Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Degradation phenomena in the anode side of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are envisioned to offer an attractive alternative for the combined generation of electricity and heat, especially for stationary applications. Although commercial systems using these fuel cells are available in the market, the disadvantages associated with their high costs and limited lifetimes continue to hinder their widespread usage. In this thesis, the latter issue is tackled by addressing specific degradation mechanisms that occur in these fuel cells. Focus is on single components from the anode side of the fuel cell stack assembly. The components from the anode side are subjected to conditions that would normally be prevalent during typical operational loads. Components from the anode side of the stack include a Ni-mesh as a current collector, Crofer 22 H as an interconnect and the NiO-8YSZ anode substrate with an anode functional layer as the electrode. Parameters such as temperature, current density and humidity in fuel gas atmosphere are varied from 700-800 °C, 0-0.7 A.cm and 3-80% H2O in H2 respectively. The resistance contributions from the components and their interfaces are measured using experimental methods such as 4 probe DC resistivity and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Long term tests up to 1000 hours and short term tests ranging from 0-300 hours are carried out along with thermal/redox cycles to monitor these resistances. In this way, using both experimental techniques, the ohmic and polarization resistance contributions are measured, and the influence of changing operating parameters on degradation are evaluated. It is observed that the ohmic resistance offered by the Ni-mesh – interconnect interface and the interconnect-anode substrate interface is very low and suffer insignificant degradation over the tested periods. Regardless of change in temperature and the presence of high humidity in the fuel gas, the resistance contribution remains low. Even the thermal cycles, interdiffusion of elements, nickel oxidation and the buildup of oxide scales did not aggravate the resistances. Post test microscopic analysis revealed several metallic contact points at these interfaces offering a parallel path for the low resistance conduction of current. On the other hand, impedance measurements using symmetric anode cells helped in isolating the ohmic and polarization resistances as a function of operating parameters. Both types of resistances offered by the anode-electrolyte interface are found to increase with time. In addition, thermal cycling is also found to be a source for substantial degradation for this interface. However, the presence of artefacts and inductive effects possibly due to the positioning of the reference electrode lead to distortion and ‘scaling’ of the spectra from the individual electrodes. Hence the exact magnitudes of the resistances obtained from the impedance measurements are prone to errors and therefore provide qualitative information. Finally, areas for future investigations on degradation are identified and corrective measures for obtaining reliable and reproducible measurements are recommended.
Service-Aware Multi-Resource Allocation in Software-Defined Next Generation Cellular Networks

Network slicing is one of the major solutions needed to meet the requirements of next generation cellular networks, under one common network infrastructure, in supporting multiple vertical services provided by mobile network operators. Network slicing makes one shared physical network infrastructure appear as multiple logically isolated virtual networks dedicated to different service types where each Network Slice (NS) benefits from on-demand allocated resources. Typically, the available resources distributed among NSs are correlated and one needs to allocate them judiciously in order to guarantee the service, MNO, and overall system qualities. In this paper, we consider a joint resource allocation strategy that weights the significance of the resources per a given NS by leveraging the correlation structure of different quality-of-service (QoS) requirements of the services. After defining the joint resource allocation problem including the correlation structure, we propose three novel scheduling mechanisms that allocate available network resources to the generated NSs based on different type of services with different QoS requirements. Performance of the proposed schedulers are then investigated through Monte-Carlo simulations and compared with each other as well as against a traditional max-min fairness algorithm benchmark. The results reveal that our schedulers, which have different complexities, outperform the benchmark traditional method in terms of service-based and overall satisfaction ratios, while achieving different fairness index levels.
Gesture and Embodied Metaphor in Spatial Music Performance Systems Design

This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings, design, and development of a hyper–instrumental performance system driven by gestural data obtained from an electric guitar. The system combines a multichannel audio feed from the guitar (which is parsed for its pitch, spectral content and note inter–onset time data to provide abstractions of sounded performance gestures) with motion tracking of the performer’s larger–scale bodily movements using a Microsoft Xbox Kinect sensor. These gestural materials are used to provide the basis for the structures of relational mappings, informed by the embodied image schema structures of Lakoff and Johnson. These theoretical perspectives are refined via larger–scale ecological–embodied structural relationships in electroacoustic music outlined in Smalley’s theory of spectromorphology, alongside the incorporation of an additional active–agential response structure through the use of the boids flocking algorithm by Reynolds to control the spatialization of outputs and other textural processes. The paper aims to advance a broadly–applicable ‘performance gesture ecology’, providing a shared spatial–relational mapping (a ‘basic gestural space’) which allows for creative (but still coherent) mappings from the performance gestures to the control of textural and spatial structures.
Digital Watermarking for Protection of Intellectual Property

