Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Navigating Virtual Environments: Re-Directed Driving in a Motorized Wheelchair

Virtual realities are computer-simulated 3D environments that provide visual and auditory information, often used in conjunction with motion tracking to give feedback for physical motion. Virtual reality often requires exploration of virtual environments much larger than the physical space available. This problem could be solved with redirection: a tool used to make one motion feel like another‐for example, subtly rotating a virtual world to make a person walk in circles when they think they are walking straight. One might think that the less accurate the motion feels, the harder it is to naturally update position while navigating an environment; however, previous research has proven that the illusion of motion is more important than actually moving. The present experiments use a motorized wheelchair to isolate rotational movement and measure navigational efficiency. Our study is broken up into two experiments; the first is a box search task where participants explore a circular room with sixteen randomly oriented boxes, eight of which are hidden targets. They explore the room in four states: complete physical movement, half physical movement, rotational only movement, and no movement. Our second experiment places the participant in the center of the room, and tests their ability to point to learned objects in the room while rotating, sometimes physically and sometimes only in their imagination. Initial results suggest that inaccurate motion (physical motion that does not align with the visual display) is better than no motion at all.
A feasibility study of existing gas turbines for recuperated, intercooled, and reheat cycle

In the present paper, a comprehensive and simple in application design methodology to obtain a gas turbine working on recuperated, intercooled, and reheat cycle utilizing existing gas turbines is presented. Applications of the proposed design steps have been implemented on the three existing gas turbines with wide ranging design complexities. The results of evaluated aerothermodynamic performance for these existing gas turbines with the proposed modifications are presented and compared in this paper. Sample calculations of the analysis procedures discussed, including stage-by-stage analysis of the compressor and turbine sections of the modified gas turbines, have been also included. All the three modified gas turbines were found to have higher performance, with cycle efficiency increase of 9% to 26%, in comparison to their original values.
Least-Energy Optimization of Forced Convection Plate-Fin Heat Sinks

A coefficient of performance (COP ) analysis for plate fin heat sinks in forced convection is presented and shown to provide a viable technique for combining least-material opti- mization with the entropy minimization methodology. The COP metric relates the heat sink cooling capability to the invested fan pumping work and the thermodynamic work required to man- ufacture and assemble the heat sink. The proposed optimization methodology maximizes the forced convection cooling that can be achieved by a heat sink occupying a specified volume, with a fixed energy investment and entropy generation rate. In addition, the study identifies the presence of an optimal resource allocation ratio, providing the most favorable distribution of existing energy resources, between heat sink manufacturing and operation, over a fixed product life cycle.
Interpretability of deep neural networks used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic brain disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. Patients suffering from AD experience memory loss, confusion, and other cognitive and behavioral complications. As the disease progresses, these symptoms become severe enough to interfere with the patient's daily life. Since AD is an irreversible disease and existing treatments can only slow down its progress, early diagnosis of AD is a key moment in fighting this disease. In this article, we propose a novel approach for diagnosing AD via deep neural networks from magnetic resonance imaging images. Additionally, we propose three new propagation rules for the layer‐wise relevance propagation (LRP) method, which is a method used for visualizing evidence in deep neural networks to obtain a better understanding of the network's behavior. We also propose various rule configurations for the LRP to achieve better interpretability of the network. Our proposed classification method achieves a 92% accuracy when classifying AD versus healthy controls, which is comparable to state‐of‐the‐art approaches and could potentially aid doctors in AD diagnosis and reduce the occurrence of human error. Our proposed visualization approaches also show improvements in evidence visualization, which helps the spread of computer‐aided diagnosis in the medical domain by eliminating the “black‐box” nature of the neural networks.
Short-term resource scheduling with ramp constraints [power generation scheduling]

This paper describes a Lagrangian relaxation-based method to solve the short-term resource scheduling (STRS) problem with ramp constraints. Instead of discretizing the generation levels, the ramp rate constraints are relaxed with the system demand constraints using Lagrange multipliers. Three kinds of ramp constraints, startup, operating and shutdown ramp constraints are considered. The proposed method has been applied to solve the hydro-thermal generation scheduling problem at PG&E. An example alone with numerical results is also presented.
Electromagnetic bandgap power/ground planes for wideband suppression of ground bounce noise and radiated emission in high-speed circuits

A power/ground planes design for efficiently eliminating the ground bounce noise (GBN) in high-speed digital circuits is proposed by using low-period coplanar electromagnetic bandgap (LPC-EBG) structure. Keeping solid for the ground plane and designing an LPC-EBG pattern on the power plane, the proposed structure omnidirectionally behaves highly efficiently in suppression of GBN (over 50 dB) within the broad-band frequency range (over 4 GHz). In addition, the proposed designs suppress radiated emission (or electromagnetic interference) caused by the GBN within the stopband. These extinctive behaviors of low radiation and broad-band suppression of the GBN is demonstrated numerically and experimentally. Good agreements are seen. The impact of the LPC-EBG power plane on the signal integrity for the signals referring to the power plane is investigated. Two possible solutions, differential signals and an embedded LPC-EBG power plane concept, are suggested and discussed to reduce the impact.
Robust flux weakening scheme for surface-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous drives employing an adaptive lattice-structure filter

