Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Material Development for the 3D Printing of Osteochondral Grafts

Cartilage defects are currently repaired in the clinics using a number of different techniques such as microfracture, autologous chondrocytes implantation and mosaicplasty. Apart from mosaicplasty, none of these therapeutic approaches account specifically for late grade 3 or grade 4 lesions where the subchondral bone supporting the cartilage is also damaged. Current tissue engineering approaches for the repair of osteochondral lesions involve biphasic scaffolds which consist of a porous bone layer, often containing ceramic particles, and a hydrogel-based chondral layer. The two phases are often produced with different manufacturing technologies, which necessitates an additional assembly step for final graft production. By utilizing 3D printing, osteochondral grafts could be produced with a single manufacturing process. Due to the stringent requirements of bioinks in terms of their biocompatibility, viscosity and mechanical properties, novel materials are needed for the printing of an osteochondral graft. The first part of this thesis focuses on the development of a new drug delivery system for the anti-inflammatory drug licofelone. The aim was to be able to reduce inflammation in an osteochondral defect which would contribute towards graft survival. The drug delivery system design requirements were 1) to offer a high loading capacity for licofelone and 2) to be small enough to be included into inks for osteochondral graft printing. The small size of the delivery system further required immobilization within the bioink. Otherwise the delivery system might diffuse out of the ink before release of its load at the intended target site is completed. We chose polyoxazoline-based copolymers with a terminal methacrylate group as the ideal drug delivery system for licofelone satisfying these design constraints. The polyoxazoline block copolymer showed remarkably high solubility for licofelone at two order of magnitudes higher than licofelone in water. The micelles formed were in the nanometer range and were successfully immobilized on methacrylated surfaces. In the second part of the thesis, we explored thermoresponsive hydrogel systems as candidate materials for printing of the chondral layer of osteochondral grafts. Two polymers, Pluronic and HA-pNIPAAM, were selected as bioinks for cartilage bioprinting due to their thermoreversible gelation properties. Pluronic inherently exhibited
An Efficient QoS-Constrained Data Aggregation and Processing Approach in Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper an efficient Quality of Service (QoS)- constrained data aggregation and processing approach for distributed wireless sensor networks is introduced and evaluated. The objective of the proposed approach is to aggregate data on the fly at intermediate sensor nodes in order to improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the sensor networks, while at the same time still satisfying the latency and measurement quality constraints. One of the key features of the proposed approach is that the task QoS requirements are taken into account to determine when and where to perform the aggregation in a distributed fashion. The performance of the proposed approach is analyzed and evaluated, through modeling and simulation, under different data aggregation scenarios and traffic loads. The impact of several design parameters and tradeoffs on various critical network and application related performance metrics, such as the energy efficiency and end-to-end latency, are also evaluated and discussed.
Cathepsin B-sensitive nanoprobe for in vivo tumor diagnosis

We developed a cathepsin B-sensitive nanoprobe (CB-NP) with a cathepsin B substrate peptide probe and tumor-targeting glycol chitosan nanoparticles. The CB-NP could accumulate in tumor tissues, enter into tumor cells, and generate fluorescent signals in cytosol in response to cathepsin B. The results of non-invasive fluorescence imaging in a tumor-bearing mouse model demonstrated the potential of CB-NP for tumor diagnosis in clinical fields.
A Dependable Processor by Using Built-in Self Test to Tolerate Periodical Transient Faults under Highly Electromagnetic Environment

This paper releases a report of the application for the fault tolerant sequential circuit technique against periodical transient faults under highly electromagnetic environment. After implementing the proposed fault tolerant technique on a counter in our previous paper, as an example of how the proposed architecture performs on utility-scale sequential circuits, the result obtained by applying the technique to a processor is illustrated. On the basis of our logic simulation, we confirm that the originally designed 8-bit processor with functional BIST can avoid the periodical multiple transient faults. We further show that sequential circuits with a practical size of a processor can apply the fault tolerant technique with low overhead from the viewpoint of the circuit space.
Optical, morphological, and electrical properties of P3HT: SiNWs nanocomposite deposited on flexible substrate: effect of SiNWs concentration

The following flexible structure PET-ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:SiNWs/Al has been fabricated. The effect of the concentration of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) on the transfer and transport properties of the elaborated hybrid nanocomposite P3HT:SiNWs is studied by photoluminescence (PL) and current–voltage measurements. From PL spectra, we conclude that lower SiNW concentration leads to a higher charge transfer rate. However, higher concentration leads to an increase in defects and aggregates. This result is correlated with SEM images and J-V measurement. According to the thermionic model, electric parameters such as ideality factor n and barrier height Фb were calculated. For the P3HT:SiNWs (1:1) ratio, barrier height and parallel resistance Rp were found to be 0.71 V and 6 KΩ, respectively.
Using Causal Models for Learning from Demonstration

