Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Model and Research Agenda for Educational Community-based Digital Libraries: The Digital Library for Earth System Education*

While digital library development has greatly advanced in the past five years, there is as yet little research demonstrating the efficacy of digital library technology on teaching and learning. This paper presents an initial articulation of a model of the critical dimensions of digital library implementation in educational settings, based on the development of the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE). It also suggests how such a model may contribute to an understanding of how digital libraries are used and valued.
Impact of Intraoperative Data on Risk Prediction for Mortality After Intra-Abdominal Surgery

BACKGROUND: Risk prediction models for postoperative mortality after intra-abdominal surgery have typically been developed using preoperative variables. It is unclear if intraoperative data add significant value to these risk prediction models. METHODS: With IRB approval, an institutional retrospective cohort of intra-abdominal surgery patients in the 2005 to 2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was identified. Intraoperative data were obtained from the electronic health record. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. We evaluated the performance of machine learning algorithms to predict 30-day mortality using: 1) baseline variables and 2) baseline + intraoperative variables. Algorithms evaluated were: 1) logistic regression with elastic net selection, 2) random forest (RF), 3) gradient boosting machine (GBM), 4) support vector machine (SVM), and 5) convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC). The sample was randomly divided into a training/testing split with 80%/20% probabilities. Repeated 10-fold cross-validation identified the optimal model hyperparameters in the training dataset for each model, which were then applied to the entire training dataset to train the model. Trained models were applied to the test cohort to evaluate model performance. Statistical significance was evaluated using P < . 05. RESULTS: The training and testing cohorts contained 4322 and 1079 patients, respectively, with 62 (1.4%) and 15 (1.4%) experiencing 30-day mortality, respectively. When using only baseline variables to predict mortality, all algorithms except SVM (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.83 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.69–0.97]) had AUROC >0.9: GBM (AUROC, 0.96 [0.94–1.0]), RF (AUROC, 0.96 [0.92–1.0]), CNN (AUROC, 0.96 [0.92–0.99]), and logistic regression (AUROC, 0.95 [0.91–0.99]). AUROC significantly increased with intraoperative variables with CNN (AUROC, 0.97 [0.96–0.99]; P = .047 versus baseline), but there was no improvement with GBM (AUROC, 0.97 [0.95–0.99]; P = .3 versus baseline), RF (AUROC, 0.96 [0.93–1.0]; P = .5 versus baseline), and logistic regression (AUROC, 0.94 [0.90–0.99]; P = .6 versus baseline). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative mortality is predicted with excellent discrimination in intra-abdominal surgery patients using only preoperative variables in various machine learning algorithms. The addition of intraoperative data to preoperative data also resulted in models with excellent discrimination, but model performance did not improve.
Image Transformation and Compression using Fourier Transformation

In this paper we are discussing the Fourier transform technique for image transformation and compression. Here, we are presenting the implementation technique for image compression by using the Fourier transform method and analyzing the performance. We are also observing the results after transformation of image with quantization process. The quality of the reconstructed compressed image is also analyzed after applying the de-quantization method. The analysis of image quality is performed by using mean square of error and peak signal noise ratio. The results are showing that it is possible to achieve maximum PSNR value.
A Review on Optimal Control for the Smart Grid Electrical Substation Enhancing Transition Stability

This paper is a research article for finding the optimal control of smart power substations for improving the network parameters and reliability. The included papers are the most essential and main studies in the field, which propose a different approach to reach the best performance in electrical power systems. The parameters for improvement are the ability for tracking of the reference signal, stabilizing the system, reducing the error in steady state and controlling the behavior in transient state. The research focuses with the reaching a better transient stability considering voltage and frequency dynamic parameters. The optimal model for the control is focused on minimizing energy consumption but maintaining the controllable parameters, exploring some optimization techniques to find the optimal control, with of aim of minimizing the response time, the energy consumption, and maximizing the reliability by means of improving the controller to be more robust.
INTEGRATING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTO TRANSIT RIDERSHIP FORECAST MODELS

Researchers have produced sophisticated modal split and transit demand models, including forecasts that are sensitive to the level of service. However, little effort has been made to integrate these models into corridor studies and route alignment analyses since a) re-routing is itself an extremely complex modeling task, and b) the results of the demand models are presented in tabular form with no facility to visualize spatial patterns and relationships that, if recognized, would aid in the routing tasks. GIS tools can be used, together with demand models, to identify both clusters of city blocks that house families with certain socio-economic characteristics and potential trip destinations conducive to transit use. This paper examines how a particular class of model used by transit agencies for estimating ridership can be integrated with GIS tools in order to facilitate such analyses. It also explores the effects of visualization of routes, demographic, and employment data on the process of designing route alignments with better targeting of high transit ridership areas. This paper is part of a research project sponsored by the Region One University Transportation Center, at MIT.
Effect of Selected Cations and B Vitamins on the Biosynthesis of Carotenoids by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Yeast in the Media with Agro-Industrial Wastes

