Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of a Rapid Design Tool to a 3D Woven Structural Joint

The optimization of composite structural joints is an iterative process and a multiscale problem. High fidelity finite element modeling of joints with 3D woven and laminated materials can become computationally expensive. The aim of this paper is to establish a reliable analysis process for the optimization of a composite Y-joint (curved Pi-joint), to be used in an aircraft fuselage, using commercial rapid joint design, analysis, and optimization software. The rapid joint design tool was investigated as a substitute and/or complement to a finite element analysis software. A composite Pi-joint and a composite Y-joint were evaluated using the rapid joint design tool to determine the applicability and limits of the software. Furthermore, three main preliminary parametric studies were performed to better understand the capability of the tool in predicting the stress distributions and trends in the Y-joint. The parameters investigated were the joint curvature, the laminated skin thickness, the adhesive systems, and the ply composition. Lastly, trends in predicted failure load were produced as a function of skin thickness (16ply, 24ply and 32ply). Failure loads were found with varying joint curvature and skin thickness using stress-based adherend failure criterion. The rapid joint design tool was also validated against existing experimental results.
A Comparison of IgG Index and Oligoclonal Band in the Cerebrospinal Fluid for Differentiating between RRMS and NMOSD

As the oligoclonal band in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-OCB) in predicting relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is less sensitive in Asian populations than that in westerners, it remains elusive whether the IgG index could serve as an alternative. The purpose of this study was to compare these two methods of differentiating between RRMS and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in Chinese patients. A total of 171 patients (81 RRMS and 90 NMOSD) were retrospectively recruited, of whom 82 (56 RRMS and 26 NMOSD) received the CSF-OCB testing additionally. When the onset age was ≤38.5 years, IgG index with the threshold of 0.67 had a significant agreement (k = 0.4, p < 0.001) with the diagnosis while CSF-OCB failed to discriminate (k = 0.1, p = 0.578). However, when the onset age was >38.5 years, both IgG index with the threshold of 0.8 and CSF-OCB were moderately consistent with the diagnosis (both k > 0.4, p < 0.05). In total, our optimized algorithm had the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of 0.778, slightly outperforming the CSF-OCB model. Accordingly, a combination of the onset age and IgG index could serve as an alternative to CSF-OCB for differentiating between RRMS and NMOSD in Chinese patients.
The Systemic Inflammatory Response Identifies Patients with Adverse Clinical Outcome from Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary The investigation of predictive and prognostic markers is pivotal in patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune-checkpoint-inhibitors. Inflammation has a central role in hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression; however, its role in influencing outcomes in the context of immunotherapy has not been fully elucidated yet. In the following study, we investigated the prognostic role of bloods derived inflammatory markers and we found that they predict survival and response of patients treated with immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Abstract Systemic inflammation is a hallmark of cancer, and it has a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression. We conducted a retrospective study including 362 patients receiving immune check-point inhibitors (ICIs) across three continents, evaluating the influence of neutrophiles to lymphocytes ratio (NLR), platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) on overall (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and radiologic responses. In our 362 patients treated with immunotherapy, median OS and PFS were 9 and 3.5 months, respectively. Amongst tested inflammatory biomarkers, patients with NLR ≥ 5 had shorter OS (7.7 vs. 17.6 months, p < 0.0001), PFS (2.1 vs. 3.8 months, p = 0.025), and lower objective response rate (ORR) (12% vs. 22%, p = 0.034); similarly, patients with PLR ≥ 300 reported shorter OS (6.4 vs. 16.5 months, p < 0.0001) and PFS (1.8 vs. 3.7 months, p = 0.0006). NLR emerged as independent prognostic factors for OS in univariate and multivariate analysis (HR 1.95, 95%CI 1.45–2.64, p < 0.001; HR 1.73, 95%CI 1.23–2.42, p = 0.002) and PLR remained an independent prognostic factor for both OS and PFS in multivariate analysis (HR 1.60, 95%CI 1.6–2.40, p = 0.020; HR 1.99, 95%CI 1.11–3.49, p = 0.021). Systemic inflammation measured by NLR and PLR is an independent negative prognostic factor in HCC patients undergoing ICI therapy. Further studies are required to understand the biological mechanisms underlying this association and to investigate the predictive significance of circulating inflammatory biomarkers in HCC patients treated with ICIs.
Strong Coupling Between Plasmonic Surface Lattice Resonance and Photonic Microcavity Modes

We report the strong coupling between plasmonic surface lattice resonances (SLRs) and photonic Fabry-Pérot (F-P) resonances in a microcavity embedded with two-dimensional periodic array of metal-insulator-metal nanopillars. For such a plasmonic-photonic system, we show that the SLR can be strongly coupled to the F-P resonances of both the odd- and even orders, and that the splitting energy reaches as high as 138 meV in the visible regime. We expect that this work will provide a new scheme for strong coupling between plasmonic and photonic modes.
Ipsilateral Neck/Inter-Trochanteric and Mid-shaft Femoral Fractures Treated with Dual Construct Implants