Most learning from demonstration algorithms are implemented with a certain set of variables that are known to be important for the agent. The agent is hardcoded to use those variables for learning the task (or a set of parameters). In this work we try to understand the causal structure of a demonstrated task in order to ﬁnd: which variables cause what other variables to change, and which variables are independent from the others. We used a realistic simulator to record a simple pick and place task demonstration data, and recovered different causal models using the data in Tetrad, a computer program that searches for causal and statistical models. Our ﬁndings show that it is possible to deduce irrelevant variables to a demonstrated task, using the recovered causal structure.
On the generation of scan-based test sets with reachable states for testing under functional operation conditions

Design-for-testability (DFT) for synchronous sequential circuits allows the generation and application of tests that rely on non-functional operation of the circuit. This can result in unnecessary yield loss due to the detection of faults that do not affect normal circuit operation. Considering single stuck-at faults in full-scan circuits, a test vector consists of a primary input vector U and a state S . We say that the test vector consisting of U and S relies on non-functional operation if S is an unreachable state, i.e., a state that cannot be reached from all the circuit states. Our goal is to obtain test sets with states S that are reachable states. Given a test set C, the solution we explore is based on a simulation-based procedure to identify reachable states that can replace unreachable states in C. No modifications are required to the test generation procedure and no sequential test generation is needed. Our results demonstrate that the proposed procedure is able to produce test sets that detect many of the circuit faults, which are detectable using scan, and practically all the sequentially irredundant faults, by using test vectors with reachable states. The procedure is applicable to any type of scan-based test set, including test sets for delay faults.
STRUCTURE AND FATIGUE FAILURE ANALYSIS OF NITRIDED NODULAR CAST IRON

This paper presents and discusses the influence of a nitriding treatment by the patented Nitreg ￻ Controlled Potential process on the case material structure, the fatigue response and the fatigue fracture mechanisms of the ferritic nodular cast iron EN - GJS 400. The structural analysis of the nitrided layer was performed and microhardness was measured on these specimens at different distances starting from the surface down to the basic material. The hardness profile characterizes the effectiveness of the nitriding treatment and is used to define an effective nitrided depth. A standard procedure for fatigue curve and fatigue limit determination at 50 % probability of survival using a limited number of specimens was adopted. The nitriding treatment is demonstrated to give a very significant improvement of the fatigue response, confirming the range of improvement determined by previous tests on steels. The high fatigue strength is not due exclusively to the formation of the hardened surface layer, because favorable compressive residual stresses are also produced in the surface layers by nitriding. Residual stresses are generated by the distortion of the crystalline lattice due to diffusion of carbon and nitrogen from the surface and a change in the specific volume following a phase change.
A Pore-Network Model of In-Situ Combustion in Porous Media

This report the use of dual pore networks (pores and solid sites) for modeling the effect of the microstructure on combustion processes in porous media is considered. The model accounts for flow and transport of the gas phase in the porespace, where convection predominates, and for heat transfer by conduction in the solid phase. Gas phase flow in the pore and throats is governed by Darcy's law.
A novel proposal to improve fairness in TCP Reno

The fairness in TCP Reno has been long known as unsatisfactory as it gives more bandwidth shares to short flows while starves the long flows. In this paper, a new proposal to improve fairness in TCP Reno is presented. We describe the bandwidth allocation among TCP Reno flows into a new utility optimised problem, in which the requirement of fairness among flows is taken into account in the constrain conditions. This problem is then solved by the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) condition to achieve a new distributed algorithm to allocate bandwidth among flows with fairness being enhanced. On this basis, we discuss the implementation of this algorithm in the packet level for real networks using the technique of differential dropping in routers. Simulation results show that the new proposal regulates the bandwidth share effectively and improves the fairness performance of TCP Reno.
Using High-Speed WANs and Network Data Caches to Enable Remote and Distributed Visualization

Visapult is a prototype application and framework for remote visualization of large scientific datasets. We approach the technical challenges of tera-scale visualization with a unique architecture that employs high speed WANs and network data caches for data staging and transmission. This architecture allows for the use of available cache and compute resources at arbitrary locations on the network. High data throughput rates and network utilization are achieved by parallelizing I/O at each stage in the application, and by pipelining the visualization process. On the desktop, the graphics interactivity is effectively decoupled from the latency inherent in network applications. We present a detailed performance analysis of the application, and improvements resulting from field-test analysis conducted as part of the DOE Combustion Corridor project.
Gender Differences and Related Factors Affecting Online Gaming Addiction Among Taiwanese Adolescents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which gender and other factors predict the severity of online gaming addiction among Taiwanese adolescents. A total of 395 junior high school students were recruited for evaluation of their experiences playing online games. Severity of addiction, behavioral characteristics, number of stressors, and level of satisfaction with daily life were compared between males and females who had previously played online games. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore gender differences in the relationships between severity of online gaming addiction and a number of variables. This study found that subjects who had previously played online games were predominantly male. Gender differences were also found in the severity of online gaming addiction and motives for playing. Older age, lower self-esteem, and lower satisfaction with daily life were associated with more severe addiction among males, but not among females. Special strategies accounting for gender differences must be implemented to prevent adolescents with risk factors from becoming addicted to online gaming.
Sequence complexity of disordered protein