An advanced control structure for surface-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous (SMPMS) drives provides a stable, high performance operation in the flux weakening region, utilizing the over-modulation and six-step modes of the space vector modulation (SVM). An automatic transition into flux weakening is achieved by controlling the reference voltage magnitude. The fifth and seventh stator current harmonics of the fundamental frequency, generated in the over-modulation and six-step modes, propagate through the current control loops, resulting in the sixth harmonic in the reference voltage and deteriorating drive performance. To filter the sixth harmonic, an adaptive lattice-structure allpass-based notch filter is employed, providing minimal phase delay and complete attenuation of the sixth harmonic.
Baltic dry index and global economic policy uncertainty: evidence from the linear and nonlinear Granger causality tests

ABSTRACT This study investigates the linear and nonlinear Granger causality relationship between the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and global economic policy uncertainty (GEPU). There is a unidirectional linear Granger causality relationship running from GEPU to the BDI and no nonlinear Granger causality relationship between the BDI and GEPU. Hence, the Granger causality running from GEPU to the BDI is relatively direct, concise and swift but not very complicated. The linear Granger causality relationship between them is time-varying.
Total quality management: An empirical test for mediation effect

This study reviews empirical studies of total quality management (TQM) and has identified four different approaches of examining TQM practices-performance relationships. It reveals that a consensus on how TQM practices affect quality performance has yet to emerge. Based on their findings, some researchers conclude that 'supportive' practices can bring quality improvement, while some indicate that 'core' practices do. To add to the complexity, some support both. The current study seeks to examine the relationship between supportive and core TQM practices and their direct and indirect effects on quality performance. A mediation model was hypothesized and tested by hierarchical multiple regression based on a sample of 25 electronics companies in Hong Kong. In general, the survey study gives further support for the interdependent nature of TQM practices. The results showed that the effect of training and employee relations on quality performance might be largely transmitted by certain core quality management practices. In particular, it suggests that core TQM practices mediate the effect of supportive TQM practices on quality performance when the practices are taken as two integrated factors. Both researchers and practitioners are advised to consider the interdependencies of supportive and core factors when assessing the impact of any new technology or new management technique on an organization.
A procedure to design stacked microstrip patch antennas based on a simple network model

A stacked patch configuration has been demonstrated experimentally as a feasible solution to enhance the bandwidth of a microstrip antenna, but little information on the design procedure is available. A design scheme based on a simple network model is presented. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 30: 149–151, 2001.
Tolerance of soil bacterial community to tetracycline antibiotics induced by As, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr and Pb pollution

Abstract. The widespread use of both heavy metals and antibiotics in livestock farming and their subsequent arrival on agricultural soils through manure/slurry spreading has become a problem of vital importance for human health and the environment. In the current research, a laboratory experiment was carried out for 42 days to study co-selection for tolerance of three tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, TC; oxytetracycline, OTC; chlortetracycline, CTC) in soils polluted with heavy metals (As, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr and Pb) at high concentration levels (1000 mg kg−1 of each one, separately). Pollution Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) of the bacterial community was estimated using the leucine incorporation technique. The Log IC50 (logarithm of the concentration causing 50 % inhibition in bacterial community growth) values obtained in uncontaminated soil samples for all the heavy metals tested showed the following toxicity sequence: Cu > As > Cr ≥ Pb ≥ Cd > Zn > Ni. However, in polluted soil samples the toxicity sequence was: Cu > Pb ≥ As ≥ Cd ≥ Cr ≥ Ni ≥ Zn. Moreover, at high metal concentrations the bacterial communities show tolerance to the metal itself, this taking place for all the metals tested in the long term. The bacterial communities of the soil polluted with heavy metals showed also long-term co-tolerance to TC, OTC, and CTC. This kind of studies, focusing on the eventual increases of tolerance and co-tolerance of bacterial communities in agricultural soil, favored by the presence of other pollutants, is of crucial importance, mostly bearing in mind that the appearance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil bacteria could be transmitted to human pathogens.
A cross sectional study on COVID-19 vaccine acceptances and barriers to vaccination in district Jhansi

