Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Manifold Adaptive Kernel Semisupervised Discriminant Analysis for Gait Recognition

A manifold adaptive kernel semisupervised discriminant analysis algorithm for gait recognition is proposed in this paper. Motivated by the fact that the nonlinear structure captured by the data-independent kernels (such as Gaussian kernel, polynomial kernel, and Sigmoid kernel) may not be consistent with the discriminative information and the intrinsic manifold structure information of gait image, we construct two graph Laplacians by using the two nearest neighbor graphs (i.e., an intrinsic graph and a penalty graph) to model the discriminative manifold structure. We then incorporate these two graph Laplacians into the kernel deformation procedure, which leads to the discriminative manifold adaptive kernel space. Finally, the discrepancy-based semi-supervised discriminant analysis is performed in the manifold adaptive kernel space. Experimental results on the well-known USF HumanID gait database demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed algorithm.
Solution of Combustor Noise in a Coal Gasification Cogeneration Application of 100-MW-Class Combustion Turbines

The field conversion of two W501D4 combustion turbines to burn medium Btu fuel gas supplied by a coal gasification process at Plaquemine, LA resulted in excessive 105-Hz airborne sound and a corresponding unacceptable nonsynchronous engine vibration when burning natural gas. A joint Westinghouse and Dow Chemical corrective action program is described including field tests. Test results indicated that the combustion noise phenomenon was related to the strength of the primary air scoop recirculation pattern and its compatibility with the fuel and steam momentum vectors. A design was selected that eliminated the nonsynchronous combustion noise generated vibration and reduced the 100-Hz third-octave noise from 115 db to 97 db, an intensity reduction of 64 to 1.
Reliability of Commercial Voice Assistants’ Responses to Health-Related Questions in Noncommunicable Disease Management: Factorial Experiment Assessing Response Rate and Source of Information

Background Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute a burden on public health. These are best controlled through self-management practices, such as self-information. Fostering patients’ access to health-related information through efficient and accessible channels, such as commercial voice assistants (VAs), may support the patients’ ability to make health-related decisions and manage their chronic conditions. Objective This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the most common VAs (ie, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant) in responding to questions about management of the main NCD. Methods We generated health-related questions based on frequently asked questions from health organization, government, medical nonprofit, and other recognized health-related websites about conditions associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), lung cancer (LCA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). We then validated them with practicing medical specialists, selecting the 10 most frequent ones. Given the low average frequency of the AD-related questions, we excluded such questions. This resulted in a pool of 60 questions. We submitted the selected questions to VAs in a 3×3×6 fractional factorial design experiment with 3 developers (ie, Amazon, Apple, and Google), 3 modalities (ie, voice only, voice and display, display only), and 6 diseases. We assessed the rate of error-free voice responses and classified the web sources based on previous research (ie, expert, commercial, crowdsourced, or not stated). Results Google showed the highest total response rate, followed by Amazon and Apple. Moreover, although Amazon and Apple showed a comparable response rate in both voice-and-display and voice-only modalities, Google showed a slightly higher response rate in voice only. The same pattern was observed for the rate of expert sources. When considering the response and expert source rate across diseases, we observed that although Google remained comparable, with a slight advantage for LCA and CKD, both Amazon and Apple showed the highest response rate for LCA. However, both Google and Apple showed most often expert sources for CVA, while Amazon did so for DM. Conclusions Google showed the highest response rate and the highest rate of expert sources, leading to the conclusion that Google Assistant would be the most reliable tool in responding to questions about NCD management. However, the rate of expert sources differed across diseases. We urge health organizations to collaborate with Google, Amazon, and Apple to allow their VAs to consistently provide reliable answers to health-related questions on NCD management across the different diseases.
Modeling of LSF Technology in Building Design and Construction Case-Study: Parand Residential Complex, Iran

The adopted strategy to overcome the housing shortage crisis in Iran is the mass production. The way forward to accelerate the mass production, is adopting the industrial building systems with the increased prefabrication. One of the most optimal new building systems is Lightweight Steel Framing (LSF) Technology. Parand Residential Complex as the first serious project to industrialize the construction processes in Iran is facing the various problems during the processes of manufacture and execution of LSF components. The research aim is to offer an optimized model for manufacturing and execution processes of LSF Technology in the constructive projects which in it the deficiencies are compensated and strengths are intensified. So, case-studies and combined strategies has adopted as research method and based on it, the manufacture and execution processes of LSF technology in the case-study, were taken into consideration to recognize the existing advantages and disadvantages. The results of the research show that disadvantages of the manufacture and execution processes can be improved into one combined model. Finally, with offering four strategies to compensate the deficiencies and three strategies to intensify the strengths, the paper develops a model to coordinate the processes of manufacturing and execution in LSF technology in building design and construction.
Computationally efficient low roundoff noise second-order state-space structures

