Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and costs of overland skid trail BMPs

Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) are designed to protect water quality; however, little data exists comparing the efficacy and costs of different BMP options for skid trail closure. Study objectives were to evaluate erosion control effectiveness and implementation costs of five overland skid trail closure techniques. Closure techniques were: waterbar only (Control), waterbar plus seed (Seed), waterbar plus seed and mulch (Mulch), waterbar plus hardwood slash (Hardwood), and waterbar plus pine slash (Pine). Techniques were replicated on four skid trails. Sediment traps were used to capture sediment for 13 months. Data indicated that Mulch was the most effective for controlling erosion (1.5 tons/acre/year), followed by Hardwood (2.3 tons/acre/year), Pine (2.4 tons/acre/year), Seed (6.1 tons/ acre/year), and Control (10.8 tons/acre/year). Incorporating slash dispersal and compaction onto overland skid trails during harvesting activities may be the best option for reducing BMP costs and potential erosion, but all treatments may be appropriate for certain situations.
Controlling conducted EMI emission on a Buck-boost converter using gate controlled circuit

The suppression of conducted EMI emissions of a Buck-boost converter using a gate controlled circuit is presented. The results indicate that the conducted EMI could be suppressed by controlling the rise and fall time of the gate signal when using a MOSFET as a switching device. The simulated results of the Buck-boost converter at a 100 kHz switching frequency are compared with the experimental results.
Modelling the siltation in the Rotterdam harbour area

The supply of cohesive sediment of marine origin to the entrance area of the harbour of Rotterdam is simulated with a three-dimensional model for the transport of suspended fine sediment. The model reproduces observed transport phenomena. The possible reclamation of land in this area could have a large influence on the transport of suspended fine sediment. Model results of the import of suspended fine sediment into the harbour of Rotterdam in the present situation have been compared to results of calculations in the situation in case of land reclamation.
High accuracy road vehicle state estimation using extended Kalman filter

This paper describes the theoretical development and evaluation of the multisensor navigation system for high speed road vehicle. The paper focuses on the design of the nonlinear process model that is able to cope with vehicle slip using multisensor data from the inertial sensors, odometry, and D-GPS. The algorithm was evaluated using a vehicle dynamics simulator built to allow the simulation of a wide variety of driving scenarios. The simulation results show that the scheme is able to significantly reduce the errors in vehicle position and orientation estimates. They also show that the scheme allows slip angle estimation and accelerometer bias estimation.
Mining Blocks' Association Rules for Disk Data Perfecting

as the processor-I/O gap continues widening, the modern I/O-bound applications such as Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) often suffer from great latency of disk access. In this paper, we argue that the block association rule can be recognized as common semantic information embedded in disk I/O traces and it can be utilized to direct disk prefetching. We propose a novel mining approach to extract such association rules to benefit prefetching. The experimental results show that this proposed approach is effective in increasing prefetching accuracy, and the disk latency can be reduced by this association rule based
Burst Detection and Location in Pipelines and Pipe Networks - With Application in Water Distribution

Sudden pipe bursts occur in high-pressure water transmission pipelines and water distribution networks. The consequences of these bursts can be very expensive due to the outage time while the burst pipe is repaired, the cost of repair, and damage to surrounding property and infrastructure. As a result, it is advantageous to minimise the detection and location time after the burst occurs. Currently, there is no effective solution for the burst detection and location problem in water distribution systems. The applications in oil and gas pipelines and pipe networks show the advantages of continuous monitoring. A number of techniques are used to determine the location and size of a burst. One of the most promising approaches is fluid transient modelling and analysis. Pressure transient analysis has also been successfully applied for detection and location of existing leaks. A sudden pipe burst creates a negative pressure wave that travels in both directions away from the burst point. The analysis of this wave is the main principle for the techniques presented in this thesis. Experiences from previous research suggest that, to achieve the best performance, single pipelines and pipe networks have to be treated separately. Thus, two different approaches for burst detection and location are presented. When a burst occurs in a pipeline, the burst-induced pressure wave travels in both directions along the pipeline and is reflected at the boundaries. Using a pressure trace measured at one location along the pipeline, the timing of the initial and reflected burst-induced waves determines the location of the burst. The presented continuous monitoring technique uses the modified two-sided cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm to detect abrupt changes in the pressure data caused by the pipe break. The results from both laboratory and field pipelines are used to verify the proposed method. Different burst and measurement locations are tested. The results are promising for burst detection and location in real systems. In the network case, continuous pressure measurements at two locations are analysed. The burst detection and location algorithm is based on the difference between the arrival times of the burst-induced pressure wave at each measurement point and on the measured wave magnitude. The arrival times are determined automatically in real time. A method for determining optimal measurement locations is also presented. Results from numerical simulations show that the proposed technique has potential as a tool for effective detection and location of bursts in real pipe networks. Most transient-based techniques use transient modelling for analysis or validation. The development of a transient model comprises part of the work presented in this thesis. The Method of Characteristics is used to solve the governing unsteady flow equations. Models for unsteady friction, leakage and burst are included. The model is used to validate the results of burst detection and location. iv (Less)
Synthetic long baseline navigation of underwater vehicles