Digital watermarking techniques have been developed to protect the copyright of media signals. This chapter aims to provide a universal review and background about the watermarking definition, concept and the main contributions in this field. The chapter starts with a general view of digital data, the Internet and the products of these two, namely, the multimedia and the e-commerce. Then, it provides the reader with some initial background and history of digital watermarking. The chapter presents an extensive and deep literature review of the field of digital watermarking and watermarking algorithms. It also highlights the future prospective of the digital watermarking. INTRODUCTION Digital watermarking techniques have been developed to protect the copyright of media signals. Different watermarking schemes have been suggested for multimedia content (images, video and audio signal). This chapter aims to provide an extensive literature review of the multimedia copyright protection. It presents a universal review and background about the watermarking definition, concept and the main contributions in this field. The chapter consists of four main sections. This chapter appears in the book, Multimedia Security: Steganography and Digital Watermarking Techniques for Protection of Intellectual Property, edited by Chun-Shien Lu. Copyright © 2005, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 200, Hershey PA 17033-1240, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING
DTNDocs: A delay tolerant peer-to-peer collaborative editing system

Collaborative editing systems allow multiple users to edit a shared document. They have transformed how interested parties cooperate to do work. The availability of free services such as Google Docs resulted in its increased popularity ultimately warranting attention from both academia and industry. The common implementation of such systems are based on existing infrastructures like the Internet which may be unreliable at best, if not totally unavailable, in challenging environments. In such situations, peer-to-peer (P2P) and delay tolerant networking (DTN) technologies can help provide communication among nodes. In this study, we develop the DTNDocs Android application to explore the possibility of developing a delay tolerant P2P collaborative editing system. The application uses IBR-DTN to communicate over a delay tolerant network and a modified LogootSplit algorithm for ensuring consistency in shared contents.
On self-diagnosable multiprocessor systems: diagnosis by the comparison approach

An analysis is made of the diagnosability and diagnosis problems for a model of a self-diagnosable multiprocessor system where processors compare the results of tasks performed by other processors in the system. A set of criteria is given for determining whether the faulty processors in the system can be diagnosed on the basis of the comparisons, and a polynomial-time algorithm is presented to identify the faulty units of such a system on the basis of the comparison results when the system is known to be diagnosable. <<ETX>>
Baicalein Accelerates Tendon-Bone Healing via Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Rats

Background Tendon-bone healing is a reconstructive procedure which requires a tendon graft healing to a bone tunnel or to the surface of bone after the junction injury between tendon, ligament, and bone. The surgical reattachment of tendon to bone often fails due to regeneration failure of the specialized tendon-bone junction. Materials and Methods An extra-articular tendon-bone healing rat model was established to discuss the effect of the baicalein 10 mg/(kg·d) in accelerating tendon-bone healing progress. Also, tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) were treated with various concentrations of baicalein or dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) to stimulate differentiation for 14 days. Results In vivo, tendon-bone healing strength of experiment group was obviously stronger than the control group in 3 weeks as well as in 6 weeks. And there were more mature fibroblasts, more Sharpey fibers, and larger new bone formation area treated intragastrically with baicalein compared with rats that were treated with vehicle for 3 weeks and 6 weeks. In vitro, after induction for 14 days, the expressions of osteoblast differentiation markers, that is, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteocalcin (OCN), osterix (OSX), and collagen I, were upregulated and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was enhanced in TDSCs. The effect of DKK-1 significantly reduced the effect of baicalein on the osteogenic differentiation. Conclusion These data suggest that baicalein may stimulate TDSCs osteogenic differentiation via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to accelerate tendon-bone healing.
New Plasmid Tools for Genetic Analysis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Other Pasteurellaceae

ABSTRACT We have generated a set of plasmids, based on the mobilizable shuttle vector pMIDG100, which can be used as tools for genetic manipulation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and other members of the Pasteurellaceae. A tandem reporter plasmid, pMC-Tandem, carrying promoterless xylE and gfpmut3 genes downstream of a multiple-cloning site (MCS), can be used for identification of transcriptional regulators and conditions which favor gene expression from different cloned promoters. The ability to detect transcriptional regulators using the tandem reporter system was validated in A. pleuropneumoniae using the cloned rpoE (σE) promoter (P). The resulting plasmid, pMCrpoEP, was used to identify a mutant defective in production of RseA, the negative regulator of σE, among a bank of random transposon mutants, as well as to detect induction of σE following exposure of A. pleuropneumoniae to ethanol or heat shock. pMCsodCP, carrying the cloned sodC promoter of A. pleuropneumoniae, was functional in A. pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parasuis, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Pasteurella multocida. Two general expression vectors, pMK-Express and pMC-Express, which differ in their antibiotic resistance markers (kanamycin and chloramphenicol, respectively), were constructed for the Pasteurellaceae. Both plasmids have the A. pleuropneumoniae sodC promoter upstream of the gfpmut3 gene and an extended MCS. Replacement of gfpmut3 with a gene of interest allows complementation and heterologous gene expression, as evidenced by expression of the Haemophilus ducreyi nadV gene in A. pleuropneumoniae, rendering the latter NAD independent.
Asymptotic behaviour of solutions of quasilinear parabolic equation with Robin boundary condition