Background: Various management protocols for ipsilateral neck/intertrochanteric and shaft fracture femur have been formulated, there have been many disagreements related to their ideal fixation plan. The aim of this study was to discuss the various type of fixation system available for such kind of complex injuries and the advantages of using dual construct fixation system. Patient and Methods: In the present study we prospectively evaluated ipsilateral neck/intertrochanteric and shaft fracture femur in 7 cases managed from January 2018 to December 2020. All the patients were managed with dual constructs fixation system using dynamic hip screw (DHS) and locking plate. The outcome was evaluated using Friedman and Wyman scoring system. Results: The average surgical time was 120.4 min (range 98–143 minutes) with a blood loss ranging from 290-565 mL (average 460 mL). In 6 patients follow-up was undertaken between 10 and 22-months after surgery, with a mean follow-up time of 16.2 months. 1 patient lost follow-up at 3-month. The neck/IT fractures achieved union in 6 patients at the final follow-up. 3-6 months was the duration for bone union, with an average of 4.1 months. The mid-shaft femur fractures achieved solid union in 6 cases at the most recent follow-up. 3 to 11 months was the duration of union, with a mean of 5.1 months. 1 patient went into non-union 11 months after the surgery. According to Friedman and Wyman scoring, 4 patients the functional outcome was good, in 2 patients the functional outcome was fair, and in 1 patient the functional outcome at the final follow-up was poor. The problems noted were surgical site infection in 1, Angulations (varus/valgus) of femoral neck in 1, non-union of neck femur fracture in 1, and avascular necrosis of femoral head in 1. Conclusion: The management of ipsilateral neck/intertrochanteric and shaft fracture femur with dual construct implants dynamic hip screw for neck/IT fracture and locking plate for shaft femoral fractures yielded good union rates and good functional outcomes.
Phylogeographic Relationships among Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) Populations and Their Relationships to B. mori Inferred from Mitochondrial Genomes

Simple Summary Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), the presumed ancestor of B. mori, has long been a subject of study to illustrate the geographic variation in relationship to origin of B. mori. We report 37 mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences of B. mori strains obtained by whole-genome sequencing and four of B. mandarina individuals obtained by Sanger sequencing from South Korea. These mitogenome sequences were combined with 45 public data to uncover the population genetic and phylogenetic relationships among regional populations of B. mandarina and their relationships to B. mori. A substantial genetic reduction in B. mori strains compared to the B. mandarina was detected, with the highest diversity detected in the Chinese origin B. mori. Chinese B. mandarina were divided into northern and southern groups, largely concordant to the Qinling–Huaihe line, and the northern group was placed as an immediate progenitor of monophyletic B. mori strains in phylogenetic analyses. The enigmatic South Korean population of B. mandarina, which has often been regarded as a closer genetic group to Japan, was most similar to the northern Chinese group, evidencing substantial gene flow between the two regions. This is the first report that the South Korean B. mandarina are closer genetically to the northern Chinese group. Abstract We report 37 mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences of Bombyx mori strains (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) and four of B. mandarina individuals, each preserved and collected, respectively, in South Korea. These mitogenome sequences combined with 45 public data showed a substantial genetic reduction in B. mori strains compared to the presumed ancestor B. mandarina, with the highest diversity detected in the Chinese origin B. mori. Chinese B. mandarina were divided into northern and southern groups, concordant to the Qinling–Huaihe line, and the northern group was placed as an immediate progenitor of monophyletic B. mori strains in phylogenetic analyses, as has previously been detected. However, one individual that was in close proximity to the south Qinling–Huaihe line was exceptional, belonging to the northern group. The enigmatic South Korean population of B. mandarina, which has often been regarded as a closer genetic group to Japan, was most similar to the northern Chinese group, evidencing substantial gene flow between the two regions. Although a substantial genetic divergence is present between B. mandarina in southern China and Japan, a highly supported sister relationship between the two regional populations may suggest the potential origin of Japanese B. mandarina from southern China instead of the Korean peninsula.
Water Age Effects on the Occurrence and Concentration of Legionella Species in the Distribution System, Premise Plumbing, and the Cooling Towers