In recent years, there has been an increase in the search for novel raw materials for the production of natural carotenoids. Among yeasts, Rhodotorula species have the ability to synthesize carotenoids, mainly β-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin, depending on the culture conditions. This study aimed to determine the effect of selected cations (barium, zinc, aluminum, manganese) and B vitamins (biotin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid) on the biosynthesis of carotenoids by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa MK1 and estimate the percentages of β-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin synthesized by the yeast. The cultivation was carried out in a medium containing glycerol (waste resulting from biodiesel production) as a carbon source and potato wastewater (waste resulting from potato starch production) as a nitrogen source. Carotenoid biosynthesis was stimulated by the addition of aluminum (300 mg/L) or aluminum (300 mg/L) and niacin (100 µg/L) to the medium. The number of carotenoids produced by R. mucilaginosa MK1 in the medium containing only aluminum and in the medium with aluminum and niacin was 146.7 and 180.5 µg/gd.m. , respectively. This content was 101% and 147% higher compared to the content of carotenoids produced by yeast grown in the control medium (73.0 µg/gd.m.). The addition of aluminum and barium seemed to have a positive effect on the biosynthesis of torulene, and the percentage of this compound increased from 31.86% to 75.20% and 68.24%, respectively. Niacin supplementation to the medium increased the percentage of torularhodin produced by the yeast from 23.31% to 31.59–33.79%. The conducted study showed that there is a possibility of intensifying carotenoid biosynthesis by red yeast and changing the percentages of individual carotenoids fractions by adding cations or B vitamins to the medium. Further research is needed to explain the mechanism of action of niacin on the stimulation of torularhodin biosynthesis.
Acoustic Design Aspects of the Brisbane Supreme & District Courts

The $600 million Brisbane Supreme & District Courts is the largest and most complex courts projects undertaken to date in Australia. The design intent was to use a palette of few materials - concrete, timber and glass - all of which reflect sound making the task of controlling acoustics within spaces critical for speech intelligibility very challenging. The internal vision was to have spaces filled with light to reflect the transparency of justice, with glass walls between courts, and fully glazed facades. Additionally, the internal spaces used displacement ventilation to provide airconditioning, with no ceiling available to relieve air, and open air paths integrated into walls between courts. This paper will detail the approach taken to overcome these challenges, with the outcome facility that has been acclaimed by the judiciary.
Measuring Performance of Risk-Return in Residential and Commercial Real Estate Investments in South-South, Nigeria

The study measures the risk-return performance of residential and commercial real estate investments in South-South, Nigeria from 2009 to 2018. The study adopted the survey research design and purposive sampling technique was used to select estate surveying and valuation firms. Data was analysed using mean total returns, standard deviation and analysis of variance. The test of the first hypothesis indicates that residential real estate investment in Port Harcourt has the highest mean total return and performed better than Calabar and Uyo and implies that total returns of residential real estate investments are significantly different in the study area. For commercial property, Uyo outperformed that of Calabar and Port Harcourt in terms of return. The second hypothesis results indicate that location of property is a significant determinant of risk. The result shows that the mean risk in Port Harcourt for residential real estate investment is significantly different from the risk in Calabar and Uyo. This implies that there is significant difference between risks of residential properties in the study area. For commercial property investment risk, the result shows the risks of investment in offices are higher than shops. For location, Uyo commercial properties produced the highest risk.
Standard MEMS Capacitive Accelerometers for Harsh Environment