Background: The long-term control of the pandemic COVID-19 pandemic hinges on the uptake of vaccine and high immunization uptake is critical. Vaccine hesitancy is one of the top 10 threats to global health. Hesitancy will be a challenge to curbing this pandemic.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was done among the population in Jhansi where data was collected through an online questionnaire using Google forms and was distributed using social media platforms. Total of 220 data was collected.Results: 80.2% of the respondents were willing to get vaccinated. 78.9% of the respondents have taken previous vaccinations by the government. 70 of them trust government health care departments and media (82.2%) is the least trusted platform regarding vaccination. Majority agreed to the perceived benefits of COVID-19. 80.3% were willing to take free vaccination. 46.9% were willing to pay for COVID vaccine.Conclusions: The scenario in Jhansi was positive towards the vaccination drive and majority of them were willing to get vaccinated. But strategies must be made effective in terms of elevating the barriers to vaccination.
El impacto de redes de colaboración en la innovación tecnológica en empresas

Las empresas manufactureras latinoamericanas deben desarrollar innovaciones para ser competitivas. Por ello, esta investigación tiene dos objetivos: primero, analizar cómo se relacionan las conexiones con clientes, proveedores, competidores e institutos de investigación con la capacidad de absorción, y, segundo, demostrar la relación existente entre la capacidad de absorción y la innovación tecnológica. Se desarrolló un modelo teórico para mostrar la relación entre las variables, a las cuales se les aplicó el método de ecuaciones estructurales, utilizando el software AMOS, a una muestra de 1098 empresas manufactureras peruanas que participaron en la segunda encuesta nacional de innovación realizada en 2015. Este estudio contribuye a la literatura sobre cómo las empresas se relacionan con las redes de colaboración para mejorar la capacidad de innovación, de esta manera obtienen conocimiento aplicando el enfoque de innovación abierta entrante, este conocimiento procesado a través de la capacidad de absorción de la empresa mejorará su capacidad de innovación. Las empresas manufactureras de intensidad tecnológica baja o media-baja realizan inversiones en maquinaria, hardware y software y tienen más capacidad para realizar innovaciones de productos y procesos. Las innovaciones en producto permiten a las empresas mantener o incrementar su posición en el mercado o tener clientes más satisfechos, al tiempo que realizan innovaciones en los procesos para reducir sus costos operativos o ser más eficientes.
PERANCANGAN KONTROLER PID PREDIKTIF ROBOT MODEL SEGWAY

Abstrak – Kontroler Robot model Segway merupakan plant yang tidak linier dengan banyak gangguan dari internal maupun eksternal. Dengan perubahan sudut karena pengaruh beban saat bergerak atau sudut elevasi dari titik tegak untuk mencapai titik seimbang robot. Adapun pengaruh gangguan akan memperbesar sudut elevasi yang harus diredam agar tetap seimbang. Untuk mendeteksi perubahan sudut kemiringan, maka diperlukan sensor yang bisa membaca perubahan sudut dan gangguan yang terjadi terhadap plant. Untuk mempertahankan keseimbangan dapat diselesaikan dengan kontroler PID, sedangkan untuk mendeteksi perubahan yang akan terjadi akan datang diperlukan kontrol prediksi. Robot ini memiliki kemampuan untuk menjaga keseimbangan dengan dua roda dan bekerja pada sudut -8 derajat sampai +8 derajat untuk memperoleh keseimbangan. Kata kunci : kontroler, gangguan, sudut elevasi
Mobile Sensing for Emotion Recognition in Smartphones: A Literature Review on Non-Intrusive Methodologies

ABSTRACT This paper aims to provide the reader with a comprehensive background for understanding current knowledge on the use of non-intrusive Mobile Sensing methodologies for emotion recognition in Smartphone devices. We examined the literature on experimental case studies conducted in the domain during the past six years (2015–2020). Search terms identified 95 candidate articles, but inclusion criteria limited the key studies to 30. We analyzed the research objectives (in terms of targeted emotions), the methodology (in terms of input modalities and prediction models) and the findings (in terms of model performance) of these published papers and categorized them accordingly. We used qualitative methods to evaluate and interpret the findings of the collected studies. The results reveal the main research trends and gaps in the field. The study also discusses the research challenges and considers some practical implications for the design of emotion-aware systems within the context of Distance Education.
Anatomical and Functional Outcome of Epiretinal Membrane Peeling Surgery

Background: The purpose of this study is to study the anatomical and functional outcome of epiretinal membrane peeling surgery by evaluating the visual outcomes, comparing the pre and post operative macular thickness and functional changes through electroretinogram.Methods: It is a non-randomized, open labelled, prospective study conducted in a tertiary eye care centre. The anatomical and functional outcome of epiretinal membrane peeling surgery was evaluated by comparing the preoperative BCVA, OCT and ERG with post operative results of the same, at 4 & 12 weeks after the surgery in 25 eyes. Results: There was a significant reduction in CFT (p ≤0.05) with marked improvement in vision on follow ups at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after removal of ERM with significant reduction in the macular edema. On post operative ERG, 18 (72%) patients showed global improvement in amplitudes and P1 implicit time as compared to their preoperative value while 2 (8%) patients showed global improvement in amplitude but there was still delay in P1 implicit time as similar to their preoperative value and 4 patients (16%) showed no improvement in global amplitude as well as in P1 implicit time.Conclusions: ERM peeling surgery in selected cases improves visual acuity significantly in majority of the patients. CFT and foveal architecture significantly improves with ERM peeling surgery which also explains the improvement in functional visual acuity. ERG interpretation goes along the improvement in best corrected visual acuity signifying improvement in functioning of macula.
The impact of customer relationship management through implementation of information systems

