Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple strain state measurements using conventional and absolute optical fiber-based extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric strain sensors

A modified design of the extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) optical fiber sensor to allow complete characterization of multicomponent strain fields is proposed. The novel EFPI includes a sensor head with two input fibers such that the respective interference pattern from the end face of the output multimode fiber are in quadrature. Any strain field possessing a component along the line joining the axes of the two fibers causes the initial phase difference to be modulated. The measured change in phase difference is employed to determine this transverse component of the strain field. Absolute, rather than differential measurements of strain are possible using the absolute EFPI sensing system. Applications of the modified sensor-head to smart materials and structures are discussed.
Price Prediction of Seasonal Items Using Machine Learning and Statistical Methods

: Price prediction of goods is a vital point of research due to how common e-commerce platforms are. There are several efforts conducted to forecast the price of items using classic machine learning algorithmsand statistical models. These models can predict prices of various financial instruments, e.g., gold, oil, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and second-hand items. Despite these efforts, the literature has no model for predicting the prices of seasonal goods (e.g., Christmas gifts). In this context, we framed the task of seasonal goods price prediction as a regression problem. First, we utilized a real online trailer dataset of Christmas gifts and then we proposed several machine learning-based models and one statistical-based model to predict the prices of these seasonal products. Second, we utilized a real-life dataset of Christmas gifts for the prediction task. Then, we proposed support vector regressor (SVR), linear regression, random forest, and ridge models as machine learning models for price prediction. Next, we proposed an autoregressive-integrated-moving-average (ARIMA) model for the same purpose as a statistical-based model. Finally, we evaluated the performance of the proposed models; the comparison shows that the best performing model was the random forest model, followed by the ARIMA model.
Microbial Bioconversion of Dairy Wastewater in Packed Bed Biofilm Reactor into Liquid Biofertilizer

Abstract Dairy industries are highly polluting, energy and fresh water consuming installations. The present study aims to make dairy effluent treatment plant operation less time consuming with minimal energy consumption while generating a value added product. Analysis of the temporal and spatial variation in performance of a biofilm based plug flow reactor involved in the biotransformation of Dairy Waste Water (DWW) revealed ammonia (57.68 mg L–1) rich liquid biofertilizer production within 4 h, with associated reduction of nitrate (70.77%), phosphate (36.44%), protein (62.87%), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) (26.38%) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) (39.59%). The process was 4 times faster than the fastest existing process reported till date. The consortium showed a striking reduction in its doubling time from 78 min 56 sec (in suspension culture) to 17 min 10 sec (as biofilm) upon immobilization. It could produce 734.60 mg ammonia per kg of immobilization matrix from DWW. Metagenomic analysis revealed the robustness of the biofilm based biotreatment system. The novelty of this study is the innovative approach of rapid conversion of the waste from dairy industry into a value added product using microbes from geosphere in an energy efficient manner which would make dairy effluent treatment plant operation self-sustainable and eco-protective.
Silicon resonant angular rate sensor using electromagnetic excitation and capacitive detection

A new silicon resonant angular rate sensor is presented. The sensor consists of a packaged glass-silicon-glass structure and is made by a batch-fabrication process. The sensor is a tuning fork with both sides suspended by torsion bars. Electromagnetic excitation and capacitive detection are used. The applied angular rate generates the Coriolis' force and the resonator starts torsional vibration around the torsion bars. The test device shows a sensitivity of 0.7 fF sec/deg. In this paper, the working principles, fabrication process, and simulated and measured outputs of the sensor are described. The scaling rule of the angular rate sensor are also considered.
Optically steerable antenna array for radio over fibre transmission

A simple design to upgrade radio over fibre (RoF) reception with smart antennas is presented. The smart antenna steers the radiation beam by optically setting the amplitudes and phases of the array elements. Phase shifts are obtained with the same standard singlemode optical fibre used for RoF transmission. All signals from the receiving antennas are transmitted over the same fibre at different wavelengths, using electrically driven DFB lasers with on-chip MZ modulators. In this way it is possible to compute the vector sum of the received signals and perform the maximum-directivity beam-former algorithm.
Does the Management Discussion and Analysis Section of the 10-K Provide Information for Retirement Decisions?

