Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Touch ‘n’ sketch: pen and fingers on a multi-touch sketch application for tablet PC’s

In many creative and technical areas, professionals make use of paper sketches for developing and expressing concepts and models. Paper offers an almost constraint free environment where they have as much freedom to express themselves as they need. However, paper does have some disadvantages, such as size and not being able to manipulate the content (other than remove it or scratch it), which can be overcome by creating systems that can offer the same freedom people have from paper but none of the disadvantages and limitations. Only in recent years has the technology become massively available that allows doing precisely that, with the development in touch‐sensitive screens that also have the ability to interact with a stylus. In this project a prototype was created with the objective of finding a set of the most useful and usable interactions, which are composed of combinations of multi‐touch and pen. The project selected Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools as its application domain, because it addresses a solid and well‐defined discipline with still sufficient room for new developments. This was the result from the area research conducted to find an application domain, which involved analyzing sketching tools from several possible areas and domains. User studies were conducted using Model Driven Inquiry (MDI) to have a better understanding of the human sketch creation activities and concepts devised. Then the prototype was implemented, through which it was possible to execute user evaluations of the interaction concepts created. Results validated most interactions, in the face of limited testing only being possible at the time. Users had more problems using the pen, however handwriting and ink recognition were very effective, and users quickly learned the manipulations and gestures from the Natural User Interface (NUI). %%%%Universidade da Madeira
Are sub‐alpine species' seedling emergence and establishment in the alpine limited by climate or biotic interactions?

Abstract One of the ways in which plants are responding to climate change is by shifting their ranges to higher elevations. Early life‐history stages are major bottlenecks for species' range shifts, and variation in seedling emergence and establishment success can therefore be important determinants of species' ability to establish at higher elevations. Previous studies have found that warming per se tends to not only increase seedling establishment in alpine climates but it also increases plant productivity, which could limit establishment success through increased competition for light. Here we disentangle the relative importance of several climate‐related abiotic and biotic factors on sub‐alpine species' seedling emergence and survival in the alpine. Specifically, we test how temperature, precipitation and competition from neighbouring vegetation impacts establishment, and also whether species' functional traits, or strategies impact their ability to colonise alpine locations. We found that our six sub‐alpine study species were all able to recruit from seed in alpine locations under the extant alpine climate, but their emergence was limited by competition from neighbouring vegetation. This indicates that biotic interactions can hinder the range shifts expected as a result of climate warming. Species with a resource conservative strategy had higher emergence in the extant alpine climate than species with a resource acquisitive strategy, and they were largely unaffected by changes in temperature. The resource acquisitive species, in contrast, had faster emergence under warming, especially when they were released from competition from neighbouring vegetation. Our results indicate that competition from the established vegetation is limiting the spread of lowland species into the alpine, and as the climate continues to warm, species with resource acquisitive traits might gain an advantage.
Surface effectiveness estimation for control reconfiguration of impaired aircraft

The problem of variations in control effectiveness caused by control surface damage was examined in this thesis. Three different filters were implemented to estimate remaining surface effectiveness after surface impairment. The first filter, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), was used as a parameter estimator for the surface effectiveness of a single surface. The second estimator, a Multiple Model Estimator (MME), was designed and compared to the Kalman Estimator. The MME was derived from simplifications made to an Adaptive Kalman Filter algorithm. The simplifications were done to facilitate real-time operation of the estimator. The third estimator, also an Extended Kalman Filter, was used to address the multiple damaged surface problem. A natural extension of the single surface EKF increases the capability, so that it can track damage to all of the aircraft surfaces simultaneously. Because the expanded filter monitors all of the surfaces, it can be used as an impairment detector. This is an improvement over the other two estimators which only monitor one surface and require an external impairment detection mechanism. The cost of this extension was found in the time required for the multiple surface EKF to converge. The addition of constraints to the multiple surface EKF was shown to reduce estimation time. Convergence properties and computational costs are presented for each of three estimators. These calculations show that the EKF is a computationally more efficient solution to both the single and multiple damaged surface problem. Thesis Supervisor: Walter Hollister Title: Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Thesis Supervisor: Tahm Sadeghi, Manager Title: Advanced Flight Control Engineering General Electric Company ACSD
Performance Indicators for Water Supply Services: Third Edition

