Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrated Materials and Construction Practices for Concrete Pavement: A State-of-the-Practice Manual

At the heart of all concrete pavement projects is the concrete itself. This manual is intended as both a training tool and a reference to help concrete paving engineers, quality control personnel, specifiers, contractors, suppliers, technicians, and tradespeople bridge the gap between recent research and practice regarding optimizing the performance of concrete for pavements. Specifically, it will help readers do the following: (1) Understand concrete pavement construction as a complex, integrated system involving several discrete practices that interrelate and affect one another in various ways. (2) Understand and implement technologies, tests, and best practices to identify materials, concrete properties, and construction practices that are known to optimize concrete performance. (3) Recognize factors that lead to premature distress in concrete, and learn how to avoid or reduce those factors. (4) Quickly access how-to and troubleshooting information.
Critical Infrastructure Rebuild Prioritization Using Simulation Optimization

Abstract : This thesis examines the importance of a critical infrastructure rebuild strategy following a terrorist attack or natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. Critical infrastructures are very complex and dependent systems in which their re-establishment is an essential part of the rebuilding process. A rebuild simulation model consisting of three layers (physical, information, and spatial) captures the dependency between the six critical infrastructures modeled. We employ a simulation optimization approach to evaluate rebuild prioritization combinations with a goal of minimizing the time needed to achieve an acceptable rebuild level. We use a simulated annealing heuristic as an optimization technique that works in concert with the rebuild simulation model. We test our approach with three disaster scenarios and find that the initial rebuild strategy greatly impacts the time to recover. With respect to the scenarios tested, we recommend a rebuild strategy and areas for further investigation that may be of use to disaster and emergency management organizations.
Is the Rigidity of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Motif the Hallmark for Its Enhanced Infectivity? An Answer from All-Atoms Simulations

The latest outbreak of a new pathogenic coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is provoking a global health, economic and societal crisis. All-atom simulations enabled us to uncover the key molecular traits underlying the high affinity of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein towards its human receptor, providing a rationale to its high infectivity. Harnessing this knowledge can boost developing effective medical countermeasures to fight the current global pandemic.
Technical queries of a 3D design custom-made implant made from titanium particles for maxillofacial bone reconstruction

Abstract Accurate 3D bone reconstruction is one of the most difficult tasks to achieve in maxillo-facial surgery. In the present study, a zygomatic bone defect was reconstructed with a custom made implant fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) processing from titanium particles. 2 years follow-up revealed diplopia (double vision) resolution, as well as esthetic and functional stabile reconstruction. Technical queries regarding the fabrication process and medical reconstruction are discussed.
Design and implementation of power system stabilizers in wind plants

II RESUME III TABLE OF CONTENTS V LIST OF TABLES XII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Power Systems Stability 1 1.2 Proliferation of Wind Energy 2 1.2.1 Wind Turbine Generator Technologies 3 1.2.2 Variable Speed Wind Turbine 4 1.2.3 Technical Benefits of Variable Speed Wind Turbines 4 1.2.4 Wind Integration and Grid Codes 5 1.2. 5 Compliance of Wind Farm with Grid Code Requirements 6 1.3 Power System Stabilizers 7 1.3. 1 Synchronous Machine Based Power System Stabilizers: State of The Art 8 1.3. 2 Experience with FACTS, HVDC and Load Modulation 9 1.3. 3 Wind Machine Based Power System Stabilizers 10 1.4 Research Motivation 10 1.4. 1 Problem Definition 11 1.4. 2 Research Goals 11 1.4. 3 Contributions 12 1.5 Thesis Outline 12 CHAPTER 2: WIND PLANT MODELING AND CONTROL 14 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Doubly Fed Induction Machine Background 15 2.3 Wind Turbine Generator 16 2.3. 1 Grid side converter control 17 2.3. 2 Machine side converter control 17 2.3. 3 Variable Pitch Control 17 2.4 Commercial 1.5MW Wind Turbine Model 18 2.4. 1 Active Power Control 18 2.4. 2 Reactive Power Control 19 2.4. 3 Wind Turbine Electric Interface Model 20
Detection of breast cancer with electrical impedance mammography

