational Capital 9 3 How Conversational Capital Works 15 4 Why Conversational Capital Works 35 5 Conversational Capital Is Not Buzz 45 6 Conversational Capital and Advocacy 53 7 Conversational Capital Is for Everyone 55 PART 2: The Engines of Conversational Capital 8 Rituals 63 9 Initiation 69 10 Exclusive Product Offering (EPO) 77 11 Over-Delivery 85 12 Myths 91 13 Relevant Sensory Oddity (RSO) 99 14 Icons 107 15 Tribalism 115 16 Endorsement 123 17 Continuity 127 PART 3: Implementing Conversational Capital 18 Getting Started 135 19 Designing a Solution 143 20 Implementation 153 21 And Two More Questions 161 Glossary of Terms 165 Index 171
Bir Bölge Psikiyatri Hastanesi Çocuk ve Ergen Kliniğinde İstenen Konsültasyonların Değerlendirilmesi

Objective: This study was conducted in a regional psychiatric hospital to analyze the consultations that were requested for the children who were treated there in 2016 and 2017. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study was carried out based on the examination of patients’ medical records for 82 children and adolescents (44 females and 38 males) that were treated in the inpatient units of the child and adolescent clinic of a regional psychiatric hospital in 2016 and 2017. The study evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics of the consultation requests for the children and adolescents using a 22-question form that included openand closed-ended questions. The study data were analyzed using numbers, percentage distributions, means, and standard deviations. Findings: For the subjects (mean age, 15.13 ± 1.73 years) the mean value of the requested consultations was 1.15 ± 0.42. Of these consultations, 54.9% were requested from the primary care physician, whereas 29.3% were requested from the neurology department, and 8.6% from a dietitian. In the study subjects, the most reported reasons for consultation requests were organic mental disorders (11%), soft tissue injuries (24.4%), obesity (8.6%), abdominal pain (6.1%), diarrhea (6.1%), epilepsy (6.1%), upper respiratory tract infection (6.1%), and routine preliminary evaluation for electroconvulsive therapy (7.3%). Results: The study determined that consultations were requested most frequently from primary care physicians, and mainly to distinguish any other accompanying organic disorders, treat soft tissue injuries that had occurred due to physical trauma experienced before coming to the hospital, and focus on obesity. Based on this result, it is very important and beneficial for the identification of any accompanying medical problems, adverse effects of medications, or neglect and abuse history that mental health professionals conduct an efficient physical examination upon admission of a child or adolescent in addition to a comprehensive mental evaluation. These procedures will enable mental health professionals to provide a holistic and quality health care service.
Feasibility of enhanced user control and feedback in upper leg prostheses

The Reflex-leg project aims at designing a prosthesis that could be controlled reflexively and energy efficiently without invasive procedures. Introducing the user into the control and feedback loop may make the prosthesis more user-friendly and could increase confidence in the prosthesis. In this thesis, research concerning reflexive control of upper leg prostheses is presented. In three parts different studies on reflexive control combined with energy efficient variable stiffness actuation (VSA), voluntary prosthetic control and feedback in upper leg prostheses are presented.
Offshore renewable energy powered CO2 injection: a small carbon footprint solution

The work contained herein is the culmination of two months of research and development (R and D). It represents an amalgamation of thoughts and multi-disciplinary expertise from individuals of varied technical backgrounds. It is the fourth of a four volume series, each volume being the work of a group of researchers. This fourth volume represents the work of the fourth team, which took the name of team ScarF, an acronym that stands for Small Carbon Footprint designers. The task was to develop a concept design and to propose a solution that would address some of the many challenges associated with CCS. The team comprised a naval architect, an offshore engineer, a hydrodynamicist, a mariner/seafarer and a structural engineer. It was hoped that this would bring a fresh, new and unencumbered perspective to the topic. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been a field of vigorous R and D for some 30 years now. This book contains a novel concept design proposal that provides a means to effect this carbon storage in an environmentally friendly and safe manner. A high level overview of the concept design can be described thus - the concept entails offshore geological storage of carbon dioxide and the means to effect this storage is powered by marine renewable energy. A holistic approach was adopted by the group in addressing the subject of CCS. Division of labor and sharing of workload among team members made this complex and daunting topic surmountable. This book is intended primarily for those actively involved in research into the field of CCS. The intent is to put forth a compelling case and to provide a progressive outlook that veteran researchers on this topic may not commonly think about. It is equally relevant and readable by legislators, policy makers and anyone with a vested interest in issues pertaining to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions arising from the use of fossil fuels. Indeed, CCS has a strong association with the continued use of fossil fuels. Engineers and scientists in this field have a duty to eloquently and charismatically convince decision makers and the public about the pressing need for CCS.
Social disadvantage, economic inequality, and life expectancy in nine Indian states

