Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Locomotion With A Unit-Modular Reconfigurable Robot

A unit-modular robot is a robot that is composed of modules that are all identical. In this thesis we study the design and control of unit-modular dynamically reconfigurable robots. This is based upon the design and construction of a robot called Polypod. We further choose statically stable locomotion as the task domain to evaluate the design and control strategy. The result is the creation of a number of unique locomotion modes. The exciting aspect about a modular robot like Polypod is that it does not only describe one robot, but also presents the building blocks from which many different types of robots can be formed. Dynamic reconfigurability adds a new dimension to the capabilities of the robot. To gain insight into these capabilities in the domain of locomotion, we first build a general, functional taxonomy of locomotion modes. We show that Polypod is capable of generating all classes of statically stable locomotion, a feature unique to Polypod. Next, we propose methods to evaluate vehicles under different operating conditions such as different terrain conditions. We then evaluate and compare each mode of locomotion on Polypod within each class. This study leads to interesting insights into the general characteristics of the corresponding classes of locomotion. Finally, since more modules are expected to increase robot capability, it is important to examine the limit to the number of modules that can be put together in a useful form. We answer this question by investigating the issues of structural stability, actuator strength, computation and control requirements.
Explaining pre-emptive acclimation by linking information to plant phenotype

Abstract We review mechanisms for pre-emptive acclimation in plants and propose a conceptual model linking developmental and evolutionary ecology with the acquisition of information through sensing of cues and signals. The idea is that plants acquire much of the information in the environment not from individual cues and signals but instead from their joint multivariate properties such as correlations. If molecular signalling has evolved to extract such information, the joint multivariate properties of the environment must be encoded in the genome, epigenome, and phenome. We contend that multivariate complexity explains why extrapolating from experiments done in artificial contexts into natural or agricultural systems almost never works for characters under complex environmental regulation: biased relationships among the state variables in both time and space create a mismatch between the evolutionary history reflected in the genotype and the artificial growing conditions in which the phenotype is expressed. Our model can generate testable hypotheses bridging levels of organization. We describe the model and its theoretical bases, and discuss its implications. We illustrate the hypotheses that can be derived from the model in two cases of pre-emptive acclimation based on correlations in the environment: the shade avoidance response and acclimation to drought.
iTETRIS: Adaptation of ITS Technologies for Large Scale Integrated Simulation

The European Union (EU) Framework Program 7 (FP7) funded project, iTETRIS [1] (An Integrated Wireless and Traffic Platform for Real-Time Road Traffic Management Solutions) targets to extend state of art in simulation of wireless vehicular cooperative systems for evaluation of road traffic management services and applications. In particular, iTETRIS addresses four important and distinct challenges: (a) road traffic and wireless integrated open-source simulation platform, (b) large scale trials, (c) realistic Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication simulation and (d) dynamic, distributed and self-autonomous Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) [2] applications based on cooperative systems. iTETRIS will provide a standard compliant, open-source integrated communication and traffic platform suited for large scale scenario simulation. This Paper addresses extension of traffic simulator being used in iTETRIS, scalability studies of networking simulator, which have been achieved as project results. Further the paper presents the adaptation of the Intelligent Communications for Transport Systems (ICTS) [2] reference architecture functionalities being developed by the European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI) at its Technical Committee (TC) on ITS.
Effects Comparison of Different Resilience Enhancing Strategies for Municipal Water Distribution Network: A Multidimensional Approach

Water distribution network (WDN) is critical to the city service, economic rehabilitation, public health, and safety. Reconstructing the WDN to improve its resilience in seismic disaster is an important and ongoing issue. Although a considerable body of research has examined the effects of different reconstruction strategies on seismic resistance, it is still hard for decision-makers to choose optimal resilience enhancing strategy. Taking the pipeline ductile retrofitting and network meshed expansion as demonstration, we proposed a feasible framework to contrast the resilience enhancing effects of two reconstruction strategies—units retrofitting strategy and network optimization strategy—in technical and organizational dimension. We also developed a new performance response function (PRF) which is based on network equilibrium theory to conduct the effects comparison in integrated technical and organizational dimension. Through the case study of municipal WDN in Lianyungang, China, the comparison results were thoroughly shown and the holistic decision-making support was provided.
UML diagram-driven test scenarios generation based on the temporal graph grammar

Model-based software architecture verification and test scenarios generation are becoming more and more important in the software industry. Based on the existing temporal graph grammar, this paper proposes a new formalization method of the context-sensitive graph grammar for aiming at UML activity diagrams, which is called the UML Activity Graph Grammar, or UAGG. In the UAGG, there are new definitions and parsing algorithms. The proposed mechanisms are able to not only check the structural correctness of the UML activity diagram but also automatically generate the test scenario according to user constraints. Finally, a case study is discussed to illustrate how the UAGG and its algorithms work.
Telerobotic excavation system for unexploded ordnance retrieval

