Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structured Plasma Waveguides and Deep EUV Generation Enabled by Intense Laser-Cluster Interactions

Title of dissertation: STRUCTURED PLASMA WAVEGUIDES AND DEEP EUV GENERATION ENABLED BY INTENSE LASER-CLUSTER INTERACTIONS Brian David Layer, Doctor of Philosophy, 2012 Dissertation directed by: Professor Howard Milchberg Department of Physics Using the unique properties of the interaction between intense, short-pulse lasers and nanometer scale van-der-Waals bonded aggregates (or ‘clusters’), modulated waveguides in hydrogen, argon and nitrogen plasmas were produced and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light was generated in deeply ionized nitrogen plasmas. A jet of clusters behaves as an array of mass-limited, solid-density targets with the average density of a gas. Two highly versatile experimental techniques are demonstrated for making preformed plasma waveguides with periodic structure within a laser-ionized cluster jet. The propagation of ultra-intense femtosecond laser pulses with intensities up to 2× 10 W/cm has been experimentally demonstrated in waveguides generated using both methods, limited by available laser energy. The first uses a ‘ring grating’ to impose radial intensity modulations on the channel-generating laser pulse, which leads to axial intensity modulations at the laser focus within the cluster jet target. This creates a waveguide with axial modulations in diameter with a period between 35 μm and 2 mm, determined by the choice of ring grating. The second method creates modulated waveguides by focusing a uniform laser pulse within a jet of clusters with flow that has been modulated by periodically spaced wire obstructions. These wires make sharp, stable voids as short as 50 μm with a period as small as 200 μm within waveguides of hydrogen, nitrogen, and argon plasma. The gaps persist as the plasma expands for the full lifetime of the waveguide. This technique is useful for quasi-phase matching applications where index-modulated guides are superior to diameter modulated guides. Simulations show that these ‘slow wave’ guiding structures could allow direct laser acceleration of electrons, achieving gradients of 80 MV/cm and 10 MV/cm for laser pulse powers of 1.9 TW and 30 GW, respectively. Results are also presented from experiments in which a nitrogen cluster jet from a cryogenically cooled gas valve was irradiated with relativistically intense (up to 2×10 W/cm) femtosecond laser pulses. The original purpose of these experiments was to create a transient recombination-pumped nitrogen soft x-ray laser on the 2p3/2 → 1s1/2 (λ = 24.779 Å) and 2p1/2 → 1s1/2 (λ = 24.785 Å) transitions in H-like nitrogen (N). Although no amplification was observed, trends in EUV emission from H-like, He-like and Li-like nitrogen ions in the 15 – 150 Å spectral range were measured as a function of laser intensity and cluster size. These results were compared with calculations run in a 1-D fluid laser-cluster interaction code to study the time-dependent ionization, recombination, and evolution of nitrogen cluster plasmas. STRUCTURED PLASMA WAVEGUIDES AND DEEP EUV GENERATION ENABLED BY INTENSE LASER-CLUSTER INTERACTIONS
Gender based violence in university communities

Until recently, higher education in the United Kingdom has largely failed to recognise gender based violence (GBV) on campus, but following the UK government task force set up in 2015, universities are becoming more aware of the issue. And recent cases in the media about the sexualised abuse of power in institutions such as universities, Parliament and Hollywood highlight the prevalence and damaging impact of GBV. This book provides the first in-depth overview of research and practice in GBV in universities. The book sets out the international context of ideologies, politics and institutional structures that underlie responses to GBV and sexual violence elsewhere in Europe, in the United States, and in Australia, and considers the implications of implementing related policy and practice. Presenting examples of innovative British approaches to engagement with the issue, the book also considers UK, EU and UN legislation to give an international perspective, making it of direct use to discussions of ‘what works’ in preventing GBV.
Project alliancing at National Museum of Australia : the collaborative process

Project alliancing is a new alternative to traditional project delivery systems, especially in the commercial building sector. The Collaborative Process is a theoretical model of people and systems characteristics that are required to reduce the adversarial nature of most construction projects. Although developed separately, both are responses to the same pressures. Project alliancing was just used successfully to complete the National Museum of Australia. This project was analyzed as a case study to determine the extent to which it could be classified as a “collaborative project”. Five key elements of The Collaborative Process were reviewed and numerous examples from the management of this project were cited that support the theoretical recommendations of this model. In the case of this project, significant added value was delivered to the client and many innovations resulted from the collective work of the parties to the contract. It was concluded that project alliances for commercial buildings offer many advantages over traditional project delivery systems, which are related to increasing the levels of collaboration among a project management team.
A Survey of Self-Reported Injuries Among Special Boat Operators