The IWA Performance Indicator System for water services is now recognized as a worldwide reference. Since it first appearance in 2000, the system has been widely quoted, adapted and used in a large number of projects both for internal performance assessment and metric benchmarking. Water professionals have benefited from a coherent and flexible system, with precise and detailed definitions that in many cases have become a standard. The system has proven to be adaptable and it has been used in very different contexts for diverse purposes. The Performance Indicators System can be used in any organization regardless of its size, nature (public, private, etc.) or degree of complexity and development. The second edition of Performance Indicators for Water Supply Services represents a further improvement of the original manual. It contains a reviewed and consolidated version of the indicators, resulting from the real needs of water companies worldwide that were expressed during the extensive field testing of the original system. The indicators now properly cover bulk distribution and the needs of developing countries, and all definitions have been thoroughly revised. The confidence grading scheme has been simplified and the procedure to assess the results- uncertainty has been significantly enhanced. In addition to the updated contents of the original edition, a large part of the manual is now devoted to the practical application of the system. Complete with simplified step-by-step implementation procedures and case studies, the manual provides guidelines on how to adapt the IWA concepts and indicators to specific contexts and objectives. The manual includes a new version of the software Sigma Lite incorporating all the new developments and an improved graphical user interface. This new edition of Performance Indicators for Water Supply Services will be an invaluable reference source for all those concerned with managing the performance of the water supply industry, including those in the water utilities as well as regulators, policy-makers and financial agencies. This title belongs to Manual of Best Practice Series . ISBN: 9781780405292 (eBook) ISBN: 9781843390510 (Print)
Aboveground carbon accumulation by second-growth forests after deforestation in Hawai'i.

Successional processes ultimately determine and define carbon accumulations in forested ecosystems. Although primary succession on wholly new substrate occurs across the globe, secondary succession, often following storm events or anthropogenic disturbance, is more common and is capable of globally significant accumulations of carbon (C) at a time when offsets to anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions are critically needed. In Hawai'i, prior studies have investigated ecosystem development during primary succession on lava flows, including estimates of C mass accumulation. Yet relatively little is known regarding secondary succession of Hawai'i's native forests, particularly regarding C mass accumulation. Here we documented above-ground C mass accumulation by native- and non-native-dominated 2nd -growth forests following deforestation of mature native lowland rainforests in the Puna District of Hawai'i Island. We characterized species composition and stand structure of three distinct successional forest stand types: those dominated by the native tree, Metrosideros polymorpha ('Ōhi'a), and those dominated by invasive non-native trees, Falcataria moluccana (albizia) and Psidium cattleianum (strawberry guava). We compared M. polymorpha-dominated and F. moluccana-dominated 2nd -growth forests to adjacent mature M. polymorpha-dominated forests as well as young M. polymorpha-dominated forests undergoing initial stages of primary succession on 35-year-old lava fields. Above-ground carbon density (ACD) values of mature primary forest stands (171 Mg ha-1 ) were comparable to those of mature continental tropical forests. M. polymorpha-dominated 2nd -growth stands attained nearly 50% of ACD values of mature primary forests after less than 30 years of post-disturbance succession and exhibited above-ground carbon accumulation rates of ca. 3 Mg C ha-1 y-1 . Such rates were comparable to those of 2nd -growth forests in continental tropics. Rates of ACD accumulation by 2nd -growth forests dominated by non-native F. moluccana stands were similar, or slightly greater than, those of M. polymorpha-dominated stands. However, M. polymorpha individuals were virtually absent from stands dominated by either P. cattleianum or F. moluccana. Taken together, results demonstrated that re-establishment and rapid accumulation of C mass by M. polymorpha stands during secondary succession is certainly possible, but only where populations of non-native species have not already colonized areas during early stages of secondary succession.
Impact of Body Composition and Physical Function on Quality of Life After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Purpose Patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy often suffer from a decline in their quality of life (QoL), but the relationship between body composition (BC) and physical function on QoL has rarely been studied. This study aims to evaluate and determine the changes in QoL after gastrectomy and the impact of BC and physical function on QoL. Methods A total of 311 gastric cancer patients completed EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 questionnaires before and 1, 3, 6 months post-surgery. Data including BC, handgrip strength (HGS) and 6-m gait speed (GS) were collected prospectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between QoL and BC, HGS and GS. Results Patients had significantly worse scores after surgery on most function and symptom scales (p < 0.001), but most of these scales recovered within 6 months after surgery. A higher subcutaneous fat area (SFA)was associated with increased symptom scores 1 month after surgery. A higher GS is associated with a better global health status symptom. Conclusion Patients suffer from a decline in their QoL after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Intervention strategies aiming at reducing SFA and improving GS may improve the QoL in patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
TOPICS and Communities in the FIELD of patent analysis with SNA