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a medical imaging technique that reconstructs internal electrical conductivity distribution of a body from impedance data that is measured on the body surface, and Electrical Impedance Mammography (EIM) is the technique that applies EIT in breast cancer detection. The use of EIM for breast cancer identification is highly desirable because it is a non-invasive and low-cost imaging technology. EIM has the potential in detecting early stage cancer, however there are still challenges that hindering EIM to be provided as a routine health care system. There are three major groups of obstacles. One is the hardware design, which includes the selection of electronic components, electrode-skin contacting methods, etc. Second is theoretical problems such as electrode configurations, image reconstruction and regularization methods. Third is the development of analysis methods and generation of a cancerous tissue database. Research reported in this thesis strives to understand these problems and aims to provide possible solutions to build a clinical EIM system. The studies are carried out in four parts. First the functionalities of the Sussex Mk4 EIM system have been studied. Sensitivity of the system was investigated to find out the strength and weakness of the system. Then work has been made on image reconstruction and regularization methods in order to enhance the system’s endurance to noise, also to balance the reconstruction conductivity distribution throughout the reconstructed object. Then a novel cancer diagnosis technique was proposed. It was developed based on the electrical property of human breast tissue and the behaviour or systematic noise, to provide repeatable results for each patient. Finally evaluation has been made on previous EIM systems to find out the major problems. Based on sensitivity analysis, an optimal combined electrode configuration has been proposed to improve sensitivity. The system has been developed and produced meaningful clinical images. The work makes significant contributions to society. This novel cancer diagnosis method has high accuracy for cancer identification. The combined electrode configuration has also provided flexibilities in the designing of current driving and voltage receiving patterns, thus sensitivity of the EIM system can be greatly improved.
Is there an appropriate model of community wind turbine ownership for New Zealand? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Historically, public ownership of telecommunications, railways, ports, and energy, amongst other infrastructure, has been important in New Zealand. In the electricity sector local authorities generated and supplied electricity from the early 1900s. Thus in a sense electricity generation was in the hands of community owned and operated trading enterprises. However, the reforms of the 1980s and 1990s brought significant restructuring of this infrastructure based on the market model of privatisation. Since 1992 energy companies have been required to operate as successful businesses despite being ultimately owned by community trusts which, in effect, hold the assets of the energy company in trust for the community. However, it is arguable as to whether this model actually pursues social and community objectives. Community ownership of wind turbines is common in some European countries, but there are currently no examples of this form of ownership in New Zealand. This thesis defines community ownership and by examining case studies in Scotland, Denmark and Australia, proposes a model of community ownership appropriate to wind turbine ownership in New Zealand. Specifically, this thesis seeks to identify community ownership models that are capable of promoting holistic environmental justice by reconciling social justice with ecological justice. A number of forms of community ownership are identified in the various case study countries and a comparative analysis is carried out of these exemplars. On the basis of these studies it is found to be possible for a form of community ownership of wind turbines to exist in New Zealand that incorporates both social justice and ecological justice principles as holistic environmental justice.
The development of low‐calorie sugar and functional jujube food using biological transformation and fermentation coupling technology

Abstract Jujube juice has been used as ingredient in a range of foods and dietary supplements. In this study, an enzyme transformation and fermentation coupling technology was applied to increase the nutritional value of concentrated/extracted Jinsi jujube juice. Two enzymes, D‐glucose isomerase (GI) and D‐allulose 3‐epimerase (DAE), were employed to convert the glucose and fructose to a low‐calorie sweeter D‐allulose with a concentration of 110 g/L in jujube juice. Furthermore, the mixed cultures of Pediococcus pentosaceus PC‐5 and Lactobacillus plantarum M were employed to increase the content of nutrition components related to bioactivities and flavor volatiles in jujube juice. Accordingly, this fermentation accumulated 100 mg/L gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has neurotransmission, hypotension, diuretic, and tranquilizer effects, and increased the content of branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) and many free amino acids (Asp, Glu, Gly, and Ala) at different level. The fermentation not only maintained the concentration of native functional components such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and minerals, but also increased the content of iron (Fe2+) and zinc (Zn2+), which have blood and eyesight tonic function. The value‐added jujube juice might serve as a low‐calorie and probiotic functional beverage and show high application potential in food industry.
Relationship between monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with acute coronary syndrome: an optical coherence tomography study

Background The importance of monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) has been indicated in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, few previous researches demonstrated the relationship between MLR and plaque vulnerability. We aimed to investigate coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods A total of 72 ACS patients who underwent coronary angiography and OCT test in Beijing Anzhen hospital were included in this retrospective study. The plaque vulnerability and plaque morphology were assessed by OCT. Results The coronary plaque in high MLR group exhibited more vulnerable features, characterizing as thinner thickness of fibrous cap (FCT)(112.37 ± 60.24 vs 153.49 ± 73.29 μm, P = 0.013), greater maximum lipid core angle (167.36 ± 62.33 vs 138.79 ± 56.37°, P = 0.010) and longer lipid plaque length (6.34 ± 3.12 vs 4.50 ± 2.21mm, P = 0.041). A prominently negative liner relation was found between MLR and FCT (R = 0.225, P < 0.005). Meanwhile, the incidence of OCT-detected thin cap fibro-atheroma (TCFA) (44.7% vs 18.4%, P = 0.014) and plaque rupture (36.8% vs 13.2%, P = 0.017) were higher in high MLR group. Most importantly, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed MLR level was related to the presence of TCFA (OR:3.316，95%：1.448-7.593，P = 0.005). MLR level could differentiate TCFA with a sensitivity of 72.0% and a specificity of 66.1%. Conclusion Circulating MLR level has potential value in identifying the presence of vulnerable plaque in patients with ACS. MLR, as a non- invasive biomarker of inflammation, may be valuable in revealing plaque vulnerability. Key words Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, Optical coherence tomography, Plaque vulnerability
Bone strength, load tolerance and injury risk in elite Australian football