Many markets have already successfully introduced MEMS based products in a very large panel of applications. When looking carefully at the market implantation, it is very interesting to see that benefits of this technology go well beyond the obvious size advantage. Size and weight but also performance, power consumption, parallel manufacturing capability and cost or reliability are common arguments in favour of this family of products. Nowadays, standard MEMS technologies give access to a broad range of unexpected new applications opportunities by always pushing the products at their limits, mainly in term of environmental constraints. Great potentials have been demonstrated and have engendered development alliance to improve the performances of the products in so called harsh environments: Imagine the utilization of an accelerometer in oil and gas prospecting applications. They must provide precise measurements in a very high or cold temperature environment, in a world of extreme vibrations and must potentially endure very high shocks. The objective of this presentation is to review actual results and current limitations when using MEMS sensors in harsh environments (temperature, shock, vibration, environment, security). The conjunction of material and technologies (standard Si, SiC or SOI), advanced micromachining techniques and advanced assembly techniques are the key to provide robust sensors. Within a large portfolio of examples, the following applications will be presented and developed in more details: • Accelerometers surviving shock levels up to 20’000g with minimum impact on specification. • Very robust MEMS sensors used between −120°C and +180°C. MEMS sensors in harsh environment are already a reality and various products are already available off the shelf and supplied with high volume opportunities.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
A State-of-the-Art Review of High Performance Concrete Structures Built in Canada: 1990-2000

This publication is intended for the use of professional personnel competent to evaluate the significance and limitations of its content and who will accept responsibility for the application of the material it contains. The Cement Association of Canada and the authors disclaim any and all responsibility for application of the stated principles or for the accuracy of the sources. In the search for durability, researchers in Canada and in other countries sought for higher performance materials. Technology from other countries, notably France, Norway, Japan and Germany, was incorporated into developments in Canada in the 1980s. High Performance Concrete (HPC) was included in this research. With the establishment of Concrete Canada (CC) in 1990, a coordinated and concentrated programme of research commenced. In 1994, this programme expanded to include demonstration projects to implement HPC technology on construction sites. Technology Transfer was a primary goal of CC. Many seminars, workshops and technology transfer days were held across Canada, by CC alone, in cooperation with American Concrete Institute (ACI) Chapters, the Cement Association of Canada (CAC) and its member companies, and for specific entities such as Provincial Highway Departments and Cities. It seemed appropriate, as the old millennium ended, to assess the practice in the use of HPC in Canada over the past 10 years. The extent of its use, the varying specifications, results, economics and problems encountered have been reviewed. Looking ahead, areas for ongoing research and development have been identified. The study demonstrates that, for those who have correctly implemented this technology, HPC is the high quality concrete of choice for high strength, durability and optimum life-cycle costs. iv Preface In 1990, as a Principal Investigator in the newly established and funded Network of Centres of Excellence on High Performance Concrete, one of my main activities was to lecture on this research programme and its objectives. At the time, the term High Performance Concrete was virtually unknown. Now, ten years later, I am no longer asked, "What is HPC? " A perception that the use of HPC is now widespread led to the decision to produce this review. It seemed timely, after a decade of the intensive development, promotion and implementation of HPC, to step back and survey the extent of the use of this material across Canada, the achievements, the problems encountered, and to suggest directions for future practice. The task turned out to be greater than I had envisaged. Despite …
The Evaluation of a Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint (THOR) Under Vertical Loading Conditions: Part 1 - Experimental Setup and Results

Abstract A series of 16 vertical tests were conducted on a Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint (THOR) - NT 50 th percentile Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The purpose of the tests conducted at NASA LaRC was threefold. The first was to add vertical response data to the growing test database for THOR-NT development and validation. Second, the THOR-NT analytical computational models currently in development must be validated for the vertical loading environment. The computational models have been calibrated for frontal crash environments with concentration on accurately replicating head/neck, thoracic, and lower extremity responses. Finally, familiarity with the THOR ATD is necessary because NASA is interested in evaluating advanced ATDs for use in future flight and research projects. The THOR was subjected to vertical loading conditions ranging between 5 and 16 g in magnitude and 40 to 120 milliseconds (msec) in duration. It was also tested under conditions identical to previous tests conducted on the Hybrid II and III ATDs to allow comparisons to be made. Variations in the test setup were also introduced, such as the addition of a footrest in an attempt to offload some of the impact load into the legs. A full data set of the THOR-NT ATD will be presented and discussed. Results from the tests show that the THOR was largely insensitive to differences in the loading conditions, perhaps due in part to their small magnitudes. THOR responses, when compared to the Hybrid II and III in the lumbar region, demonstrated that the THOR more closely resembled the straight spine Hybrid setup. In the neck region, the THOR behaved more like the Hybrid III. However in both cases, the responses were not identical, indicating that the THOR would show differences in response than the Hybrid II and III ATDs when subjected to identical impact conditions. The addition of a footrest did not significantly affect the THOR response due to the nature of how the loading conditions were applied.
A Dedicated Radar Imaging Statistical Model of the Sinclair Matrix Initially Characterised in an Anechoic Chamber: Application To the Huynen Parameters Sensitivity Analysis - Summary

A noise Sinclair matrix statistical model of the Anechoic Chamber measurement channel is first developed in the frequency domain, then in the time domain and finally in the holographic radar images domain. Building these models allows one to analyse the sensitivity of a common target classification tool, the Huynen parameters, for any target and then to construct a prediction model of the Huynen parameters sensitivity based on the measure of a single target Sinclair matrix [S].
Atrial fibrillation as a preoperative risk factor predicts long-term mortality in elderly patients without heart failure and undergoing hip fracture surgery.

