Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power Synthesis of Maximally-Sparse Linear Arrays Radiating Shaped Patterns through a Compressive-Sensing Driven Strategy

We present an innovative approach to the synthesis of linear arrays having the least possible number of elements while radiating shaped beams lying in completely arbitrary power masks. The approach, based on theory and procedures lend from Compressive Sensing, has two innovative key features. First, it exploits at best the multiplicity of equivalent field solutions corresponding to the many different power patterns lying in the given mask. Second, it a-priori optimizes those parameters that affect the performance of Compressive Sensing. The overall problem is formulated as two convex programming routines plus one local optimization, with the inherent advantages in terms of computational time and solutions optimality. An extensive numerical comparison against state-of-the-art procedures proves the effectiveness of the approach.
Slashing the slayer: a thematic analysis of homo-erotic Buffy fan fiction

This essay reports the research that I have carried out on Internet slash fiction based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series. I became interested in this area when I stumbled across slash fiction on the web myself and found that I enjoyed it. As someone who studies sexuality I was intrigued by this new (to me) form of erotic fiction and began to read the academic literature in the area. As I became familiar with the main theories, I wondered how they would relate to slash fiction written about Buffy, since this series differs from many of the programmes that have been slashed in the past. There are strong female and gay characters in Buffy, emotional and relationship-based themes are directly addressed, and the interaction between vampires and humans adds an additional dimension to the plot. In my study, I analysed both slash stories and my e-mail correspondence with the authors of Buffy slash. I come at the topic as both a slash reader and a psychologist, and I hope that I achieve a good balance between the position of mutual knowledge (as a fan) and critical distance (as a researcher) as recommended by Tulloch and Jenkins (1995). In the past, slash authors have been stigmatised by other fans and by convention organizers (Jenkins, 1992), and several of my participants felt that they had been misrepresented in previous research. I hope to be accountable in my research (Bannister et al., 1995) and to give a respectful and realistic portrayal of Buffy slash and its writers.
User-centered quality of experience of mobile 3DTV: how to evaluate quality in the context of use?

Subjective quality evaluation experiments are conducted for optimizing critical system components during the process of system development. Conventionally, the experiments take place in the controlled viewing conditions even though the target application is meant to be used in the heterogeneous mobile settings. The goal of the paper is a two-fold. Firstly, we present a hybrid User-Centered Quality of Experience (UC-QoE) evaluation method for measuring quality in the context of use. The method combines quantitative preference ratings, qualitative descriptions of quality and context, characterization of context in the macro and micro levels, and the measures of effort. Secondly, we present results of two experiments using this method in different field settings and compared to the laboratory settings. We conducted the experiments with a relatively low quality range for current and future data rates for mobile (3D) television by varying encoding parameters for simulcast stereo video. The study was conducted on a portable device with parallax barrier display technology. The results show significant differences between the different field conditions and between field and laboratory measures.
Development of a compact MRI system for measuring the trabecular bone microstructure of the finger

A compact MRI system for measuring the trabecular bone (TB) microstructure of the finger using a high‐field‐strength (1.0T) permanent magnet was developed. The entire system was installed in a 0.6 m × 1.2 m space. One male and 36 female subjects participated in the imaging experiments. The TB of the distal phalanx of the middle finger was imaged at a voxel resolution of (160 μm)3 using a three‐dimensional (3D) driven equilibrium spin‐echo (SE) imaging sequence (imaging time = ∼14 min). The image data sets obtained yielded two distinct peaks for the bone and marrow in image intensity histograms when no motion was present. The structural parameters obtained through 3D image analysis show that this compact system is potentially useful for evaluating bone quality. Magn Reson Med 57:272–277, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Commitment, Risk, and Consumption: Do Birds of a Feather Have Bigger Nests?

Consumption commitmentsgoods like housing for which adjustment is costlychange the relationship between risk and consumption. Commitment provides a motive to reduce consumption when possible future losses are too small to warrant adjustment but not when losses are large enough that adjustment would be worthwhile. This implies conditions under which mean-preserving increases in risk can increase housing consumption. Our empirical evidence exploits the interaction of these conditions with a novel proxy for unemployment risk: couples sharing an occupation. Consistent with our model, same-occupation couples consume more housing only when adjustment costs are high and potential losses are sufficiently large.
Frost heave modelling using porosity rate function