The small emplacement excavator (SEE) is a ruggedized military vehicle with backhoe and front loader used by the US Army for unexploded ordnance (UXO) retrieval and general utility excavation activities. In order to evaluate the feasibility of removing personnel from the vehicle during high-risk excavation tasks a development and demonstration project was initiated to evaluate performance capabilities of the SEE under telerobotic control. A technology demonstration of the TSEE was conducted at McKinley Range, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama on 13--17 September, 1993. The primary objective of the demonstration was to evaluate and demonstrate the feasibility of remote UXO retrieval. During the demonstration, explosive ordnance disposal specialists were instructed on telerobotic operation of the TSEE, and then were asked to complete a simulated UXO retrieval task. Participants then submitted an evaluation of the system including human factors performance data. This presentation will describe the TSEE, retrieval demonstration, and summarize results of the performance evaluations. Some examples of the results are given below. Seventy percent of the demonstration participants found the tasks were as easy or easier to accomplish utilizing the remote system than with an unmodified system. Similarly, eighty percent of the participants found the TSEE hand controller was as easymore » or easier to use than the normal manual controls. « less
Integrated circuit failure analysis : a guide to preparation techniques

Purpose and Importance of Preparatory Semiconductor Analysis. Opening the Package: Chip Insulation. Wet Chemical Etching Procedures for Removing Layers of the Chip Structure. Crystallographic Etching in the Silicon. Dry Etching in the Plasma. Microsectioning Technology, Metallography. Outlook. Appendices. Index.
Surveying Graduate and Professional Students' Perspectives on Library Services, Facilities and Collections at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Does Subject Discipline Continue to Influence Library Use?

The University Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Services Advisory Committee has established a program to create a regular rotation of patron surveys. The program is an effort to answer basic questions about attitudes towards the library's services, facilities and collections. Modeled directly after those surveys designed and carried out at the University of Washington Libraries, the UIUC plan calls for an annual rotation of three surveys, each focused on a different user group. The first group surveyed (spring 2004) consisted of graduate and professional students, to be followed by undergraduate students (spring 2005) and faculty (spring 2006). Surveys will be conducted annually thereafter so that each user group will be surveyed every three years. Results from the first UIUC web survey, with 1400 respondents, revealed that graduate and professional students are very satisfied with their library experiences and the pattern of responses by subject discipline corresponds with the findings of Hiller (2002) at the University of Washington, but with some predicted shifts. "How-tos" for the web survey are discussed and included, along with a link to two sets of data analyses. In addition, lessons learned from the survey experience are discussed and suggestions are made for the presentation of data to successfully communicate survey results to decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Coherent and Nonlinear Lightwave Communications

Evaluation of Coherent Optical Receiver Sensitivity. Optical Transmitters for Coherent Lightwave Systems. Optical Receivers for Coherent Lightwave Systems. Coherent Lightwave Systems. Nonlinear Effects in Optical Fibers. Soliton Transmission in Optical Fiber. Optical Amplifiers for Coherent and Nonlinear Systems. Nonlinear Lightwave Systems.
Getting beyond Economic Stimulation: The Effects of Gubernatorial Partisan Commitment, Federal Resources and Regulatory Requirements on Final Performance Goal Achievement in Stimulus Grants

Like many other national governments, the United States federal government has a history of using local level implementation structures to stimulate the economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is one case in point. The federal government funneled upwards of $800 billion dollars to states and local governments through what were mostly preexisting programs and institutions in the hopes that shovel-ready projects would be promptly funded and successfully implemented. A key feature of this strategic spending and the research conducted around it is that recipient governments spend down this money as soon as possible. This delay made many question the efficacy of the ARRA. Yet, there is more to program performance than the lack of economic stimulation caused by implementation delay. This study asks the following question: When the media attention and politicization of the spending has died down, what factors influence whether the program meets its performance goals (even though it might have experienced considerable implementation delay)? This question is investigated using the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) – as funded by the ARRA.
International concurrent course delivery: Bringing pragmatic research to the classroom

