Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heat Transfer Correlations on Combustion Chamber Surface of Diesel Engine - Experimental Work

Design and control of recently developing engines have much important towards better fuel economy and reduction in exhaust emissions from an engine. Since the ignition takes place due to high compression (or) self ignition of temperature in case of diesel engines, the temperature distribution and heat flux on the combustion chamber surface are an important phenomenon. While modifying the profile of combustion chamber of diesel engine, it is important to relocate the hot spot regions on the combustion chamber surface which supports combustion initiation. With these hot spot regions on combustion chamber surface regulates/controls ignition delay period which results in controlled detonation. In diesel engines, controlled detonation which in turn improves engine performance and reduced emissions. Therefore, to include the hot spot regions at proper locations, it is required to measure the temperature values at different locations/coordinates with the help of thermocouples on the cylinder head surface exposed to combustion chamber. Also the adiabatic flame temperature, the engine performance parameters, heat balance date, convection and radiation heat transfer related terms were calculated and analyzed
Dynamic In-Page Logging for B⁺-tree Index

Unlike database tables, B+-tree indexes are hierarchical and their structures change over time by node splitting operations, which may propagate changes from one node to another. The node splitting operation is difficult for the basic In-Page Logging (IPL) scheme to deal with, because it involves more than one node that may be stored separately in different flash blocks. In this paper, we propose Dynamic IPL B+-tree (d-IPL B+-tree in short) as a variant of the IPL scheme tailored for flash-based B+-tree indexes. The d-IPL B+-tree addresses the problem of frequent log overflow by allocating a log area in a flash block dynamically. It also avoids a page evaporation problem, imposed by the contemporary NAND flash chips, by introducing ghost nodes to d-IPL B+-tree. This simple but elegant design of the d-IPL B+-tree provides significant performance improvement over existing approaches. For a random insertion workload, the d-IPL B+-tree outperformed a B+-tree with the plain IPL scheme by more than a factor of two in terms of page write and block erase operations.
Quality measurement in breast cancer

Variation in the quality of breast care affects outcomes. Objective measurement tools are central to this effort. Most quality measures are process measures. Application of these improves quality. Many national organizations are promoting them for purposes ranging from feedback to providers to public reporting and directing payment. Surgeons should evaluate their own practices and should be involved in local, regional and national efforts to assess and improve breast care. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:509–517. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The politics of post‐implementation reviews

Abstract. The post‐implementation review (PIR) literature emphasizes the benefits of ex post evaluations of information technology (IT) projects. However, empirical studies of actual practice show that few organizations undertake any substantive form of ex post evaluation. This article presents the results of case study research in the Australian offices of two global corporations. These results support the findings reported in the literature and contribute new insights into the political factors that discourage the undertaking of PIRs in organizations. Furthermore, the results reveal a significant gap between theory and practice with respect to IT investment and IT governance practices, with no evidence found of such practices influencing ex post evaluation behaviour in these two organizations.
Flexible Digital Predistortion for Future Spectrally-Agile Waveforms and 5G Radio Systems

In this article, we focus on the RF and digital front-end design and implementation challenges associated with future 5G radio access systems with special emphasis on spectrally contained waveforms and small-cell system scenarios. In general, filter bank based multicarrier (FBMC) type of techniques have various potential benefits due to their excellent spectral containment compared to classical OFDM(A). However, these spectrally contained waveforms lose their intriguing spectral properties when power amplifier (PA) nonlinearities are considered. Flexible and efficient digital predistortion (DPD) algorithms are thus considered an interesting solution in order to restore the spectral containment of such advanced 5G waveforms. Noncontiguous spectrally-agile transmission is another key feature of future 5G systems for increasing data rates and spectral allocation flexibility. However, the PA nonlinearities impose even more severe challenges in such noncontiguous transmission scenarios due to the resulting spurious intermodulation emissions that can easily violate the emission limits or even desensitize the own receiver in frequency division duplexing based systems. Furthermore, at the network deployment level, different small-cell concepts are expected to play a major role in future 5G networks. Unlike the ordinary macro base-stations, the digital computing capabilities in small-cell base-stations are much more limited. Furthermore, they should also adopt lower-cost and small-size analog RF components, while still maintaining high energy-efficiency. The afore-mentioned constraints, along with advanced 5G waveforms, call for flexible and low-complexity DPD solutions, a challenge addressed in this article. We report novel DPD methods with built-in capability to direct the linearization performance to pre-defined frequencies or subbands in a flexible manner, and demonstrate their good performance and complexity benefits in the context of non-contiguous FBMC transmission.
Generalized Union Bound for Space–Time Codes