Intrinsic disorder refers to segments or to whole proteins that fail to self‐fold into fixed 3D structure, with such disorder sometimes existing in the native state. Here we report data on the relationships among intrinsic disorder, sequence complexity as measured by Shannon's entropy, and amino acid composition. Intrinsic disorder identified in protein crystal structures, and by nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, and prediction from amino acid sequence, all exhibit similar complexity distributions that are shifted to lower values compared to, but significantly overlapping with, the distribution for ordered proteins. Compared to sequences from ordered proteins, these variously characterized intrinsically disordered segments and proteins, and also a collection of low‐complexity sequences, typically have obviously higher levels of protein‐specific subsets of the following amino acids: R, K, E, P, and S, and lower levels of subsets of the following: C, W, Y, I, and V. The Swiss Protein database of sequences exhibits significantly higher amounts of both low‐complexity and predicted‐to‐be‐disordered segments as compared to a non‐redundant set of sequences from the Protein Data Bank, providing additional data that nature is richer in disordered and low‐complexity segments compared to the commonness of these features in the set of structurally characterized proteins. Proteins 2001;42:38–48. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experimental Investigation of a Mixture of Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Gas Hydrate Formation in Water-Based Drilling Mud in the Presence or Absence of Thermodynamic Inhibitors

Gas hydrates form when a number of factors co-exist: free water, hydrocarbon gas, cold temperatures and high pressures are typical of the near mud-line conditions in a deepwater drilling operation. Subsequently, when drilling with water based muds, particularly on exploration wells, the risk of hydrate formation associated with a gas influx is high. The consequences of gas hydrate formation while drilling are severe, and as such, every effort should be made to ensure the risk of hydrate formation is either eliminated or significantly reduced. Thermodynamic inhibitors are used to reduce the free water content of a drilling mud, and thus suppress the hydrate formation temperature. Very little experimental work has been performed by oil and gas research companies on the evaluation of gas hydrate formation in a water-based drilling mud. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the experimental gas hydrate formation for a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide & nitrogen in a water-based drilling mud with or without presence of different concentrations of thermodynamic inhibitors including pure salt and a combination of salt with methanol or ethylene glycol at different concentrations in a static loop apparatus. The experiments were performed using a static loop apparatus consisting of a 2.4307 cm inside diameter and 800 cm long pipe. All experiments were conducted at 2200 psia. The temperature in the loop was decreased at a rate of 3.33 ̊F/h from initial temperature of 80 ̊F. Keywords—Hydrate formation, thermodynamic inhibitor, waterbased drilling mud, salt, static loop apparatus.
Shock compression and release of a-axis magnesium single crystals: Anisotropy and time dependent inelastic response

To gain insight into inelastic deformation mechanisms for shocked hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals, particularly the role of crystal anisotropy, magnesium (Mg) single crystals were subjected to shock compression and release along the a-axis to 3.0 and 4.8 GPa elastic impact stresses. Wave profiles measured at several thicknesses, using laser interferometry, show a sharply peaked elastic wave followed by the plastic wave. Additionally, a smooth and featureless release wave is observed following peak compression. When compared with wave profiles measured previously for c-axis Mg [Winey et al., J. Appl. Phys. 117, 105903 (2015)], the elastic wave amplitudes for a-axis Mg are lower for the same propagation distance, and less attenuation of elastic wave amplitude is observed for a given peak stress. The featureless release wave for a-axis Mg is in marked contrast to the structured features observed for c-axis unloading. Numerical simulations, using a time-dependent anisotropic modeling framework, showed tha.
Extragalactic Cosmic Rays and Magnetic Fields: Facts and Fiction

A critical discussion of our knowledge about extragalactic cosmic rays and magnetic fields is at-tempted. What do we know for sure? What are our prejudices? How do we confront our models with the observations? How can we assess the uncertainties in our modeling and in our observations? Unfortunately, perfect answers to these questions can not be given. Instead, I describe efforts I am involved in to gain reliable information about relativistic particles and magnetic fields in extragalactic space.
Hardware-accelerated volume and isosurface rendering based on cell-projection