Describes a concept (patent pending) for accurate autonomous deep-water navigation of underwater vehicles (UVs) for extended periods of time. The concept is called synthetic long baseline (SLBL) and is based on the combination of dead-reckoning (DR) and acoustic range and/or range rate measurements from a single acoustic source, e.g., a transponder moored to the sea floor. Focus is kept on a simple form of SLBL, which can be implemented using existing commercial-off-the-shelf components. Combined with a high performance dead-reckoning navigation system, SLBL provides adequate accuracy and redundancy to eliminate the need for a USBL equipped survey ship or a full LBL transponder network, even on long duration deep water surveys. Some level of redundancy is incorporated, which permits quality control of navigation data. Experimental results, from accuracy verification tests of the high performance doppler-inertial dead-reckoning based navigation system MARPOS(R), suggests that SLBL will provide sub-meter positioning accuracy for 1/spl times/1 km site surveys using a single transponder as the reference point. The performance is almost independent of water depth. The presented SLBL system may also allow for highly accurate and cost-efficient pipeline surveys and a variety of other applications.
WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR RICE - A REVIEW

Rice responds well to water management practices. The practice of land submergence in rice culture is widely adopted due to its many inherent advantages. However, attempts were made to economise water usage and maximise yield by intermittent submergence and similar other water management practices. Research carried out on other aspects on rice is reviewed in this paper.
Experimental analysis of the vorticity and turbulent flow dynamics of a pitching airfoil at realistic flight (helicopter) conditions

Abstract : The primary objective of this research proposal was improved understanding of the fundamental vorticity and turbulent flow physics for a dynamically stalling airfoil at realistic helicopter flight conditions. To meet this objective, an experimental program using high-resolution particle image velocimetry was performed. High-resolution planar contours of the instantaneous and mean velocity field on a dynamically pitching NACA 0012 airfoil operating in the Texas A&M University large-scale wind tunnel are planned. For the present study, the Mach number, chord Reynolds number, and reduced frequency were selected as 0.2/0.3, 2.0/2.8x106 and 0.1/0.18, respectively. The test matrix included static attached, static stall, light dynamic stall and deep dynamic stall. The goal of these analyses was improved understanding of the dynamic stall processes at realistic flight conditions. The velocity data was processed to examine the vorticity and turbulent transport near the leading edge during stall. The data from this study are summarized in this report.
Genetic Evaluation of Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cattle

This thesis aims to advance our understanding of the genetic background of mastitis resistance in dairy cattle. More particularly, it seeks to improve the potential of genetic evaluation of clinical mastitis (CM) both by utilizing more of the available information and by applying appropriate methodology. A linear cross-sectional model was used to estimate genetic parameters for binary CM, somatic cell count (SCC) and milk production in the first three lactations of Swedish Holstein cows. The unfavorable genetic correlations found between udder health and production traits emphasize the need to include mastitis resistance in the breeding goal. The higher heritability of SCC (0.10-0.14) than CM (0.01-0.03) and the high genetic correlation between these two traits (average 0.70) imply that SCC is a useful indicator trait in breeding for improved mastitis resistance. The method of survival analysis was used to analyze time to first CM and was compared with a linear cross-sectional model on field data and with linear and threshold cross-sectional models in a simulation study. Despite the theoretical advantages of survival analysis, there was no difference in the accuracy of genetic evaluation when methods were compared within the same length of opportunity period. The correlation between true and predicted sire breeding values in the simulation study was, however, 8% greater when data from the full lactation rather than the first 150 days were used. Longitudinal binary CM data in 12 intervals of first lactation were analyzed as repeated observations in a linear random regression model. This method has some appealing features so far as genetic evaluation of CM is concerned, but it was found rather sensitive for parameter estimation in the current setting. Genetic parameters from the chosen random regression model agreed rather well, however, with the corresponding estimates from a linear longitudinal multivariate model in which records of CM in the different intervals were considered as different traits. Both longitudinal models indicated clearly that CM is not the same trait genetically throughout lactation, something that is ignored in a cross-sectional model.
Modeling Macro-Cognitive Influence on Information Sharing between Members of a Joint Team