Frost‐susceptible soils are characterized by their sensitivity to freezing that is manifested in heaving of the ground surface. While significant contributions to explaining the nature of frost heave in soils were published in late 1920s, modelling efforts did not start until decades later. Several models describing the heaving process have been developed in the past, but none of them has been generally accepted as a tool in engineering applications. The approach explored in this paper is based on the concept of the porosity rate function dependent on two primary material parameters: the maximum rate, and the temperature at which the maximum rate occurs. The porosity rate is indicative of ice growth, and this growth is also dependent on the temperature gradient and the stress state in the freezing soil. The advantage of this approach over earlier models stems from a formulation consistent with continuum mechanics that makes it possible to generalize the model to arbitrary three‐dimensional processes, and use the standard numerical techniques in solving boundary value problems. The physical premise for the model is discussed first, and the development of the constitutive model is outlined. The model is implemented in a 2‐D finite element code, and the porosity rate function is calibrated and validated. Effectiveness of the model is then illustrated in an example of freezing of a vertical cut in frost‐susceptible soil. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bending of Threaded and Unthreaded Tungsten Rods Under Oblique Impact

Abstract : We employed ballistic experiments and finite element (FE) analysis to explore the extent to which. and the mechanism by which, the threading on a tungsten heavy alloy rod increases its susceptibility to break up under conditions of oblique impact. In the laboratory. small-scale rods with and without threads were launched into thin rolled homogeneous armor plates at 1300 m/s and 60 degrees' obliquity. Fracture near the nose of the rod occurred more consistently with the threaded rods. LS- DYNA(Trademark) was used to analyze plane strain elastic impact of threaded and unthreaded rods striking a rigid surface at 10 m/s and 60 degrees' obliquity. These calculations revealed a greater degree of bending in a threaded rod than in an unthreaded rod of the same diameter. The maximum principal stress, which has been used as a criterion for brittle tensile fracture, also attained larger values in the threaded than in the unthreaded rod. With the aid of static FE analyses of cantilevered, point-loaded, threaded and unthreaded rods, the results of which could be compared with an analytical result from plate theory, we associated the increased bending with a decrease in effective rod thickness.
Comparing Variants of the Beckmann Model

Abstract Recent work has shown how the Fresnel coefficient can be used to improve the predictions of the Beckmann-Kirchhoff (BK) model for moderatelyrough surfaces. This paper aims to compare the predictions of a number of alternative models including those of Lafortune et al. (LFTG) and Oren-Nayar (ON) against the BRDF measurements from the CUReT database. Excluding the specular reflectance component, we explore how these models account for the diffuse reflectance component. Our main conclusions are as follows. First, for moderately rough samples Fresnel correction provides the most accurate predictions for the majority of the samples studied. Second, although there are several surface samples in the CUReT database for which the ON model provides the best fit, the ON model and the LFTG model fail to fit the data well for most of the surface samples. Third, for all surface samples studied, the Fresnel corrected variant of the BK model gives more realistic predictions than the empirical reflectance models such as the LFTG model.
Use of Linear Programming to Estimate Impact of Changes in a Hospital's Operating Room Time Allocation on Perioperative Variable Costs

Background Administrators at hospitals with a fixed annual budget may want to focus surgical services on priority areas to ensure its community receives the best health services possible. However, many hospitals lack the detailed managerial accounting data needed to ensure that such a change does not increase operating costs. The authors used a detailed hospital cost database to investigate by how much a change in allocations of operating room (OR) time among surgeons can increase perioperative variable costs. Methods The authors obtained financial data for all patients who underwent outpatient or same-day admit surgery during a year. Linear programming was used to determine by how much changing the mix of surgeons can increase total variable costs while maintaining the same total hours of OR time for elective cases. Results Changing OR allocations among surgeons without changing total OR hours allocated will likely increase perioperative variable costs by less than 34%. If, in addition, intensive care unit hours for elective surgical cases are not increased, hospital ward occupancy is capped, and implant use is tracked and capped, perioperative costs will likely increase by less than 10%. These four variables predict 97% of the variance in total variable costs. Conclusions The authors showed that changing OR allocations among surgeons without changing total OR hours allocated can increase hospital perioperative variable costs by up to approximately one third. Thus, at hospitals with fixed or nearly fixed annual budgets, allocating OR time based on an OR-based statistic such as utilization can adversely affect the hospital financially. The OR manager can reduce the potential increase in costs by considering not just OR time, but also the resulting use of hospital beds and implants.
Refactoring-based Executable UML Transformation for Embedded System Design