Tele-health, or health care at a distance, is increasingly becoming a common form of health service delivery yet few academics are researching this field, and fewer are teaching about it. This presentation discusses the development and delivery of a highly innovative online course delivered internationally and concurrently. Through a review of early applications of the technology in the UK and Canada, the course highlights societal, economic and technological drivers and the benefits, opportunities, challenges and barriers to this type of service delivery. It allows students from Western University, Canada to engage with academics and students from the University of Sheffield, UK as the content is provided by academic leaders in the field from both Universities allowing students to gain an international, comparative perspective. Students on the course are exposed not only to the new technology, but to the best academics undertaking cutting-edge research to develop and mainstream them.
Nanoemulsions as delivery systems of food ingredients: Improving food safety and functionality

Les nanoemulsions es consideren una excel·lent manera d’incorporar compostos lipofils actius en aliments degut a les seves propietats especifiques. L’objectiu d’aquesta tesi fou estudiar els factors que afecten les propietats fisicoquimiques i de funcionalitat de les nanoemulsions com a portadores d’antimicrobians (olis essencials) o compostos bioactius (β-carote). D’una banda, el metode de fabricacio i els parametres de processat, aixi com la concentracio dels seus components i el tipus d’oli essencial van afectar significativament la mida de particula de les nanoemulsions. Aixi, es van obtenir nanoemulsions amb una mida de particula inferior als 10 nm, les quals van presentar una major activitat antimicrobiana que les emulsions convencionals. D’altra banda, les nanoemulsions van presentar una major y mes rapida digestibilitat in vitro de l’oli que les emulsions convencionals, i per tant, una major bioaccessibilitat del β-carote. La present investigacio representa un important avenc per a l’us de les nanoemulsions en aliments.
IP Rights and Technological Platforms

This paper is about intellectual property rights (IPRs) and platform technologies. After a brief introduction explaining some basics of networks, standards and platforms, I turn to three policy issues. The first is the role of IP in what might be termed platform policies, the decisions by courts and regulators concerning whether and how to promote multi-party access to important digital platforms such as media player hardware, cell phones, PCs, and the like. I argue that for the most part there is no need for IP law to directly promote interoperability, since market competition among competing platform technology owners will usually protect consumers quite well. Voluntary interoperability at various levels is the norm, an arrangement facilitated by the fact that property rights can and often are waived for strategic reasons. The apparent potential of IP law, and individual IP rights, to restrict access and harm consumers must therefore be seen in the context of competitive battles in which IP owners very selectively enforce their rights. Where coerced access through IP rules does prove necessary, it should be promoted sparingly and strictly ex post, only after rights have issued and their deployment and enforcement are shown to create anticompetitive effects. Second, I discuss optimal policy with respect to platform-content combinations, e.g., the question of whether to regulate or prohibit exclusive content licensing for a single platform, for example, the Apple iTunes/iPod system. Again I argue that competition, together with the divergent interests of content and platform owners, will usually protect consumers without the need for excessive regulation of platform-content deals. Finally, I consider ways to better accommodate traditional IP doctrines and policies to the need for flexibility and openness in platform battles, in particular, the need for a robust set of rules that permit an IP owner to credibly commit to open access to IPRs with a binding full or partial dedication of IP rights to members of the public or specific sub-groups. The idea is to more fully institutionalize the right of an IP owner to implement an “owned but open” platform strategy. I characterize this new sort of binding commitment to openness as “the right to include” – by analogy with the traditional notion of property as involving at its core a “right to exclude. ”
A Cryptosporidiosis Outbreak in a Filtered‐Water Supply

From January to June 1992, a large outbreak of cryptosporidiosis occurred in Jackson County, Oregon. Epidemiologic investigations associated 43 cases of cryptosporidiosis with the drinking water system in the small community of Talent, Ore. Mechanical and operational deficiencies at one of the cipy's water filtration plants along with unusually poor raw-water supply conditions because of low stream flows were possible cocauses of the outbreak. Correction of the deficiencies in the filter plant resulted in substantial improvement in treatedwater quality, and this improvement coincided with the end of the Talent-related outbreak
Determinants of the decline of British Leyland : the roles of product quality, advertising and voluntary export restraints (1971-2002)

The thesis contributes to an established, but largely anecdotal, literature examining the rapid decline of the British car industry's remaining mass producing manufacturer, British Leyland (BL), through the rigourous examination of three key issues raised by historians and contemporaries of the period in relation to the quality of British Leyland's products: (1) 'product-led' decline; (2) losing an advertising war with incumbents, (3) and the imposition of Voluntary Export Restraints (VERs), between the UK and Japan in 1977 aimed at restricting the quantity of imported Japanese cars to Britain in order to protect domestic firms. In order to capture each of these issue, which relate to product quality, the thesis blends primary and secondary sources with the analysis of a substantive data set. The later captures every model-version sold in the UK car market from 1971- 2002 and includes over one hundred and thirty characteristics ranging from the humble cupholder to traffic navigation systems and on-board computers. This is matched to a complete set of firm accounts and model-level advertising expenditures.
Long term coherent integration for a floodlight radar