SNA (Social Network Analysis) has been frequently used as a tool for patent analysis. This study analyzes the popular topics and communities in the field of patent analysis with SNA with publications included in Web of Science. This study reveals that (1) the research in the field of patent analysis has kept increasing in the last fifteen years; (2) researchers in this field are mainly from South Korea, America, Taiwan province of China, and some European countries. This research also identifies researcher communities and institution communities in the field of patent analysis with SNA.
An evaluation on the teaching and learning of chemical bonding and structure

The problematics of the teaching and learning of chemical bonding has been widely reported in the literature. Following this, Taber (2001) proposed a teaching sequence alternative to those available in existing curriculum documents and textbooks. He proposed that teaching be started from metallic structure to ionic structure, then giant covalent structure and finally simple molecular structure. During teaching, teachers should be cautioned about the use of language, the undue emphasis on the role of atoms (atomic ontology), the explication of the nature of bonding (based on electrostatic forces rather than electron transfer or sharing), and a better integration of the relationship between bonding and structure. In relation to the literature about scientific modelling, bonding should be taught as an ‘explanation’ of properties of chemicals, rather than a mere ‘description’ of structure. This paper reports an empirical study of a class of Year 10 students’ learning outcomes based on the proposed teaching sequence and emphases. Throughout the learning of the topic ‘chemical bonding’ which spanned two months, three students ranged from the highest to medium achieving students in the class were selected for interviews. Each student was interviewed on four separate occasions in the course of their learning of ‘chemical bonding’. Their understanding of concepts in relation to chemical bonding was probed through their verbal and visual representations. The effectiveness of the teaching sequence was evaluated in the light the alternative conceptions reported in the literature, strategy and suggestions for further improvements were discussed.
Rough set Kansei engineering: multiple users, multiple Kanseis

knowledge: A family of concepts or categories. Accuracy of approximation (or degree of consistency of the decision table or the degree of dependency between attributes C (condition attributes) and D (decision attributes) : With every set Y ⊆ U, an accuracy of approximation of set Y by P could be associated as follows αp(Y) = card(PY) card(PY) if αp(Y) = 1, Y is crisp or precise with respect to P; otherwise, Y is rough or vague. An important property: If P` is a reduct of P, then neither {a} ⇒ {b}, nor {b} ⇒ {a} holds, for every a, b ∈ P`. This means all attributes in a reduct are pairwise independent. Bayes’ theorem: This mechanism provides a solution to the problem of how to learn from data. Let H = hypothesis, D = data, P (H) = probabilistic statement of belief about H before obtaining data D (what is known about H without knowledge of data-priori distribution of H), and P(H\D) = probabilistic statement of belief about H after obtaining data D (what is known about H given knowledge of data-posterior distribution of H given D). Then Bayes’ theorem is as follows: P(H|D) = P(D|H) × P(H)/P(D) Bayes’ theorem and rough set notation: Let S = (U, A) be a decision table. With every B ⊆ A = C ∪ D, there is associated a set of formulas F or (B), which are built up from the attribute-value pair (a, υ), where a ∈ B and υ ∈ Va by means of logical connectives ⋀(and),⋁(or),∽ (not) in the standard way. For any φ ∈ F or (B) by ‖φ‖S, the set of all objects x ∈ U satisfying φ in S defined inductively is denoted as follows: ‖(a, υ) ‖S = {x ∈ U: a(υ) = x }, ∀∈ B and υ ∈ Va . Category or concept: X ⊆ U is called a concept or a category in U. Classification or partition: Concepts can form a partition (classification) of a certain universe, i.e., in families C = {X1, X2,. , Xn}, Xi ⊆ U, Xi ≠ ∅, Xi ∩ Xi = ∅, for i#j, I,j=1,. ,n and ∪ Xi=U. Categories of vagueness in rough set: The four basic classes of rough sets or vagueness are as follows: PY ≠ ∅ and PY ≠ U, iff Y is roughly P_definable PY = ∅ and PY ≠ U, iff Y is internally P_indifinable
Research issues and trends in industrial productivity over 44 years

The purpose of this study is to determine the major issues and potential megatrends in productivity over the past 44 years. Specifically, this has been done by reviewing the productivity literature and productivity trends in the area of manufacturing. Using this, a foundation for the direction of future productivity research is suggested. In this study, productivity-related trends and technology policy data were analysed to derive an initial productivity-related framework. In addition, a productivity issue framework for the academic fields was created by analysing productivity-related literature. Subsequently, trends in productivity studies as well as megatrends were analysed by placing common core issues in two categories. From an analysis of productivity trends, an initial framework of sixteen productivity issues and a productivity issue framework comprising nine productivity issues from our literature analysis were established. By integrating the two frameworks, major productivity-related issues and six megatrends were identified. Our expectation is that the results of this study will serve as a foundation for the future academic studies as well as document manufacturing companies’ strategic methods addressing productivity.
Novel gold nanoparticle-protein-semiconductor quantum dot hybrid system: synthesis, characterization and application in cancer cell imaging