We present two beneficial rendering extensions to the projected tetrahedra (PT) algorithm proposed by Shirley and Tuchman (1990). These extensions are compatible with any cell sorting technique, for example the BSP-XMPVO sorting algorithm for unstructured meshes. Using 3D texture mapping our first extension solves the longstanding problem of hardware-accelerated but accurate rendering of tetrahedral volume cells with arbitrary transfer functions. By employing 2D texture mapping our second extension realizes the hardware-accelerated rendering of multiple shaded isosurfaces within the PT algorithm without reconstructing the isosurfaces. Additionally, two methods are presented to combine projected tetrahedral volumes with isosurfaces. The time complexity of all our algorithms is linear in the number of tetrahedra and does neither depend on the number of isosurfaces nor on the employed transfer functions.
Lifestyle Practices and Obesity in Malaysian Adolescents

Aim: To determine the influence of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) on obesity profiles of 454 Malaysian adolescents aged 12 to 19. Methods: Validated PA and SB questionnaires were used and body composition assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Gender-specific multivariate analyses showed boys with high levels of total PA and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) exhibited significantly lower levels of total body fat, percent body fat and android fat mass compared with low PA and MVPA groups, after adjusting for potential confounders. Girls with high SB levels showed significantly higher BMI, waist circumference and DXA-derived body fat indices than those at lower SB level. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that boys with low levels of total PA and MVPA had significantly greater obesity risk, 3.0 (OR 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1–8.1; p < 0.05) and 3.8-fold (OR 3.8; 95% CI, 1.4–10.1; p < 0.01), respectively, than more active boys. Only in girls with high SB level was there a significantly increased risk of obesity, 2.9 times higher than girls at low SP levels (OR 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0–7.5; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The present findings indicate that higher PA duration and intensity reduced body fat and obesity risk while high screen-based sedentary behaviors significantly adversely influenced body fat mass, particularly amongst girls when the PA level was low.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXTENDED USE OF THE MARCHI METHOD

It has previously been reported (Smith, 1951) that the Marchi method applied to human material is useful in demonstrating degeneration in nerve fibres even when the interval between the occurrence of the lesion and death exceeded one year. Also (Smith, Strich, and Sharp, 1956) the Marchi method can be applied when the material has been stored in formol-saline for as long as eight years. This latter observation is contrary to traditional opinion ; it is important because it points to the possible use of the Marchi method on material that would previously have been considered totally unsuitable for this technique. The purpose of this paper is to report an investigation of the effects of storage in formol-saline on degenerating nerve fibres in human material, and to draw attention to the relation between the stage of degeneration and the kind of Marchi staining obtained. The spinal cords from 18 patients were examined. Each patient had had a cordotomy at a known interval before death. In every case Marchi preparations were made after 10 to 14 days' fixation. During the next 15 to 72 months spare blocks of material were stored in 10% or 20% formol-saline. Slices were then cut from the blocks and a second series of Marchi preparations was made. The most satisfactory of these later preparations were found to be uncleared frozen sections prepared by the Swank-Davenport-Glees technique (Glees, 1943) but mounted directly after cutting in glycerine jelly (Smith and others, 1956) ; frozen sections cleared in cedar-wood oil and mounted in Canada balsam, and celloidin sections, some counterstained, were also prepared.
Efficient Direct Boundary Element Method for Resistance Extraction of Substrate With Arbitrary Doping Profile

It is important to model the substrate coupling for mixed-signal or RF circuit designs. In this paper, a direct boundary element method (DBEM) and related efficient techniques are presented to calculate the coupling resistances for three-dimensional substrate structure. First, a nonuniform meshing scheme is presented to reduce boundary elements while preserving accuracy. Then, the unknowns on top medium surface are removed from the discretized linear system of DBEM with a matrix reduction technique. The third technique is applying the quasi-multiple medium idea (W. Yu, Z. Wang, and J. Gu, "Fast capacitance extraction of actual 3-D VLSI interconnects using quasi-multiple medium accelerated BEM," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 109-199, Jan. 2003), which greatly reduces the expense of matrix reduction and makes the final coefficient matrix much sparser. With these proposed techniques, the linear equation system is largely condensed and sparsified and then solved with a preconditioned generalized minimum residual solver for multiple right-hand sides to get the whole resistance matrix. Numerical experiments on typical substrates with various doping profiles show the high accuracy of the DBEM-based method. The authors also compared the DBEM method with the Green's function methods accelerated by discrete cosine transform or eigendecomposition techniques. The results show that the DBEM-based method is several times or tens of times faster than the other two. At the same time, the DBEM method has no difficulty in handling substrates with more complex than stratified doping profiles, which is a large advantage over the existing methods