The objective of the described floodlight radar resulted from the threat by ARM-missiles. By avoiding a scanning narrow transmit beam the radiation may be covered by a decoy transmitter all the time. The floodlight transmission is combined with a CW-signal, modulated by a polyphase code for range estimation. A multibeam receiver allows the direction estimation of targets. For detection the signals have to be integrated over a period corresponding to the usual scan period, e.g. 2 sec. A Doppler tolerant test procedure applying a combination of autocorrelation estimates is suggested and discussed. The detection performance turns out to be almost comparable to coherent processing but to be more robust for signals with varying Doppler frequencies.
Preoperative risk factors for delirium in hip-fracture surgery under regional anesthesia: A nationwide population-based study

Background Delirium is common, but is frequently undetected by clinicians, despite the fact that it can be life-threatening. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of delirium and the preoperative factors associated with postoperative delirium in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery under regional anesthesia. Methods We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients ≥65 years who underwent hip fracture surgery under regional anesthesia, covered by the Korean National Health Insurance, between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015. A univariate and stepwise logistic regression model with the occurrence of delirium as the dependent variable was used to identify perioperative factors for this sample of patients. Results Among the 70696 patients who underwent hip fracture surgery, 58972 patients were who received regional anesthesia during surgery were included in our study. Delirium was detected in 8680 (14.7%) patients. Performing stepwise logistic regression, preoperative variables including female gender, included age ≥85 years, hospital type (medical center), ICU and ventilator care, neurodegenerative disorders, uncomplicated diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer disease, psychoses, and depression (OR=1.49[1.42-1.58], 4.7[4.15-5.37], 13.3[7.57-23.8], 1.52[1.43-1.60], 1.19[1.01-1.40], 1.20[1.14-1.27], 1.09[1.04-1.14], 0.87[0.96-0.00], 2.23[1.48-3.37], and 1.38[1.32-1.46], respectively) were identified to be associated with delirium. Conclusion Delirium could occur in approximately 15% of elderly hip fracture surgery cases in which regional anesthesia is used. Multiple preoperative risk factors were found to be associated with delirium.
ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURES FOR THE NEW PARADIGM OF THE INDUSTRY 4.0

The present work defines an interoperable and scalable architecture that will allow the servitization of the machine tool sector. ICT and the Internet of Things make possible to interconnect different devices and controllers, offering value-added services. One of the problems to be solved is the interoperability between the different IoT devices. Several platforms enable interoperability between devices. Our work uses Arrowhead with that purpose. In addition, with the aim of offering solutions in an agile and flexible way, we have chosen to use containers (Docker technology). Thus, the interoperability platform is managed within these containers making configuration and operation more agile and flexible. A use case is presented where a Danobat machine tool can offer value-added maintenance and efficiency services. For this purpose, data is acquired from the machine itself but data is also acquired from third-party devices such as ULMA's device. The interconnection of all this data is done in a transparent way for the user and through the interoperable Arrowhead platform. All this work has been carried out within the framework of the Productive 4.0 project. Keywords: Interoperability, Industry 4.0, Containers, Productive 4.0, Arrowhead, Servitization, IoT
Solution of economic load dispatch problem via hybrid particle swarm optimization with time‐varying acceleration coefficients and bacteria foraging algorithm techniques

SUMMARY In this research, a hybrid particle swarm optimization with time-varying acceleration coefficients (HPSOTVAC) and bacteria foraging algorithm (BFA) are presented for solving a complex economic load dispatch problem. Basically, there are many realistic constraints that affect feasible operation such as generation limitation, ramp rate limits, prohibited operating zone, nonlinear cost functions, and transmission loss that are considered in this research. The effectiveness of the proposed HPSOTVAC/BFA is tested in 6-, 15-, and 40-unit generating systems. Also, for 6-unit case study, the valve-point effect is considered too. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid technique gives less total generation costs than genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), hybrid GA/PSO, active power optimization, iteration PSO, and self-organizing hierarchical PSO methods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Processo como um serviço na computação em nuvem para o desenvolvimento de aplicações na saúde

This project aims to investigate the deployment of business processes in cloud environments, using the Process-as-a-Service model. This model allows a business process to be entirely or partially executed in a cloud computing environment. Due to security requirements, for example, in healthcare applications, certain data or activities of a business process should be kept within the premises of the user, while other data or activities can be allocated in a computing cloud, requiring a decomposition of this process.