Abstract : Research exploring the effectiveness of joint military teams lacks the empirical robustness found in similar multicultural team research from the business domain. This research study broadens the study of effective military teams through an assessment of the factors that influence a joint team's effectiveness by capitalizing on the business and psychological communities' exploration of successful team performance. Specifically, this research examines several key elements of poor team effectiveness identified by the business community in three empirical studies. The first study examined cultural orientation and service personality using two survey instruments: the Matsumoto Cultural Styles Questionnaire and the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience Five Factor Inventory (NEO FFI). The results showed that cultural and personality differences exist at significant levels between the services. The second study examined team information sharing processes in a war game environment composed of homogeneous and heterogeneous four-person teams. The results revealed that participants on heterogeneous teams, cued to the presence of cultural and personality differences among the team members, performed as well as homogeneous teams. The third study expanded the knowledge space of the team experiment by developing an agent-based model to replicate the war game. The model accurately represented the experimental data, confirming the author's hypothesis that computational models coded with actual data sets from human experimentation are more robust than models coded with notional data sets. The results demonstrate that joint team effectiveness improves by incorporating methodologies used in the business and simulation science communities.
FDTD analysis of a non-invasive sensor for the detection of breast tumours

The detection of breast cancer at an early stage is of vital importance if the high mortality rate from this disease is to be reduced. At present the most widely used imaging technique for the detection of breast tumours is mammography, however, a major disadvantage of this method is that it uses ionising radiation. There is therefore a need for complementary techniques which use non-ionising radiation, for example microwaves. Here the authors present results for a non-invasive imaging system which is currently being used to explore the feasibility of microwave imaging as a method of detecting breast tumours. The authors' purpose is to present a clear description of the theoretical model of the microwave sensor and to demonstrate the techniques used to match experimental measurements and calculated data. <<ETX>>
The art of building a car: the Swedish experience re‐examined

The Swedish automobile industry has recently encountered significant difficulties. This article reviews a major study of the relationships between production, technology and work organisation in Volvo and Saab. It compares the Swedish approach to automobile production with those of the American and Japanese companies and speculates on whether the Swedish industry will survive in the coming decade.
An experimental investigation of vibration suppression in Large Space Structures using positive position feedback

A new technique for vibration suppression in Large Space Structures is demonstrated in laboratory experiments on a thin cantilever beam, resulting in substantially reduced dynamic response. This technique, called Positive Position Feedback, makes use of generalized displacement measurements to accomplish vibration suppression. The concept of a piezoelectric active-member is developed in relation to controlling space-truss type structures. The active-member functions dually as a structural member and a control actuator. Piezoelectric ceramic material is adhered to a thin cantilever beam and simulates the use of an active-member. This space-realizable control scheme makes use of strain measurements, a preferred measurement quantity for vibration suppression, and internal control forces which completely decouple the rigid-body motion from the elastic motion. A simple necessary and sufficient condition for stability with Positive Position Feedback is presented. This condition is non-dynamic and is in general easily satisfied. As a result, Positive Position Feedback is demonstrated to have superior robust stability properties. It is also demonstrated that with Positive Position Feedback, all control and observation spillover is stabilizing. Five experiments are described in which the first six modes of vibration of the cantilever beam are controlled.
Silicon Microwire Arrays for Photoelectrochemical and Photovoltaic Applications