Abstract : Special Operations place great physical demands on personnel. In most Navy settings, greater physical demands are associated with greater musculoskeletal injury rates. Within the Special Operations community, Special Boat operators have a unique set of risks. Small boats operating in the open ocean are subject to large shock and vibration forces. Exposure to such forces can lead to discomfort, injury and performance degradation. In an effort to begin assessing the prevalence of injuries related to operations in small Special Operations craft, a self-report survey of injuries (SBUlS) was administered to 154 operator personnel drawn from Special Boat Units 12, 20 and 22. Sample mean age was 32.0 +/- 5.9 yr. , mean years of military service was 12.0 +/- 5.5, and mean time in Special Boats was 4.7 +/- 3.0 yr. The SBUlS obtained demographic information, unit assignment and role information, past general pain levels, details up to three specific injuries, and exercise history information. Specific injury information included type and location of injury, and type and duration of care for that injury. The most prevalent type of injury was sprains and strains followed by disc problems and trauma. The most prevalent injury sites were the lower back, knee and shoulder. 94.8% injuries occurred on the job. The sample population represented 722 person-years of Special Boat Unit exposure. In this sample, injuries resulted in 145 days of hospitalization, 929 days of sick leave, 4,223 days of limited duty, 4,218 days of limited job/mission performance, 2,294 days of lost mission training time, and 4,089 days of lost physical conditioning time. It was possible to compare hospitalization rates for this sample with rates for the Navy as a whole. Only constructionmen (CN), seamen (SN), firemen (FN), and airmen (AN) had greater hospitalization rates than SBU respondents.
Association of Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Genes Involved in Cell Functions with Male Infertility: A Study of Male Cases in Northwest Iran

Background: Infertility is a global health problem caused by various environmental and genetic factors. Male infertility accounts for 40–50% of all cases of infertility and approximately half of them are grouped as idiopathic with no definitive causes. Previous studies have suggested an association between some SNPs and infertility in men. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the association of 7 different SNPs of 4 genes involved in common cell functions with male infertility. Methods: MTHFR rs1801131 (T>G), MTHFR rs2274976 (G>A), FASLG rs80358238 (A>G), FASLG rs12079514 (A>C), GSTM1 rs1192077068 (G>A), BRCA2 rs4987117 (C>T), and BRCA2 rs11571833 (A>T) were genotyped in 120 infertile men with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligospermia and 120 proven fertile controls using ARMS-PCR methods. Next, 30% of SNPs were regenotyped to confirm the results. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using SPSS statistical software to evaluate the strength of association. The p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant association between MTHFR rs-2274976 AA variant (OR: 10.00, CI: 3.203–31.225), FASLG rs12079514 AC variant (OR: 0.412, CI: 0.212–0.800), and BRCA2 rs11571833 TT variant OR: 6.233, CI: 3.211–12.101) with male infertility, but there was no significant difference between case and control groups in MTHFR rs1801131 (p= 0.111), GSTM1 rs1192077068 (p=0.272), BRCA2 rs4987117 (p=0.221), and FASLG rs80358238 (p=0.161). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that some novel polymorphisms including MTHFR rs2274976, FASLG rs12079514, and BRCA2 rs11571833 might be the possible predisposing risk factors for male infertility in cases with idiopathic azoospermia.
Implementation of a Speed Field Oriented Control of 3-phase PMSM Motor using TMS320F240

This application report presents a solution to control a 3-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor using the Texas Instruments (TI™) TMS320F240 digital signal processor (DSP). This processor is part of a new family of DSPs that enable cost-effective design of intelligent controllers for brushless motors. The use of this DSP yields enhanced operations, fewer system components, lower system cost and increased efficiency. The control method presented is field oriented control (FOC). The sinusoidal voltage waveforms are generated by the DSP using the space vector modulation technique. A practical solution is described and results are given in this application report.
Huperzine A and Its Neuroprotective Molecular Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease

Huperzine A (HupA), an alkaloid found in the club moss Huperzia serrata, has been used for centuries in Chinese folk medicine to treat dementia. The effects of this alkaloid have been attributed to its ability to inhibit the cholinergic enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acting as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI). The biological functions of HupA have been studied both in vitro and in vivo, and its role in neuroprotection appears to be a good therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer´s disease (AD). Here, we summarize the neuroprotective effects of HupA on AD, with an emphasis on its interactions with different molecular signaling avenues, such as the Wnt signaling, the pre- and post-synaptic region mechanisms (synaptotagmin, neuroligins), the amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) accumulation, and mitochondrial protection. Our goal is to provide an integrated overview of the molecular mechanisms through which HupA affects AD.
Experimental aspects of the approximate error formula for tomographic reconstruction