Increasingly, people are asked to make investment decisions that affect their retirement. In the past, “experts” in the federal government, pension plans, and/or other money management entities made these decisions. The “expert” investor’s skill set includes the ability to read and understand financial material. Wilkinson and Czyzewski (2013) found that the footnotes of the financial statements were written at a very high post graduate level. This paper will examine another piece of financial information investors use to help make investment decision. The purpose of the study is to determine the reading level of Management Discussion and Analysis Section of the 10-K. 100 firms’ Management Discussion and Analysis Section(MDA) of the 10-K were analyzed using Word (from Office 2003 Suite) Spelling and Grammar check. The average Flesch Index reading level of the MDA was 13.052. This score indicates it is very difficult to read the MDA. In fact based on the average reading level of adults, a large portion of the U.S. population are unable to understand them.
A fast algorithm for calculating the critical state in superconductors

A method is presented for calculating the critical state profiles in bulk superconductors. It can be used for asymmetric samples in non‐uniform fields and for transport currents as well as magnetisation. In this technique the sample starts with no current flowing. Elements carrying Jc are then inserted at the point of maximum vector potential and the field recalculated. The process is continued until the external field is screened from the interior. As an example the force on a magnet above a cylindrical puck is calculated.
I PRINCIPI DELLA DINAMICA DI TARTAGLIA E CARDANO NELLE CINQUECENTINE DELL’ISTITUTO LOMBARDO

The library of Istituto Lombardo owns two volumes of XVI century (cinquecentine) including physical sections. La nova scientia by Niccolo Tartaglia printed In Venetia: per Nicolo de Bascarini a istantia de l’Autore, 1550 and the De rerum varietate by Girolamo Cardano printed Basileae: per Sebastianum Henricpetri, 1581. Together with the De Subtilitate by Girolamo Cardano, these books contain the general laws of dynamics and, in great detail, a description of the trajectory of a projectile fired from a firearm. Though the general principles are still of Aristotelian derivation, a new attention to experimental facts together with an unconvential pragmatic use of etherogeneous explanation arguments, justified by an essentially practical goal of predictive nature, induce one to identify both Tartaglia and Cardano as true precursors of modern ballistics. Furthermore, the way Cardano revisits the role of driving force played by the projectile-air interaction, following a modified idea of Aristotle due to the lacking of an inertia law in his mechanics, and the concomitant need that air produces also a resisting force, reminds us that, so far, a rigorous microscopic derivation of the exclusively dissipative nature of this force has not been achieved yet as well as a rigorous microscopic derivation of the second principle of thermodynamics.
Three dimensional stacked modules using silicon carrier

In this research paper, a novel method of fabricating 3D-stacked modules using a silicon carrier that can integrate known good dice, with testable features and integrated cooling solution is presented. The backbone of this silicon based system in package (SiP) is the fabrication of silicon carriers with through hole conductive interconnects. Process development, issues and limitations of the novel method to fabricate silicon carriers with solder and Cu conductive interconnects are discussed in detail. Through holes in silicon wafer have been demonstrated with conventional low cost batch processing wet etch and high aspect ratio DRIE methods to address coarse pitch and fine pitch applications respectively. Ultra thin flip chip device with daisy chain are fabricated and are attached to the silicon carriers by conventional flip chip processes, forming a stack. Individual stacks are vertically integrated to form three dimensional stacked modules. A complete three dimensional stacked module has been fabricated with three individual stacks. The fabricated stack modules have been subjected to JEDEC reliability tests and the results are discussed.
Assessing the Physical Security of IDFs with PSATool: A Case Study

Assessing the Physical Security of IDFs with PSATool: a Case Study by Sulabh Bista PSATool is a checklist-based, web-based application for assessing the physical security of Intermediate Distribution Frameworks. IDFs, or wiring closets, are an integral if often neglected component of information security. Earlier work by Timbs (2013) identified 52 IDF-related security requirements based on federal and international standards for physical security. PSATool refines Timbs' prototype application for IDF assessment, extending it with support for mobile-device-based data entry. PSATool was used to assess 25 IDFs at a regional university, a college and a manufacturing corporation, with an average of 9 minutes per assessment. Network managers and assessors involved in the assessments characterized PSATool as suitable for creating assessments, usable by IT department personnel, and accurate, in terms of its characterizations of IDF status.
A Unified Parametric Representation for Robotic Compliant Skills With Adaptation of Impedance and Force

Robotic compliant manipulation is a very challenging but urgent research spot in the domain of robotics. One difficulty lies in the lack of a unified representation for encoding and learning of compliant profiles. This article aims to introduce a novel learning and control framework to address this problem: 1) we provide a parametric representation that enables a compliant skill to be encoded in a parametric space and allows a robot to learn compliant manipulation skills based on motion and force information collected from human demonstrations; and 2) the updating laws of the compliant profiles, including impedance and force profiles, are derived from a biomimetic control strategy based on the human motor learning principles. Our approach enables the simultaneous adaptation of impedance and feedforward force online during robot’s reproduction of the demonstrated tasks to deal with task dynamics and external interferences. The proposed approach is verified based on both simulation and real-world task scenarios.
Sistema experto para calificar pruebas de desarrollo en estudiantes de la Universidad Continental