A new technique is introduced for synthesizing low roundoff noise second-order state-space structures. The technique yields structures which require the same number of multiplies as the canonical direct form structure. Thus n th-order realizations composed of these subfilters require only about 2 n multiplies. The number of additions required is also low, ranging from 2 n to 2.5 n . The synthesis of these structures consists of simple design equations and a simple procedure. A numerical example illustrating the design process is provided.
The role of an intermediator organisation in collaboration: how can an intermediator enhance value co-creation?

Collaboration brings synergy to organisations and leads towards superior value co-creation. However, successful collaboration and value co-creation face several challenges. We state that these challenges can be addressed with the help of an intermediator organisation (IO), and that it subsequently has a positive effect on value co-creation. This paper analyses the IO’s part in value co-creation in a collaboration network. Based on theoretical and empirical research the activities and consequent value creating benefits an IO brings to collaboration depend on the role or roles it plays in the network. According to our findings an IO can act as a creator, coordinator, facilitator, node and a resource. An IO facilitates the creation, development and maintaining of network relationships during collaboration. The value an IO creates is mainly indirect and intangible by nature and thus difficult to measure.
Optimized single-braided cable shields

Approximate formulas for the coupling parameters of cables with single-braided shields are presented. The derivation of the formulas is based on a qualitative analysis of the coupling mechanisms; these qualitative approaches have been verified and adjusted to reality by measuring many different braids. Assuming that the shields are grounded or open ended, the approximation formulas yield the high-frequency-optimizing equation, which permits the design of optimized single-braided shields. >
Cyclist Crash Scenarios and Factors Relevant to the Design of Cyclist Detection Systems

Cyclists are overrepresented among motor vehicle crash fatalities. Detailed information regarding common cyclist crash scenarios and relevant crash factors is crucial to the development of cyclist detection warning and crash avoidance systems that could prevent these crashes and fatalities. Motor vehicle‐cyclist crash data from federally maintained national databases were used to identify common and fatal crash scenarios between cyclists and motor vehicles. The most common fatal crash modes involved the motor vehicle‐cyclist movement combinations straight‐in line, straight‐crossing, and straight‐against. The most common crash modes involved the movement combinations straight‐crossing, turning‐crossing, and turning‐in line. Crashes that occurred in non‐daylight conditions and on roads with speed limits of 40 mi/h and greater contributed to the greatest percentage of fatalities. Cyclist detection systems that function at high speeds and in both daylight and non‐daylight conditions offer the greatest potential benefit. Effective cyclist detection systems designed to function in scenarios like the three common fatal crash modes and two additional most common crash modes could help mitigate or prevent up to 47% of crashes, 48% of injuries, and 54% of fatalities, potentially saving up to 363 lives annually.
A tool for labeling individual sounds from continuous recordings: An application to bio-acoustics

Bio-acoustics is a common tool for studying health, welfare and behavior of living organisms. Current practice consists of manually extracting and labelling individual sounds out of continuous recordings. This paper presents an application tool for speeding up bio-acoustical analysis. In particular, a semi-automatic tool has been developed that enables the extraction of individual sounds from continuous recordings. Although the approach can be applied to any kind of recordings, in the present study, the focus is on extracting individual pig sounds from recordings within a pig stable. More specifically, the sound extraction is based on the amplitude of the sound signal. The energy envelope of the signal is automatically extracted using the Hilbert transform on the discrete time signals. Subsequently, the individual sounds are presented to the user for manual labelling. The front-end provides the user with tools to adjust the length of the individual sounds since it is understood that in various cases a longer or shorter part of the signal may have been identified as an individual sound. The user also has an overview of the complete recording, the number of identified sounds, and the spread of the sounds within the continuous recording. Finally, the user is allowed to label using a predefined gamut of sounds or adding a sound category that has not been foreseen, making it a flexible tool. The labeling tool also allows the integration of an automatic sound classifier in the future and can be used for both training and/or validating algorithms under development. At a later stage the tool can be connected either online or offline to a web-based database that can allow for a collection of labeled sounds to be created.
Investigating preservice classroom teachers’ practices and views about teaching physical education lessons: An exploratory case study