Computed tomography (CT) has grown in the past few years as an effective tool for nondestructive testing of various types of components and materials. Most CT scanners for this purpose use the convolution backprojection (CBP) algorithm for reconstructing the density function in a cross section of interest. Natterer has developed Sobolev space theorems which predict the theoretical error in CBP for a given class of certain mathematical functions. Recently, Munshi et al. developed a Sobolev space model for CBP to study the theoretical error which incorporates a theorem to analyze and synthesize the filter functions (or convolvers) for the CBP algorithm. Reconstructions have been performed (from data collected by an X-ray CT scanner) for a test object comprised of 50 {micro}m adhesive tape and 50 {micro}m aluminum foils. The number of data rays is 512, the number of projections is 400, and the pixel size is 20 {micro}m. Reconstructed images with the standard CBP filters follow the trend predicted by the theory. These results are currently being used to develop special filters for nondestructive characterization of materials.
Evaporation Effect on Thickness Distribution for Spin-Coated Films on Rectangular and Circular Substrates

Spin-coating is widely applied in the field of thin-film fabrication due to its simplicity and high film uniformity. To prepare thin films on rectangular substrates by spin-coating, the simulation and experimental methods were used to study the characteristics of the film thickness in this work. The two-phase flow simulations of spin-coating on a rectangular substrate and circular substrate were carried out with the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The simulation results showed that the airflow field and the substrate geometry had little effect on the evolution of spin-coated film thickness. However, in the experimental results, there was a significant difference in the thickness of the spin-coated film on the rectangular substrate and the circular substrate. According to further study, the solvent evaporation that was neglected in the simulation was the dominant factor of the differences. In addition, it was concluded that the non-uniform evaporation caused by the surface tension and edge accumulation in the later spin-coating stage was the main reason for the film accumulation of the windward area on the rectangular substrate. This work is useful to obtain a deeper understanding of the thin-film formation mechanism of spin-coating.
Age and Living Situation as Key Factors in Understanding Changes in Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Confinement

(1) The aim of the present study was to evaluate and characterize changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 confinement in a sample of Spanish adults, analyzing their age and living situation as defining life cycle variables. (2) Method: Data from 3779 individuals were collected through a set of online surveys. AUDIT-C was used to measure the frequency of consumption, the average daily consumption, intensive consumption, risky consumption, and Standard Drink Units. (3) Results: Although alcohol consumption during confinement showed a significant general decline, age revealed important differences, with the decline being more pronounced in adults from 18 to 29 years old. The living situation also showed significant differences. The largest decreases in alcohol consumption were found in those who lived with their parents or other relatives, whereas those who lived alone or with a partner even increased their level of consumption. In addition, the data show a significant interaction between these two variables and gender. (4) Conclusions: Age and cohabitation processes are key factors in understanding the life situation of each individual during confinement and, consequently, in explaining consumption patterns. The results obtained provide interesting recommendations for designing prevention policies in both normal and crisis circumstances, emphasizing the need to understand alcohol use from a psychosocial perspective.
Differential Entropy: An Appropriate Analysis to Interpret the Shape Complexity of Self-Similar Organic Islands

Differential entropy, along with fractal dimension, is herein employed to describe and interpret the shape complexity of self-similar organic islands. The islands are imaged with in situ Atomic Force Microscopy, following, step-by-step, the evolution of their shape while deposition proceeds. The fractal dimension shows a linear correlation with the film thickness, whereas the differential entropy presents an exponential plateau. Plotting differential entropy versus fractal dimension, a linear correlation can be found. This analysis enables one to discern the 6T growth on different surfaces, i.e., native SiOx or 6T layer, and suggests a more comprehensive interpretation of the shape evolution. Changes in fractal dimension reflect rougher variations of the island contour, whereas changes in differential entropy correlates with finer contour details. The computation of differential entropy therefore helps to obtain more physical information on the island shape dependence on the substrate, beyond the standard description obtained with the fractal dimension.
Anabolic Steroids-Driven Regulation of Porcine Ovarian Putative Stem Cells Favors the Onset of Their Neoplastic Transformation