Significance India is one of the most hierarchical societies in the world. Because vital statistics are incomplete, mortality disparities are not quantified. Using survey data on more than 20 million individuals from nine Indian states representing about half of India’s population, we estimate and decompose life expectancy differences between higher-caste Hindus, comprising other backward classes and high castes, and three marginalized social groups: Adivasis (indigenous peoples), Dalits (oppressed castes), and Muslims. The three marginalized groups experience large disadvantages in life expectancy at birth relative to higher-caste Hindus. Economic status explains less than half of these gaps. These large disparities underscore parallels between diverse systems of discrimination akin to racism. They highlight the global significance of addressing social inequality in India.
Cockpit Interruptions and Distractions: An Analysis of ASRS Reports and an Experimental Program

A recent detailed analysis of 107 ASRS incident reports focusing on interruptions and distractions as their primary feature revealed several interesting and surprising findings. Of those tasks that were interfered with, over 40% fell within the category of monitoring; for example, monitoring the autopilot flying the aircraft, monitoring the pilot flying, or monitoring the altimeter or navigation instruments for future action. Surprisingly, over 60% of the tasks that were considered distractions fell under the broad category of communication or conversation. Using these findings, we have developed an experimental paradigm that will help us understand the method by which pilots perform certain monitoring tasks. Specifically, we hope to determine the degree to which pilots rely on internal time mechanisms versus external cues as a means of successfully completing a monitoring task. In addition, we will incorporate a battery of competing aviation type tasks, including communication, to see how these tasks affect the process of monitoring. The long range goal of this research is to find operational solutions that facilitate effective monitoring in the presence of both sudden interruptions and distractions that lead to unintended multiple tasks situations.
High Density Data Storage: Principle, Technology, and Materials

The explosive increase in information and the miniaturization of electronic devices demand new recording technologies and materials that combine high density, fast response, long retention time and rewriting capability. As predicted, the current silicon-based computer circuits are reaching their physical limits. Further miniaturization of the electronic components and increase in data storage density are vital for the next generation of IT equipment such as ultra high-speed mobile computing, communication devices and sophisticated sensors. This original book presents a comprehensive introduction to the significant research achievements on high-density data storage from the aspects of recording mechanisms, materials and fabrication technologies, which are promising for overcoming the physical limits of current data storage systems. The book serves as an useful guide for the development of optimized materials, technologies and device structures for future information storage, and will lead readers to the fascinating world of information technology in the future.
Investigation of IEEE standard 802.16 Medium Access

This paper is a study of IEEE Standard 802.16 Medium Access Control (MAC) Layer in Distributed Mesh Networks. IEEE Standard 802.16 is a Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) technology that can connect different IEEE 802.11 (Wifi) host post with each other and to other parts of internet. It can provide network for a wireless router and at the same time this router can be installed in the office, house or university.WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a certification mark for products that pass conformity and interoperability tests for the IEEE 802.16 standards. Products that pass the conformity tests for WiMAX are capable of forming wireless connections between them to permit the carrying of internet packet data. The idea of WiMAX is similar than Wi-Fi but it is not the same. It is a step much higher than Wi-Fi because it is focused to offer internet for a whole city.It has much higher capacity and longer distances. IEEE 802.16 defines a MAC Layer that supports multiple physical layer (PHY) Specifications and different topologies; Point to Multipoint (PMP) and Mesh Networks. In this first topology there exist a Base Station (BS) that have direct links with all the Subscriber Stations (SS). If any Subscriber Station requires transmitting to another SS, the message must convey the Base Station.