Si microwire (Si MW) arrays grown by the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process are promising materials for next-generation solar energy devices. High-aspect-ratio semiconductor structures have attracted recent interest as solar absorber materials because their radial geometry decouples the direction of light absorption and carrier collection, enabling the use of materials with shorter minority-carrier diffusion lengths than would be acceptable in a planar geometry. The VLS growth process is a low-cost deposition technique, which can be used to fabricate flexible, high-performance semiconductor materials. Si MW arrays have been investigated as an inexpensive alternative to wafer-based solar photovoltaics for low- cost electricity generation. Another potential application is to use these vertically oriented wire arrays as photocathodes of a solar fuel conversion devices, where instead of producing electricity, sunlight is used to directly drive a fuel-forming reaction (e.g., splitting water to form O2 and H2). The high aspect ratio of the Si MW arrays provides a large surface area for the integration of fuel-forming catalysts, allowing for the development of a low-cost, scalable, energy storage technology. This thesis discusses the fabrication and photoelectrochemical characterization of Si MWs grown by the VLS process, focusing on the use of these wire arrays as hydrogen- evolving photocathodes for solar water-splitting. To optimize such a device it is important to balance all of the factors that will affect performance: light absorption, band energetics, attainable open circuit voltage, and catalysis. First, we characterize the electrical performance of the wire arrays using regenerative photoelectrochemistry to understand the material quality and band energetics at the Si/water interface. We demonstrate the fabrication of H2-evolving photocathodes using p-n junction Si MW arrays and earth-abundant Ni–Mo alloy hydrogen evolution catalysts. We then investigate modifying the fabrication techniques for wire growth to lower the cost and processing time required to grow arrays of Si MWs. Finally, we study the band energetics of Si decorated with Pt to build a preliminary model of the heterogeneous catalyst/semiconductor/liquid interface.
URBAN TREE AVENUES – MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS A FACTOR IN TREES SELECTION

The knowledge about plant material and its applicability is an important factor in achieving quality in landscape design. It manifests itself in the appropriate selection of plant species for individual design solutions. Nowadays we can observe the selection of plants based on fashion; measures defined by creation of a certain space characteristic are omitted. The main problem is that in the literature the plant species are frequently treated individually and arranged according to the visual effect of each plant. In order to satisfy the needs of design practice for this research, it was necessary to ascertain the hidden designer potential of each plant, which is not identical with the pleasing effect of the plant. This is how the central problem is formulated in this research: to determine the selection criteria (of plant species), arising from the visual characteristics of the plants and, based on these criteria to determine the suitability of plants to create visual effects of a tree avenue. In this sense we can stress the importance of proving the connection between morphological properties of the plants and the characteristics of tree avenues, which are formed by these very plants. The subject of this research is plant material, 193 trees, systematized according to their size, shape, habitus, texture, colour, as well as the seasonal appearance of individual characteristics. We established criteria for the selection of morphological properties of the trees that allowed us to achieve a certain visual character of a tree avenue. The process of plants selection is shown on a concrete example, whereby certain design demands determine the choice of adequate plants. For the final selection of plants it is necessary to add criteria arising from eco-physiological needs of the plants and from technological demands.
Öğrencilerin Bilgisayar ve Internet Kullanımında Yeni Bir Boyut : İnternet Bağımlılığı

The developments in technology offer a variety of technological products which make daily life easier. Today Internet enables people to reach and share information in any field. However, it brings about some side effects/drawbacks as well. These are mainly due to inappropriate handling with technology. This is especially valid in the case of internet usage. Studies indicate that there is a possibility that students become addicted to computer and internet. They also show that such over usage of computer and/or Internet affects students’ social relationships and academic achievements in a negative way. The present study aims to find out Internet usage of the prospective computer teachers and thereby to define the concept of “internet addiction” according to the components and symptoms occur in student teachers’ written feedbacks. The research was carried out with 57 student teachers of Computer and Instructional Technologies Department at Marmara University. They were asked to reflect on questions concerning the usage of Internet. Then their written responses were examined and categoriesed. Findings indicated that 95% of the student teachers have their own personal computers, of which 44% have ADSL connections for Internet. Findings also showed that 29 of the student teachers (50%) complained about the time they wasted on unnecessary things while surfing in the Internet. Some of these prospective teachers pointed out that in some cases Internet limits their time needs to be allocated for their other responsibilities such as studying, doing homework or working on their projects. Keywords : Internet addiction, computer addiction, computer usage, internet usage, over usage, unfavourable usage
Mathematics and academic integrity: institutional support at a Canadian college

Academic integrity at our small Canadian college is informed by several key frameworks and centred around teaching, learning, and proactive education. Mathematics assessments were quickly moved through various learning environments over the past year, showing that some assessment design strategies were no longer feasible if they instead centred on potential academic misconduct. Other strategies commonly used in text-based fields, however, seem to have the potential for improving both academic integrity and learning in mathematics courses. While there are some legitimate uses for digital mathematics tools and apps in STEM fields and mathematics courses, students may use them, along with ‘homework help’ sites, for cognitive offloading. Connection to future careers at the assessment, course, program, and institutional levels will help students contextualize the importance of academic integrity. From the perspectives of students studying mathematics, wellness may be affected by the reactive or punitive use of academic misconduct identification methods such as e-proctoring. Instructional practices focused on increasing student self-efficacy and reducing mathematics anxiety may also help students to learn with integrity.