Objectives: To build an expert system to evaluate development tests in informatics and to prove if its application enables the development tests evaluation with a quantitative score which allows students to evaluate themselves at any time and receive instant information about his/her knowledge level. Methods: The research type was applied, field research, descriptive and transversal. Exainfo basically has two parts: the knowledge base and the inference engine to obtain a test development score. For the applicability evaluation, we built the subject evaluation matrix, after the features model to obtain the rating and empty words, in that way we qualify students built responses and indicate the missing concepts in learning; in this process we were careful with the concurrence principle by facial capture validation, to prevent student impersonation. The sample was formed by 40 Universidad Continental first semester students from the Informatics subject. Results: The recovery rate average of 72,38 % indicates that most of the basic concepts are recovered by students. The retrieved basic concepts are too many so the accuracy rate is reduced. Conclusions: The Exainfo expert system makes possible to qualify development tests and diagnose the student learning state through the free text analysis of student responses.
Decentralised fault detection and diagnosis in navigation systems for unmanned aerial vehicles

Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a technological phenomenon sweeping the world stage. Full autonomy implies that the guidance and navigation system employed must exhibit the highest level of integrity. This paper looks at the parity space fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) methods, and its applicability in fully autonomous guidance and navigation systems in a decentralised system architecture. Using the existing work as a starting point this paper identifies the effectiveness of these methods when applied to situations where both the hardware and analytical redundancy exist. One of the most important issues in FDD in navigation systems using redundant sensors relates to the integrity of the solution processing architecture. This has motivated the development of multiple FDD solutions running on numerous separate processors in a decentralised computing network. Typical solutions to this problem are based on decentralised or multiple Kalman filters running in parallel. This paper addresses the use and merits of the information filter form of the Kalman filter in a fully decentralised FDD framework.
the spread of lean construtuction among workers in civil construction by the game "challenging the production"

The lean construction runs the management of sites to the production process and continuous improvement. For its understanding, the promotion of learning among workers is necessary. This paper suggests that games can fill the blanks and intend to present the game "Challenging the Production" as an alternative to the spreading of lean construction concepts, considering the civil construction labors characteristics. The use of games for learning are still considered an innovation. The experiment showed that the understanding about lean construction is possible and that the game is a pleasant form for this practice. The game was tested with the players approval and for 95,5% of players the game brings fun and learning of the lean construction principles. For 86,4% of the experiments participants, the game helps the learning of new things, 68,2% accepted it as an alternative way of learning that contributes with the concepts memorization and 59,1% thought that the game promotes the business colleagues interaction.
VERIFICATION OF FORCE TRANSDUCER FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENTS

Paper deals with verification of high load force sensor using the small weight weights. Test band was built for this purpose. Verification of test band were executed using the etalon reference sensor. Small forces were executed via using the direct method through the applying of weights. High forces were executed using the indirect method through the lever amplification of load derived from small weights. Uncertainties of measurement were evaluated.
Effects of Roughness and Vertical Wall Factors on Wave Overtopping in Rubble Mound Breakwaters in Busan Yacht Harbor

Coastlines are protected by breakwater structures against the erosion of sand or other materials along beaches due to wave action. This research examined the use of physical modeling to determine the effects of the tetrapod size and vertical walls of a rubble mound on the volume of wave overtopping under irregular wave conditions in coastal areas in Busan Yacht Harbor. In this analysis model, the structures were studied using irregular waves and the JONSWAP wave energy spectrum. To understand the effects of the tetrapod size and heights of the vertical wall, the study considered vertical walls of 0, 1.78, 6.83, and 9.33 cm with armor double layered material tetrapods of 8, 12, 16, and 20 tons. An extensive number of experiments covering a relatively large range of variables enabled a comprehensive discussion. First, in the presence of a short vertical wall, the water level played a key role in the overtopping discharge. In such circumstances, the values of the wave overtopping discharge decreased with increasing freeboard size. In the presence of a tall freeboard and middle, the value of the wave overtopping discharge was equally influenced by the vertical wall factor. Moreover, the tetrapod size decreased by an increase in the vertical wall factor, and relationship between them resulted in a short wall height. From an engineering point of view, considering a small water level may allow the choice of a shorter vertical wall, which would ultimately provide a more economical design.
Packaging processes using flip chip bonder and future directions of technology development