vii TABLE OF CONTENTS . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xv LIST OF TABLES . xix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xxii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION . 1 1.0 BACKGROUND . 1 1.1 PURPOSE OF RESEARCH . 11 1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH . 11 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS . 12 1.4 RESEARCH STUDIES . 13 1.5 LIMITATIONS . 14 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW . 15 2.0 OVERVIEW . 15 2.1 BONE ANATOMY . 15 2.1.1 Skeletal Function . 15 2.1.2 Macroscopic Architecture . 17 2.1.2.1 Trabecular Bone . 18 2.1.2.2 Cortical Bone . 19 xii 2.1.3 Microscopic Architecture . 20 2.1.3.1 Tissue Level . 21 2.1.3.2 Material Level . 22 2.2 PHYSIOLOGY OF BONE . 24 2.2.1 Cellular Mechanisms . 24 2.2.2 Endocrine Mechanisms. 26 2.2.3 Bone Adaptation . 29 2.2.3.1 Mechanotransduction . 29 2.2.3.2 Modelling . 31 2.2.3.3 Re-modelling . 34 2.2.3.4 Degradation . 38 2.3 BIOMECHANICS OF BONE . 41 2.3.1 Mechanical Loading . 41 2.3.1.1 Stress-Strain . 41 2.3.1.2 Strain Magnitude. 45 2.3.1.3 Strain Frequency . 47 2.3.1.4 Strain Rate & Distribution . 48 2.3.1.5 Strain Volume & Recovery . 50 2.3.2 Mechanical Behaviour . 55 2.3.2.1 Loading Types . 55 2.3.2.2 Material Contribution . 58 2.3.2.3 Structural Contribution . 65 2.3.2.4 Muscular Contribution . 70 2.3.2.5 Loading Tolerance . 75 2.4 BONE STRENGTH ADAPTATION . 78 2.4. 1 Measuring Bone Strength . 79 2.4. 1.1 Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry . 81 2.4. 1.2 peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography . 83 2.4. 1.3 Biochemical Markers . 85 2.4. 2 Effect of Physical Activity . 87 2.4. 2.1 Vibration Exercise . 90 2.4. 2.2 Locomotive Exercise . 94 2.4. 2.3 Resistance Exercise . 97 2.4. 2.4 Impact Exercise . 102 2.4. 2.5 Multi-modal Exercise . 105 2.4. 2.6 Sports Participation . 109 2.4. 2.7 Osteogenic Index . 113 2.4. 3 Effect of Pharmacology . 115 2.4. 4 Effect of Nutrition . 119 2.5 SUMMARY . 125 xiii CHAPTER THREE NORMATIVE AND COMPARATIVE QUANTIFICATION OF LOWER-BODY MUSCULOSKELETAL CHARACTERISTICS IN ELITE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLERS . 129 3.
Speech recognition using ad-hoc microphone arrays

While close talking microphones give the best signal quality and produce the highest accuracy from current Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems, the speech signal enhanced by microphone array has been shown to be an effective alternative in a noisy environment. The use of microphone arrays in contrast to close talking microphones alleviates the feeling of discomfort and distraction to the user. For this reason, microphone arrays are popular and have been used in a wide range of applications such as teleconferencing, hearing aids, speaker tracking, and as the front-end to speech recognition systems. With advances in sensor and sensor network technology, there is considerable potential for applications that employ ad-hoc networks of microphone-equipped devices collaboratively as a virtual microphone array. By allowing such devices to be distributed throughout the users’ environment, the microphone positions are no longer constrained to traditional fixed geometrical arrangements. This flexibility in the means of data acquisition allows different audio scenes to be captured to give a complete picture of the working environment. In such ad-hoc deployment of microphone sensors, however, the lack of information about the location of devices and active speakers poses technical challenges for array signal processing algorithms which must be addressed to allow deployment in real-world applications. While not an ad-hoc sensor network, conditions approaching this have in effect been imposed in recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ASR evaluations on distant microphone recordings of meetings. The NIST evaluation data comes from multiple sites, each with different and often loosely specified distant microphone configurations. This research investigates how microphone array methods can be applied for ad-hoc microphone arrays. A particular focus is on devising methods that are robust to unknown microphone placements in order to improve the overall speech quality and recognition performance provided by the beamforming algorithms. In ad-hoc situations, microphone positions and likely source locations are not known and beamforming must be achieved blindly. There are two general approaches that can be employed to blindly estimate the steering vector for beamforming. The first is direct estimation without regard to the microphone and source locations. An alternative approach is instead to first determine the unknown microphone positions through array calibration methods and then to use the traditional geometrical formulation for the steering vector. Following these two major approaches investigated in this thesis, a novel clustered approach which includes clustering the microphones and selecting the clusters based on their proximity to the speaker is proposed. Novel experiments are conducted to demonstrate that the proposed method to automatically select clusters of microphones (ie, a subarray), closely located both to each other and to the desired speech source, may in fact provide a more robust speech enhancement and recognition than the full array could.
WHO Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance: Executive Summary