Gallager's second bounding technique, also known as the generalized union bound, is employed to derive a new upper bound on the error probability of space-time codes (STCs) with maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding on quasi-static Rayleigh fading channels. The new bound is distinguished by two characteristics: unlike the classical union bound, the new bound is rapidly convergent and is only a few decibels away from simulation results; and compared with Gallager's first bound, it has better computational efficiency and numerical stability. Hence, the new bound is a useful tool for performance analysis and computer search of good STCs. Moreover, the correlation between fading coefficients is easily accommodated by the new bound. The application of the new bound to convolutional coding on block-fading channels is also demonstrated, and an improved version is derived for the bit-error probability of maximum a posteriori probability decoding
VISVIP: 3D visualization of paths through web sites

VISVIP allows web site developers and usability engineers to visualize the paths taken through the site by the subjects of usability experiments. They can dynamically customize and simplify the graphical layout of the web site, and select which subjects' paths to view. An animated representation of progress along the path through the web site is also available. The third dimension of the 3D display is used to represent the time spent on each page visit. The graph layout provided by VISVIP can be governed by either the web site topology or the intrinsic structure of the subject's path.
Transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery: more than 1-year experience in radical nephrectomy and its learning curve study.

PURPOSE The aim is to report our 1-year experience in transumbilical Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) radical nephrectomy (LESS-RN) and assess its learning curve. PATIENTS AND METHODS From September 2009 to December 2010, 18 consecutive patients with a solitary renal tumor underwent transumbilical LESS-RN. We grouped measured parameters on the basis of the first nine (group A) and last nine (group B) patients, and compared both subgroups with the control group (C), which was composed of the initial nine consecutive patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic RNs performed by the same surgeon. RESULTS There was one LESS patient converted to conventional laparoscopic surgery for intraoperative hemorrhage and transfused. The mean for measured parameters of the groups A, B, C were: age: 58.6, 57.2, and 59.2 years, respectively (P>0.05); American Society of Aneshesiologists score: 1.9, 2.0, and 2.0, respectively (P>0.05); body mass index: 25.2, 23.5, and 23.1 kg/m(2), respectively (P>0.05); lesion size at CT scan: 5.0, 4.6, and 6.2 cm, respectively (P=0.039); operative skin to skin time: 191.6, 123.9, and 122.2 minutes, respectively (P=0.000); estimated blood loss: 172.2, 246.7, and 116.7 mL, respectively (P>0.05); incision length: 5.6, 5.9, and 7.4 cm, respectively (P=0.000); hospital stay: 5.8, 5.8, and 5.8 days, respectively (P>0.05). At the latest follow-up, all patients did not present any local recurrence or metastasis. CONCLUSIONS In selected patients, the transumbilical LESS-RN can be safely performed with favorable outcomes. While a learning curve certainly exists, it appears to be short for an experienced laparoscopic surgeon.
Longitudinal Association of C-Reactive Protein and Lung Function Over 13 Years

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is known to be associated with systemic inflammation. We examined the longitudinal association of C-reactive protein (CRP) and lung function in a cohort of 18,110 men and women from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer in Norfolk who were 40–79 years of age at baseline (recruited in 1993–1997) and followed-up through 2011. We assessed lung function by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at baseline, 4 years, and 13 years. Serum CRP levels were measured using a high-sensitivity assay at baseline and the 13-year follow up. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of loge-CRP and lung function were examined using multivariable linear mixed models. In the cross-sectional analysis, 1-standard-deviation increase in baseline loge-CRP (about 3-fold higher CRP on the original milligrams per liter scale) was associated with a −86.3 mL (95% confidence interval: −93.9, −78.6) reduction in FEV1. In longitudinal analysis, a 1-standard-deviation increase in loge-CRP over 13 years was also associated with a −64.0 mL (95% confidence interval: −72.1, −55.8) decline in FEV1 over the same period. The associations were similar for FVC and persisted among lifetime never-smokers. Baseline CRP levels were not predictive of the rate of change in FEV1 or FVC over time. In the present study, we found longitudinal observational evidence that suggested that increases in systemic inflammation are associated with declines in lung function.
An integrated approach to verifying large circuits: a case study

Through the use of compositionality and abstraction, it is possible to extend automatic model checking techniques so that large circuits can be verified. This paper presents a case study verification of Benchmark 22 of the IFIP WG10.5 Benchmark Suite for Hardware Verification (a systolic array multiplier containing 115 000 gates). Both the timing and functionality of the circuit are verified (a significant error was discovered in the original benchmark). This illustrates that an appropriate logical framework can support an efficient, integrated tool for verification that incorporates a number of different verification techniques. A specialised theorem prover implements a compositional theory based on symbolic trajectory evaluation (STE). STE, an efficient model checking technique that can support large state spaces because of its natural and easily used method of abstraction, provides the underlying computational engine. The rest of the compositional theory allows a human verifier to use knowledge of the structure of the circuit to overcome some of the computational limitations of model checking. Using STE with its compositional theory, large circuits can be verified in detail using reasonable computational resources.
Interaction of transport distance and body weight on preslaughter stress and breast meat quality of broilers