Nandrolone (Ndn) and boldenone (Bdn), the synthetic testosterone analogues with strong anabolic effects, despite being recognized as potentially carcinogenic compounds, are commonly abused by athletes and bodybuilders, which includes women, worldwide. This study tested the hypothesis that different doses of Ndn and Bdn can initiate neoplastic transformation of porcine ovarian putative stem cells (poPSCs). Immunomagnetically isolated poPSCs were expanded ex vivo in the presence of Ndn or Bdn, for 7 and 14 days. Results show that pharmacological doses of both Ndn and Bdn, already after 7 days of poPSCs culture, caused a significant increase of selected, stemness-related markers of cancer cells: CD44 and CD133. Notably, Ndn also negatively affected poPSCs growth not only by suppressing their proliferation and mitochondrial respiration but also by inducing apoptosis. This observation shows, for the first time, that chronic exposure to Ndn or Bdn represents a precondition that might enhance risk of poPSCs neoplastic transformation. These studies carried out to accomplish detailed molecular characterization of the ex vivo expanded poPSCs and their potentially cancerous derivatives (PCDs) might be helpful to determine their suitability as nuclear donor cells (NDCs) for further investigations focused on cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Such investigations might also be indispensable to estimate the capabilities of nuclear genomes inherited from poPSCs and their PCDs to be epigenetically reprogrammed (dedifferentiated) in cloned pig embryos generated by SCNT. This might open up new possibilities for biomedical research aimed at more comprehensively recognizing genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying not only tumorigenesis but also reversal/retardation of pro-tumorigenic intracellular events.
Comparative Genomic and Physiological Analysis against Clostridium scindens Reveals Eubacterium sp. c-25 as an Atypical Deoxycholic Acid Producer of the Human Gut Microbiota

The human gut houses bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria that produce secondary bile acids such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) from host-derived bile acids through enzymes encoded by the bai operon. While recent metagenomic studies suggest that these bacteria are highly diverse and abundant, very few DCA producers have been identified. Here, we investigated the physiology and determined the complete genome sequence of Eubacterium sp. c-25, a DCA producer that was isolated from human feces in the 1980s. Culture experiments showed a preference for neutral to slightly alkaline pH in both growth and DCA production. Genomic analyses revealed that c-25 is phylogenetically distinct from known DCA producers and possesses a multi-cluster arrangement of predicted bile-acid inducible (bai) genes that is considerably different from the typical bai operon structure. This arrangement is also found in other intestinal bacterial species, possibly indicative of unconfirmed 7α-dehydroxylation capabilities. Functionality of the predicted bai genes was supported by the induced expression of baiB, baiCD, and baiH in the presence of cholic acid substrate. Taken together, Eubacterium sp. c-25 is an atypical DCA producer with a novel bai gene cluster structure that may represent an unexplored genotype of DCA producers in the human gut.
Cell Transmission Model-Based Variable Speed Limit Control for Freeways

The use of variable speed limit (VSL) control along freeway in an effort to improve bottleneck traffic flow is a technique that has been around for some time. In this study, the authors propose a simple yet very efficient VSL control model using the cell transmission model (CTM). Two modifications of the fundamental diagram (FD) of the CTM are proposed. The first permits one to model active bottleneck cell in which there is a capacity drop once feeding flow exceeds its capacity. The second modification permits variable free flow speeds for the cells operated with VSL control. In order to allow those modifications, the local demand-supply approach is adopted to change the boundary condition of the CTM, and then traffic density is predicted in the freeway cells. Speed dynamics is derived from a piecewise linear FD. Then the modified CTM is implemented in a freeway corridor Whitemud Drive, Edmonton with the model predictive control (MPC) approach. The analysis is carried out to a micro-simulation model VISSIM with a scenario where shock wave is present, and the micro-simulation model functions as a substitute for the real-world traffic system. Due to possibility of shockwave formation from the VSL operated cell, the authors have developed and implemented a time-space discrete model to detect queue tail during VSL control. This queue tail detection model is implemented to update storage capacity of freeway cell. This study reveals that in terms of mobility, VSL is effective mostly during congestion period.
Effects of supervisory train control technology on operator attention.

This report describes an experiment evaluating the effects of supervisory control automation on attention allocation while operating a train. The study compared two levels of supervisory control (partial and full) to manual control, in terms of how it affects vigilance detection and situation awareness. Human performance was measured using a human-in-the-loop train simulator. To evaluate vigilance, participants were asked to detect two types of automation failures and react to obstructions on the track. Situation awareness was measured using the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) in which the simulation was suspended at periodic intervals and the subjects answered questions about the system. These answers were compared to objective measures of system performance. Attention allocation varied with the method by which supervisory control was implemented. In particular, attention allocation for speed control, a critical piece of information, varied with the two methods. Partial supervisory control, as implemented in this experiment, resulted in a narrowing of attention. The primary focus was on speed information. By contrast, use of full supervisory control resulted in participants spreading their attention more broadly, but at the expense of speed information.