CRM has been widely regarded as a company activity related to developing and retaining customers through increased satisfaction and loyalty. IT-based CRM systems have been applied in many industry sectors. CRM provides analytical, operational, and direction capabilities: the analytical capabilities enhance profitability maximisation from the customer relationship, operational capabilities cut across the customer value process, and direction capabilities depend on strategic skills and reflect the sharpness of long-term cooperation and organisational values. The research goal was to determine how a customer-oriented firm uses information systems to affect CRM profitability. In this article, we formulate the CRM profitability model by relationship marketing from a system efficiency perspective, and in total we mailed 552 survey questionnaires to 58 international hotels in Taiwan, and 235 survey questionnaires were collected. Using structural equation modelling analysis, the research findings suggest that customer relationship management profitability is not only dependent on the quality of information systems but also on service orientation and service processes.
Upper Eocene planktonic foraminifera from northern Saudi Arabia: implications for stratigraphic ranges

Abstract. The Rashrashiyah Formation of the Sirhan Basin in northern Saudi Arabia contains diverse assemblages of planktonic foraminifera. We examined the biostratigraphy, stratigraphic range and preservation of upper Eocene planktonic foraminifera. Assemblages are well-preserved and diverse, with 40 species and 11 genera. All samples are assigned to the Priabonian Globigerinatheka semiinvoluta Highest Occurrence Zone (E14), consistent with calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy indicating Zone CNE17. Well-preserved planktonic foraminifera assemblages from the lower part of the upper Eocene are rare worldwide. Our study provides new insights into the stratigraphic ranges of many species. We find older (Zone E14) stratigraphic occurrences of several species of Globoturborotalita previously thought to have evolved in the latest Eocene (Zone E15, E16) or Oligocene; these include G. barbula, G. cancellata, G. gnaucki, G. pseudopraebulloides, and G. paracancellata. Older stratigraphic occurrences for Dentoglobigerina taci and Subbotina projecta are also found, and Globigerinatheka kugleri occurs at a younger stratigraphic level than previously proposed. Our revisions to stratigraphic ranges indicate that the late Eocene had a higher tropical–subtropical diversity of planktonic foraminifera than hitherto reported.
Aerobots in planetary exploration

Robotic balloons (aerobots) may significantly change the future of in situ planetary exploration. On Mars, the aerobots can fill the gap in resolution/coverage between the orbiters and rovers. Powered aerobots (airships) can make controlled global flights for high-resolution radar, visible, infrared, thermal, magnetic, and neutron mapping; they can be used for deployment of network of surface stations. Tethered balloons could provide ultra high-resolution imaging of local areas for navigation of rovers and data relay to the main lander station. Solar-heated balloons could be used as low atmospheric decelerators for low-speed landing. In the more distant future the airships could be used for human transportation. On Venus, aerobots may serve as the scientific platforms for the in situ atmospheric measurement and for study of atmospheric circulation. They can be used to drop imaging and deep sounding probes at sites of interest and to acquire and relay high-rate imaging data. Balloons technology is enabling for any Venus surface sample return mission. On Titan, powered aerobots can perform long duration low-altitude global flight for surface mapping, in situ atmospheric measurements, deployment of landers and rovers for in situ surface studies. Aerobots can also be used for long-duration atmospheric studies of the outer planets. Aerobot technologies have become more mature in recent years due to progress in development of envelope materials, and envelope design driven primarily by stratospheric applications. Technologies for deployment and inflation, navigation, control, communication and power are also developing rapidly in response to planetary applications.
Research of Underground Wireless Sensor Networks Based on CC1110

In view of the harsh and variable underground environment, the current existing coal mine monitoring system is difficult to expand and has monitoring blind spot. Based on CC1110 chip and SimpliciTI network protocol, we present a design scheme of underground wireless sensor network which relies on automatic monitoring and alarm to the mine area environmental parameters. First, introduces the system composition structure, and the hardware design of independent communication subnet. Secondly, explains the system network protocol, network access mechanism used of periodic synchronous, and channel prediction. Finally, describes the software design of monitoring nodes. The test results show that the network nodes have many characteristics such as long-distance communication, movability, build up flexibly, high stability, and so on.