In this study, droplet digital PCRTM (ddPCRTM) was used to characterize total Legionella spp. and five specific Legionella species from source (groundwater) to exposure sites (taps and cooling towers). A total of 42–10 L volume water samples were analyzed during this study: 12 from a reservoir (untreated groundwater and treated water storage tanks), 24 from two buildings (influents and taps), and six from cooling towers, all part of the same water system. The approximate water age (time in the system) for all sample locations are as follows: ~4.5, 3.4, 9.2, 20.8, and 23.2 h (h) for the groundwater to the reservoir influent, reservoir influent to the reservoir effluent, reservoir effluent to building Fa (building names are abbreviated to protect the privacy of site location), building ERC and the cooling towers, respectively. Results demonstrated that gene copies of Legionella spp. (23S rRNA) were significantly higher in the cooling towers and ERC building (p < 0.05) relative to the reservoir and building Fa (closest to reservoir). Legionella spp. (23S rRNA) were found in 100% (42/42) of water samples at concentrations ranging from 2.2 to 4.5 Log10 GC/100 mL. More specifically, L. pneumophila was found in 57% (24/42) of the water samples, followed by L. bozemanii 52% (22/42), L. longbeachae 36% (15/42), L. micdadei 23% (10/42) and L. anisa 21% (9/42) with geometric mean concentrations of 1.7, 1.7, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.7 Log10 GC/100 mL, respectively. Based on this study, it is hypothesized that water age in the distribution system and the premise-plumbing system as well as building management plays a major role in the increase of Legionella spp. , (23S rRNA) and the diversity of pathogenic species found as seen in the influent, and at the taps in the ERC building—where the building water quality was most comparable to the industrial cooling towers. Other pathogenic Legionella species besides L. pneumophila are also likely amplifying in the system; thus, it is important to consider other disease relevant species in the whole water supply system—to subsequently control the growth of pathogenic Legionella in the built water environment.
Testing a theoretical framework for the environment-species abundance paradigm: a new approach to the Abundant Centre Hypothesis

The linkage between environment, a species’ fitness and its abundance is central to the theory of evolution. So far, all studies of this linkage have been heuristic and empirical due to an inability to determine fitness either experimentally (independent of abundance) or theoretically (from species-environment interaction). One category of such studies involves the Abundant Centre Hypothesis which posits that a species’ abundance rises to a maximum at the centre of its range. We argue that the confusing mix of results from ACH studies arises from ignoring the central premise that the abundance distribution cannot be independent of the environment. First, we employed a theoretical framework to identify an environmental context (an elevational transect; 200-2800 m in the eastern Himalayas) likely to favour ACH. We then improved upon some previously identified conceptual and methodological shortcomings of ACH studies. Using systematically collected bird data (245 species; 15867 records) from that transect we found that the community average abundance profile is symmetric, as expected by ACH. Notwithstanding which, the abundance profiles of individual species showed a small degree of asymmetry which was correlated with elevation. This elevational dependence may be due to the hard elevational limits at the lower and upper ends of the mountain, as expected from theoretical considerations. We also showed that the average abundance profile shape is close to gaussian, while ruling out uniform and inverted-quadratic shapes. This work demonstrates that selecting a particular category of environmental contexts can help in integrating theoretical tools into a field dominated by empirical studies. Such a union should spur the development of more detailed and testable theoretical models for better insights in an important field.
A Networked Perspective on the Engineering Design Process: At the Intersection of Process and Organisation Architectures

This thesis reports on research undertaken to develop, apply and test a framework that characterises the actual design process architecture of engineering systems as a networked process. Research described in this thesis involved literature reviews in Engineering Design, Engineering Systems, Complexity and applied Network Science, and two case studies at engineering design companies with the objective of iteratively developing the framework and providing a proof-ofconcept of its use in a large engineering design project. The developed Networked Process (NPr) Framework is composed of a conceptual model of the actual design process architecture, and an analytical method that allows the model and datadriven support to be quantified. The framework provides a networked perspective on three fundamental levels of analysis: 1) the activity-level, characterised as a network of people performing each activity, 2) the interface-level, characterised as a network of people interfacing between two interdependent activities, and 3) the whole process-level, characterised as a dynamic network of people and activities. The aim of the framework is to improve the design process of engineering systems through a more detailed overview of the actual design process, to support data-driven reflection of the relationship between process architecture and performance, and to provide the means to compare process plans against the actual process. The framework is based on a multi-domain network approach to process architecture and draws on previous research using matrix-based and graph-based process models.
Sensitivity and specificity of four screening sleep-disordered breathing tests in patients with and without cardiovascular disease