Focusing on preservice classroom teachers (PCTs) with a physical education (PE) specialization, this exploratory case study aimed at investigating the teaching quality in the lessons offered by these teachers during their field placement, as well as examining their views about teaching PE. Toward this end, seven volunteer female PCTs studying at a national university in Cyprus were recruited; all had attended three PE specialization courses before their field placement. Data were gathered through systematic observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS and the qualitative data using case and cross-case analysis. These analyses suggested that the PCTs could effectively employ classroom and time management as well as skill demonstration; they could also provide quality student practice. In contrast, task progression, accountability of student practice, and task explicitness appeared to be more challenging for them to successfully enact. Interestingly, their lesson plans foreshadowed how effectively most of the examined practices would be employed by the PCTs. This study contributes a new understanding of PCTs’ PE teaching during field placement and their views thereof. The implications of the findings for PCTs’ education are discussed.
A simple method to detect cracks in beam-like structures

This study suggests a simple two-step method for structural vibration-based health monitoring for beam-like structures which only utilizes mode shape curvature and few natural frequencies of the structures in order to detect and localize cracks. The method is firstly based on the application of wavelet transform to detect crack locations from mode shape curvature. Then particle swarm optimization is applied to evaluate crack depth. As the Rayleigh quotient is introduced to estimate natural frequencies of cracked beams, the relationship of natural frequencies and crack depths can be easily obtained with only a simple formula. The method is demonstrated and validated numerically, using the numerical examples (cantilever beam and simply supported shaft) in the literature, and experimentally for a cantilever beam. Our results show that mode shape curvature and few estimated natural frequencies can be used to detect crack locations and depths precisely even under a certain level of noise. The method can be extended for health monitoring of other more complicated structures.
Supplementary material to "Acidification, deoxygenation, nutrient and biomasses decline in a warming Mediterranean Sea"

Abstract. The projected warming, nutrient decline, changes in net primary production, deoxygenation and acidification of the global ocean will dramatically affect marine ecosystems during the 21st century. Here we assess the climate change-related impacts in the marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea in the middle and at the end of the 21st century using high-resolution projections of the physical and biogeochemical state of the basin under the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. The analysis shows significant changes in the dissolved nutrient content of the euphotic and intermediate layers of the basin, net primary production, phytoplankton respiration and carbon stock (including phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacterial biomass and particulate organic matter). The projections also show a uniform surface and subsurface reduction in the oxygen concentration driven by the warming of the water column and by the increase in respiration. Moreover, we observe an acidification in the upper water column, linked to the increase in the dissolved inorganic carbon content of the water column due to CO2 absorption from the atmosphere and the increase in respiration. The projected changes are stronger in the eastern Mediterranean due to the limited influence, in that part of the basin, of the exchanges in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Analysis and design of PID Control System for Active Magnetic Bearings

Active magnetic bearings (AMB) are unstable by their nature and are used in very high-speed applications, therefore the design and implementation of a suitable control system for such devices requires extensive investigation. In this paper the AMB control problem is treated and design method of proportional plus derivative plus integral (PID) control system is proposed using the two degrees of freedom method. The designed PID control system is simulated and tested using MATLAB/Simulink, and some practical effects are investigated.
3-Level Inverter Fed Direct Torque Control of Induction Motor without Using Medium Vectors

This paper proposes the natural extension of classic switching table based direct torque control of induction motor modified for 3-level diode clamped inverter. The proposed method has the advantages of fewer harmonic in the output and low torque ripples. The switching table direct torque control scheme is adopted due to the simplicity of its control algorithm. To demonstrate the performance of proposed multilevel inverter fed direct torque control, the simulations are carried out for constant speed under no load and step change in load. The comparison of the dynamic and steady state performance in terms of torque ripple of the 2-level inverter and 3-level inverters are presented.
Emerging Global Ocean Deoxygenation Across the 21st Century