Acknowledgements The World Health Organization (WHO) wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the significant support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and additional assistance for this work from the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. This strategy is the product of collaborative efforts across WHO, particularly in the clusters of Commu-nicable Diseases, Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals, and Family and Community Health, with significant input from the staff at WHO Regional Offices and from many partners working with WHO worldwide. In particular, WHO would like to acknowledge the important contributions made to the drafting of the strategy UK—that enabled them to spend time at WHO. WHO also wishes to thank all those who participated and contributed their expertise in the consultations (see Annex B) and those individuals and organizations that provided valuable comments on drafts of this document. This document is not a formal publication of the World Health Organization (WHO), and all rights are reserved by the Organization. The document may, however, be freely reviewed, abstracted, reproduced and translated, in part or in whole, but not for sale or for use in conjunction with commercial purposes. The views expressed in documents by named authors are solely the responsibility of those authors. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document, including tables and maps, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WHO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.
Man-machine and intermachine interaction in flexible manufacturing systems

Navigation in 3D environment encounters more challenges than in 2D case. While there exist well established framework, tested solutions for 2D environment these solution usually fail in 3D. In the recent years immersive 3D environments are becoming more common in research and also in education. This tool helps to visualize information simpler and more understandable way as any other solution. For human beings the feeling of depth is a unique feature and this is the most appropriate way to take advantage out of it. The goal of this study is to investigate the problem of navigation in 3D immersive environment and propose solution to it with carrying out usability study in a software solution called VirCa (Virtual Collaboration Arena). Total 6 Master level students have participated in the test. They have carried out simple navigation and manipulation tasks in the immersive environment and had to fill in different questionnaires. Methodology and results are also presented in the paper.
Rethinking Sales Management: A Strategic Guide for Practitioners

Acknowledgements This book draws on research and contributions from universities and institutions in over 20 countries including the American Productivity and Quality Center, the Caux Round Table, the Supply Chain Executive Board, AIDA Marketing e Formazione, United Professional Sales Association, Purchasing Management Association of Canada, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Foreword From Neil Rackham, creator of SPIN Selling, lead author of "Rethinking the Salesforce" and Visiting Professor, Univeristy of Portsmouth Business School Introduction PART 1 - Strategy Chapter 1 - The big picture Chapter 2 - The purchaser's view Chapter 3 - The B2B relationship development box PART 2 - Using the relationship development box Chapter 4 - Strategic relationships Chapter 5 - Prospective RelationshipsChapter 6 - Tactical relationships: the power of low touch Chapter 7 - Co-operative relationships Chapter 8 - The end of relationships PART 3 - Focus for 21st century sales management Chapter 9 - Reputation management Chapter 10 - Working with marketing Chapter 11 - Leadership Chapter 12 - Process management
Evaluation of the Contralateral Acoustic Stimulation Test After Audiological Examination of the Central Auditory System in Individuals with Normal Hearing

The aim of our study was to evaluate the contralateral acoustic stimulation tests of central auditory system after audiological examination of individuals with normal hearing. In this context, a number of criteria were considered for the determination of individuals with normal hearing. Normal hearing provides the ability to live independently in the social environment of an individual, and the level of hearing is considered necessary for enabling communication with the environment. A total of 15 individuals were included in our study. In all individuals, five different frequencies were obtained compared to the threshold for both ears. The frequencies were 1000 Hz, 1414 Hz, 2000 Hz, 2828 Hz and 4000 Hz; and the suppression thresholds were also measured. After audiological tests were performed for our study, the same measurements were repeated. Looking at the results of the study, a statistically significant difference was found between the measurement results for right and left ears in individuals with normal hearing (P<0.05). Result: In order to see the suppressive effect, the integrity of the neural structures must be preserved starting from the medial nucleus of the superior olivary complex and reaching the OHCs. According to the results obtained in our study, we can conclude that MOCR is active, and the central nervous system is not impaired after the audiological evaluation. However, it is thought that a further study should be conducted with a larger sample group in order to obtain more specific results.