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of transport distance on blood metabolites and breast meat quality of broilers slaughtered at different weights. 2. The study was conducted on Ross 308 broilers from 27 different flocks reared under similar conditions. Slaughter weight was classified as <2·0 kg, 2·0–2·4 kg, and >2·4 kg. Transport distance was categorised as short (65 km), medium (115 km) and long (165 km) distance representing 90, 155 and 220 minutes at an average 45 km/h speed, for each slaughter weight. 3. Higher heterophils and heterophil:lymphocyte (H/L) ratios were obtained for broilers transported over a long distance. Long distance transport increased blood albumin, glucose, and triglycerides levels for <2·0 kg broilers, which did not differ from broilers slaughtered at >2·4 kg after long-distance transport. 4. Broilers slaughtered at >2·4 kg after long-distance transport had lower pHu, and paler and tougher breast meat, than those broilers slaughtered at <2·0 kg after long-distance transport. 5. A negative correlation was obtained between pHu and L*, thawing loss and texture. The L* value was negatively correlated with a*; and positively correlated with b*, thawing and cooking losses. 6. It was concluded that the effect of transport distance could not be evaluated independently of slaughter weight. The interaction between transport distance and slaughter weight contributes to preslaughter stress and meat quality.
Damage behavior of orthopedic titanium alloys with martensitic microstructure during sliding wear in physiological solution

Wear damage behavior of new orthopedic Ti-13Nb-13Zr (mass %) alloy with martensitic microstructures developed by different thermo-mechanical treatments were examined during sliding in simulated physiological solution. The results obtained for this alloy processed by cold and hot rolling were compared with that of the standard Ti-6Al-4 V (mass %) alloy heat-treated to produce martensitic microstructure. The block-on-disk sliding friction and wear tests were conducted in Ringer’s solution. The friction coefficient, wear rate, and wear damage mechanisms were determined over a range of normal loads (20–60 N) and linear sliding speeds (0.26–1.0 m/s). The surface damage morphology revealed the presence of corrosive, abrasive, and adhesive wear in all investigated materials. The friction and wear properties were found to be dependent on the predominant wear damage mechanism and applied load/sliding speed combination. In the case of a Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy, the adhesive wear contributes to the higher wear rate and better friction behavior. This cold-rolled alloy, having a martensitic microstructure with the lowest hardness, shows the lowest friction coefficient values due to high material transfer from the alloy surface. The lowest friction resistance is observed for the Ti-6Al-4 V alloy with the highest hardness since the dominant wear damage mechanism is abrasion resulting in the low wear rate and material transfer.
Highly accurate volumetry of the spinal cord

Quantitative analysis of the spinal cord from MR images is of significant clinical interest when studying certain neurologic diseases. Especially for multiple sclerosis, a number of studies have analyzed the relation between spinal cord atrophy and clinically monitored progression of the disease. A commonly analyzed parameter in this field is the mean cross-sectional area of the cord, which can also be expressed as the average volume per cm. In this paper, we present a novel approach for precise measurement of the volume, length, and cross-sectional area of the spinal cord from T1-weighted MR images. It is computationally fast, with a low effort of required user interaction. It is based on a semi-automated pre-segmentation of a sub-section of the spinal cord, followed by an automated Gaussian mixture-model fit for volume calculation. Additionally, the centerline of the cord is extracted, which allows for calculation of the mean cross-sectional area of the measured section. We evaluate the accuracy of our method with respect to scan/re-scan reproducibility as well as intra- and inter-rater agreement. We achieved a mean coefficient of variation of 0.62% over repeated MR acquisitions, mean CoV of 0.39% for intra-rater comparison, and a mean CoV of 0.28% for inter-rater comparison by five different observers. These results prove a high sensitivity to detect even small changes in atrophy, as it could typically be observed over the temporal progression of MS
Self Organizing Map-Based Classification of Cathepsin k and S Inhibitors with Different Selectivity Profiles Using Different Structural Molecular Fingerprints: Design and Application for Discovery of Novel Hits