Summary Typical stepwise refinement is widely used in design process, but due to increased design complexity a new way of designing is necessary. In this paper, we present a system-level design methodology using Executable-UML (xUML) and Model Driven Architecture (MDA) concepts. This proposed research aims at developing a language-independent framework for stepwise refinement by refactoring of xUML models. We investigate a transformation mechanism from an abstract specification model to a concrete implementation model in xUML representation exploiting the MDA capabilities in a step-by-step manner. Our modeling framework uses selected subsets of UML diagram types with action semantics. We show the application of our work by several design examples including GSM Vocoder design. As a result, we obtained executable models and a set of well-defined refactoring rules to accelarate design processes and improve product qualities of not only SoC but embedded systems in general.
Comparison of Radiation Exposure in Lumbar Pedicle Screw Placement With Fluoroscopy Vs Computer-Assisted Image Guidance With Intraoperative Three-Dimensional Imaging

Abstract Background/objective: Little is known about the long-term effects of chronic exposure to ionizingradiation. Studies have shown that spine surgeons may be exposed to significantly more radiation than thatobserved in surgery on the appendicular skeleton. Computer-assisted image guidance systems have beenshown in preliminary studies to enable accurate instrumentation of the spine. Computer-assisted image guidance systems may havesignificant application to the surgical management of spinal trauma and deformity. The objective of this study was to compare C-arm fluoroscopy and computer-assisted imageguidance in terms of radiation exposure to the operative surgeon when placing pedicle screw-rod constructsin cadaver specimens. Methods: Twelve single-level (2 contiguous vertebral bodies) lumbar pedicle screw-rod constructs (48screws) in 4 fresh cadavers were placed using standard C-arm fluoroscopy and computer-assisted imageguidance (Stealth Station with lso-C3D ). Pedicle screw-rod constructs were placed at L1-L2, L3-L4, and L5-S1 in 4 fresh cadaver specimens. Imaging was alternated between C-arm fluoroscopy and computer-assistedimage guidance with Stealth Station lso-C3D. Radiation exposure was measured using ringand badge dosimeters to monitor the thyroid, torso, and index finger. Postprocedure CT scans were obtained to judge accuracy of screw placement. Results: Mean radiation exposure to the torso was 4.33 ± 2.66 mRemfor procedures performed with standard fluoroscopy and 0.33 ± 0.82 mRem for procedures performed with computer-assisted image guidance. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.012). Radiation exposure to the index finger and thyroid was negligible for all procedures. The accuracy of screw placement was similar for both techniques. Conclusions: Computer-assisted image guidance systems allow for the safe and accurate placement ofpedicle screw-rod constructs with a significant reduction in exposure to ionizing radiation to the torso of theoperating surgeon.
Thermal signature: A simple yet accurate thermal index for floorplan optimization

A floorplanning has a potential to reduce chip temperature due to the conductive nature of heat. If floorplan optimization, which is usually based on simulated annealing, is employed to reduce temperature, its evaluation should be done extremely fast with high accuracy. A new thermal index, named thermal signature, is proposed. It approximates the temperature calculation, which is done by taking the product of Green's function and power density integrated over space. The correlation coefficient between thermal signature and temperature is shown to be quite high, more than 0.7 in many examples. A floorplanner that uses thermal signature is constructed and assessed using real design examples in 32-nm technology. It produces a floorplan whose maximum temperature is 11.4°C smaller than that of standard floorplan, on average, in reasonable amount of runtime.
The four tiers of structure in integrally skinned phase inversion membranes and their relevance to the various separation regimes

There are four superimposed tiers of structure in integrally skinned phase inversion membranes: macromolecules (functionally submacromolecules, that is, displacements between chain segments); nodules–approximately 200 A in diameter spherical macromolecular aggregates, each of which contains several tens of macromolecules (nodule interiors are denser than interstitial regimes, therefore, chain segment displacements within and between nodules differ and hence constitute a bimodal pore size distribution which may account for the dual mode sorption and permeation of gases; transport of water in reverse osmosis occurs primarily through the less dense interstitial domains); nodule aggregates—400–1000 A in diameter spherical clumps of nodules (the skins of reverse osmosis and gas separation membranes consist of a single layer of coalesced nodule aggregates; ultrafiltration pores are the spaces between incompletely coalesced nodule aggregates, and residual ultrafiltration pores are the defect pores found in reverse osmosis membrances); supernodular aggregates–aggregates of nodule aggregates which constitute the walls of the 0.1–2 μm in diameter open cells in the membrance substructure (microfiltration pores are the surface extensions of openings between adjacent cell walls).
Object Grouping and Replication Algorithms for Word Wide Web