OBJECTIVE Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) constitute a significant portion of hip fracture patients, and both diseases tend to present more frequently in older age. Our goal was to evaluate the long-term mortality of patients with AF who were free from heart failure undergoing hip fracture surgery. METHODS This observational, retrospective study was done in a single research and training hospital setting. Hospital electronic health record data, National Health Registry data, and National Death Registry System data for 233 consecutive patients who were above 65 years of age and were planned to undergo surgery for hip fracture were retrieved and analyzed. An experienced cardiologist evaluated the patients prior to surgery. Each member of the research cohort was categorized into one of the two groups based on their survival status (survivor and non-survivor groups). RESULTS Of the 233 cases, 89 (38.2%) who were included in the investigation died during the follow-up period. The median long-term follow-up period was 34 (12-42) months. The frequency of AF was significantly higher in the non-survivor group. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, AF (HR: 2.195, 95%CI 1.365-3.415, p<0.001), advanced age, and blood urea level were determined as independent predictors for all-cause long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS AF is an independent predictor for long-term death in hip fracture cases above 65 years of age who were free from heart failure.
Automatic coefficients design for high-order sigma-delta modulators

An automatic-design methodology for designing high-tolerance modulator coefficients for high-order sigma-delta modulators (SDMs) from system specifications is presented. The methodology covers many design concerns including SDM coefficient tolerances for circuit component mismatch, stability, reduction of in-band tones, design tradeoffs among in-band noise suppression, oversampling ratio, and modulator order. Moreover, a high-order SDM synthesis tool (HOST) based on the methodology has been implemented in a C language program. Even for inexperienced designers, reliable and high-tolerance SDM coefficients for various applications can be automatically and efficiently generated using HOST. For synthesized SDM's with orders from three to eight and oversampling ratios from 32 to 256, coefficient variations within 2% (1% for the eighth order) are allowed and the resulting peak signal-to-noise ratio degradation is less than 3 dB. Several design examples synthesized by HOST are included.
Novel Exclusive-OR Gate and Full Adders Implementation Using Quantum Cellular Automata

Based upon the bistable saturation in quantum cellular automata and the concepts of digital circuits, a novel exclusive-OR gate and two kinds of full adders, which are composed of quantum cellular automata, are constructed. The Genetic Simulated Annealing Algorithm of quantum cellular automaton circuits is employed to simulate the circuits. The circuits designed by us are compared with the circuits constructed by Tougaw et al, and are concluded that our design possess more simple architecture and the scale is about half of those circuits constructed by Tougaw et al.
A comprehensive firewall testing methodology

This paper proposes an all encompassing test methodology for firewalls. It extends the life cycle model to revisit the major phases of the life cycle after a firewall is in service as foundations for the tests. The focus of the tests is to show that the firewall is, or isn’t, still fit for purpose. It also focuses on the traceability between business requirements through to policy, rule sets, physical design, implementation, egress and ingress testing, monitoring and auditing. The guidelines are provided by a Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP). The methodology is very much process driven and in keeping with the Security Systems Engineering Capability Maturity Model (SSECMM). This provides multiple advantages, including the capture of configuration errors, results are measurable and repeatable, assurance is developed and it can be used as a roadmap for process improvement. Sample tests are provided in the paper, but act merely as a guideline. It would be expected that the test and evaluation master plan be tailored for any specific organisation.
A New Risk Assessment Model to Check Safety Threats to Long-Distance Pipelines

With the number of long-distance pipelines increasing in China, risk management has become important for controlling pipeline leakage. However, all the current assessment technologies are semi-quantitative and do not include inspection data. To address this problem, a new quantitative risk assessment model is proposed to guide decision-making on excavation inspection and maintenance. Based on previous failure cases, the model includes data about the surrounding soils as well as about the pipeline's protective layer, cathodic protection and thickness readings. Testing of the proposed model on previous failure cases shows that the new model can correctly assess the real leakage risk of a long-distance pipeline and support the quantitative integrity management of a long-distance pipeline during its whole service life.