Ocean deoxygenation (i.e., loss of oxygen) due to climate change can result in marine environment deterioration. Here we applied a time of emergence method to detect when and where the signals of oceanic oxygen change would emerge from its internal variability in the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones. The results from climate model simulations under low‐emission conditions (XGHG) and high‐emission conditions (RCP8.5) show that the emergence of deoxygenation is projected to occur earliest and most widespread in the mesopelagic zone. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, more than 72% of the global ocean is projected to experience an emergence of deoxygenation before 2080 for all three vertical zones. Regionally, the emergence of deoxygenation is projected to be widespread below the epipelagic zone of the western North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern Oceans before 2080. ToE and the spatial coverage of deoxygenation are both important for fisheries and other marine resources protection.
Role of Islamic Education Teachers in enabling Students to Respond Global Challenges

This paper entitled "The Role of Islamic Education Teachers in Helping Students Respond to Global Challenges", is described specifically in the learning process in schools, especially in a global era that is full of various kinds of challenges. This paper is based on literature studies, for example about globalization, the description of rural and urban communities, as written by Eko Budiharjo in Urban Reform, about education, about learning, and others. Globalization is one of the foundations, because we live in the era of globalization, so a study of this will provide an overview of the times, for ISLAMIC EDUCATION (Islamic Education) teachers. A little study of rural and urban communities is also the basis of the study, because now there has been a shift in the way of life of the community towards urban communities. And also provides an overview, the differences between villages and cities, differences in value order, cultural order, mindset order to behavior patterns, especially students. This knowledge is needed by teachers to use as a basis for acting or making decisions. The study of education or learning, is a sure thing for teachers. This paper is also based on the experience and observations of the author, when he was a teacher several years ago, for approximately 20 years. Between experience, observations, and literature in the form of theoretical studies are mixed into writing.
Simulación del blindaje a una línea de distribución contra descargas atmosféricas

This paper is a study through simulations about overvoltages generated by lightning induced on the distribution lines of 23 kV, to justify the implementation of an overhead ground wire use as protection for overhead distribution lines, as suggests the standard "Distribucion, Construccion e Instalaciones Aereas en Media y Baja Tension de la CFE" and supported the IEEE STD 1410 "Guide for Improving the Lightning Performance of Electric Power Overhead Distribution Lines", and implement a new configuration using the same concrete pole with new dielectric distances.
ESD reliability and protection schemes in SOI CMOS output buffers

The electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection capability of SOI CMOS output buffers has been studied with Human Body Model (HBM) stresses. Experimental results show that the ESD voltage sustained by SOI CMOS buffers is only about half the voltage sustained by the bulk NMOS buffers. ESD discharge current in a SOI CMOS buffer is found to be absorbed by the NMOSFET alone. Also, SOI circuits display more serious reliability problem in handling negative ESD discharge current during bi-directional stresses. Most of the methods developed for bulk technology to improve ESD performance have minimal effects on SOI. A new Through Oxide Buffer ESD protection scheme is proposed as an alternative for SOI ESD protection. In order to improve ESD reliability, ESD protection circuitries can be fabricated on the SOI substrate instead of the top silicon thin film, after selectively etching through the buried oxide. This scheme also allows ESD protection strategies developed for bulk technology to be directly transferred to SOI substrate. >
Passive detection using digital broadcasters (DAB, DVB) with COFDM modulation

For some years, 'coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing' (COFDM) has been emerging in many European countries. This waveform is used for digital audio broadcasting (DAB) with 1.5 MHz bandwidth and for terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB) with 7.6 MHz bandwidth. The objective of the study is to prove the feasibility of target detection using such COFDM broadcasters. After a description of COFDM modulation, the adaptive filter required for zero-Doppler paths cancellation (clutter contributors and transmitters in a single frequency network, SFN, configuration, where all transmitters are identical) is described and applied to experimental data.
Robust non‐fragile Mittag‐Leffler synchronization of fractional order non‐linear complex dynamical networks with constant and infinite distributed delays

The present article is an attempt to investigate the robust non‐fragile Mittag‐Leffler synchronization of fractional order non‐linear complex dynamical networks with uncertain parameters and mixed delays. First, we develop a generalized fractional order complex dynamical network (GFOCDN) and then derive its synchronization criteria by using certain Lemmas based on the theory of Lyapunov stability and, second, by adding parameters of uncertainty to the GFOCDN and derive the synchronization analysis by including the appropriate non‐fragile controller into the system model to achieve a non‐fragile Mittag‐Leffler synchronization. Third, we incorporate the parameter uncertainty into the inner couplings and derive as a special case to achieve its synchronization. Finally, we present two numerical simulations to show the reliability of our proposed work.