This paper presents an algorithm to group correlated objects that are most likely to be requested by a client in a single session. Based on these groups, a centralized algorithm that determines the placements of objects to a cluster of web-servers is proposed to minimize latency. Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet traffic and the rapid changes in the access pattern of the World-Wide Web, we also propose a distributed algorithm where each site relies on some collected information to decide what object should be replicated at that site. The performance of the proposed algorithms is evaluated through a simulation study. Povzetek: Grupiranje objektov na spletu.
Digital recording and numerical reconstruction of holograms for nondestructive testing

Digital recording and numerical reconstruction of holograms is a new method of laser metrology: two or more Fresnel holograms, which represent different loading states of the object, are generated directly on a CCD-target and stored electronically. In contrast to speckle interferometry, no lens or other imaging device is used. The reconstruction is done from the digitally stored holograms with numerical methods. For both states, the intensity as well as the phase of the object wave can be calculated in the reconstruction process. This makes it possible to calculate the interference phase directly from the holograms, without generating an interference pattern. In this paper, applications of digital holography in the field of nondestructive testing are presented. A thin-walled pressure vessel (satellite tank) is loaded by changing the internal pressure and the resulting deformation field is measured quantitatively. Defects in the wall become visible as local peaks in the global deformation field.
Tight Dynamic Movement Primitives for Complex Trajectory Generation

Movement primitives are basic building blocks facilitating generation of complex trajectories. Dynamic movement primitives are second-order non-linear motion controllers. In this work, a new formulation termed Tight Dynamic Movement Primitives (TDMP) is introduced. The parameters of each TDMP are the demonstrated trajectory coordinates. During run-time, the stored trajectory is transformed, based on the actual start and target positions, and the motion controller parameters are calculated. An additional component driving the trajectory to the target can be added. The method was tested for trajectory generation of the ten digits and implemented in hardware for controlling a robotic manipulator. Results show that trajectories generated using TDMP are more similar to demonstrated paths than when using DMP. In comparison to the DMP fewer primitives are required for complex trajectory generation, although each primitive is encoded by more parameters. The additional TDMP run-time computation cost is small and the method remains suitable for run-time applications.
Microstructure of solder joints with electronic components in lead‐free solders

The microstructure of the Sn‐3.5wt%Ag/Cu and Sn‐9.0wt%Zn/Cu interfaces after soldering at 250°C was evaluated. The cross‐sections were investigated using a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X‐ray to determine the interface layer structure and composition. Even though the cooling rate from soldering temperature to room temperature is rapid, this study indicates that the intermetallic compound is formed at the interface between the solder and the copper substrate for both the Sn‐3.5wt%Ag and the Sn‐9.0wt%Zn lead‐free solders.
Recombinant B domain deleted porcine factor VIII for the treatment of bleeding episodes in adults with acquired hemophilia A

Hemophilia A is an inherited deficiency of clotting factor VIII (FVIII) often complicated by inhibitor development (CHAWI) in which neutralizing antibodies block the therapeutic benefit of replacement therapy. Inhibitors to FVIII can also be seen in an auto-immune disease known as acquired hemophilia A (AHA). ‘Bypassing’ therapies have been shown to provide hemostasis but dosing must be done empirically because current assays cannot measure objective markers of treatment efficacy and safety. A recombinant porcine sequence factor VIII (r-pFVIII) has been developed for the management of AHA. Preclinical, Phase I and Phase II clinical research studies in CHAWI subjects showed therapeutic potential and safety of this agent. A Phase II/III study in AHA with serious bleeding episodes shows a positive response in all subjects after administration. Based on current preclinical and clinical trial data, r-pFVIII should become the first line of treatment in the management of hemorrhage in patients with AHA.
Fast 2D border ownership assignment

A method for efficient border ownership assignment in 2D images is proposed. Leveraging on recent advances using Structured Random Forests (SRF) for boundary detection [8], we impose a novel border ownership structure that detects both boundaries and border ownership at the same time. Key to this work are features that predict ownership cues from 2D images. To this end, we use several different local cues: shape, spectral properties of boundary patches, and semi-global grouping cues that are indicative of perceived depth. For shape, we use HoG-like descriptors that encode local curvature (convexity and concavity). For spectral properties, such as extremal edges [28], we first learn an orthonormal basis spanned by the top K eigenvectors via PCA over common types of contour tokens [23]. For grouping, we introduce a novel mid-level descriptor that captures patterns near edges and indicates ownership information of the boundary. Experimental results over a subset of the Berkeley Segmentation Dataset (BSDS) [24] and the NYU Depth V2 [34] dataset show that our method's performance exceeds current state-of-the-art multi-stage approaches that use more complex features.