In this paper we study solutions of the quasi-linear parabolic equations ∂u/∂t −∆pu = a(x)|u|q−1u in (0, T ) × Ω with Robin boundary condition ∂u/∂ν|∇u|p−2 = b(x)|u|r−1u in (0, T ) × ∂Ω where Ω is a regular bounded domain in IRN , N ≥ 3, q > 1, r > 1 and p ≥ 2. Some sufficient conditions on a and b are obtained for those solutions to be bounded or blowing up at a finite time. Next we give the asymptotic behavior of the solution in special cases.
Evaluating societal preferences for human papillomavirus vaccine and cervical smear test screening programme

Background Cervical cancer and genital warts are diseases associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Cervical smear testing is used as a cervical cancer screening tool in most countries worldwide. The newly introduced vaccines that prevent HPV infections are the quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil), which prevents genital warts and cervical cancer, and the bivalent vaccine (Cervarix), which prevents cervical cancer only. Public preferences for HPV vaccines and smear test screening were determined using a discrete choice experiment. Methods Participants from across Canada completed a choice-based questionnaire to measure preferences from which willingness to pay (WTP) was calculated for the following: (1) lifetime risk of cervical cancer and genital warts, (2) frequency of smear testing, (3) need for vaccine booster, (4) target group to vaccinate, (5) frequency of side effects and (6) cost of the vaccine (from 2008). A mixed effect logistic model was used to analyse the data. Results Of the 1157 participants, the mean age was 44 years (SD 15) and 49% were women. Respondents preferred a vaccine that gave lifelong immunity, a vaccination programme that targeted boys and girls and a vaccine that gave protection from genital warts and cervical cancer. Respondents were averse to yearly smear testing. On average, respondents were willing to pay $C53 and $C22 to avoid a 1% increase in the risk of cervical cancer and genital warts, respectively. Conclusions Society agrees with the introduction of the HPV vaccination programme, but would prefer a programme that targets boys and girls with the quadrivalent vaccine.
Computing with ferroelectric FETs: Devices, models, systems, and applications

In this paper, we consider devices, circuits, and systems comprised of transistors with integrated ferroelectrics. Said structures are actively being considered by various semiconductor manufacturers as they can address a large and unique design space. Transistors with integrated ferroelectrics could (i) enable a better switch (i.e., offer steeper subthreshold swings), (ii) are CMOS compatible, (iii) have multiple operating modes (i.e., I-V characteristics can also enable compact, 1-transistor, non-volatile storage elements, as well as analog synaptic behavior), and (iv) have been experimentally demonstrated (i.e., with respect to all of the aforementioned operating modes). These device-level characteristics offer unique opportunities at the circuit, architectural, and system-level, and are considered here from device, circuit/architecture, and foundry-level perspectives.
Performance and emission study of a single cylinder diesel engine fuelled with n-octanol/WPO with some modifications

ABSTRACT This study aims at the effective utilisation of WPO in a light-duty, water-cooled, four-stroke, direct-injection diesel engine. For this purpose, WPO was extracted from mixed waste plastic via catalytic pyrolysis in a lab-scale extraction unit. Neat WPO is well known for its tailpipe carcinogenic smoke emissions, hence in this study WPO is blended with 30% by vol. of oxygenated, high carbon n-octanol derived from ligno-cellulosic biomass and tested under the influence of cold EGR and injection timing corresponding to peak load condition. With reference to diesel operation, it was found that n-octanol addition to WPO injected at 21° CA bTDC with 10% EGR simultaneously reduced smoke emissions by 46.8% and NO x emissions by 1.1% with almost equal brake specific energy consumption (BSEC). Reformulation of WPO with n-octanol derived from ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock presents an attractive opportunity to utilise both a recycled and a renewable fuel in diesel engines.
Procedures and Uterine-Sparing Surgeries for Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review