Objectives Polysomnogram is the gold standard for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB); a sensitive and specific alternative strategy would be ideal, due to its low availability, and screening patients at high risk of OSA is very important. This study aimed to determine the operating characteristics of screening tests in patients with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Material and Methods Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Berlin, STOP-bang and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were applied in adults with and without cardiovascular disease in three Colombian cities, as well as anthropometric measurements and a polysomnogram. Operating characteristics were calculated for each test and the best cut-off values in patients with and without CVD were obtained. Results 964 patients (median age: 58), 662 with and 302 without CVD were included. The prevalence for SDB (AHI =5) were 43.4 % (OSA), 16.2% (central apnea), and 12.4 % (other). In patients without CVD, the highest sensitivity for OSA and central apnea was for PSQI (80-85%). The highest specificity was for STOP-bang (68%) and Berlin (78.6%). In CVD the best sensitivity was for PSQI (81.9%) followed by Berlin (71.9%) and the best specificity for STOP-bang (82.1%). No isolated questionnaire showed good diagnostic performance (AUC=0.6) and the cut-off values had no variations except for ESS. Conclusion Screening tests showed low operating characteristics for the diagnosis to SDB, but better performance in patients with CVD. They are not recommended as the only diagnostic test, but they can be useful to guide the initial diagnostic process.
Design and development of a new time integration framework, GS4-1, and its application to silica particle deposition

Growing interest in the simulation of first order transient systems, typical of those encountered in transient heat conduction, flow transport, and fluid dynamics, has prompted the development of a variety of time integration methods for solving these systems numerically. The primary contribution of this thesis is the design and development of a new time integration/discretization framework, under the class of single step single solve algorithms which are the most popular, for use in such first order transient systems with computationally attractive features. These include second order accuracy, unconditional stability, zero-order overshoot, and controllable numerical dissipation with a new selective control feature which overcomes the restrictions in the existing and current state-of-the-art methods. Throughout the thesis, we demonstrate the capability and advantage of the newly developed framework, termed GS4-1, in comparison to existing methods using various types of numerical examples (both linear and nonlinear). The numerical results consistently demonstrate the roles played by the new feature in improving the numerical solutions of both the primary variable and its time derivative which is important to correctly capture the dynamics of the problems, in contrast to the existing methods without such a feature. Additionally, a breakthrough contribution presented in this thesis is the development of an isochronous integration framework (iIntegrator), stemming from the novel relations between the newly developed GS4-1 framework and the existing GS4-2 framework (for second order dynamic systems). Such a development enables the use of the same computational framework to solve both first and second order dynamic systems without having to resort to the individual GS4-1 and GS4-2 frameworks; hence the practicality in the computational and implementation aspects. Finally, the application of the new GS4-1 framework to silica particle deposition, which is a practical problem of interest, is presented with the focus primarily on the physics of the problem. In this part of the thesis, a numerical model of the problem is presented and employed to investigate the effects of the flow and physicochemical parameters on the rate of deposition. The results of the parametric studies undertaken based on the employed numerical model enable some recommendations for the mitigation of the problem, and therefore serve as additional valuable contribution of the thesis.
Coach development through collaborative action research: enhancing the learning environment within a national talent development system

Abstract Motivation to learn is an essential factor of talent being realised , which throws into light the essential role that the motivational climate plays in developing talent. Through collaborative action research, the aim of this study was to develop coaches’ learning to enhance the learning environment within a national talent development system, utilising the) TARGET framework (task, authority, recognition, grouping, evaluation and time). Results revealed that participatory collaborative action research is an effective coach development tool for coaches in order to enhance their learning and the motivational climate within their sessions. The study identified the benefits of coach development through participatory action research, revealing a highly positive response to the role that collaborative learning played in pedagogical development.
How Does Approaching a Lead Vehicle and Monitoring Request Affect Drivers’ Takeover Performance? A Simulated Driving Study with Functional MRI

With the popularization and application of conditionally automated driving systems, takeover requirements are becoming more and more frequent, and the subsequent takeover safety problems have attracted attention. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, combined with driving simulation experiments, to study in depth the effects of critical degree and monitor request (MR) 30 s in advance on drivers’ visual behavior, takeover performance and brain activation. Results showed that MR can effectively improve the driver’s visual and takeover performance, including visual reaction times, fixation frequency and duration, takeover time, and takeover mode. The length of the reserved safety distance can significantly affect the distribution of longitudinal acceleration. Critical or non-critical takeover has a significant impact on the change of pupil diameter and the standard deviation of lateral displacement. Five brain regions, including the middle occipital gyrus (MOG), fusiform gyrus (FG), middle temporal gyrus (MTG), precuneus and precentral, are activated under the stimulation of a critical takeover scenario, and are related to cognitive behaviors such as visual cognition, distance perception, memory search and movement association.
Software Engineering: A Practitionerʼs Approach, 7/e

ion—data, procedure, control Architecture—the overall structure of the software Patterns—”conveys the essence” of a proven design solution Separation of concerns—any complex problem can be more easily handled if it is subdivided into pieces Modularity—compartmentalization of data and function Hiding—controlled interfaces Functional independence—single-minded function and low coupling Refinement—elaboration of detail for all abstractions Aspects—a mechanism for understanding how global requirements affect design Refactoring—a reorganization technique that simplifies the design OO design concepts—Appendix II Design Classes—provide design detail that will enable analysis classes to be implemented