Formation of a hybrid system by metallic nanoparticle, protein (or peptide), and a semiconductor QD can be a new and alternate material which may be used for biological applications including cancer cell detection and treatment. Herein, we report on the colloidal synthesis of metal-protein-QD hybrid system considering Au NPs, CdSe QDs, BSA and Lysozyme protein. We demonstrate the structural, optical and vibrational properties of Au-CdSe, Au-BSA-CdSe and Au-Lysozyme-CdSe hybrid systems following their use as cancer cell markers. The study of photoluminescence spectra reveals the predominance ﬂuorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdSe QDs and Au NPs, Au-BSA and Au-Lysozyme complex. The energy transfer efﬁciency between QDs donor and the Au NPs, Au-BSA, Au-Lysozyme acceptors are estimated to be 46%, 94% and 64%; respectively. Fluorescence imaging results represent high biocompatibility and ﬂuorescent behavior of the QDs and its hybrid system in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The calculation of corrected total counts of ﬂuorescence (CTCF) predicts the higher uptake of CdSe QDs as compared to the Au-QDs, Au-BSA-QDs, Au-Lysozyme-QDs by the cells. The signiﬁcantly varied zeta potential values of the hybrid systems inﬂuence the cellular uptake processes. The fabrication of biocompatible (water soluble, biologically stable, having bioconjugation capability, low cytotoxic to the normal cells, ﬂuorescent in biological environment) Au-CdSe, Au-protein-CdSe hybrid systems would open up an alternative strategy in nanobiotechnology, due to their special physical, optical as well as chemical properties. here the formation of a Au NPs-CdSe QDs hybrid system. The structural, optical, vibrational properties and zeta potential measurement of the Au, CdSe, Au-CdSe hybrid systems are studied. The inﬂuence of protein molecules on the aforementioned properties was investigated by inclusion of BSA and Lysozyme proteins to the Au-CdSe. In addition, we have highlighted the energy transfer behavior of the CdSeQDs to Au NPs, Au-BSA, Au-Lysozyme by considering FRET. Finally, a critical evaluation on the cellular uptake of the CdSe QDs, Au-CdSe s, Au-BSA-CdSe, Au-Lysozyme-CdSe hybrid systems by MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells lines are highlighted through studies of ﬂuorescence imaging and cytotoxicity.
Moving Applied Learning Online: Creating Engaged and Inclusive Spaces

This article examines efforts to integrate Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) with meaningful applied learning experiences to serve equitably University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) students through inclusive engagement platforms. Drawing from a UNCW campus-wide applied learning initiative, we analyze course projects and activities that have utilized applied learning in online and/or hybrid courses from three fields of study: Criminology, Curriculum and Instruction, and Higher Education. Through a discussion of assessment and evaluation measures we draw conclusions tied to the augmentation of applied learning via TEL, as well as online-specific challenges to teaching and student engagement, such as dispersed groups and team formation, and coordination with external stakeholders. Finally, we offer transferable suggested courses of action to further the integration of applied and technologically enhanced learning modalities.
The predictability of widespread cascades in techno-social networks

Widespread cascades, such as bursts of individuals’ fame and popularity of products, epidemics of diseases, and scientific paradigm shifts, strongly influence the dynamics of our society. Therefore, predicting their starting points and sizes is crucial in designing and improving techno-social systems that deal with these critical phenomena. More and more, scholars have become aware of the difficulty to predict future timeevolution of techno-social systems. In particular, the financial meltdown in 2008 has made it difficult to ignore studies claiming that these systems are inherently unpredictable. The objective of this research is to study the predictability of the starting points and size evolution of widespread cascades in techno-social networks. To this end, I study the predictability of three widespread cascading phenomena: congestion spreading in urban road networks, citation cascades of individual scientists’ publications, and bankruptcy cascades in interbank markets. These techno-social networks were deliberately chosen to be different in order to reveal universal attributes (if any) of widespread cascades. I use computer simulations to analyze traffic spreading in urban road networks and bankruptcy cascades in the interbank market. Further, I develop data-driven models to study citation cascades of scientists’ publications using large bibliometric data sets. My research focuses only on spreading phenomena triggered by the internal (endogenous) dynamics of the techno-social systems under consideration. Even though the spreading processes studied here are very different, the results of my study suggest that endogenous widespread cascades share the following attributes: I) Triggering events are hardly predictable. II) Cascades of any size can occur endogenously. III) Post-trigger trajectories are predictable.