Importance Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Objective The aim of this study was to systematically review literature on procedures (eg, uterine artery embolization) and uterine-sparing surgeries for PPH. Evidence Acquisition We searched MEDLINE and other databases from 1990 to November 2014. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies against predetermined criteria, extracted data, and assessed study quality and strength of the evidence (confidence in the effect). Results Twenty-eight small studies addressed 1 or more procedures (19 studies of embolization, 5 of uterine tamponade) or surgeries (5 studies of arterial ligation, 5 of uterine compression sutures). Studies primarily evaluated bleeding control and adverse effects. Rates of hemostasis were typically greater than 60% in studies reporting such data after failure of conservative management. Postprocedure infertility occurred in 0% to 43% of women in a small number of studies that reported these data. Uterine tamponade successfully controlled bleeding in more than 50% of women, with few harms reported. Success rates for ligation and sutures ranged from 36% to 96%; harms included surgical injury, infection, and fertility-associated effects. Conclusions and Relevance A limited body of evidence addresses these interventions for PPH. Median rates of hemostasis ranged from 36% to 98%; however, these data come from few studies with less than 2100 total participants. Harms were not well characterized. Some studies with longer-term follow-up reported infertility in women undergoing embolization. Few adverse events with tamponade, ligation, or sutures were reported. Given the insufficient evidence, clinicians must continue to make individual care decisions based on each woman’s clinical situation and available management options. Target Audience Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians. Learning Objectives After completing this activity, the learner should be better able to understand the effects of procedures and uterine-sparing surgeries for PPH on control of bleeding and adverse effects including infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes; understand the issues in defining and diagnosing PPH; and understand the areas of future research need.
Simulation of scalability in IoT applications

The deployment of a wireless sensor and actuator network (WSAN) in IoT applications is a complex task. The need to establish the number of nodes, sensors and actuators, as well as their location and characteristics, requires a tool that allows preliminary determination of these data. In addition, because of the IoT scenarios where present a large number of sensors and actuators, it is necessary to analyze the scalability of these systems. This article proposes the study of the scalability of IoT Applications by means of simulation techniques. The Ptolemy II simulation tool and a real MQTT message broker were used. The authors present a case study related to the deployment of networks of sensors and actuators as an integral part of an IoT application to monitor and control the parks of a city. Experimental results demonstrate that the use of simulation techniques allow to analyze the scalability of this type of applications.
Cochlear Labyrinth Volume in Euarchontoglirans: Implications for the Evolution of Hearing in Primates

Using high resolution X‐ray computed tomography data we examined the relationship between cochlear labyrinth volume and body mass in extant, non‐primate euarchontoglirans, and in two fossils, to allow for comparison with the results of Kirk and Gosselin‐Ildari (2009). Modern primates have significantly higher cochlear labyrinth volumes relative to body mass than other euarchontoglirans, which may be related to a downward shift in the highest and lowest audible frequencies over the course of primate evolution, and to the relative increase in brain size observed in Euprimates. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sudden Event Recognition: A Survey

Event recognition is one of the most active research areas in video surveillance fields. Advancement in event recognition systems mainly aims to provide convenience, safety and an efficient lifestyle for humanity. A precise, accurate and robust approach is necessary to enable event recognition systems to respond to sudden changes in various uncontrolled environments, such as the case of an emergency, physical threat and a fire or bomb alert. The performance of sudden event recognition systems depends heavily on the accuracy of low level processing, like detection, recognition, tracking and machine learning algorithms. This survey aims to detect and characterize a sudden event, which is a subset of an abnormal event in several video surveillance applications. This paper discusses the following in detail: (1) the importance of a sudden event over a general anomalous event; (2) frameworks used in sudden event recognition; (3) the requirements and comparative studies of a sudden event recognition system and (4) various decision-making approaches for sudden event recognition. The advantages and drawbacks of using 3D images from multiple cameras for real-time application are also discussed. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research directions in sudden event recognition.
Reversible Calcium-Regulated Stopcocks in Legume Sieve Tubes

Sieve tubes of legumes (Fabaceae) contain characteristic P-protein crystalloids with controversial function. We studied their behavior by conventional light, electron, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In situ, crystalloids are able to undergo rapid (<1 sec) and reversible conversions from the condensed resting state into a dispersed state, in which they occlude the sieve tubes. Crystalloid dispersal is triggered by plasma membrane leakage induced by mechanical injury or permeabilizing substances. Similarly, abrupt turgor changes imposed by osmotic shock cause crystalloid dispersal. Because chelators generally prevent the response, divalent cations appear to be the decisive factor in crystalloid expansion. Cycling between dispersal and condensation can be induced in opened cells by repetitive exchange of bathing media containing either Ca2+ or chelators. Sr2+ and Ba2+, but not Mg2+, are equally active. In conclusion, the fabacean P-protein crystalloids represent a novel class of mechanically active proteinaceous structures, which provide an efficient mechanism with which to control sieve tube conductivity.