We brought the COG (chip on glass) bonder for LCD application to market in 1988. Since then, we have been successfully developing various types of flip chip bonders to meet a variety of market needs and product applications. In addition to the COG bonder, we are currently working on a wide range of bonders, including bonders for COF (chip on flexible printed circuit) packaging using flexible substrates, DCA packaging using C4 technology, optoelectronics-related laser diode packaging, and MEMS-related packaging. This presentation focuses on the four popular flip-chip packaging processes: 1) the Au-Sn process, 2) the ACF/ACP (anisotropic conductive adhesive film) process, 3) the NCP (non-conductive resin paste) process, and 4) the solder process, with emphasis upon the key technology in each process mechanism. The bonding equipment available for each product application is described in detail. In the future, company efforts will be directed toward the development of equipment and processes that can meet the growing market demand for more compact packages and the narrower bump pitch and multi-bump features on IC chips that accompany greater functionality. To respond to this demand, we are bringing ultrasonic bonding technology to the market. This report presents an overview of the key technologies and equipment, including the latest trends.
Limits in boost power factor corrector operating in border-line mode

The single-phase boost power factor correctors may operate in the so called border-line mode, which is distinguished by variable switching frequency. If some constraints are imposed on variability of this frequency some limits to output voltage and power of the circuit appear at once. The paper shows the origin of them and presents formulas and graphs helpful in a proper choice of circuit parameters in order to keep the switching frequency within a predefined range, also under the changes of input line voltage and of the load resistance.
Radio-frequency performance of a state-of-the-art 0.5-/spl mu/m-rule thin-film SOI power MOSFET

A state-of-the-art 0.5-/spl mu/m-rule thin-film SOI power MOSFET was fabricated to evaluate its radio-frequency (RF) performance. The impact of the device structural parameters, such as channel length and drain offset length, on the RF performance of thin-film SOI power MOSFETs was also investigated. The fabricated device with channel length of 0.5 /spl mu/m and drain offset length of 0.4 /spl mu/m showed excellent performance. Its breakdown voltage was more than 10 V, which is sufficient for a lithium ion battery to be used as a power source. Its cutoff and maximum oscillation frequencies were 14.7 and 19 GHz, respectively. Its power-added efficiency at 2 GHz was 64%.
Interactive Effects of Intraspecific Competition and Drought on Stomatal Conductance and Hormone Concentrations in Different Tomato Genotypes

We elucidated the effects of intraspecific competition on plant growth, stomatal opening and hormone concentrations in different tomato genotypes under different water regimes. Intraspecific competition reduced plant leaf area and stomatal conductance (gs) of wild-type tomato (Ailsa Craig), which was accompanied by abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation and ethylene evolution. Intraspecific competition-induced decrease in gs was absent in flacca, an ABA-deficient mutant, and in never-ripe, a partially ethylene-insensitive genotype, indicating ABA and ethylene involved in plant response to intraspecific competition. As soil water becomes dry, the competition decreased gs by elevating ABA and ethylene accumulations. Under severe drought, the competition-induced decline in gs was covered by the severe drought-induced decrease in gs, as hydraulic signals most probably dominate. Absence of canopy competition had no significant influence on plant stomatal opening of well-watered tomato, due to canopy separation minimized the plant neighbor sensing by ethylene and other signals. Whereas under water deficit condition, absence of canopy competition significantly reduced ABA accumulation in roots and then stomatal conductance, indicating the belowground neighbour detection signals maybe enhanced by soil drought. Absence of root competition increased ethylene evolution, confirming the importance of ethylene in neighbor detection and plant response to environmental stress.
A Novel Small Tapered Slot Antenna for Passive Imaging Sensors

We propose a compact planar antenna for a 94-GHz-band passive mm-wave (PMMW) imaging array system. The key feature is a parabolic tapered slot antenna structure with a center cut metal line that controls its radiation pattern and reduces the sidelobe level of the H-plane. By using this structure, we reduced the antenna size by one tenth compared to conventional tapered slot antennas, whereas the actual gain of this antenna was 12.4 dBi. In addition, this antenna has a circular radiation pattern. Therefore, it is suitable for a PMMW imaging array. We also present simple CPW-to-SLOT transitions with insertion loss of 0.5 dB between the 90 – 100GHz ranges.
Optimization of SiGe selective epitaxy for source/drain engineering in 22 nm node complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)

SiGe has been widely used for source/drain (S/D) engineering in pMOSFETs to enhance channel mobility. In this study, selective Si1−xGex growth (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.35) with boron concentration of 1–3 × 1020 cm−3 in the process for 22 nm node complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) has been investigated and optimized. The growth parameters were carefully tuned to achieve deposition of high quality and highly strained material. The thermal budget was decreased to 800 °C to suppress dopant diffusion, to minimize Si loss in S/D recesses, and to preserve the S/D recess shape. Two layers of Si1−xGex were deposited: a bottom layer with high Ge content (x = 0.35) which filled the recess and a cap layer with low Ge content (x = 0.25) which was elevated in the S/D regions. The elevated SiGe cap layer was intended to be consumed during the Ni-silicidation process in order to avoid strain reduction in the channel region arising from strain relaxation in SiGe S/D. In this study, a kinetic gas model was also applied to.