The main step in a successful drug discovery pipeline is the identification of small potent compounds that selectively bind to the target of interest with high affinity. However, there is still a shortage of efficient and accurate computational methods with powerful capability to study and hence predict compound selectivity properties. In this work, we propose an affordable machine learning method to perform compound selectivity classification and prediction. For this purpose, we have collected compounds with reported activity and built a selectivity database formed of 153 cathepsin K and S inhibitors that are considered of medicinal interest. This database has three compound sets, two K/S and S/K selective ones and one non-selective KS one. We have subjected this database to the selectivity classification tool ‘Emergent Self-Organizing Maps’ for exploring its capability to differentiate selective cathepsin inhibitors for one target over the other. The method exhibited good clustering performance for selective ligands with high accuracy (up to 100 %). Among the possibilites, BAPs and MACCS molecular structural fingerprints were used for such a classification. The results exhibited the ability of the method for structure-selectivity relationship interpretation and selectivity markers were identified for the design of further novel inhibitors with high activity and target selectivity.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increase and non-cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis

Context Many observational prospective studies have confirmed the inverse relationship between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and coronary heart disease. However, the potential benefit of the pharmacological increase in HDL cholesterol has not been clearly demonstrated. Moreover, in some interventions an increase in total mortality has been reported. Objective The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between HDL cholesterol increase and non-cardiovascular mortality in randomised trials. Data sources Authors searched Medline up to December 2008. Study selection Four reviewers identified randomised trials in which, through different types of interventions, HDL cholesterol increase in the treatment group was >4% compared to control group, both groups reported separately non-cardiovascular mortality and the duration of the study was, at least, one year. Data extraction Data of HDL cholesterol concentrations and deaths were collected as they appeared in the original studies. If necessary, reviewers calculated data by using trial information. Results Meta-regression analysis included 44 articles corresponding to 107 773 participants. Analysis showed an association between HDL cholesterol increase and non-cardiovascular mortality (p=0.023), however, the correlation disappeared when we excluded the ILLUMINATE (Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand its Impact in Atherosclerosis Events) trial from the analysis (p=0.972). Conclusions Meta-regression analysis results suggest that increases in HDL cholesterol up to 40% are not associated with higher non-cardiovascular death. The increase in adverse events observed in some trials where HDL cholesterol was raised in large amounts could be related with the drug mechanisms more than the HDL cholesterol increase itself.
Tunable dipole and carrier mobility for a few layer Janus MoSSe structure

Transition metal chalcogenides have attracted considerable attention for the further development of nanoscale devices, however low carrier mobility seriously prevents its further application. Here, the first-principles calculations are used to explore the structural, electronic, and carrier mobility properties of few layer Janus MoSSe in different types of stacking. The result shows that AC-stacking is the most favored stacking regardless of combination mode. Besides the band gap regulation, the dipole moment perpendicular to the x–y plane can be effectively modified through varying of the combination mode and thickness of few layers, which is further evidenced by the plane electrostatic potential energy difference between the two sides. Furthermore, the carrier mobility in these Janus structures can be greatly affected by the dipole and thickness. Although the carrier mobility in monolayer MoSSe is relatively low, the bilayer or trilayer structures have a quite high electron carrier mobility of 1194 cm2 V−1 s−1 and hole carrier mobility of 5894 cm2 V−1 s−1, mainly determined by the deformation potential. The results presented here show that the few layer Janus MoSSe has a potential in designing electronic devices or photocatalysts such as for water splitting with the intrinsic built-in electronic field.
A new design and rationale for 3D orthogonally oversampled k‐space trajectories

A novel center‐out 3D trajectory for sampling magnetic resonance data is presented. The trajectory set is based on a single Fermat spiral waveform, which is substantially undersampled in the center of k‐space. Multiple trajectories are combined in a “stacked cone” configuration to give very uniform sampling throughout a “hub,” which is very efficient in terms of gradient performance and uniform trajectory spacing. The fermat looped, orthogonally encoded trajectories (FLORET) design produces less gradient‐efficient trajectories near the poles, so multiple orthogonal hub designs are shown. These multihub designs oversample k‐space twice with orthogonal trajectories, which gives unique properties but also doubles the minimum scan time for critical sampling of k‐space. The trajectory is shown to be much more efficient than the conventional stack of cones trajectory, and has nearly the same signal‐to‐noise ratio efficiency (but twice the minimum scan time) as a stack of spirals trajectory. As a center‐out trajectory, it provides a shorter minimum echo time than stack of spirals, and its spherical k‐space coverage can dramatically reduce Gibbs ringing. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Considerations for ceramic inlays in posterior teeth: a review

This review of ceramic inlays in posterior teeth includes a review of the history of ceramic restorations, followed by common indications and contraindications for their use. A discussion on the potential for tooth wear is followed by a review of recommended preparation design considerations, fabrication methods, and material choices. Despite the improved materials available for fabrication of porcelain inlays, fracture remains a primary mode of inlay failure. Therefore, a brief discussion on strengthening methods for ceramics is included. The review concludes with a section on luting considerations, and offers the clinician specific recommendations for luting procedures. In conclusion, inlay success rates and longevity, as reported in the literature, are summarized.